Journey to 'I do'

35- Borno Storms

Muhammad's POV

That evening, I decided I wanted to go and see A'isha and talk to her. Umma had come to my wing of the house to let me know that my father had, in fact, decided that I should marry both women. Whoever disagreed wouldn't marry me since his wife was too embarrassed to go and apologize for spreading false information! I knew I could marry Nadia and absolutely ignore her, but that wouldn't be just, and she wasn't worth me risking heaven. I had done a lot of messy sinful things, if you like, but this one wasn't one I was willing to add to my list.

As I drove to A'isha's house, I couldn't help but miss my mother. Life would've been so different if she were here. Maybe I'd even be a better person. I pulled onto the familiar street of the Yahaya Residence and pulled out my phone to call A'isha. The security opened the gate for me with a friendly smile, and I drove in.

"Hello," I said once she answered.

"Asalamu alaykum," her voice came sounding tired.

"Wa alaykum Salam. I'm at your house, A'isha, can I come in?"

"Yes, of course. I'm coming; wait," she said quickly and then hung up.

Five minutes later, she emerged and greeted me with a wave from the front door. Stepping out of the car, I made sure to grab the gift hampers—one from Umma for her and another from me for her mother. As I approached A'isha, my gaze unintentionally fixated on the subtle outline of her curves that peeked out from beneath her Abaya. She held onto it, making it hug her body more, I couldn't help but notice the graceful contours. Memories of our recent conversation in the car surfaced, where she had compared herself to Nadia. Despite Nadia's attractiveness, in my eyes, she couldn't hold a candle to A'isha. My usual preference leaned towards slender figures, but A'isha was different. Everything about her defied my past dating experiences, yet she held an inexplicable allure that had captured my heart and occupied my thoughts more profoundly than any other.

Approaching her, we exchanged greetings, and I couldn't help but discern the stress reflected in her eyes. The weight of the situation was evidently taking a toll on her thoughts. A'isha accepted the gift hampers, offering me a small smile in return. As I stepped into her parents' living room, I extended warm greetings to both of them. However, I couldn't ignore the subtle chill in A'isha's greeting, reminiscent of the recent coldness that had crept into our interactions.

Alhaji Yahaya occupied the three-seater couch next to his wife, who was seated cross-legged beside him, his hand resting on her thigh. Out of modesty, she dropped her legs and sat upright as I walked in, yet his hand remained in place. I admired the connection they shared, loud in its subtle expression. Their dynamic spoke of genuine love, a stark contrast to the strained relationship between Baba and Aunty Jamila. A'isha graciously presented her mother with the hamper, eliciting a wide smile of gratitude, which she directed towards me.

After the formal greetings, her father inquired about work. "How's the preparation for transitioning into CEO?" he asked with a soft smile.

"Alhamdulillah, sir. I have been working alongside my father for a long time, so there's not much information to learn," I replied.

"That's good. And I hear you have your own company?" he asked, and I nodded shyly. "You know A'isha is business-minded and very wise, which she takes from me, so she can give you a lot of good advice," he added, smiling in her direction.

A'isha and I chuckled, "In shaa Allah, sir," I replied.

"Toh, Allah ya bada sa'a. You guys can go and talk."

"Ameen. Nagode, sir," I replied, getting up, and we moved into their other living room.

A'isha stood up, mentioning that she would fetch some water and a snack. I settled into the chair, nervously bouncing my leg as I awaited her return. Umma's advice echoed in my mind, urging me to maintain calmness and kindness during the upcoming conversation.