Chapter 23: Chapter 23

He stared at her, unable to utter a word. He never in his life excepted habiba to say such to him. He appreciated it and was glad that someone felt that way about him but how was he going to tell her that he can't be with her? How was he going to tell her that he's in love with someone else? How was he going to say no to her?

The thought of that made him more speechless. He opened his mouth to speak but words left him. She chuckled, embarrassed. "It's really stupid of me to just say that when we just reunited now," she talked, feeling embarrassed. "No, no habiba. Not at all. Firstly I am really flattered that you have feelings for me. I won't say I don't too because we've been together since day one in school but I don't think this would work out."

"You live here in London and I live in Nigeria, so you see I don't think this would work out." He added. "But I can always come visit you and you can come me here too," she tried to reason with him. He shook his head smiling. "I'm sorry Habiba."

She smiled back and nodded. "It's okay. But can we exchange numbers? Just to stay in touch." She said giving him her phone. He typed his number and gave it back to her. "Thank you. I will call you soon. In sha Allah." She said hugging her phone to her chest.

It was an awkward moment. He felt bad for rejecting her so quick after he promised himself to open up for other girls to come into his life and maybe he'd find his own soulmate. He watched as she walked away. "Habiba," he called out. She stopped and turned. "Maybe we could get coffee some other time?" He asked and she nodded smiling. She knew that meant he would consider giving her a chance.

••

"This is highly unacceptable Zainab! I will not allow such rubbish happen to my grandchild! When you brought Abdulrahim home, who stopped you from marrying him? Who was against it? Did he had any money?" An older version of Mammy walked about the hospital room, shouting at Mammy. "Mama, please let's talk about this when we get home. I'll come see you and we will talk about it." Mammy pleaded. Nadia was enjoying the show. She almost burst into laughter.

"Will you shut up! Go where? Talk about what? We are not talking about anything anywhere. Nadia is marrying the man she chose and that is final!" Hajiya Ramatu concluded. Nadia smiled again to her grandmother. If not for that woman Nadia would've been dead within few days if she doesn't get Mujahid.

"Yes Mama, anything you and baba say, that is what I will do." Mammy spoke slowly. "Nadia, my dear." Hajiya Ramatu moved to her granddaughter. "You said his name is Mujahid right? And you're sure he loves you and you love him too?" Nadia nodded briskly. Her mother glared at her from behind but she never looked her way. "Then that's it! He's going to be yours In sha Allah. Call him and tell him to send his people. They will fix the date immediately. I will talk to your uncles about it today." She patted her head softly. Nadia smiled and nodded. "Thank you so so much Grandma."

"Shh, anything for my grandchildren. Now make sure you have enough rest and take good care of yourself so they'll discharge you soon. And if there's any problem, just tell Samira to call me." Nadia nodded again smiling.

The moment Hajiya Ramatu left, Mammy turned her direction to Nadia. She glared and her and hissed. "If anything happens after that marriage, I mean anything, don't you dare come back to my house! Since I've warned you but you decided to be stubborn and include mama in this!"

Nadia beamed at her mother but she hissed and looked away. Nadia shrugged and turned her attention to the TV. She eagerly wanted to call Mujahid and tell him the good news but her phone was with her aunt and she wasn't yet back from home.

Meanwhile Mujahid had been locked up in his house ever since he left the hospital. When she is with him the pain stops, or at least it once did. When he had hope that one day she would come to him and stay, she was his medicine. These days the pain ebbs at first sight of her, then multiplies and he wants to flee. Then she goes and he misses her with a pain that sits in his guts like so much fire burning slow. Those flames belong in his heart, in his soul, yet no more. And in this hurricane of his soul, amid the endless winds that scream, He make no move. He can protect himself, or her. He would choose her until there is no more of his mind or his body, whichever comes first; that is his vow, his oath upon the song of the birds, the light that scatters on still water, the sun that rises each new day.

In his sadness there is no past or future, just living by the moment. Every day is measured from the moment of waking into this new reality until his body can do no more, until sleep comes to rest his weary mind. Each day He greets the sun like a climber greets their rope, fingers holding on fast despite the pain. It is grief, no different from bereavement, coming in wintry waves.

His phone vibrated again, he sighed and grabbed it from the side drawer. It was maryam again. He answered the call that time instead. "Yaya Mujahid, I've been calling you. Why aren't you picking your calls? Or texting me back?"

He chuckled a bit. His voice could tell any soul that he's down hearted. "I'm sorry love. I've not been feeling okay but I'm getting better now. I'll come see you tomorrow at your clinic."

"Why didn't you tell me you were sick? I could've come check up on you," she spoke disappointed. "I know, I know doctor. I'm sorry. I need to get some sleep now," he said tiredly and cut the call.

Another call came through. He hissed thinking it was maryam calling again. But to his surprise, it was Nadia. He promptly sat down and answered the call. "Hey, baby." He smiled when he heard her voice after so many days. "Hello, How are you feeling?" He asked. "Recovering fast. Why didn't you come to see me?"

"I didnt want to make things more complicated that it is already....."

"Just come to the hospital today. We need to talk," she cuts in. He nodded, "okay, I'll be there tonight."

It was past 5pm when he got up and took his shower. For some reason, he felt relieved after speaking with her. The thought of why she told him to come after her mother warned him bothered him. What if he goes and her mother ends up humiliating him or ask one of her bodyguards to shoot him. He shrugged off the thought of that and headed out to get something to eat.

The moment he came back home, it was already Maghrib time. He prayed first before eating. He couldn't remember when last he had a proper meal. He was even too melancholic to do anything. After Isha prayers, he got ready went to the hospital.

The moment he got to the hospital, he hopped out of the car and walked to Nadia's room. He breathed in and out deeply before knocking. He heard an unfamiliar voice gave him the permission to come in.

Hajiya Ramatu was the first person he saw then Mammy glaring at him. He looked away and their eyes met, the beautiful amber eyes he missed looking at. A smile crept and the air grew thick with a tenderness that couldn't help but make him breathe slower, deeper, happier. She smiled back at him....

"Masha Allah, you must be Mujahid," Hajiya Ramatu said, interrupting their staring contest. He didn't had to ask who she is. He's definitely sure she's Mammy mother because of the resemblance. He squatted down and greeted her then greeted Mammy. She answered him coldly.

"I'm truly sorry about what happened last week. I don't know what was wrong with my daughter for doing such thing to," Hajiya Ramatu spoke glaring at Mammy. "Now, Zainab has something she would like to say to you, right?" She said glared at her again. Mammy hesitates before talking. "I know whatever happened should not have happened the way it did. But, I am really sorry on my part. My intention was not this from the start. And..... you have my blessings."

He stared as if she just produced a rhinoceros from her bag. Nadia could just imagine the sparks in his brain, desperately trying to connect the dots and instead just causing a short circuit. He looked like a pop-eyed toy from one of those claw machines at the fun fair. Perfectly funny. He looked at Nadia for confirmation. She chuckled and nodded.

He stood up from his position, smiling. "I.... thank you so so much for this. I can't even thank you enough. I promise you, I will take good care of your daughter."

Mammy scoffed and rolled her eyes. "We don't want to waste any time. If you're ready, you can send your people next week." He nodded briskly and thanked them again.

After a while, he left the hospital and went straight to meet his father about it. He wouldn't want to waste time. He thinks Mammy could change her mind any time. After he got to the house, he went straight to his father's living room. He met him together with Ummah.

"Mujahid? Where have you been? It's been six days since I last saw you here," Ummah spoke. He scratched the back of his head. "Yes Ummah. I've been very busy. I'm so sorry for not visiting," he replied. And then he proceeded to greet them.

"I've been wanting to speak with you about the girl you once told me about. You didn't say anything again which you said you'd talk to her." Mujahid nodded. "Yes baba, that's why I'm here. They asked me to send my people when I'm ready," he said smiling sheepishly. His head low. Ummah laughed a bit, "oh so you're not here to check up on us. It's because of your girlfriend you're here? Yayi maka kyau Mujahid."

Baba chuckled and shook his head. "I've already done my investigations and I found out that her father was our former Major General. I know him quite well. He's a good and generous man. So I will talk to your uncles about it. They will go to their house maybe next week."

After they were done talking about the wedding arrangements, they proceeded to the dining room and had dinner together. Mujahid was now relieved and happy once again. He thought he would be stuck with Maryam for the rest of his life. Now that he has gotten Nadia, she was of no use to him. She was nothing but a piece of toy he would play with before he breaks her heart.

After dinner he went home with the thought of Nadia being his wife.

••

"Ummah, I don't understand," he spoke bewildered. "Kaji ka da zance. "What do mean by you don't understand. I said your brother Mujahid is getting married soon. And don't forget what we talked about last two weeks."

"What is her name you say?" He asked again. "Her name is Nadia. And the date will be fixed next week In sha Allah...."

His heart leaps to hear it's not Maryam's name she called. Mahmud was sitting at a table in Starbucks shop with Habiba. He was white as chalk. His eyes and his mouth were frozen wide open in an expression of stunned surprise. Have they broken up with Maryam? Is she okay? Does she know about the wedding preparations? How will she cope with that?

"Mahmud? Lafiya dai koh? I've been talking and you're not saying anything. Oh well, I have to go now and started preparing for dinner. We will talk later. And don’t forget what we talked about," Ummah said and hanged up. He rapidly stood up from the chair and walked out. Habiba went after him but he was already gone. She understood that something was wrong maybe at home that is why he left. But whatever it is, he shouldn't have walked out on her like that without explaining anything to her. She sighed and walked down the street. She was starting to lose hope. Maybe, just maybe her own soulmate was close by.

Meanwhile Mahmud went back to their apartment and met Ahmad was about to head out. "Hey wow, what's up?" He asked holding Mahmud by his shoulder. He explained everything to Ahmad. They both settled down in the living room.

"I dont think you should call her. I am definitely sure she will call you when she understands that you have been trying to protect her and she shouldn't have taken advantage of your love. And I don't think going back will make the clock reverse. You will end up hurting yourself the more. I mean what if she thinks you'd do the same thing your brother did to her?"

Mahmud sat there reviving. He held his head with his hands, thinking of what to do. No matter what she'll do to him or what she'll say, he was never leaving her side because he made a promised to her. But she asked him to stay away and he was going to respect her opinion and let her be.