“Ma Sha Allah, I could barely recognise you...” Ismail said as soon as he caught up with her and she smiled at him.
“So how is Ibadah?” he asked her and she looked at him not knowing what to say because she didn’t know the meaning.
“I mean act of worship.” He said smiling at her and she nodded.
“Oh... Alihamdulilah...” She said
“And your sis?” He asked her and she sighed, her sister seem so off lately and she didn’t know what is wrong with her. She would not share her worries with her no matter how much she tried.
“Is there any problem?” You can tell me anything.” He said to her with interest.
“It is not that.... Hmmm, never mind... When are you travelling , is your exams results out?” She asked him , she remember him telling he would only go home after the convocation list is out
“Yes, Alihamdulilah, I got to see it yesterday, and I will be travelling next week ins sha Allah.” He said to her and saw cloud of sadness on her face. They have become so close over the few weeks.
“Oh .. no... If you have a phone number now... I would have just collect your phone number and called you often... However we will see each other before I go for NYSC and if you are still here next year, I would be back again for M.Sc. ins sha Allah. I will retain that room.” He said to her and she swallowed hard. She could not believe she would not see him for that long time when she had just learn to trust him.
“Dont worry, time moves so fast before you know it... Just make sure you keep observing your Salah promptly, there are a lot of Halqah you can attend to make you better muslimah, one is about to start at the masjid very close to the house... You can attend that every weekend.” He said to her as they walked along the corridor of the house.
“I am going to miss you...” She said and he nodded.
“Sure ... I will too.” He said to her.
“But it is not like I am going right away.” He said to her and suddenly he begin to think of a way of working of possiblity of having serve in the state to stay close to them.




She sighed as she listened to her husband who was trying so hard to convince her on why their daughter should marry Adnan.
“We have been like family for a very long time, you know, there is no better spouse I would rather chose for my daughter. He is also a man with the fear of Allah, I think we should look at that rather than his health issue.” Her husband said to her.
“I know this is what you would do, sha ask my daughter first if she is interested , I don’t want anyone to force my daughter into marriage... And not even to an able bodied man but to a sickler.” She said and hissed.
“Would you stop that right now? You are just so insensitive.” He cautioned her and she sighed.
“I will ask Hikmah myself and perhaps the marriage can happens before the call up letter comes so that she can be redeployed to Ibadan.” He said to his wife.
“Ask her first ...” His wife insisted
“Of course, I would do that... I am not a tyrant father... It is always difficult for one to have a meaningful discussion with you... “ He said to her and hissed
“Hikmah...” He called out his daughter.
“I wonder what she is always doing in that room of hers, she would not even made an attempt to come out of that room.” He said and call again but louder this time.
“Na’am.” She answered from her bedroom and it took her three minutes to come to her parents’ bedroom and this angered her father.
“Does it have to take you this long to come answer my call?” He asked.
“I am sorry, I was on call and I had to round it up before showing up.” She said.
“Hmmm, I just hope you don’t continue this way... Anyways sit and let us have a discussion.” He said to her and she obeyed.
“Discussion?” She asked looking from person to another.
“Yes, there is a wedding proposal for you.” Her father said to him.
“Oh... Wedding proposal?” She asked to be sure.
“From who?” She asked him
“From Adnan’s dad? We are looking at you getting married, you and Adnan.” Her father explained and her heart missed a beat.
“Marriage?” She said looking at both parents one after the other.
“Point of correction dear... Not that we are looking at you two... We want to know if you can get married to him ... “ her mother corrected and that earn her a frown from her husband.
“There is nothing bad in it , mum... He is a good person ma Sha Allah." She said to her mother who swallowed hard wondering if she is in her right senses?
“Are you with your senses? Have you considered about his health condition?” Her mother fired at her and she swallowed hard.
“Condition mum? Oh... Being a sickle cell patient?... But mum, he didn’t even look like one.” She said to him,
“So, what is your answer dear... Ignore what your mum is saying? ” She heard her father said.
“Dad, there is no problem about it... He’s been like family right from the very first day and he is from a good family and besides he is religiously committed.” She said to her father and watched him nod.
“ Ma sha Allah this is what the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) encouraged when he said: “Seek the one who is religiously-committed, may your hands be rubbed with dust (i.e., may you prosper).” Her father said
“I am so proud of you but I will give you some few days to observe your istikharah before saying anything to his father.



He sighed deeply as he listened to his father about the wedding proposal. Slowly he closed his eyes deep in thought wondering what he would say that would not sound disrespectful
How can they decided to think of trying to choose a girl for me...and not just a girl but the one I see as a younger sister!!! What is this?
This is unfair on both on both us...
It was clear that Hikmah didn’t like him, at least to be her husband...
He had always known that ... And he didn’t want to put her in any difficult situation..
“Abu, does it has to be with my health?... You just want to get me someone who would accept me the way I am right?”. He asked sadly .
“No girl would want to marry an Sickle cell patient ...”He said to his father sarcastically
“Adnan, stop that emotional blackmail... You know your mother and I are trying to give you the best ... you are over thirty ... And not a child anymore, you never showed any interest in wanting to get married ...what do you expect us to do? Clap for you?” He said to him son while his wife try to pacify him.
“Stop that Abu Adnan... Please, both of you.” His mother said, most times the men are always at the logger head of each other.
“Adnan, whatever decision your Dad chose is for your own good.” His mother said
“There is nothing wrong with you getting married and start having kids.” His mother said to him.
“Think about this and stop being stubborn.” She said.
“Umm, do any of your friends chose their children partners for them? Idris is a year older and yet his parents are not disturbing him for marriage or trying to chose a spouse for him... Why does it have to be me... Cajoling someone’s daughter to marry your sicker son right?” He said to them.
“You see, he had started with the emotional blackmail again... Why? Now, I am to be blamed for it all... Yes I try to get you someone , a girl I see like my own daughter ... My best friend daughter ... Do you think it is easy for me to do?” His father said angrily.
“Of course , it is not ... You having to beg your friend to allow his only daughter get married to your sick son... At least pity him right?” Adnan replied sarcastically and his parents knew he had lost it.
“Stop forcing this girl to marry me ... I am not interested in a pity marriage, if I find a girl that I like, I would surely do so... Ins Sha Allah.” He said.
“Adnan... Perhaps you should think over it... What is there not to like about Hikmah, she is a complete package muslimah, she has a good behaviour, smart and from a good family, we can’t just let you get married to just anyone...” His mother said to him and he sighed.
“Ummu, have you ever considered if this girl want to actually get married to me?” He asked now calmly.
“Yes dear, her father promised to talk to her ... We are still waiting for her acceptance and I am sure it will be positive.. “ His mother said.
“Are you sure, she would want to because she likes me or because she can’t say no to her parents?” He asked them.
“Which ever one is fine.” She said to him.
“Does that have anything to do with you?” His father asked him.
“Yes, it sure do, how can I watch you just force a girl to get married to me... Whatever her response is, I am not going to get married to her.” He said to them and left the apartment for his own house.
How could they even do that?
I don’t want a wife who is forced?
I don’t want someone who will pity me?
I want someone who will love me for who I am and who will stay beside me on my sick bed because she wanted to ... not because she has to.
And he know the person is definitely not Hikmah,
How can they decide to put her through that!
When i am not even sure I would even get married ..
He sighed as he drove out of the compound.
He remember how the doctors had predicted that he would not last until fifteen and so he waited ... He exceeded eighteen and they said it was twenty five and so he did wait again and he was still alive... even though he know it was only Allah who can take life... He is scared of each crises he has to go through of it being the last ... How can he put another soul through that... What If he get married and died after... Leaving the one he got married to widowed ...
The stereotype for widows isn’t that great in the society.
How will she cope after I am gone,
Hmmm,
What if I have kids?
They would become orphans and would not have fatherly love and care they deserve!
And she will have to be a single mother joined!
Men rarely give the same privilege to marrying again ladies especially the one with kids.
No, I don’t want that... Which is why is better I don’t get married and put someone daughter into trouble .
I am rejecting this proposal



She stretched herself on her bed where she laid and fiddled with her phone wondering who to call... and that was when her mother entered the room.
She was surprised to see her , everyone rarely enters her room except Ashabi whose job was always to clean it daily.
“Ummu, you should have called me ... “ she said to her and her mother nodded.
“I am here ... Or are you hiding something?” her mother asked her and she shook her head.
“No mum, what will I be hiding?” Hikmah asked her mother and watched her lower herself on the bed and faced her.
“What your father discussed with you yesterday... Have you thought about it?” she asked.
“Mom, what are you getting at?” Hikmah asked her
“I thought we have concluded about it yesterday.” She added and watched her mother sigh deeply .
“Hikmah... do you even think about this proposal at all ... I have known you to be that smart or are you scared of saying no to your Dad?” Her mother asked.
“Adnan has sickle cell, don’t you get it... Have you ever seen him when he is in crises?” Her mother asked her
“Do you have an idea of how to care for someone with sickle cell? Can you handle his crises... You and your father aren’t not seeing what I am seeing?” the mother explained and Hikmah sighed.
“I can’t say No to Dad and you know that, if he wants me to get married to his friend's son, no worries.. beside mum, he is not that bad... Aside from his health...he is wealthy...I am sure he will appreciate me for getting married to him.” She said to her mother who signed.
“I know you will never listen, you are just like your father... “ She said after a while.
“I need your support Ummu, “ Hikmah said to her mother.
“What can I say?” Youu seem to have made your decision anyways.” She said and shrugged and she left the room while Hikmah laid on the bed, day dreaming on being Adnan’s wife.
Adnan wife !
She never saw it coming, she was not into him, even though he do usually come to the house to see her brother , but they always end up not talking , most times, she is stuck in her room.
She can’t begin to think of seeing such person as her husband to be...
Despite his health challenges, he is good looking , one could hardly believe that he is a sickle cell patient and he is rich too..
She had never wish to get married to a poor man and the few wedding proposals she had gotten were usually rejected because they are from not well to do suitor...
She know Adnan would be able to afford to give her a huge amount of Mahr and also take care of her expensive desire life style ...
She smiled to herself...
It is not a bad idea.



Yes, she has not been praying for weeks now, if I have not mistaken!
What is wrong with her?
And she has been off so lately, she is always goes out every Sunday now... We hardly had the time for any conversation.
What could be wrong...
Several thoughts seem to be clouding her mind as she pace round the room while she wait for her sister, who had gone out again and didn’t come back.
She came back some minutes later looking tired and as usual with her bag clutched to her shoulder.
“Anti mi… “ she called.
“How are you? And why are you not sleeping?” her sister asked her and she shook her head.
"How can I when I was waiting for you?"
“I have told you not to wait up for me anymore …” and they both heard a phone rang from Shade's bag and that caught both of them by surprise, For Ashabi, she was surprised that her sister had a phone and she was not aware and to shade, she didn’t expect that it would ring for she usually switch it off each time she is close to home. The two stared at each other with different thoughts in their mind until the phone stopped ringing and before any of them could say anything, the phone rang again.
And Shade was left with no choice than to pick up the call, this she did slowly and as innocent as she could.
“Yes, Daddy, I just go home sir … Bless you too sir.” She said and the phone went off and was left to face her sister who was looking at her with so much questions in her eyes.