Destined Hearts

Chapter 26

Muhammad's POV

"You don't love her do you?"

I turn to see Hussein standing there, leaning against the door to my hotel room. We are about to head out to the dinner so I'm in my babban riga and so is he.

"What?" I ask.

"I was there when you married Maryam. I saw how happy you were. I haven't seen any of that now." He says.

"This is my second time. Of course I am not that excited." I say as I fasten my cufflinks.

"I'm younger than you but I am not stupid." He picks up my cap from the bed and hands it to me. "Why would you marry her if you don't love her?"

I consider lying to him. Giving him the same answer as I would give Mami or Abba but it's Hussein. He might be younger than me, but we've been through a lot together. I can't lie to him.

"Because she's the perfect person and the only one I could tolerate to be in a house with." I tell him as I fix my cap. "And it's an added bonus that Inayah loves her."

"Does she know this?" He asks.

That's when I hesitate because I know how wicked and cruel of me it is for me to lie to her, give her hope of something I will never be able to give her. That's all I've been thinking about. It's why I haven't spoken to her at all except at events when I have to. It's because I can't stand to lie to her more than I already have. I know I'll have to tell her tonight when I take her back to my house, I can't let it go farther.

"She will." I say simply.

I can see the disapproval on his face, but Hussein knows when to mind his business, it's why I respect him a lot more. He may not like it, but he won't involve himself.

"Are you taking her back home today or till tomorrow?" He asks.

"Tonight, because I am travelling to Lagos tomorrow." I say.

"You're going to leave her a day after you marry her?" He asks incredulously.

"It's for the office and I'm just spending three days."

He's silent as I fasten my watch and slip on my shoes, he doesn't say one thing even though I know how much he hates it.

"We have to go now." He says then walks out.

I shake my head to clear my thoughts before heading out of my suite and downstairs where the convoy of cars was waiting for me.

The event centre was just about 20 minutes away from our hotel, so we arrived in just a few minutes. The event had already started, and everyone was just waiting for me and Madeenah since we had to enter together.

Her friends were waiting at the entrance of the wedding centre and luckily they were the same amount as my friends so they were being paired.

"Ya Muhammad?" I turn to see her friend from school, Hafsa, walking towards me.

"Yes." I say.

"I wasn't sure if it was you. I have to go get Madeenah then." She says.

"Where is she?" I ask.

"In the car. I'll just go get her."

"Okay." I say then she walks away.

All the guys are in navy blue babban riga and the girls in silver dresses. Even I can admit that the colours are matching making it all look nicer. I'm wearing black but I haven't seen what Madeenah is wearing.

"Where's your wife?" One of my close friends, Abdulhamid, asks as he stands near me.

"I don't know."