-Ameena-

I think a fuse just blew up in my brain, because all my thoughts were scrambled. I am trying to process what my first line of action will be.
'just make a mad dash for your room' a voice in my head screamed.
'that's the worst idea you have ever come up with' another voice cautioned.
'what's he doing here? '
'how did he... '

Okay, slow down I said to myself. Slow down nice and easy. Now, breath.

I must have been standing there for a while because I heard the stranger beside him clear his throat and said the Salam.

It was then I realized he was also looking at me as if he was seeing me for the first time.

"Wa alaikumussalam" I answered and in the awkward silence that followed I heard Deejah's voice as she came in carrying a cookie tray with Karima in tow holding the tumbler filled with kunun zaki. I didn't even know when she came.

"Toh Einstein, will you just keep standing there or are you going to go in and cover up that mess? " she said making both Ahmad and the stranger smile.

Seriously, Einstein? That guy has the worst hair in human history. Couldn't she think of anything less horrible? At least a porcupine will do nicely. I thought to myself as I grumpily made my way to the room.

I grabbed a wide toothed comb and began combing my hair and removing the remaining debris that had clung onto it.

This guy decides to show up today of all days. It's almost six months now, where was he all this while? Why did he chose today? Why not some days when I looked like a normal human being, presentable and even pretty? This has got to be the worst timing ever.

Why am I even thinking in that direction? Why do I care how I looked? It doesn't matter. Look at the bright side. He will probably take to his heels and never look back when he realizes what a weirdo I am.

I squeezed a sizable amount of Cantu Shea butter and worked it into my hair and grabbed a hairband and tied my hair into a bun.

I chose a purple atamfa with large green leaf patterns and slipped out of the hideous yellow top and black sweatpants I was wearing. I drape a black sheer veil on my head and took one last look at the mirror before walking out.

************************************
Six months ago

-Ahmad-

After she left, it felt like she took a part of me with her. I felt incomplete, it's as if I have known her all my life. At times even I am baffled by the way I feel about her. It's as if she was always here. Except for some crazy times in my teenage years, I can't recall any time I fell in love, hell, I wasn't even searching and she appears and it's like she was there all the while tucked in a corner of my heart without me knowing.

Being around her is like a whiff of fresh air, relaxing and invigorating.

There are some loose ends I needed to address before I meet her again. I needed to talk to Lola and my mom, clear things up before going after my dream girl.

Just when I thought I had everything figured out, life takes a different turn.

The sudden discovery of nickel in the northern state of Kaduna has put a tremendous amount of pressure in the company as mining companies in and outside the country are trying to get the deal.

Although Zirconia is the largest solid mineral mining company in Nigeria with over twenty mining sites strewn about the country. Its hold on the north is rather weak.

The company boost of the best geoscientist, mining engineers and the most sophisticated extraction and refining equipment in the whole country.

Nickel has never been mined and so needed a good persuasion on our side to the Kaduna state government to get the deal. A lot of time has been invested in order to present them with a plausible proposal which will result to a win win in both side.

As the manager of the operations department, I hardly had time to breathe. I worked overtime and still worked when I got home.

Except for Lola, all who came for the wedding are now back to their homes.

As usual I came back from work a bit late and all I wanted to do was take a bath and sleep. No sooner had I came out of the bath when I heard a knock and Lola came in saying the Salam which she seldom does.

She took a seat and sat crossed legged with a look on her face that says what ever she has in her mind got to be serious.

"we need to talk." she said looking straight at me.

"Is there anything wrong? " I asked

"I was hoping you could help me answer that. " she retorted

I knew this was coming but i was not prepared for it. I have a burning headache and I needed to sleep. Couldn't she pick a better time?

"you have been avoiding me lately, you don't pick my calls, you don't care to return them nor do you make an effort to see me. What is happening?" she questioned.

"Lola I..."

"we are supposed to be engaged come December and this is how you treat me?" she interrupted.

"yeah, about that... Actually I have been meaning to talk to you but due to the pressure at work, I had to put it aside. I uh..."

I was lost for words. How do I break it to her nicely? Here I was, seated, facing a woman on the verge of tears, looking at me with hope in her eyes. I felt like a monster at that moment because I know whatever I say, however I say it, it will still hurt her.

"...when I told mom I was going to give this relationship a chance, believe me, I meant it with all my heart... "

"you call this giving us a chance?"

"what I want to say is I am sorry... I really am. Believe me it's not you, it's just that we are not destined to be together. If I decide to keep this relationship, it won't be fair to the both of us.

I am sure there is someone out there who will be your source of joy and he will surely find you. Love always finds us... Mine did and so will yours, inshaAllah. "

"please stop already!! You cheated on me with that slut. I knew it... When you two came late to the engagement, I knew something happened."

"Lola watch your tongue... "

"your saintly charade is not going to fool me. Just because you act all noble and pick up strays on the street doesn't make you a saint..."

"you know what your problem is? Your ways of thinking are corrupted. you choose to see the worst of people whom you choose not to like. You really got to work on that and for the umpteenth time, Malam Musa was working when I met him so don't ever call him that or you will really see the devil in me...and please shut the door on your way out.

"this is not the end of it, trust me. I will not let you treat me like this. " she raged.

I rubbed my temples after she left. The headache has gone from bad to worst. Here I was trying to do good by her but she chose to get on my nerves... God.

I needed a breath of fresh air, as anger and guilt makes a terrible cocktail. I walked to the gate and met Malam Musa listening to the radio.

He lowered the volume when he noticed me. I said the Salam and after a while he asked why I was still up.

"Oga, I no sleef?"

"I just want to sit here for a while before sleeping. "

"I know work flenty and sleef small. I want shayi?"

I wouldn't have minded a cup at that moment but I noticed he wasn't brewing any at the time and I didn't want to impose so I ask him to let it be. He insisted and went about lightning the charcoal. I looked at this kind man who has become a friend and a confidante.

It's sad how we tend to overlook the good qualities in people just because they are below our social standing.

When I met him six years ago, he was working as a local manicurist, walking around, cutting, trimming and polishing the nails of customers. He offered to cut my nail and I declined. He then boasted in a very hard to comprehend English that he could give me the best nail cut I have ever had in my life. Better than the ones given at the barbershop.

I took an instant liking to him and from then on he comes every Friday morning and gave me a nail cut. We became very close, in the process I learned that he has a family of eight and he came here seeking better fortune to cater to their needs.

I offered to give him money to send his kids to school but he just wouldn't hear of it. He told me if his kids went to school, it will be because he earned it, not out of charity.

Two months later, our gateman, who was from Niger republic decides to go back home as he has just inherited a small farmland from his deceased father. I saw the opportunity and offered him the job, but there was a catch. I told him he will have the job only if he allowed me send the money for school and food to his family, while he worked for it. He accepted even though both of us knew the money was far above his salary but at least he agreed.

"bissimillah Oga." Malam Musa said as he handed me the cup. Jolting me back to reality.

The next day, we had a heated argument with my mom as she insisted I go to Texas for a six month course on nickel extraction and refining.

I argued that we could just hire nickel mining experts from abroad. There was no need for me to go there. Why was she keen on sending me out of the country?

All the while, my dad sat looking from my mom to me without saying a word. It was after she left that he talked to me. Dad has always let mom have her way not because he feared her but because loved her.

"Son, you never argued with your mom before. What is happening now?"

"it's nothing really... It's just that I don't want to be anywhere out of the country at the moment. "

"is it about the girl? "

I knew mom was bound to tell him. So it shouldn't come as a surprise. What caught me off guard was what he said next.

"I agree with your mom on that. You see son, we don't rush things like this. We take it one step at a time.

"but dad am not rushing, I just... "

"go to Texas and if you still feel the same about her when you come back, then you can go ahead."

I didn't know what to feel at that moment. I was happy I will have his consent when am back, but at the same time I knew that wasn't my greatest obstacle. It's the two women in my life, my mom and Amina herself.

************************************
Present

I came back a week ago and I made Demi give me her address. I contacted Arif who is an old friend and lives in Kano and asked him to come with me. Finding the house was easy as apparently her family are well known in Kano.

After we were ushered in, we met a pregnant young lady who looked a lot like her but slightly taller. She must be Deejah no doubt about that.

She gave us the sweetest smile when she learnt that we came to see her sister and asked us to take a seat.

A little while later we heard someone approaching and I held my breath.

She came in wearing a yellow top with her hair in all directions.

The moment I saw her I knew I can never love anyone else. It has always been her. My stay at Texas proved that beyond reasonable doubt. I spent a lot of my free time at a local art gallery in my neighborhood where I felt a connection with her.

Her disheveled state reminded me of an unpolished diamond, rough on the outside with a hint and promise of beauty in the inside.

When our eyes met she stood rooted to the spot. That instant I knew Demi has kept her promise of letting this be a surprise.

She left after her sister had ordered her to go and change.
Moments later, she appears wearing a purple Ankara gown. God!... She looked absolutely beautiful.

"Ya Allah please make her mine, in this dunya and jannah." I silently prayed in my heart.

************************************
Whew!! I think this is the longest chap I have ever written. I hope you guys enjoyed it.
Thanks for all the love you guys have shown for this story. It means the world to me.

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