Four Years Ago.
Kari Residence, Bauchi State.
It came as a great shock to Inaya when Aadil informed her that he will be taking her to meet his mother the next day. Of course, when she heard that, she had to look at him yet again and be certain he really is the same man she knows or whether it's someone else taking his identity.
They've gotten along well. However, even with that, Inaya didn't think a day that soon would come where he would offer to take her to meet his mother—the same woman he dragged her away from the last time she went to his house just two days back.
Nonetheless, she obviously took up the invitation not wanting to miss such a rare opportunity. It proved to be even more so that when Aadil dropped the fact that he will be leaving them alone for a while as he and Aahil had something to do. They didn't say why, and the two women didn't ask as well.
They were too excited to bond with each other that they practically sent the men away before they could leave on their own. They basically spent the entire day doing things that ranged from girls talk and even Inaya's worst enemy, cooking.
Maa was quick to leave her out of it when it seemed the younger woman would burn down her kitchen. She was tasked with chopping the veggies instead and watching from a distance. Inaya didn't mind. She loved spending quality time with the woman like that.
It wasn't until after they were done that they decided to head to the balcony and rest while waiting for the men to return. On doing just that, Maa attempted to settle down on a wicker chair only for her to suddenly nearly lose her balance—her gaze blurring for a second.
"Are you okay, Maa?" Inaya inquired, as she helped the woman settle down on the nearest chair slowly. Her brows were drawn in, lips slanted into a deep frown. "Do you want me to call Aadil? Wait, of course I should call him. Stay here for a while, I'll go and call him--"
As Inaya made a move to walk away, Maa stretched her hand out to hold hers weakly, putting a halt to her actions. Inaya halted, turning around to look at the woman with worry filled eyes.
Crouching low in front of her, she covered the woman's hand with her other free hand. "Just give me a minute, okay Maa? I'll just call Aadil and we'd take you to a hospital. You don't look too good. It's better--"
"Don't bother." Maa cut her off before she could ramble any further, her tone light. Her lips were stretched into a small, warm smile that seemingly took a lot of effort from her. Still, she gave Inaya's hand a small squeeze with every strength she could muster. "You don't have to tell him. He'd only be worried."
"But--"
"I'm dying, Inaya."
Inaya could swear she felt her heart drop to the bottom of her stomach then the minute those words left past Maa's lips. It felt as though the world stilled, and all she could see was the face of that woman who still held a smile—as if she didn't announce a life shattering news.
Inaya's hand on hers slackened, mouth agape. "W—what...what do you mean dying?" Her words sounded so foreign to her ears, she couldn't even recognize her voice again. It sounded as if it wasn't hers.
She couldn't remember when last she heard herself speak in such a manner. When last she felt such dread, such fear.
She hadn't known Maa for long. Heck, this is the second time she's meeting the woman and the first they are having a decent conversation but suddenly being hit with death news felt like a train crashing into her.
She felt the breath being knocked out of her, and then her heart being painfully squeezed as if the life in her would be taken along as well.
Maa looked down at their intertwined hands, relieved she had finally said the words out loud. "I'm sorry for dropping it on you like that, I just...I needed to share it with someone." She looked up to meet Inaya's gaze, her expression soft. The pain behind her orbs were hard to miss though, as if this is something she had been holding in for the longest time.
And she has.
It has been eating her up for the longest time, not being able to share it that is. She felt as though she couldn't bring herself to break the news to her loved ones; she wasn't sure she could handle their reactions...especially her sons'.
Yet, there she was, blurting it out to Inaya out of the blue like that. She honestly doesn't even know why she did that, but she felt relieved knowing she could finally share the news with someone. Maybe, she wouldn't ha e much regrets if she passed on without telling the others.
Inaya blinked, trying to gather her thoughts. Swallowing thickly, she darted her tongue to wet her chapped lips—all in an attempt to make sense of the entire thing. Just a second ago, she was glad to be spending time with the woman...and now everything has changed just because of a single sentence.
Life...it has surprising ways of breaking you.
When Inaya finally managed to put a lid on her thoughts and find her voice, she flicked her head up to meet Maa's eyes, hers filled with a mirage of confusion, worry, disbelief and denial. "I don't understand." She stated earnestly. "What do you mean you're dying? I mean we all are, aren't we?" She awfully joked, forcing out a chuckle all out of denial.
She was mostly worried about Aadil. She could tell he has a good relationship with his mother. And yet when the news broke to her, his face flashed right across her eyes at first. She could only imagine how torn he would be.
Maa didn't take any offense in her words; even she could recall her reaction when her doctor broke the news to her. She could still remember it as the day her life truly broke down.
Her husband marrying Anita wasn't the real reason she left; honestly, she couldn't care less about them. How could she when she was practically told her death is around the corner. She didn't have the time to sit and worry about them.
She had other things to worry about, like her kids. They matter to her, more than anything.
"If you're sick, I—I have some contacts. I can find someone that would treat you. You can even travel abroad, I'm certain Aadil would be more than willing to go with you. If he can't, I will--"
"I have stage four ovarian cancer." Maa cut her off yet again before she could go far, her tone soft. "No treatment can cure that."
Inaya was quick to shake her head, refusing to believe that. She doesn't want to. She would rather be in denial for as long as she could. "We can still try." She pressed on. "I know an oncologist, a good one. I can introduce her to you and we can try any option possible." Even if it wasn't for Aadil, she wouldn't be comfortable sitting around and watching someone die like that when she can help.
Of her connections, she can try to get her a good doctor. She knows the family is more than capable of getting one on their own as well, but she's willing to help as well if needed.
Maa's smile didn't waver in the slightest. She simply gave Inaya's hand a small squeeze, and the eventually uttered. "I've already made up my mind, Inaya." She shifted her gaze from their intertwined hands to meet the younger woman's eyes. "I'm just simply letting you know because I needed to get it off my chest. Forgive me if I dumped such information on you unannounced. I know I'm being selfish by making you bear the burden with me."
Inaya looked down, not knowing what to say. Her head is a mess. She's always prepared for the situations she finds herself in but this time, she suddenly wasn't certain how to act and what to say.
"—however, there is a reason I am sharing this news with you." Maa added, making Inaya hesitantly lift her suddenly heavy lids to meet hers. For someone who had accepted her fate, there was still this light in her orbs hard to miss.
Inaya could only wonder what the reason is. What could be the reason Maa is sharing something she seemingly haven't shared with her family members as well? What made her so different.
As if knowing the questions running through her head, Maa offered her a small smile. "Aadil." She stated, the name alone being an answer to it all.
"Aadil?"
Pressing her lips together, Maa nodded slowly. "Yes, Aadil." She affirmed. There was this look in her eyes Inaya couldn't point a finger to exactly. She's hard to read really; must be where Aadil got it from. Suspiring, the woman added in a knowing tone. "You approached him for a reason, didn't you? Your meeting wasn't a coincidence."
The minute those words registered in Inaya's mind, she felt her brain shut down for the second time that day. First, it was the death news and now, her secret being laid bare like it's nothing grave when it is.
Perhaps, a little over a month ago she wouldn't have felt that way. But, things have changed; and not in the way she expected. The thought of her secret coming to light and registering with Aadil made her feet cold.
It scared her.
Not knowing what to say, she found herself unable to form coherent words. Nothing she could say at the moment felt right, absolutely nothing.
It seemed Maa could tell she was in a dilemma as well because she sighed, giving Inaya's hand a warm squeeze as she glanced at it for a second. "I won't ask why, and I won't prod. I am not going to judge you for it either."
Too baffled and unable to hold back, Inaya found herself questioning almost instantly. "But, why?" Isn't this the part where the love interest's mother incessantly questions and blame the woman into leaving her son? Isn't this the part where she detests her and make her life a living hell?
Surely, if she was in her shoes, she would probably do the same. But, here is Maa, wanting to feign ignorance and let her off the hook just like that.
Maa smile never wavered, and when she spoke, her tone was knowing. "Because I can see that you love him." She stated in a warm tone.
Inaya couldn't deny it, because it's true—surprisingly so. Loving Aadil Kari isn't something she expected, not in the slightest. And yet, she doesn't regret it. She's never felt that way because of someone, and truth be told, if she's asked why she loves him, she has no reason in particular. She just does.
Sounds crazy, right? She's starting to believe she's a bit nuts as well. She's crazy when Aadil comes into the picture.
"See, I am right. Aren't I?" Maa pointed out, taking note of the ghost smile that took over Inaya's features due to her earlier statement.
The minute she said that though, Inaya found herself looking down bashfully. It didn't last for long though, because another thought crossed her mind; shattering the bit of happiness she found herself in. Blowing out a loud breath, her shoulders slumped as she voiced out in a low tone. "He'd hate me though if he knows." She looked up with worry filled eyes. Her lips slanted into a bitter smile. "I just know it."
Maa didn't give her an instant response, because if she was to say something comforting, then she'd probably be lying to the girl. She knows her son well enough. She may not care what her real intentions are, but he would.
He wasn't one to easily understand and accept things as they are. Lies especially, he doesn't do well with it. He truly doesn't like things that aren't righteous, it's a miracle he actually gets along with her. Probably because he believes she isn't as bad as people portray her to be.
Because he saw the light in her.
If he finds out she has been lying to him from the start though, that light will diminish instantly.
"I know getting him to understand will be hard, but I know he'll eventually come around." That was the most comforting thing Maa could think of at the moment. She didn't want to lie to the girl by telling her everything will be alright. Because it truly won't be. "I know it'll be difficult, and I'm probably being selfish for asking you this, but Inaya, even after my death, I want you to promise me one thing."
Inaya's brows drew in, lips slanted into a deep frown. "Anything." She ascertained without a second thought. "Just say the words."
Maa took in a deep breath, "Please don't give up on my son." She whispered, making Inaya's heart clench painfully. "He'll without a doubt give you a hard time, and like I said, I probably sound selfish saying this but please don't give up on him. It may not seem like it, but he doesn't have anyone with him. I'd feel much more at ease knowing he has someone who loves him, someone like you, with him."
Inaya swallowed thickly.
"Promise me you won't easily give up on him, Inaya. Please, do me this favor. This is my dying request to you. I want nothing more than his happiness. But, if it does come to a stage where you have to pick between saving yourself and him, I want you to be selfish enough to choose yourself." Just because she loves her son doesn't mean she'd have someone throw her life away for him. "Love, and choose yourself first. And if by some chance you decide to be with him, save him as well. Save him from his demons. That's all I ask for."