Chapter 99 63: Another Chance

"Ya Fareeda why are you doing this to us? People are watching for the sake of Allah!" Nana and Dahlia uttered at the same time, trying to get their ears out of her hold but they couldn't. She squeezed their ears tightly that they had to yelp and the attention of the people turned to them. "I know there was something behind those looks you two were flashing at me, and you dare do this to me, right? Why didn't you tell me that man is outside?" She asked and pushed them into the chairs each by her side and Kulthum sat down as she laughed at them. "Who's that man, Ya Fareeda? He's your husband for Allah's sake! And he has regretted what he did, he's a freaking king but look what love made him do! He's now back to the gateman he was before just so he could get you forgive him. Why can't you do that already?" Nana asked as she successfully pulled her ear out of Fareeda's hold and Fareeda knocked her on the crown of her head. "I don't care whatever he's going to do. I'm not going back to him, I'm even going to file for a divorce." She rolled her eyes at the two girls and turned to look at Kulthum for help, "I should do that, right, Kulthum?" Kulthum chuckled, looking around the eatery. She was glad when Fareeda said they should eat in the eatery even though she did that to annoy Mujaheed, Kulthum could use the chance to have a good look of the place, how Nigerian lived even though it was just a single state in the well mentioned Nigeria. "I don't think you should do that, Fareeda. Hamma Mujaheed is in love, you should consider forgiving your beloved king, don't you think?" They all giggled at the reply she gave her and Fareeda waved her hands dismissively at them as they waited for their orders to come. "You all are my traitors, I thought you're on my side? And no one should dare try to do any match making because I might end up killing you instead of him." She rolled her eyes, looked away from them with pouted lips and noticed a woman older than her for at least ten years walking toward her with a pleasant smile on her lips. "Hey," she said softly and all their attention turned to her. "Can I please sit? I need to talk to you." Fareeda absentmindedly nodded her head because wherever this voice was, she had once heard it. Even though she couldn't remember where she heard it or what happened when she did, she was certain she did. Nana gave her the sit beside Fareeda and she smiled before she sat down. "Good evening," Fareeda greeted, smiling awkwardly at her. "Please is your name Fareeda?" She asked out of the blue and Fareeda nodded her head at her. "I think I've once seen you, right? If I can remember right, you can't see without your glasses, at least that's what I've noticed at the time." Fareeda chuckled awkwardly and nodded her head, realizing that with each word uttered by this woman, she kept having a feeling of deja vu, wherever it was, she certainly knew this woman. "I'm not sure whether you can remember me or not, because you haven't seen my face at the time. My name is Zainab, and I'm the woman that helped you covered your hair in Katsina. That night in soli center, remember?" She asked with a soothing smile and immediately, Fareeda's eyes dilated into a smile. Not just once, there were times when she had remembered the words of this woman and somehow, they kept her going when she thought she couldn't do it anymore. "'I won't say it's going to be easy, it's tough and it will be so painful that you'd prefer your death. But sister, be strong through this. And don't believe any of the words that shameful guy said, you're so beautiful, you're worthy and I don't know you, but I love you already. Stay strong, you'll be in my prayers.' Those were your words, right? Ya Allah, I've always been praying to meet you again, see the face of such amazing woman!" Fareeda's eyes pooled with emotional tears, she wanted to cry. "Can I hug you please?" She asked and chuckled, which made her tears to roll down her cheeks. "Yes sure!" Zainab chuckled as well and Fareeda hugged her. "So how do you come to Taraba?" Fareeda asked after their orders have been brought and they were eating together with Zainab despite her siblings being on the other table. She smiled, "I went there for a conference and I happen to stay in that hotel as well. But my parents were born here and we all base here, I'm so glad I bumped into you, you've been in my prayers and I could see you're doing good now, Alhamdulillah." Fareeda smiled and immediately something clicked in her brain, she smiled and fully turned her attention to Zainab. "Please, I'm sorry if this will sound so straightforward, but are you married?" She asked and when their eyes met with both Nana and Dahlia, they gave her a knowing nod; approved. Zainab chuckled awkward and shook her head softly, "No, I've never been married. I'm thirty two years old but you know how our men are, the moment you become successful, they will be insecure and try to avoid you. Why do you ask? Do I look married?" She chuckled and pointed at her younger siblings, "Those are my siblings. The guy just finished his masters and came back home, so we took him out to celebrate his success." They all turned their attention to them and when they met their eyes, they smiled at each other. "Masha Allah, this is so good to hear!" She said excitedly and when Zainab flashed her a confused look, she palmed her lips, "I'm sorry, but we have a request to make, my sisters and I. You know my name is Fareeda, this is Nana, she's my cousin but she stays with us. And here is Dahlia, then we have another sister that studies in Jordan, she hasn't graduated yet. Please..." Fareeda turned to look at them and they said in unison, "Will you marry our father?" Zainab threw her head back and laughed, she couldn't believe what was happening. They must probably be joking, right? Who on world did this? "His name is Alhaji Kamal Sardauna, I promise he's going to be a very good man to you. He's lovely, he's nice and he will love you so much because you love his favorite daughter from the beginning"." Dahlia began, and Zainab was just looking at her with an amused yet unbelievable expression. "Yes. You see, his name might sound old but he's not. He's so handsome, he smiles so beautifully as well. He's a good guy, you're rich too, but he'll take a very good care of you. Please don't say no, I used to be his best friend before Ya Fareeda pulls me down, so I know his heart, he has a very big and good heart." She turned to face Nana when she started talking and the laughter had left her eyes seeing how serious they all were, she couldn't believe this. "Here is his picture, handsome, right? I took his picture just yesterday so it's not forged or filtered or something. Will you please marry him? You're a good woman, he'll be so lucky to have you and for us, it will be a blessing to call you Aunty Zainab as his wife, and Insha Allah the mother to our future siblings." Fareeda spoke while she showed her his picture and Zainab had nothing more to say or do. She was about to speak when they cut her off, "Please, we promise he won't hurt you. And we're going to be obedient daughters to you. Please Aunty Zainab." She chuckled, palmed her face and nodded her head at their puppy eyes faces. "I agree, but he doesn't know me yet." "Let's arrange a date for your two then." Fareeda beat her at it and dialed his number almost immediately. She put the phone on speaker and when he picked up, "Babaa!" She drawled excitedly and they all heard him laughed. "What is it? What do you want? I won't scold you for going out late, I promise. Just come back home before I have my guards bring you from wherever you are." She laughed and shook her head, they all looked at Zainab to see the expression on her face, "That's not what I called to tell you. I've fulfilled my promise, Baba. Get ready to come to a date tomorrow, she's so beautiful and she loves me so much. I'll arrange everything like I promised, I'll even pay the bills because I promised to take care of the expenses of the wedding. We just need the attendance of the two of you. Deal?" Alhaji laughed and shook his head, he would trust her decision whatever it is. "Okay, but do you have to make me look broke in her eyes? What is this, Fareeda?" He laughed so hard and from the background he could hear their laughter. "It's accepted then. I'll tell your driver the address and time, you just have to be ready and have it in your schedule. Bye! We will be back home now." She ended the call hearing the way he was laughing so hard. They clapped their hands at the same time and squealed, "Wedding jitters already!" And Zainab shook her head with a smile before she motioned for her siblings to come over, it was time they knew each other too. ? She couldn't believe Aunty Zainab's parents agreed to get them married in just two weeks like she had humbly requested and Fareeda couldn't be more excited. Even though he didn't want to, Fareeda forced him to have Mama's part renovated because she wanted her to stay there, she wanted to erase any evidence of Mama's being in her life, and so far it worked so perfectly. Mujaheed was there and he had never been off her neck even for once, but she didn't mind. He was always by the gate to show her that he was back to being his gateman but that was the least of her worries even though there were times she went to the balcony just to watch him chat with Nana, Dahlia and Kulthum in the hut, especially in the evenings. She missed his laughter, his smile, his voice, the way he spoke while softly looking at her, his warmth, how he made her feel, his love for her, everything. But Fareeda didn't think she was ready to forgive him yet. She didn't think she was ready to have him back into her life and now that today was Baba's wedding day, she was glad for the distraction. It was already late in the evening and the bride had already been brought home when the agency she had arranged for their honeymoon called and she walked to the garden and sat down, lifting her feet as she massaged it while she answered the call as he told her everything had been set, he was going to send someone with their flight tickets and everything. She was relaxing after she was done talking with him when suddenly she felt her glass being taken off and then her nostrils got hold of the scent of oud and sandal. "Mujaheed, what do you think you're doing?" She asked with an angry voice and he came to sit beside her with the glass in his hand as he watched the way she was bulging those honey orbs without knowing where he was. He pulled her to him and hugged her tightly, "I've been wanting to hug you this tight, Fareeda. I've missed you so much, please don't push me away anymore." He silently begged as he rested his head on her shoulder and she tried to push him away but he held onto her firmly. She hated the way her heart was thumping and the way she wanted nothing but to hold onto him even tighter than he was holding her. But she knew she wouldn't have to be lenient this time. "Let go of me, Mujaheed. I don't know what gives you the guts to do this but you should have known that you have no chance left with me anymore. I don't think we're meant to be from the beginning, you just came into my life to teach my some lessons and I learnt them all the hard way and now there's no more use holding onto each other, it won't do us any good. We have to brace ourselves and let go of each other..." It was shocking to feel the way his tears were slowly dripping on her back and she wasn't sure if it were tears or not, but he had tightened his hold on her which was enough evidence of how he was feeling in his heart. With a crying voice, he began, "I know I've hurt you and I don't deserve a second chance with you, but Fareeda despite the way I've tried to force myself to learn how to live without you, I couldn't. We haven't cried for our loss together, I still can't get her the guilt, the pain, the loss, I'm a whole mess and I don't know what to do about this." He was bitterly crying and despite the way some part of her heart was trying to tell her that she should push him away, take her glass and leave him there, she couldn't. She could remember the day he stood by her side as she cried bitterly to her satisfaction in this same hut, why wouldn't she lend him the shoulder he had always given her even if it's the last time she would have to do something for him? Reluctantly, Fareeda wrapped her hands around his back and hugged him. He kept crying bitterly and she felt as their bodies shook with his tears. "I've missed her, Fareeda." He said weakly and her heart broke, but she wasn't going to cry. She had always missed Muhaseen every single day but she had forbade it for herself to cry again, she had accepted that painful past and there would be no going back into it. There was a lesson, and she learnt it. But it was justifiable if he still held onto that, he had no one to cry together with him. The guilt of what he did alone could kill him not to talk about loosing a precious child like Muhaseen. "You should cry all you want, this will be the last time I'll be this soft toward you." She said softly and began to skim her hands through his hair while he cried even more profusely. She knew she still wanted him in her life, hell she still loved him, maybe more than how much she did before, but she was afraid of having herself involved in the kind of mess she did before. She valued her peace of mind more than anything else now. More than the love she had for him. ? Kulthum will be leaving tomorrow, so as Baba and Aunty Zainab. They were in Kulthum's room as they helped her packed all the things she had bought and her clothes as well when Aunty Zainab walked into the room with a huge smile on her lips. "Good evening, Aunty Zainab." They greeted in unison and she smiled and nodded her head at them. "Good evening to you, my girls. Your Abba, Baba, Alhaji as each one of you calls him, is calling you in his living room. Together with Kulthum as well." Fareeda knew whatever this call was, it was about her because despite Mujaheed been in the house for almost a month now, he hadn't said anything about him. But as Aunty Zainab said, they all went there together and found him seated together with Mujaheed as they conversed peacefully. Fareeda immediately frowned he face, not wanting to give way for anything that might arise. They sat down and Alhaji cleared his voice and looked at her, "Fareeda," he called out, and she looked up at him. "I know I shouldn't say anything to you about this but I think I have to step up now as your father, okay? It's time you forgive your husband and go back to him. I know what happened hurt, it still hurts, but we can only move on when we forgive ourselves and our loved one. I'm not forcing you to go back to him, I'm asking you a favor as your father, please go back to your husband's house, okay?" "Yes, please, Fareeda. You shouldn't hold onto your past this long. Forgive him, please." Aunty Zainab uttered when Fareeda looked at her, wanting her to back her up. "Yes, please, Ya Fareeda. He loves you so much and he has repented. He's a king for goodness sake, why are you making him suffer this way?" The plea in her eyes turned to a glare when she looked at Dahlia and Nana and they uttered this. "He's my brother, so I'm definitely going to say the same thing. Forgive him please, we need you in our palace, please, Your Highness." Kulthum said the same thing with a chuckle and Fareeda sighed, she can't be the villain here. "But Baba, you two are leaving tomorrow. We can't live Dahlia and Nana alone here, can we? At least he can wait until you guys are back, I'll go back there myself then." They all knew this was an excuse not to go back tomorrow. "Dahlia and Nana are done with their exams, we've spoken with Mujaheed and they'll leave with you tomorrow. When we come back, Zainab and I will go to Cameroon ourselves to visit you and we'll bring them back with us. We're all living tomorrow, can we all hear a yes, please?" Baba spoke with a loving tone and a hint of laughter in his tone. She looked at Mujaheed that was flashing her a loving smile, relaxed knowing she had no other chance but to go back to him, and she spoke through gritted teeth. "I'm so going to kill you, Mujaheed." They all burst into a peal of laughter as she stood up and instead of her to strangle him to death when she went to him, Mujaheed pulled her to him and he hugged her, she heard the sound of their laughter and smiled shyly, hiding her face in his chest. Maybe she could give love another chance, and she prayed that this time, it wouldn't hurt like it did.