ROYAL GAMES

32: confessions

She stumbled back hitting her leg and falling in the process. The stranger was quick to run and help  her up.

"Be careful mi amor. I don't want you sustaining any injury". His voice calm and soothing. Nawal was still in his arms and she was staring at him. A look that he couldn't understand marred on her.

" Mi amor, are you alright?". And just like her skin was burnt. She jerked pulling herself forcefully from his hold and when he attempted to move closer she moved back.

"It's really you".? Her voice really low. She turned to look at jabbar who was equally staring at her. She looked at Azeeb and back to this stranger.

"I told you I was going to come". His smile wide. He was the same way only better now.

"How...... How were you able to find me".

The stranger walked away from her and sat down before starting his story.

"You remember the day I left malumfashi right?". He asked her and she nodded.

" Everything started that very day.

Seven years ago........

" Do you really have to go?. A red eyed Nawal asked. She was using the edge of her hijab to wipe her running nose.

"I'm never going to be allowed to get married to you if I'm like this. I have to go and get rich then nobody can stop me from having you okay. Mi amor now  stop crying." He consoled. He didn't like how she was crying. She was making it hard for him to go. But he had to if they want to be together.

" Habib, we... We can just elope. You don't have to do this. What if I never see you again." Her sniffles turned into tears.

" Don't say that mi amor. I promise you I'll come back for you. I love you more than I do my life so I'd die before I think of not coming back for you".

She continued crying.

" Now just do me a favor and promise to wait for me"

"I promise to wait for you. Just make sure you come back". Nawal said and he gave her a smile.

" Now go back home before any one notices you're not there ". She ran into him giving him a tight hug. He was shocked because the Nawal he knew wouldn't even hold hands with him when ever they meet in secret because she says it's Haram and here she was giving him a tight hug. He quickly wrapped his hands around her letting her in before she came out of the hug.

Nawal watched him as he walked away as she cried harder. She prayed for his safety and hopes he comes back to her. He was the only boy that treated her right in the whole of malumfashi. Others either just wanted her for her body or wanted to posses the most beautiful girl in malumfashi not cause they actually loved her.

But Habib was different. How they started talking was a mystery. All she remembered was that he was a teacher in her school sent from one and the cities in katsina and had taken an Instant liking towards her.

At first she was wary of him cause she knew all men were the same but he proved her wrong.  He was different. He didn't give her false promises like all the other guys did and there was something about him that drew her in and when he told her he wanted to get married to her, she found herself saying yes.

When she told her mother, her mother told her to focus on other things and leave him alone. What she didn't understand was why her family shielded her from marriage when that's what every girl does after her school.