Iman glared at his phone as it rings. He was driving for crying out loud, he knew who was calling. He took a right turn, and then parked the car because the phone would not stop ringing. As he was reaching for the phone, the call ended. He picked it up and unlocked it with the sole purpose of calling his mother back but, it started ringing again. He picked and placed it on his ear.

"Muhammad Iman, I swear to Almighty God if you don't get down here right now I will deal with you" came her raspy voice, effect from yelling since morning.

"Mom, you called me few minutes ago. I haven't even gotten to the mall where you asked me to buy fruits and drinks. Please stop with the calls, unless you want to distract me while I drive" he stated calmly. She ended the call without a word. Iman sighed softly and turned on the ignition.

She's been calling nonstop, persuading and even threatening him to come home for his special visitors. When she had broken the news about an Alhaji Matazu coming with his daughter who had vanished the day he went for introduction, he felt like dying instantly. Coupled with the failed attempts to locate Maryam, he was really getting frustrated. He had even attempted to get her records from the hospital, but that ethical staff had refused him access since he was neither her personal doctor or family doctor.

He had created an excuse about being so busy to his mother but, she assured him that his father had helped him clear his schedule for the rest of the day. As if the day wasn't annoying enough, his mother kept calling and yelling demanding he be at home to welcome the guests.

The term 'guests' leaves a bitter taste in his mouth. He swerved left after indicating where he was headed with the trafficator. He got out of the car, secured it and then marched into the mall after securing his car.

He clicked on the messaging app to see the items his mother had demanded for. First was a bottle of red wine. She had written the specific product she wanted so he did the needful. Iman hissed softly when he realized he would be needing a trolley to pack up these variety of fruits and drinks. As he turned, he collided with a girl.

The little shopping basket she held fell and everything she had gotten scattered around the floor. He groaned frustratingly and started helping the girl pick up her things. She was already mumbling complaints, so he started apologizing before she starts insulting him. Anger is like a volcano, it does erupt with warning and signs.

After helping her stuff her properties back in the basket, he picked it up and handed it to her still apologizing. When he looked up, he noticed the girl's angry expression slowly getting replaced by a smitten one.

Iman smiled nervously seeing how the girl's reaction had been replaced instantly on seeing his face, he knew what that sneaky smile means. It's another way of saying "O my God, you're totally fine and I like what I see"

He's come across the likes of her, it's frustrating but he has to be nice, niceness pays. It gets him out of situations smoothly.

"Sorry I bumped into you" he had apologized, looking around for an exit to this conversation because the girl was becoming more comfortable by the second. She's fair and she had on a red lipstick, and pretty long lashes. He  just stared at her combo, she looked like someone who was either going for a wedding or just left one. The word to use to assess her is Loud.

"It's my fault, I should have watched where I was going" she downplayed with glee, then she moved closer to him blushing profusely. One would think there was something going on here. He took a guarded step back.

"I should get going" he stated

"Yeah, I am Noorie. Can I get your contact? You seem like a nice person and it would be cool to have a friend like you" she stated blatantly, making him go rigid with shock. Yes, he's met a lot of girls with the googly eyes and seductive smiles, but none had been bold enough to ask of his number.

"I...."

"You're not married, are you? I know you're not. Come on, give me your number" she interrupted unlocking her phone. Iman shrugged and told himself, he would block her if she decides to be a nuisance to his life. He called out the numbers, and she demanded he saves hers before he leaves. With a forced smile, Iman excused himself, leaving a smitten Noorie who stood and watched his retreating figure with a confident and an very clear goal in her head. She is going to get this fine young man to herself.

Iman shuddered as he dragged the trolley from it's resting place and headed straight to the vegetables and fruits section so he doesn't bump into the Noorie girl. Something about her seemed off, he doesn't like the vibe she gives off.

After successfully shopping, he stood in line waiting for his turn with the cashier when someone squealed his name. He turned and was met with a girl, dressed like the staffs with a big grin. Iman has no idea where he knew her from so he smiled.

"What brings you here?" She asked sliding her hands around his forearm. He tried really hard not to shudder but this familiarity is really disturbing especially when you have absolutely no idea who the other person is.

"Shopping" he gritted out.

"Don't you recognize me. You look tense....."

"It's just so......" He struggled to break free from her surprisingly strong grip, the truth is he actually had no word to continue that statement. He had started talking to distract her and break free from her too familiar behavior. He took a step back and stared at the girl.

"I sent you a lot of messages from WhatsApp and you ignored them all" she said pouting. Iman groaned inwardly. If this is an attempt to look cute, it is actually annoying. The truth is after the loud girl from airport broadcasted his life, he kept receiving countless messages from people he did not even remember knowing. While Bash basked in that glory, he only wanted his peace.

"I have been busy" he said softly and she laughed a bit too loudly making him cringe. He had said nothing funny. His phone vibrated in his pocket and when he picked and saw his mom's name boldly written, he smiled politely and turned around.

"Iman tell me you're already on your way. This people will be here any minute now, how on Earth do you expect me to prepare the fruits if they arrive......."

"Next person..." The sales rep said and Iman pushed the trolley towards her. The girl whose name he doesn't know started picking the things out of the trolley even after he stopped her with a hand gesture.

"I am on my way mom. I'll be here sooner thank you think" he had said. She ended the call with a hiss. Iman inhaled and exhaled a couple of times, and when he turned his attention back to the sales rep, she was already bagging the items, he passed her his atm and after a successful transaction, the girl helped with a bag and she escorted him making hell of noise. It was weird how she knew his car but Iman decided not to comment about it.

He opened the booth and stuffed the leather bags in it. Then he turned to the girl who was beaming. He was on the verge of shooting her away, when she spoke up.

"My father said to thank you, that he appreciated what you did for him, and he prays for you all the time" she had said and Iman nodded with a smile, he bade her farewell and drove off. He kept trying to remember where he had seen her before but to no avail so he shrugged and drove straight home.

Meanwhile, when Janan ended the call with Iman, she dialled his father. She could not believe both Iman and his father chose today of all days to be late.
"I am here already, Jay" he had said softly, making her wonder why his voice was low. She did not ask, instead she had ended the call and had headed straight to the front door. She saw him pulling up the drive way, so she opened the door awaiting his arrival.

Janan was wearing a Navy blue lace Boubou, and she had on a silver ear ring whose necklace she had deliberately dropped so she doesn't over do it. She wanted to be welcoming, and not intimidating.

Janan squinted when she saw another figure infront of Junaid's car. It did look like a female but she waited for him to drop first. It felt like forever until they came down. The woman was wearing a Grey Ankara, tied her headtie in a very fanciful manner, making Janan doubt the simple style she had tied. She had on a white veil, which she had placed on her shoulders, showcasing the golden chain on her neck. She was walking too close to Junaid and Janan could not help but feel that had been the person who had picked her call. Jealousy rumbled from her stomach, to her chest and moved itself up to her throat, restricting her breathing for a few seconds.

"Assalamu Alaikum! You must be Janan, you look the same as all your pictures he's showed me" the woman had said beaming happily, engulfing Janan in a hug. Janan was rigid, because the familiarity was creepy.

"Wa'alaikum Salam" she mumbled and wriggled herself out of the hug in a stylish manner.

"Forgive my manners, I've heard so much about you. I am Sadiya, Jay's therapist"

Janan felt a jab at her heart, so this is the woman who had picked his call, and to top everything up he had not returned her calls infact he acted as if she did not call, yet he had the audacity to bring her here. But she masked her disappointment with a smile.

"Nice to meet you Miss sadiya. You're welcome to my home, I just find it a bit bothersome that he had not informed me before bringing you here. Today is kind of an important family event" she strengthen the last two words, squinting at Junaid.

"I...... I...."

"It's my fault, I kind of maneuvered my way into this, don't get mad at him" she said with a small chuckle that Janan found so irritating. She sighed softly though, and created room for them to pass.

Janan looked away when Junaid was passing, to think he was about to stand there and apologise. She closed her door and trailed behind them, told them to make themselves comfortable and she headed straight to the kitchen where Islam was helping her.

"Who was that?" He asked sniffing and wiping his eyes with the apron which seemed to have worsen the peppery feeling he was having after chopping an onion.

"Your father and his girlfriend" she answered irritably and immediately Islam knew why his mother had been grumpy and mean to his father.

"Why would he bring her here?" Islam asked rinsing his hands as he watched his mother pour the onion he has chopped in to the stew. She hissed softly and placed the lid on the pot of stew noisily.

The door bell had rang again, Janan waited patiently to hear who it was, the greeting and the voice came from Bash, she smiled a little and lowered the fire, so the white rice doesn't get burnt. She waited for some time and did the same with the stew after completely turning off the fire under the rice.

The door bell dinged, she inhaled and crossed her fingers hoping it was Iman and thankfully he had been the one. When Iman came in and saw the woman in white veil, he literally paused then turned to his father for explanation because he was the one who had opened the door.

"This is Sadiya" his father said softly, the woman turned to them because she had been so busy stating at the television. She stood up and beamed but Iman did not return the gesture. He turned to his father waiting for clarification.

"She's a friend of mine...." His father stated with outmost difficulty. Iman sighed loudly and turned to the woman.

"Hello Ma, welcome"

And he went straight into the kitchen without bothering to ask why his father had chose today to bring a woman who looked extremely familiar. He forgot all about it when his mother snatched the leather bags and dumped the content into the sink. The wine, he was directed to place it in the fridge while his best friend and younger brother had on aprons like some professional cooks.

"I refuse to ask why you're looking that way. Pass me a knife too" he had stated making everyone laugh, forgetting about his father and his very friendly visitor. As they chopped the fruits and passed it to their mother who blended it, the talked about random things and Iman told them he met two weird girls today. Told them about Noorie and the strange girl who had been so helpful.

"I would have advised you wear a niqab¹ if you were a girl. Everyone fancies you" Islam said grumpily passing a bowl of pineapple to his mother.

"I refuse to dignify that statement with a reply" Iman had said collecting the knives from them. He urged Islam to go take a bath, and Bash a change of attire while he tidies up the island. They obliged and left, leaving him with his mother. In a few minutes, the kitchen was sparkling clean. He had washed everything, and had cleaned up the island while his mother mopped.

"If you do not like the girl, you can back out. It's not a must you marry her" his mother said out of the blue making him smile. He nodded and picked up the kitchen spray, sprayed it around while the mother stuffed the fruit juice in the freezer, because she knew the guests would be here any minute now.

Just then Junaid came into the kitchen, Iman excused himself to go take a shower leaving them both alone.

"Can we talk" he had said softly, when she nodded tiredly, Junaid came and stood really close to her making her shift a little. His presence was clouding her thoughts and she did not like it. "Janan, I promise I did not want her to come but she insisted, I blatantly told her no, but she assured me coming with her is another step of healing. So, I allowed her. You know I will never ever hurt you again, not after what I had done in the past...."

"You should have checked with me before agreeing to bring her here. You chose today, of all days! What would be your explanation to the Matazus? That you have a dysfunctional family? Junaid, I know she's your therapist but I feel and believe she did not think this one through" she had replied with a faint smile.

Junaid moved closer, closing the space between them. He raised her head, by placing his hands under her chin. "Look at me, if at all I hurt you in anyway with this, Jay I am sorry. I would never ever do that to you....." He whispered, his voice becoming huskier by the minute. He found himself lowering his head. Just inches away from placing his lips on hers the door bell rang making her jump away.

She cleared her throat, looking at everywhere but his face. How had she allowed this? She could not believe she was willing to allow him kiss her. What was she thinking? The door bell rang again and without a word, she headed straight to her front door.

She threw the door open with a wide smile. There stood Alhaji Matazu and his wife. She greeted them and ushered them in.

Maryam's mother took in the living room in awe. Everything sparkled and shine with a very alluring scent of inscense. The house smelled like vanilla, roses and oud.

Janan peered at the two girls. The one in maroon Abaya looked extremely uncomfortable and when she had greeted Janan, she saw apprehension in her eyes, yet the girl seemed to be the only one she had kept her gaze on. As the men greeted themselves laughing loudly, she knew the boys would know their guests had arrived. She did not bother to call them, knowing they would be out any second from now.

"Your house is very beautiful. I love how it smells, I am not leaving without a secret or two" Maryam's mother stated and the two women giggled at the statement. Miss Sadiya was waiting patiently to be introduced, and she was. Not as who she wanted, but as a family friend. She hid her irritation with a perfect plastic smile.

Maryam's mother quickly ignored her and turned to Janan, asking about skin care routine. She thought Janan must have paid fortunes to look the way she does, she had no idea Janan is a mixed race hence the unique shade. They talked about Spas that did the best work in Abuja while Zarah and Maryam sat and watch.

The truth is, Maryam's mother felt a strong connection to Janan. She felt a sisterly love for the woman and with all indication, Janan might be the only person who had seen Maryam's mother the way she used to be before her husband passed away.

"Guess which is Maryam" she had asked Janan who chuckled and pointed at Maryam. They burst into laughter making Sadiya feel more excluded than ever. "How did you guess?" She had asked giddily.

"She's your carbon copy, Ummi" she had said and Maryam's mother felt a jab in her heart. She swallowed the lump and turned to Maryam who was staring at her fingers. She smiled at Maryam because for the very first time, she had seen herself in Maryam.

They continued chatting while Zarah kept whispering things to Maryam whose nerves would not allow her have fun.

"Assalamu Alaikum" a bold voice said making Maryam look up immediately. She knew whose voice it belonged to but she did not want to believe it was him.

"Islam!"

"Maryam!"

They called out in unison making the chatter die down, their family waiting patiently for explanations. She was grinning ear to ear already. Bash was the next person to come out, followed by Iman. Maryam was still carried away by Islam who was standing in front of her blocking Iman's view from seeing her. When Iman saw Alhaji Matazu, his heart gave a thud. His suspicions were confirmed when he saw Bash standing fixated in a position staring at Zarah. Iman could not breathe, he crossed his fingers and prayed to God it was who he wanted.

Just then, Islam moved and he saw Maryam grinning at his mother as both her hands and that of Islam wagged around explaining something to his mother. He kept walking closer and not until he was a foot away from her, had she looked up.

"Maryam" he whispered, his voice cracking as he felt his eyes brimming with tears.

"Muhammad!" She squealed standing up. She moved past Islam and stood in front of him.

"Muhammad Iman" she had said again.

Is this a cliff hanger 😂