Chapter 69: Chapter 69
They arrived at home in the late evening, some mosques were even proclaiming the Magrib salah-Amna wasn't crying anymore, but there was stain of tears on her face, and she couldn't utter a word. Umma was just dragging her feet, as they opened the house and met the person they've never imagined.
"What brought you back?" That's the first question Umma flared at a comfortably seated Tahir, he was nibbling on dates and other traditional fruits.
He looked up from the leather and flashed her a factitious smile without looking at where Amna was walking to. "Good Evening, Umma. I came back and couldn't see any of you. What happened? You look a bit tensed," he asked, sounding so innocent, as if he wasn't burning of rage within.
Umma ignored the looked he flashed her and sat beside him on the mat, she took a date and chewed before she hummed a sigh. It was so unbelievable. "Hayfah wasn't married to Jibril." That's all she uttered, for the words were still heavy on her heart, she couldn't even bring herself to tell him everything.
"Yes, I knew that. Tell me something new." He smiled widely, this was the day he had been waiting for, and was too eager to do what brought him back home.
"Sagiru had a huge amount of money given to him by the guy Amna loves so much, and he left even his family there." She didn't know how she spoke again, for he got her tongue tied saying that he knew about Hayfah's wedding to Adyan. She really want to voice it out, that's why she didn't outburst.
"Oh really? I'm so happy for him. But you know what, Umma? He too wouldn't go scot free, who oppress an orphan and live a peaceful life? No one. That's why I came." He stated and glued his gaze on his bamboozled mother's face. He loves her, but was so ashamed of the woman she was from the start and she hasn't changed a bit. But he was sure life would teach Umma a lesson, and she would learn the hard way.
"What do you mean? Tahir I don't have the energy in me to talk so much; so say your mind out, I'll scupper your words and deal with you later!" She yelled, unable to sound as high as the normal Umma would've sounded. She was really and deeply broken.
"I came back to get Amna married. I realized I was now her father, so I couldn't let her wandering around from Zaria to Abuja, over the guy that would never be hers_unless Hayfah died-which isn't going to happen in 50 years to come or more. So as a good father, I'm getting her married." He was so very determined and he sounded adamant. He knew they would take his words as his usual nampy-pamby talks, but this time_he was back for revenge.
Umma let out a snort and glared at him, "And who do you think you are? My father? Tahir before I vent my anger on you; keep that aside. I want to know how you knew about Hayfah married to Adyan, not Amna." She asked, for talking about Amna getting married was more than impossible. She knew her daughter, and she could tell, she wouldn't be herself until forever may be.
He squirmed and threw away the now empty leather on the floor, "Oh that? After I told you that I was leaving, I walked out of the house and met one of my village friends among the one's that came to take the bride. We got acquainted because of the visitations I and Abba were doing to Galadimawa. We greeted and he congratulated me that my sister's husband was handsome and has money; and from then_I knew it was him, because Hayfah told me everything about him, the love he has for her and everything. So, I'm back to do a real arranged marriage on Amna, though the guy loves her, it wouldn't be an arranged marriage." He was talking as if it wasn't a big deal, he choose to ignore all what they'd do to him to stop him from getting Amna married, he'll revenge on what they made Hayfah went through, if not for Allah's rahma, she would've been in marriage without love.
"There is no way! I repeat myself, no way; Hamma Taheer! You can't just give me out as if I were some sort of clothes you're tired of! I can't get married to Adyan until Hayfah's died huh? I can wait! But there's no human on earth that could get me married now!" They heard Amna's bellow above their heads. They looked up simultaneously and met her profusely crying face. Her face had swell up, eyes were bloodshot.
He stood up and stood before her, his height hovering over hers. "What do you mean by you can wait? Are you going to kill her because of Adyan? Tell me Amna! And you getting married in the span of one week is something that had being ordained already, so go and deal with it!" He yelled back, fiercely looking at her directly in the eyes. He wasn't seeing her tears, rather; Hayfah's crying face the day she got married, it was embedded in his heart.
"I'm not getting married to anyone, and if I have to kill Hayfah; then I would gladly do that-I love him, not any man! So, you go deal with it, Tahir Talhah Muhammad!" She punched his chest and ran to their room, crying like she've never cried before, feeling as if she was going to die any minutes from now. Love hurts, it really hurts.
Tahir looked at Umma and smiled, he knew she would forever be in support of her daughter_but this time, he wouldn't let them win. "You might need this for the wedding preparation, the nikkah will be in three days, as you got Hayfah married in three days. I wanted making it for a week, but she's so stubborn that I cannot trust her. Don't let her step a feet outside." He warned, and Umma just stood there staring at him as if she've seen an alien, not her once beloved Son.
She watched as he left the house in thumping steps. Umma was contemplating wether he was her son, for she believed; among her children, there wouldn't be a single soul that would love anything that comes fron Rukayya, but she was proved wrong, Taheer was going to take a revenge on what they've done for Hayfah.
She walked over the room and met Amna crying as if she was going to pull her eyes out. She hugged her and they burst into tears together; not because of Taheer's threat-because somehow, they think he couldn't do that-but because of how life turned, they were no more the successful ones. And how ironic, today; they were crying over what Hayfah has, what she'd never have unless she's dead. They can't even see her now to know how to kill her, and they couldn't just kill a soul, not Hayfahs!
***
She finished her final touch and adjusted her head gear before she turned around, almost bumping on his hard chest. She screamed and scrunched up her face, "Why are you so mean, Hayatee? You knew I would turn around, what if my head gear falls down?" She whined and punched his chest slightly.
"I wanted to take a picture of you as you turn, you know? I want my phone to drool before I do; over how you look. And, you look dazzling, do I even need to tell you that? Masha Allah, Rania." He leaned forward and planted a soft kiss on her forehead, before she lifted up her face and he took a picture of them.
"I love it when you do that," she spoke softly, looking at him tenderly.
He guided her to the bed and took her hands in his "What, Rania?" He asked, so he could always be doing whatever it is she loves him doing.
She placed her head on his shoulder and began playing with their entwined hands, "I love it when you peck my forehead, it speaks love and tenderness. Showing that I'm so fragile to you, and you treat me just like a treasure could be treated." There was nothing but love in her heart, and it was what her lips could only pour out. At some point, she could roam around her heart to find a slight piece of pain so she could analyze and mourn over, but there isn't-even Abba's death, Adyan made her believed that was life, every soul shall taste death. She only prays for them.
"You're everything you mentioned and more. And I'll fix this on my head, so I'll be kissing your forehead always, out of affection of course." He started chuckling when she slightly punched his arm, which made him stop.
She looked up from his shoulder and their eyes met. She hurriedly yanked off her gaze away from his, she still wasn't used to his burning eyes, it was as if they were melting her. And she couldn't get told of her shy smiles, blushing and the goosebumps.
"It's been long I see this, they're beautiful on you!" He exclaimed, flashing her a scrutinizing look.
Confused, she started looking around her body when he cut her off "I'm not talking about anything. The shy smiles, blushing, and goosebumps, Rania. I think the fulani shyness is back in you. I'll have to do something real quick!" She opened her mouth to ask what it was, when he took her lips into a deep passionate kiss-it started slowly, before it turned into an affectionate kiss.
"Hayatee! My lipstick!" She screamed, when they broke the kiss to get in some air.
"I can get that rectified, now..." she peeled off her hand from hers and walked to the mirror with a mischievous smile on her lips.
"Rania," he whined, looking as she was trying to get her colored lips back.
"We're out of time you know? They might've even arrived wallah, we took so long. And also, I'm now clueless on what colour I should put on, that one came as a miracle, and you..." she trailed off with a sigh, looking at the coloured lips stick that were before her; unable to choose.
He walked over the mirror and smiled at her "Oh you're right, I kissed it all! And the driver will take them home from the airport, so worry not. Let me help with this, I sometimes apply it on Sorella, or watch her do it." He said and took a red and nude lipstick among them, as he started applying them on her lips.
"Now, roll the lips together so they could blend." And she did that. She squealed and looked at herself through the mirror before she engulfed him into a hug! It was beautiful!
"I love it, Hayatee! It's soo perfect!" She pecked his cheeks and drew back in laughter.
"I forgot I had a coloured lipstick on my lips. It's beautification right? We can leave, it's okay." She laughed mischievously and started wiping it off with a tissue, he was only staring at her_even the slightest gesture can make her happy. Something in his mind said 'Because she wasn't used to it.' And he avowed, to make her even happier than she is.
"Take the car keys, my bag and put on your cap_let's leave now. I'll off the electrical appliances!" She yelled and walked out of the room. He heaved a sigh and took her handbag, put the things he knew she forgot when arranging the handbag and put on his cap before he off the lights-else he want to be scolded at-and walked out of the room.
"Let's leave, I don't want them to come and we aren't there." She spoke briskly and dragged him out of the house-for he was just intensely staring at her-she locked the door and smiled at him; emanating she was done and they could leave.