Our Fate

Chapter 3

Keeping his suitcase aside, he removes his jacket and hangs it inside his closet. He adjusted the tie and lose it before finally laying on the bed. Peck of being a bank worker, just go to work as early as possible and come back 4 pm to 6 pm a day. No time for any other unnecessary thing to do.

But on the other bright side of the work, Aliyu enjoy it, it was forever his dream to be a banker, it was a passion he chooses and a career he desires. Even though his dad has tried to stop him from being a banker with a promise to look for a better job than pays even higher than this he refuses saying it was his dream to be one.

And since Mustapha also study business, it was easy for his father to hand over him one of his multi_company business in Kaduna. While Zahra, their last born study entrepreneurship, at Kaduna state university presently in 300level. Since she was blessed with a lot of handworks she proceeded in having a certificate of an entrepreneur and having a job other than handwork she does is not her passion. She can bake a different cake, make hair, do henna design, makeup and also designing clothes.

Aliyu remembers he hasn't call Rahma ever since he collected her number, that was two days ago he quickly picks his phone from the nightstand and dial her number.

After three to four ring she picks the call "Assalamu'alakum!" her Serene voice echoed around his ear trying not to get carried away he replied her" Walakum' Salam!" He clears his voice before reintroducing to her who he was. "This is Aliyu Ibrahim, the one that collected your number at legbo Kutigi conference hall, Minna, after dinner. I hope you remember " he asked swiftly praying silently she doesn't deny knowing him again because some ladies are fond of doing that.

"Oh, Aliyu! Yeah, I remember. How are you" Rahmat asked.

He chuckles softly knowing she remembers" I'm fine Alhamdullilah. What about you, how have you been? He asked calmly.

"I'm good too, just a bit stress out with a lot," She said massaging her neck.

"What that stressing my lady," he asked, emphasising the last part.

"And who is your lady," Rahmat asked, forgetting about the complaint she was even laying.

"You, of course, you know have been putting you into my five daily prayers, Almighty Allah should make you my future wife Insha Allah." He said.

"Uhm, Aliyu you don't even know me yet, I mean we just met in a friend wedding and you're already proposing to me to be your wife? You don't even know my background likewise I don't know yet." She said over the phone.

"Believe me we can take each at a step, and I promise not to hide anything from you. About who you are? I believe you to be from a good background, I don't know you but my inner self already trusts you. From the moment I saw you, I already know one day we shall make a future together, because anytime I'm alone, and close my eyes, your thought just full my mind and I wish to just call you but on the other hand, I wanted to give you some time to think about us too." He said, making himself more relaxed on the bed.

"Aliyu, have heard all you said and Insha Allah I promise to give you a feedback soon about my decision." She said over the phone.

"How soon could it take Rahmat? I'm not so good to live on a cliffhanger I can't take a suspend, at least let me know the day you will decide" he beseeches, his voice low and desperate.

Rahmat could feel it, she could feel how he sound and how truly he wanted her from all course, how he truly means every of his word, but she can't just fall easily, she can't just let him think she's also in love with him or perhaps has even a single feeling for him. But deep down her beneath soul she knows she's dying in, to have him, she knows from the moment she saw him she silently pray he come after her, could her feelings also be called love at first sight? just as he said or perhaps could they have been fated to meet there?

"Give me just two days to think about it deeply please" she requested.

"You called it just Rahmat! To me, it feels like forever and Insha Allah I will pray over it too and wait patiently for my result, and whatever the outcomes are, it's 'Our Fate' is either to path or crosses the line.

"Insha Allah, till you hear from me again" Rahmat ensure.

"Yes, till then! I have to go, is time for Isha" he said standing up from the bed.

"Okay bye," she said and ended the call.

Keeping his phone back on the nightstand, he quickly went to the bathroom and made ablution. Coming back into the room, he changes into a white jalabiya and stroll to the mosque at just some mile away from his apartment.

As soon as they were done with the congregational prayer, he exchanges some pleasantries with some of his Muslim colleagues that stay in the same street before walking back to his apartment.

His stomach grumbles and that make him realised he hasn't eaten anything all day long since after breakfast. More reason why he needed a wife. He went to the kitchen and cook noodles with a boiled egg for himself.

Immediately he was done with eating, he stood up and went back to his room. Picking his phone again, he dials his mum's number and after several rings, she picks" Asalam Alaikum!" Hajiya summaiya said over the phone.

"Walaikum salam" he replies. "Mum good evening!" He greeted.

"Evening, how are you Aliyu," she asked, and he could feel that caring tongue of his first love before sleeping.

"I'm fine mum, what about you," he asked.

"I'm good too, just the headache of you not ready to settle down is what keeps bothering me," she said.

"Oh, mum! You've started again, Don't worry, will soon settle down" he said groaning

"Uhm that what you keep saying every time Aliyu."

"Believe me, mum, I'm serious this time around. Have to find someone who you will like too, at first sight just as I did. But there is a problem" he said, his voice lace with worried.

"Oh, what is Aliyu?" She asked concern.

"She hasn't accepted me yet just help me pray she does mum" he pleaded.

"Insha Allah don't worry, she will accept you if she's yours nothing can change it" Hajiya summary assures his son.

"That why I love you mum, thank you! So how is everyone at home, dad, and Zahra?" He asked.

"I love you too. Everyone is fine and expected to see you this weekend" Her mum informs.

"Insha Allah, I will try and make it. Have to go now, goodnight mum.

"Goodnight Aliyu," she said and they ended the called.

* * *

"Basma!" Rahmat called emerging from the kitchen, she got no response and she walks to her room only to find her sleeping peacefully on her bed.

She tapped her on the leg "Seem you ain't going to school today right" Rahmat asked, and she quickly jerks awake, and uncover herself from the blanket and rush to the bathroom." Oh god, wallahi I have a test today" she shriek before closing the door.

Rahmat sighed and return to check the oven if the cookies were ready.

After arranging it inside a take away plastic pack she kept it aside and quickly went to the bathroom and took a quick shower. She was going to give out a second test to her student for makeup.

Everyone was seated at the dining when she came out fully dressed. "Good morning dad" she greeted and also greet her mum before joining others in taking tea and toasted bread made by mardiyah since she was not going anywhere.

"Rahmat" Abba called after clearing his voice.

"Na'am Abba" she responds.

"I want to have a word with you, so make sure you come to my parlour before I go to bed this evening," He said.

"Insha Allah, I will Abba," she said not knowing what it will be about, and for her dad to call her this way and not all of them there must be something serious, she just hopes she's safe and not into any trouble.

She lost her appetite and say goodbye to her family before droving into a school that gave her so much headache. How she wish the time to fly, and three months is gone already so she could finally say goodbye to the school.

She alighted down from the car and went straight to the admin. After having her signature on the attendance booklet she ambles to her class and asked her students to get a sheet of paper for a makeup test.

* * *

She met her mum inside the kitchen with mardiyah and she joins them asking mum to go and rest let her continue with her sister.

"You know I'm scared already, I'm scared of what Abba is going to talk about, I don't have a hint about it and it freaks me" she confessed to her sister immediately their mother left the kitchen to them.

"I also thought of well ya Rahmat, but I hope it will be something good. Keep your mind at rest and pray over it. And whatever it is remember is your fate."

"Now you're scaring me more, Mardiyah," she said pouring the parboiled rice inside the pot.

"I'm not trying to scare you Ya Rahmat, I'm only trying to tell you what you should know."

"I get it, thank you"

"Now cheer up, let hurry up and slide this salat," she said at her sister.

* * *

After saying her Isha prayer, she folded the praying mat and decide not to remove the hijab yet since she's going to see her father, at least hijab will be her saviour when she's nervous or feel like the ground should swallow her. She walks out of their building to her father's mansion that was opposite not like there was not any door link to their own but she prefers to pass through the front door of his living room.

At least that way she could have enough time to brace her self for the outcome of her father unspoken word.

Saying her Salam, she enters immediately she got a reply and her fragile heart was at ease sighting her mum too.

"Good evening Abba," she greeted and a seat on the rug.

"Evening how are you Rahmat? her father asked

"Alhamdulillah I'm good Abba." She replies.

"I'm glad to hear that. Now listen to me, when I asked you something okay" he said and she nodded with her head hung low.

"Did you have someone already? I mean in a relationship with. Because I'm getting you married immediately after the completion of your service in the next three month to come and if you don't have anyone suitor yet I will search for you."

Rahmat was bewildered, of all the thing she thought and imaging in her head she never believed it to be this, it was the least of her problem but now her dad was already on her neck even before she could make a statement. Choosing the other option was never her dream, 'Arranged marriage' she despised it and felt like she will only be given out for free and will not be respected.

"Abba" she called, her voice so dry.

"Yes, you don't have anyone?" He asked.

"I have Abba," she said even when she knows it wasn't true, it was better than to be a tie in a knot of an arranged marriage.

And she could see a smile play on his lips, it was written not only on his face but also her mothers face.

"Masha Allah, I'm happy you have someone already which will be easier. Rahmat is not like I'm trying to force you into something you ain't ready for, but believe me, is for the best. I can't be watching you all grown up and let you stay at home. You're lucky you even get to finish your school and even your service before you will get a hitch. Rahmat saying we want you to get married is not like we are chasing you or whatsoever, we only want the best for you. and marriage, it is half of your deen okay! So don't worry much we love you and as a parent, we must get you married when you get to the age.

Her father word went directly into her heart, it surges deep inside her and engraved, it speech was emotional and she wasn't good at keeping a straight face or acting as though. Sad tears cascaded down her beautiful face and unto her hijab, she could not say a word to them and only mutter a "thank you" before disappearing to her room, after her dad dismiss her.

Could unplanned marriage be her fate? With a suitor, she hasn't accepted!