THE DARKEST MOMENTs
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Episode 3
His face brightened up when he entered his office and they said Teslim to each other.
“How was your journey?” He said to his father as he took his seat on the chair.
“Alihamdulilah.” His father said.
“I am sure this is not a courtesy visit.” His father said to him and Idris laughed.
“Let’s call it all roll into one.” His said to his father and the man laughed.
“Of course, I know it, you only visit your mother and call her all the time.” His father said to him.
“Noooo, Ummu called us more than you do too... “ Idris said.
“But Ins Sha Allah, I will call you more now ins sha Allah.” He promised his father and the man nodded.
“Okay, so why are you here??” His father asked him.
“I called you when you are away... Abu, didnt you recall?” Idris asked him and his father nodded repeatedly.
“I am sorry ... I know we discussed a lot but I can’t really remember them all... So sorry.” He apologized and Idris smiled.
“We haven’t really discuss it, I just said I will come see you when you return.” He said to his father and his father nodded again.
“So, let’s hear it.” His father said to him.
“It’ about Adnan and his father and I will appreciate if you can help talk to his father, since he is your friend.” He started and his father waited for him to continue and he did.
“You mean his father don’t want him to get married? That is not true...perhaps it was a misunderstanding , you know he would not do that.” His father said in defense of his friend.
“Who is this girl? Is she someone we know?” His father asked him..
“Yes, she is well known but I am not sure his parents had even meet with her ... To me I don’t really understand for now... “ Idris explained
“Who is she?”
“Ashabi...” He replied and his father looked at him with surprise wondering if he heard his son right.
“The girl who works for mum for a while before she left few years ago.” Idris added.

“The maid? Is he serious at all? How come, how did they meet?” His father asked to be sure and Idris could see the disgusted look on his father face and the feeling he got that moment ... made him understood how Adnan must have felt..
“The Orphan? He want to replace Hikmah with that?” He asked.
“What is wrong with her being an orphan ... Of course when I think that you would understand better.” Idris said with a disappointment tone to his father and the man sighed.
“That girl is not good for him, we don’t even know anything about her ...when she was here, do you know how much scared I am if she turn out to be a thief or a fitnah to my household, she was not even properly brought up by her late parents.” His father said.
“How come your friend want to settle down with someone like that? What is wrong with him? Isn’t that girl too young for him? Does he know anything about her? I am sure his father would not accept her ... And I think I understand perfectly why.” He added.
“Abu, I cant believe you are saying this, this girl is an orphan , she works with us for some time, and I don’t think she ever had any issue with anyone until she stopped coming, and though she was not really a practicing muslimah when she joined but you need to see her now, in a few months she would be an Hafidha, she is currently preparing for her SSCE...she is now in school.” Idris said and his father broke down into laughter .

“You children of nowadays are just so insensitive, who is sponsoring her?” His father asked him.
“Does that really matter?” He asked his father and he suddenly regretted his coming to talk to his father.
Birds of the same feather.
“I am sure he is the one? Dont you get it ... This girl is just after his money and I think your friend should think properly especially because of his health... You don’t know girls like that... And I think she is too young for him and I am not going to persuade my friend to take her as a daughter In law... A girl with no family.” He said to him and Idris sighed deeply.
“I bet coming to you is a mistake.” He said to his father.

“I think both of you should forget it, try to make him see reason.” His father said
“That is if the girl is a Mushrierik? What is wrong with marrying Orphan? I think his father should be happy his son finally think of settling down ... I thought he was worried about that few years ago and now this ?” Idris asked and raised o his feet.

“I think you know he can get married without his father consent ?” He said.
“What family will want to give their daughter away to a man who does not have his family support?” His father said after him as he walked slowly towards the door.
“Have you forgotten what you call her few minutes ago?
An orphan ... “ Idris said, sighed and left the office.
As soon as he got out of his father’s office ...he put a call through his friend ...
“What are you doing this weekend?” He asked his friend.
“Nothing... What?” Adnan asked from the other end.
“Let us go to see your Grandparents ... about the Nikkah” He said to his friend.
“Adnan?” Idris called to be sure his friend was listening.
“Na’am, Saturday or Sunday?” Adnan asked.
“Saturday will be fine.” Idris said to him
....
.....
“How about ... Ehmm we try to pay some of your family members a visit?” He asked her, he had come to pick her from school that evening and started the discussion as soon as he parked in front of her house.
“We don’t know anything about them, ...” She explained to him and he nodded.
“You said your mum Is from Ogun state do you or your sister know any of their address and how to get to your father sis...” He explained and she sighed.
“I am sorry Yasmina but I think it is necessary.” He said to her.
“I don’t think Anti mi will be happy about it ...” She said to him.
“But you know it is necessary right?” He asked and she nodded slowly.
“Let’s try...please.” He said to her again.
“No problem.” She replied thinking of how to talk to her sister.
“When are you finishing your exams?” He asked her.
“Tomorrow ins Sha Allah” She said to him and he nodded.
“Is there anything you need ... Or your sis?” He asked her and she shook her head.
“We are fine.” She said to him.
“Alright, it is almost maghreb and I have to go now, if there is anything you need , you know how to get me.” He said to her and she nodded.
“I hope you are fine ... The weather is a bit not to friendly?” She asked him and looked at him for the first time that they have been together.
“Alihamdulilah, stronger and better, thanks for asking.” He said and she nodded again and got out of the car. He left as soon as she entered the building.
He is to make the journey with his friend to the village the day after.
....
....
.....
Her face look like a frown as soon as she entered the room, she watched her sank on the bed and as she slowly removed her Hijab.
“What is it Anti mi?” Ashabi asked her sister, she had just complete the terminal examinations the day before ...
“Hmmm, I am coming from the Imam.” Her sister said to her.
“Ehn, you said so...” She replied.
“He want us to go visit Mom’s family and to look for Aunty Tolani.”
“Hmmm,” Ashabi sighed and recalled her conversation with Adnan two days before, she was still thinking on how to talk to her and she was somehow glad the issue was brought up.
“You know about this right?” She asked her and she swallowed hard.
“I am sorry for stressing you for the past few months, I am sorry.” Ashabi apologized and her sister sighed.
“He said he is still going to be your Wali if the Nikkah were to be held but for courtesy sake and for upholding the family ties... We should reach out to them.” She said explained to her younger sister.
“Yes, ... can we just do that?..” Ashabi asked.
“Hmmm, I really don’t want to have anything to do with them again ...” Shade said.
“To say no one asked after us after so many years...” Shade added.
“You always cautioned me not to think about it all anti mi... at least we are fine ...” Ashabi said and her sister sighed.
“You better make sure your marriage with him works ... See what we have to go through ...” Shade said pointing her fingers to her sister who moved closer to her and hugged her tightly.
“Thank so much ... “ She said...
“Anything for you, to say my brother in law is the one sponsoring my education ...I am so ashamed of myself.” Shade said half tearfully and smiled at her sister.
“We will go visit them with the Imam first ins Sha Allah and probably find a way to get to Anti Tolani as well ... Her number is still in my diary...we need to be sure it will still go through.” Her sister said.
.....
.....
.....
“Where is this girl from?” His grandfather asked him and Adnan sighed ... He didn’t have an answer to that.
“Dont tell me you don’t even know her family house?” His grandmother asked and Idris smiled at his friend.
“Ehn, shebi you can call her, call and ask her... if I am going to call your father, I need to know whose daughter she is in this village.” His grandfather said and he swallowed hard, his heart was beating faster and his mind went to Ashabi confession about her past to him few weeks before.
Ya Allah, let it be overlooked , I don’t want any more issue. ..
He prayed silently and send a message to her
What is the name of your family house? My grandfather is asking...
“See children of nowadays, you don’t take note of important things anymore ... Have you forgotten about istisharah? Shebi you are learned ...
Haba...”His grandfather said again.
“Abi, do you get married to your wife without knowing her family house too?” He asked idris who laughed.
“Don’t mind this boy Bami, he refused to learn.” Idris replied
“And how is your wife?” The grandmother asked him and he smiled with fine.
Ile iya eleko
The message read.
“Ile iya Eleko... “ He said to them.
“Ile Iya Eleko? Whose daughter is she? Call her now and let me talk to her.” The old man instructed him and without hesitation, he obliged and showed him the number to call.
He watched the old man dialled the number and immediately the call got connected.
“This is not Uncle, this is his grandfather ... “ The man said and activated the phone call into a speaker so that others can listen.
“Haa... grandpa...” She said and said her teslim.
“Ngbo... Whose daughter are you In that compound?” The man asked.
“Ehm.... My grandfather name is Baba Layi...” She said .
“Oh... Your grandmother is Amope Iya layi, she died few years ago, I was at her Janaza... Was your father Olawale... The younger brother to layi...?” The Man asked.
“Na’am.” She responded.

“Oh... Ma Sha Allah.” He said and he disconnected the call.
He returned the call to his grandson who was waiting to hear something from him.
“She is the great-granddaughter of Mama Eleko...herself.” The grandfather said and his wife nodded.
“Is she a practicing muslim? Because her grandmother , may Allah Grant her jannah... rarely engaged in any activities that has to do with religion during her life time... “ The grandmother asked.
“Na’am.” Adnan said and nodded affirmatively.
“But, they are indeed good people, no records of any bad attitude from that compound ... even when death keep taking them away one after the other ... But her grandfather was a very good friend of mine, he was a practicing muslim during his life time ... And when he died, his only surviving son cut ties with everyone ... I was not even aware his grand daughters were in the village ... “ The man said and Adnan eave a sigh of relieve.
“Ins sha Allah, I will come to Ibadan to come and plan that Nikkah myself ...who is her Wali... Because I don’t think they have any male relatives in that house... “ He asked further.
“It’s the Imam on the street where she lives with her sister.” Adnan explained and the man nodded.
“Ma sha Allah... I will come pay your father a visit in two weeks ins Sha Allah, get ready for the Nikkah... Whatever objection he has for you not marrying that girl... He should say it to my face... Any child can be orphan at anytime ...” The man said.
“So, what does this girl do for a living ? How old is she ? Who does she stays with?” He asked and the man listened to his son description about her.
“What is her genotype?” He asked further and he was told.
“And you idris, what can you say about her?” The man asked looking at Idris.
“Oh... Bami, she is a nice young woman, very respectful, hardworking and contented... She works at my house briefly before I got married, she never go beyond her boundaries and her zeal to become a better muslimah amazed me.” He explained.
“Ma sha Allah... That is great .. you are getting married to her ins Sha Allah.” The man said with conviction.
“Abi... When I have been expecting this to happen for years... Your father is not thinking straight and I am proud of you for coming here to see us... “ The grandmother said. She can’t wait for him to get married ...
.....
...
....
The look on his mother’s face and that of her sister were something he didn’t understand as soon as they entered the living room, they barely respond to his wife teslim and his heart missed a beat...
Could it be because of kids?

They had been married for a few years and there hadn’t been any kids yet , they have gone for several fertility tests and they are both medically fit to have children and thus they decided to follow the doctor’s advise ...

Waiting and hoping ...

He sighed deeply and exchanged glances with his wife who hesitated for a while and went in to the kitchen to serve them water , she left the room immediately after.
“Ummu, you didnt even notify me of your coming... though I was told you called yesterday.” He said to his mother.
“And you coming this evening ... I hope all is well?” He asked and watched her took her seat on the sofa and Hikmah did the same.
“And you , why didn’t you respond to my wife teslim properly?” He challenged his sister who frowned a bit.
“Idris, where were you yesterday...” His mother asked him.
“Ummu, I travelled with Adnan... Hope no problem?” He asked his mother and glanced at his sister.
“For what?” His mother asked him and he looked surprise.
“He had a business to do there ...” He said to her.
“A business? Or you went to see his grandfather to intervened in his plans to get married to that girl...” His mother asked and he sighed deeply, now he understood what was happening ...
“Abu told you ?” He asked.
“Yes, I went there with him ...” He added.
“Does that makes sense to you... She was the house girl I employed into the house.” She said.
“Ehn... What is wrong with him marrying her? And I
told you he like her.” He asked
“I was suppose to get married to him.” Hikmah said to him painfully.
“Haba Ummu, I thought we both discussed this then ... It is not like you wanted her to get married to him and I thought you (faces Hikmah) didn’t want that too... Yes you haven’t gotten married yet, but that was because you rejected so many proposals already without major reasons.” He explained to her and watched her frowned.
“Ummu, I don’t expect this drama from you. If you can’t support, please don’t be against it.” Idris plead.
“And you... I hope you will be reasonable when you get a new wedding proposal and stop finding faults all the time as if you are perfect yourself.” He advised his sister.
“But I didn’t reject your friend, he rejected me...” She said to him.
“Hikmah, it is been years this thing happened , you and I know you only wanted to accept him because of his wealth not that you like him, Ummu was against it... Abu just pitied him, your marriage to him was meant to be like a favor ...which is unfair...” He said.
“So what give you the assurance that girl isn’t like that...” She asked.
“One can’t just assume ... As long as my friend is okay with her ... no worries and please if you can’t support , please don’t be against him... She is his choice and she wanted it too... That is all that matters.” He said.
“I can’t believe you are here to say that to me.” He said to them and eave a sigh of relief.

©Umm Rumaysah...