-Ahmad-

How can something you have recently discovered, become front and center in your life, its absence, threatening to push you to the brink of insanity?

It's four days now since things went haywire with her, but the torture of it can stretch for four years and it will still hurt. Getting through to her has become as easy as flying a plane over the Bermuda triangle and passing unscathed. She had refused to pick up my calls, refused to reply any of the countless messages I sent her.

Her absence in my life is slowly eating me like a disease. I know I can't take it anymore. How can something that brings so much joy hurt equally as much?

Although its the middle of the week, I decided to come to Kano anyway. I had spoken to Mr Kohli, the head engineer and asked him to keep things going until am back. I followed the direction which her sister had sent. We talked earlier this morning and I told her I had a problem which I wished to talk to her about and she had ask me to come over.

Deejah is a happier version of Ameena, she laughs easily, she jokes and teases a lot. Her husband joined us and sat close to his wife and they both faced me, waiting for me to start.

I told them we had a misunderstanding and now she is refusing to let me talk to her.

"Are you aware of the fact that she's been sick these past few days?" Her husband asked.

"Honestly, at this point, am not sure if she is still sick or she just wished to remain sick. You dont have to explain whatever it is that happened between you two, its none of our business. However what concerns us is bringing you two back together." Deejah added.

"Actually, I want to...I uh...I didn't know the guy from the album had a twin, I saw them together and I...panicked... I acted like a douche."

She shifted and adjusted her swollen feet and leaned on her husband chest into a more comfortable position.

"You mistook Salman for Salim." She said looking at me.

It was then that I learned how close they were before he died. It killed me to know that I caused her the pain of reliving his death. I told Deejah I needed her advice on what next to do. Initially, I wanted to call Saudah, but I decided against it for two reasons, one, been that she will not let it slide(that means endless blackmail), two, she will tell everybody about it, everybody meaning our parents.

"You should talk to her, apologise...and don't ruin it with an excuse. Just a plain ol apology, that's all. Its all a woman wants, but you men tend to over think things and make them more complicated in the process." She adviced.

"I wish you will use that last piece of advice yourself...would have saved me from a lot of nagging...you have to get ready for that." He said the last part to Ahmad.

She just hmmped in submission, obviously not wanting to get into an argument with him.

"It sounds easy, but you see, she has this weired ability to render me speechless. Am sure I will blow it... Whenever I am with her, there is this feeling, I can't put a label on it but its there...almost overwhelming, all I want to do is bask in the joy of her presence, catch the sound of her voice, her laughter..."

"Awwwn." She said clasping her hands and bringing them to her face.

Her husband, whose chest she was lying on was making faces indicating that she was been overly dramatic. Without turning, she elbowed him on his stomach and he feigned pain. They all burst out laughing.

"We women are easy if you just take your time to know us." She smiled

"Don't forget to tell him the part where all women develop eyes at the back of their head immediately after they get married.

"That's for security purposes... Don't let him spook you, he still has a long way to go, as far as romance is concerned." She said turning to make faces at him.

She made a call to her mom informing her of my arrival. I bade goodbye and thanked her for her support. We went to a nearby mosque and prayed zuhur before we parted with her husband. He patted my back and wished me luck, I felt a lot better now

I like them both, he and his wife. They are so cute together. So far the few family members I have met have been quite accommodating, except for the uncivilized twin who lacked the courtesy to say Salam to someone visiting his house.
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Ahmad was welcomed into the living room by her mom. He was more at ease with her since they had talked and she consented to his relationship with her daughter. All the awkwardness of their first meeting was gone, now she treated him like family. After the exchange of pleasantries, she left saying she will send Ameena out.

Meanwhile, Ameena was adamant on not leaving her bed. She was making up weired sounds of coughing and croaking, saying if she's made to go out of the bed, she will die. She had forgotten it was fever that put her to bed not cold. Her fever has broken since yesterday but she's still mad at him for doubting her. He had broke her heart. And what hurts most is that she misses him.

When her mom realised she is not bulging, she went out and flashed a reassuring smile on Ahmad before she disappeared into the kitchen, where she asked karima to run and call Nadia.

Some minutes later the two girls reappeared and Antin Deejah asked her to go see if she could make her cousin see reason.

Nadia went in and joked with Ahmad for making her sister love sick. She had no idea what went wrong between them but she knew something was definitely amiss. She found her curled with the blanket drawn to her chin. She laughed at Ameena's inability to pull a convincing stunt. God knows if it was her, she would have convinced a real doctor to think she is down with a life threatening disease.

"Malama, you better getch ya sorry ass off that bed else imma lead dah nigga here maself." She rapped.

"You wouldn't dare." She said sitting on the bed.

"You know me well enough to know I can do that."

"Yeah crazy head, addini ya hana." She retorted.

"It's not like am going to leave you to your sorry selves, so you see, in the presence of a third party its totally permissible. Haha...the way your eyes are bulging, I hope you have not started getting any funny ideas in your head."

At that instant Nadia totally forgot her mission and narrated how she misses Arif and can't wait for when they will get married and she gets to kiss him and cuddle. She told her how she found a cute picture of him with a horse and how handsome he looked.

" you have a dirty mind, I swear." Ameena interrupted her.

"Ya zanyi?...I know I shouldn't be thinking of these things, but they are just there. So you see am just an innocent helpless human being waiting to be married." She said with fake innocence.

"Gaskiya you bad. Now get out of my room, as you can see am sick...and dying." She said, falling back on the bed and covering her head with the blanket.

"Wallahi if you don't get up this instant, am calling him in." She warned

At that, Ameena groaned and got up from the bed. She grabbed a hijab and started walking while Nadia blocked her way.

"Are you crazy? Is that how you are going to meet him? Haven't you heard of the song 'let the weary eye of the lover feast on the beauty of his beloved?' Now, you are nowhere near beautiful, sit." She commanded.

"That was the most terrible song I have heard in my entire life. Am sure its not even a real song." She said screwing her nose.

"You got me there, but you gotta give a girl some credit, haba."

She knew she could win no arguments with Nadia so she allowed her choose an ombre Anna hariri purple abaya for her, she dab a little perfume, powdered her face and applied a colourless lip balm.

"Now you look like a proper human being, although, a lipstick would have been much better."

They both sauntered to the living room. She took the farthest chair from him and sat. Nadia argued and made him move to the seat closer to her. After a little teasing, she left for the kitchen where she bumped into karima who obviously was eavesdropping.

"What are you doing here?" She whispered.

"I just want to see them together, its so sweet." She whispered back.

"I know."

"But why is he always talking in English? I can't understand a word." She complained.

"Its because he can't speak Hausa. Now come on, gulma babu kyau." Nadia said as she dragged her from the door.

Ameena refused eye contact. She began staring at her middle finger comparing its length with its counter part on the right. That one seem shorter she mused. The sound of him saying the salam one more time pulled her out of her reverie.

"How are you feeling."

"Am alive."

"Meena, I know you are still angry... you have every right to be. I acted like a total douche bag... I let the fear of losing you get the best of me...am sorry.
Am sorry for hurting you
Am sorry for doubting you
Am sorry for making you relieve a painful memory
Am sorry for making you cry
Am..."

"Stop, please." A tear escaped from her eyes.

It was then that their eyes met, his, held regret and love, hers held forgiveness and understanding. They stared at each other for a while before breaking eye contact.
She got up and went to where he first sat and picked the tray which contained a jug with chilled kunun Aya and poured it into a cup.

"You should drink something." She said handing it to him.

He accepted but kept holding the cup. The gesture in itself, meant she has forgiven him and he was filled with such joy that he is not sure anything else can get a space in his belly. He clutched the cup and smiled at her and she smiled back.

"You know, am actually glad you made me relive that memory. I have finally come to terms with his death, am grateful to Allah for making me part of his short lived life and for making him part of some good memories in my head...he was my best friend..."

He returned the untouched drink to the tray and stared earnestly at her before talking.

"I know I can't replace what you had with him, but Meena, give me a chance to be your new best friend, let's create new memories together...allow me return the serenity, peace and joy, I find in your presence...be my life partner Meena, for I have never loved nor will I love anyone the way I loved you...I LOVE YOU MEENA.

The way he said her name, his pleading eyes, his voice, his choice of words, all combined to form a sweet sensation inside of her. She felt warm all over, its a feeling she had never experience in her life. She had known he liked her, but hearing him say he loved her, brought her world to a stand still. She was afraid to make eye contact fearing he will see the longing in them. If she was going to share her life with anyone else, it is this guy sitting next to her, no doubt about it.

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So guys whattcha think of the chappie? I hope y'all are happy for them, I know I am. Adios

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