So close, yet so far

07

ABUJA, NIGERIA

"Innalillahi wa Ina illahir rajiun! Ya Aisha, Sa'eed knows that bastard! He knows Bilal Maigoro." Hauwa finally managed to say in between painful sobs.

Aisha's eyes widened in horror as she stumbled backward, her hand flying to her mouth. "Mai-Jidda, what are you talking about? How does Sa'eed know...that monster?" She spat out the words, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and anger. The name Bilal Maigoro was like a poison, a toxic reminder of the pain and suffering their family had endured.

Hauwa's sobs intensified, her body shaking uncontrollably. "I-I don't know, Ya Aisha! Sa'eed just mentioned it casually, like it was nothing! But I know that name, Bilal Maigoro...it's a sore topic for our family, a wound that never healed." She choked on her words, her eyes pleading with Aisha to understand.

Aisha's face twisted in disgust. "You know exactly what he did, Hauwa! How can you even think of marrying someone who associates with him? Have you forgotten the pain, the suffering...the nights we cried ourselves to sleep, the days we lived in fear?" Her voice rose, echoing off the walls as she relived the memories.

Hauwa's eyes flashed with defiance, her voice rising. "I haven't forgotten, Ya Aisha! But I won't let the past dictate my future. Sa'eed loves me, and I love him. He's not responsible for Bilal's actions." She took a step forward, her hands clenched into fists.

Aisha's expression turned cold, her voice dripping with venom. "You're selfish, Hauwa. You only think of yourself, your feelings. What about our family's honour? What about the scars we still carry? You're willing to betray everything we stand for, everything we've been through, for a man who's connected to our tormentor." Her words cut deep, intended to wound.

Hauwa's face crumpled, but she stood her ground. "I'm not selfish, Ya Aisha! I just can't live without Sa'eed. And I won't let you or anyone else come between us." Her voice cracked, but her determination remained unwavering.

The sisters locked eyes, the air thick with tension, as the shadows of the past threatened to tear them apart. The silence between them grew heavier, punctuated only by Hauwa's ragged breathing.

Aisha's gaze narrowed, her eyes blazing with a fierce inner light. "You're blind, Hauwa. Blind to the truth, blind to the danger. Sa'eed's connection to Bilal Maigoro is not just a coincidence. It's a sign, a warning. And you're ignoring it, ignoring the risks, ignoring our family's history."

Hauwa's face is set in a stubborn mask. "I'm not ignoring anything, Ya Aisha. I'm choosing to move forward, to build a life with the man I love. And I won't let you or anyone else stop me." Her voice rang out, a declaration of independence.

The room seemed to vibrate with the intensity of their emotions, the weight of their conflicting desires. Aisha's anger and fear clashed with Hauwa's determination and love, creating a maelstrom of feelings that threatened to consume them both.

The staring contest continued, the tension between them crackling like a live wire. Aisha's eyes blazed with a fierce intensity, while Hauwa's shone with tears and determination. The air was heavy with unspoken words, the silence between them thick with emotion.

Finally, Aisha's face twisted in a snarl, and she hissed, "You're making a huge mistake, Hauwa. A mistake that will haunt you for the rest of your life." With that, she spun on her heel and stormed out of the room, leaving Hauwa shattered and alone.

Hauwa slumped to the ground, her body wracked with sobs. She held her chest, as if trying to contain the pain and heartache that threatened to consume her. "I love you, I really do...and I know Bilal Maigoro and his family are the reason for your untimely dismissal and our family's misfortune...but I just can't leave without Sa'eed. I love him, I really do. Besides, he is innocent, he knows nothing about what Bilal and his family did."