"Ikhbal habibti, how is your headache?" Aunty Safiyya asked entering my room, hence after the scenario with Khalil yesterday, I literally locked my door as I couldn't keep my tears from cascading down my face, neglected myself from receiving his thousand calls and messages albeit I assured Abba and Aunty Safiyya I was okay but they obviously didn't fell for it.
"I'm fine Aunty".
"Will you eat your lunch now?". She asked.
I shook my head. "No I'm not hungry thank you". I forced out a smile.
"Ikhbal, you know Khalil called your Abba yesterday". She paused whilst my eyes widened a bit and I lowered my head. "His Father had to come too, to resolve a situation he said to have had with you".
"Why didn't you tell me?". I asked.
"You didn't allow us, did you?". Whilst I shook my head. "Ikhbal, we all come across hindrances in life which what happened between you and Khalil is just a misunderstanding, which is very normal between couples especially if the word marriage is involved because life doesn't always bloom with roses and sunshine but sometimes we will be blessed by a soul in our lives which will be the brightest moon brightening our darkest night". She stated.
"Thank you Aunty". I smiled.
"Now dress up, Khalil is waiting for you at the garden".
I looked up at her. "What?! Aunty I can't meet him, that is even out of his culture, remember we are not suppose to meet each other until the knot is ti..".
"Ikhbal!". She smiled. "Forget about culture, you have to go and resolve your issue before the wedding".
I sighed. "Okay let me dress up".
She exited the room, whilst I dressed up into a simple Abaya and applied my eyeliner as my face was pale. I strode out to the garden and I stood to compose my beating heart before I made myself visible.
"Sallam alaikum. Peace be upon you". I said and sat at another seat close to his whilst he turned to me and smiled.
"Wa'alaikumus sallam. Peace be upon you too". He voiced out quietly.
We sat in silence just watching the flowers and butterflies around the garden. Aunty Asiya aspired me to plant flowers as she was the one that loved flowers and that has been my best place in the house after my balcony.
"Ikhbal". He jolted me off my thought. "I don't know where to start from but I know what I said yesterday wasn't close to right, and I want to apologize for that. I'm so sorry Ikhbal, I didn't mean what I said and I would never distrust you in my life because all I ever wished for, was for you to trust me".
I sighed. "I really don't know what to say, I just didn't expect that from you". I glanced at him for a moment and looked away.
"I know and I'm sorry". He paused. "I don't know what to do for you to forgive me Ikhi but..".
I swiftly turned to him, my eyebrow creased. "What did you say?"
He turned to me confused. "I.. Uhmm..".
"I mean, what you call me 'Ikhi', that's what Ammi usually called me".
He nodded with realisation. "I'm sorry". I nodded back and we stayed in silence for a moment again. "Aunty Umaima's house". He paused, "That wasn't where I first saw you". While I looked at him stunned. "The first time I saw you was at Zayn's wedding and that was the first time I knew you were the one, you are the one I want to spend the rest of my life with because my heart literally skipped beating normal". He paused. "I searched for you after I saw you, because in seconds I couldn't see you again and I couldn't let my mind off from thinking about you".
I thought of when I first saw him at Aunty Umaima's house and that tend to clarified the surprised look he gave me the moment he laid eyes on me. "That was the worst day of my life!". I deadpanned and the terrified look on his face showed that he misinterpreted me. "I mean, that was the day I lost my Ammi". I explained.
"I'm sorry, may her soul rest in Jannatul firdaus(paradise)". He prayed.
I smiled. "Ameen".
***
He looked at me laughing. "No is not funny Ikhbal". He pouted whilst I stifled my laugh, hence he told me that he called Abba crying that he knows I'm not marrying him again and Abba threatened that if he upset me again he will strangle him dead which was the reason of my laughter. "Am I forgiven?".
I shrugged. "Well yeah, but I wouldn't want to picture you crying like a baby". I teased.
He scoffed. "Well if is for you, I'm allowed to be your baby".
I quickly lowered my head. "Goodbye Khalil". I stood up and hastily walked into the house while I heard him laughing.
Later on the day, the henna designer came accompanied by Wajdan, Layla, Lujaina, Raliya, Zainab with some of my friends and relatives.
"How is your headache Pretty?". Layla asked concerned as the henna designer performed magic on my hand.
"I'm fine Layla".
"A bride is not supposed to be sick you know". Wajdan added and I smiled.
"And before I forget, Raliya, Salim said I should give this to you". Layla smuggled out a box from her bag and handed it to her. "He wanted given you but he couldn't because of the wedding, with you constantly busy". She shrugged.
Raliya shyly nodded and hesitantly opened the box to a glittery bracelet and the room echoed with 'Awwn' by the ladies.
"I'm hearing more wedding bells". Wajdan said.
"I can't wait for you to be my sister_in_law". Layla beamed.
Raliya hastily excused herself out of the room, and we all chuckled. The henna designer finished my magic and I tardily walked to the balcony for the breeze to dry it off. I looked at the sunset, inhaling the natures fragrance as the breeze blew on my skin.
"Ikhbal your phone is ringing". Zainab handed the phone.
I gently placed it on my ear. "Hello Sadiq".
"Hi Ikhbal, how are you?".
"I'm fine". I responded.
"I called about the incident yesterday, I didn't intend to meddle into your relationship, I'm so sorry for the misapprehension".
"No don't be, we've sort it out, by the way thank you for fixing my car, I appreciate it".
"Never mention, besides.. I thought I would have the privilege of witnessing your wedding". He said.
I mentally face palmed. I literally forgot about inviting him to the wedding. "Sorry, I actually forgot, I will give Zainab your invitation card".
"Sure thing, alright greet your husband_to_be, he's very lucky by the way". He said the last part quietly.
"Thank you, goodbye Sadiq". I hung up and slumped into my seat. However my friendship with Sadiq was never anticipated hence if I was told years ago that we will be friends with him or close to that would've been denied by me but that is what life was all about, we just need to learn to forget and forgive and our lives will be smoothened than we'd ever imagined.
*****
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Behind My Walls✔️
General Fiction[COMPLETED] This is the story of a young lady who found herself being the only child of her parents which seems normal at first, but it comprised of hardship, struggle, grief, love and partial joy. ~ My name is Ikhbal, I am 19 years old from Abuja N...
