Over and Over

sync

EL-BAAZ MANSOR,
KANO.
NIGERIA.

LAYLA'S POV

My eyes blazed with anger as I turned to Hakeem. "Excuse you, I'm not your wife.

Please stay within your limits. I don't think I can ever accept you because I love someone else, not you," I said, my voice sharp and unyielding.

Without waiting for a response, I picked up my things and left the room, i was determined to leave no room for misunderstandings.

As I stepped into the hallway, Rayhana greeted me with a hug and a laugh.

"Sister-in-law, I'm glad you're back!" Rayhana exclaimed.

"Rayhana, please," i whined, but Rayhana interrupted me with a smile.

"Okay, I won't call you that again," she promised, still smiling.

I headed to my room, freshened up, and ate in my room after arranging my wardrobe.

---

When the dawn came, I prayed subhi, and freshened up, and got into an abaya.

I couldn't find my white veil, which would have matched perfectly with the white abaya i wore.

"Here, ma'am," said Samira, the domestic helper, handing me the veil.

"Thank you," i replied, collecting it.

I opened the door and moved towards the dining area.

"What would you like to eat, ma'am?" asked Asiya, the head cook.

"Anything, please," I replied, walking away with my veil and bag on my arm, my ponytail swinging behind me.

"Thank you," I said with a warm smile to Asiya after finishing my meal.

I then went outside to meet the new driver who would take me to school.

To my astonishment, i saw three massive cars parked in front of me: two grey BMW vans and a black BMW Series 3 in the middle.

Before i could speak, James approached and opened the door of the middle car.

I entered without questioning him, only to find Hakeem inside.

"You!" I exclaimed, taken aback.

"What?" he replied calmly, not moving a muscle, his eyes fixed on the newspaper.

I opened the door to leave, but he grabbed my hand and pulled me back in.

Our eyes locked like magnets, a moment of intense connection that I quickly broke off.

The car ride was silent, the tension palpable.

"Hakeem, could you please reconsider this relationship? I don't like you, so please let me be free," I said softly.

"Allah knows, and I also know, that this relationship is ending here, in marriage.

We aren't going to separate," he said, his eyes on his iPad.

I turned to the window, whispering, "Why?"

"You want to know why?" he asked.

Without waiting for my reply, he continued, "Because I want you."

I hissed and turned away, the car ride feeling interminable.

"Please stop here," I said as we neared the school gate.

"No, we are stopping at the school gate," Hakeem insisted.

I set aside my grudges and pleaded with him to stop before the gate.