RAYS OF HOPE✔

Chapter 36

"They're back. Will talk to you later In Sha Allah.

"Okay habibty rosy cheeks." She bit the inside of her cheeks to stop herself from blushing. After the call ended, she exchanged a few pleasantries with Ammi, Nabeel and Maryam who all settled down.

"Has she been asleep for long?" Ammi queried.

"Yes. She slept not long after you left. So probably she might wake up anytime soon." She replied.

"Oh, Masha Allah."

"Can I please ask you a favour Ammi?" Humaira muttered in a hush tone.

"Sure, go ahead."

"Can Goggo jidde please come home with us after she gets better? You see she told me all about why she came back to Abuja. She has no where else to go Ammi. Kabir mortgaged the one house they had."

"I can't believe he did this. How could he repay her like that?" Ammi whispered more to herself in shock. "And Habibty you don't need to ask me. I'd planned on us taking full responsibility to care for her as she gets better and even after that. I know I'd said alot of things to her that day which i shouldn't have said but I guess anger got the better of me. I hold no grudges against her and I'll make sure to make her believe this In Sha Allah."

"Thank you Ammi. You've proven that we all deserve a second chance to right our wrongs and be the better versions of ourselves. May Allah reward you." She snuggled closer to her.

"Ameen habibty and you too." Ammi responded giving her a smooch on the top of her head.

*~*~*~

"I know there's no amount of apology that'll suffice for all that I've done and been to you and your children for the past years Maymunatu. Undoubtedly, I deeply regret my actions and if there's anything I could do to change the past and everything I did then I definitely would. I know Allah doesn't forgive the sins we commit that tramples on someone's rights except if that person forgives his wrongdoer first. So before I ask of Allah's forgiveness, I humbly ask you to please forgive me Maymunatu. Please." As if her life depended on it, Goggo jidde held her two palms together in a pleading gesture.

"I forgave you since Ya jidde. By Allah I hold nothing against you. And I'm sorry for hurling all those words at you in a fit of rage and hurt." Ammi croaked taking hold of her hands as she tried to stop herself from crying but couldn't.

"I also want to seek for your forgiveness, Nabeel and Maryam. And you too Shehu." Goggo jidde hung her head low in shame.

"We've no grudges Aunt. May Allah forgive us all." The couple said simultaneously.

Kawu shehu cleared his throat to ease down the lump in his throat. He just arrived from Saudi Arabia hours ago after getting his niece's call. He'd immediately hopped on the flight available. To say he'd been shaken would be an understatement.
"If Allah can forgive our tons of every day sins then who are we not to forgive each other? We all make mistakes. We all have regrets. No one among is us perfect or sinless. And indeed as the Prophet peace be upon him said: 'All sons of Adam are sinners but the best of sinners are those who repent.' In life along the way, we're prone to making wrong choices. That's just inevitable. And as the saying goes, what we sow, so shall we reap. Whatever we do in this life, comes back to us in one way or the other. That's why we're always advised to be kind. Especially to orphans. They're like an Amana given to us by Allah. So if we maltreat them than what do you think are the consequences? Vice versa if we show them nothing but utter affection. Don't be disheartened Ya jidde. You regretting your actions and repenting is a huge step. I've no grudges against you whatsoever. I just wanted you to see things in the right way and alhamdulillah you did. May Allah in His infinite mercy forgive and distance us from disobeying Him. May He protect us from all the evil within us." He concluded.