Story 5:

The following day was a Wednesday. The driver that dispatched her client's orders waited patiently for her at the gateman's post. She was sweating by now, due to the heat the kitchen was exhaling. Three pots of different kinds of soup were arranged alongside some fifty boxes of meat pie and twenty packs of samosa. She packed them and beckoned on the driver to resume to his job. She handed the dispatcher the phone numbers and addresses of her clients and he left.

Mardiyyah was a young professional self employed chef who treated her customers to delicacies that suit their taste bud on orders. She had a website designed for her to boost her business and most of her customers booked online for her sumptuous meals. During weekends, she would hold on line classes for aspiring chefs and was always organizing seminars on culinary activities She also had a YouTube channel to showcase her cooking skills as well. If there's anything called 'cookworm' just like bookworm she would made the top list of merit awards as her style of cooking was second to none and top notch.

Even after achieving alot at a young age, she had her worries about her inability to give her son another sibling early enough. She birthed him exactly nine months into their marriage and this made her wondered the reason why the second wasn't coming. Inspite of her family doctor's and husband's assurances that the rest would come at the right time, she would wallow in tears; most especially when anyone gave her a reminder that her son was ripe enough to back his sibling.

That afternoon, she realized time was far spent and made her way to the bathroom to shower in order to stay clear off the aroma oozing out of her. Afterwards, she freshened up, picked her car keys and went to fetch her son from school.........

It was a beautiful Sunday morning. Ridwan and his son were sleeping soundly as they curled up in bed; since it was a work free day. He'd retreated to bed after subh prayers along with his son while Mardiyyah was busy in the kitchen making breakfast for her family. She was engrossed in her work when Ridwan who was out of the bed by now blew some air on her neck living her startled. She looked back and sprinkled some water on him.

"How are you doing darling?" He sounded sonorously.

"I'm fine dearie.... And I hope you slept well?" She delivered her forehead to him while he planted a wet kiss on it.

"I did... But having a wife who is blessed with awesome cooking skills couldn't allow me enjoy my sleep." He complimented her and snuggled her tightly.

"What has my skills got to do with your inability to sleep?" She asked grinning.

"The aroma turfing out of here was pestering my nose and also subjecting my oesophagus to tantalize in my sleep." He added and they both laughed.

"Awwwnnnn...... I am so sorry the king of my heart." She held her two ears.

"Apology is not accepted!"

"So, what's my punishment?"

"My judgment is this! ... You're hereby sentenced to living forever in my kingdom and feeding me the tantalizing foods made by your wonderful hands with your marvelous heart .. I rest my case."

"As your lordship pleases...... Courrrrrrt! ....."

"Arise!" They burst into another round of laughter that lasted ages, teased and cracked each other's ribs. Then, he assisted her in the kitchen and they both set the dinning to down the moin-moin and the milked pap she made.

______----------__________

The following day, Hafeezah was busy chatting with one of her customers who showed interest in one of the jewelries she posted on her blog for sale. Just then, her cousin said the tesleem from the other end of the door. She straightened up and walked to the door to usher her in. It was written all over A'ishah that she was happy and obvious she bellied some good news.

"Guess whaaaaatt!" A'ishah exclaimed while her cousin stood her arms akimbo blinking her eyes.

"Hummmm... Your husband bought you a new car?"

 She guessed with curiosity written all over her to which her sister responded with a negative nod. 

Hafeezah guessed some other things but when she didn't get them right, she let the cat out of the bag.

"Congrats sister. Your charming prince will be coming for you soon."

"Charming prince?"

"Yes! Your feelings are mutual... He confessed his feelings to my husband the day you bumped into one another at the hospital. Darling, I can perceive a wonderful transformation in your life as your love life is about to get a green light." She announced and gave her a warm embrace.

"Really?"

"Of course! I can't fabricate such a news. Ain't you happy to hear this?"

"A'aaish, I should be happy right? But I couldn't help to do away with the mixed feelings I'm having now and I hope he isn't aware I have feelings for him too?"

"What are you saying? Of course he is! Isn't that the reason why he revealed his own too? Hafee, I don't seem to understand you anymore. You want him when you were unaware of his feelings about you and now that he has let it out, you ain't interested anymore."

"I am sorry sis.. It's just that he's married. I have my doubts concerning his wife. How will she take the news? Will she accept me? I don't want her get hurt because of me." She said looking troubled.

"I am sorry to say this. You don't seem to know what you want for yourself. Are you not aware he's married before now? You told me yourself that you will marry him if it comes to your awareness that your love is mutual right? Why saying this now? I think you are not in your right frame of mind. I should allow you be alone to meditate and decide what you want for yourself."A'ishah said and stormed out of her room with the pent up anger in her.

She exited, mumbling some words under her breath as she walked into her bedroom. Her gloomy countenance was obvious to her husband who was cuddling his son with a lullaby. She folded her arms and then sat on the bed.

"Is it anything the matter?"

"Yes it is darling. I don't know what is wrong with Hafeezah. I gave her the news to cheer her up but instead of her to be happy, she was skeptical about his wife accepting her or not."

"I don't understand your point. Which news are we talking about here?"

"Ah ah! Didn't you tell me yourself that the lawyer she's crushing on is also in love with her?"

"You mean, you have given her the news?" 

"Yes I have. Is anything wrong with that? Why is everyone turning the whole issue on my head?"

"I didn't ask you to tell her anything. Can't I share a secret with you? When you told me his face was familiar after introducing him to you at the hospital. I had to explain that you might have seen him at the funeral of Hafeezah's father. And I gave you the details about my conversation with him. I didn't ask you to skyrocket her hopes. What if Ridwan isn't interested anymore, what will happen? You should have allowed him do the wooing by himself. He is a married man and he need to fix things with his wife before coming for your sister. Do you get it now?"He said with a straight face.

"I am sorry. I was only trying to cheer her up. I never knew you don't want me reveal anything yet. So, what do we do now?" She was deflated.

He was speechless for a while and later placed a call through his friend to inquire if he would attend his son's aqeeqah to which replied with a confirmation on the phone.

On the day of the aqeeqah, Idrees was astonished to see his friend. They exchanged pleasantries and he led him to a white plastic chair.

"I'm sorry friend, Hafeezah has already found out that your feelings are mutual. My wife couldn't wait to have you as her brother in law." Idrees let out, after his friend had settled down. 

"You shouldn't be. I think that's the way Allah want it. It might have happened as a result of the Istikhara I did."

"Have you told your wife?" Idrees asked.

"I haven't but I will. In sha Allah. I need to talk to Hafeezah to hear from her before I take the bold step..." He expressed to his friend.

"It's not easy ooo. I wonder how she will feel." Idrees said with empathy.

"I don't even want to think about it. Hence, I will have to compell my heart to forget about Hafeezah." He added and they concluded their conversation.

On beholding the sight of Ridwan, Hafeezah tried her best to hide herself from him and avoided his gaze. But her elder sister who had already left the ceremony put a call across to her with her husband's phone to request her to bring her phone she kept with her; of which she said she would be waiting outside the gate to receive. 

Hafeezah hastened to give her the phone and was about to return inside when Ridwan said the tesleem to her; of which she responded inaudibly.

"I can see you've been dodging me for a while now and I decided to catch up with you before you go   in.....erm....... Hmmm........ I don't even know what to say........do you have anything to tell me?" His heart raced faster.

"No...no.. thii. inn.. ng" She stuttered beneath her breath, looking away from him.

"In sha Allah I'll come for you soon. I need to put certain things in place before I do. Can I come?"

"If it's from your heart, do."

"Will you hold on for me?"

"I will, In sha Allah.

"Maa sha Allah.. TabarakaLlah."

"Aameen." She replied and waited for him to dash off before leaving his presence but he didn't.

She looked up and their gaze locked. A beautiful smiled formed on his lips and he left the scene.

To be cont'd.

Olafiku Maryam Umm Muslimah.

The Precious Pearls ( TPP). 

Story 2:......

Hafeezah's heart quivered and she slowly swallowed hard. She tapped herself to know if she wasn't day dreaming as some hot tears gushed out of her innocent eyes. She puffed and gasped intermittently before Hameedah jolted her.

"Why are you crying?"

"I never knew he's married but how many wives does he have?"

"One wife of course... What are you trying to insinuate?"

"If he has one, that means there are still chances of him marrying me; since there are three slots to be completed. I love him sister and I'm ready to fight for his love against all odds." She dried her salty tasted tears.

"You must be sick in the brain... You will do what? Don't you realize you are beautiful and still young? Why can't you go for the one who is unmarried? There are lots of men after you and you decide to stick with a married one... You better wake up from your slumber and start planning a bright future with the right man," Hameedah tried to dissuade her from what she called childish thoughts.

"Is it a crime to love a married man?...... Answer me sis. Are we not Muslims? Why can't I marry him if he's the only one my heart yearns for?"

"Will you deprive another woman the enjoyment of her marriage?..... Put yourself in that shoe. What if Habeeb decides to marry again will you be happy to see me sad? Make your own home and leave another woman's own."

"You don't understand my plight. I should have kept this to myself but I told you because I felt my late parents in you. If dad were to be alive, I'm pretty sure he would call his Lawyer and ask him to marry me. If only you can do this through your husband, I would have been the happiest woman on earth at the moment but I'm certain you won't, because you've got no idea of what is going on in my heart ... I can never deprive a fellow woman her happiness but I'll rather strive to add to it. And if your husband decides to add more, will you stop him even if he can afford it? Sister, I can't control my heart save I'll marry the man I won't love back with the love of someone else in it. Sister, please tell your husband to seek his opinion about me," She rested her face on a throw pillow absorbing her flowing tears.

"How are we even sure lawyer Ridwan is ready to marry you? What if he doesn't like you? That man is a responsible fellow; from what I know and heard is that he loves his wife so much.... And what about his capabilities?" Hameedah frankly said with iota of doubts.

Hafeezah was speechless and felt giddy upon standing up. Her eyes had become bulgy and her voice seemed failing her. She glared at her sister who was oblivious of how to handle the overwhelming and such a dicey situation.

"Hafeezah, don't work yourself up for Allah's sake. Try to forget him and move on with this precious life of yours," Hameedah patted her back and made her way out of the living room.

That night, sleep didn't come as she turned and rolled to each sides of the bed. She flung the duvet away and slowly moved to the window to the dark pitch space that was illuminated with bright lights from the bulbs fixed around the compound.

"Why isn't it possible for me to forget him? What if he doesn't accept me just like my elder sister had said? And what if he loves me in return but rejected me because of his wife?" She hummed a long sigh and tears trickled her glowing cheeks.

The dusk seems longer than ever but dawn eventually came. She said her subh salat and centered most of her prayers on the handsome looking lawyer as she buried herself in the four walls of her room before getting drifted away to her sweet dream.

Hameedah knocked on the door to her room when she wouldn't show up for breakfast. Its no news her younger sister was lethargic at cooking and would easily bribe her way from culinary activities in the kitchen. The latter patiently awaited her to open the door but when her patience had been exhausted, she forced her way in to find her sleeping snortingly with her body wrapped up in duvet save her face. Hameedah quitely called her name and she slowly opened her eyes.

"Sabahun khayr, Hafsee." She greeted with a lit face.

"Sabahun khayr, Ummu Ayman..." She hugged her sister tightly.

"I hope you slept well?"

"Yes I did sis.... What would I have done without you? I'm sorry for all I said in fury yesterday. You are right, they are nothing but mere fantasies....Will you forgive this little sister of yours?" She held her ears blinking her eye lid.

"You haven't done anything wrong. Okey? If only you know how much I missed you while you were abroad you wouldn't have said this.. Common.. Y'arinya, brace up and let's go for breakfast.."

"You're the best sister in the whole world." She cheered and they both exited her room.

To be cont'd.

Olafiku Maryam Umm Muslimah.