LOST IDENTITY

Chapter Twenty Eight

**

The week goes by uneventfully.  Tasneem and I only talked once after that night.  Dad finally divorced Furera cutting her off everything that belongs to him.  He suggested that I should come home and take over the family business which I declined politely saying I'm happy with my job and I want to make a niche for myself.

"Mamma invited your girl to come over this Saturday " Ahmad offered popping nuts into his mouth.

I raised a brow in question and he nodded in the affirmative.

"You do realize that you haven't uttered a single word since morning right?"

I shrugged " why does it matter?  I have nothing to say "

He started fiddling with his phone.

"Hello there softy!  Your man is seriously sick.  He keeps calling your name so I thought you should comfort him"

I didn't hear what she said on the other line before he thrusts the phone on my ears.

"Assalamu Alaikum" came her sweet cool voice.

"Wa'alaikissalam how are you" my voice sounded husky even to me. Probably because I have been quite for long.

"Am fine Alhamdulillah.  How's your health?  Have you seen the doctor? " she sounded concerned which warms my heart.

"Calm down okay?  I'm as fit as a fiddle. Ahmad is just being his childish self as usual "

She chuckled nervously, " okay then,  bye. May Allah be with you " she says and cut the call. I want to hear her voice some more and talk to her all day.

I excused myself and went out to call her back with my phone. She picked at the 6th ring.

"Are you mad at me? " I blurted.

With a deep sigh she said no" I was just scared and glad at the same time and I don't want to say something embarrassing that's why "

Ohh lord... I love this girl.

"That's cute.  Nothing you say or do will embarrass me In shaa Allah especially when you're showing affection towards me "  I said in a voice slightly above whisper.

We talked for almost an hour until she tells me she has to get ready for school and we said goodbye albeit reluctantly.

"Can I call you later tonight? " I asked sounding desperate.

"Why not? " I imagined her raising her cute brows.

"Thank You " I almost tell her that  I love her but caught myself in time. I want it to be special,  something we both will never forget. Ahmad and everyone might be wrong that she cares about me too.  Maybe she see's me as the brother she never have or someone she feels comfortable talking to and nothing more.

Something came up at work and I was so exhausted at night  to even think about anything other than my bed which welcomed me with open arms making me fall into a deep dreamless sleep.

***

I was swamped with work for the next two days including traveling to Kano to bring my grandma. Everyone is excited about the family meeting even though it's exclusive except me. Mamma promised to keep the gory details of my life a secret from those that didn't know, saying the lesser the people privy to it the better.

Ahmad was expecting to see Maryam with Nana but she left her behind.