Tehzeeb wass sleeping when she heard like someone whimpered in her sleep so she open her eyes quietly without making any sound there she saw her Umma in tears which she stand up immediately "Umma"she said which Mrs Habiba clean her tears quickly because she thought her daughter asleep "Umma" Tehzeeb said going close to her mother "Umma why are you crying?" She asked not that she didn't know why but wanted to confirm her suspicious

"Nothing dear, I was not crying. Something entered my eyes. " Umma lay in between her teeth

"Umma, don't lie to me. Is it about what transpired between Kawu(uncle) and us?" Tehzeeb asked

"It's not."

"Then what is it? Or are you thinking about Baba and crying again?" She asked, but her mother did not reply "Umma am not stopping you from crying, but what about your health? Or do you want to follow Baba and leave me behind?" Tehzeeb couldn't help but say that

"It's not like that. Am just, I don't know what to say or how to think. I don't trust that your uncle can do anything because his selfish"

"Forget about him, Umma. He can't do anything, and even if he does, Allah will not forsake us. But Umma, I want to ask you a question, " Tehzeeb said, waiting for her mother's response before she continues

"Asked about what?"

"Your relatives, I didn't know them, nor have I seen any of them."

"That's reminds me since we're on that topic now, i want us to go to the hospital and asked the doctor what was the caused of your father's death, because all I know is that he is not sick" Umma divert the topic which makes Tehzeeb more suspicious of her. She wonders what her parents have been hiding from her, but she knows with time she will find out

"Let's do that then, but I think I should go alone since you're yet to complete your Iddah."

"Don't worry, I will cover myself. I keep having this ill feeling that your father hides something from us, which can only be confirmed by the doctor. "

"Okay, Umma, let me dress up so we can go or what did you think?"

"Alright, do that, so we can quickly go and come back." Tehzeeb prayed and dressed up before she and her mother left for the hospital. Luckily enough, Dr Bashir did not have any patient at hand by then. "Good morning, Dr. Tehzeeb greated

"Morning and welcome"he said smiling at Tehzeeb before he turns to Umma "Good morning Umma" he said which Tehzeeb looked at him because she don't know when he and Umma get this close for him to address her as Umma

"Morning, Bashir. Hope you had a pleasant night rest?" Umma asked which Tehzeeb couldn't understand when they started addressing each other

"Yes, I did, thank you. Sorry for my manners. Please have your seats"

"Well, let's go straight to the point to save time. Doctor Bashir" Umma called him, which he knows she's about to say something serious because she called him with his title

"Yes Umma,"

"I want you to tell us nothing but the truth. Tell us what happened to my husband and Tehzeeb father. I know death is inevitable either your sick or healthy, you will answer your call, but I can't just put my hand on something. So please tell us nothing but the truth"

"In Sha Allah, I will. Well, Mrs Habiba if you could remember the day you brought Mallam Audu to the hospital to complain about his cold?"

"Yes, I do. What happened by then?"

"Humm am sorry to say, but I didn't tell you what was actually written on the paper because your husband signal me not to, which I find suspicious but do as he says nevertheless because I was thinking he don't want you to get worried, so i prescribed some medications for him" Dr Bashir said

"So you're telling me it's was not an ordinary cold," Umma asked

"Yes, it was not."

"Then what was it?" Umma asked but was afraid of what the doctor would say. Dr Bashir looked at them both before he talked he sighed and spoke
up "am sorry for telling you this now, but he was suffering from CHF, which is known as Congestive Heart Failure."

"Inna lillahi wa-innailayi rajiAAoon," both Tehzeeb and Umma said, "Doctor, but why did you not tell me?"

"Am sorry, but he told me not to, and as a doctor, we ought to keep our patients secret."

"But doctor, how comes or have he been suffering from it without us knowing?" Tehzeeb asked since Umma was crying

"Yes, I think he has been, and he was on drug, which when I asked him for how long he had known, but he told me to forget about it and I should give him some medication."

"But why?"

"I can't say. But the sudden severe coughing was a sign that he was already in stage four of CHF, which needs to be operated on"

"You should've done that,"

"I planned to but he told me he have to inform you both about his sickness first, because he don't want you to find out like that and he don't know how to raise the funds for the operation, so i describe some medicine for him to purchased because at then he requires extensive medical attention, but still yet I told him he needed the surgery for him to survive or else he would die because he was already at the last stage"

"So you mean his sudden death was due to his sickness,"

"Yes, but I don't think maybe you could have noticed the swelling(oedema) in his legs or feet."

"I did, which I even point it out to him, and he told me it's was due to the stress of the hospital."

"Then am sorry he was battling with his life by then which I wanted to operate on him but he said and I quote" I don't think it's necessary anylonger, my only hope is to see my wife regain her health" that was what he said"

"But you should have not allowed him to decide for himself, for godsake, you were his doctor."

"I know, but the patient has their own rights too, and if I forced him, he can sue me," Dr Bashir answered, which left Tehzeeb speechless. Umma did not say anything, which Tehzeeb stood up and helped her up since they had nothing left to do with the doctor.

"I failed to take care of my husband. I failed to notice he was sick and dying. I failed him in all aspects, " Umma said crying immediately they arrived at home

"Umma, don't say that. It's already in the past, and nothing can be changed again. "

"No, I was not a good wife because I failed to notice his pain when he needed me most. I thought it was just an ordinary cold not knowing he was dieing, I failed to take care of him the time he needed me most" Umma said crying and shaking her head "I should be ashamed of my self as his wife, I should be ashamed"

"Umma, stop saying all this. You did not fail in any aspect. I know you have been the best wife Baba could ask for in this duniya, so please stop saying you failed him. It's hurt to see you like this, please Umma. " Tehzeeb pleaded with tears in her eyes, which Umma embrace her in a motherly hug

"Am sorry dear for hurting you to, I promised to take care of you since I couldn't take care of your father" Umma said which they stayed in that position for minutes before the both walk inside the room because of the sun that was setting

"Mummy, I want to go to my Aunty," Nawal said, crying

"Yallah, I don't know what to do with this girl for Allah's sake," Hadiza said, tired of Nawal disturbance. Nawal woke up since in the morning crying and thrashing everywhere, insisting she wanted to go to her Aunty

"This girl will not allow us to have peace of mind in this house if she didn't get what she wanted," Hajiya Kaltumi said

"Gaskiya (truly) she's going no where, she can cry even blood if she wants. Always going out, as small as she is, she has learned how to be going out anyhow, " Ashafa said

"It's this her cry that disturbing me. She won't allow someone to hear word Allah. "

"Mummy, I want to go to My Aunty," Nawal shouted, spoiling the place with her golden morn

"If you don't keep quiet this instant I will beat you" Ashafa said in a Stern voice which Nawal keep quiet because she knows not to try him "haba as small as you're you want to give us BP" He said picking his phone up to continue with what he was doing

"Ama(but), if you married and have children I wonder how you will treat them with this your stupid habit of not wanting children to cry or go out" Hajiya Kaltumi said shaking her head because she wonder if Asahaf will even allow his children to visit her too because of his attitude. Nawal was still crying, but she stopped shouting and thrashing things, Ashafa turned and saw her like that, which he felt pity on her for shouting at her like that

"My princess come" AA said gesturing for Nawal to come which she stand up and walk to his place afraid of Ashafa shout "am sorry princess, but you visited your Aunty yesterday like you said, don't worry after two days I will take you there" he said smiling which made Nawal to giggle

"Ooo daga baya kenan (that's from the end), I know you will be the one to pet her yourself because this girl that have heard like that of her father own" Hajiya Kaltumi said looking at them with happiness

"Marmie, don't mind them. You should carry me to the way Bro is carrying Nawal on his leg," Hadiza said teasingly, stiffening her laugh

"Innalillahi wa'innailaihir raji'un oh ni Kaltumi gardede kaman ki( me Kaltumi,someone as big as you) want me to carry her. Deedee fear God unless you want me to break my leg, " Hajiya Kaltumi said, which made all of them laugh

"Babe, she's your last born, so you can carry her on your lap."

"And she's your sister carry her on your second lap, so she and Nawal will know you love them very well. Since you all have turned me to your grandmother, " Hajiya Kaltumi said, standing up "Nawal come let's go and buy ice cream. " With immediate effect, Nawal jump down from Asahafa's lap

"Let me come with you, it's been long. I have it too," Hadiza said, standing up to get her Vail

"Hope you're going out with another car and not with me?" Hajiya Kaltumi asked her

"Marmie, pretty please let me follow you," Hadiza pleaded, holding her ears like Nawal, which made Nawal laugh at her

"Dress up, let's go because I am going with you all. It been long we all went out for fun, " AA said, which Hajiya Kaltumi didn't say anything again since they're trying to make her their grandmother

"Mummy, it's been long. You traveled for your business trip," Ibrahim said to his mother

"And is there a problem?" Hajiya Kande asked, looking at him

"Nop, just decided to ask because it's been long,"

"Oh, okay, thought you have a contract for me,"

"Mummy, which contract would I have for you for now?"

"Who knows, maybe you're planning on getting married any moment from now,"

"Not yet," and they both kept quiet, which Ibrahim started to think about what happened between him, Tehzeeb, and Khady. He just couldn't stop thinking about that all the time

"When are you planning to get married, and don't you have a girlfriend?" Hajiya Kande asked which Ibrahim was lost in thoughts "Ibro when will you introduce me to your girlfriend and what's her name? "

"Tehzeeb," he said without knowing what he said or was asked, and immediately he recalled what he said he stood up abruptly

**************

Ghen ghen. What did you think?
Was it slip of tongue, or Ibrahim have fallen in love with Tehzeeb

I know most of you want them to be together. If you're against it, voice out before it's late

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