𝓜𝔂 𝓫𝓪𝓫𝔂, 𝓶𝔂 𝔀𝓲𝓯𝓮

20# ANSWERS

So, this won't be a continuation from the last chapter. Hafsah and Yahya's story might be delved into sometime later.
****

THE KHALIL RESIDENCE,
ASOKORO.
JANUARY, 2021.

Lost in reminiscence, Zaynab couldn't help but find no instance in her memory when Hafsah had a cause to lie to her.

It was quite annoying really, dealing with a mix of betrayal and curiosity.

If all Hafsah had said was correct, Jamil and Jamilah had been invested in each other already.

Zaynab hoped it was all false.

Because, it being true would imply that Ayman was only setting himself up for a heartbreak that would someday come; Either because Jamilah would hate him for wedding her or because he'd hate himself for that same reason.

And if Ayman already knew about how far the two had gone, Zaynab didn't want to think that her son would willingly trap Jamilah in a sham of a marriage.

.......not before she was aware of all that had happened before.

That wasn't the Ayman she knew.

****

So, that morning, she'd sought out Jamilah.

She'd found the girl in the living room, curled up on the couch, book in hand.

"Assalamu alaykum Jamilah", she called, watching how the girl was engrossed in what she was reading.

Jamilah jerked from the couch, her eyes wide in alarm as she caught sight of the woman.

She hadn't heard Zaynab enter.

"Wa alaykum salam, hajia", she answered however, once she'd regained her balance.

Jamilah should really have gotten used to the elders of the Khalil household popping up at unexpected times and places, but she hadn't.

And today, it was Ayman's mother.

She hadn't had a lot of conversations with the woman, excluding dinners and casual meetings.

And Jamilah got the impression that Hajia Zaynab was quite withdrawn.

"How're you, Jamilah?", The woman asked taking a seat next to her.

"Alhamdulillah, I can't complain", she answered, fiddling with her thumb nervously.

Somehow, Jamilah couldn't help but think Hajia Zaynab wanted to speak to her about the wedding or something related to that matter, and she didn't know how she'd respond to being queried on that issue.

Honestly, she just wanted to get the wedding done with so she'd stop feeling nervous all the time.

She could only hope that whatever insane nervousness she was feeling with Jamil would die along with her single life.

It was only fair on the man she'd be getting married to, his own brother.

It was only fair on Jamil too, who'd never in any way given her the chance to feel the strange things she felt. He was always civil with her, but he'd never once crossed the line.

"How's Ayman treating you?", Hajia Zaynab's voice came, putting a hold on the younger woman's thoughts.

Jamilah didn't have to think for long before she answered.

Ayman had treated her really beautifully.

He was sweet, he was attentive, he made her laugh and he got her gifts.