I bet y'all didn't expect this!!!💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻

You're welcome❤️😌❤️

Toh how's the sallah going?
Ni kam mine is boring☹️☹️

🍻🥂

JAWAHIR

Life has been gloomy for the past three days. I still don't know how to cope with this. Are they really just going to get me married to some stranger I know nothing about? Who is he? Do I know him? How old is he? Is he twice my age? Or worst the same age as my father. All these I do not know. Is he religious or not? All these questions are making me frustrated and they make me want to pull my hair hard.

I haven't stepped out of my room ever since, I have been surviving on the stack of junk food in my room.

They've all been trying to get me out of the room, but I wouldn't budge. I'm still trying to come to terms with it. If there is one thing I'm sure about Abu is that he never goes back on his words, and I know Hajiya will keep pressuring him. So I am getting married after all. But to who is the million dollar question.

Right now I'm watching everything everything on my laptop. I can't imagine being inside for 18 years, but I might try.

I heard a knock on my door. It's probably Mammie. "Jawahir?" It's her alright.

"Jaw habibty please open the door." I'm sorry Mammie I'm not ready.

"Ana asif bint; I'm sorry so sorry." I heard her sigh. "At least eat something I promise I won't bother you again." She sniffed.

She got the same answer she gets all the time, nothing. I heard her walking away.

I should step out of the room, I think it's enough or maybe because I'll soon run out of food.

I lazily walked to the bathroom to take a bath. After taking a relaxing bath I came out in just a towel. I rubbed my body with cream. My face has healed but it still throbs something. I waltzed to the closet, I dressed myself in a white and golden blouse and skirt ankara, and tied my head tie.

Where's my phone? I haven't seen or used since before the incident. I know the battery must be dead. I made my bed and cleaned the room. I saw my phone lying carelessly under a pile of clothes. Yup the battery is dead.

I plugged my phone before ambulating out of the room. Here goes nothing.

I saw Mammie, Mama and Ammiey in the living room but none of them noticed me.

"Maymuna I don't know what to do anymore, she hasn't come out for the past three days nor did she answer, I'm afraid maybe she has fainted or tried to— ...you know like last time." Mammie looks tired, it's like she aged in those three days.

"It's okay Khadijah have faith In sha Allah nothing has happened to her. So that means she doesn't know yet." Both Mammie and Mama shook their heads. What I'm I suppose to know? I decided to announce my presence.

"Assalamu alaikum." I said softly.

"Oh my God Jawahir!!" Mammie exclaimed. She quickly stood up and in a flash she's in front of me.

"Are you okay? Do you feel fine?" She asked frantically. She then noticed my cheek, I forgot to cover it up, tho it has healed it left a purplish bruise on my cheek.

She gently placed her hand on my left cheek. "I'm sorry Jaw, I'm so sorry." She choked. " I couldn't stand up for you, please forgive me."

I quickly placed my index finger on her lips. I shook my head as I wipe her tears. "You should never ask for my forgiveness Mammie, never."

She crushed me to a hug as she cried, repeatedly saying how sorry she was, and apologizing for not standing up for me, for not protecting me.

I pulled away. "No more tears, it's okay Mammie it really is." She gave me a tearful smile.

Mama hugged me too but it wasn't as emotional as Mammie's

"Good Afternoon Aunty Maymuna."

"Good Afternoon habibty. How are you? And call me Ammiey please."

"Sure, and i'm fine Alhamdulillah."

"Masha Allah. Come." She patted the sit beside her. "Sit beside me." I took a seat beside her as a maid brought food. Mammie must have told her to.

She herself served me. It's sinasir with miyan taushe. Yummy one of my favorites.

"Common eat." Mama urged.

After I finished eating, Ammiey started speaking.

"Jawahir." She called softly. "I know right now you're thinking that nobody likes or we hate you. But trust me it isn't that way."

I shifted my gaze to the floor. I really don't know what to think. It feels like they are all against me. But I know they'll never do something that will hurt me or put me in danger. But what does she have to do with this?

"Honestly Ammiey." I started. "I've thought about it. And I realized that I don't have a choice."

"Don't say that. We all have a choice, people too often forget that it is your own choice how you want to spend the rest of your life. So don't let this decision your father took stop you from living the way you want. Okay dear?"

I hugged her. That's just what I needed to hear. "Thank you." I said softly.

"You're welcome." Just then Abu walked in. Oh my God I'm not ready to face him.

"Jawahir." He called.

The floor suddenly looks interesting, I cannot look at him, I might start crying, just because I accepted the situation doesn't mean i'm okay.

"Look at me dear." I lifted my eyes to look at him. His eyes held so many emotions.

"Come with me." He offered me his hand. I looked at Mammie and she nodded and smiled reassuringly.

I took his hand and he led me to his wing. I sat on one of the sofas in the living room as he walked into his room.

He came out with an album in his hand. "Come, take a sit beside me." I did as he said.

"You see this picture." He pointed at an old black and white picture. In the picture there was a man who looked to be in his late 50's and a teenage boy not older than 15.

"This is my father and that's me." He inhaled deeply. "This is the only picture I have with him, he wasn't a fan of taking pictures." He chuckled sadly.

Abu's father, our paternal grandfather died when he was just a teen I think. I don't really know, we don't talk about him much.

"My father died when I was just 15 years old, he left me, my mother and three sisters almost nothing. The only useful thing he left us was a farm and that too was taken by his relatives." He's staring into space.

"So Hajiya did everything a father and a mother would do, she did things that not every parent could, she gave up on so many things just for me and my sisters, me especially. We will starve for days surviving on nothing but water. With all these struggles she didn't give up. She managed pay my school fees and I finished my secondary school, but I knew I couldn't go to the university. There isn't a way, we've used almost everything that is of value.

So that's why I decided to join the military, it was my only hope. And with Allah's will I got in the first time i tried. Up till today I don't know how they survived for four years while I was training, it still remains a mystery to me. But they did survive."

He sighed deeply then turned towards me. He took my hand just like I did to his the other day. "What I'm saying Jawahir is that Hajiya has done so much for me that I wouldn't never be able to repay her, ever. That's why I can't go against what she says, I'm doing my very best to please her, to make her proud. She's the reason behind who I am today. I think the only time I went against her was when I married your Mammie and that to because she's too precious and rare for me to give up on her." He paused and smiled before continuing.

"So tell me Jawahir wouldn't you do the same for your Mammie?"

I would, in a heartbeat. What he said about Hajiya changed the way I see her, I now see her in a new perspective. I no longer see the woman who doesn't like my mother but a woman with courage and strength, who made my father who he is today, the father who loves and cherish us. So if this is what I have to do to help my Dad in his dreams of fulfilling his mother's wishes then so be it.

"I would Abu."

He smiled but the smile fell when he noticed my bruised cheek.

He caressed it softly. "Oh habibty, I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have."

I quickly stopped him. "Honestly Abu it's okay, it's in the past. I won't lie and say it didn't hurt.But you're the one that always says let bygones be bygones. And I'm sorry I was disrespectful, I'll even apologize to Hajiya."

He smiled softly. "Yes you should. Allah maki albarka ." He pecked my forehead gently.

"Ameen ameen." I gave him a hug before standing up to leave. I was about to step a foot outside when he called me back. I turned around to see him almost in his room.

"Oh and you're marrying Aayan." He said before entering his room and closing the door.

Did he just say Aayan? As in Aayan Ammiey's son? Kausar's brother?

Yeah who else? Or do you know any other Aayan? My subconscious replied .

No wonder Ammiey was saying we. Oh lord, my life is now like some cliche novel where two best friends want to become family by getting their kids married.

And don't tell me that guy is single. For him to look like that, it's kinda hard to believe. Or I'm i some kind of home wrecker, separating him from his love.

You're getting way ahead of yourself Jawahir. And he's an adult, surely he wouldn't do something he doesn't want. I doubt they'll force him.

So he wants me then?

Just shut up, didn't you say you want to apologize to Hajiya.

Yeah right.

Now I'm talking to myself, I'm going crazy, Ya Rabbi help me!

I went back to Mammie's parlor, none of them left.

"How was it?" Mammie inquired.

"It was okay actually." She looked relieved when I replied.

"That's good. So did he umm tell..you?"

Tell me what? Ohh

"Uhm y-ye-yes he did." I cannot look at their faces right now especially Ammiey.

I heard them chuckle. "Come here Jawahir." Mammie instructed.

I took a seat beside her. "So tell me are you okay with it?"

Is she expecting me to answer? I kept mum.

"Yaya. She won't say anything, but isn't it said that when a girl is silent that means her answer is positive." Mama said, teasingly.

"Yes that is true Bilki." I felt the heat rushing to my cheeks. Ugh!

"Hey! Bas, stop teasing my daughter in law."

These women are enjoying teasing me,eh? I covered my face with my palms.

"Taal ilaa huna; come here."

I stood up to seat beside Ammiey. She patted my cheeks. "I can't wait. I know you'll make a great daughter in law. Rabbana yahmikann; God bless you."

"Ameen."

"I know Kausar will be ecstatic when she hears this."

Oh Kausar. She'll be my sister in law.

Yeah duh.

I mentally facepalm myself. I have a lot of explaining to do. Let me start with apologizing to Hajiya first. I stood up.

"I'll go apologize to Hajiya." I informed.

They nodded. "Yes, you should."

Mama called me back. "Jaw you shouldn't take anything she'll say to heart."

I bobbed my head. "I'll keep that in mind."

My heart is thumping in my ribcage right now. What will her reaction be? After sending a prayer, I knocked.

I opened the door after she gave the permission. She hissed and turned around when she saw me.

"Hajiya?"

I started talking anyway, even if she won't look at me at least she can hear me. "I'm hear to apologize to you on my previous behavior, what I did was wrong and I hope you can forgive." She's still not looking my way, she's pretending as if I'm not here.

I exhaled, what was I expecting? I was about to leave when...........

"Jawahir."

I hurriedly turn around. "Zo zauna."

I took a seat on the floor adjacent to her chair. "Have you talked to your father?"

"Yes I have."

"Ok then, there is nothing to say, as your father says let bygones be bygones. Now all you have to do is start the preparation."

"In sha Allah. And I'm really sorry."

The corner of her lips lift into a small smile. "It's okay. Allah bada zaman lafiya."

After mumbling an ameen i closed the door behind me. Phew, Alhamdulillah that went well.

I step back to my room to hear my phone ringing. I quickly answer the call. It's Ya Nana.

"Ya Ayesha."

"Shut up, so you decided to come back to the world eh? Silly girl do you know how worried we were?"

"Aww the phone battery died that's why and I was gathering my thoughts."

"Ohh yeah, how are you holding up? Did you talk to Abu?"

"Yes i did and i'm okay with it."

"Are you sure? Jawahir we can try to persuade him."

"No Ya Nana, I know they'll surely not hurt me right?"

I heard her sigh. "Okay Jaw what ever you decide know that we'll support you. And if there's anything I mean anything, you come to me okay? I'll always be ready to listen."

"Thank you Ya Nana, it means a lot."

"Sooo." She drawled. "You're getting married, iyyeh autan mammie"

"Ya Nana." I whined.

She giggled. "Okay I'll hang up now. Bye my regards to everyone.

"Okay Bye. Kiss Ayman and Zarah for me."

Immediately she hung up a video call from Hayla came in. I answered.

"Malama Jawahir amarya; bride." Is the first thing she said. She's sitting down on her bed in just a tank top and a skirt.

I rolled my eyes. "Sharrap."

"But seriously how did this happen?"

And I explained everything to her.

"Wow!! Just wow. And you're okay with it?" I mean are you sure? This thing is forever."

"Yes Hayla, I'm leaving everything in the hands of Al Muhaymin (the guardian.)"

She nodded understandably. "When did you grow up like this?" She wiped a fake tear. "Cuz if it was me, hmmm I don't know what I'll do, the kind bala'i I'll start ehn?" Arrange marriage in this zamani? Lallai."

I rolled my eyes, typical Suhayla. "You might be older but i'm more matured." She mumbled a whatever. "But seriously Hayla if it's meant to be, if Allah wills, it will happen no matter what, so why prolong the inevitable, and if it isn't meant to be then no force in this world can make it happen."

"True." She agreed. "Okay for once I'll agree that you're more matured."

I laughed. "It has been the truth you are always in denial."

"Yeah yeah, soooooooo............." She wiggled her eyebrows.

"What?"

"You're getting married." She squealed, she then adjust her sitting position, she's now laying flat on her stomach. "I always thought that I'll be the one to get married first."

"Well, we plan and He plans. And it isn't too late, you can still get married before me."

"La samah Allah; God forbid. I still have school to finish. Anyway when is the date?"

I shrugged. "I have no idea."

"Well, what about Aayan, have you talked to him? How does he feel about this."

That's what I've been asking myself. I shook my head. "Laysa laddaya 'ayu fikratan; I have no idea."

"I hope he's okay with this."

"Me too Hayla, me too. I don't want to be the reason he'll loose his uhm.. love y'know."

"In sha Allah. I have a class in a couple of minutes, so bye."

"Wadaan, araka lahqaan.; bye see you."

And the screen went blank.

I then called Ya Yusuf, I received so many missed calls from him. I talked to him and Hairan and reassured them that I was okay.

I then proceeded to dreaded phone call, YaAkram. I know he'll be livid, he has always being my protector, still is. He treats me tenderly, it's safe to say I'm his favorite sister and he's my favorite too. I can always, always count on him. I agree he's strict and sometimes very reserved but his heart is the purest.

As expected he was outraged but I managed to calm him down and explain. Which he understood, not easily though.

I tossed the phone on the bed after I hung up. I exhaled deeply I hope everything goes well.

Aloha🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️.

A lot has happened in this chapter. We saw or shall I say heard another side of Hajiya. Does this change how you see her?

Jaw agreed. Do you think she accepted easily? Do lemme know.

We all know Aayan agreed but how does he really feel 🤔🤔🤔?

You wanna know?

Then keep on reading.

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Yours truly
Memzyb✨🌹