Have a lovely night ❤️

Fahad stared at the phone in his hands, he'd wanted to call and ask if she'd talked to Layla, not only that something just made him want to talk to her and he decided to call, he always trusted his instincts.

He checked the number again and searched his call log then messages, it was her number but it didn't sound like her.

I can't have kids

He'd racked his brain for the meaning of that, sure she can't have kids, she wasn't married but that would be, 'I won't', wouldn't it?

He ran his hands through his hair groaning when he felt it prickle, he hated that part of barbing, the growing part. He shook his head urging his thoughts back to the matter that had him questioning his ability to decipher English language, he called the only person he thought might have answers to his questions.

Layla picked on the fifth ring, he'd wanted to hang up but he heard the beep indicating she has picked.

"What's up hamma?" She questioned in her usual Layla self, he felt an ounce of joy but he retained control the call still fresh on his mind.

"Layla, did you speak with Khadijah recently?" he asked, his voice coming out in a rush.

"We were together earlier, any problem?"

"I just got off the phone with her and she's crying and saying things I can't understand."

Layla wanted to ask how he was on the phone with her but it went to the back of her mind when and heard the rest, "What did she say exactly?" her voice was steady though she was anything but.

"'I can't have kids' then she hung up, can you please call her and see what's wrong?" she replied with okay then hung up.

Fahad sat back and sighed, already having given up on finding out what she meant, he prayed she was okay then stood up and went out of his apartment for dinner, else his mother cooks and serves him instead, not that she was into cannibalism, though he would hope to be eaten than to be at the receiving end of her anger. Having dinner was a must when they were all around.

He'd gone and bid farewell to the woman and his aunt, his mother told him she is Dr. Sakinah's twin sister, he didn't know she had a twin though they had similarities but they didn't exactly look alike, and it brought him back to his earlier thought, she reminded him of someone and it wasn't Dr. Sakinah, he couldn't pinpoint who so he shrugged to himself letting the matter go.

"I thought you weren't coming out." Adnan stated catching up to him and they walked in step towards the house.

"How was the date?" Adnan scratched the back of his neck with a small smile.

"Well, Alhamdulillah, she was rigid at first but then she loosened up and yeah, it was amazing." Fahad patted his back fondly hearing the joy in his voice.

Adnan had liked her since forever but couldn't get himself to actually talk to her, he was proud of him for going after what he wanted and very happy that at least he was getting his happy ending.

"Masha Allah man, now please do and get married so your mother can leave me alone." Adnan's cheeks tinged making his brother chuckle.

"You do realize me getting married will only make her disturb you more, it'll go from wanting grandchildren to your younger brother being married and you well, you."

Fahad stopped abruptly which made Adnan turn to him in question.

"Didn't cross your mind?"

Fahad nodded, "Well yeah, you know what I'll figure it out before she thinks of something, ya Allah." he groaned loudly eliciting a laugh from Adnan.

"You'll be fine." he patted him then opened the door for them.

"Hamma which do you like better?" Fahad turned to the two dresses Aneesah had in her hands, she has been waiting for them definitely, more him than Adnan.

"Excuse me." Adnan said and side stepped her and her dresses.

Fahad glanced at both, one onyx and the other wine, he looked at the sleeves and picked the onyx colored one.

"You'll look great in that one," and your hands will be covered, he didn't add that part though.

She squealed and thanked him, she was about to turn then he called her back.

"What are you getting dressed for?" he asked, sitting on the counter, not that she needed any reason to dress up, she was Aneesah for Allah's sake, but needing his opinion meant it was important.

"We're going to Adda Aisha's."

"Does Adnan know?"

"I don't think so," with that she turned and ran out, he heard their mother chastise her about running up the stairs.

"Assalamu alaikum." he announced, he greeted both his parents and replied to Nabila, Ja'afar and Huda's greeting then he sat beside Nabila and collected the book she was reading, Wuthering heights by Emily Brontë he smiled up at her.

"You're almost done?" it was a statement, her lips curved but never really forming into a smile, "You'll tell me about it when you're done?"

"If you promise to get me a signed copy of pride and prejudice."

"Deal." her eyes shined with joy making him smile.

"Okay, ammie what time are we leaving?" Aneesah asked, he didn't know when she returned.

"Around two, by then Mamie and ummie would have arrived, also baffa Zubair."

"If you're going to Sokoto why not go from Kaduna?" he asked hearing the names, baffa Zubair never visits unless they were going to Sokoto.

"We're not going to Sokoto," Barr. Salima stated monotone, he nodded thoughtfully then asked.

"Are you going to a wedding or who are you planning on marrying off?" He didn't know why he asked but he did and he regretted it the instant she answered.

"You." she replied nonchalantly, all the siblings turned to her shocked.

"To who?" He didn't know how or why he was calm but his voice was even, she was probably kidding though her straight face suggested the opposite, she was dead serious.

"Aisha."

"Which Aisha?" his mind went through all the Aishas he knew, including the Aliero's, it wasn't adding up.

"Which Aisha do you know?" she asked in fulde, the room went quiet until their father decided to talk.

"Your aunt Zainab's daughter."

Huda and Aneesah turned to Adnan wide eyed, his face was blank, the room was thick with tension every one of them lost in their individual thoughts, the room was too silent you could hear a pin drop.

"No." Fahad simply stated, his voice calm it almost brought tears to Huda's eyes. Things weren't going to end well, and his silence is enough proof of that.

His siblings and parents turned to him, it was so unlike him to oppose anything they asked of him, and worst of all not in the presence of his siblings.

He'd said if he defied them in front of his younger ones, what was he teaching them? It wasn't okay to tell one's parents No, especially in other people's presence, family or not.

"Do you have someone in mind?" Barr. Salima asked trying to be rational.

"No."

"Then it's a good thing I wasn't asking for your permission." Seeing where the conversation was stirring and Fahad's red eyes, Abubakar Barkindo motioned for the rest to excuse them, they all scrambled out of the room except Adnan.

"I was not trying to compromise, it's simple, I am not marrying her."

"Who then will you marry? You're not going down this path, not when I'm alive," her voice was starting to rise, with a throbbing head he squeezed his eyes shut for a brief second, how red they were would've scared Adnan who was staring at him, but as rare as it was, he'd seen his brother lose his temper like that, the few times that he'd done and it wasn't good.

"And what path is that?" he wasn't apologetic for his tone, the line between right and wrong had blurred for him.

"The one you're on, you're getting married in a month and that's final."

"Calm down." Abubakar Barkindo chastised his wife when her voice rose an octave higher.

"I'm not."

"Listen to me, you're not going to stay single forever moping after a dead girl, I've given you enough time to get over this and come back to your senses, you're too old for a childhood crush, and worst of all, she's not even alive, Fahad this the last time I'm telling you, set your priorities straight and look after the living." she stood up and went to her room, leaving all three men in shock.

Fahad was beyond livid, she was his mother alright but she crossed the line, he was shaking with anger when he felt a hand on his.

"She'll come around, don't do anything drastic." his father advised then followed his wife, someone needed to calm her down before she takes a drastic step in anger.

"This is messed up." Adnan muttered after minutes of terse silence, without a word Fahad stood up and left the room, the sound of his car following soon after.

"Very messed up." he brushed his hands over his face with a small sigh.

Adnan went to his apartment and laid on the bed watching the ceiling, the sound of his phone ringing brought him out of his train of thought, he picked it and when he saw the name and sighed let it ring, it was over.

I really hope I get to update tomorrow, depends on your comments and all though

Love

Amyrah