Our Fate

Chapter 4

"Ya Rahma, you've been crying non stop since yesterday you came back from Abba's place. Is he going to disowned you?" Basma asked, with a sarcastic tune.

Rahma nodded are head in a No gesture and try to wipe her tear.

"Toh apart from that I'd didn't see the reason why you should be crying like this, you know it doesn't suit you" she added.

"Abba is getting me married in next three month" She burst.

"What? To who? Why?" Both basma and mardiya asked at the same time with same expression written over their faces.

"You can't be serious about this right? Ya Rahma. "

"I'm serious, and he said if I don't have anyone he will arrange me with someone" she said amidst of her tears.

"And did you agree? I mean to let him arrange with someone you don't know?"Mardiya asked eagerly.

"You surely know I won't, you know how I despise that arrange marriage. I told him I have someone" she shrugged.

"And who is that?" They both asked again.

"I don't know just let me be" she said lying back on bed.

"Why not accept that guy Ya Rahma, at least you said you like him too and his even asking you out" Mardiya said.

"You think? Because I'm afraid, his too handsome not to be a player. You know most of them are." Rahmat exclaim.

"Well we can't say, but just as you said most of them and not all of them, we can try him. And I'm sure is for real." Mardiya said and basma also agree with her.

"Uhm I will think about it girls, thank you " she said appreciatively.

"Anything for big sis" they chorus and she join them in laughing.

Later in the afternoon, they all went to the kitchen and cook lunch. After they were done they serve their self some, and went back to the room to continue with their gist since their parent were still not back from work.

Alhaji Muhammad is the director of NCRI bida, Niger state. While his wife Hajiya Raliya is a lecturer of college of education Minna.

Minna and bida is now a normal routine road for Alhaji Muhammad since his family stay in Minna while he work in bida.

"This how I love local jellof, no parboiling, just had everything at once and don't forget dry fish. "Rahma complimented.

"You know after your marriage, we will surely missed your cooking than any other thing." Basma said.

"You better start getting acquainted with kitchen from now on because mardiya is already in her final year and will soon get marry too unexpectedly like mine."

"Ya Rahma see how you're even talking as if you're already marry, please save your advice until you get married." Basma said and earn a knock on her head.

"Ya Mardiya, you better start searching for a guy now too oh" basma said.

"Parent normally surprise me fa walahi, 'when you get admission into a tertiary institution all they advise you is to face your study and don't mingle with guys or what so ever, to the extend of telling you no dating, and then when you finish school they expect you to present a suitor." Mardiya stated.

"Maybe the suitor is coming down all the way from the sky" basma added.

"Let umma come and hear you girls, I will just pretend to be asleep you know" Rahma said.

"But seriously, on a serious note they should better change that mentality, And let us have fun." Basma said dramatically.

"Miss fun Weldone!"

"Ya Rahma, your phone is vibrating" Mardiya said, helping her to fetch the phone from the bed side.

"Eh! Basma look," she said bringing the phone to her side," They even save the number with My Crush. Ya Rahma tell us something."

"Mardiya give me the phone please," she snatching the phone from her hold.

She excuse herself and left her room to mardiyah room before picking the call. " Asalamu'alaikum" she said over the phone.

"Walai-kum salam! My lady, how are you?Aliyu asked.

"And who is your lady?"

"C'mon! Rahma don't be so mean, my heart is so fragile to take it. So what my Answer please? This two days was a big torture to my heart. You know that feeling when you write jamb and be anxious for your result right? That what am feeling now."

"Aliyu kenan, that feelings is hell walahi, I can't even start imagining that. So how are you?" She asked instead.

"Please don't change the topic, I'm nothing better, my heart is about to rip out of it socket. Due to this enough patient the torture is becoming unbearable" Aliyu said sadly holding his chest while Rahma chuckle.

"Don't laugh at me please, I'm not joking I'm serious Rahma" He said.

"Uhm Aliyu have accepted you but please don't betray me" she beseech.

"Sub'anallah! Rahma, did you just said you accepted me? This is so much! Thank you so much Rahma, I will never betray you and till death do us apart, you shall never regret ever accepting me in your life In sha Allah"

"Thank you so much Rahma, I have to inform my mum her prayer has been accepted " he said happily.

"I'm glad I make you happy. Are you a mama's boy"she asked teasing.

"Please don't called me that too, I have younger once fa" he pouted like a baby." Mustapha is even married with a kid while, Nafisa she's is in 300level." He said.

"So you even have a younger one who is married while you're still a bachelor." Rahma asked surprisedly.

"Don't blame me Rahma, I was actually waiting for you" he said.

"Huh! That lovely. Glad you haven't been arrange with someone before I came into the picture."

"Only if you knew how have been dodging mama random disturb. In fact I stop visiting them in Kaduna for the past two month now, because all they do is to pester my life."

"That too bad you know"

"Yeah I know, will travel there tomorrow and announced have found that special angel have been waiting for all my life." He said happily.

"Please stop flattering me" Rahma warn.

"Believe me Rahma, I'm not flattering you, I love you so much, that even waiting for that two days hurt a lot. I'm enthralled by your beauty, mesmerized by your charisma and spellbound by your love. And it always make me thinks a lot about you. Rahma I love you for the sake of Allah."

"And I want to make you happy forever, for the sake of Allah" He said sighing loudly.

She felt it, she felt how her heart beat erratically, every moment he repeat I love you! She feel like it was all she needed. Damn it! She love this man even before he express his feelings, can she ever let him go? She thought and smile. She's indeed lucky to have him and getting marry to him will not hurt so much.

"Hello! You still on the call" Aliyu asked, after the few minute silent he get.

"Oh yeah I'm still on the call, have to go. Take care" she said feeling her cheeks red, she felt embarrassed and she wonder if he was standing before her, it could have been worst.

And before she could end the call she heard him" I will travelling tomorrow, don't forget to wish me safe trip please" he pleaded.

"You already wish yourself, so why requesting for it again?"she asked.

"I'm just reminding you, anyway how is your Friday going?"

"It fine Alhamdullilah, just came back from school, and catching fun with my sisters.

"School? Thought you said you're already doing your serving" he asked.

"Yeah I serve at a government school were I teach students."

"That a lot of stress, I was once in your shoes"

"It hell of a stress walahi, very tiring and annoying." Rahma added.

"Yeah I know it is, I also serve at Kaduna government school, about 4 years ago and you can't imagine how you have to speak another language before they get what you're saying. Because their much."

"Walahi kam"

"So when are you guys doing pop?"

"In next three month, insha Allah!"

"Wow! That will be amazing. You can come and rest in my house before you get a job you know!"

"And what did you mean by that?" She asked feigning to be ignorant of what he said.

"We should get married immediately after your pop, that in next three month"

"You can't be serious"

"I'm serious Rahma, get ready to accept a wedding proposer soon babe"

"Aliyu I have to go bye!" She said and ended the call. " that was so fast!"she said before collapsing on her bed and drifted off.

* * *

"Mama I'm back," he said, walking toward his mum inside kitchen. He hug her from behind and Hajiya summaya turn toward him and hug him back.

"Aliyu! You're back so early?" She said pinching his cheek lovely.

"Yes mama, I wake up early and decide to surprised you by coming back early so I will join you on taking breakfast today at dinning. "He said relaxing on the kitchen island.

"Oh Aliyu, have missed you terribly. How was your journey.

"I missed you to mama! My journey was hectic, so I need a serious massage because I'm tired" he said and feigned to be steering his arm.

"Peck of being a bachelor, you better don't disturb my wife with your constant nagging" Baba jokingly said seating on the dinning chair.

"Baba you too!" He asked embarrassed.

"Yes, son! Have a wife and she will help you with the massaging without even requesting.

"Mama I'm going to Mustapha apartment until Baba leave for work. You're both embarrassing me" And they laugh before he seat down.

Mama serve them some beans cake and pap, before joining them.

"Aliyu! When are you going to settle down for goodness sake? You're not getting any younger and the more you're getting older your death is coming nearer" Alhaji Ibrahim said to his son worriedly.

Baba is at it again, he thought quietly. " Baba have found someone I want go marry" he announced.

Not just his father was surprised but even his mother who he has given a little hint about was also.

"Aliyu are you serious" Baba asked again to be sure he wasn't hallucinating.

"Yes Baba, her name is Rahma Muhammad, she is from bida, but they base in Minna with her parent. Her dad is the director of NCRI and her mum is a lecturer at college of education Minna." He explain from the information bashir got for him, about her.

"Director of NCRI Alhaji Muhammad?" Baba asked again to be sure.

"Yes Baba, you know him? He asked again.

"Of course, I know Alhaji Muhammad kolo, he was once my close friend before when we were in secondary school, but after a while we lost contacts due to change of environment. And even when we met again, things weren't like before again."

"What a life! Fate brought us back together that why our children met." He exclaimed.

"I'm glad you do Baba" he said clasping his hand together.

"I'm happy for you Aliyu. Please inform are about the proposer, it will be very soon." Mama chirp in

"Yes! I shall be sending the proposer in next two weeks." Baba inform.

"But baba that too fast, I mean we just met once and only communicate on phone, we haven't get to even meet properly and by the way she just accepted me yesterday." He defended.

"Aliyu, love comes after nikkah, and you both will get to know each other better after marriage "Baba said.

"But bab..." He was still saying when baba cut him off.

"No but Aliyu, no more argument. Just do what it right and leave the rest under my care" his father declare.

Aliyu sighed defeated. How will he explain this to Rahma? Will she even believe her after joking with her about bringing the proposer soon or getting married to her in next three month? He brush his hand on his head frustrated.