Chapter 60

“She's so cute and tiny, omg I can't even...” Aydah cooed, touching the baby’s soft cheeks. Maryam couldn't say anything but smile. “She looks so much like you,” she added and looked at maryam’s melancholic face. “How are you holding on?” She asked and maryam smiled before nodding. “Alhamdulillah is all I can say. It’s been a month now since I gave birth to her and mahmud made sure we lacked nothing. I’m happy about that but.... I just want to go home,” she heaved a sigh.

Aydah was silent for brisk second. “Ummah has been asking about you and the baby, thats why I came to visit. She has been really worried about you guys. She even wanted to visit but I don’t think that’s a great idea because I know baba would easily find out about it.” 

“She shouldn't worry about that since we speak on phone. And mahmud is still investigating about it. The problem I don't know where they took me.... I can’t remember anything but their faces.” She spoke helplessly. Aydah massaged her shoulder, “don't worry, in sha Allah everything will work out just fine,” she soothed. Her lips quivered upwards and she smiled. It was good to have some people in her life even though it was crumbling down. 

“I can't believe it’s already been 8 months already since I left my parents house. Really awful,” she criticised. Aydah smiled and shook her head. “I know everything isn't going as you expected it to but what I want you to do is say Alhamdulillah. You lack nothing here, right? You should stop worrying, everything will go back to the way it used to be in sha Allah.” Aydah advised. Maryam smiled and nodded, not that she was convinced. She did lack something; peace of mind, her parents, happiness... a lot of things. 

“How do cope with this baby even? I mean mommy isn't here, you've never experienced this before, how do you cope with things?” Aydah inquired. Even though she was a doctor, there are things she wouldn't know how to do or what to do. “It is not easy I'm telling you. She would be sleeping all day long but when it’s night time, thats when she goes about with her business, who does that for crying out loud. I barely even get to sleep. It’s just.... Not easy,” she lamented. Aydah couldn't help but laugh. “Yeah, I can imagine. But at least mommy, helps right?” She asked and maryam nodded. “Yes, we talk almost everyday and she tells me what to do whenever I don't know what to do.”

“Uhh.. speaking of that, there is something I need to tell you,” aydah said, anxiously. Maryam smiled and nodded. She tilted her head and carefully looked at aydah’s face. Aydah looked away and fixed her gaze on the baby. “Hmm.... I’ve never seen you so nervous like this. What’s wrong?” She implored. Aydah gave her a little smile before speaking. “I met someone....”

Maryam’s eye bulged out in awe. This was something new but exciting. She had never heard aydah speak about anyone or crushing on any guy. She never even speak about having a celebrity crush. “Are you serious? Please say yes... omg this is... amazing,” she cheered. Aydah smiled again and nodded. “Who is he? Where did you met?” She asked, optimistic. “Well... he is no unfamiliar guy... he is Yaya mahmud’s close friend.... Ahmad.” She spoke not meeting maryam’s teasing gaze. 

Maryam was silent for a brisk second before the news sunk into her brain. “I’m... I’m overjoyed about this, really. This is the best news I have received in a very long time. I'm so happy for you, my love,” she uttered and gave her a side hug. Aydah smiled and nodded. “We met at a wedding I attended few months ago and exchanged numbers. We started keeping in touch and honestly at first I didn't even care about it that much because well I always pretend to be boring and later the guy gives up and leaves but Ahmad... he's completely different. I enjoy speaking with him. He wanted to tell Yaya mahmud about because he wants to come meet my parents but I think it’s a little bit.... Soon?” It came more like a question. “I have never been in a relationship that got this far you know. Heck, I’ve never spoken to you about any guy right? He is just rushing things and being too fast which is so so wrong and at the end we would get married and start having problems because he didn't even let us to get to know each other and then we would get....” Maryam stopped her from talking rapidly. 

She scooped the baby away from aydah and placed her in her cradle in her room. She settled down beside aydah and gentle grabbed her shoulders. “Do you even know what you just said?” She asked and aydah shook her head breathing heavily. “I know you're probably scared because he wants to marry you or for other reasons. Sure, it’s okay to be scared but aydah you should stop overreacting, stop saying negative things about your future and calm down.” She rapidly nodded her head, staring at maryam. “Now what I want you to understand is what he is about to do is the right thing and he is serious about you else I don't think he would like to involve your brother in this. And second, he is just going to ask for permission from baba to be seeing you and then you will get to know each other more before we see what happens next, right? And Ahmad isn't a bad guy at all, I promise.” She nodded again and heaved a sigh of relief. 

“Great! Now you should allow him to come to your house and speak with your parents, I assure you, you will never regret making this decision, in sha Allah.” 

“Yes, you're right. I will speak with him about it, tonight. Thank you,” she said and hugged Maryam. “Thank you so much for the advice. I really needed that,” she said before breaking the hug. Maryam grinned, revealing her straight, pearly white teeth. “Oh please don’t give me that look,” aydah lamented, closing her eyes. “Aydah’s got a boyfriend!” She sing song making aydah to groan and stood up. “I'm leaving and you won't stop me,” she took her handbag, smiling sheepishly. “Okay, okay, I'm so sorry. Please don’t go now. I will be bored if you leave,” she lamented holding aydah’s hand. “You should have thought about that before teasing me. And Amatullah will keep you company before he comes back.” She said as they walked to the door. Maryam hissed a bit and rolled her eyes. “Fine, just tell me how everything goes, okay?” Aydah nodded and hugged her before they bade each other goodnight. 

**

Mahmud stared at his elder brother keenly. He folded his arms across his chest and waited to hear what he had to say that time. He just got back from work and was about to enter his house when mujahid’s car drove in. They stood there at the veranda staring at each other. “At least lets enter and settle down first before I tell you what brought me here,” mujahid finally spoke after much silence. Mahmud looked at him sternly and shook his head. Mujahid sighed, rubbing the space between his eyes. “Look, I come in peace. I just want to speak with you about something very important.” He spoke but mahmud still kept mute. 

Mujahid got tired of waiting and hissed a bit before speaking. “I don’t know if you are actually responsible for maryam’s pregnancy and I heard she has given birth a month ago....”

“So? What does that have to do with you?” He inquired giving him a dead look. He restrained himself and shoved his hand ins pocket. Was he afraid of his little brother? That can't be! “I want to take her with me. I will tell baba I'm responsible for the pregnancy and I want to marry her, I'm sure he would not say no.”

Mahmud couldn't help but laugh. He also shoved his hands in his pockets still laughing. He wondered if mujahid actually ever thinks before speaking. What was that supposed to mean? “I appreciate you taking the blame for me but that isn't necessary please. You have a wife which I'm sure you're living happily with her and Maryam doesn't need you in her life so it would be much more appreciable if you stay away from her.” He walked away but mujahid stopped him. “What do you mean by this? You will keep her in your house as what? Your wife? How?” He dared to ask. 

Mahmud chuckled bitterly and walked away. He entered his house and closed the door. Mujahid hissed annoyingly before leaving. If Mahmud didn't agree to this there was no way he would just go and meet their father about this without having any kind of prove. 

Mahmud entered the living room and settled down. He had so much on his plate now. He wouldn't be at ease if he didn't actually do what he intended to do at the first place. Now mujahid was about to crumble his plans and his happiness. He scrambled up like he was sitting on a needle. He picked up his phone and car keys from the sofa before heading up to his room. He took another bath and prayed isha before heading downstairs to the kitchen. She looked up from her plate to his face. “You’re back,” she said, beaming at him. “I came back few moments ago. How are you? Where’s amatullah?” He asked, moving towards the fridge. He brought out and bottle of apple juice and gulped it down. “I'm fine Alhamdulillah. Amatullah is asleep. Going somewhere?” She couldn't help but ask. 

He was dressed in a decent white kaftaan together with a matching cape that fits his lavishing skin. He chuckled a bit and scratched the back of his head. “Uh, yes but I won't stay long. I’ll see you when I'm back, take care.” He sauntered out of the living room. She heaved a sigh and dismissed the thought that kept hunting her mind ever since he came in. So what if he was going to go see some other girl, what’s her own business?

He entered his car and drove away. He didn't stop anywhere but his uncles house at Attahiru Bafarawa close just few blocks away from his parents house. He honked at the gate and the gateman opened knowing he was the was because mahmud visits him, not all the time but he always made sure he either visits or calls. He parked the car at the parking lot and hopped out. He entered the house and luckily he met him in his living room. The man who they call Baffah looked up and smiled. “Wa’alaikumus Salam, mahmud? Masha Allah. You’re welcome,” he said keeping his newspaper aside. Mahmud settled down on the soft carpet before they exchanged greetings. 

“How have you been? How’s work?” Baffah asked, beaming. In all of his elder brother’s kids, mahmud was his favourite. He was gentle and he always visits or calls him unlike his brother mujahid. They spoke for a while, baffah sensed there was something mahmud wanted to say. “My son, is there anything bothering you? Please you should tell me, okay?” He urged. Mahmud smiled before nodding. He told him everything he could remember regarding what happen to Maryam and his brother. What shocked his uncle more was when he uttered the word marriage. “You want to marry her?” Baffah asked, perplexed. Mahmud slowly nodded. 

“Her father rejected her, she doesn't have any place to go, baffah and I’m not comfortable with how we are living thats why I want to marry her and I don't have anyone to tell this but you because baba thinks I'm responsible for this.” 

Baffah nodded and kept mute for a while before fixing his gaze on mahmud. If what mahmud had told him was really true then that was the very right thing to do and he was proud of how mahmud was brought up to be a gentleman. “You said you're still investigating on who did this to her?” He asked and mahmud nodded, his head ducked all the while. “Does she know about this? I mean about the marriage?” He asked. Mahmud shook his head, “I wanted to hear what you have to say first before I speak with her about it. I'm sure that won't be a problem with her.” Baffah nodded, “it’s already getting late but you can come back tomorrow evening after work. I will speak with few of my friends to come bare witness and we will have the nikkah tomorrow in sha Allah. And whoever did this to her may Allah divulge their secret.” Mahmud grinned from ear to ear and replied with ameen before thanking him. He bade him goodnight and left the house. 

Happy is what he haven't felt ever since his wife died but tonight, could he say he was the happiest man? There was an explosion in his brain... the good sort... the type that makes a person feels like the luckiest person alive. He could feel it, something positive was about to happen, just after he marries her. 

He simpered and scratched the back of his head. How was he going to even start facing Maryam with the news that she was going to be his wife in less than 24 hours? How would she take the news? The thought of it now made him anxious. What if she says no? She can't say that, can she? 

He brushed the thought away as he parked the car at the parking lot. He dropped out of the car and walked towards the entrance door. He met her in the living room walking around with the baby. she looked up and smiled, “welcome back.” He smiled and nodded. “Thought you would be asleep,” he said walking further into the living room. She sighed and looked at amatullah. “Yes I was going to before she started crying but now we’re okay. She's asleep.” He settled down on the three seater looking at them. She slowly rocked the baby sideways while looking at her face. She looked pale and tired. “Let me hold her,” he offered and she nodded before giving her to him. 

“Sit down please we need to talk.” He pleaded. She hesitated before sitting down on the two seater. The look she gave him made him more nervous. He looked at amatullah and sighed. He had to do it. He had to speak up. He can't just get them married without her knowledge. That would be very awkward. What if she still doesn’t love him? He cleared his throat and looked at her. “I don't know how you will take this news but I just hope you will reason with me and understand why I will do what I will tell you now.” He started, looking at her facial expression. She looked so eager to hear what he has to say. It made him not want to speak about it but he had no choice. 

“I want us to get married.... Tomorrow.” He dropped the bombshell and waited for the worse that could happen. “I spoke with my uncle, baba’s younger brother few minutes ago. I explained everything to him and he assured me that he would get us married tomorrow.... but only if you agree.” He spoke helplessly. She stared at him, amazed. This was her dream come true but she was never expecting it to happen, at least not now. She wasn't ready. Not prepared for this. What was she going to say? Yes? No? Maybe? She opened her mouth to speak but the words left. 

“Do you need time to think about it?” He asked and she briskly nodded. He smiled a bit and also nodded. He stood up and handed the baby to her before he bade her goodnight. She stared at his retreating back till he disappeared. All her dreams and wishes was to have him as her husband but when it was truly happening, it felt so not right to her. Maybe because she wasn't expecting that? 

She stood up and entered her room. She kept the baby in her cradle before picking her phone and dialled mommy’s number. She looked at the wall clock. It was almost 10pm. she called twice before mommy finally picked up. “Maryam? How are you? How’s the baby? Is there something wrong with her?” Mommy bombarded her with questions. “No mommy but I have something really important I want to speak with you about....” She muttered and mommy urged her to speak. “Mahmud.... He asked me to be his wife. I don't even know.... He told me that he spoke with his uncle and he want us to get married... I'm even confused...” She trailed off and let out a sigh. Mommy smiled and muttered ‘Alhamdulillah.’ 

“This isn't a bad idea, maryam. I think it’s a great idea and he did the right thing. Living like this without being married to each other is really not right you know? If you're asking me for what to tell him, I say you should say yes to him and leave the rest to Allah. Maybe he is destined to be your husband all along. Accept his proposal and leave the rest to Allah, okay? May Allah guide us all.” 

She smiled and nodded as if she was right in front of her. “Yes mommy, you're right. Thank you so much for the help,” she said and they bade each other goodnight. She kept the phone smiling. One of her wish in her Wishlist was coming true, finally. After talking with her mother, she felt the urge to even go meet him now and say yes. She retrained herself and decided to wait till they meet in the morning. 

She turned off the lights and laid down in the comforts of her soft bed. She closed her eyes and smiled. She couldn't remember when last she felt pleased till that night. She believed things would go back to the way it used to be, she hopes.