Chapter 61: Chapter 61

Hamma Taheer stood up to protest but she held his wrist and shook her head at him. Umma sneered and thumped out of the room. He looked at Hayfah but she managed to carve a smile on her lips-a smile he was sure had slit her throat before carving.

"I'll have to take my bath, here are my belongings Hamma Taheer-take everything out for me please, I don't want her to create any scene infront of these women." And that was when tears rolled down her cheeks, they were tears of sheer melancholy-she was really a married woman, married to some sort of a guy she've never seen before. Life and its ironies.

He just nodded his head as she walked out of the room after taking her hijab with her. She slumped back on the bed and held his head in his hands and started crying in a muffled sound! He was sooo broken to even think of a way to make Hayfah feel better, he knew she was scorched to the extent she couldn't be mended. She was just trying to be strong and okay with with the idea of her being married to another man, so he couldn't feel as if he haven't fufil his promise of making sure she lived a peaceful life.

Hayfah had her bathe crying in oceans. She felt as every artery and vein of her heart stopped beating like it has been used to. She felt how every imagination she has of her being married to Adyan was slowly fading away from her heart, all of this felt like a dream-a dream she could trade her life for-so she could wake up.

She came out wearing her hijab and walked to her room and found a letter written by god knows who, and Hamma Taheer wasn't in the room anymore. She didn't applied anything on her body but just slipped into her fulani attire that suited her perfectly as if she was the one meant for them. She looked at herself on the mirror and more tears streamed down her cheeks.

Their conversion with Adyan when he was in the hospital came back to her as if it was happening now.

He was resting his head on the bed rest and was intensely staring at her. She squirmed on her seat and mumbled some incoherent words from her mouth and pouted her lips.

"Really Adyan, why are you looking at me that way? Have I grown horns or something? You're scaring me!" She whined and kept looking around her body to spot something that is unsual-but everything was perfect-she was wearing a gown and the veil was wrapped around her face.

He let out a soft chuckled and made a gesture that made her swooned internally. He lifted his hands in surrender and bore his eyes more into hers. "Nothing, I'm just wondering how fulani attire will look perfectly good on you. Especially those dark blue ones-you have to try them one day please, you'll surely look like a queen." He closed his eyes dreamly-and Hayfah saw how his heart was beating erratically under its enclosure.

She laughed it off, and that's when the realization hits her, "You know something hilarious? I've never worn any fulani attire, not even the white ones. I don't think they'll look good on me," she argued, fluttering her eyelashes in a dismissive manner-not knowing the impact the gesture made on him.

"You have to try them one day-and I'll be the only one allowed to look, because you can kill with dark blue fulani attire on you." He was just envisaging her in those dark blue attires, with all their accessories and her hair showing from her halfy covered head gear-and he meant it, he was halfy dead with even the imagination.

"I don't think I will, but which day is that?" She just choosed to play along, seeing how pathetic he looked.

"Our wedding day; the day you'll be Mrs. Aliyu Ardo."

She clenched her eyes shut and slumped on the floor-letting out a wail that comes directly after she heard the sound of her heart shattering. She wished, even if it was a picture-Adyan could see her in this dark blue fulani attire. She think that's the last thing she could let him have. But she couldn't, because she was now married, she was Mrs. Jibril-never Mrs. Aliyu Ardo-that would only be in her dreams.

She crawled to the bed and took the letter in her hands before she opened the folds-hoping it was something from Adyan, just a hope wouldn't hurt, would it? She started reading the letter with so much yearn...

To the braviest heart I've ever seen,

This isn't a letter for forgiveness, because I would never have the words to ask for your forgiveness-I don't deserve it and they didn't too. I don't know the words to use, but I know the guiltiness that caused Abba's sickness would likely be the one that would be the end of me too, if you didn't find happiness in your life. You deserve it, Hayfah.

I love you, Hayfah. I love you more than a brother could love his little brave and strong sister. I couldn't watch as they take you to the place I know would be the beginning of your grief, knowing I have nothing to do about it. I'm leaving, but before I leave, I'll make sure I avenge for all that's ever done to you. It will take me years before I come back, but wherever you are-I'll look for you, and I shall see you in good health and happiness Hayfah. You deserve a halcyon life, and you shall live it.

Don't cry too much, I don't want you to ruin those doe like orbs with tears. I know your heart is shattered, but try to pull up the façade you've always did. Don't let anyone know your vulnerable side, show them the strong and brave Hayfah that's beneath your soul. You shouldn't let anyone assail you-stand up for yourself.

I love you Hayfah, I so much love you. I'm going to miss my Mom and Sis-aren't I the luckiest? Having the best Mom and Sis all in one person? I bet I am. Also, learn how to speak fulani before you leave that village, atleast make your stay their valuable-because I know you'll surely get out of that place.

---Taheer (A father, and a brother; but sadly-I failed.)

H

ayfah didn't know when she brought her legs to her chest and let out a wail! She was crying profusely and shaking her head. Why would he do this to her? Why would he have to leave her when he was certain she would need him the most now? She has nobody to be with her, she just has nobody. Even Hamma Taheer-she placed her trust on him and Abba, and they all left without even considering how more battered that would make her. She has given up in life.

Amna walked inside the room with a loud yodel that peirced directly into Hayfah's eardrums and deafened her that instant. She sat cross legged infront of her with a smug look on her face and looked at her before whistling a pathetic medley.

"So sad sister, I'm only allowed to call you Mrs. Jibril, not Mrs. Adyan Ardo, because I know you've been wishing for a miracle to happen so the names could be swapped. But it sadly couldn't. I'll soon be called Mrs. Adyan Ardo, how good does that sound? Amna Adyan Ardo? A3!" She let out a squeal, and Hayfah clenched her eyes shut, feeling how more tears rolled down her cheeks. She doesn't know what she's feeling in her life. She can even die, for all she cares.

"Oh oh! You haven't cried enough Baby, that's just by the way_I have a little confessions to make, I know you've hate Adyan by now, though a part of you still loves him. But it wouldn't be good for a sister to hate her brother inlaw, would it? I guess no. So here is my confession: The day you guys arranged on having an outing, I saw the text on your phone and decided to go to your company so I could start what I've been planning for. Luckily, you got called when it was few minutes to your arranged time, and I walked out and told him you were sick, so we went and bought you medicine-I haven't had the chance to give you them till today, they might really help with the heart pain." She shoved Hayfah a leather containing the packets of medicines with a triumphant smile playing on her lips, she have never been this happy in her life.

"So after we bought the medicines, I told him I was hungry that he should please take me to a restaurant, and as I expected, he said he should just take me back home so I could take care of you. But you know what? I made him believed that you were the one that said he should take me out so I could enjoy my stay there. We ate and I told him something I'm sure he asked you about; you were born out of wedlock, you were a whore and that's why you want to marry Malik because he threatened to spill out your secrets.

It was hard before he agreed and we took a selfie before I told him to leave, that I have a friend of mine that will come and take me somewhere-he left really heartbroken. I sent the picture to my friend and he made sure he found the same clothes Adyan wore and came with them clad on his body. And those were the picture you seen, we cuddled and took those pictures, he fed me and I did same, He pecked my forehead and I his cheeks-we had the waitress took all those pics from the angles that his face couldn't be seen. You thought it was all Adyan, but Nah Baby sis-it was just one of my friends with benefits. But the lover girl got heartbroken, thinking her Kayejo was having an affair with her big sis-so pathetic." At this point, Hayfah want to scream, yell, shout, or strangle Amna to death, but nothing came out, only her fist that clutched Hamma Taheer's letter that got stiffened and her heart that missed numerous beats. She suspected her Adyan, she thought he was the person in those pics because she saw the one they took as a selfie-Adyan begged for her to tell him what he did, but she acted mum on him.

"And oh, you'll surely wonder why he haven't called you uptil now huh? Because I texted him using your phone ofcourse. The day Abba died in the night, I took your phone and texted him (Adyan Aliyu Ardo-Abba is dead, and before he died, he got me married to Malik Ahsan. It's sad, but I have to tell you this, I've cut all ties with you, as my husband wouldn't like me interfering with a non muharram, I will block and delete your number, and I hope you'll not try anything to reach me. I hope you heal soon.) That was it, and I really blocked and deleted his number from your phone. That's all the bad news by the way, the good news is that-you should just start counting, for I'll be married to him in a short time from now. Sorry for any inconvenience this may course, lovely sis-wish you a happily married life. I wouldn't be able to convey you to your house, but we will surely visit-I and your favourite step mother I mean. My Mother, the best Mother in the world." She walked out without looking back at the condition Hayfah was-all she has in mind was-she has fulfilled her promise of having Adyan.

****

Hayfah didn't know what happened, she just sees herself being dragged out of the room by some women, Hamma Taheer's letter getting smothered in her wetty hands, and her vision was completely blurred with tears.

She want to tell him to stop, she want them to know this person doesn't deserve to be her husband, she has someone she loves-the person that loves her morethan life itself. But all her words couldn't get out, it seems she got tongue tied.

'Adyan where are you? Won't you come and look for me? Adyan they're taking me to hell, a place without you is my definition of hell!' She thought her words were out, but the women doesn't seem to hear her uttering a word. She was shoved into a golf and the driver started the engine. The car was smelling of rotten fruits, sweats and cow's milk. That's the least she could care for.

'Adyan! Won't you come? I'm sorry for ever suspecting you, I should have known you weren't the bad guy, I should have known that my sister was the monster. Please Adyan, don't let them take me to him, please Adyan.' The women could only see her shaking her head with anguish tears rolling down her cheeks-and they thought it was all the sorrow of leaving their home.

She kept muttering the words that her alone could hear, crying and shaking her head, but the women seemed to be unscathed about her action, and the worst of it was her words being tathered to her, no sound could erupt out of her mouth.

They arrived at Moreye village, and even without being touched, the woman beside her felt how she was shivering and her teeth were clattering. She placed her hand on Hayfah's forehead and she has her temperature rised. She was directly taken to the place she was supposed to live with her husband-it was a small compound circled with dried maize stalks. In the compound, there were two rooms made with blocks and a small mud made kitchen with toilet and moderately spacious courtyard.

Eventhough Hayfah's eyes were still closed, she couldn't help but shed more tears than she've ever shed. Even in this village, in this house, she couldn't mind living with Adyan till the rest of her life. He's all she want.

She heard the women gushing and fantasizing over the block made house, wishing it were their daughters that were brought there. Hayfah was taken into a room that was facing the other one at the right side, they made her sat down on an ironed bed that it squeak when being sitted on.

"The walimah has to be postponed till tomorrow, since she's sick. Laminde, come and bring her food and medicine, and you all should let her rest." The older woman among them uttered, and the ones trooping in to have a glimpse of the city bride started walking out.

They all went out and Hayfah curled herself up into a ball on the squeaking bed more tears rolling and soaking the pillow she rested her head on. The one she assumed was Laminde brought the food and medicine before she wished her a quick recovery and left the room.

She didn't tried eating the food, for there isn't anything she could eat without hearing from Adyan. He might have an attack when he got the message, she knew he might tried calling her but had himself on the block list, and lots more of horrifying scenarios were playing in her head.

She didn't know she had spent hours thinking about Adyan and crying-her body still curled into a ball-until she heard the door creaked a jar and the person she knew would only be her husband walked in, the sound of his shoes softly smacking the floor sending a chill down her spine.

She heard-shivering-as he walked to the other side of the room and placed what she assumed were his shoes before she sensed him walking towards her with steady steps-as if he was contemplating.

'Just go back please!' She wanted to scream, but as usual, nothing came out-but tears.

He was now and an inch close to the bed, slowly he turned her body so she could face him-and as she was used to hallucinating-a well known scent hits her olfactory nerves, the warmth that calms her down, the proximity that tingles her skin and makes her shudder, the usual heart flutterings, and the worst of it_the GOOSEBUMPS!