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•••••

May Allah protect you from the evil of this world.

From mistakes that may hunt you for the rest of your life.

From decisions that wouldn't work in your favour.

From people whose aim is to disaway you from the righteous part.

Juma'at Mubarak

••••••

The two men standing outside the door moved letting the older man walk past, the anger rolling off him must’ve been what made them pick the smarter option which was letting him through without question, that or they knew of his presence though he didn’t care to know which it was. He only wanted to see one person, their boss and that was it.

He was already feeling suffocated in the large building, an emotion only thoughts of meeting his oldest brother again could born.

“Haven’t you ever heard of knocking?” he heard a gravelly voice say when he stalked into the room.

Malam Sadeeq glared at the man’s turned back before scoffing, he wasn’t worth that courtesy for starters and worse would be to say the taslim at him, he wasn’t peace he didn’t even know what it means so he doesn’t deserve it.

“Before you do or say anything, do remember I am older than you.” finally, he turned his hands folded behind him.

Malam Sadeeq sucked in a deep breath when his brother’s face came into view, he wasn’t that much older than him and they had unmistakable similarities, at least facial but their characters couldn’t be any more different.

“That is assuming I consider you a brother,” he spat through gritted teeth, in response the man gave him a bored look.

“Why are you here Hussein? Oh, I mean Sadeeq,” his tone was mocking. “That is the name you use right.”

He had to take in a deep breath to stop from doing something extremely childish and when he could speak with his emotions out of the way, he let the words out.

“What you pulled off earlier, don’t ever do that again! Whatever business you have with whomever, leave my daughter out of it. Stay away from my family because I left yours for this exact reason, don’t let me ruin you.” the room went silent after that, then the man let out a laugh after a few beats.

“You’re threatening me? You must be delusional to think your little warning would sway me from doing what I want. Just sit back and watch and pray no stray bullet hits you or your family.” He smirked before adding. “Of course both literal and figurative.” Before he could retort, the sound of the door hitting the wall reached them.

“Why don’t you throw the door off its hinges?! You both don’t have any manners or discipline.” The man grumbled glaring at HSM that walked in, said person shrugged.

“It is good to see you too brother,” he muttered sarcastically then his gaze moved to his twin brother and he added. “And you too I guess.”

“What are you doing here?” he asked his brother giving him a look that said he would handle it but Malam Sadeeq was too far gone to notice and so he ignored him.

“Tell your brother to leave before I lose my temper,” the man spoke before malam Sadeeq could retort, although he didn’t look at all ready to give a response too busy glaring at his oldest brother. Being the youngest wasn’t exactly a walk in the park and he hated how familiar the entire scenario felt.

“Sadeeq, calm down you’re the one in the wrong here.” HSM said to the older man trying to be the voice of reason seeing how both his brothers didn’t want to act like adults.

“You are both being petty, so what if a can ran into his precious daughter that he named after his beloved mother,” he spat the mother with disgust making Malam Sadeeq glare at him.

“What?”

They both ignored HSM and went on with their glaring game.

“You try to kill her because she is named after my mother?”

“Call it wrong place wrong time, it is not my business what her name is.” He waved his hands like it was nothing. “The aim was the man with her,”

“That you have been torturing for absolutely no reason, don’t you see that all you bring is death just because no one loves you even your daughter left you and that is not enough wake up call for you is it? Why don’t you keep going until you successfully push everyone away, even he” He pointed at HSM that was pleading with his eyes for him to shut up but just like he has been doing, he ignored him and went ahead hitting his brother where he knows would hurt the most—“is only here for you because he pities you, really I feel so sad for you.”

“That is enough now both of you, Hussein I’ll make sure nothing happens to Khadijah, she is fine I spoke with Sakinah.” He wasn’t giving him the time of the day but that didn’t stop him, he turned to their older brother. “Sadeeq calm down and stop making rash decisions.”

“Whose side are you on?” Sadeeq, the older man asked his closest brother.

“I’m on nobody’s side as you can see, now you should both cut it and shove it away because this might’ve been comical when we were fifteen but it is just annoying now.”

Malam Sadeeq huffed. “Tell him to leave us alone,”

“Maybe you should try using your birth name and stop using mine as alias,” Sadeeq spoke, giving him a smug smile. Not having anything to say to him, Malam Sadeeq left the room nodding once at HSM that asked if they could meet later.

“You cannot be serious,” HSM spoke to his elder brother rolling his eyes.

“What? He brings out the petty child in me,” he retorted with an eye roll of his own that looked all wrong on him seeing his hardened features.

HSM nodded agreeing with him, no one would peg his brother for being that childish or petty. Even the strongest of men were scared to look at him the wrong way but with Hussein near him, he becomes the teenager he had first met when he was twelve.

“Now, you haven’t seen me in months don’t I deserve a hug?” HSM gave him a look of disgust making him chuckle lowly. “No hugs, I get it. You’re acting like Didi did when she came.”

“Why did you do it?” the playful look left his eyes when he heard the question.

“Drop it,” he would have done as he said on many different occasions but not that one.

“Not this time Sadeeq, why would you play such a stupid game when you know he would lose his mind, he loves his daughter more than anything in this life and you know that too because you have a daughter.”

He was quiet for a few seconds because he breathed out. “Maybe because I know it is the only reason that’ll make him come and see me,” his voice was low and his accent came out thick when he spoke and HSM nodded.

“Sadeeq—“he started in a calm voice but he raised a hand to stop him.

“Don’t give me your pity party I don’t want it,” he cleared his throat before speaking again. “Now tell me, how is the plan coming along?”

HSM nodded and pointed to the chairs facing each other in the room, when they sat down he studied his brother noting how he still looked the same, the same crease in his brows from frowning too much was still there, he didn’t add any weight but he lost a bit.

He wondered for that few moments they were silent what would have happened if their mother had taken all of them when she left rather than the twins only, or maybe even how they would have been had she not left their father at all.

He had the answer to the second one when he studied his brother’s sturdy form, he knew without a doubt they would have been like him, all three of them and probably for the first time since he knew himself, he thought she did the right thing by not staying.

*****

“For someone who spent the last twelve hours yelling about how he wants to see his wife, you don’t seem all too eager to go and see her right now.” Fahad was already glaring at Jawad even before he was facing him, said person didn’t seem at all fazed by him.

“I’m still not in the mood,” he muttered.

“I still don’t care.” Jawad retorted and pushed the door open, ignoring the look that was being sent his way. “Now it is kind of sad watching you like this and I can’t even tease you about it, so please go inside and check on her. I’ll be out here if you try to chicken out.”

“I don’t need a babysitter.”

“Mamie, ummi, ammie and literally everyone else believes you do and so do I, now go in before I get violent.” Fahad sent him one last glare.

“You’ll regret this when I’m in a better frame of mind.” This time Jawad smiled, dropping the serious act.

“I know,” he patted his back before pointing to the door and stepping away.

She was still how he left her when he opened the door the first time, unconscious, not that he magically expected her to be awake five minutes later but he hoped either way.

The onslaught of emotions he felt had pretty much knocked the wind out of his lungs and he needed a breather but Jawad had interrupted that and his not so words of encouragement gave him more confidence when he walked the few steps to the bed, noting she looked beautiful even in the dull hospital gown.

A shaky breath left his mouth and the cast on his hand felt more constricting than it actually was, he hadn’t been with it for more than thirty minutes but he already wanted it off, he hated anything that would restrict him and it was doing a lot of that.

He heard the door open again and Dr. Sakinah walked in with a small smile, she pulled a chair to his side and patted his back.

“Heard you needed reinforcements,” he groaned lowly with an eye roll.

“Jawad is just being dramatic.” She chuckled. “I hear you.” and her tone suggested she did just that because even he knew his tone wasn’t believable and they all know Jawad enough to know he wouldn’t shut up about it, it was no wonder they got along with Layla so much.

“You know what to do when she wakes up?” she asked, her voice sounding more doctor like now. When he nodded, she gave his shoulder another pat. “I’ll leave you to it then.” Those were her last words she said before she exited the room and the sound of the door closing reached his ears.

“Guess it is just you and me then.” He knew her mother was in the hospital already and they’d probably seen her, especially her siblings. No matter what, he knew how close knit the family was and how much they showed for their own, it made him glad that somehow he married into a family that knew the value of one, that was the most important thing to him.

He intertwined their hands, noting how that single act was probably why she was still there because if she hadn’t reached for him he wouldn’t have had time to try and grab her and pull her to his side of the car.

The thought of it made a shiver run down his spine because out of all the situations he’d found himself in, the thought of the worst that could’ve happened to her somehow was what scared him the most.

Not even the time he had spent driving to the police station and hoping Nai’a was alive and somehow he misheard what was said shook him as much as that, that he told himself was the difference between the two while he wouldn’t fully blame himself for what happened to Nai’a, this though was entirely his fault.

No amount of apology would make up for it but he would try to make it up to her for the rest of their lives, he’d promised her peace and he would try his very best to keep that promise.

Her hand twitched in his and that brought his attention to it before he got up and reached for the oxygen mask that was of no use, annoyed with the cast he reached for it and pulled it off noting how sore his hand felt but that was something he would look into later, not now that Khadijah was opening her eyes.

She blinked for a bit, her eyes taking in her environment before they landed on him and he could’ve sworn he saw relief swirl in her lids that looked the same just for the few seconds before she closed her eyes and expelled a breath like sigh.

When she opened her eyes again, she looked more awake and the bright color of her eyes stood against the dark and almost everything felt normal.

“Hi.” She croaked eliciting a smile from him, he didn’t know why he reacted that way.

“Hey, how are you feeling?” he asked, taking his initial seat.

She let out a small sound that sounded like a groan. “Like I was just in car accident.” It wasn’t supposed to be funny but her lips were slightly upturned, that made him chuckle.

“Sounds about right,” he traced the ring on her finger before adding. “You’re still joking so it is all good, never thought you would try to back out so soon I warned you it wouldn’t be easy to escape me.”

She let out the softest laugh he has probably ever heard and for a brief second it distracted him from the reality of their situation and they were just a couple having a good laugh.

“I’ll try harder next time.” she finally said after a few beats and this time when he spoke he was only half joking.

“Nah, it doesn’t work way. Near death situation together means together forever, and like Huda’s favourite TV show family we’re now stuck in the always and forever thing.” She laughed again, familiar with the common phrase from watching the Original’s with Huda.

When her laugh subsided, he planted a kiss on the knuckles of her injured arm.

“I’m sorry about this,” they both turned to her arm that was bandaged and she waved it off with the good hand.

“I think being alive with a broken arm is much better than not being alive, thank you for saving me.” He sucked in a breath instead of replying.

It was an honour to be the one with her and though he wouldn’t ever want to go through the momentary heart attack he suffered the moment the SUV hit the car, without a doubt he would risk it all to save her all over again.

He studied her face, noting she didn’t have any bruises or cuts there and he let out a small relived breath, she had on a scarf that must’ve been Dr. Sakinah’s doing, in fact she looked perfectly fine overall save for the cast.

“You don’t feel any discomfort right, would you like something to drink perhaps? I probably should’ve asked that first.” She chuckled lowly before managing a small head shake.

“Maybe water,”

“Coming right up.” He got to his feet but before he could move a step another voice stopped him in his tracks.

“I beat you to it.”

Khadijah’s eyes widened in surprise and he heard a squeal that only their new company was capable of making.

“I missed you more than life itself.” That made absolutely no sense but he wouldn’t put it past Layla to say things that don’t make sense.

“Glad to know you haven’t changed, I’m glad you are still you.” Khadijah positively beamed at her best friend that was holding multiple balloons in her hand and a bottle of water in the other.

Instead of waiting for her to find her balance, he took the water and walked off to Khadijah then gave her while she offloaded her things.

“It’s good to have you back Lee, though I wouldn’t say I missed you all that much.” Layla gave him a look, her brightly painted lips turned down in a mocking sneer.

“I can’t even pretend to care, please excuse us mister. We’re having girl’s a day.”

“I’m not leaving my wife,” she gave him the same look, somehow looking less impressed this time.

“You’re not the only one with a wife, now go we want to gossip.” He huffed out a breath and gave Khadijah a look that made her smile.

“I really don’t like you right now.” Layla shrugged his comment off. “See you later Dee, when you get tired of her just call me.” she nodded in assurance and he spared a look between the two before muttering something they both didn’t catch before leaving.

Khadijah sat properly, careful not to rip her stitches when Layla pulled her into a hug, with her good hand she pulled her best friend closer breathing in her familiar scent.

“I missed you so much Dee, so freaking much.”

“I missed you too, and the tan looks good on you.”

Layla snorted. “It is sunburn I swear, I keep forgetting to put on sunscreen but all that aside. You look good.”

“I’m in a hospital bed with a broken hand.” Khadijah said flatly.

“You make it work.” She only shook her head as a reply then watched as she sat on the seat Fahad was in earlier. “I’m so glad you’re fine because I would’ve hunted you if you weren’t.”

Khadijah rolled her eyes with a small laugh. “Now, tell me how was Borno and that doctor that has a crush on you.” Layla groaned in response and muttered a loud no.

“I would rather not speak about that and don’t give me that look, it has nothing to do with Jawad.” Khadijah made a sound that told her she didn’t believe her.

“Okay love, I believe you.” she finished the sentence with a yawn making Layla shake her head.

“I’m sorry, I’ve totally forgotten you just woke up, do you want anything to eat? You’re supposed to have only liquids for some reason but I’ll be glad to get anything for you. I sort of pushed over a lot of people in line to see you.” Khadijah only laughed in return knowing her friend would do that and so much more but it made her feel happy and light, something she was becoming used to feeling.

“I’m fine, I just want to sleep.” Layla nodded and patted her hand. “You should, you can eat when you wake up.”

“Will you be here?”

“I will.” She nodded when she heard that before turning her head and closing her eyes, letting the weariness take over and soon she found herself drifting off.

****

“It’s okay, she is fine.” Dr. Sakinah assured rubbing her sister’s back soothingly. Seeing her vulnerable was the one thing she would say she wasn’t used to, but there she was in tears that was reminding her that she too was only human and she needs a break sometimes no matter how strong she acted.

“I just want to hold her, I want to be a mother to her. Is that too much to ask?” she sobbed, letting all the pent up anger and hurt out.

She didn’t hate her fate, she embraced every hurdle thrown her way because Allah knows best and He would never burden a soul beyond what it could bear, sometimes she agreed she wanted to just give up but she had to fight it. Allah believed she could do it and she had to believe in herself.

“I can’t tell you I understand but everything will be fine, you can hold her and be there for her. She would feel you and that is the most important.” She didn’t get to reply her because there was a knock on the door and when she gave the permission for the person to enter, Fahad walked in and took in Fatimah Batool’s disheveled state, his brows pulled up in confusion but he covered it up with a shake of his head.

“You’re supposed to be sitting in one place. Already done seeing the wife?” she tried to tease giving her sister enough room to get herself under control.

“Layla.” She nodded in understanding and chuckled lowly. She did expect that the moment she saw her walking into the hospital, she had come straight from the airport much to everyone’s dismay but they all understood she wanted to see her friend that she hasn’t seen in almost six months.

“Right, do you need any help?” she asked, taking his hands and forcing him to sit on the examination bed.

“No, I just needed a breather and Jawad is talking too much for my liking.”

“You should’ve pushed Layla his way, solves both of your problems.” He made a sound.

“That is a great idea, why didn’t I think of it?” she didn’t think he was being entirely playful but his eyes were on the other occupant of the room and she could see the worry in his eyes so she spoke before he could get a word out. “Your in laws are out there, have you seen them? Sadiya has been asking of you since she was told you were awake, please go and see her before she collapses.”

He nodded but his gaze moved to his mother’s best friend before nodding again in agreement and walking to meet his favourite sister in law with Dr. Sakinah in tow.

Sadiya was sitting at the reception with Baraka, their husbands and Mother, Abdulrahman was the first to notice him and he walked up to him and pulled him in a sort of bro hug before asking how he was, with the cast off his arm he looked perfectly fine which calmed them visibly when he said Khadijah too was fine.

She would be moved out of the ICU and moved to a normal room and if all goes well with her post-op she would be discharged in two at most three days, Dr. Sakinah had been the one to explain that part and when he gave her a side eye she shook her head meaning they would talk about that later.

“When can I see her? I really need to see her for myself.” Paying no heed to all the people there, Abdulrahman held his wife’s hand and squeezed her fingers comfortingly as she waited for the reply.

“You can go now before she is moved but not more than two people at once.” She nodded and turned on her heels, not wanting to be a witness to whatever tension was building in the room.

Baraka hadn’t looked from her phone that she was reading in a Qur’an app since she smiled at Fahad and asked how he was, he noticed the stiff look shared between hajiya Ladidi and Dr. Sakinah and how Baraka didn’t even spare her a glance, he didn’t pay much attention to it telling himself he already had enough on his plate.

Farhan was waiting outside Dr. Sakinah’s office and he looked like he just got there, after making sure his brother in law was fine they headed inside to meet Fatimah Batool who was doing much better.

Only Farhan knew she had gone to see Khadijah in the few moments they were gone, she had been sleeping when she went but she still felt better. Layla had waved it off as nothing since she was used to seeing her stepmother’s sister a lot and she knew how close she was to Barr. Sakinah, it wasn’t a surprise she was there.

“Fahad, your mother and siblings just landed. She is on her way here with Huda and Aneesah, they refused to go and wait at the house but Nabila and the others will come later.” He gave a barely there nod at Mamie before finding where to sit in the office that seemed crammed all of a sudden.

With a family as large as theirs, it didn’t matter if more than half of them stayed back home, just the bit of them that decide to go out is too much and he knew if alhaji Tafida Aliero didn’t have a share in the hospital, they wouldn’t be allowed to frequent it as much as they did and not mention how much they ignore most of the hospital’s policies.

“Someone should tell me where Layla is. She couldn’t even pretend to miss us and come home for a few seconds.” As though she could hear her, said person walked into the room with a smug smile on her face.

She hugged her stepmother first before her aunt and then her mother who was glaring daggers at her.

“You should just admit you couldn’t breathe well without me because I am your favourite.” Hajiya Fatima ignored her and then rolled her eyes before wrapping her arms around her.

Fahad took that as his escape and left the room with the hopes that Khadijah was alone now, he really wanted to talk to her. Not that he had anything to say, he just wanted to see her, to keep seeing her and he wasn’t sure it had anything to do with the fact that she was just in an accident.

He asked a nurse her room number since she wasn’t in the ICU he had left her in earlier, she directed him to the floor before leaving.

Sadiya was the only occupant when he entered and she excused herself the moment she saw him then left the room with a wave and a comment about Adeel but he couldn’t be sure, he wasn’t really paying attention to her.

Khadijah was sitting up with pillows propped behind her back, her eyes looked droopy like she was sleepy or had woken up from sleep, he guessed it was latter because he had been gone for about two hours or even more, he couldn’t believe how time was going.

“You should brace yourself for the full Barkindo impact.” Is the first thing he said to her and she raised a brow in question. “Huda and Aneesah, I would call them your worst nightmares but my mother has forbid me from calling her children that.”

A soft laugh left her lips before she replied. “I guess that explained the urgent look on Layla’s face when she left the room. I’m holding her act of treachery against her.” This time he laughed before sitting on the edge of the bed. Far away from her but close enough in some way, he smiled meeting her eyes letting his mind and body see that she was fine.

Focus was still hard for him and he was no longer worried about the rate of his heart, he’d considered seeing a cardiologist before they left because he couldn’t understand the things he was feeling and the tightness he has been feeling in his chest for most of the day.

“How are you feeling?” he said referring to everything, her physical and mental health. She managed a shrug and smiled, just her lips lifting by the edges.

“I’m breathing all good now and they are taking this thing off.” She raised her hands that was in a cast up as far as it would go. “I need like two hours in a hot shower.” She finished with a small groan.

“That I understand, you’ll be out of here soon and I’ll see about that shower. Maybe I should bring a stove or something, do you think they’ll let it in here since they act like boarding schools with all those rules?” his voice was light with a teasing tint in his eyes.

“I’ve never been to boarding school so I don’t really know.” She answered in all seriousness, following his lead noting he was trying to make her feel better.

“Well, I relate to that too so maybe we can use that to our advantage.” They both went quiet for a few moments before he spoke, his voice a lot softer. “How are you feeling really? Is the hand bothering you a lot?” when she shook her head he sighed.

“I’m really sorry about that,” he said referring to her arm and it took her a few seconds to realize what he meant and she started to shake her head but he didn’t let her speak. “Whatever you say, just please…. I’m so sorry that happened.”

When she saw how he was beating himself up for it and she called his name twice but he was too busy in his head and was ranting about how he could have helped her and it was all his fault, she used her good hand and held onto his, that gained his attention.

“Are you going to tell me it is not my fault because I won’t listen to you?” she shook her head no.

“It would be kind of hard to blame you for saving my life,” what he felt at her words was something he didn’t want to pay any extra attention to.

“I broke your arm.” He argued. “I pulled your hands from their sockets.”

She winced at that. “Well when you put it that way,” she rolled her eyes before adding. “You saved my life and dislocated my arm. You know what, I would much rather have a broken arm that would heal perfectly than a spine or something. Which is what would have happened had you not thought fast.” He breathed out before nodding but he wasn’t convinced, at least not fully.

“Is that clear?” she asked firmly and he nodded, looking at her in a new light and noting how she looked different. He couldn’t pinpoint what was different about her but she seemed different in a good way, her eyes shone brighter and he had to remind himself to look away.

“Okay,” this time he was the one that spoke softly and when she saw the bouts of doubt out of his eyes disappear she moved back and made to let go of his hand but he didn’t release her. “Just, give me a few seconds please.”

“Okay.” Her voice was softer than his.

He noticed she wanted to rest her back and he understood how the position was uncomfortable but he didn’t want to let her go, he debated in his mind and gave a resigned sigh before releasing her.

Khadijah followed his movements with her eyes when he got to his feet and wanted to protest, she didn’t let the words out before he walked to the other side of the bed and she nodded to herself before scooting over.

The bed was big enough that he could lay down comfortably beside her but he still pulled her to him and let her rest her head on his chest. He tried to ignore the feel of her against him, sure he has held her before but that felt better because she wasn’t protesting and not in tears, he has never realized how much he wanted just that until then.

“Are you comfortable?” he asked, looking down at her and she lifted her head in what he had to assume was a nod.

Khadijah couldn’t tell what she felt being that close to him, no it wasn’t being close to him she wasn’t reacting to but rather how it felt. For the first time she wasn’t looking for the most subtle way to get him to let her go, maybe that had to do with the fact that she almost died in a car with him and he had saved her, speaking of which she felt the hairs on her body stand when she remembered the events that led to that moment and he must’ve noticed she stiffened up because he asked what was wrong.

She breathed deeply before letting the words leave her lips in a small whisper.

“Please tell me you had nothing to do with that.” Her voice was a soft plea and his blood turned cold.

His heart rate picked up about tenfold and he took in a shaky breath. 

••••••

Assalamu alaikum my lovesss it is me again on time, as promised.

Hope your week was great, well masha Allah.

I had a good laugh with the guesses and most of you kept saying Aneesah, please she is too young for Shaheed and he will throw a fit but who knows.

Just a few people took the time to answer so I narrowed it down to Aneesah and Nabila and Manal because I like vawulence, though Manal would be called his niece.

Do you remember a cousin of theirs from Waleedah's wedding, a Saudah Aliero he doesn't like at all, well go to 'Chapter 48: how to hide a body' and you'll remember her.

Anyways who will be Shaheed's bride?

Try and answer if you want me to update before 🌚 yes I play dirty.

Manal?

Aneesah?

Nabila?

Or

Saudah?

Happy reading I'll be sitting with popcorn having a good laugh at the guesses because I enjoy things like that so please, please PLEASE silent readers, this is all I ask for you.

ANSWER THE QUESTION.

That is all I'm ranting about for now, please vote comment and share.

Let's try and get to 50k reads, keep telling your friends about this book.

Fahad and Dee will really appreciate it, aaaannnnndddddd there was no heart breaking thing in this chapter and Layla is back, told you I'm in a good mood.

Okay I talk too much

Amyrah