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TAWA TASAMENI
By: Halima Abdullahi K/Mashi
I looked at all of them in sheer terror. They were all staring back at me in utter amazement. I quickly glanced at our older brother—Abdulrahim—who actually had a calm smile on his face. Still holding onto my hand, he led me toward them.
Hajiya Laure glared viciously at him and snapped, "Abdulrahim, do you possess any sanity at all?"
With a completely relaxed expression, he replied, "What happened, Mom? I see so many of you gathered here, loudly exclaiming and invoking Allah’s name."
Infuriated even more by his calm demeanor, she retorted, "You certainly know how to play dumb! We literally caught you in a full embrace, holding this dark-skinned girl tightly. But because you are so worldly and manipulative, you act like it’s absolutely nothing! And look at her, blinking her eyes innocently as if she hasn't always been known for running after men. You've really outdone yourself. If you have no respect for me, your stepmother, you will certainly face your biological mother!" She turned on her heel and stormed off furiously.
He simply shrugged his shoulders and muttered, "That's her own business." He then turned a piercing gaze toward his younger siblings who were lingering around. "What the hell are you all waiting for?"
They quickly scattered, each murmuring under their breath. They left only the new bride behind, who was weeping uncontrollably. Abdulrahim let go of my hand, walked over to her, and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder as he spoke to her. I couldn't hear exactly what he was saying to her, but I knew it was undoubtedly words of comfort, because he successfully pacified her until she buried her face in his chest, and he wrapped his arms around her.
Watching the two of them embrace, a fierce surge of jealousy erupted inside me, and my chest felt heavy with grief. Defeated and heartbroken, I picked up my head-tie (Gwaggwaro) that had fallen to the ground and walked away in deep frustration.
Back in the room, I sat like a frozen statue, staring at my phone as it rang continuously on the plastic table in front of me. I didn't even bother to pick it up or check who was calling before it cut off. I was completely consumed by anxious thoughts, dreading the massive family feud that would erupt the moment this news reached Hajiya Yaya's ears. And what would happen if Mama found out that our older brother had embraced me? The thought alone made it impossible for me to even consider returning to the wedding hall.
The persistent ringing of my phone finally jolted me out of my spiraling thoughts. Lacking any energy, I forced myself to reach out and answer it. Mami’s name appeared on the screen.
I picked up and said tightly, "What is it, Mami?"
She replied, "Our brother Abdulrahim is looking for you."
I hissed under my breath and grumbled, "What does he want from me now? Honestly, I don't want anyone bothering me."
"Well, call him and ask him yourself because I have no idea," she snapped, instantly hanging up the phone. I knew she was offended by the frustrated hiss I had given her.
"Peace be upon you, beautiful lady. May I sit down?"
I turned around abruptly to see Adams standing there. I let out a deep sigh of relief and said, "Go ahead and sit down."
He sat next to me and asked, "Why are you sitting out here all by yourself?"
"I just got incredibly exhausted from all the noise and chaos inside, so I decided to come out here," I explained.
"That's good," he smiled. "I was actually looking for you everywhere but couldn't find you, and since I don't have your phone number, I figured I'd try my luck looking outside. I guess fortune smiled on me. Hey, beautiful, remind me of your name again?"
"My name is Amina, but everyone calls me Iman."
He shifted his posture and smiled warmly. "I love both names. So, what is the verdict on our previous discussion?"
I played innocent. "Which discussion are you talking about?"
He looked at me intently and said, "Iman, I love you. I love you with all my heart, and I want to marry you. After our wedding, you will pursue your university degree in England because that's where I'll be taking you to live. Please trust me, Iman. My feelings for you are completely genuine."
I just stared at him in silence. He was a strikingly handsome, dark-skinned man with beautiful, captivating eyes. The smooth, eloquent way he spoke and articulated my name only added to his immense charm. Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind: Perhaps I can use him as a substitute to heal my broken heart. In the absence of our older brother, I could marry Adams instead...
He gently interrupted my thoughts. "Look at me, Iman. Just give me a fraction of your heart and let me in. I promise you will fall deeply in love with me in no time. Are you listening, beautiful?" He locked his eyes onto mine. I couldn't help but chuckle, which brought a warm smile to his face as well.
I teased, "You are actively looking for trouble with my older brother. If he gives you his permission to marry me today, I have absolutely no objection on my end."
Adams fell silent for a few moments before speaking softly, "I know Maska [Abdulrahim] better than you think. Once he sets his mind on something, it never changes. But as for me, I am seeking love directly from you, with your own consent. From the very moment I laid eyes on you, my soul told me that you are the exact woman I have spent years searching for. To think I've been looking all over the world, only to find my future wife right here in Nigeria."
His smooth talking made me laugh, and we spent a long time chatting happily. We were so engrossed in our conversation that we didn't even notice the sudden commotion of people leaving the hall; the event had officially ended. Yaya Kabir drove us back home after I said goodbye to Adams, promising to see him the following day.
Long before the time arrived for the bride's traditional Kamu ceremony, the scandalous rumor that Abdulrahim had embraced me had already spread through the house like wildfire.
Right after I concluded my night prayers (Ishai), Mama called me into her room. "What is this wild rumor I hear everyone whispering about in this house?"
Stuttering over my words, I tried to explain what had happened, but I carefully omitted the part about him embracing me. "Mama, he only called me over because he wanted to hand me a message. But before he could even tell me what the message was, Hajiya Laure and her people walked in and immediately began fabricating stories and making a scene."
Mama pressed further, "But they are claiming that he actually wrapped his arms around you and held you?"
I quickly lied, "No, Mama! I know absolutely nothing about that."
Mama went dead silent for a brief moment, then turned around and walked out of the room.
The next morning, at around nine o'clock, I was busy cleaning Mama's room while she was over at Alhaji's section of the house, tidying up his quarters, since today was the official wedding solemnization (Daurin Aure).
Suddenly, I heard my phone ringing from our bedroom. As I hurried toward the room to answer it, I bumped into Jamila, who was bringing the phone to me.
As I snatched it from her, I chided, "Jamila, are you still slacking on your Quranic memorization? Where is Sagir?"
She replied, "He's over there refusing to get dressed quickly." She then added pleadingly, "Anty Iman, please let us stay home and watch the festivities today! Look, today is our older brother's big wedding!"
Right at that moment, I pressed the phone to my ear. Ignoring her plea, I snapped, "Absolutely not! Hurry up and get yourselves to school, move it!"
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"Hello?" I spoke into the phone.
"It's your brother," Abdulrahim's voice echoed from the line. "Are you listening to me?"
"Yes," I replied softly.
"I didn't lie to you," he began. "Anyway, I need you to gather all my personal belongings and pack them together neatly, do you understand?"
Confused, I asked, "Which belongings?"
He instructed, "Just prepare something for me to eat first. When you get to my room, you’ll see exactly what needs to be packed."
"Alright," I complied.
After I finished my chores, I sneaked out toward his quarters like a thief. Ever since the scandalous incident from the previous night, I had locked myself in my room and hadn't stepped foot outside.
While I was in the kitchen preparing his breakfast tray, Mami suddenly walked in. "Seriously, Iman, what on earth happened last night? I’ve been hearing so many wild rumors flying around."
I gave Mami the exact same sanitized explanation I had given Mama.
Mami hissed in irritation and said, "So people completely twisted the story out of proportion! All sorts of nasty rumors have been circulating. If Baba hadn't stepped in and put his foot down to squash the gossip, a massive war would have broken out in this house today."
My heart pounded heavily against my ribs. "Who told Baba about this?"
"Who knows?" Mami replied. "Probably Abdulrahim himself, because everyone else was too terrified to approach Baba with the gossip."
I carried the breakfast tray to his room and knocked gently before entering. He was sitting completely alone on the sofa. I set the tray down on the table and greeted him respectfully.
He uncovered the dishes and smiled. "What did you prepare for me today?"
"Just take a look and see," I replied quietly.
"Alright," he said. "Now, your next task is to pack up my clothes."
"Which clothes?" I asked.
He gestured toward his wardrobe. "The ones over there. You know I am officially moving out of this house today, and I want Kabir to transport my things over to my new house at Yakubu Avenue."
A wave of bitter frustration washed over me. I chose to stay silent, but in my mind, I grumbled, Look at him, so terribly eager and impatient to leave and start his new life!
Packing his things turned out to be an incredibly exhausting chore. I ended up packing four massive suitcases, and that wasn't even counting a huge duffel bag. I noticed many of the clothes looked brand new, as if he had never even worn them. Most of them were casual western clothes. I filled one massive suitcase entirely with his heavy traditional robes, while the remaining drawers were packed with his designer jeans and t-shirts.
Just as I finished packing and was preparing to step out of the bedroom, the loud voice of Hajiya Yaya echoed from the living room parlor. Abdulrahim answered her greeting, and she marched straight inside, demanding, "Who is in here with you? I saw a woman's shoes at the door!"
My heart leaped into my throat. Panicking, I quickly dove behind the heavy bedroom curtains and hid.
Abdulrahim answered smoothly, "I am completely alone, Hajiya."
She peeked her head into the bedroom and frowned at the luggage. "What is the meaning of all these suitcases?"
He explained, "I am packing my things. I want Kabir to drive them over to my new house at Yakubu Avenue today."
She walked fully into the bedroom, grumbling, "That is your ultimate flaw—you despise bulky traditional wear, yet you never stop tailoring them." She walked right over to where the clothes were, stopping just inches away from where I was hiding.
I was trembling violently behind the curtain, barely daring to breathe. Hajiya Yaya was notorious for her fierce, confrontational nature; she never spoke in a gentle tone. Even when she was saying something completely pleasant, it always sounded like she was screaming in anger.
Standing at the doorway, Abdulrahim intervened, "Hajiya, what exactly are you looking for?"
"We need to talk," she snapped. "And about these clothes, you haven't given any of them away?"
He replied, "The clothes are right there, feel free to pick whatever you want. I actually wanted to downsize and give a large portion to Kabir because I have far too many. You see, for this wedding alone, my friend Nasir tailored twenty complete sets for me, and not a single one costs less than ten thousand Naira."
Hajiya Yaya dismissed his comment sharply. "What do I care about Nasir's tailoring? Anyway, the real reason I am here is to confront you about your recent shameless behavior. I want you to tell me exactly what is going on between you and that girl, Iman!" She raised her voice significantly. "Yes! I am asking you directly! Do not think for a single second that I am blind to your inappropriate antics. I have been intentionally looking the other way, but it is clear to me now that I need to put you in your place before you bring utter shame and humiliation upon this family!"
Only then did Abdulrahim finally speak up, his tone firm yet respectful. "Hajiya, please lower your voice and listen to me." He stepped into the room. "Let's take this conversation to the living room parlor, please, for Allah's sake."
She followed him out, still yelling, "I am warning you to stay completely away from those people! I want absolutely nothing to do with Habiba and her entire lineage!"
He pleaded, "Hajiya, please sit down."
They sat down in the parlor. Even though he kept his voice low, I could hear every single word clearly from my hiding spot, where I stood frozen like stone. I knew with absolute certainty that if Hajiya Yaya discovered I was in his bedroom, she would skin me alive.
Abdulrahim argued, "Hajiya, you must understand that this girl has been taking care of me ever since I returned to this city. She prepares my meals, cleans my quarters, and runs my errands—and I don't pay her a single dime for any of it. Furthermore—"
She cut him off savagely. "Oh, please shut your mouth! Do you mean to tell me you don't have biological younger sisters who can take care of you?!"
"But Hajiya," he reasoned, "what do those young girls even know about running a household? Iman is vastly superior to them in every single aspect..."
She cut him off again, her voice dripping with venom. "Because she has poisoned your mind through the food she cooks for you! You had better watch yourself around me. Just the other day, I was informed that you drove her out in your car. In this entire household, aside from Kabir, who else has ever stepped foot into your car? Even I, the woman who carried you in her womb for nine months, have never ridden in it! Secondly, you went ahead and tailored incredibly expensive outfits for her, a luxury you didn't even extend to your own biological sisters, all just to humiliate them. And then you have the audacity to make her wear matching outfits with your bride! And to top it all off, we practically caught you embracing her last night! Isn't that exactly what happened?!"
Raising his voice in frustration, Abdulrahim demanded, "According to who?! Hajiya, you need to stop listening to these malicious fabrications. As for her riding in my car, we merely went to the market to purchase food supplies for my friends who flew in from England and are staying at Nasir's house. As for the tailored outfits, it is only right to show kindness to someone who consistently shows kindness to you. And I absolutely did not embrace her; it is all empty gossip!"
She challenged, "Are you trying to claim that Hajiya Laure and her people are liars?!"
He groaned, "Honestly, what business did Mom have coming down to a youth lunch event in the first place? For Allah's sake..."
She cut him off definitively. "Listen to me carefully, because this is my final word on the matter: the very moment this wedding festive period concludes, you are to pack your bags, take your new wife, and board the next flight back to England!"
Abdulrahim went dead silent for a long moment before objecting quietly, "Hajiya, why are you bringing up the idea of taking Mimi with me right now? You know very well that I don't own a house over there yet; I am currently residing in a hotel. How can I possibly take a newlywed bride to live in a hotel?"
She hissed in total disdain. "What an utterly foolish excuse! I will not hear another word of it. You will take her with you, and the two of you will live in that hotel together!" She began to walk out, refusing to let him beg or argue further. "Do you honestly think you can manipulate me with your nonsense? I swear by Allah, you do not possess the power to disobey my command! You will depart together. And if you want to test my authority and show me that I am powerless over you, then I am waiting!" She paused to catch her breath before adding, "My mind will only be at peace when the two of you are far away in England."
Without waiting for him to reply, she marched out of his quarters. Abdulrahim hurried after her, pleading, "For Allah's sake, Hajiya, please have patience with me!" But she completely ignored his cries.
Drenched from head to toe in cold sweat, I slowly crept out from behind the heavy curtains. I collapsed onto the edge of the mattress, my chest heaving as I gasped for air, my eyes overflowing with a river of tears. I wasn't weeping because of the vicious insults Hajiya Yaya had hurled at my character; I was weeping because of their impending departure to England.
I realized with a breaking heart that if he took his new wife and left the country, it would be the absolute end for me. I would no longer be able to see his face, hear the deep resonance of his voice, or breathe in his intoxicating scent.
Suddenly, I noticed him standing at the doorway, watching me silently. He walked into the room and said softly, "Stand up and go back inside the main house. Wipe your tears, okay? Don't distress yourself; one day, all of this will be nothing but a distant memory." He spoke in an incredibly tender, soothing voice. I stood up, and he stepped aside to let me pass.
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Today, Saturday the 9th of November, the wedding solemnization between our older brother Abdulrahim and Anty Mimi was officially conducted at the entrance of her family residence in Malali. The grand event was attended by an immense crowd of people, the vast majority of whom were young youths, given Abdulrahim’s prominent background as a professional football player. A lavish wedding reception (Walima) was held immediately after the ceremony.
Almost as if to intentionally torment my heart, I was the very first person he called the moment the marriage was finalized. "The marriage has just been officially solemnized," he announced over the line.
In my mind, I thought bitterly, What does that have to do with me? But aloud, I forced myself to say, "May Allah bless the union with endless blessings."
"What are you doing right now?" he asked.
"Nothing, I'm just lying down in bed," I replied.
"You know the grand wedding dinner is tonight, right? You need to make sure you are fully dressed and ready," he reminded me.
"Honestly, I don't think I'll be able to make it," I admitted. "I have a terrible headache. Besides, there is far too much family drama happening right now. You know that if Baba hadn't personally intervened yesterday, the chaos wouldn't have been settled. So, I really don't think I should come."
He fell completely silent. He wanted to conclude the call, yet he couldn't bring himself to stop listening to the sweet sound of her voice. He always craved her presence, never tiring of looking at her beautiful face. He knew deep within his soul that he loved her fiercely, and he had made a solemn vow to himself that as long as there was breath in his body, he would marry her one day, despite her young age.
"Hello?" I called out, noticed the prolonged silence.
"Iman, have you taken any medication for your headache?" he asked gently.
"Yes," I replied shortly.
"Listen to me carefully," he said seriously. "I expect you to be at that dinner tonight. If your headache subsides, you must come. Do not use this ridiculous family drama as an excuse to stay away, do you hear me?"
"And what if Mama forbids me from going?" I countered.
"She won't forbid you. I will personally call her and handle it," he assured me. "Alright, I'll see you later."
Amira, who was lounging right beside me, stared at me intently. "Who on earth were you just speaking to on the phone like that?"
"It was our older brother, Abdulrahim," I answered.
Amira narrowed her eyes at me suspiciously. "Are you absolutely sure this older brother of yours isn't the secret guy you’ve been hiding from us all this time?"
Feeling guilty and cornered, I deflected quickly, "Oh, come on, Amira, don't be ridiculous!"
Amira bolted upright from her relaxed position. "Iman, it is completely unfair of you to hide your deepest secrets from us, especially something as monumental as this! You need someone you can trust to give you sound advice. Mami and I always lay our hearts bare to you without withholding a single detail. Despite the notorious reputation of Fulani people keeping their thoughts guarded, we never hide anything from you, yet you continuously play these secretive games with us."
I fell into a silent hush. Deep down, I knew Amira was speaking the absolute truth. The only reason I had kept my feelings tightly locked away was because I felt an overwhelming sense of shame admitting that I was desperately in love with our own older brother. It was a one-sided, consuming love; I was losing my mind over him, while he didn't have the slightest clue that I loved him in that way.
Amira stood up and reached for her hijab. "Fine, don't say anything, Iman. I won't force you to reveal your secret guy if it causes you this much distress. I'm leaving."
I quickly lunged forward, grabbed her arm, and pulled her back down onto the bed. "I'm so sorry, Amira! Please sit down, I will tell you everything."
She sat back down beside me, pouting. "You are incredibly infuriating sometimes, Iman."
I took a deep, steadying breath and began pouring my heart out, recounting the exact moment I had fallen deeply in love with Abdulrahim. "I swear to Allah, Amira, for the longest time, I refused to admit to myself that I loved him. I genuinely believed that the terrifying racing of my heart and the violent trembling of my body whenever he came near me was just pure fear. I had no idea it was actually intense, overwhelming love."
Tears began to stream down my face. "Amira, I have prayed and prayed to Allah to take this feeling away, but it feels like my prayers only fan the flames of this love. I have wept until my eyes were raw, and I have cursed the very concept of LOVE! Love brings nothing but agony and heartbreak. May Allah judge anyone who ever claims that love is a beautiful thing, because for me, it has been nothing but a painful ordeal and a burning torment in my soul!"
I began to sob out loud. "Amira, love has been completely unjust to me! It has carried my heart to a destination Allah never intended for me. My soul has become completely infected with love for a man who is entirely beyond my reach!"
I paused, gasping for breath as I tried to calm my racing heart. Amira didn't interrupt me; she simply sat there in supportive silence, allowing me to cry until I had emptied all the grief inside me. Only when my sobs finally subsided did she speak.
"Stop crying, Iman," she said soothingly. "And stop blaming your own heart or viewing your love as a crime. Don't ever say he is beyond your reach. Tell me, what makes you believe our brother Abdulrahim is too good for you?"
Letting out a shaky sigh, I explained, "First of all, he doesn't love me back. Secondly, I am completely out of his social class. And to make matters worse, look at the bitter enmity between my mother and his mother; they would never in a million years allow us to marry each other, even if he did love me—which he doesn't!"
Amira countered, "Honestly, Iman, I see things quite differently. From the way he treats you and the extraordinary things he does for you, it goes vastly beyond mere kindness. It looks exactly like LOVE to me."
"I don't think so," I replied hopelessly. "He has stated right in front of me, on numerous occasions, that he could never marry a young, immature girl. He repeats this statement constantly. Even when his friends express their attraction to me, he flies into a massive rage and snaps at them, claiming he won't tolerate any disrespect. They don't understand that just because they express their love for us doesn't mean we will disrespect them."
I looked at Amira and continued, "Look at his best friend, Nasir, who is desperately in love with Mami. If Nasir hadn't gone behind Abdulrahim's back, he would have never dared to pursue Mami. One day, I was bringing food to them, and I overheard Abdulrahim scolding Nasir, saying, 'What on earth do you want with a little girl like Mami? She's practically a child! It's completely undignified to involve yourself with kids when there are so many mature, beautiful women all over the city.' He literally told Nasir that Mami is young enough to be his child! So, if that's how he views Mami, how could he ever love me? Especially since Mami is almost a year older than I am!"
Amira consoled me, "Well, we will keep praying about it. Mami and I will sit down together and figure out the best advice to give you."
I panicked slightly. "Please, don't tell Mami about this!"
Amira hissed in disapproval. "Mami absolutely must know! We made a pact never to harbor secrets from one another, and you know that very well. You've been acting incredibly distant lately, and we noticed it, we just chose to give you space."
"I only kept it a secret because he is her biological older brother," I murmured defensively.
Amira shrugged. "Mami still has to know."
"Fine, whatever," I muttered.
We fell into a brief silence before I added, "He actually just called me a moment ago, demanding that I get dressed so we can go to the wedding dinner tonight. Honestly, I really don't want to go."
"Why on earth wouldn't you go?" Amira questioned.
"Because I don't want to do anything that will upset Mama for absolutely no reason," I explained. "But he insisted that the family feud isn't a valid reason for me to stay home."
Amira noted, "I doubt Mami and the others will even be able to attend. I overheard them saying that Abdulrahim explicitly ordered them not to show their faces at the venue."
"See? That's exactly why I shouldn't go either!" I exclaimed.
Amira insisted, "I swear to Allah, you must go! This is the perfect opportunity for you to make your presence felt around him, do you understand? You need to dress up elegantly and make a grand appearance. After all, he personally requested your presence."
"He even said he would arrange for a car to pick me up from the house because I have no idea where the dinner venue is," I admitted.
Amira burst into laughter, teasing, "Well, look at you! You're clearly the most important guest of honor tonight!"
I looked at my reflection in the mirror and whispered, "May Allah abundantly bless the tailors at Yaya Sulaiman's shop."
The outfit turned out stunning. I was wearing a magnificent blue material gown adorned with delicate white and black floral patterns, encrusted with glittering stones that sparkled beautifully in the light. I put on a matching blue fashion necklace and earrings, grabbed a white clutch bag, and slipped into matching heels. I wrapped a dainty white shawl around my shoulders.
As I was spraying my perfume, my phone began to ring. I checked the screen; it was Abdulrahim. I answered the call.
"Are you fully dressed and ready?" was the very first question he asked.
"Yes, I am ready," I replied in a soft, gentle voice.
He took a sharp breath over the line. "Good. Step outside immediately so I can see how you look before I head out. As you know, I have to drive over to pick up Mimi so we can arrive at the venue together."
"Alright," I said, though in my mind, I muttered bitterly, I don't care if you're picking up her mother along with her!
He hung up. I glanced at the clock; it was already 8:30 PM. A wave of anxiety hit me. Will Mama actually allow me to leave the house at this hour?
Just then, Mami walked into the bedroom. She looked incredibly stunning in a beautiful white lace gown.
Surprised, I asked, "Are you actually going?"
"Yes, I'm going," she smiled. "I'm riding with Nasir."
"Oh, thank goodness!" I breathed a sigh of relief.
Mami added, "Bilki and Sa'a will probably find it difficult to attend, but they are currently over at the bride's house."
"Has she officially been conveyed to her matrimonial home already?" I asked.
Mami replied, "Yes, she has been moved there. The wedding party will pick her up directly from her new house." I then asked anxiously, "Mami, is Mama in the living room parlor? I want to slip out without her seeing me; she might order me to stay back because it's getting late."
"No, she isn't there," Mami assured me. "On my way in, I saw her carrying a tray toward Alhaji's quarters."
"Perfect! Our brother Abdulrahim is waiting for me outside. Hey Mami, you haven't said a single word about how I look! Did I dress well?"
Mami gasped, "Honestly, Iman, you look absolutely breath-taking, I swear!"
"Thank you!" I smiled. "I’ll head out now and see you at the venue. Nasir told me he's already on his way here to pick me up, and then he'll go pick up the rest of the bridesmaids."
We walked out of the room together, Mami laughing and saying, "I had better hurry up and claim my man before some older woman tries to steal him away from me, leaving me looking like a clueless little girl!" We both laughed and shared a high-five before parting ways, Mami heading back to her room to await her Nasir, while I stepped outside.
I scanned the courtyard and spotted a strange, luxurious car parked in the driveway. I didn't recognize the vehicle, so I stood a short distance away, looking around in confusion. Where on earth is Abdulrahim?
Suddenly, the car let out a sharp honk. I walked toward it cautiously. The tinted glass window rolled down smoothly, and my entire body went numb with a sudden, intense thrill.
He looked devastatingly handsome. His striking appearance was so perfect it seemed as though he had sculpted his own features. He leaned over and flung the front passenger door open.
"Get in, hurry," he commanded simply.
I slid into the seat. Wow. The interior was filled with an incredible, crisp fragrance, and the air conditioning was blissfully cool. The car was brand new. He didn't say a single word to me as he shifted into gear and drove out of the compound. The smooth, soulful voice of his favorite artist, Celine Dion, echoed softly through the car's speakers.
After we had driven a considerable distance in absolute silence, my phone began to ring inside my bag. I pulled it out; it was Mama. My heart plummeted into my stomach as I answered.
"Where on earth did you disappear to at this hour?!" Mama's voice boomed furiously over the line.
"We are heading to the wedding dinner venue, Mama," I squeaked.
"Who gave you permission to leave?!" she demanded.
"Please, Mama, I am so sorry, please forgive me," I pleaded.
"What time do you plan on returning home?" she pressed.
"I swear I don't know, Mama."
"Listen to me carefully: you had better watch your conduct and protect your dignity, do you hear me?!"
"Yes, Mama, I promise I will be extremely careful."
"Good. Because I swear to Allah, if I had been in the main house, you would have never stepped foot outside tonight! The event won't even begin until nearly 9:00 PM, let alone conclude anytime soon!"
"Please forgive me, Mama, we will return early, I promise."
The moment I concluded the call, Abdulrahim turned his head and shot a brief glance at me before returning his focus to the road. Slowly and smoothly, he pulled the car over to the shoulder of the road and came to a stop. He turned fully in his seat and gazed at me.
"You look absolutely beautiful tonight," he said softly.
I blushed, casting my eyes down. "Thank you."
He kept his eyes locked onto me, and a wave of pure, unadulterated happiness washed over my soul. He took a long, deep breath and called my name.
"Iman!" He lingered over my name as he reached out and gently took my hand in his.
An extraordinary, indescribable sensation coursed through my entire being; I had never felt anything like this in my entire life. He gently massaged my fingers, his piercing eyes staring directly into mine.
"You didn't answer me when I called your name, Iman," he murmured.
"Umm... yes?" I managed to whisper.
"For Allah's sake, Iman," he continued earnestly, "even when I am no longer here, I want you to promise me that you will stay completely away from the advances of young suitors. Please do this for me. Focus entirely on completing your education, do you hear me? Let me be the one to personally select a worthy husband for you—someone who aligns perfectly with your desires and who is absolutely madly in love with you. Do you hear me, my little sister?"
A sudden surge of bitter resentment flared up inside me. I furiously pouted my lips, thinking to myself, I knew it! He doesn't have a single ounce of romantic love for me. And there was Amira, foolishly claiming she thought he loved me!
He raised his finger to my lips, tapping them gently. "You already have someone you love, don't you?"
"No!" I snapped, my voice thick with frustration and a sudden childish petulance, looking as though I was on the verge of tears.
"Then why are you looking so incredibly angry, hmm?" he teased gently. I turned my face away, pouting even harder and shaking my head in defiance.
He placed both of his hands on my shoulders. As I blinked my eyes rapidly, tears finally spilled over my lashes. Without warning, he pulled me forward and wrapped his arms tightly around me, holding me against his chest to soothe me.
"I'm sorry, my little sister. Please stop crying," he whispered tenderly.
Oh, God! Feeling the solid warmth of his chest against me, I completely forgot about the existence of the rest of the world. Oh, LOVE! It is an absolute force of nature! Even though a voice in my head screamed that it was entirely inappropriate for us to be wrapped up in each other's arms like this, I found myself completely powerless to pull my body away from his embrace.
In a soft, gentle murmur, he continued, "You promised me you would focus on your studies, right? Don't move." He held me closer. "I know you are an incredibly bright and hardworking girl. I want you to clear all your remaining papers this academic year, do you understand? Do not burden your mind with thoughts of marriage right now; let's put that off for at least the next five years."
He gently pulled back, raising his hands to cup my face, forcing me to look into his eyes. As tears continued to stream down my face, his intense gaze held mine captive.
"Look at me. Do you promise me that you will focus entirely on your studies and ignore all these young suitors?"
I tightly shut my eyes, unable to endure the burning intensity of his gaze any longer; my profound love for him felt as though it was going to kill me. In my mind, I yelled bitterly, I don't care about any university degree! Since you've already gone ahead and gotten married yourself, what on earth do you care about my education?! What difference does it make?!
Almost as if he could read the furious thoughts racing through my mind, I felt him tighten his grip slightly and whisper, "Do not ever think for a single second that your future is none of my business..."
