Chapter 13: Chapter 13

She didn't even move an inch, when Maama and her sisters entered the room with their Salaam. She looked up and flashed them a rueful smile, before averting her gaze to the ground. It's time. She'd leave her Maama, and her Daada that she had never for once imagined living without him.

She stood up and folded the prayer mat, placing it on her bedside drawer, she sat beside Maama and rested her head on her laps. "I love you so much, Maama. Are you tired of me also?" She asked slowly, the tears finding their ways out of her eyes.

Maama stifled back her tears with aplomb, she knew this would be the last time she will see her; for they'll leave early tomorrow and Daada said they should say their goodbyes now. "I love you more than the word love itself, you mean alot to me, Ihsan. I would never get tired of you," Maama replied, hugging her so tight, letting the tears fall, she couldn't hold them for long.

"They're waiting for us, Jamila, let's take her out," one of Maama's sister's said, as she stood up, trying to lift up Ihsan.

Ihsan looked at Maama, whom nodded her head at her, she knew what it meant; she should be obedient to them, and so she abided. Maama's sister draped a big matching veil over her head, as it dangled and closed half her body. Ihsan cringed, seeing that they were really dragging her out of her room, her sanctuary.

They both descended the staircases, with a felicitous smile plastered on their faces. Some where yodelling, some laughing, while some were gisting fascinatingly.

They met Abbu and Daada in his living room, Ihsan slumped on Daada's body and let the water works intensified. "You no more love me huh? So you can even live a day without me, Daada?" She asked, pouting her lips, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Daada cupped her crying face with his hands, "Don't cry in his presence, he'll mock you one day," he hushed, gesturing at Sadeeq sitted on the carpet beside him, with his head hung down.

She bulged out her eyes and mouthed "Are you sure, Daada?" With a fearing look in her eyes. She knew Sadeeq so well, he can mock for africa.

Daada made her sat down opposite Sadeeq on the carpet before replying "Yes Daada's love. So wipe those tears, and curve a beautiful smile on your lips. We're strong, aren't we?" He hushed, flashing her an encouraging smile.

She quickly cleared her tears, and curved a magnificent smile on her luscious lips. "Yes Daada, we are, and we shall forever be," she conjectured, lifting up her misty orbs, as they fell directly into Sadeeq's hazel's orbs. She felt a shiver down her spine, which made her yawed her gaze from him.

Abbu began talking, wishing them a happy married life, with blissful children. Daada did same too. Ihsan was already crying, so it was really true, like real real, she was married to Sadeeq. And these dramatic parents of theirs, are talking about their children, so hilarious.

"It's getting late, you all need to rest tomorrow would be a long and tiring day. Sadeeq, if she ever does something to you, I'm just a phone call away. Let me know please, and see how I'll deal with her," Daada said, as he patted Sadeeq's head with a wide grin on his lips, ignoring the dagger Ihsan sent his way.

Abbu chuckled outwardly, seeing the look on Ihsan's face, he knew what she might be going through, he knew she was waiting for someone to have her back. "Ihsan my baby, I shouldn't even tell you, you know our rule; even if it's a look you aren't satisfied with call me that instant, we know how to deal with him," Abbu informed, seeing how her once forlorn face lit up was worthy.

"Sure My Abbu, I love you so much," she jabbered, hugging him.

"And I love you more, My Daada," Sadeeq spoke for the first time, resting his head on Daada's laps.

Ihsan glared at him and looked at Abbu with pouted lips "Abbuuuu," she whined, and he knew what it meant.

He hushed some words to her, which made her chuckled outwardly and stood up. "It's getting late, Daada, I'm sleepy. Let's go, Abbu," she spoke, holding Abbu's hand with hers, not looking Daada's way.

Sadeeq and Daada both stoop up, flashing her a puzzled look. They knew there was something beneath this sudden mood of hers.

Daada opened his arms wide enough for a hug "One last hug?" He muttered, looking at her, trying so hard not to sound broken.

She ran and engulfed him into her embrace. "I so much love you, Daada. I'll call you after every minute, Insha Allah," she conjectured, letting the tears flow freely from her eyes.

Maama joined them and said their last goodbye, before Abbu held her hand, as they walked out of their house whilst she was crying silently. The house was surprisingly silent, Ihsan knew it might be Ummu's work. Silently, Abba led her to an unknown room, she taught she would sleep in Manal's room, but too exhausted to protest, Ihsan sat down at the edge of the bed, whilst Abbu brought her dessert, since she protested on having something heavy.

He left the room, after assuring her that they were all asleep, she should feel at home and sleep soundly. She bid Abbu goodnight and began scrutinizing the room, surprisingly; the hand luggage Maama arranged for her was at the far end of the room.

She removed her veil and folded it. Tiredly slumping on the bed, she began munching on her dessert, before she heard the door creaked ajar. Upon seeing the intruder, her heart beat ceased. She kept intensely staring at him, that's when it all dawned on her, she felt his cologne in every crevice and corner of the room.

"Abbu said no one should disturb me, go out please," she sounded polite, it was Maama's words she tried putting into practice.

He ignored her and removed his Babban riga, folding it neatly, he turned and flashed her an enraging look "It's my room here, you're the one disturbing me, not the other way round," he replied, taking his eyes off her; an intense gaze can lead to something he wouldn't want to think of.

She ignored him too, and silently ate her desserts. From the way he was looking at her plate, she knew he was hungry too, he might have not eaten anything since morning, just like her. "I'm not selfish, take it and have some. I would like to take my shower, do leave the room before I come out," she thrusted him the plate, took her toiletries and sauntered towards the bathroom, trying so hard to suppress her laughter. She knew he would feel embarrassed for he wouldn't have wanted her to know he's hungry.

Sadeeq palmed his face, scolding hinself for not calling Ummu about his food, and now this shapeless amoeba thought she can give him her remnants.

She entered the bathroom, took off her clothes and began fiddling with her necklace, her hands became sore because of how she had been fiddling with the necklace but couldn't get it unhooked. Tears were already glistening her eyes, upon realising Sadeeq might have left the room already. And now, who would help her unhook the necklace? She had no choice than to go out and call Manal.

Wiping away her tears, she turned the door knob and came out of the room, what she saw standing by the bathroom door frightened the remaining life in her.

She screamed and closed her eyes very tight, it was Sadeeq standing by the door, he was wearing only his singlet and a three quarter. He chortled and moved towards her, "What happened? So you're not that naughty girl I knew? C'mon, girl up," there was a smirk look on his face, whilst Ihsan's eyes were still closed shut.

She let the tears flow freely, so this is what Daada and Maama embroiled her in? What kind of life is this? It suddenly somersaulted in her she's in her towel, which barely reached her knee. She gasped and strode backwards, trying to go back to the bathroom, she can stay all night there.

He swiftly grisped her wrist and pinned her on the wall, "What are you doing? Why can't you look at me? Where is that stubborn Ihsan?" He chuckled outwardly, how tears were streaming down her closed eyes was giving him a great joy.

"I..wan..tt to..bath," she stuttered, how he was an inch close to her was sending shivers down her spine. How his cologne filled her olfactory lobe was making her quiver.

The smirk on his lips widened. "Why are you out then?" He asked, taking hold of her shoulder, as she shuddered at the electrifying feeling she felt.

Knowing Sadeeq so well, she knew he won't let go of her until she answered his question "I can't unhook my necklace, and it's itching me," she answered, her eyes were still shut, tears slowly cascading down; wetting her long eye lashes.

Without a word, he turned her and unhooked the necklace. How she let out a breathe when his hands left her skin made him chuckled inwardly.

"You don't know how thank someone huh?" He asked, lifting up her face.

She gulped down a lump in her throat, and lifted up her eyes. "Thank you," she quivered. She was surprisingly afraid of him, how they were so close was horrifying.

"Open your eyes and thank me, Ihsan, else I won't let you go," he declared, holding her face in his hands.

Trying so hard to get out of his hold, she slowly lifted up her eyes, "Thank you, let me g..," before she could finish, he merged his lips with hers. That was what he was longing for, to know how those sacrastic luscious lips would feel like.