I deserve a trophy abi, third update, a little short of 3k words, please vote and comment.

Fahad took the last turn to Khadijah's house, she turned to him with curiosity, she'd thought he knew where they were going since he didn't bother asking, maybe it was her fault for not telling him.

Not knowing why she sat umoving, he turned to see her already looking at him, his heart thudded against his chest, he's never seen her this up close, in the afternoon at least with natural light, even though the tint in his car was dimming the light.

Not to be cliche but she had the most beautiful eyes, Layla had told everyone she has mismatched eyes, their contrast to each other made it more unique, one was obsidian black and the other the brightest hazel he'd ever seen, if Layla hadn't told him it was natural, he would've sworn it was lenses.

Seeing how he was looking at her intently made Khadijah turn away, she hated how people looked at her eyes like she was an alien.

"Let me call and see if she's around" she said to no one in particular, hoping Sadiya was at home.

He nodded wordlessly, he didn't understand but didn't say anything.

He zoned out of the conversation she was having on the phone, she looked upset and he didn't like it but he didn't know what was wrong. Even though she was quiet the whole time, the atmosphere was peaceful but now she seemed upset and he didn't like it.

Khadijah sighed and closed her eyes for a bit, she knew it would be rare to find Sadiya at home so it didn't surprise her. Now she was trapped between telling him to just drop her off then she'll find her way and call Veronica to pick her up, or she'll tell him to take her home.

"Can you please drop me off in Isa Kaita?" her shop was there, Victoria can drop her off at home, besides she had to oversee some things in the shop.

He nodded and reversed the car, his mind still on the reasons for her anger.

The shrill ringing of Khadijah's phone broke the terse silnce, Fahad was grateful for it because he hated the silence.

Contrary to Fahad's relief, Khadijah's mood dampened when she saw her mother's name flashing on the screen, she'd totally forgotten about that, she knew whatever it was her mother wanted to tell her wouldn't be good, her hunch was the fact that that's the second time she's calling her in one day, she'd forgotten when last her mother had called her or wanted her to be home, and if she did call it was to give her a message or send her.

"Khadijah?" hearing her name made her turn, he pointed to the phone which started ringing again, not wasting anymore time she swiped and put the phone to her ear.

"Um-" her mother's impatient voice cut her off, she closed her eyes the heaved a sigh, "-I'm on my way" she hung up and kept the phone. "Do you mind please just dropping me off here?"

Fahad turned to her questioningly, "Why?" he forgot he was driving, a tricycle honked overtaking him;

"Se ku dakko mota baku iya tuki ba kawai kuna bata ma mutane lokaci" (You'll just pick a car when you don't know how to drive and be wasting people's time) the man yelled sending the occupants of the car a dirty look through the tint. Fahad didn't know he slowed on a T-junction, he swerved the car his attention mostly on his companion.

"Something came up and I don't want to keep you"

"I don't mind" he smiled before asking for the address which she reluctantly gave.

They conversed through the traffic at some point, more like he asked questions to which she hummed or shook her head, he didn't mind though, he needed a little quiet before he goes back to the chaos that was Layla and Jawad, they both meant a lot to him and whatever decision they make doesn't only affect them but him too, Jawad needs peace and so does Layla, they just need to understand how to attain that peace, because neither of them could be fine without the other, they need to understand that.

The problem is they are both stubborn, their relationship-or what ever it is they had, is too complex, he'd tried to understand it once but he came up empty so he let them be, but now that Jawad's peace of mind and life is being affected by his uncles decision and Layla's rejection, he just hopes he doesn't go back to the darkness they tried their best to get him out of.

"That house" Khadijah's voice pulled him from his train out thoughts, he parked in front of the house and made a move to open the door when she stopped him with a smile, the first he's ever seen from her directed to him, it made his heart warm and he felt things he didn't want to ponder on.

"It's fine don't worry, I can take it from here, thank you" her voice was little, with that firmness that made him notice her the first time, she moved to open her door when he stopped her finally finding his voice.

"You don't have to thank me, though your number would be a better way to show appreciation" that smile she's associated with him made its way onto his face, not seeing anything wrong with it she stretched and collected the phone he was giving her, besides she needed someone to help her with Layla's surprise, and if she knows even a bit about the Aliero siblings is that, they can't hide a thing from Layla, she had that power of extracting the information she wanted from them, she bid him goodbye and climbed out of the car, she didn't bother knocking on the gate she knew hajiya Ladidi would leave it open.

She heard the sound of his car leaving after she closed the gate, with a sigh she made her way inside and as usual, her mother was seated on the sofa, with her phone in her hand not paying attention to the Hausa song that was playing on the television, she said the taslim to make her presence known, the big smile on hajiya Ladidi's face took her off guard, whatever it is her mother is excited for will have the opposite effect on her, and how right she was.

********

Sounds of doors closing and distant chatter made Layla turn, her eyes felt heavy and she knew opening them would be a chore, she changed her position and sighed, the sleep felt good, she hadn't slept good like that since she left with Mahmud, so at least she was thankful for it.

Her gratefulness lasted only a minute when she remembered the reason for her crying, It left a bitter taste in her mouth, Jawad is getting married. It didn't sound good.

With that thought, she turned to check the time on her bedside clock, 7:15pm, forgetting her sadness momentarily, she jumped from the bed regretting it right after when her head throbbed, the sleep might be good but the after effects of the breakdown was always the worst part.

She took a quick hot shower and performer ablution then went to offer her missed prayers, she sat on the prayer mat long after praying isha, it was called when she was praying asr, she felt a little relieved, her mind was at rest since she'd prayed at least but Jawad was still at the back of her mind.

She heard a knock followed by Abba's taslim, she answered and told him to enter, but as she expected, he only opened the door a fraction and peeped, "Adda, Mamie said you should come down to eat-" before she could open her mouth to give an excuse, he finished "-She said no one will bring it up here" he lingered at the door for a minute like he wanted to talk but only shook his head and left.

Not wanting her mother's wrath, she picked a veil and tied it carelessly over her head, she decided her Hello Kitty pyjamas was decent enough and went out.

Waleedah was the first to sight her coming down from the stairs, they made eye contact and she sent her a small smile, an encouraging smile which Layla nodded at appreciatingly.

Layla greeted her father who was sat on a one seater, Shaheed was no where to be found, asides her married siblings everyone else was present making her heartbeat to pick up a few notches.

"Dadaam"(My mum) Alhaji Tafida Aliero called in fulde, she walked over to him and sat on the carpeted floor but he told her to sit beside him, he took her hands in his and smiled softly, "How are you?" she replied with fine but he shook his head, not good enough.

"How are You?" Layla sighed And replied in a quiet voice, "I'll be fine" he nodded satisfied, he told them to bring her food.

She ate quietly, she could feel her siblings glancing at her every once in a while but she didn't ponder on it. When she finished with much effort, her mind was reeling on the questions that she inevitably have to answer but none came, even when the stool was cleared, they watched the nine o'clock news together but no one asked a single question, though it was at tip of their tongues.

"Abba, go to bed" hajiya Fatima told the fifteen years old who looked like he wanted to cry.

"But, Mamie" his tone was pleading but she didn't bat an eyelash, he locked his phone and stood begrudgingly looking to his father for support, the latter turned paying a little too much attention to the diaper advertisement showing on the TV, he groaned and turned to his step mother with exaggerated sad face, she was the only one who would help him with his mother's ten o'clock bed time rule.

"Please let him stay a bit longer since they're on break" ummi pleaded and he smiled, she's the best and he knows his mother will listen and like he predicted Mamie agreed but not before sending him a glare.

Layla sat but her mind wasn't on whatever was happening around her, she was only waiting for what was going to happen, which will most definitely happen.

Hajiya Fatima no longer able to sit and pretend everything was jolly and going well asked Layla to meet her in alhaji Aliero's office, not forgetting to invite the said person and also her cowife who was more a sister than a cowife.

Layla's heart was going a million miles per hour but she managed to lift herself from the chair and follow her mother in the direction of her father's side, each step she took a promise of impending doom.

With every breath Layla took, her heart threatened to seize its function, her mind was in a frenzy and the tense atmosphere of the room was not helping her at all.

After a few minutes of silence, Hajiya Fatima turned to her daughter who was sat at the far end of the room as if she wasn't the subject of the meeting, alhaji Tafida sat behind his desk, contrary to how he normally conducted business he seemed relaxed, both his wives who were sat on the opposite of him fixated their gazes on Layla, Hajiya Fatima with underlying anger and Dr. Sakina with pity, the girl is going through a lot in her opinion and with all that's happening, she needed a break.

"With both of you as witnesses, I want her-" she pointed to Layla who ducked her head low "-to tell us the reason she told Jawad no, she's refusing to get married, she's not bringing any suitor and one that wants to marry her she's telling him no, I'm thinking she has jinns in her head because this can't be normal" she finished with her voice rising, she glanced at Layla and then shook her head.

Her husband cleared his throat then looked at Layla who's eyes were filled to the brim with tears, his heart tugged at that.

It is not a hidden fact that he favors Layla most between his children, he does everything she wants which her mother doesn't agree with saying he will spoil her, since when she was a child she had had him wrapped around her fingers, the fact that she was named after his mother made it all the more reason for her being his favorite.

He knew her, she was complex even as a child, she always acts for a reason, whatever she does, there must be a reason behind it. That's why he didn't rush into getting angry at her for telling Jawad no, he is a good person, very matured and religious, he has had his bad days but how far the man has gotten made him proud, and not only because he's his nephew.

"Getting angry won't help us, if you'll calm down and let us hear from her," he motioned for Layla to come forward and sit between her mothers, "Why don't you want to marry him?" he asked after she sat her head still bowed, since they all knew him, there was no reason to keep calling his name.

"Will you answer him?" hajiya Fatima thundered when Layla kept mum, her husband raised his hands motioning her to keep it down.

"Dadaam, talk to me, no one will force you to do something you don't want to, do you understand?" he waited until she nodded before continuing, "Why don't you want to marry Jawad, do you not like him?"

The question made her heart skip a beat, she didn't know the answer either but she truth was she didn't want to know, ignorance is bliss.

"You have to talk if we want to move forward, do you like him? Just a yes or no will suffice" he continued in a comforting voice.

"No" she rasped out looking up at her father, he had a look she couldn't quite decipher but he nodded nevertheless.

"Then it's settled, you did the right thing for telling him the truth, May Allah bless you" she was dismissed leaving the three in silence.

"She was not telling the truth" Alhaji Tafida commented making his first wife turn abruptly, the fight had left her body when Layla had answered, she felt bad for Jawad but a loveless marriage wasn't something she wanted even for her enemy, and now he wants to say that.

"Why do you say so?" she asked against her better judgement.

"It's Layla" he replied standing up, he helped both his wives up but hajiya Fatima opened the office door making sure to bang it, he sighed and ran his hands over his face.

"They are quite alike" Dr Sakina told her husband who nodded, Layla was too much like her mother which is why they never see to things.

They left together, she bid him goodnight and went to her side while he followed hajiya Fatima after pecking her forehead, he knew he had a lot to explain to the latter.

"You spoil that girl too much, when you knew she was lying why didn't you force the truth out of her?" she asked the moment he closed the door, she didn't need to turn to know who it was.

"She wouldn't have talked, whatever she's holding back for, she needs to figure it out on her own" he sat beside her on the bed, he held her chin and turned her face in his direction.

"Jawad doesn't deserve this" she sagged in his arms, even after being married for so long, his arm is the best place for her, he emnates the peace she needs.

"I'll talk to Barau and Ya Jalil, they can't force him to marry anyone, I'm his guardian and the one who has a say in his life, his father entrusted him to me and not them for a reason" he finished with a frown remembering his late brother, they had different fathers but that didn't mean a thing to him.

"Please do and when that one comes back to her senses, I hope it's not too late" she finished, No one would take better care of Layla than Jawad, they all know that.

*******

"Where did you disappear to earlier?" Shaheed asked Fahad who was furiously typing on his laptop with a frown etched on his face.

"I went to drop off Khadijah, Mamie said she left and she didn't think she came with a car" he replied not looking up, Shaheed nodded pushing the bowl of chips in Jawad's direction, he looked half dead with far away eyes.

"Hey" he poked him but trying to elicit a reaction from him but he only glanced at him then turned and kept staring head on.

"Don't do this"

"Don't do what?" Jawad asked absent minded.

"This, whatever this is" he moved his hands in front of Jawad, showing the whole of him "You have to live man, this isn't going to help you"

"Well too bad, the only reason for me wanting to live doesn't even want me" he stood up and made way to the bedroom leaving the other two with broken looks, it would be hard for him to go back to normal.

See y'all next year, it sounds far 😂😂😂😂 it's just a few days and I need to rest my brain before brainstorming.

Don't forget to share, comment and tap that star below, it'll make me smile.

So we're in chapter twenty I can't believe it💃💃💃💃

This will only take a few seconds to answer please, what do you think of the book so far? What do you think will happen and the likes?

So I wanted to show a bit of Layla that's why I made all three chapters about her, now we know she's a bit complex too. What do you think of her and Jawad? I've asked this before abi

I've talked enough, see y'all when I do😘

Amyrah