CHAPTER XXXVI

Aunty yasira folded the last lace and kept it inside the box close to her. The house is crowded with families and friends who came to help prepare for the wedding as  it is to take place tomorrow. Everyone has been so busy, running helter-skelter . She heaved a tired sign and then drag the box at one side of the room.

Yasira isn't happy with this wedding of a thing but what other option does she have when that coconut head girl wasn't helping matter. Rahama knew what she was about to do wasn't right but she is too adamant to do it anyways,Which was why aunty yasira stopped disturbing herself and let her be. The least she could do was to pretend she was happy  with the upcoming wedding. Her fake smile was the one deceiving all of the visitors. After checking whether all the things are in order,she went out of her room to rahama's room.

On her way, she greeted some old ladies and then finally knock on the door. She heard a faint come in before entering

" aunty yasira, good afternoon "

Aunty yasira smile at the two ladies that greeted her. One was sakeena and the other was Badiyya the grooms sister . That are the only friends aunty yasira knew rahama has. She isn't one with populated group of friends due to her previous behavior . She is lucky she has two friends to save as she had drove the others.

Rahama turn away from the mirror to look at aunty yasira " to what honor do I owe this visit"

Aunty yasira scoff " so I don't have any right to visit this room again? "

" I didn't mean it that way. I'm just surprised to see you all of a sudden. Remember, you've been avoiding me"rahama explained herself

" no I haven't "

Rahama gave her a look that says "really"

" what! I'm telling the truth. I wasn't avoiding you"

Badiyya and sakeena noticed that the two needed some space so they excuse themselves out of the door.

Yasira took a deep breath to calm down. She move forward to seat on the couch while rahama remain seated in her exact position close to the mirror.

" I  apologize  if you felt that I was avoiding you " aunty yasira apologize

" Aunty  yasira, you don't need to apologize because I know your apologies isn't from  your heart. Please tell me why you were avoiding me? Does it have something to do with me choosing Mansir?" a desperate rahama asked

Yasira kept a firm look at rahama " yes" she said, not beating around the bush

" yes? " said rahama in surprise " why? "

" you of all people should know why, rahama. Please don't do this to yourself, this is about your future. Its best you opt out now before it's too late"

" just stop it aunty yasira. I already told you I'm doing what is best for me. Mansir is the one for me. I'm sure if you know what your nephew had done you won't sit here to tell me not to marry Mansir" rahama exclaimed

" Excuse you? What do you mean by what sadiq has done? What did he do? " yasira asked sternly

Mansir's words came back to rahama. She remembers that she promised him not to tell anyone. She swallowed slowly and said

" it's best you ask sadiq your self"

" No, you tell me! " aunty yasira yelled

" I can't "

" yes you will. I'm sure, that good for nothing Mansir has splutter out another lies to you and the stupid you believed him again" yasira looked at her in disgust

" so now I'm the one at fault? Just because sadiq is your brother doesn't mean he hasn't done anything bad. That man isn't what he seems to be!. You are only blinded by all his act, he is a liar ,a complete one at that"

Yasira let out a sarcastic laugh " so tell me, Madam true true, tell me what has sadiq done or should I say what lies has Mansir fed you again? "

Rahama could only shoot daggers at yasira with her eyes. She refuses to say anything.

" you see, you couldn't even say it. This actually means you're lying, you're only trying to bad mouth sadiq for no reason. What will you gain, rahama?. That boy isn't as selfish as Mansir,any woman that ends up marrying him will surly enjoy him. He is as clean as anything you could think of"

Rahama grind her teeth " No! Sadiq isn't what he seems to be"

" Then tell me who he is then?" asked yasira as she waited for rahama to talk.

Rahama contemplated on telling her but the promise she made to Mansir kept on coming to her and now she is in a situation where she needed to say it out if not ,aunty yasira wouldn't believe her.

" he almost killed his own father"

Yasira stood shock at rahama's utterance " excuse me! "

" yes you heard me right. What type of son will threaten his own father to the extent that the father had a heart attack without him Caring even one bit. Tell me!. I know  the reason why sadiq left home and then pretended to be a mechanic! "

Yasira couldn't utter one word. She was speechless to the core. She wasn't speechless because of what rahama said were truth, she was speechless at the fact that rahama allowed herself to be fooled for the second time. So stupid than I thought

Rahama made sure she repeated the exact story Mansir told her from beginning to the end. " now tell me, which type of son will do that to his own family and the worst part is that he only came to work in my office just to irk Mansir his own brother and here you keep defending him as if he was a sai_

Rahama was cut off by a hot slap on the face " you are too dump for your own good. See what your stupidity is turning you into. "

Rahama help her face in her palm" you slapped me?"

" yes I did and I will do it again if need be. Why do you keep allowing yourself to be deceived? " asked a disappoined yasira

" you don't get to ask me that question. You are just like your brother. In fact what should I expect , I know you wouldn't believe whatever I say because he is your nephew after all" said rahama in disrespect. She stood up from her sitting position

" I shouldn't have bothered myself. This should be the last time you ever raise your hand to slap me or else_

" or else what? Will you slap me back Hm? Will you? "

Rahama was fuming " just don't" she said and walk towards the door.

Immediately she opens the door, she saw her two friends standing feeling guilty about eavesdropping . They didn't say anything, what they could only offer her was a tight smile. She heaved  a sign and left their front.

All her attention was to go to Mansir. She does not understand  why everyone never believes her when she tells them about Mansir. All they keep saying is Mansir this, Mansir that. What crime has Mansir done that made all of them hate him like this. Why can't they see that the only green snake was Sadiq. He is the liar.

What even surprises rahama is that Badiyya also prefers Sadiq over Mansir . And to think that they both came out from the same womb?

She took her car keys from the sitting room and them zoom off to Mansir's office.  This time she really needs to have a serious talk with him.

***

To think that tomorrow  was going to be Mansir's wedding but the said guy is busy in the office when he is suppose to be with friends and family celebrating. He looks so tired with big bags under his eyes. He decided to call it a day but not without having a little bit of alcohol.

He had two cups of it and then relax in his chair. A knock broke his fun time

" who is that" he growled out

" sir it's me" his secretary said from outside

" Didn't I warn you about disturbing me? what do you want? "

The secretary came in " sir, I am so sorry. There is a lady outside that request to see you"

" a lady? " he asked confused . He never made any arrangements to meet a lady. The only women he allows freely into his office without any invitation is Rahama and his mother, so who could the lady be?

" yes sir"

" what does she say her name was? "

" she goes by the name Kamilah abdulaziz"

His eyes was wide in surprise " Kamilah? "

" yes sir, that was what she said"

" Is she alone or is their someone with her"

" she came with a old lady and if I'm not mistaken their is a little baby with her "

" a old lady and a baby? "

" yes sir"

After so many months, what is this meeting about, he thought to himself . Is she here because she heard about the marriage?he prays she is not planning to destroy this marriage. On a second thought, I will just settle her with a few amount of cash.

" allow her in" he said to the secretary

" ok"

Few seconds later the secretary entered with Kamila trailing behind her.

" here she is sir" the secretary said and left closing the door behind her.

Mansir sat majestically with a smirk plastered on his face " well, well, well. To what do I owe this visit "

Kamila watch with hatefully eyes at the man who destroyed her life , though ,she also has a hand in it too.

When he received no response, he decides to taunt her with her dressing " I can see so much has changed about you. You now wear this stupid long garment" he pointed with a sarcastic laugh " the sexy Kamilah that I know will never wear something like this "

" Shut up,just shut up" she gritted out

" ah, so now you can talk? Well, that's a start. I was beginning to wonder whether you've become mute"

" you despicable man. You belong to the zoo. I totally pity the woman who is going to marry you because she doesn't know the kind of man she is about to marry"

He chuckles. He wasn't even a bit hurt or mad with what she said " I know you're only jealous if not you wouldn't be here right now. I know you miss what we had and you're back for more"

" shut up you beast. "

" come shut me up babe. Remember how you always do it with your lips" he then smirked

" you disgust me. You totally disgust ne" Kamilah yelled

" you've never said anything like that when we are in bed so why are you now disgusted by  me now ? You are only jealous because you can't have me anymore. I am about to be with someone much more better and prettier than you. Oh wait! Why am I disturbing myself? I'm sure you already know who this lucky lady is. The same one you hated, the same one you never want me out of bed to meet."

She shot him a disgusting look" I agree I was totally stupid back then. But thank God I was saved from the likes of you"

Now Mansir looks monstrous " Keep your mouth shut and tell me what actually brought you to my office "

" Good. I brought your son to meet his father "

" excuse me! " he look at her as if she was stupid. Quite alright he noticed that she held a baby in her arms but he never thought of it to be his. I don't believe her

" Now I see, you're here to take revenge just because I didn't marry you right? That's why you're trying to push that bastard child on me"

Kamila smile sadly " I should have known not to expect anything good from you. I knew you wouldn't believe me anyways and infact ,my child and I can leave off without you so I wish you good luck in you upcoming wedd___

The door banged open all of a sudden " I can't believe you" rahama burst inside. She  glance over at a shocked Mansir " I can't believe this is actually who you really are!. You're indeed a monster! a cheat! a liar!" she screamed

" rahama she is only trying to frame me. I swear she is lying "

" Don't you dare move any closer, if not I will so much hit you with that bottle over there.  I never knew you were like this, how stupid could I have gotten . I was warned but didn't listen and to think that I just fought with aunty yasira all because of you! I can't believe this"

Kamila felt sad to be the cause of this argument. She shamefully slipped out of the office.

" why do you keep on deceiving me ,why? What wrong have I done to you?" rahama whispered in a broken voice

Mansir tried defending himself but failed miserably, he knew there isn't anything that he says that will sound believable to her. He is now a liar in her eyes.

" I'm so sorry rahama. What you heard isn't true, she is only trying to frame me"

" SHUT UP, SHUT YOUR MOUTH up. I'm tired of this round about lies of yours. I am definitely the most stupid person on earth,i can't believe I keep falling for all your lies!"

" I swear,I'm telling the truth "

She held her head " can you just stop swearing! You know I won't believe you. All what I heard were true and I regret the day I met you. Come to think of it, I'm not even a single bit hurt with what I heard, I'm hurt because of my stupidity for believing you. I never loved you in the first place, so please stay out of my life and let me be. THE WEDDING IS CALLED OFF" rahama said while looking at his eyes

His eyes looks blood shot " No I won't allow you to call off the wedding,I won't . You must marry me whether you like it or not" he went forward to grab her hand in a strong hold

She winced " you're hurting me"

" I won't let you marry sadiq, I won't "

" let me go, please. You're hurting me"

He was acting strange like someone who just escape the asylum " promise me you won't marry sadiq, promise me "

The pain was too much " I promise I won't. Please let me go"

When he realized what he just did he released her immediately " i_i I'm so sorry rahama, I didn't mean to hurt you"

She stepped back slowly with unshed tears in her eyes" but you just did"

He rub his face out of frustration and confusion .He doesn't know what just came over him. He has never behaved like that before. " please I'm sorry "

" don't come anymore closer" she yelled. She herself was now scared of him, he was behaving mental. She quickly open the door and ran for her life.

***

Badiyya rejoiced at this profound info she just heard. She dialed in her brother's number in other to share the good news with him.

" hello, Badiyya"  sadiq's voice sound strain

" yes brother. How was your last paper? "

" Alhamdulillah"

" am I disturbing you?"

" of course not, why would you think that you're disturbing me? "

"  the way you're responding says it"

" I was sleeping when you called. The sleep hasn't wear off I guess "

" oops, I'm so sorry. I have forgotten the time over here is different with the one over there. Maybe I should just call you later "

" No, no you don't need to worry . You can say whatever it is you want to say "

" oh OK. Guess what"

" what? "

" just guess"

" You of all people should know that I don't know how to guess"

" OK fine. It about rahama "

" look here badiyya, I have told you to stop calling if all you want to talk about is rahama, please. I don't want to hear anything more about her. "

" but yaya what I'm about to say is also important too"

" I don't want to here it, please I'm begging you"

" but_

" will you just drop it already? "

" OK fine, suit yourself " she end the call

***

How was it?

Sadiq does not want to hear the good news 😔 😔.