Maleekah pulled one of the long hijabs she had sewn weeks ago. She paired with an atampa, a matching shoe and bag.

"Maleekah come back here." Her mother called out. She couldn't help but sighed and marched back. It's been a week since she visited Sadiqu's village. Her mother said it wasn't right for her to be moving about, instead a driver was being sent to collect the tofu. Maleekah had been fighting the urge to ask for permission but thought against it. She had missed Inna and her unending stories. She missed everything about the village.

"I'm not going anywhere mum," she frowned until some lines became visible on her forehead.

"Continue frowning your face. You will soon become old." Her mother teased. Maleekah scrunched her nose again but quickly released a smile. How could she escape her mother's questions?

"Tell me about the woman that produce this tofu," Maleekah knew this question was a holloway which she won't love to fall into.

"She's so nice and I seriously like her. Mum I'm pressed, I will be right back." Maleekah ran back to her room not forgetting to close the doors. She watched through the windows as their chauffeur drove away. A tear drizzled out of her eye, she quickly wiped it away but another followed it and then another. In a few seconds, she was wet with tears.

A sob escaped her lips as though she was being instigated to cry more. What type of fate was this? How could she fell in love with someone that doesn't even know she loves him. Not that, she knew Sadiqu would never accept her love; because from the way he talks, he doesn't like opulence. What would happen when he get to know she was the daughter of one of the most successful businessmen in the whole of Nigeria?

She thought it was just a joke but truth was she loved him with every fibre of her being, with every blood streaming in her veins and every beat of her heart. That happened so fast, without her consent.

She continued to sob which maybe would extinguish the blazing flame of Sadiqu's love. Nay, she was wrong! His love was un-extinguishable. When the crying sufficed her, she entered her bathroom and washed her face.

She laid on her bed and began to recite verses she knew offhand. Sleep overtook her in the process.

★

Sadiqu sat by the entrance of their house unaware of what was wrong with him. It had been over a week since he saw her and he was worried sick about that.

He knew he wasn't in love with her but she had a very special place in his heart. She's decent, humble and kind to his liking but he can't love her because he knew she was never going to accept his love, even if she does then definitely, her parent will not. Although she always try to mask her status, he knew she was on the opulence side.

He let out a sigh. The sound of a car pulling made him raised his head, his heart throbbed in happiness on sighting her car. He wasn't disappointed until when the chauffeur came out. They exchanged pleasantries and he led him in where he collected buckets of tofu.

"Wait please, I will be right back." Sadiqu stopped the man. He rushed inside their house, tore a sheet of paper and something.

"Help me give Maleekah. She forgot it here since the last time she came." The chauffeur looked at Sadiqu's leg. Sadiqu followed the man sight and saw that he was looking at his leg.

He smiled sadly.

The man collected the paper with disregard visible on his face. Sadiqu didn't care.

"Ya Sadiqu!" Zuwaira stopped him with a long stick on her hand. She was wearing an atampa wrapper and a lace dress. Her scarf was made of a material so was her little veil. Zuwaira was his cousin whom he was engaged to, shortly after her birth.

She was six years younger than him, making him see whatever she does as childishness. She's too clingy but he couldn't help but play along so that he will gently convince her to say she doesn't love him.

"Zuzu," he teased.

Zuwaira grinned, "I brought waina for you." She handed him the *samira* local bowl. Sadiqu gladly collected and thanked her.

"Buy something with this," he gave her a two hundred note. She jumped and collected before she ran away claiming to be shy. She was so glad that she couldn't wait to show her mother and her friends when they meet the next day to fetch water from the river.

Sadiqu shook his head at her puerility before he walked into their house.

★

"Yes, he said you forgot it."

"Okay thank you." She walked away eagerly. Everything happened on her sister's and mother's eyes unknown to her.

Once she was in her room, she locked the door, sat on the bed and unfolded the paper.

*Peace be upon to you A'ishah.* she smiled and answered as if he were there.

*it's been a while since you came and Inna was so worried. Hope you're fine as we wish. Nothing much to say, just to inquire about your health.*

*Isma'il Sadiqu*.

That's just it; that's what the letter contained. Nothing less, nor more but she was elated. It lighted her mood that she couldn't help but read it over and over. He could be a mere villager, but he had taken every portion of her heart with him with no permission. She neatly folded the paper when she heard a creak. She opened the door, led her sister in.

"Zahrah, what?" She asked, hiding the paper. Zahrah's eye traveled to Maleekah's hand as she thrust it underneath her blanket.

"I want to go out, come and escort me." Maleekah glared at her.

"Of all the chauffeurs in this house it's me you chose koh?" Zahrah was Maleekah's step sister. She was a month older than Leek.

"Okay fine! Let me be going..." She stood up feigning anger. Taking Maleekah off guard, she slipped her hand under the blanket and they began to race about. Well, all her plan was to see what's inside the paper. Maleekah had been her playing mate since day one, her secret sharer and her sister whose shoulder she leaned on. Zahrah's mother left the house since she was six.

"Okay I surrender. Read it and give me," Maleekah panted. She knew whatever tactical way she used, since Zahrah saw the paper, then she must surely read it.

"I thought it was something special. Mtchew. But, it's smelling nice." Zahrah threw it at her after she read it. Maleekah didn't utter a word, instead she glared at her again.

"Whatever." They laughed.

****

"I am going to visit that farm perhaps I will see someone related to him." Maleekah was short of words. Barrels of fear enveloped her, she hoped there's nothing more to pitying Sadiqu in Mimi's heart as she said earlier.

"Okay you can go, I think it's okay." Leek tried to hide the turbulent waves of her voice. She didn't know why all of a sudden her voice began to shake or why she began to have a sickening feeling in her heart.

"I thought you will escort me." Mimi felt the coldness that seeped between them all of a sudden. She noticed the little shake in Maleekah's voice but nothing came to her mind.

"I...I actually... I mean I will not be around. Mum wanted to travel and I will follow her." Maleekah finished in a low voice. She tried all her ways not to meet Mimi's gaze. She had never lied to Mimi but this time, she had to.

"Then we will go when you're back." Maleekah's tongue went dry. She can't continue lying to Mimi. Truth was, if Mimi was in love with Sadiqu, she would gladly leave him to her. But still, she has some fear in her heart.

*he doesn't even know you love him*

That was it, she was literally glaring in darkness because Sadiqu was unaware of her love for him. She wasn't even sure if he would possibly love her or Mimi then why would she be worried over this. Love was cruel to seer into her soul without her permission.

"Okay then. I will confirm it from mum. Whatever transpire between us, I will let you know."

"Leek, are you ill?" Maleekah's lip spread to a small smile. The coldness of her voice was noticeable.

"Yeah headache." She replied, opening the door of backseat.

"Get well soon. I will go all by myself then." Leek was thankful for that.

"Thank you." They waved as Leek's car drove away. A tear slowly dropped from her eyes. She hoped what she saw in Mimi's eyes wasn't love. Because, the bond between them was something strong and she won't love anything to split them apart.

*expect another chapter tonight. I want to reach 10 today.

No promise though..