𝓜𝔂 𝓫𝓪𝓫𝔂, 𝓶𝔂 𝔀𝓲𝓯𝓮

25# Stammers

THE KHALIL RESIDENCE,
ASOKORO.
JANUARY, 2022.

Guilt.

It was all Yahya felt as he turned back to look at Abubakr.

It felt like a slow motion film playing out.

In one minute, he was informing his closest brother, Salihu about the newest development, in another, he'd called Abubakr to the side to agree to the terms, and now, he stood before his son.

Yahya looked at Jamil.

And if it'd been someone other than his son, they'd probably had become squeamish from the unusual attention.

But Jamil matched his father's gaze,  his expression giving off that he knew something was up.

Yahya's voice was slow, low and deliberate as he asked his son,"If I told you that Ayman won't be coming for the wedding, and that Abubakr wants you to marry Jamilah, what would you say?".

Yahya didn't know what exactly he'd expected from Jamil, but the reaction he got was beyond his expectation.

Jamil closed his eyes, his hand curled tightly beside him.

Then he'd release the fist, and form it. And release it again, and form it.

And when he finally spoke, it was in a way Yahya had never ever heard him speak before.

"W-why?", Jamil said, unable to hide the tremour from his voice.

He cleared his throat subtly, but Yahya had heard him speak already, heard his ill-concealed stammer.

If he didn't feel already like the worst person on earth for what he was doing, he'd revel in Jamil's condition.

"Jamil, don't pretend you don't see the severity of Jamilah's condition.

She isn't a normal girl, Ya ibni.

She's someone who's touched lives, and changed others.

In our kind of world, do you know what that makes her?"

Yahya asked, his voice rising the slightest bit.

Jamil was silent.

He'd be worse than a fool if he claimed to be oblivious to Jamilah's reality.

In the world of politics, the people at the top were the ones who wielded power.

And those that weilded that power were the ones who were prepared to dine with the devils. Even the few of them who'd entered with even half-good intentions didn't last long.

They'd never be allowed to even get to a stage where they were recognised for their goodness before they were weeded out.

It was normal, hearing of deaths in the inner circle that were hidden from the world.

The world of politics was a truly dirty, deadly affair.

And when people like Jamilah entered the picture, especially with a family like hers that belonged to the world of politics, she would surely have eyes on her.

And the more she garnered the people's trust, and the more her popularity became, the greater the enmity towards her became.

Jamilah was good with people. And before the accident, she'd always find a way to squeeze herself out of very tight situations.

She was as wily as a fox; clever, and a fast-thinker.

Jamil wasn't so naive he'd think that she could get back to her previous self overnight.