Our Fate

Chapter 20

As expected, Aliyu visitors arrive shortly before Friday prayer and Aliyu went to mosques together with Bashir leaving their wives behind to be ready before they return from wedding Fatiha immediately after congregational prayer.

Zahra and Rahma were already getting along as if they've ever met each other before. They both feel free with each other, especially after knowing how close their husbands are.

"So how many months to go," Rahma asked going straight to the point, and Zahra places her hand at her protruding stomach and smile at tight lips before replying.

"In four-month to come In Sha Allah," She said and drank the fruit juice Rahma prepare specially for her due to her condition.

"Ma Sha Allah! I can't wait to be a Momma" she giggles.

"Yeah right, I also can't wait to be one so hurry up, let get the damn good news" Zahra retort and Rahma couldn't help but blush.

"How does it feel, please? Is it painful being pregnant? Tiring? Or perhaps scared of given birth?" She asked curiously.

"Rahma keeps calm and I assure you by Allah's grace you will know the answer very soon.  Or perhaps it even there" she said and Rahma gape at her in shock.

"Oh please is not, don't even go there now come and have something in your belly for the baby let shower afterwards and dress before they return," Rahma said waving the topic away.

"Don't worry dear, I ate junks on our way coming so let just wait for them to return first, we all eat together and go for the wedding." She said and Rahma nodded and took her to her room, letting her shower in there while she also went and do so in their matrimonial room she shared with her husband.

A few minutes later they were done and also said their prayer already. They descend to the parlour and met their husband's back from the wedding Fatiha.

"Baby, you're back already?" Rahma asked going to seat close to her husband while Zahra also did the same.

"Yes wifey! We came back and met the place empty, so we assume you're both still dressing up. And by the way, you look good" Aliyu compliment, given her a peck at the cheek and Rahma blush, feeling shy at couples facing them. Not like they're even looking because they were also busy having their conversation.

"Can we have lunch now? Since you're back uncle Bashir?"Rahma teased.

"Oh really! Zahra refuse to eat right?" He asked starring at his wife beautifully.

"Oh yeah! She wants you to feed her only" Rahma added.

"Ahhh! Rahma when did I said that?" She asked smiling.

"Uhm! I won't talk again, now that his here I hope we can eat peacefully" she teased.

"Oh yeah! I hope yours don't turn out to be worst than my" she added and they all laugh while Rahma shyly hides her face on her husband open arms.

After a lot of teases, they finally had their meal Suya Jollof rice, which Rahma prepare earlier before they arrived. Immediately they finish Rahma pack the dirty plate and cups to the kitchen sink and Zahra came forward to help wash the dishes.

"Haba please Zahra let me handle it, you should rest, please. You know you have had a long journey plus the bad road so please have a rest on behalf of my baby in there" she said and Zahra smile and sat down at the island waiting for her to be done.

"Baby can't you keep them till we come back we are late fa, and you know we are supposed to follow the groom to the house and greet before the conveyance," Aliyu said.

"I'm sorry dear am done. Now let go" she said and they all left each in their husband car.

They alight their car outside the mansion as the house was full to the brim with people coming in and out. Aliyu came out of the car with his wife, while Bashir also did the same.

After some conversation, the guys went their separate way while Zahra leads Rahma inside, to the bride side.

Nabila came forward and engulf them both into a hug. "I'm happy you're both here, please come have a seat Nabila gesture to Rahma and she nodded with a smile and said " Masha Allah! You look beautiful. "She exclaims and sat down.

"Oh my God! Thank you so much, and guess what? You look gorgeous and extra beautiful yourself. I don't know but even me as a bride can't compare your glowing skin with mine. It glows dazzlingly." She compliments back and Rahma could not help but to smile at her. "Thank you!"

"I also thought as much but anyway the secret behind this glowing will soon reveal itself." Zahra chirp in.

Rahma fakes a cough and shakes her head only.

"I thought uncle Bashir will not allow you wallahi with your condition fa, that why I never bother to asked if you will make it," Nabila said not hiding her enthusiasm.

"Luckily after a lot of persuasions he later agrees but of course, with a lot of rules and regulations," she said and they all laugh including Rahma who has been watching them.

"Men's are always protective especially when their wives are pregnant, they try to treat you like an extra egg," Nabila said.

"Wallahi as if you know. So babe, what up? your eyes ain't red indicating you haven't cried even when the knot has been a tie." Zahra teased.

Nabila wave her hand into the air" have cried more than I could ever count already, both the real once and the fake once" she replies and they laugh including Rahma. Nabila is such a funny and crazy type having her emotion concealed with jokes.

"Rahma I hope you know my name too?" She asked sitting beside her.

"Not really! But the face somewhat looks familiar" Rahma said.

"Yes exactly, was at your wedding dinner last month with my fiance as of then, Umar Faruk.

"Oh really! And I never recall. I hope you arrive back safely" she asked and Nabila nodded yes. And they continue to bond together until it was time for the bride to be conveyed.

Rahma notice she doesn't have many friends like her, just one was with her throughout with her younger sister helping her with everything.

An hour later, Nabila was taken to her new home while Rahma and Zahra tag alone through their husband cars.

Few minutes after everyone left, Zahra went to sit beside her and have a deep conversation with her before they said their goodbye also, leaving her alone in her new home as her friend who happened to be Fatima and her younger sister Maimuna also decide to leave already. And Nabila couldn't help but cry that night feeling alone before her husband came in.

~   ~   ~

The next day Bashir and his wife were set to leave, and immediately after their breakfast, they said their goodbye with Rahma promising to visit them when she comes to Minna next week. Given each other a last hugged same as the guys have their brotherly hug, they departed and the couples missed them already because it was fun having them around.

"Baby, can we go out later? At least have a special outing in our homeland too" Aliyu said and Rahma couldn't help but laugh at his joke.

"Yeah right, at least we also have good places here, and even our house here is okay for us you know" Rahma added.

"Yeah I know but I just want to go and spoil you a little bit," he said, wrapping his hand around her waist then place a lingering kiss on her neck.

"Okay let go and bath and start going so we have a lot of time before it gets dark"

"Even if is dark, at least you're with me, and I'm your halal," he said.

"And I keep loving the very day our parent make us tie the knot earlier than we could ever imagine. I can't believe we are making it work every day" Rahma said, sitting on her husband lap.

"Yes, babe! I also wasn't ready at first because marriage is not just a day commitment, I wanted to be sure of my feelings again but believe me immediately after the knot was a tie I erased every doubt I have and put my whole heart into your hand and also promise myself to forever make it work out with you. I never thought you will  even love me, but damn it I was wrong because you've shown it to me in every possible way it should be shown and I keep loving you more babe."

"And I will forever love you to my hubby"

"You know all this while, I never get to thank you for everything you've ever turn my life into, you make me whole again.  And I promise never to get tired of you because true love is a feeling one never gets tired of." And a passionate, beautiful kiss was share among the couples.

~   ~   ~

Walking into the Mabruur spacious ice cream parlour, hand in hand, they place their order and reach for an empty table which was close to the show glass window, giving them better eyesight of the environment. Everywhere look beautiful with people coming in and out.

Rahma busy herself with the ice cream that she didn't even know when a lady walks to their table and pull her husband into a hug, it was so fast she couldn't even stop it but rather stare at them in bewilder as her husband hug her back not too shocked. That alone even blurred her vision and she couldn't control herself anymore at the girl didn't even look at her.

She quickly stood up and walk out on them, that was when it dawned on Aliyu that he made a big mistake allowing his cousin Summaya to hug him that way. " Summaya you shouldn't have hugged me that way for goodness sake, now see what you've caused," Aliyu said boiling with anger.

"Haba Aliyu, to just hug you now is a crime just because you're married? Why will your wife get angry? For what? Did I said I'm snatching you away from her?" Summaya asked, nonchalantly.

"I guess you won't know that feeling until you put yourself in her shoes," he said and pick his car key leaving Summaya in shock

Outside the Mabruur, Aliyu search everywhere but couldn't get a glimpse of Rahma, he dials her number and yet she didn't pick, worried lace over his face and he couldn't help it but drove home in high speed. Rahma is not usually like that and perhaps even when Summaya hugged him, he felt she won't take it at anything or think otherwise like they have something in common that why he hugs her back.

Droving into the house, he alights the car and hurriedly went inside after requiring about her from the security. Who told him she just came back.

Saying his taslim, he got inside the living room and met it empty, he walks to their room and before he could open the door he heard her voice. She was crying and that just shatter every of his heart. He never took it this serious from the start, he won't have dared let Summaya hug him.

"Ya Allah! what have I cause for myself?" He questions himself before entering the room. "Rahma" he called but got no response.

"Please stop crying, I'm very sorry, please" He beseeches.

"Just leave me alone, go, go and meet her," She said standing up on her feet.

"Rahma I'm sorry" he repeated on his kneel. It heart bleed in pain seeing his wife this way.

"Just go, at least even if you're doing this you don't let me know, for goodness sake Aliyu why can't you respect my feelings? Just leave, you're irritating me."

"Sub'analliah, believe me, Rahma is not what you think, but anyway I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't have done that please."

"Just leave" she shouted and Aliyu couldn't take it anymore and hugged her tightly.

"Walahi Rahma, I will never cheat on you, I love you for the sake of Allah and nothing can change that, please. Believe me, I don't have a thing with Summaya, she's engaged and will soon get married. I'm sorry for putting you through this" He said and Rahma finally nodded her head before given into his hug, wiping away that earlier memory and filling it with hers.

Aliyu never imagines Rahma to a be a jealous freak to this extend, now he knows.