"I really don't know what to do with her anymore,I really can't take it. How dare she!" Mr Dauda said out of annoyance.
"Brother, please calm down" his kid sister begged "you should know sister by now" she said and he nod in understanding.
"So my dear,you were trying to say something " he said facing Zulaiha.
"Yes Abba, she and the guy met day before her wedding "
"What?" Everyone chorused in surprise.
Flashback
Just as Zuwairah was about to open the gate of their house,she bumped unto Zulaiha which got her startled coz she wasn't expecting to see her, though they may have agreed to meet but not this early morning.
"Zu...Zulaiha! Hey! How...how are you doing?" She asked with a nervous smile.
"I'm good" Zulaiha answered as she eye her suspiciously.
"What happened Zuwairah? You looked tensed"
"What? No...nothing" she quickly denied it.
"Are you sure? " she asked once again.
"Of course, I'm fine... What are you doing here? I mean, you're early than expected. I thought we agreed 12:00pm" She glance over at her wrist watch "but you're here....you're here 8:00 am sharp. Why?"
"Yeah! you're right,but I decide to come early so we could spend more time together" she said smiling sweetly at Zuwairah whilst she hold her right arm tightly as if her life depends on it.
"What did you take this morning ?" She asked eyeing her suspiciously before raising her eyebrow in question.
"Well, I took a lot of love,just for you baby"
"What's this? " Zuwairah asked.
"I love you baby" she whined like a baby.
"I'm not ready to spend the rest of my life in prison, dear friend"
"C'mon, just kidding Zuwairah " she said hitting her arm lightly in a playful way.
"Erm OK... So I really need to buy something outside,you just go inside, I'll meet you up in the next 15 minute"
"Really? Let go together then,may be I can get something too"
"No!!" She screamed.
"No? Why?"
"I..I mean,you just give me the money..in fact don't worry, I'll get something for you. Yes! Mom really need help,go in there and help her OK? I'll be back before you know it..OK go inside" she said as she quickly ran out and close the gate.
"What's wrong with Zuwairah? " Zulaiha thought.
She is not the kind of someone who get tensed easily,but what could have been the problem? Could she be hiding something?
Contemplating whether to trail her or not,she finally decide to follow her, she really don't know why but she felt something isn't right
"Hi" Zuwairah said to Jacob when she stood in front of him.
"Hi" he said, smiling sweetly at her.
"So...why are you here?" Zuwairah asked
"Zuwairah I'm here for the same thing,I really love you and I wish to marry you. please just give me the chance and I'll prove to you that you really mean the world to me please" he desperately said.
"Jacob, I really don't know what to say, yeah I really like you but just as a friend. How many times do I have to tell you this? And moreover, tomorrow is my wedding, my family must not see you here... you know that"
"I don't care Zuwairah!"
"But I do! Look Jacob,you're a Christian and I'm a Muslim. This can't really work and I love Abdul,I really love him so much and I'll never betray him. So please just go from here,you'll find some one much better than me"
"To hell with those girls out there,I only want you Zuwairah, please" he beseech desperately as he take hold of her two hands in his.
Unknown to them, Zulaiha was there listening to their conversation, she can't take it anymore, she really can't, so instead she made her self visible to them.
"Hey Mister, I think you should let go of her hand,don't you think?" She said raising her eyebrow at him.
Zuwairah got startled and confused at the same time,she never thought she could trail her. What if she tells their parent about what she saw? Oh my goodness,why did she have to follow me?
By seeing Zulaiha, he became infuriated. His mood suddenly change. She moved closer to them as she took out Zuwairah's hand from his firm grib "don't you get it young man,she's getting married tomorrow! She's going to become Mrs Zuwairah AbdulRasheed Muhammad tomorrow. So...back...off!" She glared at him
"Look here little witch, I don't know you and I don't want to ever do,I only have business with Zuwairah and not you! So you..should..back..off,and not me!" He said through gritted teeth.
Well this person standing in front of you is my friend and I won't ever let you destroy her life,she's getting married to the only AbdulRasheed Muhammad tomorrow and there's nothing you can do about it! And I'm warning you walahi,don't you dare come looking for her again, if not, I'll report you and get you arrested"
"Let see if that will happened, I love her and I'll make sure she becomes mine at any cost. If she can't be mine then, she can never become someone else's either. Either she become mine or no one else"
"That's enough!!!" Zuwairah stepped in, stopping the two crazy people in front of her
"Stop it! Just stop it guys!" After calming down,she look up at him "Look Jacob, this relationship can never work. Me and you can never work, OK? We're not compatible at all. You're from the Christian side and I'm from the Muslim side which I've told you countless times, if I'll love anyone, that will be Abdul and no one else"
"I'm sorry Zuwairah but that dream of yours won't come true,it will never be because I won't back off, not until you become mine. I promise you"
"Zuwairah lets go,I swear, I'll tell on you. How dare you talk to him? And you know you're getting married tomorrow? " Zulaiha glared at her friend but she didn't reply her. Instead, she took hold of her hand trying to make them walk out on him.
"Stop! " he shout, making them to halt.
"I'm sorry Zuwairah, I know I've said so many things that grills you,it wasn't my fault really,I'm doing all this because of the love I had for you. I'm truly sorry but I won't back off Zuwairah. I won't, not until I make you mine " he said. They exchange one more look before he hop into his car,he ignite the engine and drove away.
Zuwairah and Zulaiha open their mouth in awe as they both look at his car drove away till they can't get a glimpse of it anymore. Zuwairah is so confuse of everything and tired at the same time. Giving her friend one more look, she just sigh out in frustration.
"You should be ready to explain your self to Mom and Dad" Zulaiha said angrily as she tried to walk away but Zuwairah stopped her.
"Please Zuly, don't say anything to them,I really don't want anything to disturb them please. It's nothing serious,I told him already that I can't marry him and moreover, I'll become Abdul's wife tomorrow, I really don't want to cause problem for the family,most especially Aunty Hauwa,you know how crazy she could be if she comes to know about something like this.. Please zuly"
Zuly sighed taking in a deep breath and breath out again. She really understood where her friend is coming from,she understood everything. She's right though, why taking everything so personal when she will be married tomorrow? Why disturbing her self when she knew that the idiot can never do anything since the wedding is taking place tomorrow?
"Yes you're right Zuwairah, there's no need to take things personal out of this. I've heard you,I promise no one will hear about this"
End of Flashback
"I.. I didn't know that he and Zuwairah were both planning this together, Walahi, If I had known I wouldn't have keep quiet. I would have said it..please forgive me Uncle "
"It's fine my dear,at least now we know were to look for her"
"Zuwairah has brought shame to us,I swear to God she had finally broke my trust! How could she do this to me? How could she? I trusted her and love her so much with all my heart and this is how she's going to repay me?" Her mom said crying with a sad tone.
"Please calm down Hadizah" her husband tried to persuade her.
"I think we should-" he was about to say something when a call came in.
From his sister's phone
"Excuse me,I really need to take this call" she said and he urge her to.
"Hello?" She said
********
"Yes speaking,how may I help you?"
*********
"What?!!" She exclaimed.
**********
"Yes yes..thank you,we will be there in the next twenty minute..thank you" she said as she hang up the call.
Hello?" Binta said"As salamu Alaykum. Please, am I speaking with Ms. Binta Danjuma?""Ameen, wa alaykumu Salam. Yes speaking,how may I help you?""Actually Ma,I attended your sister's wedding yesterday. How I got your number, Is not the issue now... I saw your sister now in our hotel now which I was expecting to see her with her husband but to my surprise, she was with a man. Anyways, it looks like she was kidnapped or something coz she look terrified.""What?!!" She exclaimed."Well, am at the hotel now and I'm the manager. I'll make sure she stay's here till you come get her. You have to come and rescue your sister ASAP please. I'll text you the address""Yes yes..thank you,we will be there in the next twenty minute..thank you" she said as she hang up the call."Subhanallah" Mr Dauda uttered in shock as Binta narrate her phone call talk with them
Innalillahi wa'ina ilaihi raji'un" everyone in the room chorused in shocked."What?!" Rasheed who was also taken by surprise also muttered in surprise. This will be the first time of hearing such thing against him in his life. "Could Zuwairah stoop so low just to make me get out of her life? Is this her way of making me leave her?" He thought as tears flow down his cheeks. Since the day he was born,and has known what's right from wrong, he has never cried like this, not until today. Zuwairah has turned him into someone elseHe thought he had offended her but now, reverse is the case. Now he knows that she was the one who doesn't want him around her and she kept lying. She made sure to hide her true identity just to humiliate him on a day like this...all in the name of what?- nothing! Pure nothing!"Zuwairah my dear,please what are you saying? That my son is HIV positive?""Ye...yes Mom " she stuttered without lookin
"It all happened when........................""STOP!!" Rasheed cut her off. He was so confused, he doesn't even know what to say anymore."What i meant to say was that......I didn't mean to..I didn't mean to say this, but I think Zuwairah is suffering from a mental illness ""What?!" Everyone in the room chorused together."Yes..coz I really don't understand her anymore. First,it was the false HIV and now.....,she is accusing me of being a rapist,murderer and a kidnapper? Haven't anyone ever thought about it? Isn't she acting weird? I mean, who told her all these lies about me? Who was the one deceiving her?" He asked calmly but still Zuwairah kept mum.Should i say it? I think I should, at least all his bragging will be over once I let out the truth"ANSWER ME ZUWAIRAH!!!" He yells angrily making her flinch in fear."I really don't understand what's happenin
FlashbackTwo weeks later"Tracy please calm down, please""Zuwairah how could I? How could I? My life is ruined already,can't you see?! My life is ruined! " she frustratedly said. She's in so much agony that she can't even tell how she's feeling right now,she only knew that she had lost everything in life."Please just try to calm down,we can find a way" Zuwairah tried to calm her down giving her some hope,even though she knew there's nothing that can be done, she still want to say some good words into her"Did you just say we can find a way?" She scoff as she laugh dryly."Tra-""Tell me what is the way out of this?" She cut her off."I think-""Do you think there's a way out for me? What way could be for someone that's infected with HIV positive?" She cut her off again."I just lost all the right of b
"Zuwairah, take this" Zulaiha said as she pass a small bottle which contains black leaves inside to her friend.'Wh....what...what's this again Zulaiha?" She stuttered as she stare blankly at the bottle in her hand without making an attempt to accept it."Just take it you idiot!" She whispered softly to her,she doesn't want people to know what they are doing.Today is the big day, Zuwairah's wedding and she's not happy about it. She was scared that she had to tell her friend that she doesn't wish to get married to Rasheed but Zulaiha was so good in convincing her. Now, they are in her room with some other relatives and guest dressing up."Take" she then accept it with a shaky hands."What do I do with this?""This will make your husband loves you so much Zuwairah,he'll love you more than his first wife..I know you love him,you can never hate him and it's all written on your face. Th
The Muhammad's Mansion was as quiet as grave yard. Visitor's keep coming from different places when they heard about Rasheed's death. It was a painful death to everyone. Everyone loves him,most especially their relatives, from his paternal and maternal came with a broken heart, just to console his parents.His wife was sitting beside Habiba,while Mardiyya and Habib sat beside their uncle, Rasheed's Mom and Dad sat close to Zuwairah's parents and some other relatives were there consoling them most especially Zuwairah for her loss.Zulaiha badge in with tears already in her eyes "Innalillahi wa'ina illaihi rajiun!" She muttered dramatically as she burst into another tears."Wayyo! What happened? How did it happen? What killed him?" She asked her friend with fake tears on her face."How could this happen! How could Rasheed of all people be dead?" She ask again with tears running down her cheeks."Zulai
Flashback"Where are you going to?""I need to use the restroom, I'll be back" He said and she nod her head.Just as Rasheed was out of her sight, she sit up straight and quickly pour the portion into the food. Immediately she was done, she quickly lie down back to her pretending of a sickness thing. Unknown to her that her husband saw her"What was Zuwairah doing with my food?" Rasheed thought. He finished his business and sauntered back to the bed. He took a sit beside his wife."Erm.. you're back?""Why are you doing this?" He asked going straight to the point,he doesn't even understand her anymore. First, she was acting strange since the day they got married to each other and now, she's ill? He was sure she was okay this morning, so why is she like this all of a sudden? And that thing she was pouring inside his food?-"Why are you doing all of this Zuwaira
A Month laterIt been already a month after the fake death of Rasheed,everything had been in places except Zuwairah. She couldn't forgive herself even though her husband had did that already. Most of the time, she will space out or cry her self to sleep. This action of her got her husband worried, to get a glimpse of sleep is now an issue for him too. He tried to talk some senses into her for so many times but it was all useless.As usual, Zuwairah was in her deep thought without realising that her mother in-law was already in front of her. She looked up to meet her in the eyes with her blurry eyes. Mrs Hindatu was shocked to see Zuwairah in that state, her veil was soaked with her tears."Zuwairah! What happened my child? Why are you crying?!" she asked, with a concern tone."Mom I...I don't know why, but I just can't find it to forgive my self,I can't believe that I almost kill my husban