CHAPTER 09- When He Blurts It.
1098 Words
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Fatimah felt her body heating up at his words and she smiled. She has never been told that atleast by a man. Unless Jamilu who has been saying that he's in love with her but now he loathes her more than anything. So was he really in love with her then? Or was he just in love with the thought of being in love with her? She doesn't care anymore.
Bashir peeked at her before his phone rang, he began making directions while she just listened, oblivious to where all the places he called where situated at.
"I'm not used to people caring" she voiced out after a while. He thought as much. "So it's kind of overwhelming, seriously"
"Why?" He asked.
She shrugged "I'm an outcast"
"Your choice or people's choice?"
"Both" she replied before a car parked itself behind his.
Immediately as Fatimah stood to cater to the person, Bashir held her wrist back making her sit.
He felt her wince and he cursed.
Why the hell did he touch her hand, no matter what he is still her Non-Mahram. She tensed and he calmly walked to the car, exchanged some words with the man before he came back and sat down with a basket in hand.
Now she fully understood what he did. When he held her wrist, even though it was through her hijab she still felt the tingles and also pain.
Pain from yesterday's fight. Even though she got the upper-hand at the end of the day, she still got hurt. Basira has long and sharp finger nails that were used in the fight so Fatimah's wrist was quite torn.
The cuts were tiny but deep, they still look red hence why she wore the shirt she has with the longest sleeve, to hide them so as to not draw his attention.
Bashir kept the basket at her side before speaking. "Here is your breakfast. Eat everything inside but incase you can't finish it give it out as Sadaqah"
"You didn't have t.."
"I wanted to. Fatimah whatever you see me doing is by choice. I'll be right back" He interrupted her and left to his car.
She wanted to call him back but couldn't so she sat there and watched as he left without glancing her way.
Fatima turned her attention to the cooler in the basket, stared at it for a while before she let out a loud sigh. She opened it and was met with Waina.
Yaushe rabo? She thought. She couldn't remember when last she had waina, honestly.
Fatimah ate with vigour thanking Allah for sending Bashir her way. She ate until her stomach couldn't contain anymore.
After eating, Fatimah gave out the remaining to an Almajiri (begger) before walking to the little creek nearby where she rinsed the cooler and the basket.
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"Mukhtar"
"Bashir" Mukhtar replied in the same bored tone his brother used.
Bashir raised his brow and plopped himself on a chair.
"You're probably thinking of why I called you right?" he asked to which Bashir just nodded. "And also why I'm interrupting your moment with your mystery girl ko?"
"Get to the point"
"If only you would be patient tsk tsk. Ofcourse I would get to the point. Just a few tips Bashir never use that tone with her you'll scare her away wallah especially if you go to her with a face like that" he motioned at Bashir's face.
"Anyway this isn't what I called you for. Mama is getting worried about the attention you're putting on this girl"
"I'm not paying too much attention to her" Bashir replied hastily.
"Yes you are. You leave this house early in the morning and come back home late in the afternoon at times evening so I wonder how you would be when you pay 'too much' attention on her" Mukhtar countered back, Mama has been worried about Bashir.
With him being a person who doesn't talk much, go out much she feels like he is unaware of how cunning ladies are. She doesn't want his heart to be broken. Among all of her children he's the only overly innocent one.
He never goes out with friends/family.
He doesn't sit around and gist, have fun with people like his siblings do.
So don't blame her.
"Okay okay. But Mukhtar I know what I'm doing and you guys don't know her so please do not judge. And I thought you work but it seems like your attention has been diverted to my whereabouts" Bashir didn't want to sound rude but it didn't help with the way Mukhtar was looking at him as if he's possessed.
"Is she the same girl from four years ago?" Mukhtar asked.
"Yes"
Bashir began to walk away but the words that rolled out of Mukhtar's lips stopped him in his tracks.
"She thinks the girl has enchanted you"
"No" Bashir shook his head. "Everyone has been complaining that I don't talk too much, I don't do this and that at all. I don't have time for girls, I don't tolerate them and this one time that someone has captured my attention you think t-that I'm not being myself? I am bewitched? Sorry if I'm being rude but Mukhtar let me tell you this. She's not even opening up to me, she has secrets and she's not telling me. Heck she's not even comfortable in my presence yet you guys think she has bewitched me. If there's anyone who enchanted someone between us then I guess that'll be me because I'm close to doing whatever it takes to let her open up to me. To let me care for her because I love her" the words tumbled out of his lips carelessly. Without so much of a glance at Mukhtar he walked out of the room leaving a stilled human behind.
Mukhtar stared at the retreating form of his brother. Their plan worked. It actually worked.
"Yes!" he exclaimed throwing his fist in the air.
Without wasting time he stopped his phone from recording and dialled Ya Ayshah's phone number.
They made a plan to see if he would open up to them, since they tried to talk to him calmly the previous day to no avail they decided to try him the hard way and it's Mission Accomplished.
So Ya Ayshah's words were true, "When the quiet one falls in love, it's quite a show to watch"
Who else isn't welcoming an addition into the family? No one.
Now all that is left is to calm Mama down. Everything's safe Insha Allah.
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- Writer
