Chapter 41: Chapter 41

"Who would have thought things would be this easy?" Ayoade said to Raliat as she walked them to the bus stop.

Raliat giggled. "Let's give thanks to the Almighty."

"Yes. All praises be to God", he muttered under his breath.

"All praises be to God", Salamat mumbled too.

"What is with your mum's behaviour?", Ayoade questioned.

Raliat shrugged. " I have no idea."

"Sometimes, I feel she is bipolar", she added and laughed out loud.

"Don't be silly", Ayoade scolded.

"She is overjoyed. That is the only way to express her feelings. We do fight a lot and she couldn't bear the fact that I would be leaving her soon."

"How do you know that's it?", Ayoade asked.

"She is my mother and I know her."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"You have a lovely family", Salamat commented.

"Thank you, Salamat", she flashed a smile at Salamat.

"Your grandmother is sweet and Jafar is a cute boy. I like him", Salamat completed.

"Thank you", Raliat said again with a smile.

"Your face looks familiar. Do you know me?", Salamat inquired with curiosity.

"Of course I do", Raliat chuckled as they got to the bus stop.

Then she added, "You were Bimpe's friend in Abeokuta and I am her friend here in Zaria."

"Wao! How come you know me and I don't?" Salamat demanded with a baffled look.

"It doesn't matter. Now we know each other and I am happy to have hosted you. Thank you for the support and for coming", Raliat appreciated it.

Salamat grinned. " Thank you too for accepting our proposal."

"The pleasure is all mine."

They all stopped walking as bus conductors were persuading passengers to their buses. Raliat beckoned to Ayoade to come close to her. Salamat saw the exchange and quickly moved away from them to give them privacy.

All of a sudden, she felt lonely.

Seeing the two love birds and the emission of the love they shared made her miss Saleem. She remembered the argument they had the day before and she felt the sudden need to talk to him. She missed seeing him and missed having him around.

He has made all her past hurt oblivious and it was more like they never existed. She could barely remember all that had happened in sequence.

Now, she felt they do not matter anymore. All that matters now was the future. She decided to give him a call once she gets back home, even though she was still not ready and willing to compromise.

"I wish you a safe trip back to Samaru", Raliat uttered with a smile and wave, jerking Salamat out of her thoughts, after she was done talking to her beloved, who was all smiles too.

Salamat wondered if Raliat was always smiling. The smile was always on her face. She was a happy and carefree lady, Salamat guessed.

And the reason for her happiness was obvious. Having the man of your dreams to yourself is enough satisfaction and happiness. It was enough.

Salamat realized how ungrateful she had been. "God has been sufficient for me", she muttered.

She was happy now. She had a man who will soon be her husband. Her parents were doing well. She would soon be a graduate. What more could she ask for? Life itself is enough. Many are dead and gone. Many are in difficult situations that they feel like giving up.

"Allah is indeed sufficient for me!", she muttered again as she smiled back as Raliat.

"Thanks for coming once again", Raliat whispered.

"The pleasure is all mine. Take care."

Raliat waited till they entered the bus going to Samaru. She finally turned to go when the bus took off. Within minutes, the bus was out of sight.

Salamat watched Raliat from inside the bus and wished her the best. She was indeed a lucky woman for falling in love with someone like Ayoade. She was luckier by gaining his attention. It was also evident in Ayoade's eyes that he was deeply in love with her.

Then, Salamat wished Saleem would look her the way Ayoade was looking at Raliat. She released the foolish thoughts she was harboring and quickly cautioned herself.

She knew she was a novice when it came to relationships, but ever since she accepted Saleem's proposal, she had always dedicated her time to browse one or two things about halal relationships and how to sustain hers.

She even joined a WhatsApp group named, "RELATIONSHIP GIST WITH CHRIS DON", where they share relationship tips, where people with relationship issues share their problems and are given advice on how best to go about it. Most of these people always come back with testimonies and appreciation.

Chris Don is indeed a genius, Salamat thought.

The tips were miraculously working for every member of his group. Salamat thought of private chatting him on how to make her relationship with Saleem sweet and devoid of boring talks. She was willing to do everything to make him always interested in her.

Her initial fear was that he was going to get tired of her someday and dump her for a very beautiful girl. But after accepting his proposal, all her fears diminished.

She was going to learn to call him pet names just like Ayoade calls Raliat. She could remember he called her "babe" right in the presence of her parents. She loved the confidence and she was willing to emulate it. She no longer wants to be the boring girl.

She checked her wristwatch and saw that it was already half past 4 pm. She remembered her father's warning about coming early so he could take her to Shika. She would have to postpone it till the next day.

She remembered what transpired between her parent earlier that morning and her father's inability to defend himself and she sighed deeply.

"What are you thinking?" Ayoade whirled his hand in front of her, to get her attention.

She turned to face him and smiled. "Nothing much."

"Are you going home or school?", he asked her.

She looked out and noticed they were already at the flyover. "Home. Tell the conductor I will drop at Emanto junction."

"Conductor, we will drop at Emanto junction", Ayoade announced to the conductor.

"Toh, ku kawo kudin ku (Ok, give me your money)", the conductor said stretching his hand.

He was a very little boy and Salamat wondered why he was doing such a job instead of being in school.

Ayoade couldn't understand the language but he figured out what he meant when he saw his stretched hand. He gave him a #500 note as they got to Emanto junction.

They alighted from the bus and Ayoade requested for his change.

"You look lost earlier. What's the matter with you?", Ayoade requested.

"Nothing."

"Are we taking a bike or your place is not far from here?", he asked her as they crossed to the other side of the road.

"Let's walk. It's trekkable", she told him. "You want to follow me home?"

"No. I will just see you off to the gate. But I promise to come visiting soon", he replied. "So tell me what's on your mind. And don't tell me nothing if you don't want me to thrash you."

Salamat laughed and said, "I am just thinking."

"Thinking of what?"

"I don't know where and how to start."

"Start anyhow."

"I'm shy", she laughed again.

Ayoade cackled and said, "Is it about your boyfriend?"

"Uhm... Well, I wouldn't say boyfriend. I really don't like that word. I prefer you call him my fiance."

"Wao! Really! My little sis is now a big girl. So what's the problem?"

"He has started talking about making things official", he blurted out.

"Marriage?"

"Yes", she answered.

"What's the big deal?" Ayoade demanded.

"I am still an undergraduate. I want to be an independent wife and that means I would have to graduate first before thinking about marriage."

"What level are you?", he asked.

"Final year in Nursing Science", she responded.

"That means this is your fifth year in the school, right?"

"Yes."

"Good. Raliat and Bimpe are coursemates. They are medical students and just in their third year. They have 3-4 years to go. I see no reason why you should give any excuse since you are in your final year. I understand that we are all entitled to our individual choices but you should explain to him in a way that he will also reason with you. Good men are rare to come by these days, so hold yours very tight."

"Is Bimpe still in school?", Salamat asked all of a sudden.

"Yes. She is Raliat's coursemate."

"I thought she said she was withdrawn. How come she is still in school."

"I really have no idea why that silly girl said that to you. She is your friend, so you two should sort yourselves out."

"Like I was saying, imagine if Raliat father had used that as a yardstick not to marry his daughter. Imagine if he claims his daughter is still in her third level and has 3 years to go before graduation, so, therefore, it's better to wait till she graduate, imagine what would happen? You have no idea what we guys are going through and our reasons for wanting to get married. Do you know that men nowadays don't wait till they are 30 before they start thinking of marriage? Gone are those days my dear. If you know my reasons for wanting to marry Raliat as soon as possible, I am sure you will give in to her fiance's demand without a second thought."

"What is your reason? Don't you love each other?", she demanded curiuosly.

"We do. But there is a reason attached to the sudden "let's get married", but that would be a story for another day."

"Tell me please so I can learn", she insisted.

"I will but not now. So call him and talk things out between yourselves."

"I will call him when I get home."

"Why can't you call him now? You don't want me to listen to your conversations?"

"Of course not, that's not it."

"Then it means you are being stubborn. Prove me wrong by calling him now."

Salamat laughed. "You know that's not true."

"The stubborn side of you is hidden. I know it exists. So call me."

They stopped walking to sit on the pavement close to their house. She was reluctant to call him there and then.

She heaved a deep sigh and brought out her phone. Then, she dialed Saleem's number.

"Saleem dear", she said with a smile when he picked the call.

"Salem, I want the ice cream, not the cake", a female voice said.

Salamat looked at the number again to be sure she dialed the correct number. It was Saleem's number. She put the phone back to her ears.

"Saleem, are you there?" She asked but the call got disconnected.

She stared at Ayoade with mouth-agape.

"What?" He questioned with a worried look on his face.

"Is Saleem dating Bimpe?"

"Saleem?" Ayoade questioned and remembered what Raliat told him. Saleem was the name Raliat mentioned to him.

"Is Saleem your fiance?" He asked Salamat who almost fainted in shock.