MORE THAN WORDS

★★★★★

"Your Zayn is a lucky man." Aunty Fatimah said. My heart suddenly skipped at the mention of his name, perhaps it was how she said it. I stayed silent and watched her wear a smile of admiration. Then after a while, I decided to spit out a thought that had been choking me for the past few days. Something I hadn't even discussed with my best friend.

"What if he doesn't like me after our marriage?" I replied, my voice uncertain. She stopped and gave me a questioning look.

"He'd be blind if he doesn't see what God has blessed him with." Of course, she was an older woman. She might never understand how the men of our time think. A part of me was scared and somewhat shy to confess my fears to her. What would she think of me? That I was insecure? I didn't want her to see how much I doubted myself, yet another part of me just wanted to be free of these thoughts. And I didn't know why she was the one I had chosen to talk to about it.

"If you are insecure about your physical looks, then I must tell you that you are a very beautiful woman with a unique skin tone and excellent traits. No man could resist such beauty." She was scrubbing my right leg now. I thought about it. Well, even if Aylin was a single mother, I could never compete with her physical charms. God has blessed that woman beyond measure. I wasn't going to tell my aunt about her.

And if she perceived the conflict going on in my head, she continued, "Listen dear, you have a wonderful heart so you have nothing to worry about. Our men like women who are well-behaved and obedient, from a reputable family, and uphold our religious values in high regard. They like their woman pure and innocent just like you." With that, she paused her lecture, giving me a few seconds to think about what she had said. And instead of finding relief, more questions followed.

What if I don't meet his expectations?

I had asked myself this question many times before, even when he came to our house the other day, I desperately wanted to know what he thought of me but as usual, his thoughts were hidden in reserve, his eyes dead and unreadable.

"I wouldn't exactly say 'love' but do you think he'd still like me even if I can't cook proper meals?" I mused. I couldn't believe he was actually making me feel so insecure. I heard my aunt chuckle lazily at this question. "I'm sorry for asking such a dumb question." I quickly added, watching her laugh to her delight.

"You don't think you are ready?" She stopped to look at me and I tried to dodge her question.

"Cooking is my greatest flaw and I have heard so many times when people say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach." I worried I might not impress him in that aspect.

"It's okay, I understand your fears." She was rinsing my legs now. I felt a sudden chill as she did that. I withdrew my legs a little. " We women are always worried, especially when it comes to situations like this. We want to be perfect so we don't fail in any aspect. But the truth is that you can never be hundred percent ready no matter how well you have prepared yourself. You must know that men are very complicated creatures, you never know what they want. What you think is your greatest flaw could easily be something of interest to him." She explained, splashing more water on my skin. I reasoned she was talking from experience.

"Besides, he was the one who asked for your hand, wasn't he? He must have seen something in you that made him come knocking on your door." She pointed out. I was still stuck on what he thought of me because my mind was preoccupied with my previous experience with him, none of which had been a good one. "For instance, he might have seen how outspoken and intelligent you are."

"I haven't done anything to impress him, to be honest."That was all I could manage to say.

"And what did you see in him?" She asked. "Ko ba kia son shi (or don't you love him?)"

I didn't know the answer to that question. I allowed myself a few seconds to reason it through. Why was it so easy for me to accept to marry him?

Part of me admires him. I wanted to say, but I didn't want to confess that to my aunt.

"His mother seems like a good woman and his father too, appeared to be very respectful. When they came for the proposal, they'd shown our family immense honour and kindness."I paused, not knowing whether to carry on explaining but when I saw my aunt nodding in comprehension, I knew there was no need to continue.

"You have made the right decision. If his family likes you then why worry so much? That young man is the most respectful friend that Ahmad has. I met him at his wedding and Gaskiya, I could swear he had no blemish on him. You need to see the way he carries himself. So humble and genuinely calm." She said, standing up and we grew silent. Even my aunt would say such of him when she hardly even knew him. I respected her opinion because even I acknowledge that he was thoughtful to some extent.

Aunty Fatimah reached for my right hand, she was about to continue from there. As she bent down and quietly rubbed the mixture on my forearm, I hated the apprehensive silence in the bathroom. I tried to make it less uneasy.

"How do you know when a man loves you?" I asked, thinking about how quickly things had changed in my life. In less than a week my destiny would be tied to someone else's. And I could not give my heart to a man who didn't love me.

"You see it in his eyes." She answered my question, lifting her head to meet my gaze. Then she continued, "There is a saying that a man's affection is often silent. When a man loves you, he notices every detail about you, including your pain."

Four days ago, I would have never thought that I'd be getting married so soon. Since I knew that man, I had never for once thought of the day when my name would be written next to his. Thinking about it now, made me realize, life is just a mirage.

She was about to say something else but was cut short when the door opened and Kulthum poked her head from there. She asked me to hurry up and come down because I had a guest waiting for me. I tried to keep my cool and told her that I'd be there once my aunt finished up with my gyaran Jiki.

My muscles tensed up watching my aunt apply some dilke on my chest, just below my neck. I didn't know if it was the chill from the substance that had my body reacting that way or the effect of Kulthum's words.

When she left, my anxiety grew worse, thinking Zayn was at our house. I couldn't face him, not after our last meeting. Thinking about it made my heart beat wildly, let alone meeting him in person. He was beginning to affect me in ways I couldn't explain.

Some minutes later, after my aunt had finished with me. She left me in the room while I got dressed up. I didn't know what to wear so I picked a long black gown with balloon sleeves from my closet. I threw it on and covered my head up with a matching hijab that fell below my bosom just as my mother liked it. It took me eons to drag myself out there.

*****

I saw my sister sitting with someone in our living room-a lady with a cowboy hat worn over a shoulder-length headscarf. I think they were both laughing at something Bola had said when I came downstairs.

Looking closely, I immediately recognized the person with such a fashion sense. It was Aliya, Zayn's younger sister. It was a relief that no one else was in there apart from them which made me wonder where the others were. I was a bit surprised too, seeing Aliya in our house. She wasn't the person I was expecting to meet.

"I have watched some of his videos on Ig. He's always hollering about something." Bola stated, giving their conversation a different turn. She was sitting across from them on a large cushion.

"Which is both funny and annoying," Aliya said, turning her head in my direction. Her eyes accidentally found me and she smiled. Before she stood up I went over to meet her, returning her smile. We hugged and exchanged greetings in the process. Then she held onto my right hand and parted the small space between her and my sister for me to sit. I didn't deny her request. So I sat beside her with Teslim on my left.

I used the opportunity to ask about her mother and she said my mother-in-law was well. She also informed me of the reason she didn't come. Aliya said her mother had been busy shopping and making preparations for the engagement on Friday. She told me that she was sent to collect the list of the gift items that would be put in my wedding box. Her brother had already started shopping for my Kayan lefe, she said but he didn't know what brand of products I'd like for make-up, shoes, and bags so she had come to ask.

"But that isn't the only reason I'm here." She eagerly announced, making me drop my head, smiling at our hands that were intertwined on her lap."My brother personally sent me to you." Upon hearing that, my interest grew strong as I listened carefully to what message she had for me. "He said that I should give this to you." She reached for something beside her and as I followed her movement, my eyes fell on the gift bag that sat on the floor near the sofa.

"A beautiful gift for a beautiful bride."Aliya grinned, placing the gift on my lap. I was surprised that he bought me something. What for? I wanted to ask but I was distracted by my sister's voice. Aliya glanced at Teslim as she spoke. I didn't hear what she said but I knew she had commented on the gift.

"He took me round the mall yesterday, searching for the perfect gift for her. And could you believe when he finally found it, he didn't let me see. He said it was for her eyes only." Aliya replied to my sister.

"Really, that doesn't sound like Zayn at all." Teslim voiced out my thoughts.

"What people do for love." Bola raised her shoulders and when I heard them laugh so heartily that their bodies shook. I realized everyone in the room had been listening to Aliya, except for Kulthum and Zainab who had just stepped in. They were discussing with light smiles playing on their lips.

When they saw me holding something, their faces lit up and they rushed to me, wanting to see what was inside. I ignored them, turning to face Aliya, and thanking her for the gift. She accepted my gratitude first, then whispered in my ears."Call my brother, tell him that you like it, and thank him instead, not me." We both laughed at that and the others giggled too.

"But I'm serious," Aliya said, still smiling. "Why don't you go and check what's inside? I'll be here waiting for you." She gestured toward the stairs. Following her advice, I stood up then Kulthum and Zainab led me to my room while I was still dazed about Zayn's surprise gift for me.

A moment later when we got into the room, Kulthum went over to land on my bed. Seeing her eyes fixed on me and waiting for me to unveil what was inside the bag, I put my hand inside and retrieved it. I was not as eager as they were. We could do this forever. After all, he said it was for my eyes only.

"Oh, you don't want us to do you the honor of opening it?" Zainab questioned, raising an eyebrow. She was seated on the bed as well, directly in front of me.

"Nope, thanks. I'm good."I gave her a wicked smile.

"You know, you're the bride right?" Kulthum mumbled, standing up to meet me."That's why I can not manhandle you right now. So you better behave yourself and hand it over." I could decide to be stubborn and not give a damn about her. But knowing my friend and knowing what she was capable of, I gently passed it to her. She struck my chin softly, smiling with delight. Zainab took it from her while I stood aside.

"Please, be careful with that," I warned as my cousin took out the gift and peeled off the packaging to reveal a sturdy dress that was covered in an opaque plastic bag. Zainab didn't answer me because her eyes fell on the fine dress as she opened the zip on the cover. Kulthum assisted her and they carefully took it out and examined the texture and design.

"Wow, It's beautiful," They whispered in unison, spellbound by what they saw as they raised the garment to reveal its full length. I was lost myself, staring at it from where I stood. Astonished, I didn't know what to say.

It was a long maroon dress made from cashmere fabric. It had an extended cape attached to it with long pencil sleeves. No embroidery, no ornaments but everything about the dress was screaming elegance, yet it was so demure that even I was too shy to look at it.

"Awe! Your Habibiy is so romantic." Kulthum's voice brought me back to reality. I smiled and looked from her to the dress, my heart rate unsteady. "He knows how to treat a lady."

"I think there is something else inside the bag," Zainab announced, drawing our attention to it. She plunged her hand inside to retrieve something and gave it to me. It was a customized card with my name on it and it read, 'Happy Birthday, Hanamy.'

"He remembers my birthday?" How come? I was beyond surprised. My friends hurried to my side to see what I was staring at with a sheepish smile. This wasn't what I was expecting- the fact that he went out of his way to get me a gift just painted a different picture of him in my head. It made me realize that he was not so rigid in being insensitive.

"The fact that it's customized makes it all the more lovely."Kulthum gushed from my right. Zainab nodded in agreement which made me turn her way.

"Yeah, my cousin is more than a heartthrob." She meant Zayn."Gosh! I can't wait to see what he'll gift you on your wedding night."They both grinned widely at each other's comment while I, on the other hand, was speechless. I was giddy on the inside with emotion undefined. At least I now had a glimpse of how much he cared about me. I folded the card back and slipped it under my pillow.

After checking the dress, I decided to try it on and threw on the shawl that came with it. Once done, I turned to ask for their opinions and they smiled in approval at me.

"Perfect! It's giving the red carpet glamour." That was Kulthum doing what she knew how to do best.

"Mâsha Allah! It looks like it was cut to your size." My cousin commented. I walked to the mirror to check if they were telling the truth. It looked gorgeous with the cape falling behind me and the lower part of the gown spread out. It looks like what I had imagined for my wedding dinner.

I flushed with a broad grin plastered on my face. And because my heart couldn't contain the emotions that had started to bubble up in my chest, I felt the corner of my eyes prickle with tears. I turned around quickly, wiping my eyes with the tip of my finger.

"What? You don't like the dress?" Zainab asked, gazing at me. I stared back at her, no words. Why was she so slow?

Of course, I love it!

I was a little sentimental, which Kulthum seemed to notice."Don't worry, I know how you feel and it's okay to feel that way."She consoled me, wrapping an arm around me. I wore a smile, trying to hide my embarrassment but they saw through me.

"You can cry if you want. We won't tell him." She snickered and we laughed at my silliness as I still struggled to hold back the tears.

"Not today please!" I said, shaking my head. I told them to go downstairs and wait for me, that I would join them in a moment. The second I was left alone, I headed back to the mirror.

As I was staring at the dress, I remembered his eyes. His dark brown eyes, which always shimmered with a sharp glow, yet dim as though they were telling a silent tale. Since our first encounter, the memory of his piercing orbs kept flashing back in my mind and the longer I stared at my reflection, the more vivid the image appeared in my head. I looked away from the mirror then headed back to my bed and picked up the card from where I had hidden.

There was something written on the folded portion of it that I didn't want them to see earlier. I had quickly turned it in when I saw them coming to my side. Now that I was alone I wanted to read it in peace.

Then when you have made a decision, put your trust in Allah. Certainly, Allah loves those who put their trust in him.

I read inwardly. As I traced my fingers along the edges of the card, I remembered my present for him, during my first visit to their house. I did something similar. Mine was the ninth verse of Suratul Nahl. I had written it with Pickthal translation and I didn't have any specific reason for doing so.

His was a subtle reminder from the scripture. I smiled, knowing why he had chosen this particular verse. And of course, the message was crystal clear. This action alone had levelled up my respect for him.

It wasn't just about the gift, it was his effort and the fact that he thought it wise to offer this gesture. I still wondered how he knew my date of birth. Did Ahmad tell him?

When a man loves you, he notices everything about you.

My aunt's words played in my head. He took note of my birthday. This was a good sign that he truly liked me. His action made her words seem fair to me. I had once held the conviction that I would not open my heart to any man who didn't burn for me. He might have bought his way into my heart with this thoughtful act of his.

I attempted to do what his sister suggested and soon realized that I left my phone downstairs. I couldn't have done it anyway. I would be too shy to speak to him, even on the phone, in this state of mine which I have no words to describe. I might have been delusional at that time.

*****

After taking off the dress, I went downstairs to join the others. It wasn't long before I started making the list of all the things that would be put in my Kayan lefe. Aliya was such a great company to have around; she knew nearly all the trending brands and products in the market. When I didn't know what to write she'd chip in her creative ideas with a hearty smile and subtle nudges. In her words, her brother had more money than he knew what to do with it, So I shouldn't worry that some of the items on the list were too expensive.

It was nearly past five in the evening when we were done writing the list. We sat in the living room, deciding the venue for my wedding when we hadn't even chosen a date. This was supposed to be done between me and Zayn. But we barely had any courtship period. We went from accepting his proposal to preparation for my engagement which was in two days. We hardly even knew each other. I had slowly come to accept this reality. And his action today, made me realize that I hadn't made the wrong choice. At least, my mind was at ease now, knowing that he cared about me.

My mother, Maman Bola, and Aunty Fatimah had just come back from the market where they went shopping for the event on Friday. Zainab went outside to help them carry the shopping bags inside. As they came in groups we heard two very familiar masculine voices.

"Hannan," Ahmad called my name. He was followed by another man, our boss, Mr. Omar. As the men came in, I noticed my sister gently stood up to excuse herself from the group. Who knew she was trying to avoid her husband again? Their relationship was an undulating pendulum, always going back and forth with each other.

"Sannun ku da daowa( welcome back)" We greeted them. Standing up, I wanted to leave too but it seemed like my sister's husband needed my attention.

Embarrassed, I went over to meet them and saw Ahmad greeting Bola and Aliya from across the room. My boss was the reason for my embarrassment. I didn't know if he had noticed that I had not been coming to work. I heard that he and Ahmad had driven the women to the market.

Mr. Omar didn't need to greet both his cousins, Aliya and Bola because his eyes fell on something more interesting, or should I say someone. I saw her too, coming from the kitchen with baby Fahad carefully secured on her hip. And with my eyes, I tried to signal her to pull her veil over her exposed hair before she got any closer. But it was too late! Kulthum was too slow to read me.

Her body went rigid the moment she acknowledged who else was in our midst. I saw her awkwardly wearing her veil over her hair which was hanging on her neck. All these while the man didn't look away. He was ill-mannered enough to continue staring at her. When she greeted them politely, he answered and then turned to me, giving me his attention. I wished he didn't just see me glaring at him.

My heart went frenzied and I looked away, fixing my eyes on the floor. Kulthum was standing by my side now with baby Fahad gone. The awkwardness in the room got thicker when Ahmad disappeared to God knows where and my boss stepped closer.

He stared at Kulthum for an excruciating fifteen seconds and then the corners of his lips curved into the most undefined slick smile I had ever seen.

"So you thought it wise not to come to work today?"He said, shifting his eyes to me, meaning the question was directed at both of us. As for me, I quit. I didn't know about Kulthum. I stole a glance at her and saw her staring at me, her face red with shame.

We didn't dare utter a word. Drawing his brows together, he returned his eyes to Kulthum. "But you are not the one getting married." He stated, taking us off guard. I could see my friend shifting with unease. She could almost drop to her knees and beg him. I had never seen her so disoriented.

Our boss chuckled in the absence of our reply. This made me sigh in relief, thinking he was pulling our legs. I knew there was something he wanted to say concerning our absence at work, but he respected Ahmad enough not to boss us in our family home.

"Just for the sake of your brother, you two can keep your jobs." He finally took a few steps back when he saw Ahmad coming from outside. Our front door was wide open. I saw him and my mother carrying more bags. I thought I heard Kulthum release her breath too.

"Ahmad, abeg come!" He summoned him with a hand gesture when he dropped the load on the floor.

"Hafa! Wetin happen?" Ahmad grinned, walking up to his friend.

"You know, ever since these girls came to my office for an interview, I never knew they were friends until today?" Our boss explained, turning to face Ahmad then dismissed us absent-mindedly with a flicker of his hand.

"Ehen! I didn't know that." Ahmad said. He was smiling as he sat down on a chair and asked Zainab to bring some drinks for both of them. She went to the kitchen to do just that.

As Kulthum and I made our way out of there. We saw Bola and Aliya, sitting as if they were the ones that just arrived from the market. Couldn't they help the older women to bring the load inside? Aliya's case was justified as she carried Fahad on her lap, plus she was our visitor. But Bola was so relaxed in her position, settled lazily on the cushion like a very pregnant woman.

With that thought on my mind, I heard my mother call me toward the dining area where some of the shopping bags were placed unopened. She asked me to take them to my room when she and the other women left to go and perform their missed Salaah. She said she'd join me upstairs so that we'd sort them out once she was done praying.

Kulthum and I grabbed two bags each as we made our way to my room. The moment we got in she dropped the bags on the floor and exhaled.

"What was the meaning of that?" She was referring to our boss, her imaginary boyfriend. I rolled my eyes.

"I don't know, why don't you go ask him. I thought you two were kindred spirits." I moved over to open my windows to receive fresh air. While she strode over to plop on the bed she told me that Yasmeen had granted her three days permit to not come to work. I asked her if she was sure the so-called Yasmeen related it to our boss. Judging from what Yasmeen had shown me of her character, I didn't think she was as kind as we perceived her to be. And if she knew that Kulthum was coming to stay with me, she'd probably do something to sabotage her job.

Some minutes later, my mother came in looking very stressed. I didn't like that she was overworking herself again. The period between the proposal and the engagement was very thin such that none of us even had time to think, let alone make proper preparations. My mother wanted everything to go perfectly as planned so she wouldn't rest until everything was put in place. We spent the entire day organizing and making plans for Friday.

*****

Zayn

The gift he sent to her was his mother's idea. She brought the topic up with him the second she learned of her birthday, saying that this little effort would pave his way into her heart and she'd come to truly accept him. It was a day before she accepted his proposal, she had had a phone call with her mother and somewhere in their conversation, she mentioned it.

Oh! How Zayn hated to be pushed around by his mother. She had told him exactly what to buy and you should have seen the extreme joy on her face when he showed it to her. Zayn was embarrassed beyond words when his mother suggested that he take it to her. Aliya was there to witness the awful scowl on his face when he refused to do as his mother pleased.

That was the same expression he had on his face when Aliya had come in to inform them that she had delivered his message earlier that day. She had also brought the list along with her. She handed it to her mother who didn't seem to notice the deep scowl on her son's face because she was carried away with other thoughts, a memory no one cared to remember.

"Zayn, your wife is indeed a priceless jewel." She smiled as she revealed the pieces of jewelry that she had bought for the occasion to him. Zayn was sitting on a convenient chair and Aliya, rising from her mother's bed, was about to head to her closet. "Did you remember, you were at the hospital the day she was born? You had been the first person to carry her in your arms when we arrived at the hospital to greet her mother." Of course, he could imagine that little creature when he held her in his arms two decades ago. Thinking back to that day, he realized how unfair life had been to him.

Maybe it was his pride tugging at his chest, yanking him of his happiness. Zayn didn't at all look like someone who would be getting engaged the next day. When everyone seemed to be joyous about it, Zayn spent most of his time, wishing it was a dream, not his reality. He tried his best to avoid any conversation that had anything to do with the occasion but his mother would not have it.

From the corner of his eyes, he spotted Aliya coming with her mother's laced gown in her hand. That was the dress she had chosen to wear for the occasion. The older woman was still talking, praising her soon-to-be daughter-in-law and how proud she was to welcome her into their home. Little did she know that her speech fell on deaf ears as Zayn struggled to comprehend why she had taken such a strong liking to Hannan. She seemed to have won everyone's heart, except his. He didn't like her and he didn't exactly hate her either.

Still annoyed, he reached to pick something from her dresser when he saw his younger sister standing behind him from the mirror. "I see no point in being mad now since you two will officially be getting engaged tomorrow." He heard her whisper in his ear.

Zayn shot his head up, turning sharply to face her. Maybe he had seen her upcoming words to be true, so he tried to poison her with his venomous glare. But Aliya being Aliya, couldn't be moved by such ordinary eyes. Nobody could intimidate her.

"No offense, but I warned you, didn't I? You could have easily backed away and fixed it when this chaos was young. But you wanted to play the hero that you are not. Guess what? If you slip, even just a little you might end up becoming the villain." She saw it in his eyes, Zayn looked like he was going to turn back now which could turn the whole thing into a huge mess for both families. Aliya knew that their people were very sensitive and their elders would not take it lightly with him that was why she was telling him this.

"I can see you are deficient in manners, even your father cannot use that tone with me. So mind your tongue." He warned her. He hated that she was right and what he hated the most was the fact that their mother was there and he couldn't react the way he wanted to. That was what gave her the nerve to open that garbage she called a mouth and speak to him in such a bold and undisciplined manner.

"You brought this upon yourself, Brother. As you can see, I'm always on mum's side. I'll support her to see that this wedding comes to pass. You know she has waited 'so' long for these days to come. Please don't ruin it for her." She turned away from him, reducing her voice so he could hardly hear her next words. "Don't you dare try to run away or do something foolish on that day." She had said under her breath, walking up to her mother who still had that sunshine smile on her face.

The audacity! He scoffed inwardly, watching her go. Of course, he heard her right and he had decided that Aliya needed taming. He would punish her for this. But this was not the right time, for the sake of their mother's happiness. He had cast them a scornful look and then stood up to take his leave.

Deep in his thoughts, Zayn was oblivious to the lady that was sitting to his right, on the passenger's seat. He was driving absent-mindedly and was vaguely aware that they had arrived at their destination. It was the sound of her voice that plucked him out of his mind.

"Zayn, are you okay?" Marium asked when Zayn didn't reply after telling him twice that they were there in the estate where her aunt dwelled.

Zayn sighed, giving her a sidelong glance."Yes, I'm good." He tried to brush her doubt off but Marium wasn't convinced. She decided to let him be. He was not okay but was very good at pretending to be okay. Some minutes later, they appeared in front of the gate of the house.

Once in the compound, Zayn hung around the porch while Marium went inside to fetch her aunt. Some minutes later, a female servant came outside to lead him in. They entered a room that had a red carpeted floor, beautiful antique furniture, and a grand piano set in a perfect corner.

The place felt invitingly warm and it smelled nice too. When Zayn stepped in, he thought back to Aylin's apartment then in California, never quite knowing why. Perhaps it was the soft sound of a violin playing a few notes from a small radio that sat on a nearby table, or it was the grand piano itself. It reminded him of Aylin's love for jazz music and the fact that she frequently played it to her delight. Perhaps it was simply nostalgia for the good old days. Whatever it was, he was only concerned that the pristine condition of the spacious room reminded him of something he had missed.

He stared aimlessly around the room, until his eyes fell on Marium, walking toward him with fluid grace in her scarpin heels as though they were a natural extension of her long legs.

"You can sit. "She waved at a couch behind him."She will be with us in a moment." She added and it seemed like Zayn preferred to stand so she took her seat in an opposite chair with a swift cross of her legs.

Then Zayn sat and picked up one of her aunt's books from a shelf by his side.

"I think you might enjoy that one," A woman spoke, watching as he flipped through it. Zayn raised his head to see an old woman, probably in her late sixties, coming from a close range. She wore a grey woollen dress, long-sleeved and falling below her knees. She had a red-knitted shawl wrapped around her neck and shoulders.

Zayn continued to stare, watching as she got even closer, then he stood up, out of respect for her. "Good afternoon, Madame." He greeted, giving a curt nod of his head.

"Please, call me Dr. Clara."She corrected, handing her niece a mug and sitting down on a chair at the other end. Zayn assumed she preferred to be addressed by her title. He helped himself to sit down, his eyes watching hers. Her eyes were so grey that he could almost believe she was blind.

"You are as shrewd as I've heard, Dr.Zayn." She said the corner of her lip wrinkled into an unamused smile. Zayn had no response to her compliment. So he waited for her to finish speaking, watching as she stared blankly across the room.

"It's best not to pay evil with evil, which is the only reason I allowed you into my home. Now, if you will excuse me, I have many things to do." She said tersely, wanting to stand up. Zayn raised his eyebrows, somewhat taken aback but not entirely, as he saw the woman to be very stiff and formal in her disposition.

"I had expected a more cordial welcome here."Zayn articulated, not looking at anyone in particular.

"And why would I be cordial to you? " The old lady retorted, her voice calm yet her hostility did not go unperceived by Zayn and Marium. "Not to sound diabolical. But since your father has returned to this city, a lot of children have been murdered. Promising young souls, have been held captive against their will, in that abomination he called Oasis."

"Look, I don't know your history with my father." Zayn interrupted, his face turning serious and watching as the woman rose to her feet."But I ask you, for one thing, spare me a moment of your time. Please." He begged equally, standing up."My mission is to correct his wrongdoing and restore things to the way they were before the establishment of the oasis."

"With all due respect, I can't believe that." She paused, looking at a portrait on the wall. "As much as I believe I'll see Claire again someday."Zayn followed her eyes to see a picture of Clara and her twin sister in their youthful age, wearing matching pinafores and smiling at the camera. They were so identical that Zayn couldn't tell Claire from Clara.

"Because you see, Dr. Zayn," her firm voice sliced through the room, bringing his attention back to her, "beneath your formal attire and behind that handsome face of yours, you're all the same. Ruthless liars that's what you Alis are." She took two steps forward."Now if you don't mind, use the door on your way out. Good day to you both." She tied her hands behind her back and just started to leave. Marium uncrossed her legs and stared in shock for a moment before shaking her head at her aunt's rude approach.

"Dr. Clara, you needn't be unpleasant. Whatever grudge you hold against him, shouldn't be transferred to the entire family. At least, hear us out."Zayn called out to her and upon hearing that she ceased her motion, then turned around.

"To be very honest with you, I hold no animosity toward you, nor do I want to do your bidding. I simply want you out of my home. Perhaps you won't mind if I called the police."

Upon hearing that, Marium felt both offended and humiliated on behalf of her friend. She looked over at Zayn and then went back to her aunt. "I can't believe I came all the way from Lagos only to be treated like a common stranger in my aunt's house. You should have told me not to come, instead of making a show of your pride."

Infuriated, she began to walk toward the door. "Come on! Let's go Zayn. She's no Queen, I don't see why we should be treated like commoners here."

"Marium, wait, "He called after her but she was already at the doorstep. She looked over her shoulder, eyeing her aunt from head to toe.

"Let's go. As you can see, she won't give you the answers you seek. She's suffering from some kind of psychotic paranoia." She hissed, willing herself to be calm. Zayn wasn't pleased with her tone and neither was her aunt.

Dr. Clara was a well-respected elder in her family, for that reason, Marium fought the urge to backtalk her for what she had done to them.

"I find your candor amusing." The woman said, unimpressed by her niece's poor manners. "If you weren't my niece, you'd be surprised what I'd do to you right this minute."

"And if you weren't my aunt, you might never see this face again. I wouldn't want to be around you. I wonder how Lauren copes with you. Little wonder your husband left you. Is this how you've suffocated him all these years?"

Zayn furrowed his brows at Marium. He didn't appreciate her talking back to her aunt like that. No matter what, she shouldn't have said that, not in his presence. She was about to say something else when Zayn cut her short.

"Shut up! Don't you have respect for elders?"

Marium scoffed "Respect is reciprocal. You can't reap it from where you didn't sow it."

"You insolent child. Now get out of my house." Her aunt barked, pointing a stiffened finger toward the door.

"I was about to leave anyway." She sneered, shifting her gaze to Zayn." Are you coming?" she asked, and when his response was a dark glare she picked up her pace and helped herself out. "Suit yourself."

Zayn then turned to the old lady to tender an apology. "Dr. Clara, I'm sorry about that."

"Don't worry about her. She's still young, she'll learn someday." Her lips were tucked up in a stiff smile. Zayn thanked her afterward and she was then impressed enough to agree to discuss terms with him. She returned to the front of the chair where she had formerly been seated.

"I'm sorry Dr. Zayn, it's just that most times I find the Alis more like wolves in sheep's clothing, no offense." She said after a while and Zayn gave her a look of understanding. He assumed she referred to his father, not knowing which other of his family members she had had an awful experience with.

"I also, on occasion, feel that way about him. But I believe he's a changed man now. He's also someone you can trust." Zayn lied, in the name of painting a good picture of his father. That was what a good son should do at this point, defend his parent to the last, until he found out what he was capable of doing.

"And you say this as someone who doesn't trust easily, I suppose." She caught Zayn off guard. They both recognized lies when they sensed one.

"Unarguably true," he replied.

"Please, sit down." She waved at his seat while herself taking her position."I suppose I should just hear you out, Dr. Zayn. So what brings you to my not-so-humble abode?" She asked, watching as he equally took his spot on the opposite end.

The question hung thick in the air for a few uneasy moments before Zayn decided to Speak. He told her about the man who threatened him with a gun at the hospital. He struggled to find the right words to describe him."He has a bad eye." That was the best he could come up with.

"Hulk Strange?" She asked, wanting to be sure if he was describing the same person she had in mind.

"You know him?"

"One time, we used to work together at the Ocean house." He was a lab attendant, far younger than she and her twin sister at the time. When the fire accident occurred, she knew that he didn't die along with the children because his body was never found, likewise her sister's.

"He loved children and so did Claire."She continued, thinking back to the day their whole world came crashing down. "She was a paediatrician and she was great with kids, unlike me. We were the polar opposites of each other and due to the difference in our area of specialization, I was sent to a different unit, to work in the lab, that was where I met Huk. Ah! A gentle young man with a strong personality. His only flaw was that he was quaint in one eye. He and I got along so well that it made working in the lab seem effortless."

This made Zayn stop to look at her, wondering if her story was made up because the young man she spoke about didn't seem like the one in his imagination.

"One day, my sister discovered that something was wrong with the kids. She came to me saying that some of the kids were experiencing high fever. At first, I found it hard to swallow, thinking how could such a great number of children suffer the same illness at a given time. Then I came up with a theory: maybe it was an endemic disease, a highly contagious one. But my sister wasn't affected, likewise some of the kids."

"We became more concerned when it continued for three days, despite the treatment. One morning, I witnessed something very troubling. Some of the kids were beginning to act like imbeciles. I decided to report this to Dr. Hassan. I felt as the head of the facility he had to do something about it."

"When I got to his office, I heard them discussing something behind the closed door. I didn't see those who were in there but their voices were loud enough for me to grasp what they were talking about."

"I heard one of the men say that they didn't get approval for human trials so if the government finds out that they injected 200 orphans with CPH4, the facility would be shut down." And their fear only grew when they realized that the media would ask questions as to what happened to the children. Since Operation Metahuman was a failed experiment, the owls gave the media something else to talk about. They decided to set the orphanage on fire to cover up the evidence.

"By the time I went to my sister with this information, the whole place was ablaze and the building was collapsing. I never got the chance to tell her what had transpired in your father's office that day. We managed to escape with our lives and that of four other children." She paused, remembering what had happened to Huk Strange right before their eyes.

Zayn sat silent, absorbing the weight of the woman's words."Then what happened to your sister?" He asked, wanting her to continue her narration.

"When we got out, we discovered there was someone in the fire, it was Mr. Strange, calling for help through the window pane. Claire attempted to rescue him, I tried to stop her. But my sister looked me in the eyes and told me to leave her alone. Wriggling her hand from my grip, she dashed for the entrance door and I never saw her again since then. She is not dead but I don't know where she is."

★★★★★

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