Chapter 59: Chapter 59
"What do you mean by that? Does this mean I will not get Adyan, Umma? But you promised me!" Amna inquired and broke into tears. Umma just told her about Malik that sent his people and they called off the wedding without collecting anything back. And she knew what this meant, it was surely a threat, and she knew Hayfah planned about this so she could leave for Abuja and never comes back, then she would get married to Adyan without them even knowing.
"I promised you that he will be yours, Amna. Would you please stop stressing yourself and focus on how we're going to get this plan done or not? Please!" Umma almost yelled at her, but she love Amna so much not to even yell at her. Her brain was likely jumbled, she couldn't think of a way out about this issue-all she knew is_she has to get Hayfah out of this house by hook or by crook and fulfil the promise she made to Amna.
"How is that going to happen? No one will marry on such a short notice unless he's prepared since. Umma I think this wouldn't be possible." She was crying so hard by now, thinking of how she would live her life while knowing Hayfah was married to the love of her life.
"It will surely happen, just wait and see-clear off those tears and be the Amna I know. Let me call Sagiru, he can sort everything out." Umma flashed her a mischievous look and pulled out her phone from her bag and began dailing Sagiru's number.
He picked the call on the third ring and salamed, they exchanged pleasantries before Umma's voice turned to a glum voice and she said, "Sagiru, there is fire on the mountain, Malik's family had came and called off the wedding without collecting everything back. But what do you think we shall do? I really have to get this girl out of the house, and getting her married is the only solution."
He laughed, an enigmatic laugh that sent a chill down Umma's spine. For what she said doesn't seem to worry him, he seem to enjoy it more. "Why would you tense yourself off because of this lame issue, Shafa? This is nothing." He was so much enjoying this, he wished Abba was alive to see him having the fate of his daughter in his hands, and if he likes-he would revolve it to a good side, but if he don't_he would revolve her life to what would torture her till the end of her life. And that's exactly what he's doing.
"Why are you laughing, Sagiru? We're talking about Hayfah! The boy called off the marriage, and what do you think we shall do to get her out of this house! This isn't a joking matter please!" Umma thundered! Before Amna made a gesture with her hand that meant she should lower her voice before Hayfah hears them and run away, for she caught her packing all she knew belongs to her in the house-since childhood.
"I laughed because I never wanted Hayfah to marry that rich boy, she won't suffer as I want. And I'm so happy because there is a boy; Jibril that came to me on the day Talhah died, he was among the ones that brough his corpse out for prayer, and he saw Hayfah when she was crying, holding the wooden box Talhah was in. So sadly, I told him she was already betrothed, but I think I'll have to look for him now." There was a mischievous smile on his face, something that nobody would ever decipher was glinting his eyes. What he had longed wished for was really unfolding before his eyes.
Umma felt slightly relieved, before she think that that Jibril of a man might be even richer than Malik, because she herself didn't know him. "But what if he's richer than Malik? Then she would enjoy her life against our wish, Sagiru. Think of a better way please." She motioned for a tensed Amna to calm herself down, that everything was going as they wish and she will have Adyan.
"He isn't rich. He is a fulani man that hardly has 10 cattles-I don't know how he knew about Talhah's death even. So, he is the typical poor man I want her to live with, and he hails from a village under Moreye-that's where poverty ends!" He jabbered, feeling as if he has achieved a long started project since he was born.
"Oh my god! You're surely brilliant, Sagiru. That's the most perfect idea I've heard in years. So what are we going to do about it?" She asked, feeling all giddy and happy. Sagiru squirmed under a mango tree in the village of Galadimawa; chewing his sugarcane, as he told her how their plan would work, and promise to get back to her when the plan works perfectly.
They finished their talk and she hugged Amna and squealed! She was finally getting rid of everything that is loved by Rukayya. She would have Talhah's house all by herself, his business would now be under her control, and everything would be with her-alone with her children.
"Umma you're scaring me, what happened?" Amna asked with thrilled voice, from the look on Umma's face, she knew they were succesful.
"Adyan is all yours, Amna. Let's finish working on Hayfah first." She promised and they jubilated together-hearts filled with hatred towards Hayfah.
***
He was staring deeply at the picture he took almost a month ago, the picture he almost hate himself for taking, because he thought it's use would never come. The background sound that was playing was none other than her recitation that he recorded on the very day he felt himself clinging more onto her-as if a magnet dragging a metal.
In the picture, she has her head ducked down with her phone in her hands. Her eyelashes were wet, casting and beautifying her cheekbone-her long nose that stood perfectly on her face and her mouth that was uttering the words of Allah.
She was Hayfah.
Beautiful of Slender body.
Kassim have never thought a day would come that he will yearn to see her and crave for the husky voice he had always humiliated. He could trade the world for a single glimpse of those doe like orbs that melts his heart whenever he looks in them. He was still into denial of what he's feeling for her, all he was sure of is: it was guilty conscious that was eating him up.
He wanted to go back before it's the actual time before, but was now against it, because he doesn't know what will happen if he sees her, he wants her to forget about him first; before he would ask for her forgiveness, and find a way that she would always be with him-love or marriage was never in his mind, for he knew he doesn't and would forever not love her.
He emailed Adyan that he wouldn't come back till in six to seven months to come, for he has to recuperate back his heart and function well like before. He wants the rude and sturdy Kassim back, not the sentimental and lovey Kassim.
He kept staring at the picture with her voice on the replay as sleep overcome his consciousness. That has always been his routine, he has earpiece always, and he hears only to her recorded voice, and his eyes were always fixed on his phone's screen whenever he was not working. He sleeps with her picture in view, and voice on replay.
***
Hayfah was sitted in their room at the edge of her bed. She has her legs brought up to her chest-deeply staring into space. She was just waiting to hear wether Malik had called off the wedding or take her words as a threat. And can she run away from her house? The house that held the memories of her parents? Where would she go? She knew she has to go back to Abuja and complete her service so she could find a way of living, but the last person she wants to see is Adyan. She hates even the thought of him.
She felt a slight tap on her hands that were encasing her legs. The touch was so soft with tender. She looked away from the vacant space and looked at the person, it was no one but her Hamma Taheer-the only person she has a slight hope on him, before Amna ruined everything.
"I'm sorry." That was all he could utter, looking at her with so much love and care.
"You're sorry about what, Hamma? I'm the one to ask for your forgiveness for betraying your trust-even if I was only accused," she whimpered and felt tears pooling the brink of her eyes. And she believes, Hamma Taheer always hits the soft spot of her heart.
"I heard Amna telling Umma that it was all a cooked up story. I didn't show them I heard their conversation and came directly to ask for your forgiveness. Would you please forgive your Hamma?" He was fighting so hard to stop his tears from falling on his cheeks but failed. This girl here seems to be in a lonely world that has nothing but pain in it. He could see pain writting all over her face and eyes.
Hayfah reached out for his hands and held them tightly in hers before bursting into soft tears. "I've forgiven you before you even asked for my forgiveness, Hamma. Thanks for being a second Abba to me, because I thought I'd never get Abba's reciprocate in my life. But you proved my thoughts wrong." She was now crying so hard, thinking about Abba had broken all the barriers she built across her heart.
He pulled her into his body and placed her head on his shoulder as they cried together. They cried for their Abba, their fractured bond and Hayfah's life as well. "I'll always be there for you, Hayfah. As you said, you've got your Abba in me, would I find a new Mom in you please? A Lil sis and Mom wouldn't hurt huh?" How his voice sounded so vulnerable made Hayfah hugged him so tight she was afraid his bone would break. She kept nodding her head, for even if she talked, her voice will sound muffled.
"I love you so much, Hamma Taheer-always be there for me please. I'm so shattered within, that you couldn't even think of what I'll feel if I get my heary broken again." She looked at his face then his laps, she wants to feel his warmth that could last her a lifetime even if something was to happen.
He nodded his head at her, cleared her tears and made her rested her head on his laps before she could even talk. "Hamma..." she wanted to tell him about Adyan but he closed her mouth with his palms.
"Sleep Hayfah, I'll be here till you wake up okay? You haven't gotten enough sleep over a week." And that was how she closed her eyes with a smile on her lips-the first time she smiled since before Abba died. She fell into a slumber that was devoid of Abba's dreams or Adyan's faint voice. A peaceful slumber.
***
Taheer made sure she has all she needed in the house, he doesn't talk to Amna and Umma-for he was just scuppering how a mother and a sister could be so cruel to their other half. It was three days after their rebonding with Hayfah, and that was when he realized she was a lady that loves talking about her dreams and wishes. He just stares at her as she talks nonstop about her plans for her future and whatever-as he feels her love filling his heart. In her heart, there was another world filled with dreams, hopes and wishes.
He came back from the market and found a little amount of people infront of their house-he became agitated and thought about Hayfah, for she once told him she would run away if life gets hard here. But from their expressions, he knew it wasn't something miserable.....rather, something rejoicing.