Chapter 23: Chapter 23

They both gave her confused looks. Talhah was surprised to see her here, he could clearly remember her___she was the girl that talked to him earlier on. But why is she here? He wondered.

Salamatu infuriatedly took thumping steps towards them, her heart was really etching at the sight of them. She stood in front of Rukayya, her hands at akimbo; as she flashed her a wrathful look. "Ruru, what have I told you about him? Let's forget he's here," there wasn't an iota of respect in her tone. The spoilt brat she is.

Rukayya looked at Talhah, flashing him the 'help me' look. Not that he knew what was going on, but she knew he couldn't just stand there, when Shafa'atu might even beat her. Yeah, it happens___alot.

Rukayya wore her impotent expression, the patience type she is. "I'm sorry, Shafa, but it wasn't my fault. He came here himself, how would I chase him away?" Her serene voice was so soft, as it was laced with fear. Tears had already started clouding her veiw.

Shafa'atu hissed loudly, glanced at Talhah before plastering a smile on her lips. Yeah! She should make Rukayya worthless in his eyes. With that thought, she lifted up her hand and landed her palm on Rukayya's right cheek.

On reflex, Talhah held her wrist tight, as she was planning on slapping her left cheek. "What's going on, Shafa? What has she done to you? Don't you have respect? How would you slap her? That too in my presence?!" He clamoured angrily, seething with rage. He even forgot her wrist was still in his grisp.

Rukayya lifted up her crying eyes and looked at Talhah, who was fuming with rage. "Let go of her, please, it's okay," she spoke sofly, sounding vulnerable.

Talhah closed his eyes, in attempt to calm his seething heart. He let go of Shafa'atu's wrist, and looked at Rukayya, for he understood why Shafa'atu was acting that way. She loves him___and it's palpable enough. "Rukayya, Mi yidi ma (I love you), would you marry me?" Those were the words that slipped out of his lips, as his intense gaze was unshaken on her sobbing face.

She petrifiedly looked up, her heart beating in an unsteady beats. She looked at Shafa'atu, whom was flabbergasted. Gulping down the lump that formed in her throat, Rukayya slowly looked at Talhah then Shafa'atu. What she saw in her eyes was nothing but a dare and warning look.

"Talhah, good night. And don't ever come to our house again, please," closing her mouth with her veil, she sprinted off.

Shafa'atu let out a breathe she doesn't know she was holding. She looked at Talhah with a smile on her face. "You see, you hold my hand, but I will not tell anyone. Let's just get married, okay," she muttered with a triumphant smile on her lips.

Talhah hissed and angrily looked at her. He wouldn't give up now, he love Rukayya, and would do anything to have her as his. "Are you sure you're a girl? What kind of classlessness is this? Get out of my way," he angrily bellowed and stomped off.

Shafa'atu let out a hearty laugh, she was too enigmatic for her age. "It's either to have me or none of us," she muttered and walked off.

Rukayya went back to their room, and met Neema munching on her tuwo. She sat down close to her and broke into tears. Neema kept asking her what's the problem but she kept mum, it was when Neema gave up, she choosed to open up.

"It was Talhah, Malam Muhammadu Mai kayan miya's son; he said he loves me and want to marry me___but Shafa'atu loves him too. She warned me, not to even talk to him, and he confessed in her presence. Neema, I'm doomed," she informed, tears washing down her face. With the moments she spent with Talhah, she really feels for him. He's every girl's dream guy.

Neema stood up from where she was sitting on and sat close to her. She side hugged her and kept drawing soothing circles on her back. "It's okay, Ruru am. You don't have to worry, I'm here for you. And don't let that idiot hinder your life. If you love him, fine; I'll tell Inna about it. Stop crying, Ruru am," she spoke placatingly, smiling fleetingly at her sister. From how she've seen how Rukayya was crying, she knew she loves him.

Rukayya lifted up her eyes and pouted her lips. "Neemaaa," she drawled. "I don't love him. I'm just afraid of what Shafa would do you know," she whined, shyly closing her eyes.

"Just give in, Ruru, you love the guy," Neema jested, hugging her sister.

Rukayya felt relieved, she hugged her sister back. Together, they burst into a series of laughter. They nattered away for hours, it was only when Inna came and told them to sleep that they called it a day.

The glisting sun shone brightly through the village of Galadimawa. The house was obstreperous, women were yodelling, some pounding fura, some were extracting fresh milk from cows, whilst some were cooking tuwo. A typical village wedding house.

Neema and her friends, together with Rukayya were sitted in their room. They were chatting fascinatingly, all these while___Shafa'atu had been sending daggers towards Rukayya, but she snubbed them.

The knot had been tied. Neema was crying profusely, Rukayya too was shedding her own tears. Apart from their father that died three years ago, their Inna, she has no one she loves more than Neema. She's her sister, a best friend, and her human diary. She loves her so much.

Neema and Rukayya didn't eat anything since morning, Inna was tired of urging them, she let them to cry to their fill___she knew how they feel. The Asr prayer had been proclaimed, that's when their cryings intensified___knowing it's time for the conveyance.

Neema was first taken to Inna's room, where she got the lectures of how to live a peaceful marriage. They were hardly separated with Inna; whom was crying, coughing really hard. Rukayya held her sister's hand so tight, before they walked out of the house.

The 'Amalanke' (It's a vehicle farmers uses for farming and travelling. It was also a pleasure for a bride to be conveyed in a Amalanke that has a roof). Neema and and some of her paternal and maternal Aunties climbed on the Amalanke. Whilst her friend would take themselves to the village of Moreye by foot. Where she would be first conveyed, before they will go back to the city.

Rukayya was in the midst of her friends; Salamatu was among of course. Their were singing a bridal song at the pitch of their voices, swaying and laughing. Rukayya was glum, and couldn't utter a word, nor had she participated in their song; which she loves so much.

They heard a machine horn, turning aroung; their gazes fell on Talhah, whom was on his father's bicycle, smiling at them___Rukayya in particular. He waved at Rukayya and motioned for her to come over. She looked at them, gulped down a lump in her throat at the glare Shafa'atu sent her way. Thinking about what Neema told her yesterday; she grisped Fatima's hand; whom was her intimate friend. Together, they moved to where Talhah was.

"Good evening," they greeted in unison. Rukayya's head was hung down, fiddling with her long-well sculptured fingers; couldn't look at him.

"Ride on, let me take you there," Talhah said, adjusting himself on the bike, so they could sit comfortably.

Rukayya looked at Fatima and shook her side ways, emanating they shouldn't hop on. Fatima being the stubborn she is, she wanted to brag to their peers that she ride on a machine. The latest vehicle in their area. "Let's go, Rukayya, it's getting late," Fatima said and climbed the machine. Rukayya has no choice but to ride on.

Talhah smiled and ignited the machine, as they silently drove to Moreye village. When they arrived, Fatima was the first one to get down, she ran towards her friends, she was eager to tell then how she felt on the machine, how the air buzzed off her ears, she felt really on the sky. Rukayya got down, adjusted her wrapper and turned to leave; before Talhah halted her.

"Rukayya, you haven't told me your answer, I really want to marry you. We'll move to the city, I'll get you admitted to a school, since it's too late for me. Marry me please, Rukayya, I really love you," He muttered, hoping she would even give him a positive answer. He's really in desperate need of her by his side.

"My Neema said I should accept, it's a yes then," with that, she sprinted off, covering her face with her veil; shyly.

"Alhamdulillah!" Talhah muttered to himself, with a wide grin plastered on his face, as he drove to where Ali and his other friends were.

Rukayya met her friends, Fatima in their midst; talking nonstop, gisting them how she felt on the seventh heaven. Rukayya laughed it off and entered Neema's inlaws's house. She really need to see her sister. What a courage she have got!

She met Neema amidst women, she couldn't talk to her, but only flashed her a beutiful smile with a thumbs up and left. It was later in the night, when all their friends were sleeping, that Rukayya got the chance to tell her sister everything that happened between her and Talhah. The good looking guy.

In the morning, they did their traditional things, before those that escorted Neema returned back home. Rukayya was crying hysterically, she couldn't believe she has left her Neema there all alone. Without Baba, whom she was used to this absence, without Inna, and her. Ya rabb! This would happen to her soon.

They got back to their various houses. After about two days; Talhah's parents went to Shafa'atu's father, asking Rukayya's hand in marriage, since he was the only relative she has. Without hesitation, he willingly gave her out, saying in the next two weeks, if they're ready, they should come and take their bride. Talhah was ecstatic about this news. He really want to see Rukayya now, Ya Rabb! She'd soon be his wife.

When Kawu (Rukayya's uncle; Shafa'atu's father) went back home, he told his wife about Talhah's proposal, she was happy too; for they could finally dive in their wealth, without thinking of anything coming their way. Unbeknownst to them, Shafa'atu heard all they've talked about___she wept bitterly. She was afraid of her father, if not, she would've barge in their room and tell them the feeling beneath her dearest soul.

When Kawu went out, Shafa'atu glumly entered her mother's room, breaking into tears completely. Her mother hugged her and asked her the reason she was crying. "Baraka," she called out at her mother. Yes, she calls her by her name. "The person that proposed to Rukayya was the person I love. He first confessed to me, But Ruru charmed him into her nest."

Upon hearing this, angry Baraka flaringly took her veil and dragged Shafa'atu out of the house. They went to Rukayya's house and met her and Inna pounding fura. Without any 'Salam' they barged inside the house, Baraka was seething with rage.

"Rabi'atu! What was the meaning of that? You know that guy loves Shafa'atu but not Rukayya, but still had to ensnare him in your shell huh?" She bellowed, angrily glaring at befuddled Inna and Rukayya.

"What are you talking about, Baraka?" Inna inquired, she doesn't even know about the proposal. "Ruru am, do you have any Idea?" She asked Rukayya, when Baraka yelled that she should ask her snitch daughter.

Seeing the confused look on their faces, Baraka became more infuriated. "I can see your dumb brains couldn't fathom what I'm talking about, so it's about Talhah, Malam Muhammadu's son, he proposed that he wants to marry Rukayya, and their Uncle had gave her out___in two weeks time.

Not knowing, Talhah loves Shafa'atu first, but you guys used charms on him. I'm warning you, Rabi'atu, you know me better than anyone in this village, call off this marriage, else___she'll never find peace in her matrimonial home."