“Is that what you come to the house to tell me?” She asked and he nodded.
“I am sorry again.” He said and she wish to shut him down for telling her sorry.
“I have never for once see you as a … I always see you just like my sister…and I can’t even begin to see you differently. The proposal has already being sent before I was aware and waiting for my father to do this might take a while and hence why I am here. You are just like a younger sister to me and I really want it to be like that.” He said to her again and without a word, she stood up and went into her bedroom and didn’t come back to the living room, he waited for a while for her before he left the building, she was the only one in the house as it was a weekday, he had thought that he would meet her mother at home but he didn’t and part of him was glad, he didn’t want to see the disappointment on her face.
It still baffles him that anyone would want to get married to someone like him. He know she might have been brainwashed and her parents might just have accepted to keep the friendship.
He know definitely he had done the right decision, he doubt if his friend knows about it.
He sighed and walked to his car parked outside the building.
“Hemm,… Uncle…” He heard a voice behind him and turned to see her walking towards him briskly.
“Yasmina

“There is something I want to discuss with you sir...” Yasmina said and he sighed.
“Can we discuss this later please... I am in a hurry.” He said to her and she swallowed hard, she felt like hitting herself for even going to him in the first place ...
So proud ... Nonsense.
She said to herself and walk slowly to the gate to open the gate for him and let him drive out of the compound.





Looking at his father’s eyes as soon as he got into the living room , he know they must have been told and he let out a sigh of relief...
“Adnan... How dare you?” His father accused him as soon as he saw him eye to eye...
“Adnan... That was wrong ... Why do that?” His mother asked him calmly.
“I think it was for the best, I am here to let you know about it and it seems you know this already , Alihamdulilah, it makes the job easier. Don’t let us force that girl to take a burden she does not want or have to shoulder.” He said calmly.
“And you feel so proud of yourself showing your stupidity to everyone right?... going against me?” His father said to him .
“Abu, please try to understand, I am not going against you but please try to see this from my own point of view ... First and foremost, Marriage is the last thing on mind right now... I am not saying I will not get married but for now, I am not .. You both know how my health is , telling a girl to marry me when I am not even sure when my next crises would be is wickedness? I don’t want someone who will be forced to shoulder this trial with me and end up blaming herself ... I am not ready for marriage for now... So please let us just forget all these and move on... I am happy father and Daughter accept this in good faith, Alihamdulilah, that is all that matters.” Adnan said, he didn’t want to continue with an argument with his father , he just want to be left alone .
“I am not going to accept just any woman ... I meant this.” and with that he stood and went into the bedroom.



“What insolence? I am deeply disappointed in him.” Abu Hikmah said, hissed and he wife sighed.
“I don’t want to see him in my house again... so disrespectful.” The Man said and hissed.
“But he is my friend , I am sure he would not have done that without a reason, ...besides, how can he consider getting married to someone like Hikmah, we are almost family.” Idris said in defence of his friend and his father hissed.
“I think the fault is from your friend, he should have discussed this with Adnan first... It is more like you just choosing a random girl for me all of a sudden, I might say no.” Idris explained
“How dare you call my daughter a random girl?” His mother shut him down and he sighed.
“I am just saying ... And honestly , I am glad, Hikmah isn’t going to marry him, ... He is my friend but I don’t want that , honestly.” Idris said thinking of his friend health challenges .
“I think I support this too, Adnan is a good man but his health ... How will Hikmah handled that, I see it as a blessing in disguise.” Ibrahim said.
“I was against this right from the first day but what I am not very happy about is the fact that he rejected my daughter , how disrespectful.” Their mother said
“I think he is just being sincere... We can’t judge that selfishly, I am sure he does not mean to disrespectful.” Idris said.
“Hikmah has always been that little girl we all watch grow, I think that is what Adnan is looking at... How can he see her as a prospective bride?” Idris said.
“I just don’t want to see him anymore in my house ... And I mean it.” Their father announced.
“He is my best friend ...” Idris said.
“I don’t care...” He said
“I don’t think that should affect the friendship we have with the family, please consider your action sir.” Idris pleaded and their father shook his head.
“Reason I don’t think of getting married to a family friend daughter... If just a proposal can cause so much grudges as this ... “ Ibrahim said.
“The girl in question didn’t even have anything to do with all these... She is in her bedroom as usual and we are all here fighting for her... “ Abdul Malik who had been quiet for a while said, shaking his head.
“Please consider your decision... Adnan is my best friend ... And I would not like this to cause any issue between the two families... Hikmah sincerely would not be able to handle Adnan health condition and I want us to see this from that point of view and I hope she also understand that...” Idris explained and that was when he left for his bedroom to call his friend.
The phone rang for a while before it got connected. After the exchange of teslim... Idris broke the silence..
“And so you decide to break my sister’s heart.” Idris said to his friend.
“Break heart.?” Adnan said
“Yes, you both should be about to get married ... And all these was going on, and I was not even aware.” Idris said ,
“I am sorry, I guess it was just a miscommunication which I only try to rectify as soon as I heard about it... I am sorry I didnt carry you along, it as because of your short journey to Lagos... You know we would have discussed this if you are to be here.” Adnan said.
“Hikmah had always been that young sis of mine, how can anyone think I would marry her?” Adnan said
.”I am sure , she would not even take it serious too.. that was why I had to just do that, I am sorry for whatever inconvenience I must have caused. If there are better ways to do that, I would have opt for that options.” Adnan said and there was silence from the other end.
“Idris, are you there?” He called to be sure, the call was still connected.
“I am here.”
“I hope no one take it seriously?” Adnan asked
“You can say that again, Dad banned you from coming to the house again.” Idris explained
“I have pleaded on your behalf anyway.” He explained further.
“Jazakallahu khayr... Can we meet at your place tomorrow? . You still have three weeks left for the break right?” Adnan asked
“Yes, but don’t come over for a while,I will come see you at work tomorrow ins Sha Allah.” Idris said.
“And Hikmah, I hope she didn’t take it to heart?” Adnan asked
“I haven’t seen her , you know she is always in her bedroom as usual, but I will surely check on her tonight ins Sha Allah.” Idris promised.
“Alright and about your visit to Lagos...how is it?” Adnan asked his friend who had gone to Lagos on invitation by his proposed father in law who had invited him to come to Lagos for some important discussion.
“Alihamdulilah, he just want to ask some questions , I need to have some discussions with father first ...but this might not be the best time... No thanks to you.” Idris said.
“Just wait for a few days more.. I am sure, things will return back to normal ins sha Allah.” Adnan explained to his friend.
“I am sorry for any inconvenience that I might have cause to your family... and I hope you understand that I mean well for your sister... “ Adnan said to his friend over the phone.
“I know and I perfectly understand ... And thank you.” Idris said to his friend and even though Adnan did not ask why he was thanking him, he understood perfectly.
“Have a nice night ... As salamualykum waramotullah wabarakatuh Akhi.” Adnan said and the call got disconnected.





It was late and she opened her eyes wanting to stand up so as to get up to use the rest room when she saw her, she was sitting at a corner deep in thought.
Ashabi sighed and rushed to the restroom to use it before she returned back and walked to where her elder sister was sitting quietly.
“Anti mi... “ She said and met her crying.
“You don’t have to do that ... “ She said and sat down on the floor beside her.
“I think, he told others about me... No one in this area want to employ me.” Her sister said tearfully and she sighed.
“Dont worry sis, no matter what, we will get you a job ins Sha Allah.” Ashabi said with conviction. It is been two months and two weeks since her sister was sacked at her place of work because of the fact that she “scammed her boss pastor”.
“ It will be fine, at least we can still manage my salary, I know it is not much but let us just keep managing , it would be fine ins sha Allah.” Ashabi said.
“I heard the convocation at U I will be next week Tuesday, I am sure Bro Ismail will be around soon.” Ashabi said to her sister.
“How do you know that?” Shade asked her sister.
“My madam daughter is in the same school as he is and even the same department .” Ashabi said.
“I heard them discussing about it.” She said to her and she nodded.
And just like she predicted, Ismail got back to Ibadan two days later. The girls were so happy to see him and he was too.
They both seem to be so used to their hijabs now and he was glad.
“Have you been able to get a new job?” He asked her and she shook her head and he sighed as he listened to how she walked far distance daily to see if she could get a job.
“I am tired. I think he told everyone about me.” She said to him and he nodded.
“Don’t worry , it will be fine ins sha Allah... So how are you coping? Do you still have food in the house?” He asked her and she nodded.
“We are living solely on Ashabi’s salary... And thanks for the food you gave us before you travelled, it went a long way.” She explained and he swallowed hard.
“I hope it get better soon, Allah didn’t promise us we will live here without trial Allah says in the Holy Quran: "And surely, We shall try you till We know those of you who strive hard (for the Cause of Allah) and the patient ones; and We shall test your record (i.e. the one who is a liar; and the one who is truthful)" (Holy Quran, 47: 31)” He said to her .
“Believe me things will be better.” He promised her and she nodded.
“So, how is the preparation for your convocation?” She asked, he had just returned back from school and had invited her for a chat at the corridor where they sat discussing.
Congratulations.” She said to him and he nodded. She wonder if she will ever be able to go to school too.
“Alihamdulilah... How about you think of going back to school?” He suddenly asked her and she sighed.
“School ke? Where Ismail, where will I see the fund... What about my younger sis?” She asked him and he sighed.
“We can always work things out ... At least I see the zeal to go back to school more in you than in your sister Yasmina..” He said to her and she sighed deeply
“Please, let us forget that... I need a job.” She said to him.
“My Nysc redeployment letter is out too.” He said to her.
“Where were you posted to?” She asked him and he smiled.
“This state...” He said to her and she looked at him with surprise.,
“I thought people do go to other states far from theirs to serve.” She said to him and he nodded.
“Yes, ... But thanks to some of my lecturers, I guess I am just lucky.” He said to her and she smiled at him.
“Wait,... What is your class of degree?” She asked him
“Why do you want to know?” He asked her.
“I just want to know... Your lecturers won’t like you if you are dull.” She said to him and he smiled
“Let us just say , I am lucky, anyways, that is to let you know that you will see more of me around , especially after the camp.” He said to her.
“That is great... Anyways please if you know anyone , I am looking for jobs... I am already thinking of seeking help from other students ... Perhaps to help with house chores, run errands for them and the likes , at least for a token.. I can’t even think of just being indoor doing nothing.” She said to him
“That is not good enough… Yusrah… it is not …” Ismail said to her and she swallowed hard.
“What is not good enough… looking for some alternative?” Shade asked looking at him and he swallowed hard.
“Yes, I am not comfortable with that.” He said to her and she looked at him with surprise… wondering why he was not comfortable with it.