NADIYA'S STRUGGLE

Chapter 36

Hajiya Hadiya sat in her bed, crying out of joy. She has finally got to talk to her daughter after two straight days of been apart and even though for a few minutes, it still gladdens her. Her tears are caused for two reasons; first for talking to her daughter and hearing her melodious voice which always tend to soothe her heart. While secondly, speaking to her father and the words he stabbed her with. It has devastated her and she feels like a sharp object has been pierced straight into her heart for the words felt like poison. The fact that he confidently said that undeniably means he meant each words he said. Why? Why does he have to act like this? If only he has dismissed his selfish interests back then and stayed, they would've been happy and live as one big happy family together. All that is happening wouldn't have happened if only he has stayed for the sake of their love and his daughter as well.

What is shocking her is how he drastically changed, totally different from the Usman she once knew, the Usman that she loved dearly and greatly, the same Usman who does every little thing she asked him to, out of love. This Usman is surely not the Usman she knew back then. This Usman who decides to change holds nothing from her but loathe. He's considered her enemy, rather than someone she knew as her family, her husband, the father of her daughter. He is so heartless that even when she cried to let her daughter be with her, he didn't seem fazed by it.

While lost in her own world and shedding uncontrollable tears, someone enters the room, which jolted her from her lost world and immediately wiped the flowing tears with both her palms, sniffing now and then.

"Hadiya?" He called softly while proceeding deeper into the room. She stared at him, wondering what he has to say as it feels unusual when he called her by her name instead of 'Hajiya' that he's used to calling.

"Na'am sannu Alhaji. Good afternoon." She bowed her head while she greeted as a sign of respect, still sitting on the bed. He nodded and responded before sitting next to her on the bed.

"How are you feeling now?" He asked as he scanned her face, looking from her red eyes, pink watery nose, dark circles beneath the eyes and slightly chapped lips, he got his answer.

"Alhamdulillah Alhaji. Anything the matter?" She asked straightforwardly as she doesn't wish for him to see her in this state even though she knows he figured she just lied about being fine.

"Actually I come to share some good news for you." He said, suddenly smiling.

"Is there any good news that will make one happy in this state that we're in?" She said gloomily and her brother frowned his face.

"Always be positive in life and remember that with every hardship comes ease as it's stated in the Qur'an. Trust me, I can understand your predicament but remember that we're in this together. Nadiya is equally my daughter and I feel sad to see that she's not here with us. But we need to have faith and always remember that Allah doesn't burden a soul with more than it can bear. Also in situations like this, what does one need to do? It's to pray and pray harder as Allah said to pray and he will answer. I don't want to see you like this and from now onwards, I want to see you extremely happy and thanking your lord every now and then kinji?" He ended with a broad smile and mentally hope that all the motivation he said to her will ease her a bit. Even though right now, it surely will.

"Suban'Allah Alhaji, thank you a lot for what you said because I need it and you have no idea how it's motivating me. Indeed Allah doesn't burden a soul with more than it can bear and I'm very sure he'll make sure my Nadiya gets back. But forgive me Alhaji, I'm not sure I'll stay extremely happy because of what I'm going through right now."

"Oh trust me, you'll be extremely happy when I tell you the good news."

"Then tell me about it already."