The Darkest Moments
CHAPTER TWELVE
Episode 1
She broke into smiles as soon as he saw her walk towards her, she was sitting in front of the house studying. The exchanged teslim and he sat down on the bench not to far away from her.
“How are you ...” He asked her and she nodded then said Alihamdulilah.
“Ma sha Allah.” he said to her and watched her put the book in her hand aside.
“I can see that you are studying so hard for your forthcomings exam.” He said to her.
“Na'am, I don’t want to discourage our sponsor and you haven’t been around for a few weeks now.” She asked and was told that he travelled home to see his parents.
“Oh, Ma sha Allah, so how is your Tahfidh?” He asked.
“We will be starting with the Murajah... as soon as the new term begins ins sha Allah, I have started mine though.” She said to him and he nodded.
“Ma Sha Allah.” He said
“So , I am coming from Imam’s place , he said we will be going to see your Uncles his weekend ins Sha Allah.” He said to her and she nodded slowly.
“Will you be going with us?” She asked him and he nodded.
“Of course, I have told you, you are both stuck with me... Ofcourse , I am from the bride side.” He said to her and she laughed and tears fell down from her eyes, she apologized and cleaned them off as they keep falling from her eyes.
“Oh...I am so embarrassed ...” She said and smiled, she could not believe they would have to go see their parents family who didn’t even have their time or care about them.
“Upholding the family ties is one of the responsibility of a muslim, see it as an Ibadah... And look how far you have come, this might not have been possible if you are with them.. so be grateful.” He advised and she sighed and they both watched as a car pulled up in front of the building and Ashabi recognized the car immediately and her heart missed a beat.
“That is Uncle’s mum.” She whispered to him.
“You mean Adnan’s?” Ismail asked and she nodded slowly, he could see her shivering and he realized she was scared.
“Have you met before ... ? I am here don’t worry.” He said and they both raised to their feet as the woman walked up to them, she was a woman in her late fifties or early sixties, average height and in a floor length Navy blue khimar.
They said their teslim and she looked at Ashabi with disdain.
“So, you are bent in causing a rift between my son and I abi?” She asked.
“After several warnings ... “ He said and Ismail exchanged glances with Ashabi as he wondered what she was talking about.
“Ehn... What exactly is your problem, what do you want? Is it money? Tell me how much and let me pay you off...I said I don’t want you as a daughter in law, is there any problem with that? I don’t want an opportunist In my family ... “ The woman said.
“Ma’am,I think you should calm down...” Ismail said trying to pacify the woman and the woman sighed and stared hard at Ismail.
“And who are you ... ? I said it , she had no morals at all, spending time carelessly with different men... entertaining them ... Oniranu... but do I blame you? No good upbringing at all...riff raff? Visiting a non mahram all the time ... Shamelessly...” She said and continued with different name calling until Ashabi could not take it anymore and she ran inside crying and Ismail was confused ...
“You can have her... She is no good for my son anyway...” She said to Ismail and he was shocked ...
Hmmm, such a shame! When I thought she was a complete muslimah!!! She dressed like one ... But she act otherwise. .. could it be Adnan parents are not in support of his marriage? What is this ?
Then why sent a wedding proposal when he knows she is not welcome in his family ... hmmm, now I understand why the Nikkah is getting delayed ...
Ehn... I don’t want this for her ... She does not deserve this...
And it is like this is not their first meeting ?
Could it be that she had visited her before?
Several questions came to him and he took a deep breathe .. he walked down the corridor to the room she shared with her sister, it was shut , he knocked at the door severally but the door was not opened.
“Yasmina... Come on...open the door...what is this now? She left already, come out ...” He said knocking .
“I don’t want to talk to anyone ...I don’t want to talk to anyone.” She said from inside.
“Go home.” She said to him...
He sighed and walked away from the door and dialled Adnan’s phone number as she walked out of the building but it was engaged .
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Back in the room, all the hurtful words came to her. .. she need no one to tell her that the woman didn’t like her ... not even a bit... She remember how she do look at her with disdain all the time when they met at the hospital and how her actions and look at her when they met in his apartment one evening. ..
Then her visit to her school a week later , she remember vividly, it was closing time and she had come out of the gate only to see her waiting for someone... she didn’t know she was waiting for her... she walked up to her and said her teslim...
After all, she is Adnan’s mother.
She barley responded to her teslim and she looked at her with some much disgust.
“So, this is your school? A secondary school girl ...
Already visiting men at home? How old are you anyways?” She asked her.
“Twenty one.” She said to her and the woman hissed.
“And you are still in secondary schools , my daughters had their first degree at twenty three ... And you are still in secondary school at twenty one and that is still not enough shame it self, you keep forcing yourself on my son...” She said to her.
She sighed and watched some of her school mates who were watching how she was getting scolded, she rarely talk to anyone in the school anyways, so she does not care about what anyone says behind her back.
“So shameless, now let me warn you. .. I don’t ever want to see you around my son again, if I do, you will be in soup... Don’t dare me in this city of Ibadan...I don’t want a shameless, opportunist like you around him ... Stop confusing him.” She threatened and she was gone, it was something she could not share with anyone ...
She was in the school the following week to threatened her the more ...
The third time, she came with a blank cheque and promised to pay her off.
“I don’t want ...money ...” She said to her to and listened to her threats again and she had not showed up until that day ... At her house.
I am tired...
She didn’t want Adnan to know, she does not want him to turn against his parents ... Perhaps it is best she cut it off...
At least she would complete her secondary school and she can get a job to support her sister through school.
Life is better now..
I am more matured ...
I know we will be fine...
At least he had paid for the third term school feels with my SSCE fee
She said to herself and fiddled with her phone as she thought on what to type...
She sighed deeply
I am no longer interested in the proposed Nikkah. I am rejecting it ... Please don’t call or contact me again... I appreciate all that you have done for my sister and I , I think we will be fine on our own... I promise to pay back all that you have spent on us as soon as we have the means ... I don’t want any trouble...I will forward this phone to you as soon as possible ins Sha Allah. Jazakallah khayr.
To be continued ins Sha Allah
©Umm Rumaysah