CHAPTER XXX

After lots of effort to calm down , Rahama took a deep breath and check herself in her front mirror. She wiped up the dried tears with an handkerchief and sighed before coming out of the car. She swore that she wouldn't allow anyone to know about what happened and even if they find out ,it gives no different. He was gone for good.

She took her time to walk into the house cooking some excuses in her head. Excuses which she was going to tell her dad about her sudden rush out of the house and not even waiting to listen to her dadwhen he called her name.

Flashback

She woke up as usual around 6 am which has become her daily routine. She performed ablution and finally perform her fajr prayer. She call unto the  Lord seeking for mercy, she really wants to change but is finding it hard to ,but why? She doesn't know. She knew the answer to all her problems can be answered by her alone, she hold the key to her problems. If she could just let go of the past, she would be free from all her worries. But how can she? When it keeps hunting her every blessed day  any time she looks at her scarred legs. The only people that knew about it was aunty yasira and her dad and they swore not to ever say a word to anyone. But still, she still wasn't over the past, it's still so hard for her to trust again. No matter how hard she tries to, she couldn't. She always ends up failing miserably. I need help, she thought.

After long prayers to her lord ,she finally fold the mat and kept it one side. She pull off the hijab and went into the bathroom to do her business. Five minutes later she was finally out. She stroll downstairs and could hear her dad and aunty yasira talking about  something that sounds important but she couldn't pinpoint what they were talking about. Upon seeing her, they kept quiet immediately as if they don't want her to know or hear what they were saying. She internally shrug, not bothered at all.

" Good morning to you all" she greeted with a smile and drag a seat to sit on.

Aunty yasira smiled brightly " morning, how was your night? "

" it was ok"

" morning dear" said her dad with a clip smile, she also replied with a clip smile of hers.

She serve herself and quietly ate her breakfast.

" so dear, have you gone through the files I gave you? "

" Hm, yes dad. But am still not done yet, you know how things have been choked up ever since sadi......... I mean, after he left"

Yasira raised a brow wondering why was it so hard for her to call out sadiq's name. She loves referring to him as he or him. It's already getting so annoying.

Her dad nodded " I understand dear, just keep pushing, please. "

" I'm trying dad"

" OK then. Will you be at the office today? "

" nope"

" why?" asked her dad, skeptically

" I .. I.. I'm not feeling too well. I think I need a day off "

" alright, do you need a doctor? "

She laughed " God, dad , it's just a small headache and moreover after I take a paracetamol for it ,I will be good to go"

" if you say so then"

That was how everyone finished their meal .Aunty yasira went to sadiq's house  while alhaji dabo also decided to just have a free day too and the twins are in school. At around 12:30pm  alhaji received a call from aunty yasira giving him updates  about how things were ,over at sadiq's house.

" when are you leaving for airport?"

"we are  on our way"

" OK, please send my regards to him. Sadiq is truly a good boy and he deserves to be happy. I just pray he finds the happiness he deserve in UK , tell hi......

Alhaji was cutoff by the shattering of glass. He turned backwards and was surprised to see rahama standing with wide eyes.

" I'll call you later" he told yasira and hung up

" what happened, rahama? Are you OK? "

" ermm ermm yeah" she said with a nod as she crouch down to pick up the  broken pieces of glass.

" stop!!!. You'll cut your fingers! "

Her body was shaking. Is he going for real? She asked her self.

" I'll just call jamila to pack it up" with that she went upstairs while Alhaji shrug and went to seat on the chair.

As rahama went up , she quickly pick up her car keys and practically ran downstairs almost frightening her dad in the process . She ran out not even heeding to the call of her name

End of flash back

She open the door with her own key and entered. luckily for her, no one was in the sitting room. She drop her bag on the chair and walk to get water from the kitchen . She finally came out with a bottle of chill water. She sat on one of the couch trying to calm her brain.

" finally, you're back" a voice said from behind

" auzubillahi"She got frightened " dad, you scared me"

" thank goodness I did. Same as how you scared me when you ran out of the house suddenly " he said with a straight face

She rub her face out of frustration " I'm so sorry about that "

" you should be. Now can you tell me why you left the house like that and where you went to? " asked her dad with folded hands

" I ...I went to a friend's place" she lied

He scrutinized her for a moment " is that why you find the need to run out like that? And if I may ask who is this friend of yours? "

" Sakeena " she lied again

He let out a deep breath " Hm, I don't really have your time now but please don't ever give me a scare like that. You made me think that something had happened to you. I even tried following your car but lost it on the way. "

She feels ashamed for causing him this much stress when he was supposed to be resting " I'm so sorry dad it won't  happen again"

" it better not "

" I promise " she force a smile

" good"

She walk over to hug him " so where is aunty yasira? " she asked. She knew where she was but trying to act unaware.

" she is over at sadiq's house"

" oh, I see" she felt betrayed that her dad didn't trust her enough to tell her the real truth.

" yes.why are you looking at me like that ?"

She gave up and outburst  her heart out

" I'm tired dad! I'm tired of everyone keeping things from me. What do you take me for,a small girl?. I know what is going on dad, you don't need to lie to my face"

" watch you tongue , Rahama "

She burst out crying " I'm tired of all these. Why is it so hard for all of you to trust and tell me the truth? Am I that bad? Am I a bad daughter, dad? I don't understand anymore "

She fell on the floor, sobbing " even Mansir who I trusted with all my heart lied to me and you  my father do not trust me? Why dad? Why? "

" what are you talking about? " he asked in concern

" him, I'm talking about him dad. I know everything that's going on, I know sadiq is on his way to the UK. You don't need to lie anymore " she yelled inbetween sob.

" watch your tone "

" why didn't you tell me dad? Please tell me why? "

" what different does it makes even if I tell you? You two aren't friends or anything so why do you care that I tell you? Why? " said alhaji

" He.. He was a colleague at work, don't I have the right to also know how he is doing? "

Alhaji chuckles " a colleague you say? You never treated him as one. "

" I did dad, I did"

" No you didn't "

She took in a deep breath " OK, fine. I now understand that even my own father does not trust me enough. I now get it, you're also tired of me"

" what rubbish are you blurting from your mouth. You're my daughter and I love you so much."

" then why didn't you say anything even if they asked you not to"

" that's because it isn't my secret to share. "

She knew he was right. If she was in his shoes, she is also quite sure she wouldn't have tell. It doesn't even matters anymore. It's time she forgets him and that's it. It's time she talks to Mansir.

She wiped her tears and stood up. She smile forcefully at her dad who in turn was surprised by her mood swing.

" are you OK? "

" yes I am. I'm so sorry for talking to you in the manner I just did and I want you to know that I understand where you're coming from. I don't blame you " she said

He nodded. She move forward to kiss his forehead " I will be in my room " with one last look, she went upstairs.

***

"

where the hell have you been? " Hajiya maimuna shouted at badiyya as she entered the house

" I.. I went to a friend's house"

The way her mother was looking at her right now could make a person piss his pants

" haven't I warned you to stop visiting those useless friends of yours? "

" I care about them, mom"

" I will give you a dirty slap if you don't keep shut. Look at many girls out there whose father is a billionaire and you can easily make friends with them but no, you prefer to go for some bloody civilian's children and the worst of all is that they are children of the Lowest of all civilians who only rely on ten kobo of salaries which is giving to them monthly . Do you think you'll progress with those types of friends? Banza shashasha kawai " Hajiya maimuna hissed

" we are all human being mom" badiyya frowned

" shut your dirty mouth. Don't let me come over to squeeze that useless mouth of yours . If you like bring one poor man for me as your husband, i will so drive him out of my house with hot water. Stand there and be telling me that we are all human. waawiyya kawai"

She eyed her from head to toes " come on go inside and change. We're living for my friend's place. "

She move to make her way to her room but not without rolling her eyes secretly at her mother. She finally was in her room. The first thing she did was collapsing on the bed with the aim of wasting more time just to annoy her mother more.

Her phone dinged beside her. It was a message from Sakeena asking her if she was home yet. She smile and replied with a simple 'yes'. They now click up nicely and already aiming to become best friends. Before departing airport, they shared numbers and plan to meet ones in a while.

She finally stood up and change into something nice.

***

" welcome, welcome. Come in" Hajiya Gimbiya ushered badiyya and her mom in. She directed them to the sitting room . " it's so nice to meet you"

They all have their seat

" thanks Gimbiya, meet my daughter badiyya"

Gimbiya's eyes sparkle like someone who has just found the treasure she had been looking for.

" Good afternoon ma" badiyya greeted shyly

" wow! such a beautiful and lovely girl. My dear, how are you?"

" I'm fine thank you ma"

" I never knew you have such beautiful daughter like this . Don't tell me you always lock her up in her room from the eyes of lustful men" she joked and Hajiya maimuna laughed. Even badiyya found it funny. At first glance, she already likes the woman. So far to say she is so different from her mom's other friends.

" no, we don't lock her up. In fact she also works in her dad's company "

Gimbiya nodded, proud" wow that's very good of you darling "

" thanks ma"

" please don't call me ma you can just call me mom. I'm good with that"

" OK, mom"

The two ladies smile knowingly.

" OK, while you keep yourself busy with this album let me go over to the kitchen to check the food. I will also call down the kids. "

" OK no problem " Hajiya maimuna said.

Rahama was the one eager to check the album she loves anything photography but her mom busied herself with her phone. As Badiyya went through the pictures, she found the faces of the little kids so familiar but couldn't put a finger to it. They look so cute. They were three of them and out of the three, two looks so familiar .

" Mom where did you ke......... Badiyya? "

" Sakeena?"

Sakeena ran to hug her " I never expected that I will see you twice a day"

" me too"

Sakeena glance at the older lady sitting close to badiyya , she immediately withdraw from the hug to greet.

" Good afternoon ma"

" afternoon dear, how are you? "

" I'm very fine ma"

Maimuna smile " good. I can see that you two knew each other from somewhere ?"

" oh yes ma ,we were together not  long ago "

" really? "

" yes ma . We were at the air.....

" airtel office, yes we were at the airtel office to register my SIM " badiyya cut her off before she could spill the beans

Maimuna looks at her daughter doubtingly " oh, but you never told be you have made new friends " she smile, now happy that her daughter found someone of their class to call a friend

" it skipped my mind, mom"

Sakeena stood wondering why badiyya didn't want her to say the truth about where they met. Aren't they related to sadiq? . She shrug it off with the aim of asking badiyya later.

" welcome once again ma"

" thanks dear"

" I can see you've finally met sakeena, the baby of the house " Gimbiya said with a smile as she came out of the kitchen

" yes, she's so charming I tell you" Maimuna couldn't help but say.

" more like a talkative "

" Mom" Sakeena whined

" where is your brother? " Gimbiya asked her daughter

" Still in his room"

" Sagir, come downstairs the visitors are already here" she yelled out to him

" coming " he yelled back quite interested in meeting them. He pray that his mother wouldn't try any match making .

He decided to wear something more presentable.

Over at dinning table, everyone was already settled  waiting for sagir to come down

" I don't know what is keeping this boy long!" said Gimbiya sigh

" you know boys with their things, allow him to take as much time he needs" Hajiya maimuna said 'after all he will be my son in-law ' she internally said and smile at Gimbiya

" but he is keeping us waiting " Gimbiya was annoyed already

" allow him"

" he.....

" I'm so sorry for keeping you guys waiting. I was tending to some problems on the phone"

His mom appeared concerned " hope all is well"

" yes mom, it's settled " he then glanced at the older lady sitting close to his mother " Good afternoon ma"

" afternoon son, I hope everything is settled " maimuna asked, concerned

He smile appreciatively for her concern " yes ma'am,everything is being settled "

" OK then"

Badiyya was still in her seat. It's him, she thought. The guy at the restaurant . Now everything made sense to her. The pictures she went through a while ago indeed looks like him and badiyya .

" meet her daughter, badiyya"

At the mention of that particular name, Sagir turn his head to the direction so quick that one would think it's going to come off his neck

" badiyya ?" he huskily utter like someone who just heard the name for the first time, with a surprise look on his face. She too tried hard to bring down her gaze but his makes it hard for her. He was looking at her as if he had waited for this day, as if he had dreamt to see her again. What is happening to me? She asked herself, why can't I take my eyes off him ?and worse in the presence of his mother .

From under the table Sakeena pinched badiyya who shrieked a little. If it wasn't because of this situation she would have pinched sakeena back. But still, she was grateful for pulling her off that electrifying moment.

The two mother looked at each other again and shared a secret smile.

" Nice meeting you again, Badiyya "

" same with you"

***

Thanks for reading guys, I hope you liked it.

Who wants more of Sagir and Badiyya's love story ?😍

Next chapter will be about sadiq and Jafar over at UK. We'll be in touch soon. Love y'all 😘😘😘😘