NADIYA'S STRUGGLE

Chapter 42

FOUR YEARS LATER...

It's been four good years since Umar's graduation, having done with Law school and his NYSC. He's now a barrister and had also gotten a job in the same court where his mother works. She helped in making sure he worked there, that way, she'll proudly see her son dealing with cases smartly. Fortunately and planned, they belonged to the same defending group, so it wouldn't be awkward for a son to try defending a case while his own mother becomes the prosecutor!

Umar had been busy since he started working and barely had time for anything except cases after the other. He tried everyday to keep in touch with his friends, but it seemed almost impossible. Well all friends except his Nadiya.

Speaking of Nadiya, today is the day of her and Zaliha's lefe with him and Abubakr and it's also the same day they'd be graduating from Law school! It's going to be a big celebration. Since Nadiya's family knew Zalihas' since from day one and as a result of Nadiya and Zaliha's friendship, they were super excited about it and began to organize the wedding activities together and in sync, of course Umar and Abubakr's family were also not left behind. In fact, all four families got so close with one another, one would think they knew each other before. Each child told their family about the other and for the couple of times they met, they got used to one another and have now made a special bond, or so they thought.

The families communicated and fixed a date for the wedding when Zaliha and Nadiya were in their final year while Abubakr and Umar had already started working. Abubakr also got a job in court different from Umar's. Now that the ladies were done with Law school, they're bringing their wedding boxes and then shortly after, they'll start preparing for the wedding after officially announcing the wedding date to families and friends.

They hurried this way because they believed the four of them aren't getting younger anymore. They're old enough to have been married long before and delaying it will only add up to their ages. However, the parents were just so excited their children will be getting married, but masked it with these 'ideas'.

Umar remembered the day he told Nadiya he liked her, she actually didn't look shocked or unable to voice out her mind, it was actually the opposite of what he expected of her to act. Those reactions of hers gave him an impression that she thought this was coming and she wouldn't have minded if he was her husband. Well he thought this way. But later on as he discovered she's acting weird in his presence—somewhat like being shy or unable to act like she normally does—he decided it's best if he gave her the space she needed, or so he thought. That was when she herself began seeking for his attention while he acted oblivious of it all till she confessed her own feelings for him. To say he was dumbfounded would be an understatement! That was one of the happiest day of his life. The day someone whom he liked felt the same way about him! It's safe to say he'd do well in giving relationship tips to the shy niggas out there.

*

Umar just got back from Nadiya and Zaliha's graduation ceremony and he couldn't help but smile at the pictures they took with their families and friends. Of course, Nadiya and Zaliha's in-laws wouldn't miss her graduation day even when it coincided with the same day both of them are not allowed to be seen as it's their lefe.

Umar watched one of the pictures he took of his mother and his soon-to-be wife whom were laughing at God knows what. He let out a chuckle of excitement. He loved how Nadiya and his mother became so close with each other. He's so happy his family accepted her and showered their love on her in different ways.

He moved his eyes further in the picture and saw Zaliha smiling next to Nadiya and Abubakr was staring at her. Umar softly laughed while shaking his head. He couldn't believe their wedding activities is going on the same way! Abubakr had been a great friend of his, a brother he never had. It's with huge excitement to realized that they'll get married on the same day hopefully. He's still unable to fathom when and how Zaliha and Abubakr fell in love! This is really a mystery to him.