Long author's note at the end, please read

“Where were you?” Shaheed asked looking up from the multiple papers scattered on the centre table, he was still wearing his work pants which were grey, and sky blue shirt with the first two buttons open and the sleeves rolled up, his tie lay beside him.

“The construction site and checked the progress, they still haven't sighted JD,” Fahad walked to the fridge and took a bottle of water, he sent a silent thanks when he saw a cup “Oh and I just saw Dee” he said pouring the water in the glass, he sat on the arm of the chair and took a gulp.

“Who's Dee?” Shaheed whose gaze was back on his work asked not looking up.

“Layla's friend, dark and pretty.” though he felt pretty didn't cut it, looking for literary words to describe her wasn't necessary for two reasons, one Shaheed liked his silence so the shortest answer would suffice and two, the words would be an understatement.

Khadijah,” he acknowledged, “she came over again, she's a really good person you know, beat up a bit by life but I've never seen someone manage themselves like that.” He might've not known her that much personally, since Layla steered from his path, so did her friend and as much as he was thankful for that, he didn't like it, though Mamie said it was his fault for acting like a freezer, he didn't know what that meant either but wasn't a conversation he wanted to have.

This piqued Fahad's interest “You know her then?”

“Not personally, but Mamie talks about her a lot.” he kept quiet for a second before continuing “Her ex husband, I want to know that man.” he stated making Fahad frown in confusion, or curiosity, or both.

“Why?”

“Well for starters, he's a fool and two, I want to know what the hell he did to her, she is so rigid and that's from me, I've never conversed with her for five minutes flat but even I see the change, she used to be so full of life you know, joking and teasing but now, it's like smiling physically hurts her.” From what he's heard from Asad and Nazir, mostly Nazir before they left, he was mad about her, infatuated though, it wasn't love, they talked about how much she was jovial and her mere presence brought peace and serenity, now he couldn't say the same, coming from him who hated crowds, he could tell how much she steers away from them too and that just makes him wonder what happened.

“About that rigid, yeah, I've noticed and she always looks like she's ready to bolt, as if someone is following her.” he said the last part thoughtfully, shrugging, Shaheed changed the subject to Jawad because he knew it would be pointless, even Layla doesn't know what happened to her, she only told her bits and pieces, even with that he gathered the husband had been a devil.

“I have to call Dahlia.” Fahad muttered running hands through his hair, Shaheed turned to him questioningly.

“You have business with her?” he asked, He wondered what he wanted from the italian woman, she is a ball of fire, might look delicate though she's anything but, and maybe he was looking too much into it but she has a thing for Fahad and maybe he is the only one that saw it, he has never voiced it though.

“Things, did you know she's opening a new branch of her restaurant, with the way you keep getting on Layla's other side, it'll be good for apology.” Fahad joked getting up, he didn't wait for a reply and walked to the bedroom.

He dialed the number and sat on the single sofa in the room, he reached for his laptop and opened it, he had a bad habit of never turning it off, it spoils the battery but he didn't mind, he tried to stop, waiting for it to on was something he didn't like. He was about to hang up when her voice came through, steady and calm, with a prominent Italian accent.

“Fahad Barkindo, to what do I owe this pleasure?”

“Well, hello there beautiful,” he smiled “So I heard my favorite Italian restaurant is opening a branch in kaduna and you didn't even tell me, I feel sidelined.”

“Oh my, I've been so busy with work, you go to kaduna?” he replied with yes “I didn't know that, it's opening officially in three days, it'll mean a lot if you attend, I'll have an invite sent to your off-”

“Sorry to interrupt but don't worry about it, can you rent out the place for a night?”

“You need a restaurant? I'll see what I can do I'm sure it's not booked this week,?”

“The one here in kaduna?”

“Yes it's not, Are you proposing to someone?” her voice sounded flat but with good humor.

“What? No” he laughed, if not proposing a business deal he doesn't see himself proposing to anything or anyone.

“Oh, when then?”

“Seven, if that is fine with your crew”

“Okay, I'll send you the managers phone number and explain everything to her, I better receive an invite to that wedding.”

“We'll both not attend since its not happening, have a good night Dahlia”

“Night Barkindo.” she hung up and he sighed, she's a nice woman though she had a stupid husband but that's a story for another day, he mentally reminded himself to call and see if Jawad has been sighted.

He sat back and closed his eyes after keeping the laptop well. Thinking of the things he had to do after finding Jawad, what Shaheed said crossed his mind and he felt his blood boil, for what reason, even he didn't know, but one thing he is sure of is the fact that he wants to have a talk with the so called ex husband, maybe it's fists that'll talk but it's talking nevertheless.

He shook his head to get rid of the violent thoughts, he didn't even know why he was thinking of that.

“Ya Allah.” he pinched the space between his eyes, he isn't a child, he knows what he wants but this time, he doesn't exactly know what he wants.

He felt he was old enough to know the difference between attraction and infatuation or just admiration, he couldn't decide which it is but a certain dark lady has been on his mind, with a resolve he decided to let his mind wander and see what the fuss is all about.

He felt he should be worried because if for more than ten years no woman has made him turn twice, this one has made him turn more than twenty times and he still couldn't pinpoint why that is.

“Guess we'll see what time will do” he whispered into the night and closed his eyes.

The vibration of his phone made him reach out for it, still not opening his eyes, he blindly swiped the receive button and put it to his ears.

“Sir, Mr Dikko is in Abuja” he nodded the realised he was on the phone.

“Thank you Salis, keep me updated.” he ended the call and stood up at the same time the door opened and Shaheed walked in, now dressed in a T-shirt and shorts.

“Why do you look determined? Should I be worried?”

“JD is in Abuja and we need to have a talk about his disappearing tendencies.”

“You're leaving tomorrow then” Shaheed stated rather than ask, Fahad nodded typing furiously on his phone.

“Well, now I'm the one who has to put some sense in Layla's head, I'm sure am the last person she wants to speak to.” he slumped on the sofa Fahad vacated.

“Try not to act like she's a disobedient child and she might just listen.” communication isn't Shaheed's specialty, he was better at giving orders, it was surprising he wasn't the one that joined the military because it would've suited him perfectly.

“I'll see,” he nodded thoughtfully “you know how her likes changes every month I have no idea what to get her for her birthday.” Fahad pocketed his phone and turned to a frustrated looking Shaheed.

“Talk to someone who keeps up with her likes and dislikes, also Dee is planning a surprise dinner for her at L’ARTE DEI SAPORI (The art of flavours) and I just got off the phone with Dahlia, so a birthday dinner at her favourite restaurant is the way to her heart, try to get her something edible” he joked at the end, the only constant of Layla's likes is her like for food which they were thankful for, there was a time she went on Starving herself for a reason no one knows and she stopped after a while.

“Wow, how do you know?”

“I told you I saw her this evening.” Fahad stated like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“I know that but she doesn't seem like someone that'll bare her plans just like that.”

He disregarded the statement and instead said “The only way to get through to Layla is through her, so if you really want to know how to earn Layla's forgiveness and get her a gift, try talking to her, I have to get some things ready for tomorrow.” he walked to the bathroom leaving Shaheed with a thoughtful frown.

**** **** ****

Khadijah sat on the one seater across hajiya Ladidi whose attention was on her show with a distinct smile on her face, they have been sitting for an hour since Khadijah returned, the only time she left was to pray, her father has traveled so it was only the both of them.

She had thought about his traveling, he'd been doing that a lot lately.

“Where did baba go this time?” Khadijah finally voiced making hajiya Ladidi turn to her.

“Abuja.” she nodded.

“When is Malik coming to see you?” Khadijah knew her mother doesn't beat around the bush if the question was any proof, that made her put two and two together, no wonder she looked so happy, she was finally pushing her to another man.

“Which Malik?” she was genuinely confused.

“Abdulmalik mana.” Khadijah nodded but didn't answer the question, “You know his mother said if everything would be settled, the wedding can take place immediately he's done with his house.” she fought the urge to laugh out loud, whose wedding because it definitely won't be hers, and especially not with that man, she didn't voice it.

“I don't mind though, It's a good thing your father doesn't mind now, we should start shopping for furnitures and the likes, I don't want to have to rush over everything.” Khadijah zoned out of the conversation her mother was having with herself because as far as she was concerned, no wedding will take place.

“Umma is there cocoa in the house, I want to bake.” she stated instead, since making her mother bake might be hard, she could just bake it for Layla herself.

“Yes I bought some when I went to the market, who are you baking for?” she smiled broadly, so they've already settled with him.

“Layla, her birthday is in two days.” she tried best for her smile not to falter.

“Why are you baking for her? If you must waste money you can go and buy” she huffed.

“I can but she said she likes yours so I'll try to make something like that” Khadijah knew what she was doing, as much as hajiya Ladidi doesn't like Layla, she wouldn't pass the opportunity to bake and especially when she hears the person likes something she makes.

“If it's mine she want then why are you making it?” she raised her eyebrows.

“If you would bake it I won't mind, but you're busy and I don't want to add that to your wedding plans, and with bringing Safiya's lefe, you should rest.” she intentionally said Safiya so she doesn't get her hopes up hajiya Ladidi is known for making things up in her head.

Resting, that was something her mother wouldn't do, doesn't even know how to, in her opinion, resting and listening to people was not her forte.

“Rest for what, I'll bake the cake for that your spinster friend, it's the both of you that know.”

With a triumphant smile, Khadijah said “I'll get the board and packing box and everything else you might need tomorrow insha Allah.”

“I'll make you a list.” hajiya Ladidi stood up and left the sitting room, Khadijah's phone rang almost immediately after, she looked at the caller ID and sighed, why did her mother have to go and give that man her number, she let it ring. Hajiya Ladidi had given her his number and she only saved it to avoid a tantrum, not that she was going to call anyways, she felt gratuful that now she could ignore since she knows who it is.

She thanked Allah when it stopped ringing but like she jinxed it, it started again, realising he won't stop calling, she swiped the receive button and put it on speaker, she closed the door and made way to her bed, she plopped on the bed, if he was talking she didn't hear anything.

She picked her tablet and kept the phone, checking the pictures Victoria sent her.

“You won't talk kenan.” he stated in Hausa and she almost jumped out of her skin, she'd forgotten she was on a call.

When she regained her composure, she said the taslim and he replied.

“How is umma?”

“She's fine.” there was a moment of silence before he spoke again.

“I can't stop thinking about you and believe me I've tried, you've been on my mind since I saw you again,” she let him continue though she was tempted to hang up “Won't you say anything?” his voice went an octave lower and she resisted the urge to shout out of frustration, he's grating on her nerves.

“Don't worry, we'll pass that stage soon and be comfortable with each other, how was your day?” again, she replied with a clipped fine, she sent a silent prayer for Allah to intervene and end the damned call, she heard the adhaan for isha and sighed in pleasure, Abdulmalik was ranting off about his day or was it how he arrived, she didn't know and frankly, she didn't care.

“I have to pray, bye.” she didn't wait for his reply and hung up, it wasn't a lie since she had to pray, since She still had her ablution from when she prayed maghrib, she sprayed her mat and wore her hijab.

Her phone rang when she was folding the mat and this time she picked and Fahad's voice greeted her.

“Okay thank you so much.” she smiled widely after he finished telling her.

“No need to thank me, just please make sure Layla has fun, she needs the change.”

“I understand and you don't have to worry.”

“Alright, good night.”

“Good night, do send my regards to your sister and tell her she'll look great.” the words were out of her mouth before she could think, she liked the girl and her energy.

“Okay, when she starts stalking you I promise I have no hand in it.” she heard the smile in his voice though he was serious, Huda almost screamed his ears off when he told her it was Dee that answered, at first she was confused then she realised he meant Layla's best friend and the owner of Dee couture, she loved the woman. “So, is it safe to say we've established a friendship of you helping me dress my sister, I don't know why she believes I'm any good at it.” he added and that elicited a small chuckle from her.

“You probably are since she trusts you, girls are very picky when it comes to style so you should feel honored.”

“Yeah, nah I like my freedom pinkless life.” he heard her laugh again and he could swear he's never head a more beautiful sound, he didn't voice it nor say anything, basking in the calming effect it has on him, it nothing, he reminded himself.

“Not all girls like pink you know.”she didn't like pink, in fact she hated it, her favorite color is brown, dull probably but she loved the multiple shades and how each was unique in its own way.

“My other sister hates pink, I would say she's allergic to it, but color allergy isn't a thing.”

“It's probably a thing, pink hurt my eyes.” this tine he laughed and when he sobered up she sighed.

“I should go now….” she let the sentence hang, the other side was quiet before she heard his voice again.

“Good night Dee.”

Hello, Asslamu alaikum, sayonara, which means hello and goodbye, but it's just hello for now.

How are you guys? Fine insha Allah, Toh Alhamdulillah.

So about my own disappearing tendencies, lowkey just me and my laziness but school is roasting me equally, I'm starting my exams soon so I'm taking a break, but I will try to update as much as I can before I take that much needed break, please pray for me and everyone out there studying, May Allah make it easy for all of us.

Now that my rant is about to end, what happened to us? *PS I'm saying this in a really broken voice, what happened to our comments, the lack of comments is really break my heart.

Please please please vote and comment, and share, I promise it's not that hard.

I want to stay and thank everyone who voted on the last chapter and the very few that commented but you'll probably not read this, but if you do, know that I see you and I love you, it really means a lot.

I'll finally stop here now, please disturb me with your comments, bless you all and stay safe.

Love,

Amyrah