DARKEST MOMENTS
CHAPTER 12
EPISODE 2
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.
And she sent the message.
As soon as the message was sent, she switched off her phone and laid on the bed to cry.
She liked him....
Not everyone you like will be your spouse...
She was told at a single seminar she attended, some months ago.
“One of the red flag every lady should watch out for is the non-acceptance of his family...if his family member do not accept you... Run.” The speaker explained.
Perhaps this is for the best.
Something in her said.
....
......
He stared at his phone for the umpteenth time and he sighed.
What does she mean?
What happened?
His heart was beating faster as he stared at the phone in his hand, with a deep sigh and confusion, he didn’t know what else to do, so he just take a deep breath and drop the phone and thus the phone rang again.
Of course she is not the one, it was Ismail.
“Wa alaykum salam waramotullah wabarakatuh Akhi…. Oh yes, I am at work, you can come in.” He said, still wondering why he had come to see him alongside thinking about the message he had received from Ashabi.
Ismail entered his office a few minutes later and they exchanged teslim.
“How are you… I tried calling your number severally but your number was busy.” Ismail said.
“Yes, I was speaking to our supplier… how are you and what can I offer you?” Adnan asked trying to sound worry free.
“I am fine, I hope you are less busy, because we need to talk.” Ismail said and Adnan nodded.
Could she have told him too?
“I was with Yasmina about half an hour ago.” He started.
“I don’t know your parents had issues with her and I don’t think today was the first time she would be insulted… or should I just say threatening?” Ismail asked and Adnan sighed.
“Are you sure of what you are saying?” He asked to be sure, that was the last thing he thought could happen, he didn’t even think his mother would do that.
“I am not lying… I was there… she shivers as soon as she recognized your mother’s car.” Ismail said and went to explain about how she ran into her room and refuse to come out of the room.
“Her number is no longer available and I am worried.” Ismail said to him.
“I don’t expect this to happen Akhi, I don’t want her to have any in law problem, please if this would not work…” Ismail said with a plea.
“Don’t worry, I will fix it, I am already on it. And the fact that I was not even aware of this from the beginning.” He said to Ismail.

“Are you sure?” Ismail asked looking at him.
“I will, I promise.” Adnan said, and he nodded, now he understand the reason for her message.
“I appreciate this… so how far with academics?” Adnan asked, changing the topic
“And any job so far?” He asked further.
“Alihamdulilah… I got recruited as an assistant lecturer few weeks ago.” He announced.
“Oh… ma sha Allah, and I was not aware at all. Barakallahu feekum.” Adnan said and shook his hands warmly.
“Wa fihi barakallah.”
.....
........
.....
The phone rang again and she looked else where , and suddenly, she moved closer to the phone and shut the phone down.
She watched her sister who has her back turned to her , sitting on the study chair and table at the other corner of the room studying.
She sighed again and stared at the chemistry textbook in her hand, she could not see anything .... She was in deep thought.
“Ashabi... “ Her sister called and tapped her and that was when she realized that she was in a very deep thought.
“He is looking for you...” she said.
“Uncle Adnan...” She said, she turned and saw him standing in the middle of the room. She sighed deeply and look away and her sister look from one person to the other wondering what was wrong.
She got him a plastic chair for him to seat, close to the bed where she laid, Without a word, she moved to where she sat on her studying table and pretended to be studying.
“You aren’t picking your calls.” He said to her.
“I don’t want to talk to you...or to anyone.” She said to him.
“Go away...” She said to him.
“Ashabi... What is this now?” Her sister cautioned
“Leave me alone.” She said to her sister.
“Seat properly ... Abi what is wrong with you?” Shade asked and hissed.
Slowly, she sat up, have Adnan some bad look and then look away.
“Okay, I am sorry...” He said calmly.
“There is no need to say you are sorry, you didn’t do anything.” She said and glanced at her sister who was pretending to read a book while she was listening to their conversation.
“Still, I am sorry, it was my fault.” He said
“It won’t happening again.” He added and she sighed.
“I don’t want any trouble ... “ She said to him.
“There would not be any ... But you should have told me when it started...” He said to her.
“I don’t want any issue ...” She said to him.
“But you should have told me... I am sorry.” He said to her.
“So can we assume the message you sent this afternoon was a mistake?” He asked her and she sighed.
“Ehn... It was a mistake isn’t it?” He asked her and she nodded slowly then he smiled and eave a sign of relief.
“Thank you, I promise to sort it out ... Just give me a little time.” He pleaded and she sighed again.
“It is late ... already, I have to be on my way ... Today was very hectic ...” He said and sat up.
“Are you okay?” She asked looking at him.
“Yes, I am, I will be fine.” He said to her with a nod.
“So see you ladies later.” He said and nodded towards Shade’s direction and left the room. Shade stood up and followed him outside while Ashabi remained indoor, still shaken by what happened that afternoon, even though it was not the first, she was surprised that she was shaken by it and she wonder why.
All she want is everything to be fine... And she hope her sister does not ask her about it for she know she(Ashabi) would definitely broke into tears if it happens. She just want to be left alone.
....
....
.....
He met her at home and wondered what she was looking for ...
All he wanted was to be left alone. He exchanged teslim with her all the same and sank in the chair.
“Care for dinner?” She asked him.
“What do you make? Don’t tell me your husband had travel again?” He asked her, her husband travelled a lot and most of the times, she come to stay with their parents with her child, Hibah.
“And how is Hibahtullah?” He asked as she walked into the kitchen to get his food.
“She is home as usual...” She said to him from the kitchen, she served his food and invited him to join her on the table, they had their dinner quietly and he retired to his room only for her to come knocking on his door.
“I am tired ... “ He said from within.
“I am coming in ...” She said but didn’t open the door immediately, she waited for a minute before she opened the door slightly and peeped before she entered his bedroom.
“Hummm.” She said to him and sat on the bed, he was already in his pyjamas when she entered.
“I told you I am tired, don’t your get it?” He said and laid his back on the bed.
“Ummu said you want to get married to some girl ...” She started.
“Her name is Yasminah, she is not some girl.” He corrected.
“She said she is very young... A secondary school girl but I laughed it off... And then Hikmah told she was their house maid and then I realised I have met her like twice when I paid her a visit some times back... But still I do not believe it.” She said to him and he sighed.
“Everything is true... Can I go to sleep now?” He asked her and she sighed.
“She is ... Subuanallah! Bro, must you marry her to help her... You can just do that if you want to ... No need to jeopardize your future for such person.” Fatimah explained to him and he rolled to the edge of the bed.
“Can I go to sleep now... You have no right to interfere in my affairs, you know how private I love my life to be... so don’t push it ... “ He said to her.
“This is marriage we are talking about, don’t you get it?” Fatimah said.
“Are you stupid ? Do you think I am child? Or I don’t know what I am doing? What is wrong with everyone? Do you even know her?” He asked and sat up.
“But ...Hikmah....”
“Do Hikmah even know her properly ... She worked with them for a while and so ? What Is the problem... yes she is poor , she is an orphan , she was a maid ... And then ? She is human and she is my choice ... “ He explained and his sister swallowed hard.
“I am an adult for Allah sake ... So what is the problem with everyone? Do I need anyone’s consent to get married? Wo...(look) get out of my bedroom.” He said to her.
She looked at him for a while before she left the room with her own thought.
She is aware of his temper but she had never seen him in such state before and that frightened her.
As soon as she got to her bedroom, she dialled their mother’s number and she seem to be waiting for her call.
“How was it?” She asked from the other end.
“Still stubborn as usual.” Fatimah and her mother sighed from the other end.

“Alright ...” Her mother said.
“Is Hibah sleeping already?” She asked.
“Yes, she is ...” Her mother explained.
©Umm Rumaysah