You must be tired of my excuses...
This is the last chapter before the epilogue In shaa Allah...
Enjoy.
Zarah held her breath, trying so hard to control her erratic heartbeat, she had been counting the minutes it'd take until her father summon her to his living room, Ahmad had consented to her wishes, he was ready to let her go and surprisingly she felt nothing but peace, like some heavy weight was lifted off her shoulders. She smiled remembering the good old times when she and Ahmad would stay up late at night, telling each other how they wished their future would be, naming their unborn kids and painting a perfect life with each other oblivious of what destiny had in stored for them. A knock on her door brought and end to her reverie, she asked the person to come in while nervously throwing a veil around her head.
Her mother came in, with a sullen look and sat beside her on the chaise lounge. The mother took Zarah's damp hands, her eyes speaking millions of words to her before she managed to utter some after a couple of minutes.
"Zarah, Are you sure this is what you want?" She asked her and Zarah nodded.
"Has Ahmad arrived? Did he get so see Daddy?"
"He did, Go to your father's living room now, he wants to see you"
"Okay" Zarah smiled, reassuring her mother before walking out of the room.
She walked to her father's living room, reminiscing the past yet she felt no remorse, inwardly she was so grateful Ahmad considered her decision, when she salaamed upon reaching the living room she didn't expect to see Ahmad, she thought the "he" her mother meant was her father.
She sighed sitting on the sofa opposite to Ahmad's before calling his name, he was too engrossed with his thoughts that he didn't notice her presence, she scrutinized him for a while, he was disturbed and he had his face buried onto his palms. She understood what he was going through, He was feeling like he had cheated her coupled with the fact that he was deeply concerned about Hajiya Turai, but he was just being too stubborn to go and see her.
"Yaya Ahmad" Zarah called out his name.
"Huh? Sorry, when did you come in?"
Zarah smiled before answering him and he became quiet, trying so hard to think of a way he can begin.
"So you called me? I thought you're going to talk with my dad" She rolled her eyes at him making him smile sadly.
"Zarah, I don't know how to begin explaining how sorry I am, For misunderstanding you all these years, for not listening to you..."
"Well you've got to fix the issue of not listening to people you know, there's always another side of the story" She cut him off.
"I know Zarah, just shush and listen to me, you don't ever keep quiet do you?" He chuckled.
"Alright I won't say a word anymore" She said leaning on the sofa.
"I don't know what type of a person I am, I've hurt two precious jewels, you and Safaa, I wish you could change your decision so I'd set everything right, I am sorry for being a monster Zarah, for hurting you, Forgive me"
"I am the monster here Yaa Ahmad, I broke your happy family, I am responsible for the pain Safaa went through, she nursed her first pregnancy without a husband and it's all because of me" Zarah sniffed.
"I understand what you feel Zarah, I'm still sorry"
"You don't understand okay? How do you expect me to live with that kind of guilt? What of my conscience? Do you think if I go back to you I would be happy? I'm grateful you've accepted my decision, you have no idea what it means to me, and I promise you I'd be happy seeing you living a happy life too" She smiled wiping the tears that kept cascading down her cheeks.
"So now that's it then?" Ahmad mumbled.
"I guess"
"Here" He gave her a folded sheet, with a trembling hand.
"Thank you" She smiled genuinely.
"Ya Allah" Ahmad winced looking at her.
"We are still friends, don't worry, I have nothing against you, I'm opening up an orphanage, Do bring Yusrah to play with the kids sometimes" Zarah grinned getting off the sofa.
"Alright Zarah, take care of yourself, be happy, forgive me please?" He asked again but she only smiled reassuring him of her forgiveness before she began walking out of the living room.
"Yaya Ahmad, please visit Mama and do take care of Safaa, give her all the love and happiness that she needs" She informed him while at the door before ambulating towards her mother's room.
Ahmad stayed rooted to the sofa for several minutes, lost in his thoughts until the sound of his mobile phone knocked him out of it. He brought out the phone from his pocket and smiled sadly when he saw the caller.
It was Safaa.
"Hello Babe, can I call you later please" He answered the call but decided to end it when he saw Zarah's father descending the stairs.
"Ahh Ahmadu, you're still here? Ko dai Zarah bata zo ba?"
"No Baba, she came, we already talked, I'd be on my way now, Thank you" He uttered, with his head downcast. He was too ashamed to have eye contact with him.
"You don't worry Ahmad, We are still family, I understand what you're going through, Let it go, Be happy"
"How can I? When I've hurt a lot of people, I've caused pain to a lot of souls"
"I hope you learn to forgive yourself then, Don't worry about Zarah please, I assure you she would be happy"
"I pray so, Thank you very much" Ahmad said before dragging his heavy feet out to the compound where he packed his car.
Zarah peeped through her window and watched as he drove away, she let out a sigh of relief and inwardly thanked her Rabb for making Ahmad let go soon, she knew how stubborn he could get.
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The day Safaa was to go back to her matrimonial home had arrived but she was still doubtful, nightmares kept hunting her at night, making it so hard for her to be wholeheartedly happy about being with her husband again. Ahmad had already sent a truck that would convey their stuff home during the early hours of the day. She had no idea where their new home was, he wanted to surprise her. They were to leave at night and it was already dark but she was still not willing to get ready. She had spoken with Ahmad and he had told her he'd arrive in an hour but she wished she'd told him to forget about taking her home.
Safaa reached for her phone on the side drawer and dialled Abidah's number.
"Beedah" She whined when Abidah answered the call.
"What again? Don't tell me you're not going back please"
"I am not sure okay, I..."
"No girl, I took you for a free spa for crying out loud, it's an expensive one so don't even think about changing your mind, do you know how hard it was to babysit Yusrah while that lady was applying henna on your hands? Goodnight Safaa, don't call me again" Abidah said everything in one breath and ended the call.
Safaa huffed and dialled Aisha's number, but she also gave her an answer similar to Abidah's.
"Up up, get up and be ready, Oya" Mama barged into her room.
"Maa" Safaa pouted.
"What? Abidah called me, You do know you can't change your mind ko? I've dressed up your daughter do you want me to dress you up too? I will miss that cutie"
Safaa chuckled and walked to her empty closet and took the last dress hanging there. It was a pale blue dress, with intricate lace patterns on the sleeve and bodice. She slipped into it and quickly applied a bit of make up on her face, before putting on her silver turban and spraying some of her favorite perfumes on the right places.
She smiled upon seeing her mother's expression when she walked out of the closet.
"Ma shaa Allah, now leave that smile on your face please, don't sulk, will my son inlaw recognise you? You look gorgeous " Mama beamed.
"Oh Mama" Safaa blushed.
"I know I don't have to tell you much Safaa, You have already went through a lot and you do know how to manage your home but I want you to keep being patient, There's the only key to a happy home..." And Mama continued until Safaa's phone began ringing.
"Answer the phone call, let me check up on your whiney daughter" Mama said before exiting the room.
"Yaya Salman" Safaa answered the call cheerfully.
"Hey sister inlaw or should I say amarya? Do me a favor please?"
"What is that?" She asked.
"Make your stubborn husband visit his mother, she's in a critical condition and she kept calling his name throughout today, Will you do that for me?"
"You know how stubborn he is" She mumbled.
"I know, but he's so happy tonight I know he'd consent to all your wishes, you know what? Why not branch at the hospital on your way home?"
"I'm not sure whether Mama will like to see us"
"Don't worry about Mama Safaa, just do this favor for me please, bring him here, We're scared, she's in a critical condition"
"Alright Yaya Salman, you can count on me"
"Thank you Safaa, see you soon then?"
"Yeah,bye" She said ending the call.
Her nightmares came back tormenting her the moment she ended the call.
What if Hajiya Turai hurt her daughter when they visit?
She fell back to her reverie until her Mama came in with a crying Yusrah and asked her to feed her.
"Feed her and come downstairs, Ahmad is here"
Safaa fed the baby and lulled her back to sleep before going downstairs to meet her husband. He was happy but when he smiled at her it didn't reach his eyes and she knew something was eating him up.
"Hey" She sat next to him and he took Yusrah from her.
"Are we ready?" He smiled pecking Yusrah's cheek.
"Yeah I guess" She smiled back.
"Okay sweetie, let's go home then" He stood up and carefully cradled Yusrah in his arms.
They walked side by side to Mama's living room and she took her time to talk to them. Safaa's father was out of town so she called and informed him that they were ready to leave. Mama walked to them to the car, along with all the maids and the workers of the house and they all watched with a smile as Ahmad took his wife away.
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"Let me drive please?" Safaa asked Ahmad when they came out of Inna's house. They had stopped at their grandparent's house too because Baa wanted to see them.
Ahmad stared at her like she's grown double before putting on a grim face.
"No"
"But I said please, Baa just finished talking to us about compromise, I want to drive my husband and he doesn't want me to, but remembering that would make me happy he agrees, isn't that even cute?" Safaa rolled her eyes at him.
"You're unbelievable, you know that don't you?" He mumbled giving her the car key.
"I know, Thank you, now take your daughter and hop in" She grinned unlocking the car.
"You don't even know the way home" Ahmad said when Safaa started the car.
"Don't worry, I want us to go somewhere first, and then we'd go home from there, Don't ask me where, it's a surprise too" She said glancing at her baby and trying to steady her heartbeat, she was about to take her husband to see his mother but she was so scared.
She drove them silently and it was when she stopped at the hospital's parking lot that Ahmad understood where she'd brought him.
"Why?" He asked.
She took one of his hands and innocently pecked it, before smiling at him.
"Because I want you to, please"
"No Safaa" He said stubbornly.
"Then take me back to Baba's house too"
"Are you seriously going to do that?" He hissed.
"Yes" She said glaring at him and they became silent.
Safaa kept counting the minutes until he'd make up his mind. She knew he won't let her go back to her father's house so exactly fifteen minutes after the silence, he sighed and took her trembling hands in his.
She was so terrified about meeting Hajiya Turai and she hoped he wouldn't notice it.
"Let's go in" He said defeatedly.
"Thank you Babe" She grinned hopping out of the car.
"Let me have her?" She collected Yusrah and they walked hand in hand into the hospital.
The ward which Hajiya Turai was admitted was eerily quiet and it made Safaa more terrified. She clutched Yusrah to her chest as they walked to the room, and when they reached there, she halted making Ahmad stop too.
"Aren't you going in with me?"
"I think it would be better if I wait for you out here"
"No darling, you actually brought me here, so you must go in with me" He said.
"Not really" She gulped.
"You're scared sweetie, why then did you bring us here?"
Safaa smiled trying to hide her fear.
"Let's go in" She clutched his hand and he used the other one to open the door.
"Don't worry Safaa, she won't hurt you or our baby, she will never" He whispered as they walked inside the room.
The sight of a motionless Hajiya Turai lying on the bed tore Ahmad's heart into pieces, he felt sorry for his mother, she made herself like this, Allah knows he had tried his best to make her let go of the hatred in her heart, now it had dominated her and made her lose her sanity.
Shukrah was on the visitor's chair beside her silently reciting the Qur'an onto her, hoping it could ease her pain, it could make her come back to her senses.
"Ya Allah" Ahmad cried remembering his childhood, the affection she gave him, the kind of closeness he had with her, the kind of pain she made Safaa go through.
He loved her, but he was still mad at her and it stopped him from coming to see her, and the daughter inlaw she loathed so much brought him to her.
Safaa didn't want to see him broken, she wanted to walk out of the room but he held her hand and walked to his mother. Hajiya Turai opened her eyes as if she felt his presence.
"Mama" He called her name softly.
"Ahmadu" She said hoarsely.
"How are you feeling?" He replaced his previous expression with an unreadable one.
"Lift me up, I'm tired of lying down" She said and he let go of Safaa's hand and helped her sit.
Safaa walked to the other side of the room and sat on a sofa, she exchanged pleasantries with Shukrah who had been all over Yusrah the moment Safaa gave the baby to her.
Hajiya Turai stared at Safaa making her so uncomfortable, Safaa wanted to take her baby and leave the room but what Hajiya Turai did surprised all of them.
"Thank you Safaa, for bringing him"
Safaa had no idea what to say so she just managed to smile at her and Hajiya Turai surprisingly smiled back.
"Ahmadu, You refused to come and see me? Why? You hate me that much"
"Ya Salaam Mama, I can't hate you, How can I? Am just so mad at you" Ahmad confessed.
"I know, you're still mad at me aren't you? You can never forgive me?"
"I didn't say that, Just get some sleep, We will talk another time"
Ahmad tried tucking her to sleep but she refused.
"Let me see your daughter, You've never let me touch her" She said when Ahmad told Safaa they should leave.
Safaa's heart began hammering in her chest when she heard what Hajiya Turai said, she wanted to stop Ahmad from taking the baby from Shukrah but it would sound so rude of her so she inwardly kept praying for her daughter's safety. Ahmad gave the baby to his mother before going to where Safaa was seated.
He sat beside her and took her hand and gave it a squeeze.
"Don't worry, she won't hurt her" He whispered reassuring Safaa.
Safaa watched as Hajiya Turai caressed her baby's cheeks, the baby flinched feeling the coldness of her palms, Safaa kept watching and when Hajiya Turai's hand landed on her baby's neck she let out a scream.
"Are you okay?" Ahmad panicked.
"I'm sorry, I was just imagining stuff" Safaa whispered too ashamed take her eyes off the marbled floor.
"Ahmad you had a birthmark similar your baby's own, I don't know if it's still there but you had it on your neck too while you were a child" Hajiya Turai smiled summoning Ahmad with her other hand to come and see the mark.
"It's still there Mama, Safaa you didn't tell me she has a birthmark on her neck too"
Safaa didn't say a word to him, she couldn't take her eyes off her daughter and her heartbeat didn't become steady until Hajiya Turai gave the baby to Ahmad.
"May Allah bless her, She's beautiful Ma shaa Allah"
"Safaa it's getting late, let's go home now" Ahmad said while handing Yusrah to her.
"Will you come and visit me again, will you ever forgive me Ahmadu?" Hajiya Turai asked him.
"I pray you get well soon Mama, Shukrah do take care" He said ignoring her questions and walked out of the room so Safaa followed him out in a tow.
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Safaa felt relieved seeing the way Hajiya Turai reacted when she saw her, maybe her prayers were answered, maybe she had changed her ways but then she remembered what Abidah told her about the illness, Hajiya Turai could be all fine and friendly during the day and at night she could be scary and furious. That was why she got scared when Hajiya Turai touched her baby's neck.
"Are we ready to go home now?" Ahmad asked her when they reached the parking lot. Safaa ward off Hajiya Turai's thoughts from her mind when she noticed Ahmad's genuine smile.
He was happy she made him visit his mother, he was happy there was an improvement regarding Hajiya Turai's health.
"Yes Habibi, we're ready"
"Well I hope you're not sleepy or tired"
"Why?" Safaa yawned.
"I don't believe that" He chuckled referring to her yawn.
"I have a lot to show you at the our new home"
"Alright then" She said and he started the car.
They were half way through their journey home when Safaa fell asleep, she looked so peaceful that Ahmad didn't even want to wake her up when they arrived at the estate. He stared at her remembering the first day he saw her, eating her rice and beans at Mommy's side, she was fiery and fearless then, he had no idea she was weak and so soft hearted until he got to know her.
He recalled their first fight during Abidah's wedding when he scolded her because of Fadwa, the day she told him about the pictures of herself and Moudu, how she was so broken when he refused to believe her regarding her visit to a hotel together with a man and about poisoning his mother, how she nurtured their baby all alone.
He remembered how he had broken her heart into pieces uncountably, and how she recollected that pieces and loved him all over again and right there he made a promise to himself to shield her away from pain and to make her the most happiest woman in the world. To be there for her whenever she needed him and to listen to her side of the story whenever an issue came up.
She uncomfortably adjusted her head on the cold car seat making Ahmad caress her cheek in an attempt to wake her up.
"Wake up babe, You need to see our home from here" He whispered so he wouldn't wake the baby up.
"I slept off? Why didn't you wake me up..." Safaa opened her eyes and the sight of their new home made her speechless.
From the luxurious gate one could easily predict how beautiful the house was. Inside it was mind-boggling series of flowers that can give you peace no matter the magnitude of tension you may be weighing. They're possessed of butterflies living their lives to the fullest in joy as they often fly from one set of flowers to the other.
By the left was a car porch, one of its kind that pretty opposes ubiquity. Be that as it may, visitors situated in the department of mediocrity can outrightly presume it's rather a cool portion in the compound for gaining humbleness when one needs it the most, or for plummetting temperature level to its base, but dang, it's all a car porch.
By the right was a garden that blows a cold wind and one could feel it from a far, there's no room for sunshine, thus exposes one to the thought about how the flowers there capitalize on photosynthesis.
The facade of the house had a dangling pots of flowers and an electric banner mounted on the building that displays a heartfelt message to a visitor, Safaa couldn't get to read what it displayed but she read the word "love" hence the conclusion it displayed something concerning love.
Her first step into the living room technically educated her about how expensively endowed the innards of the house was. Her eyes first fell on the executive sofas colored gold and cream and some mind-blowing wall frames with unique graphics on them.
The paint on the wall was cream and the dinning area was colored the same, equipped with chairs that screamed simplicity.
"Oh Allah, I had no idea it'd be this beautiful, I don't know what to say" Safaa squealed lying Yusrah on one of the sofa.
"I'm glad you like it" Ahmad smiled.
"Are you kidding? I love it" Safaa beamed clapping like a child.
"Let's go for a tour then"
"Lead the way your highness" She winked and Ahmad took her hands before leading her away from the living room.
There was a corridor that linked the living room to the the master bedroom, the corridor itself had a lot of fancy stuff on the wall, stickers, wallpapers and some decorations.
The door was a Chinese door with a biometric solution that enables you to lock and unlock it using just your biometrics, spot on. Inside the room was a king sized bed that looked too simple but spoke for its quality and sophistication.
Spread on the bed were oodles of bedsheets that were poised to make you flick your eyes and puzzle your mind before you choose which one to pick and treat the bed with.
Safaa couldn't help but notice the sparkling bulbs embedded in the POP having a very diaphanous cover to make the light more or less bright and appealing to the eyes without causing eyes strain. The brighness of the room was just on fleek. Polished side drawers and wardrobe add to the room's sophistication, hence avowing it to be one of the best rooms one could sleep in.
"This room is my favorite already" She squealed.
Ahmad took her to the rest of the rooms which all took her breath away and when they finished the tour she crashed on one of the sofa, too tired to even get ready for bed.
"Did you eat dinner?" He asked trying to wake her up.
"I'm not hungry, let me sleep" Safaa whined.
"I ordered food already Babe, let's go and eat" He scooped Safaa in his arms and she quietly rested her head on his chest and allowed him take her to the dining room.
They sat on the table and he introduced Safaa sight to the variety of dishes available for consumption. She couldn't believe her eyes because her favorite food's right there.
They began eating and it was the best moment as Ahmad could not just swerve his eyes off Safaa despite her showcasing her self-effacing nature. He looked at her as she took a spoonful of the food to her mouth and slowly whispered.
"I love you"
Safaa smiled and closed her eyes all happy for what her eyes and ears kept experiencing. She immediately took my spoon back to the plate trying to fetch some food.
"I thought you said you're not hungry babe" He teased her but she acted like she didn't hear what he said.
"My wifey is such a trencherman" He teased her yet again and that prodded her to have a direct eye contact with him.
"You really want us to fight don't you?" She glared at him.
"Madam temper temper, I don't mean no disrespect, but you're more beautiful with the straight face" He winked making her blush.
He left his chair and stood at the back of hers and placed his hands on the arms of it.
"Keep eating glutton, I love the movement of your lips as you chew, I wish you were just like a ruminant animal who often chews even when there's no visible food"
"That's it I'm no longer eating" Safaa dropped the spoon furiously.
Ahmad slowly dropped to my ears while caressing her hair and then whispered.
"This is the moment I've been waiting for, your presence in this crib means a lot, and your presence right here on the dining table means I'll always eat in peace as I'll feed my eyes while feeding my stomach. I can never be fatigued from multitasking if this is the work, Forgive me for all the pain I've caused you Safaa, I promise to make you so happy, there will be hurdles but I will always be by your side this time around, I love you so much"
Safaa had no idea what to say to him, there was too much flows and brilliance in his words. She raised her head to glance at him but before she could meet his gaze she was further taken to a new realm in oblivion as he suddenly began to move his lips closer to her own, breathing out a garden-esque fresh air one could always demand.
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And it's a WRAP!!!
Alhamdulillahi Rabbil Alameen.
I can't believe I've finished my second novel here.
Thank you all for sticking to this story, I know it took a while, but I guess it's worth it right?
Expect an epilogue soon, in shaa Allah.
Thank you.
Ma'assalam...💖💖💖
Yours Kalthumm...💞