Chapter 82: Chapter 82

Hayfah looked and Mama and her grin slowly lopsided. She looked at Adyan and smiled; eager to go meet her brother, she couldn't wait to set her eyes on Hamma Tahir after a whole year and some months!

"Hayatee, it's Hamma Tahir; please can I go and see him there?" She jitterly asked, looking for her veil dumped on the sofa beside her. She took it and wrapped it over herself.

"Mama, don't be worry; everything is fine. I haven't told you about my past life, he was all I've got!" Hayfah cheered and looked at a smiling Adyan.

"Let's go together, Hayatee. Mom, Mama, we'll be right back!" And off they went, with Adyan covering Mysha's face on his chest.

They arrived at the hut hosting new guests upon their arrival and Hayfah's heart almost rannup to her throat. She saw faces; three faces. One held a happy smile on it, one a neutral look, and the other a remorseful expression with tears rolling down her cheeks. What just happened?!

She felt as her legs felt heavy to move, she looked at Adyan for support, and he seemed more puzzled than she is. She tried opening her mouth but couldn't.

Adyan held her shaking shoulders and steadied her figure. "Hayfah they're not monsters, they were once your family. Let's go." And that braced her. With each step she took, her past life kept moving around her eyes as though a movie was being projected.

They arrived at the hut, and Tahir was the first person to smile widely at her. He looked at Adyan and they shook hands. Hayfah kept staring at his face before she looked at Adyan with an inquiry expression, which says 'Can I hug him?' And Adyan vehemently shook his head with a chuckle.

Hayfah slowly leaned forward and hugged Tahir; as tears slowly started spilling down to her cheeks. She missed this man! She closed her eyes and kept crying until Tahir broke their hug with misty eyes.

"It's okay Hayfah, the tears should stop okay?" And he began wiping away her tears with a smile on his face.

She smacked his arm so hard a yelp escaped his mouth and whined. "Hamma Tahir you didn't told me it'd take you this long before you came back. And why did you left without me?" She was crying, but a wide smile had graced her luscious lips.

Hamma Tahir laughed, "If we had left together, you wouldn't have gotten this baby here!" And that's why Hayfah remembered they weren't the only ones. She looked at the other people together with him and the man smiled; whom was conversing with Adyan as if he had known him for long.

"Rania today is a payback day, this is Jibril. He saved us from being heartbroken!" Adyan informed and Hayfah ducked her face into her palms.

They exchanged pleasantries and Hayfah thanked him albeit all was done in a joke. None missed how she didn't spared the woman she lived all her life loving a single glance; she acted as if there wasn't a creature that was intensely staring at her with tearing eyes.

"Let's go inside, Hamma Tahir, you all had a long journey." And she held his hand, together they made their ways into the main living room.

She halted at the door and looked at Hamma Tahir with a mischievous expression, "Hamma Tahir I have a surprise for you! A very huge one. What would you give me as a gift?" She smiled widely and jumped slightly, she was happy!

Tahir held his chin in a manner that painted his thinking expression. "Whatever my little sister wants, it shall be done." And he pinched her nose, she rested her head on his shoulder.

"I want my Brother and a father to get married, I want to have a niece and nephew!" He bulged his eyes but she shushed him by crossing their small fingers.

"The deal is sealed. Jibril let's enter." All this while Adyan had his eyes on her, he thought he knew her; but she was a different person when with her family.

They entered the living room; at the sight of them_Mama felt as her heart lost a bit. She could see the mischief of Shafa's face dancing on the face of the lady they were together with. She could see the gait of Talhah written all over the limbs of this young man, and she could see her crying self painted all over Hayfah's face.

"You are welcome! See how Hayfah is smiling widely!" Mom hosted them with a wide smile and called Abida to bring in refreshments for them. They exchanged pleasantries with all of them before Hayfah looked at Tahir and smiled.

"Hamma Tahir; these are my mothers. This is Neema; my mother's forever love! And this is Ruru am, my Mama!" She informed, pointed at them and smiled; a smile that could tell everyone that happiness has made a niche in the life of Hayfah Talhah Muhammad.

Tahir couldn't believe it at first, he looked between a smiling Hayfah and a stiffened Mama; and there, he saw all the resemblance. She was really that Rukayya that always smiles even if he insulted her, she's that Rukayya his mother made him took her as nothing but a maid in his house. He couldn't believe Hayfah's Mama was still alive all this while.

Tahir felt tears pooling his eyes, he could remember some memories, and he could remember what Hayfah told him about Rukayya's life in their household. He contributed to the 35% of her pain in that house. How could he look into her eyes? Wait, those this means Hayfah and Adyan are cousins?

He looked at Hayfah with the expression that screamed his uncertainty. She smiled and hugged Mama and Mom together. "They're sisters, Hamma Tahir. That makes me and Hayatee cousins. What an irony right?"

"We're sorry." It was the words that slurred themselves out of Tahir's lips as he dropped down onto his knees before Mama that did nothing but stare at him. He was that young boy that made her life a living hell!

"Mama please forgive us, I know we were the reason that you experienced the kind of pain you never deserved on this earth. It was such a relief that you were still alive, how would we have taken this burden to our graves? Subhanallah!" And he was completely in tears, he felt everything revolving back at him with such intensity that it felt as if it was happening at the moment.

This brought tears to Hayfah's eyes, she knelt down beside him and they took Mama's hands in their palms. Hayfah looked at Mama and smiled between tears, "I know you've never thought of this day would come right? The day the child of Shafa will kneel down onto his knees to seek for your forgiveness. That's the thing about life, you never tell what's happening next_a novel fill to the brim with suspense!"

They spoke, she forgave, and Hayfah narrated all that has happened in her life to her Mama and Mom. She seemed to be immune, numb to the heartbreaking moments, but with each phrase of her past life being unveiled to them_Mom and Mama did nothing but shed tears they've never shed in their life. They were all alive, but she faced a painful life they've never thought of.

By the time Hayfah finished; the day she found herself cocooned in the arms of her beloved_she felt herself being engulfed into a hug, and there were ruffles of cry coming out of the person's chest. Hayfah knew it was no one but Amna; yes! The woman she despised the most in her life.

She turned around and her heart broke at the sight of Amna crying her eyes out_shaking her head to emanate how disgusted she was of herself. Hayfah hugged her back with so much intensity that tears had to spill from her eyes as well, this was the sister she lived to yearn for; all her life!

They cried, the women hugged eachother before they broke apart. "We still have alot to talk about, I forgive you; but you have to explain somethings!" Hayfah slightly punched Amna's arms and they laughed in between tears.

It was already Zuhr time, and before the mean left; Hayfah called for their attention and motioned for Amna and Tahir to join her sit beside her Mana. They did, and Hayfah told them about Abba's last wish was for her to ask for Rukayya's forgiveness towards him_they should do that together.

They spoke for over five minutes but Rukayya doesn't seem she would talk. "Okay Ruru am, I'm into this team of #forgiveOurAbba! Please forgive him!" Mom chanted and joined them on the long sofa they were seated on.

"I'm joining this team too #ForgiveOurAbba!" Jibril chanted and smiled widely at how Rukayya grimaced her face and yanked her gaze form them.

"Mama! Your favorite nephew is talking, I know you won't object! Please #ForgiveOurAbba!" Mama laughed at how they cheered when Adyan joined their queue, she stood up and backed away from them.

"I won't, not until My Namesake; spoke!" She chuckled, looking at a peacefully sleeping Mysha on Adyan's arms.

"This is cheating!" They whined at the same time and broke into a series of cheers when a sleeping Mysha broke into tears!

"It's a yes from her!!!" Their happy voices echoed through the confines of the room.

"Okay okay!!! Talhah Muhammad is forgiven by Rukayya Muntari! And we're going to Zaria tomorrow; I'm forgiving Shafa as well! We're a one big family!" Amna was the first person that hugged her, followed by Hayfah; then Mom, Tahir and Adyan_all Jibril had to do was looked at them with a grin playing on his cheeks.

Forgiveness is beautiful!

***

"Addah Amna I have a step sister her name is Rayhan! I love that girl so much. Also two other brothers whom happens to be twins!" Hayfah said jitterly and kept taking their clothes down from the wardrobe, going to Zaria together with Mama, Mom, Adyan, a new Amna and Hamma Tahir was something she surely have to be ecstatic for!

"You didn't asked how I was married to Jibril!" Amna said with a glumly voice and sadly smiled.

Hayfah sat down beside her and fondled Mysha's face before she completely faced a forlorn Amna. "What happened? Tell me everything Addah Amna, I'm willing to hear it all!" She squeezed her hands and smiled at her.

Amna felt tears rolling down her cheeks. How could Hayfah be as forgiving as this? Despite all they've done to her, she still sees them as a family.

She told her everything about how they got married; crying, while Hayfah was cajoling her with a squeeze of hand. "It got too hectic living in the same village with Laminde and Innani; his mother. I know I wasn't a good daughter in law to them, but they should've regarded me with respect, knowing I don't love their son and still don't.

It got to the point Jibril contacted Adyan's father and he found him a job in his company at Portharcout and we moved there. He was all but a gentle and loving man; but I'm still not feeling an ounce of his love in my heart.

The life Umma and I wished to happen on you is unraveling itself on me right before my eyes. I wish I was good to you; some thing wouldn't have happened to me. I'm sure Karma is playing a great role in my life right now. What beats the pain of being in a marriage without love? Forgive me Hayfah!"

Hayfah took away Mysha from Amna's laps and hugged her tightly she could feel her heart beating at a rapid rate. "I love you, Addah Amna; wallahi I do. And for Jibril, you should try and teach yourself how to love him. Not all love stories are love at first glance, some happen as time goes by."