Rays from the early morning sun came through the window perching on my face as annoying as that was I had a soft smile on my face,even before my eyes opened I knew I was home...the cool scent from the rose garden behind my window which mixes with Ammi's signiture oud..."oh Allah" I missed being here.

I tired to look at the closet that was once my safety zone, a place that soaked all my sorrows and worries until I was able to sleep, at some point I never thought I would get through it,I didn't see it comming, I was blind to the silver lining, all for the sake of love that would have been my ruin.

I went into the bathroom, brushed my teeth and came out of the room with my bird's nest of a hair and my funny pajama as I was starving,

"Finally the sleeping bag is up" Amrah teased hugging a bag of family size potato chips, she looked really huge...I totally forgot about her,

"Oh hey mommy fatso" I laughed at her ginormous looking belly,

"Don't be too quick to judge my dear,I will be here when the tables turn" she smiled trying to hug me,

"Oh I missed you a little" I said hugging her back,

"We have alot of catching up to do she whispered before finally letting go of me,

I entered the kitchen grabbing any thing I could nibble on before we all sat down for breakfast.

I was so hungry but I could hardly swallow as I was so uncomfortable, Mahmud had been staring to the point that everyone seated around had to notice.

I quickly slipped out of the dinning area when the ladies began to argue about how the wedding should happen, as if they were the ones getting married....Nasreen is hell bent on having a very simple wedding, just the Nikah and one grand reception or lunch...whatever they choose to call it.

I took a shower and sat in my closet going through some old stuff that reminded me of my childhood, I had a huge box where I kept things that had alot of meaning back then and from it I took out a half burnt doll which was the hand work of the chief executive director of the bullying squad just because I always carried it along following him up and down like a moron... I bet I was also annoying.

I can't believe I said that, I am always making up excuses for him, "what love does to you" I whispered almost audible smiling from ear to ear.

I quickly got dressed in a mustered yellow and blue bubu dress so I could join the others in the living room...who am I kidding, I cannot wait for our eyes to meet.

I went to Ammi's room first jumping on her bed like I did when I was home,

"I miss home" I said with a loud sigh.

"You are always welcome here but a wife's place is next to her husband " Ammi smiled looking at me from the corner of her eye...The issue with being too fair,I couldn't control the way I blush.

"Is he treating you well?" She asked as if she didn't notice that staring competition this morning.

I didn't have the answer to her question and thank God for the talkative barging in just in time to hear the question.

"Wow these two! Mamie had to chase them out of the house claiming they were too shameless " she busted out laughing and Ammi joined making it more awkward so I left for the rose garden.

Mahmud

I sat in the beautiful garden to stay away from the loud house, I yearn for my wife...if only I could steal her away. I am glad we were leaving tomorrow but I don't think I could bare it...no more.

I felt a pair of soft hands tracing the side of my face and the cool scent of her khumrah that wouldn't go unnoticed.

I opened my eyes slowly and then closed it back thinking it was all in my head until I heard her speak.

"Hey you" her voice sang in my ears,I quickly opened my eyes looking at her smile and I smiled back pulling her closer to where I sat.

"I thought it was all in my head" I explained watching every move she makes calmly and beautifully, "Where have you been" I asked adjusting my position.

"Right here" she replied with a shallow smile "Why didn't you look for me" she asked looking away shyly,

"If only you knew...but I just didn't want to ruin the little time with your family...but I spend each passing day awaiting a glimpse of you" I explained holding her warm hands.

"I guess we were looking in different places "she replied leaning on my shoulder,

We spent hours talking to each other about anything and everything as times passed us by, luckily No one came looking for us but then it couldn't be a coincidence that the both of us were missing from the house at the same time.

We had a beautiful dinner in the evening after Isha as we were leaving the next day, Minal wanted to stay a bit longer but Ammi refused Although Mamie promised to bring her back as soon as Amrah puts to bed and so the issue was settled.

Crazy minal...my plans would have been ruined if she had insisted on staying back as I always want her to be happy and I try not to exercise too much right over her.

Alhamdulillah life went on smoothly and only a week later Amrah gave birth to a baby girl...And all minal talked about was the baby...what to buy...what colors would suit her...what brand to buy, she was like a new mother on weed but I enjoyed every bit of it.

We travel back to kaduna although I stayed only for the naming ceremony as I had alot of work in the office. The girl was named Aisha after Amrah's mother in law but every one calls her Noor. As her parents say she has brought light into their home.
Minal stayed back for another week until Nasreen's wedding .

Minal

I have now moved to Amrah's room as I cannot stay away from baby Noor...the child is too cute besides it's the first grand child of the house. Na'eem and I would fight all day on whose turn it was to carry Noor or feed her...really annoying but I like the fact that we are all together after a long while.

We traveled back to kaduna by air on Wednesday as the baby was too little and fragile to travel as Ammi said.

We went straight to Mamie's house and there were already some family members have started showing up thinking it was going to be a grand wedding.

I was taken to my own house by Mamie's driver to get some rest before the occasion starts...Its a very small wedding so we were going to have our henna decoration done on Thursday and the wedding Fatiha on Friday after zuhur followed by a Grand reception for both the couple. They were going to use the rest of the money to go to 6 countries for their honeymoon.... I wish I had that idea during my own wedding.

I agreed to decorate my hands after alot of persuasion from my Habib and had a lot of fun with other relatives I haven't seen in a while and was also introduced to other relatives of Mahmud as they didn't get the chance to attend the wedding as it wasn't planned for. Some even brought gifts for me and showered prayers.

The knot was tied after Zuhur prayer and Amani and I wouldn't stop teasing Nasreen as she panicked pacing up and down in the room thinking of a million ways it could go wrong, to the point that she even brought up my own scenario.

She was finally calm after her phone conversation with Amin telling her how the event took place based on the little we could hear from our eavesdropping.

As soon as the bride was conveyed to her husband's house they left to the airport to their first destination. As small as the wedding was it was really hectic and my legs were very sore from galavanting around making sure things were perfectly done.

I sat in the small living room which had fewer people supporting my legs with a soft pillow which felt really good but then I remembered that I hadn't eaten anything all day.

I picked up my phone to call Maryam the help to fetch me a plate but ended up calling Mahmud as my mind was all messed up with the thoughts of him,

"Hello! Hayatii" he answered and my eyes grew larger as I had realized whose number I had dialed but I didn't want it to sound as if it wasn't intentional.

"Hey love!" I whispered so I wouldn't be heard "how are you " I added trying to sound genuine.

"I am just empty...I can't wait to see you Hayatii, where are you? " he asked waiting for an answer.

"In the small living room close to Ammi's room " I explained and before I could ask any further he hung up the call.

I scrolled to make sure I was calling the right person this time but before I could he was seating close to me.

"Hey wifey" he smiled raising his eyebrow,

"How did you get here" I asked shocked and uncomfortable at the same time as people were watching

He understood how shy I was and began to show me affection out in the open.

"Can I have what's left of my wife " he teased looking at how tired I was.

"I can't move! My legs hurt" I whined leaning back with a pout.

"I am taking you home,you wouldn't be able to rest here with alot of people" he said looking around,

"What part of my statement do you not understand, my legs hurt" I repeated sounding all drained.

Before I could say any more he picked me up like a baby in his arms and headed out without a single care in the world until he placed me in the passenger seat of his car,

"Ya salam! Na shiga uku...put me down" I whined but all in vein

He drove out of the compound and all I could think of was how I am going to face people after today.

Life went on and we grew inseparable...our love out in the open...we were happy, it felt too good to be true, too perfect...just right.

We were seated in the cinema watching a very interesting movie when his phone began to ring nonstop as he had forgotten to put it on silent. He quickly pulled it out of his pocket annoyingly,

"Its Abbah" he explained trying to pause the movie before answering,

The phone call was brief but his expression had changed completely

"Get dressed sweetie, Abbah has summoned us" he said sanding up to leaving and I followed behind him.

_______________________________________

Alhamdulillah another long chapter after a while...I am so sorry for the delay. Thank you Ayshatou for the amazing book cover.