CHAPTER XLII

As badiyya walked into the living room, what she saw was surprising and shocking at the same time. There, was her father dancing to the tune of the loud music playing .It was this same loud music that woke her from her nap. She couldn't believe why her dad will be dancing in such a afternoon like this. This was totally confusing. What could make dad so happy like this,she thought . That same smile has been gone for five years. What brought that smile back? She wondered.

She decided to interrupt him by switching of the player. Dad also pause as the music stopped. He turn around to see who the intruder was and that turned out to be his baby girl. A wide smile cross his face as he glance at her .

" dear you shouldn't have switched off the player. Instead, you should have joined me " he said with that same smile

Badiyya was totally confused " I don't get why you would want me to just start dancing without knowing what was the celebration all about. Secondly, have you forgotten that your doctor instructed you to stop stressing yourself. Don't you think this is too much for your health? " she told him with a brow raised

He drop the orange juice in his hand and then walked closer to her with a slight chuckle. He held her two hands " come sit with me dear" he said as he drag her to the couch.

They both sat down " dear, why didn't you tell me that the party you and Mansir went to was a party organized by Sadiq?why?why didn't you two think of telling me?. I had to find out from the News. Quite alright I know I said I don't want to hear anything from Mansir but not you. You don't need to hide anything from me especially when it's about sadiq. Or do you think I wouldn't be happy that my son finally achieved something in life without mine or anybody's help? " the expression her dad held wasn't what she had ever expected. He was sorry, he didn't need to say it but she saw it all over him. Her dad regret how he had treated sadiq. He truly did.

" I thought you wouldn't want to know since all you're concerned with right now is the company. I didn't want to disturb you " she shrugged

" what? Do you think I'm more concerned with the company than my son's happiness? Badiyya, do you think I'm a bad father?" he asked with an expression that says he was disappointed with himself

" i_i_i  don't even know how to answer that " she stuttered

Alhaji ringim was hurt deeply by this. If his only daughter could say this, then that means everyone is also looking at him like a failure. A father who doesn't do good, a father who isn't a father enough.

He heaved a sigh " I can't believe that you also see me like the worst father ever. I don't blame you dear. I know it's all my fault but today I want you to know something which I have never told anyone before " he said to her

Badiyya looked at him with brows furrowed " I don't get you, dad"

" you will understand now " that was the only thing he said as he began the story

Flash back

The weather was so cool .It was finally cold season. Month of December.

Alhaji ringim was in his thick sweater sitting beside his sick wife,Fatima his one true love . She was deep in sleep . After last week  event Alhaji didn't know where his head was again. His brain wouldn't stop taking him back to when he saw her in a pool of her own blood lying lifelessly beside the staircase. He never  ever wish to witness that kind of  thing ever in his life.

With shaky hands, he picked her up and brought her straight to the hospital. All he could think about was for Fatima to survive this. As they reach the hospital, doctors began their work and it turned out that she lost her baby due to the fall she had and she is also still yet to wake up.

Doctor said chances were too low because she went head first and she had lost so much blood. She suffered severe internal bleeding too. They were lucky to stop the internal bleeding but for the head injury, they have to wait for her to wake up in other to know what to do. By her behavior, they will know if it affects her negatively and since then she still hasn't woken up.

" please Fatima, don't do this to me. Don't leave me on my own. Remember the promise you made to me, you said you will never let go even if everyone is against us" he said as he kissed her cold hand lovingly .

" I know you're fighting hard. I know it. I regret not taking any action so soon but I promise you I will now. Please wake up love. Sadiq also miss you. He needs you right now, I also need you" he sobbed

He kissed her palm " I love you so much Fatima. You know that right? Please fight for our love ,fight it. Come back to me Fatima, please." his tears kept flowing freely . It's been one week now and she still hasn't woken up yet. For that same one week, alhaji hasn't gone home to take a bath nor eat. All he wants was for his Fatima to survive this. He really needs her to.

He cried quietly. He kissed her palm over and over again " don't give up love "

" Yaya Hamid " someone called from behind. He turn and was glad to see yasira

" you're here already ?"

" I couldn't believe this when you called. I had to board the first plane down to kaduna"

" But what about exams. Aren't you writing one? "

" who cares about exam when my only sister is on a sick bed fighting for her life. How is she fairing? " she asked with so much sadness.

Alhaji sighed " still the same, no improvements."

Her eyes burnt with unshed tears .what has her sister done to deserve this? What?. She isn't a problem type of person. Why would people be so wicked.

" you caused all this yaya Hamid. You're the cause of this. " she gritted out. " you did this to her"

He knew she was right. He is the cause of all these. He should have taken action before it get worst like this. He should have.

" I know yasira, I know. But what do you expect me to do? Should I drive my own mother away from the house? "

She glared at him " that woman isn't worthy enough to be called a mother. No mother would always put her son in pain. She needs to know that what she did isn't right at all. And the only person that can put her in her place is you " she points at him

" please do this for my sister, please " she broke down all over again.

" I will. I promise to do the right thing" with that he took his car keys and left the hospital .

He roughly drove the car. When he got home he met his first wife and his mother sitting worriedly. They already knew what was about to happen but still waited for it to happen.

He glared at their sitting figure before going upstairs to do what brought him here. He took his bath first and then went to his mother's room to pack all her clothes. He made sure he put all the things she had brought into the house inside the box. Enough is enough . He was fed up already.

When he finished. He walk down to the living room were the most wicked people are sitting.

" I'm highly disappointed in you two most especially you mother. Is this how a mother  should behave? . If all mothers are like this then I don't need one. I don't need you anymore. You are a disgrace as a mother. I regret ever calling you my mother. Leave my house and don't you ever come back here  again. " he yelled at her shaking figure. She pleaded for mercy but he wasn't giving her that.

" leave my house. Get out. A car is waiting outside for you. It will take you to wherever it is you want to go to. After all, I'm not your only son. You can also go to your other children. Thank you so much for destroying my home , thanks. You may leave" he harshly said and waited for her to go outside

He then turn to Maimuna who knew hell was about get loose. " and you. You have no common sense at all. Even though my mother is old , can't you at least  try to advice her? But no, all you did was to follow her step. "

" take this paper, go up stairs pack your things and leave my house. Na baki saki daya(i have divorce you once) ." he fling the paper at her.

" don't let me meet you here when I get back" he warned. He shoot her one last glare before walking out of the house.

Thank God his children are in boarding school. They should never witnessed all these. The only small baby around was badiyya.

He got into his car and the loud sound of his phone could be heard. He forgot the phone in his car. Definitely it has been ringing non stop. He picked it up immediately when he saw yasira written on the screen

" yasira? "

" yaya she is awake and she demands to see you right this moment. Please hurry up" she hung up before he could say anything.

The car came to life immediately and he drove off  to the hospital in full speed. The only thing on his mind right now was Fatima . She wants to see him. His hearts kept beating. As he got to the hospital, he ran to the special room Fatima was in.

" thank God you're finally here" yasira breath out " all she kept saying when she woke up was your name. " yasira said to the man whose eyes were directly looking at the sick woman on the bed with eyes full of unshed tears. He ran to her and hug the life out of her.

" I missed you so much Fatima. You almost gave me a heart attack. I thought I will never see your beautiful eyes again" he weeped.

Fatima wasn't strong enough. Doctors instructed him to be carefully with her. He shouldn't say anything that will affect the injured brain.

"I_i_i"   her voice was hoarse

" get her some water yasira, fast" he commanded

" just calm down Fatima, don't stress yourself. You don't need to say anything "

" please let me. I _i need you to do something for me. Promise me you will do it " she said

This got Alhaji ringim confused " I promise "

" promise me you will never divorce Aunty maimuna nor drive your mother out of the house " she said again

The deed has been done already

" please don't just look at me like that. Promise me Hamid, please. " said with pleading eyes

" what are you saying Fatima? Those two want to kill you and you expect me to just sit back and do nothing? "

" you don't understand Hamid. It's very important to me if you don't do anything that I told you "

" why? " he asked

" The day after you travelled to Abuja. I heard them talking in hushed tone. They were both talking about this herbalist man whom your mom wants aunty maimuna to meet. They were saying something about running someone mad and I am very sure they were talking about me. I was confused and hurt thinking what  have I done to your mom. I knew she never liked me but I never expected that her hatred for me will be up to that point. "

" Day and night I lived in fear. I became careful of what I eat and what I drink. "

" why didn't you call to tell me? " he asked sadly

" how could I? I don't want to distract you from your business trip. I don't want to be the nagging type of wife . I thought I could endure it till you come back" she took a deep breath.

" the day you found me lifeless. That was the day I wanted confronted them because I couldn't just sit and watch them do all kind of things. I know what you're thinking . They weren't the one that pushed me. It was so unfortunate that I had to fall from the stairs. I missed  a step while I was in a haste to catch up with aunty Maimuna. I went head down and that was what lead me here"

" but still, they were still the cause of it " Alhaji Ringim tried reasoning

She held his hand " Hamid, always remember this, your mother will always be your mother no matter what she might have done. She till gave birth to you. Yes I know she isn't your normal kind of mother but atleast you still have someone to call a mother. Where as , I had always wished to have an opportunity like yours,i wish I have someone whom I can still call my mother. I know it's never going to be possible because she is late. Please don't let what happened be the cause of a fight between you and your mother . "

" who knows what might happen if everything has to go down as bad as this. I wouldn't want to leave my son in this kind of situation. This are the kinds of things that build hates into ones mind and that hatred they have for me might turn to my son. I wouldn't want them to harm my sadiq. He is still young to be involved in this kind of things. Please Hamid, don't make any harsh decision. Leave with them peacefully. I can feel it that I don't have much time left. " she wore back the oxygen bag in other to support her breathing

Alhaji was already in pool of his own tears right now " please don't say that Fatima. You will leave long "

She smile sadly " just promise me that no matter what happens, you will always make decisions that will protect my sadiq. Don't ever let him  go through what I had went through, please "

" i_i promise I will never. I will protect him with everything I have "

End of flashback

Badiyya heaved a sigh as she wiped her tears " is that why you let him leave the house? "

" Yes. I have faith in that boy. I knew he would one day make me proud. Your mother isn't someone I should have married sorry to say. She is so wicked and heartless and i just can't sit and watch her treat sadiq badly. Which is why I allowed him to leave this house without looking for him because I know one day that boy will be great. Your mother Maimuna must be shock by now ,I'm definitely sure Mansir must have told her already. The son she had thought wouldn't become someone in life has finally made me proud"

" why didn't you tell him  about  this? " badiyya asked confused

" because he will never be determined to be who he was today. " he told her

She nodded thoughtfully. Her dad was right after all, it was still the same anger in Sadiq that made him determined.

" so what will happen now? "

Alhaji ringim chuckled " nothing would happen. I will only ask for his forgiveness and that's all. "

" Do you think he will listen to you"

He heaved a sigh" I pray he forgives me"

***

Yasira hinted rahama on what to do because sadiq is already on his way here. The food was already well prepared by rahama herself. She indeed has changed alot. She learnt how to cook from a popular cook on YouTube. Those online tutorial actually worked out well for her. She prepared the food with so much happiness and giddiness. She felt giddy in a sense that, she pray sadiq would love the food.

Aunty yasira couldn't stop being happy for what is about to happened. She was happy her husband isn't at home. Thank God he has a business trip which unfortunately happens to be unexpected. If he was to be around, she wouldn't be able to do all these because he would get suspicious.

" Go put the food on the table " yasira instructed . Rahama nodded and did as she was told. She arranged the coolers containing food on the table. The twins are already in their room sleeping. Those two never gets tired of sleeping.

Aunty yasira also walked out of the kitchen with a big glass of orange juice . She gently drop it on the dinning table.

" He should be here by now " said yasira as she check the time  " hope you understood all that I told you right? " she nodded

" Be classy, don't smile too much, don't let him have the best of you. Just be you. Sadiq is very cunning. Never let him get to you"

" I have heard you aunty. Don't tell me you'll leave me alone here ?"

" of course not, I won't. I will be here till we finish the food then after that I will leave the room for you two"

" OK. That's fine"

" I think he is here. I just heard  the honk of a car" said rahama with eyes wide open.

" just calm down"

" OK, OK I will"

They waited for the gate man to open the gate so sadiq will drive in. He finally drove in and parked his car. He got out of his Mercedes Benz and then  walk straight to the door steps in his perfectly grey shirt and black trousers. It fits him nicely. He held this aura that defined him as a no nonsense person.

He knock on the door and before he could knock twice the room was open by non other than his aunty.

" finally you're here" she smile broadly

" Good evening " he greeted and walk into the house. Since he wasn't a visitor in the house, he collapsed straight on the couch.

" evening dear. I'm sure work must have drained you " she said to him

" Wallahi. Never knew becoming a CEO was going to be this hectic. "

" so what are you trying to say? Are you now regretting being a CEO ?" asked aunty yasira sternly

" I never said so. Anyways where is your husband and the twins?" he asked as he looked round thinking he might see them

" the twins are already upstairs sleeping while my husband went for a business trip"

" oh" he face fell " and here I thought I was going to meet them. I should have closed from work sooner than I thought then"

Yasira chuckled " it's not as if you wouldn't see them again . Their is tomorrow for example "

" yeah you're right. I don't know if I should ask but where is the step daughter ?" he smirk

Yasira glared at him " don't refer her like that. It isn't as if you don't know her name "

" she is still your step daughter " he  snort

" you'll never change "

" What do you have, I'm definitely famish right now" he grumbled as he lightly rub his stomach

Yasira chuckled " that is the reason why you need a woman in your life right now "

" I haven't found her yet" he told her with an eyes roll

" you keep saying that. " she scoffed " anyways food is on the table. Let's go and eat"

They both walk to the table, have their seat. Aunty yasira called  rahama who ran upstairs when sadiq had knocked.

She walk downstairs with her phone in hand. " aunty, you called " she said while avoiding eyes contact with sadiq.

" yes dear, our visitor had finally arrived. Come let's eat. "

she came forward to have her seat which was facing sadiq.

" Assalamualaikum" she said to him .

He in return was surprised. He couldn't believe she would talk to him after their last encounter.

" waalaikumussalam" he answered with a small smile

After  all greetings, they all dig in. The food was really delicious and aunty yasira couldn't stop praising rahama.

This also came as a surprise to sadiq. The spoilt brat knows how to cook after all. He was impressed sad to say. He stole a look from her and saw that she still held a smile on her face  from all the praises aunty yasira was showering her with. He doesn't understand why he has this kind of unexplainable feelings when he looks at her. She was still the same rahama he had left. The only thing that changes about her is , she doesn't wear that frown on her forehead, the glaring and scowling had all stop. This person right in front of him has this innocent face.

She looks beautiful and angelic even without make up. Has anyone ever told her that.

He was brought out from his pool of thoughts by a clearing of throat. It turns out that aunty yasira caught him looking. She wiggled her brows at him. He was ashamed of being caught so he shoot yasira a glare. He then glanced at the lady before him again and was surprised to see the blush grazed on both of her cheeks with her eyes concentrating on her food. He smirked.

Aunty yasira saw that it was time she leave the two alone. This was her plan after all. She wanted both of them to have a conversation.

She stood up from her chair. " let me take the plates to the kitchen " she said as she set to pack them.

Rahama quickly stood up " please let me do it " she said.

" no don't worry rahama. I can manage "

" are you sure?" this question  indirectly meant, was the plan going to work out well?

" yes dear I'm  very sure" said yasira with a wink.She left after clearing the table

They were finally left alone

***

Anzo wurin 😉😉😍😊😃😘

How was the chapter guys? What do you think will happen if alhaji ringim ask for forgiveness from sadiq? Will sadiq forgive him or will he drive him away?

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