Let me drop this here. Yes, another update which I dedicate to every single reader ( I mean the regular voters and commentators.😜😜😎)

Eeshah loves you all.

****

Fatimah cried her eyes out. They puffed in no time. She spotted a tap and gently walked to where it was to wash her face. She was rinsing her face when she heard some footsteps behind her.

"Wai kai maye ne? Are you a witch?" Fatimah asked Dr Muhseen. He doesn't even surprised her anymore. It wsd obvious that he was slowly turning into a psycho.

"Over you." Fatimah ignored him and continued walking whilst he followed her like a tail or like a new born puppy following it's mother. Dr Muhseen has finally convinced his mother about Fatimah and for the sanity of her son, she agreed. The only thing remained for him was for Fatimah to forgive him and agree to be his wife.

If he was to be asked why he loved her, he couldn't say a single reason. All he knew was, there was something odd in her. Something that drew him, something that laid behind her beauty.

"Assalamu alaikum." Fatimah salaamed upon opening the door of the room where Sadiqu was. Pushing the door back, she felt someone pushed it forth. Fatimah took deep breath and got ready to vent her anger on him since he doesn't understand the simple language.

Inna was practically monitoring her moves. She had seen the way Fatimah's eyes turned, and change their color.

"Allow him in," Inna said. Fatimah let out a sigh and shifted from the door way.

Her eyes fell on Sadiqu whom had his head all wrapped in bandage. His leg was also wrapped and hung in the air by a supporter. Fatimah felt some hot tears gushing out of her eyes.

She was about stepping out when she heard Inna talking to her.

"Ke, come here." She silently squatted before Inna.

"Why don't you love him? Just because you've gotten who wants you just the way you're that's why you will be disgracing me, right?"

"Inna..."

"No, if I hear any negative from your mouth, the next thing I will do is to let your uncle announce in the mosque that whoever loves you should bring the brideprice and take you with him." Fatimah's lip vibrated.

"We're sorry Inna." Dr Muhseen looked at Fatimah who was sending deadly glares down his way. He kind of pity her but truth was, he pitied himself more. Because, he alone knew what he was feeling.

"You two can go out and settle." She dismissed them.

Fatimah was bottling up her emotions when they went out. She wanted to slap Dr Muhseen until he couldn't think straight. Why won't he give up? Didn't he see that she's not interested? Doesn't it even sound off to him? Fatimah hissed when they sat under a shade.

"When are you planning on leaving me live the life I desire?" Fatimah rolled a tissue paper and blew her nose.

"Fatimah I want you to understand this." He pleaded with his eyes.

"I fell in love with you right the first time I set my eyes in you. I kept deceiving my self that it wasn't love it was just pity. But Fatimah, I love you with all it takes to love a being. I'm afraid it's driving me crazy. I know I hurted you but do remember I'm nothing but a human, with a human heart which is liable to make mistakes. Life doesn't happen like a fairytale. We make mistakes, reflect, ask for forgiveness and make mistakes again. Simply because we were programmed like that." Fatimah took a deep breath as though she was the one who has been talking.

"I've explained to you before, that day I wasn't thinking straight. I wasn't understanding. I wasn't in my sense..." Fatimah raised her hand in the air. She wasn't ready for another emotional breakdown.

"Why are you so adamant?" She asked, looking forward.

"Because I want to protect you Fatimah. I want to shield you away from the harness of the outside world. I want to have you cocoon in my own world because that's what you deserve." Fatimah glared at him. She wasnt buying any of his words.

"Did you think that will make me forgive your father?" She asked bitterly.

"I'm not doing it for him. He's not my father Fatimah. He's my father's best friend. I didn't know about it until recently." Fatimah's heart stopped in it's ribcage.

"Is that a blackmail? A lie? Or what?" Fatimah stuttered.

"I'm not lying wallahi." Fatimah stared at him for a moment and mirrored the image of honourable Bala in her mind. No resemblance. Wow.

"Don't you think that it's a cooked up story so that you all will convince me?" Fatimah was confused. What does that supposed to mean? Does that mean he's not related to hon Bala or what? Everything didn't seem understandable to her.

"I'm his adopted son." He added, tooth-smiling wide.

"But you're the last born." She smirked feeling herself. As if she made the greatest discovery of the century. A passerby may think they were playing a question and answer quiz.

"Yes, he and my mother got divorced and she married his best friend. Out of jealousy, he kept creating scenes until when the friend gave up and divorced her. That time she was carrying me and it left a little time until my birth. Immediately after my birth, he remarried her. She declined at first but later she agreed when he promised to take care of me like his own son." Muhseen bored his eyes into hers.

"Fatimah if I'm lying to you, may Allah destroy my life. You can have some evidences Fatimah. I will show you if you're willing to see them Fatimah." Fatimah didn't know when she burst into series of laughter.

"With your mouth like Fatimah..." She teased. Dr Muhseen felt like it was all a dream.

"No deal if you see me on the road and call me with the name 'Fatimah', I will surely answer. Because my life is to Fatimah and I can't leave without Fatimah." Dr Muhseen singsang. Fatimah covered her giggles with her palm and later beautiful tears started cascading down her cheeks.

"I love you Fatimah." This time around, it sent shivers down her spine. It made all the hair on her skin stood still. It made her heart skipped a beat out of happiness and excitement. Fatimah fought the urge to elope him in her arms.

"Am I welcomed into the Fatimah world?" Dr Muhseen knew he has won the battle. He knew he has successfully made it. But, it's good to confirm.

"Fatimah is all yours." She didn't know where the courage came from. Fatimah kept thanking Inna in her mind. If not because Inna was hard earlier on, she won't have know about this.

It is true that the flames of love can hardly be extinguished. They can only die down and it takes a littleton of words to rekindle the flame into a beautiful spark. Fatimah smiled, for Muhseen was her first love. He was the first man she trusted aside her family. She might be faking, but she knew the ashes of his love were still burning down in her heart, for all this years. She didn't know at which depth but all she knew was that love has been rekindled right now. It has started glowing, which was showing on her face already.

She was hiding her face away from his stare when her phone vibrated. She looked at the phone and at Muhseen. 

Fatimah opened the message and decided to read it out loud.

Congratulations to us Fatimah. Uncle has granted his blessings and he promised me that our wedding will hold this Friday. I was also taken by surprise.

Yours loving husband,
Jabir Abubakar.

Both Fatimah and Dr Muhseen froze at the moment. They suddenly went on their feet at the same time.

*****

A week rolled over and at that time everyone has gotten the news that some group of soldiers have lost their lives in the cause of serving their country. It had been confirmed that, that thick forest had been cleared. There was no single life therein. About ten of the jihadists have been caught and held captive.

Several abducted teens have been rescued and were at a rehabilitation centre. The president at that time said the jihadists should not be executed until when he has finished undertaking some investigations.

The news headlines made a lot of people happy especially when the video of the thick forest was being forecasted. Everyone has seen that there were no more jihadists that kill people. Some families were sorrowful because they couldn't find their loved ones.

As the name of the deceased soldiers were being called, Sadiqu heard general Aliyy's name and quickly sat up. Leek helped him sat up and gave him water to drink. Doctors said he would be discharged soon because all that was left was his leg to heal.

"Did you went and offer your condolences to her?" Leek ignored him and shut down the television.

"Does it matter?" She asked.

"Are you really thinking? She lost her husband, I think even if she's your enemy, she deserve your condolence." Leek hummed.

"I will go, is that all?" Sadiqu nodded.

"Do you want anything?" She asked, checking what they had and what they needed for the remaining days at the hospital.

"Nothing." He smiled.

"How's our baby?" His eyes fell on her protruding belly.

"Four months to go. I can't wait to be free again." She bitterly answered and went out. Sadiqu shook his head at Leek's behavior.

For the first time, he believed it was his fault.

Sometimes, the knowledgeable people, the religious and pious ones are not the ones with the best of character. While courting Maleekah he only focused on the fact that she's religious and beautiful. He didn't dig about her real character. She had shown him signs but he ignored them thinking that she will change after the marriage. Sadiqu gulped hard because things were only getting worse.

Looks can be deceptive, the tongue is a liar because even the prophet (s.a.w) held his tongue and warned people on the dangers of tongue. The Hausa people say baki shi ke yanka wuya. Which was literally true. Leek was religious as per say. But when it comes to character, she doesn't apply her knowledge to it.

She might have successfully shown them the best of her character for the first year they were together but usually at that time, people normally try their bests in concealing their real selves. The facade doesn't last forever.

Sadiqu closed his eyes and accepted that it was a trial from Allah and by Allah's will, he will pass it. His mind drifted to Mimi. He was about to start thinking of her when the door of the room creaked ajar, revealing Inna.

Inna was in her usual dress and wrapper with a black veil around her face. Black suited her all the time, because she was a fair woman, round face and a nearly flat nose. She was medium of height and she looked so much younger than her age. Sadiqu noticed the change of the colour of her skin lately. Life was good all of a sudden and on a spur of a moment, things were about to crash.

That's just the rule of life. Rise and fall.

"Good evening Inna." He greeted.

"Evening. How are you?" Sadiqu smiled.

"Alhamdulillah." He answered.

"You see what I told you years ago?" Sadiqu leaned back on the supporting pillow behind him. He had been hoping for this day not to come.

"Inna why do you believe in that nonsense?" He regretted saying that because she was his mother.

"Are you saying I don't know what I'm doing or what?" She eyed him.

"I'm not saying that Inna. How can I say that?"

"You better know what to do." Sadiqu didn't say a word. Instead, he pondered on what Inna was talking about. Frankly speaking, Inna was not on the right track but what could he do about it? He's always trying his best to make her reason but she seemed so hard on her ground.

"Inna it's high time..."

"High time what? Don't even think of speaking of that to me." Sadiqu kept mum. He felt bad on behalf of her. For, people only repent when they accept they were at fault. Inna believed what she was doing was no sin while religiously, it was among the most highest sins.

"Inna please stop believing what Nasallah is telling you. He's misleaded. Don't let him mislead you too." Inna turned to Sadiqu with a hard look.

"See, you either leave that house you're living and come and stay with me or you divorce that girl. What's her name again? Aha, Maleekah." Sadiqu's jaw dropped.

What was Inna saying? He loved Leek despite all she has been doing and he can't divorce her. What was wrong with Inna?

————

Have you started seeing the way yet?😂😂😂

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I might not update until next week because it's gonna be a busy weekend for me. Sha, I might type when I get the time.

Fi amanillah🍁