ABUJA, NIGERIA

Hauwa sat in her bed, her phone clutched in her hand as she chatted animatedly with Safar. Safar was regaling her with stories of a guy at her workplace who had been crushing on her, but Safar was determined to play it cool.

"I mean, I like him too, but I'm not going to make it easy for him, Sai na mai Jan aji," Safar said, her voice dripping with amusement. "I'm going to make him work for it, you know, do some serious wooing before I finally accept him."

Hauwa laughed, feeling a pang of envy. She wished she could be as carefree as Safar, but her own love life was far more complicated.

"That's so you, Safar," Hauwa teased. "Always playing hard to get. But I'm sure he'll be worth it in the end."

Safar giggled. "I hope so, girl. I really do. So, how was your date with Ya Sa'eed? I've been dying to hear all about it."

Hauwa's expression turned guarded, and she hesitated before responding. She wasn't sure how much she wanted to reveal to Safar, but at the same time, she needed someone to talk to.

"It was...interesting," Hauwa said finally, choosing her words carefully. "He's still as charming as ever, but I'm not sure if I can trust him. He says he had nothing to do with what happened to Mama, but I'm not convinced."

Safar's voice turned serious, but her tone was laced with a hint of frustration. "Hauwa, come on. You're still misunderstanding him. Ya Sa'eed loves you, and he's trying to make things right between you two. Can't you just give him a chance?"

Hauwa nodded dismissively, showing she didn't want to continue with the discussion and Safar let her be, as she continued to chat with Safar, Hauwa couldn't shake off the feeling that she was trapped in a delicate web of deceit and lies. And she wasn't sure how to escape.

As she continued chatting with Safar, Hauwa was suddenly interrupted by the dramatic entrance of Safira and Safina. The twin sisters burst into the room, their eyes wide with excitement and a hint of mischief. They came to an abrupt halt, their gazes scanning the room before finally settling on Hauwa and Safar, who were lounging on the bed.

Safira's eyes narrowed, her voice dripping with drama as she exclaimed, "This is the biggest betrayal of the century, twin!" She turned to Safina, who nodded in agreement, her face a picture of mock outrage. "Of course, Adda Safar didn't like Adda Jidda, and now suddenly they're friends, and she's trying to take away our position as the favorite sister-in-laws." Safina whined, stomping her foot on the ground as Safira joined in, their pouts and tantrums a comedic spectacle.

Safar rolled her eyes good-naturedly, shooting Hauwa an amused glance. Hauwa chuckled, shaking her head at the twins' antics. "You're being dramatic again, Safira and Safina," she teased, trying to placate them.

But the twins were having none of it. "Well, since Adda Safar has stolen you from us, Also Ya Aisha and another man who looks like you are here," Safira announced, her voice still laced with a hint of petulance. Hauwa's eyes lit up at the mention of Ya Aisha's name, and she immediately recognized the other person Safira was referring to - Ya Ali, her brother and sister. She didn't even wait for the twins to confirm, instead jumping down from the bed and rushing towards the living room.

As she entered the lavish living room, Hauwa's eyes scanned the space, searching for the familiar faces of her siblings. And then, she saw them - Ya Aisha and Ya Ali, sitting on the plush couch, surrounded by their loved ones. Ya Aisha's children, Muhammad, Hanan, and Aliyu Haidar, were scattered around the room, their faces lighting up with smiles as they caught sight of Hauwa. Jamila, Ya Ali's wife, was seated beside him, their daughter Afra perched on her lap, looking adorable in her tiny hijab.

Hauwa's face broke into a wide smile as she rushed towards them, her heart swelling with excitement and joy. "Ya Aisha! Ya Ali!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around them in a tight hug. Her siblings laughed and hugged her back, their faces warm with affection.

Ya Aisha held her at arm's length to study her face, remarking, "Mai-Jidda amarya- bride, it's so good to see you. You look beautiful, as always." Ali smiled warmly, while Jamila hugged Hauwa as they exchanged pleasantries with Hauwa, inquiring about her well-being.

Muhammad, Hanan, and Afra all rushed to hug her, showering her with affection. Hauwa laughed and hugged them back, feeling a surge of love for her little nieces and nephew. Meanwhile, she gently picked up Aliyu Haidar, who was still a baby, cradling him in her arms and cooing softly at him. The baby gazed up at her with big, round eyes, and Hauwa's heart melted at the sight.

Safar, Safira, and Safina emerged from the bedroom, their faces lighting up with warm smiles as they greeted Hauwa's siblings. The group settled into a comfortable silence, chatting and laughing together as they sat in the lavish living room. The atmosphere was relaxed and convivial, filled with the warm scent of freshly brewed coffee and the soft hum of conversation.

As they chatted, a maid came in to tell them that Mami had asked the twins and Safar to come and help her in the kitchen. The twins grumbled good-naturedly as they stood up, stretching their arms over their heads. "Do we have to?" Safira complained, earning a chuckle from Ya Ali.

The siblings laughed at the twins' antics, and Safar playfully rolled her eyes. "Muje- Come on, guys, let's go help Mami." The three sisters reluctantly made their way back to the main house, leaving the others to continue their conversation.

As they chatted, the door opened with a soft creak, and Sa'eed's gentle voice filled the room. "As-salamu alaykum." Hauwa's mood immediately turned sour, her expression darkening as she gazed at Sa'eed. The rest of the family noticed the sudden change in her demeanor, and the room fell silent.

Sa'eed, pretending to be oblivious to the tension, exchanged pleasantries with everyone, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled. The children, who had grown accustomed to his presence during his courtship of Hauwa, eagerly hugged him, chattering excitedly about their day. Muhammad, Hanan, and Afra all vied for his attention, their faces lighting up with smiles as he ruffled their hair and asked about their day.

Hauwa stood up, intending to leave the room, but Aisha's stern voice halted her. "Dawu Ki zauna- Come back here and sit down, Hauwa," she commanded, her eyes flashing with a hint of warning. Hauwa reluctantly returned to her seat, her movements stiff and uncooperative.

Aisha's expression softened as she turned to the children.  "Muhammad, Hanan, and Afra, go and play with Ajmal." Jamila, seeing her daughter being reluctant, smiled and said, "Afra, go and play with your cousins." The children eagerly stood up, bidding the adults farewell as they filed out of the room.

As the door closed behind them, the atmosphere in the living room became even more charged with tension. Everyone turned to look at Hauwa, their faces filled with a mixture of curiosity and concern. Hauwa's eyes flashed with defiance as she met their gaze, her jaw set in a determined line. The room fell silent, the only sound was the soft ticking of the clock on the wall.

"Mai Jidda mu ba tsaran wasan Ki bane; we are not your mates." Ali said.
"We came today specially so we could speak to you about Sa'eed." Aisha added.

Jamila spoke up, her voice soft and gentle. "Hauwa, I don't know why you believe that Sa'eed has something to do with what happened. Yes, he and Bilal are friends, but it doesn't necessarily mean they did it together."

However, Ali and Aisha were not having it. They scolded Hauwa, telling her that the angels were causing her as she walked because she was punishing her husband for a mistake he didn't even commit.

Just as it seemed like the argument was going to escalate, Sa'eed finally interrupted. "Please, it's okay. Her actions are justified. She thought I was behind the incident of Mama's death."

He stopped, smiling warmly at Hauwa as he stood up from the couch and walked towards her. "I love you, Hauwa, for the sake of Allah. And I'm so grateful to Ya Aisha and Ya Ali for helping me find evidence to prove my innocence."

He brought out his iphone 14 and showed Hauwa a video. It was a video of Bilal, confessing about how he manipulated the video to look as if Sa'eed had something to do with Mama's incident. Bilal was talking to Sa'eed, but he thought he wasn't recording, and he had stupidly blurted out everything.

Hauwa was mortified as she watched the video. Her eyes widened in horror, and her mind reeled with the implications of what she was seeing. She felt like she had been punched in the gut, her breath knocked out of her.

Guilt and regret washed over her like a tidal wave, threatening to consume her. She felt like she was drowning in a sea of her own making, unable to escape the crushing weight of her own errors. Her eyes stung with tears as she realized the magnitude of her mistakes.

She had wrongly accused Sa'eed, the man she loved, of a heinous crime. She had doubted his integrity, his honor, and his love for her.

As the video continued to play, Hauwa's sobs grew louder, more intense. She felt like she was going to be sick, her stomach churning with a toxic mix of emotions. She was torn between her desire to turn back time and undo the harm she had caused, and her need to confront the reality of her own flaws.

Sa'eed's gentle touch on her back only made her feel worse. She didn't deserve his comfort, his love, or his forgiveness. She had wronged him in the worst possible way, and now she was forced to confront the consequences of her actions.

As the video finally came to an end, Hauwa's body shook with convulsive sobs. She felt like she was breaking apart, fragmenting into a million pieces. She couldn't bear to look at Sa'eed, couldn't bear to face the truth of her own mistakes.

Her palms pressed against her mouth, as if trying to stifle the cries that threatened to tear her apart. Her eyes streamed with tears, her face contorted in a mask of anguish. She was a woman consumed by regret, a woman haunted by the ghosts of her own mistakes.

At that moment, Hauwa knew that she had hit rock bottom. She had lost her way, lost her sense of self, and lost the trust of the man she loved. She didn't know how to climb back out of the abyss, didn't know how to forgive herself for the harm she had caused. All she could do was sob, her body wracked with the intensity of her emotions, her heart shattered into a million pieces.

As Hauwa turned to Sa'eed, her eyes brimming with tears, she apologized profusely for her mistakes. But Sa'eed just smiled warmly and hugged her, not even minding the presence of her siblings. "There's no need to apologize, Mi Reina ," he whispered softly. "I know you were hurting, and I'm just glad we can move forward now."

Ali, who had been watching the exchange, chimed in with a mischievous grin. "You see, the person you were hating on is being so good to you," he teased, earning a laugh from the others.

But Hauwa's sobs only grew wider, and Jamila, whose heart had already softened, nudged Ali gently. "Give her a break, babe. She's realized her mistake," she said, her voice filled with compassion.

Aisha, who had been watching the scene unfold, cooed at the couple cocooned in each other's arms. "Okay, now this is getting ewww," she said, laughing. "You guys get a room, and ugh, the Hauwa who doesn't want anything bad said about Sa'eed is back!"

Everyone laughed as Sa'eed and Hauwa released each other, their faces flushed with happiness. They chatted a bit longer before standing up to leave.

As they said their goodbyes, Hauwa hugged each of her siblings and Jamila, including the children who had returned to the room. The kids promised her a sleepover soon, and Hauwa smiled, her eyes shining with tears.

When she hugged Aisha, her sister whispered, "We'll soon come to convey you to your real matrimonial home, since you two have now reconciled." Hauwa's face turned bright red as she blushed, and Aisha playfully smacked her on the arm, laughing.

Next chapter is definitely going to be a hauwa and Sa'eed moment, you guys deserve it after all the drama 🤭😂.

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love, Layha 🤍