Diijahyb dblackvirgo
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Iman stared at his reflection on the mirror tiredly, as he hooked the cufflinks on his perfect white Shadda¹. On the vanity laid his white with very little perches of emerald green designed Hulla². He had on his silver Armani watch with bling surrounding the timer display.

Today is the day he is supposed to go see Maryam. His anger, shouts and frustration refused to work on his family. They all maintained the stance that he needed to go see her first and be the judge. With the evident frown, he yanked open the drawer and brought out a bottle of perfume among the numerous he has. He sprayed it a little too closely to his face and behold! It choked him. He coughed loudly for a few seconds before putting the cap of the perfume back on it's bottle with a soft hiss he threw it back to where it came from. If getting him married wasn't killing him, the perfume felt ever ready to do the needful.

     "If you're trying to murder yourself, perfume doesn't really do it" Islam joked, standing by the door frame. Iman glared at him, but Islam wasn't fazed at all.

     "If you're going to keep standing by the door frame please disappear before I squeezed the life out of you" he threatened and Islam chuckled. He trailed into the room and sat on Iman's bed while Iman combed through his hair. It is definitely due for a cut, but his busy schedule had refrained him from getting one.

     "What is her name?" Islam asked making Iman go still for a moment.

     "How the heck am I supposed to know that? I was so busy expressing how I hate the idea of being in the middle of a matchmaking experiment I did not ask" he grumbled rolling his eyes.

After his mother had announced how a match had been found, he had gone still for a moment before he told her he wasn't interested. His mother calmly explained that his father's friend practically raised the girl and he could vouch for her more than he can vouch for his own biological children. One would think this statement would at least unnerve him but it did absolutely nothing. Infact, Iman found it absurd that he wasn't even getting a daughter but a relative.

He held his ground that he wasn't interested in the match up, soon voices started rising and both him and his mother had become angry.

She kept on stressing on the fact that he needed to even go see her first, if he doesn't like what he sees, then he should back out. He on the other hand wasn't at all interested in the fact that he had to go see her.

When neither Iman nor his mother came to any conclusion or an understanding, she marched to her room and called his father who came straight away. She did not bother staying in the living room, knowing her emotions will be all over the place. She waited to hear shouts or argument, but it seems Iman could actually have a conversation with his father in a better way.

It did sound so fishy, so she came out of her room and ofcourse her son was nowhere to be found.
     "He walked out on me" his father stated with a chuckle making her heart give a squeeze. "We are both weird Janan, how on Earth did we believe he would listen to me?" He added and she sighed. They sat quietly watching NatGeo wild on the TV. Actually Janan was watching NatGeo, but Junaid was watching her. She looked the same, just a bit chubbier but not a single thing had changed for him.

He loves her the same way he's loved her all those years, and finding help had been the best thing he had ever done for himself. His therapist had been so helpful and she had been the one who had asked him to go make peace with Janan, hence he travelled to London for that purpose. Even though it had been really hard and frustrating at a point, it actually paid off. They're here now and he's seated beside her and she isn't even planning on murdering him.

His phone started vibrating, making Janan turn to him, he had quickly swiped and answered hoping he did not get caught staring. He exchanged pleasantries as he continued to watch Janan whose attention was back on the TV for a moment until she heard him mumble he would be stopping by  a little later. She feigned concentration but she wasn't at all listening to the documentarian who was talking about how lazy a lion could be but at her ex's conversation on the phone.

     "Yes, I have missed you too" he stated and she winced without even knowing it. When he ended the call, he cleared his throat awkwardly making her look up. He had this guilty look plastered on his face making her know that he had actually moved on with his life. "I met someone, actually I did not meet her now. I've known her for a while, but we started dating recently" he explained making Janan blink. She swallowed a lump and provided him with a very plastic smile.

     "That is nice"

Junaid nodded and turned his attention back to the TV. The tension was getting stronger by the minute. So, he stood up.
     "I should leave"

Janan nodded before heading to the door with Junaid trailing behind her.
    "Goodbye Junaid" she mumbled after opening the door for him. He mumbled a goodbye with so much bravery, she closed and locked her door and he dragged his feet to his car. Only then did Iman's mother cry, it was long overdue. She needed to let it all out, she felt like a looser and the one lagging behind. She's always loved him just as he loves her. And even a little before two decades, she felt jealous. She had rejected every single man that attempted to ask her out. And just like that, Junaid had found someone. Was it that easy for him to move on with his life? She could not love again and in London when he had told her he had not gotten married or attempted to, she felt tingles of happiness down her spine. It showed she mattered to him.

Junaid felt like garbage as he drove away from her home. Had he known, he should not have said anything. He should have kept his new found relationship at bay. He had forced himself into it, hoping he would feel something. But the truth is, this was a drop of water from a syringe compared the sea full love he felt for Janan. It has always been her and it would always be her.

Iman had drove straight to the Awara joint where he had met Maryam months ago after he left home in anger. It angered him so much that his mother actually thought bringing up his father would actually help in anyway. Seeing his father is even tangled in this web of a marriage alliance is enough to make him want to back out. He groaned loudly, as he parked the car. Ofcourse she was nowhere to be found, this wasn't a movie, she would not just pop out because he wanted her to.

He sat in his car for three hours, and when there was no sign of her. He turned on the ignition of his car with the sole purpose of driving back home, but he saw his grandfather imprinted boldly on the called ID. He groaned frustratingly and picked up knowing his mother had definitely reported him. It's very easy for her to that, since the older man is the only person he listens to.

He headed straight to his grandparent's home, and was greeted with his grand mother's signature aroma of moi-moi³. Hers has always been the best he had ever tasted. It had this peculiar aroma he had never ever perceived anywhere at all.

He went straight to the kitchen, he hugged her from behind and greeted her. She kissed his cheeks before asking how he was. She told him his grandfather was in their bedroom waiting for him.

He had to listen to his grandfather go on about his love story with his grandmother for half an hour. It was boring because Iman had heard that story a million times. What had piqued his attention had been that, they got to know each other in the marriage ad that he never regretted his decision for accepting to be married to her.

It all felt like nonsense to Iman because he knew that this is the 21st century. Nobody, absolutely nobody marries without knowing their partner. It is actually absurd to even think of that and he had believed he had enough time to get to know the woman he marries and they just turned things upside down.

     "For my sake Iman, go ahead and see this girl. If she is not what you've always wanted in a woman, then we will allow you go find your own woman yourself" his grandfather had said.

It felt like music to his ears. He chuckled darkly in his mind. He had made up his mind, he would blatantly reject the girl and move on with his life. That had been the reason why he was wearing a white Shadda by 5pm like some groom. He wished Bash was here, so he could ease the tension with his miserable jokes.

Iman picked up the cap and started setting it.
     "Should I come with you?" Islam offered making Iman cringe. If the girl turns out to be really pretty, this basket mouth would woo and talk about her nonstop, thereby putting a big hole in the wall of his plan to reject the girl.

     "Absolutely not. I am old enough to go in search of my intended" Iman retorted making Islam scoff.

     "You sound like some sleazy British movie character. What on Earth is intended?" Islam grumbled out with a disgusted look. Iman ignored him and headed towards the door after giving himself a once over.

     "Get out. I am closing my room" he stated, and Islam bounced out with his head up high. He wasn't really interested in Iman's shoes anymore. Not after his ridiculous attempt to imitate lilwayne without his knowledge.

     "I might be of help to you with the girl. You know I am smooth. I had multiple girlfriends back......."

     "You had multiple girlfriends because you had abs and you stole my shoes! It was never your lines. They are horrifying" Iman interrupted securing his door. Without further ado, Iman bade his family good bye and drove straight to Apo, where Maryam lives now.

Meanwhile Maryam sat on her bed in her grand mother's house with a frown. She had cried and cried but it seemed her grand parents could not do anything at all to help change the situation.

Her mother had called yesterday, demanding she comes back home but she refused to. When the incessant calls would not stop, and the threatening messages kept delivering into her inbox, she wore a big hijab and ran to her grand parents for cover.

Maryam's mother had wanted her to come to her own house, so she could even see the person who she had chosen for Maryam. But, when she realized it would be an insult because Maryam has a different name from the children of Ali Matazu, she decided Maryam should go to her parents house, at least it would feel like that is her own home. And until Maryam relays her life story to him, it should remain that way.

Maryam's phone started ringing, and she picked up immediately knowing her mother hated it when the phone rang for too long.
     "Are you dressed?" Her mother had asked without waiting to hear or exchange any pleasantries with her daughter.

     "Yes"

     "Is it that lace I told you about? I hope that is the one you're wearing!" She chided and Maryam nodded mumbling a yes.

     "Use the small white veil. Do not use that big one. Maryam don't spoil this or I will deal with you" she warned and before Maryam could reply, her mother ended the call. Maryam started crying loudly, when no one came to console her after a minute, Maryam dropped her phone on the chest drawer. She put on her hijab and snuck out of the house. She trekked to the quarters gate, got into a  taxi and headed straight to a new restaurant she had seen on her way back home.

Maryam say there and ordered a cocktail drink. She drank slowly, watching the weather go from evening to darkness. If she was going to get punished, she would accept it. But today, she will not do her mother's bidding because it had not gotten her anything but mostly disrespect and ofcourse a trailer filled with insult. She ordered two shawarma, with the purpose of eating  one and the second one, when she gets back home to get mother's wrath.

Iman on the other hand located the house without much stress. He sat in the car for a while thirty minutes, and only left his car when his mother called the third time. He banged the car door and secured it. He knocked on the gate, but no one answered. He knocked again and there was still no response. He sighed softly and turned back but then he heard shuffling on the other side so he waited.

When the gate was yanked open by a girl in her early teenage hood, Iman smiled at her and the girl blushed.
     "Good evening" she greeted.

     "Good evening" he replied.

     "I was told to tell you to please come back tomorrow. The person you came here for is not available" she stated shyly making him smile. She reminded him of Maryam. The Maryam who seemed to have vanished from the face of the Earth.

He nodded, but then he squatted in front of the girl.
     "Why isn't she available?" He whispered and the girl went rigid. The truth is, she was sent by Maryam's grandmother and that was all she was asked to say. She hadn't been prepared to answer any other question. Iman suspected that the girl he was being match made with isn't very keen on the idea of marrying him too. And he knew this little girl would have the information he needs so he decided to find out a little.

     "Well, she is not available. I should go bank inside" the girl stated trying to close the door but Iman held her hands and she went crimson immediately.

     "Did she go out?" He asked and the girl started to stammer. He knew immediately his suspicions were correct.

     "Inayah!" He heard someone tell before she could even answer. She answered loudly but she did not move. He told her to wait, he jogged to his car and brought out the biggest pack of malteasers. Inayah stared at them skeptically before she collected them when he offered. He smiled at her when she said thank you shyly.

     "The truth is, she ran away from home. But I know she would be back before tomorrow. Make sure you come because you look like a nice person" Inayah whispered before closing the gate leaving Iman in shock.

He sighed softly before getting into his car. He loved that it wasn't only Jim that was opposing the marriage, at least the girl is being rebellious too. He got into his car and drove out of the estate. When he noticed the water bottle he keeps in his car is empty, he started looking around to see if he could see a place he could get one.

As faith would have it. Iman's attention was caught by the big banner to the restaurant Maryam had entered. After securing his car, he walked straight inside. The first person that caught his attention had been Maryam, sitting and munching shawarma at the very end of the restaurant.

He thought he was hallucinating, but when he saw her peeking around to see if she wasn't being watched before she took another mouthful. He knew immediately that she is indeed the very shy Maryam.

With a big grin, Iman marched towards her. She was so engrossed in her food for a moment that she had not noticed him walking straight towards her. When he was a little to close, she looked up.

And just like that, her face lit up immediately because she did recognize him. This was the guy with the car at the Awara joint from a few days back.

Meanwhile, Maryam's mother had arrived home, screaming and yelling about how she would deal with Maryam so much for refusing to follow the instructions she was given.

     "Instead of praying to God to know if she is well, you're here shouting about how you will deal with her. What is wrong with you Ummi?" Her father had yelled loudly.

     "I don't care what happens to her. I don't care if she dies......."

Maryam's grandfather slapped her mother real hard making the whole house grow still and then all hell broke loose!

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Glossary

Shadda:     A popular clothing worn in
                    Nigeria.

Hulla:         A cap in Hausa language.

Moi-moi:.  A bean delicacy popular
                    through out Nigeria.