THE DARKEST MOMENT
CHAPTER 13

THE NIKKAH
Episode 2
Ashabi smiled cheerfully at Idris wife Sakinah as she took her into the shopping mall to make some selections of some Abaya. It was a store, she had never dreamt of entering that store before.
‘We can get anything here… shoes, Abaya, Hijabs, undies, dresses, anything modest wear.” She explained to the young lady who her husband had told her about some weeks before that she is to be married to his best friend and he seem so excited about it himself.
“I have never been here.” She said looking at the large store and the lady nodded.
“Of course, I can see that.” Sakinah said smiling cheerfully at her.
“Okay, what section should we start with first?” She asked her
“Anyone is fine, I don’t know anything about shopping.” Ashabi replied and Sakinah smiled at her.
“Okay, let us look at some dresses for a start.” Sakinah said and took her to the section.
They made some many trips to the car and completed the shopping after Zuhr.
“We will come to their Saloon and Spa for your hair and Spa.” Sakinah said to her and Ashabi shook her head.
“I am on low cut.” She replied.
“O…Okay… but why don’t you start making your hair… you are going to be married, it is highly recommended for a Muslimah to plait her hair.” Sakinah explained to Ashabi.
“Okay anti” Ashabi nodded.
“What is this with your Anti… Just call me Sis or better still Sakinah.” Sakinah said as they walked slowly to her and Ashabi smiled.
“I can call you sis, you are far older than I am.” Ashabi said to her and Sakinah laughed.
“And as you can see, we have bought so many things already, so you need to start wearing them even before Nikkah, I will come see you again during the week, we need to make few trips to the Spa, to treat your skin.” Sakinah explained and Ashabi nodded.
“Now, …” Sakinah explained and was stopped by her tap on her shoulder, she turned to see who it was and realised that it was her sister in law Hikmah.
“Oh… Sis…” Sakinah said and Ashabi turned to Hikmah and smiled at her but she was totally ignored.
“Why are you here?” Hikmah asked Sakinah.
“I brought Ashabi for her shopping.” Sakinah said and wrapped her arms around Ashabi who was not comfortable with her former boss behavior towards her.
“How come you know each other…. Oh…. Don’t say anything. Any way I am off, see you later.” Hikmah said and walked away from them while Sakinah sighed and forced a smile at Ashabi.
“You know her? she is my husband sister, sometimes she behaves funny” Sakinah said.
“Yes, I did, I worked with them for a while.” Ashabi explained and Sakinah nodded, trying to understand it perfectly, she shrugged when she could not and they entered the car.
“So, hmmm, you know you will be getting married in a few days, I think you need to carry yourself properly… you know it will make people respect you more… you see the kind of family you are getting married into are more like a high class set of people in the society, your mother in law will have friends that they want to show their daughter in law too and they will need you to be like a classy daughter in law, so you need to carry yourself properly… that will make them like and respect you… and no one will want to take you for granted. This is one of the reason why we are changing your wardrobe and get you some nice outfits. You see that is the only way they will recognize and respect you and even your husband. Men don’t know all these things but that is the truth.” Sakinah said to her and Ashabi nodded trying so hard to understand what Sakinah was trying to say… then she recall Adnan’s mother threats to her.
Could it be because I am not presentable?
“You are very beautiful and attractive young lady.” Sakinah said and started the car.
“Thanks sis…” Ashabi said smiling and Sakinah smiled at her.
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Ismail smiled at Adnan as he listened to him.
“It is going to be just a little something, so since my parents will be around for a few days, so we decided just have the Nikkah done ins sha Allah, I have discussed with their Aunts, their Uncles and Imam said it is a great idea too.” Ismail explained.
“Ma sha Allah, there is no little Nikkah… Barakallahu feekum… but I am disappointed that you didn’t even carry me along, I thought we are friends and now we are going to be more than that in a few days.” Adnan explained.
“I am so sorry Akhi, you are preparing for your wedding and I know how busy you are these days.” Ismail said to him.
“So the Nikkah will hold a day after ours right?” He asked and Ismail nodded.
“Ins sha Allah.” Ismail replied.
“So, what is the plan? Any plan?” Adnan asked her.
“Nothing really.” Ismail said.
“Okay, so about her education, that won’t still stop ins sha Allah.” Adnan explained and Ismail nodded.
“May Allah make it easy for you.” Ismail said to him.
“Amin.” Adnan said.
“And I have a little token for a wedding token.” He said and dipped his hand into his pocket and brought an envelope.
“As soon as the Imam told me, I know I have to pay you a visit.” Adnan said to him and Ismail.
“You see why I don’t want to let you know beforehand.” Ismail said shaking his head.
“Come on, it is a token from a friend, are you going to reject it?” He asked him and Ismail sighed.
“You have done a lot already.” Ismail said and collected the envelope, he checked it and realised it was cheque. He then appreciate his nice gestures.
“And I am going to give you a gift too, and you should not reject it.” Ismail said to him and he laughed.
“Why shall I do that. We have friends after all… and how about we start calling each other by name instead of this bro… when we are not women.” Adnan asked and Ismail smiled.
“Ha… no ooo, that will be a bit difficult.” Ismail said laughing.
“I will think about it.” He added and both smiled the more.
Adnan nodded slowly trying not to show his discomfort, he noticed a slight increase in his temperature as soon as he drove into the campus and now he was feeling some pains around his neck.
“I think I have to be on my way.” Adnan said to him and walked with Ismail out of his office to where his car was parked.
He drove slowly out of the campus, by the time he was a few minutes away from the campus, his temperature had rise so much and he know that he just need to get to the hospital.
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She slowly entered the ward where he laid, groaning in pain, it was five days to the Nikkah, her heart was beating faster as she walked closer to his bed, Idris was sitting calming Adnan’s and didn’t notice her until she said her Teslim.
Idris forced out a smile and nodded. She was in her usual Black Abaya that she usually put on after school and her school bag was in her hand. Seeing him in pain shook her and she just stood there watching and Adnan upon seeing her face turn to the other side of the bed thereby backing both of them.
“Has the Doctor attend to him?” She asked Idris and he nodded.
“Na’am, he was fine until a few minutes ago.” Idris said to her.
“How come no one told me since four days before?” She asked Idris.
“Sorry,… it was his idea, I guess he didn’t want to stress you.” Idris said to her and she sighed.
“He will be fine.” Idris said to him calmly to her and she watched him trying so hard to hide his pains with his back turned to her and he keep shaking his left leg and she wonder how painful that moment could be for him and she wanted to move closer to him ... To touch him and tell him that all he will be fine ...
If only pain could be shared ...
She sighed and try to hide her tears and she realized Idris was looking at her and he gave her a look not to cry.
“He does not like it.” He whispered to her and she nodded and eave out a sigh as to ease out the tears and forced out a smile.
“Hmmm, ... Adnan...are you sleeping?” Idris asked and stood up to check on his friend and realized his eyes were closed, he sighed and nodded at Ashabi.
“He is sleeping.” He said to her.
“And see, it is almost Maghreb, how about you start going home... I can take you home.” Idris volunteered and she sighed.
“You know he would not like you to still be here at this time when he wakes up.” Idris said to her and she nodded.
She sighed again and then slowly nodded.
“I will find my way home ... Don’t worry.” She said to him.
“Dont worry, I will take you home.” He said nodding.
“Who will stay with him?” She asked him.
“His mum will soon be here. .. and others, so don’t worry.” He said to her and she nodded slowly.
He led out of that hospital and they walked slowly to the car parked and that was when they saw Adnan’s parents getting out of the car.
Ashabi saw them first and rushed to greet them and relieve them of what basket of food the mother was holding , Idris walked slowly to join them.
They both responded to her coldly and she swallowed hard.
“You have seen him abi?” His mother asked him.
“That is his reality ...not fine face and money ....” She added and Idris sighed.
“Weldone sir, how is work sir?” Idris asked trying to change the topic as they walked back to the ward.
Adnan was awake again when they entered the ward, and he realized that he might not be sleeping when they left.
The two friends exchanged some faces and without any word, Idris understood him and he escort Ashabi out of the ward.
As soon as they both left, he eave a sigh of relief .
“Will this marriage hold like this?” His mother asked him.
“Do you know how many people you invited? Don’t worry I will be fine ins Sha Allah.” He said and closed his eyes thinking of the possibility of the Nikkah being postponed ...
“It is suppose to be an elaborate event because of his parents friends and family members and also his employees. There are so many people who wanted to attend his wedding and even though his parents aren’t very comfortable with his choice, they still Invite everyone for their first son Nikkah and he is the only single among his sibling and normally they are suppose to be happy. .. perhaps if it is not Ashabi but he can’t just think of anyone else..
It was her that makes his have a rethink about life it self ... It was knowing her that makes him want to act selfish and settle down and perhaps have his own family ... Damning what the future holds, even while on his sick, he still hope that they will both be happy together and he hope she do that too.
He want to do all he can to make her happy and he want that too. He sighed again as the pain started again.
Umm Rumaysah