Ties

~Chapter 21

My comments and votes jama'a

The shit is about to get real, y'all.
~Enjoy!

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NANA FIRDAUS JANNAH.
ABUJA, NIGERIA.
18-07-24

It's been two weeks since I've been to jafar's house. It's been two weeks since my life changed forever, and it's been two weeks since I found out that my whole life has been a big fat lie.
And today marks the worst day of all, my wedding day. The words tasted so bitter in my mouth. Who would've thought, me nana firdaus would be speaking about my own wedding. How ironic life is, really.

I was currently in the hospital in my wedding outfit. It was a brown lace styled into a beautiful dress that was tight on the top half while the bottom half was loose and flayed. The jewellery I had on is the one mom always said she'd make me wear on my wedding day. I wore it for her even though she couldn't see it. On my feet were silver Jimmy Choo's and draped around me is a cream coloured veil.

I couldn't even speak to mom today, I was too overwhelmed and speechless. I vividly remember how my life started falling apart. It was the day I went to jafar's house. That day holds so many bad memories.

                       ~FLASHBACK~

Ummi, nina and paa insisted I stay at their place for the night. They didn't want me all alone in the state I was. Honestly, I didn't want to be alone either, so I agreed. I asked ummi if I could sleep in her room and not the guest room that was cleared for me. I really needed that motherly warmth and presence around me, else I'd go insane. She obviously agreed, and so we stayed in comfortable silence. That was until my phone rang, and I ignored the first and second calls but just decided to pick up the call to my utmost surprise. It was my father. It was a facetime, to be precise. My expression morphed into a stoic one before answering.

I didn't say anything, I just stared at him. "Let's skip all the games, young lady." He  finally spoke.

"Get to the point or get out of my phone." I replied, honestly,  sometimes a really teenie tiny part of me wants to see the good in this man. But he keeps proving me wrong every single time!

"You see, Firdaus. I happen to be with my beloved wife right now. And I've got a little toy that really wants to play with her." He moved the camera from his face to my mother's, and then to the gun in his hand.

I was speechless but not shocked. I didn't have any words, so I just kept staring at him. "Just a move of my finger, and that's the end of your beautiful mother and my darling wife...." He put up a huge smile for some moments before it fell, his true evil self coming to light.

".... it doesn't have to be that way, though. You just have to do one little thing for me. You're going to marry Khalil Hamza, either that, or say bye-bye to your mother. She has always been the one you loved after all. So, the choice is yours, Firdaus."

"You're worse than the devil himself. You're a monster. I HATE YOU!" My voice came out low, weak even, and I hated myself for that. But can you really blame me? I'm human too, just because I pretend not to care about anything doesn't mean I don't have emotions too, I feel I really do, maybe more than everyone else. I just know how to mask it. I was broken. Not only was my mother's life on the line, I have to get married to someone I had no feelings for.

"Oh, and I love you so very much." He chuckled mockingly. "You have 3 seconds to answer, or you know what happens." He aimed the gun at my mom and started counting down.

"1........ 2......... 3....... say goodbye-" Just when he was about to pull the trigger. "I'll marry him." I said.

He quirked a brow, "What was that? Come again." He heard loud and clear. He just wanted to rub it in my face.

I released a sharp breath and, through gritted teeth, said, "I said, I'll marry him."

"Good girl. Just keep in mind that if you try to act smart, your mother will be the one paying for your actions, so if you like act wisely. But remember I have eyes and ears everywhere." With that, he ended the call.

I threw my phone at the wall and fell to the ground, I hugged my knees and let my tears fall. Ummi, who was in the room throughout the whole conversation, ran to hug me. "Shh, it's going to be okay." She consoled me as I rocked back and forth.

"Ummi, he's going to hurt her. What did I ever do to him? As a kid, I just wanted love from him, no matter how little it was, ummi. Does he hate me that much that he would kill my mother if I don't do what he wants? Ummi, mom is the only one I have. I don't know what to do." I broke down completely, I haven't cried like this since I lost khadijah when I was 13.

"Don't say that, jannah. Look at me." She raised my chin up before continuing, "You did the right thing. It's going to be okay. Hauwa isn't the only one you have. You have me, your ummi, you have jafar, you have your paa and nina. You're never alone. We'll be here for you no matter what, I promise you this, jannah. Trust Allah kinji jannah?" She wiped my tears and took me to the bed. She sat down and placed my head on her laps, patting it gently and reassuringly till I drifted off to sleep.

                  ~END OF FLASHBACK~

When everyone found out about it, paa assigned heavy round the clock security around mom's room. No one is allowed inside except her doctor and us.
They wouldn't let me live on my own because my life could also be at risk
So I've stayed with them since then. And I'm so grateful for it. Somehow, they took my mind off the hell going on in my life, and that was just what I needed. I was determined to save my mother by all means necessary, and if it means getting married to khalil, then so be it.

The door to mom's room was gently opened, I didn't bother to turn and see who it was. "J, it's time." Jafar said lowly.

I turned, gave him a small sad smile, and nodded. I kissed mom's forehead before walking up to jafar. "Let's go then." I said.

"Wait, J." He held my palms in his, "I'm so sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." He kept repeating apologies like some sort of mantra or chant.

"Jafar..." I wanted to speak, but he cut me off. "Please let me speak, j. I'm sorry I couldn't stop this from happening, I'm sorry you have to marry the guy you don't want to. I've failed you, J. I'm sorry. Please forgive me." He lowered his head, his eyes on our hands.

"Jafar, please don't apologise. None of this is your fault. You haven't failed me. You've been the very best friend anyone could ever ask for jaf. Look at me." I raised his chin and noticed the little tears on his face, so I wiped them away.

"I thought you said you were the older one, eh? Don't let these tears fall. You know I'll use them to make fun of you later, right?" I joked to lighten up the mood. We both chuckled, and he nodded. "C'mon, drive me to my husband's house." It sounded wrong on so many levels, but I just had to mask it, for jafar's sake.

"Congratulations, baby girl. I still think your husband's an ass though." We both chuckled. He squeezed my hands a bit, then let go. I tip toed and put my arms around his neck and hugged him really tightly. I closed my eyes to savour the moment, hoping I'd open my eyes and we'd still be in Switzerland. But I knew I was just building castles on the air.

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HELLO BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE!!!
How're y'all??
I told you the shit was about to get real. Faster your seat belts because we're in for one heck of a ride.

See you when I'll see you...... very soon, hopefully.
Ciao!

~Love
~m<3!