Affairs Of The Hearts |✅

64| Marshall +1

Abuja, Nigeria.

"Stop looking at me like that," Nabila playfully glared at her friend Mahiya, who was staring at her with wide eyes.

Mahiya, unable to hide her amazement, closed her agape mouth and smiled, her curiosity barely contained. "How can I not look at you? I mean, you're completely a different person now. This is still surprising. Is this really the Nabila I used to know?"

Nabila chuckled, her eyes lighting up with a sense of calm and peace. "Yes, it's still me. You don't expect me to stay the same forever, do you? People change, you know."

Mahiya raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued. "So tell me, how did you get rid of Jalal's feelings for you and end up marrying Sadiq? That's a pretty big change."

Nabila sighed, her expression thoughtful as she remembered everything that had led to this moment. "Well, after what happened at Jalal's office that day... and after hearing about him and my cousin Binafa's story, I really sat down and thought about my life. What's the point of being a bad person? If Binafa had been kind to him, they might never have separated, and I wouldn't have felt anything for him. Even if they still separated, at least he wouldn't have harbored grudges against our family. But I realized, if I had been a better person, maybe he would have respected me and perhaps even considered me. And who knows, I might have even been able to buy shares in his company." Nabila paused, catching her breath, while Mahiya sat silently, absorbing her words. "You see, Mahiya, there's no real gain in being a bad person. When you sin, Allah's wrath is upon you, and people lose all the respect they had for you."

Mahiya squirmed in her seat, feeling guilty for the lifestyle she had been living.

Nabila continued, her voice soft but firm, "Getting rid of Jalal's feelings was a different journey. I spent nights praying, doing my Tahajjud, asking Allah to help me overcome the feelings I had for him. And wallahi, Mahiya, not even five days into it, I started feeling at peace, and the feelings just disappeared. You know Sadiq Kabo? The one who's been after me for a while? I decided to give him a chance, and Alhamdulillah, he accepted me completely, despite knowing all about my past. Now we're happily married. I've never felt this much peace and happiness before."

She smiled at her friend, and Mahiya, overcome with emotion, embraced her tightly.

"Your life is an inspiration to others, Nabila," Mahiya said, her voice thick with sincerity. "I'm so happy for you, wallahi. Mashaa Allah. May Allah protect your marriage from any kind of evil and bless you with children who will be the coolness of your eyes. From today, I'm done living this life. I'm changing, In Sha Allah."

They both sobbed, their hearts filled with joy and gratitude, knowing their paths had shifted toward righteousness.

***

I want some hot choco," she whined, flipping the pages of the book she was reading, her eyes skimming the words but her mind elsewhere.

"Done, 'Mi lady." Jalal smiled, trying to hide his amusement at her request and walked off to prepare her treat. A few moments later, he returned with a steaming mug of rich, dark hot chocolate.

"I don't want it anymore. I want a sandwich." She smirked mischievously, trying hard to hold in her laughter.

Jalal let out a long, exaggerated sigh and trudged off again. It felt like she had put him through a hundred different tasks since the moment they woke up, and he couldn't help but think how he never imagined this side of pregnancy. The cravings, the moods—he hadn't been prepared.