Married To The Gateman

26: A Promise Of Death

She heard nothing after that, because what else mattered? Everyone proved to her that she was indeed worthless and undeserving of love. The only person left on earth that cared about her was Nana and Fareeda knew it would only be a matter of time before she hated her too. She could hear the erratic beating of her heart in her ears as it thumped and squeezed with too much agony. She wondered how different emotions that were so strong will envelope one's heart and all one could feel would be agony. Too much grief and sadness.

She was clearing her tears while more gushed down on her cheeks as she heard his voice again. It was still a miracle to her how she heard him amidst the chaos in her heart, "I'd love to, but Alhaji, I want to stay with Fareeda as my wife." Her head instantly shot up but he wasn't looking her way. From the way she viewed it, if not mistaken by her second and helpful eyes that were blurry with her tears, he avoided her direction at all cost because he obviously felt disgusted by her presence.

Alhaji smiled and nodded his head, "Are you sure about this, Mujaheed? Please you shouldn't say that because I'm here and you'll find it hard to divorce her. I've understood, and believe when I say I'd have divorced her if she was my wife. Are you sure about this?" Fareeda immediately shot up a hateful glare at Alhaji but he acted as if he hadn't noticed. It was only the two of them that knew the meaning of her look, and today none of them had the energy to address it or ponder over it.

Alhaji was certain that had it been something hadn't knocked her down, she would have made him regret what he had just said, but she was so concerned about something else even though he was sure a day would come when she would have to retaliate for what he said. She was his daughter, but the only things he knew about her were how unforgiving she was about him. How she made sure she hurt him with her words even before her actions spoke. How she hated him with every fibre in her being.

Mujaheed shook his head and he stole a glance toward Fareeda that did nothing but cleared her tears away but more kept gushing down. He turned his attention back to Alhaji and ducked his head down respectfully, "No, I don't say it because I'm in your presence, Alhaji. I mean what I've said, I want to keep on staying with her as a wife, if that will be okay with you."

'And she'll be my wife in Jannah, Insha Allah.' Fareeda could clearly remember what Nana told her he had told her. She wondered if he meant what he had said or the sole reason he wanted to keep on staying with her as a wife was because he wanted to torture her life enough for what she had done to him. But she wondered what man would reject a scrumptious offer like the one being presented at him. An offer of being married to Asma'u Kamal Sardauna, that was one in a billion.

She stole a glance at Alhaji and was surprised to see a pleased and relaxed look on his face. She might have not known him as ever daughter knew her father, but at least she knew enough about him. And the look he had on his face wasn't a displeased one. He was relieved that Mujaheed wanted to stay with her as a wife and Fareeda knew his reason would only be because she was disgrace to him now.

"I'd have to thank you again, Mujaheed. Because there are only a few people that will still choose to stay with a bad wife when a very good one is presented to them. Thank you." That went unanswered, as Mujaheed only nodded his head and Alhaji turned his gaze to Fareeda with all the softness gone, the kindness and what was only left was fury and his disgust of her.

"I'd have to make this clear to you, Fareeda. You have to know what you're doing now, I don't know what had happened in Katsina but I can say it has touched you badly, which I'm grateful for. I don't want you to do anything bad or troublesome to Mujaheed as you can see, he rejected a good offer and chose to stay with something as rotting as you are, you should forever be indebted to him. No man could chose you over any girl, even the baddest of girls out there. Be respectful to him and obey his every rule. I might've not punished you for what you did now because I feel that's left for your husband to punish you the way he likes, but if you dare make another mistake again, I won't let it slide easily. And we both know how my punishments are."