Destined Hearts

Chapter 42

Madeenah's POV

I invited Yasmine over for lunch today. We had been planning to meet up for a while but she said her house was too much of a mess so we settled on mine. Muhammad is gone to Kaduna for the day but he'll be back later tonight and Inayah is sleeping at Mami's since it is a Friday.

I had to root through Yasmine's posts on Instagram to find what sort of food she likes since she refused to tell me. She seems like a pasta girl from the amount of videos I saw she reposted on TikTok too. So I decided to do a creamy chicken pasta with garlic bread and a Caesar salad. I also had cheesecake left from the one I made during the week.

The doorbell rings just as I am coming down the stairs after taking a shower. I open the door and Yasmine immediately pulls me into a hug. I hug her back just the same.

"Ina wuni." I greet her husband, Yusuf, when we pull away.

"Lafia alhamdullilah." He says as he holds her handbag.

"Madeenah why didn't you tell me you lived in the old house? I wouldn't have come with him at all if I knew." Yasmine says as she walks in.

My brows furrow in confusion. Old house? "What?"

"Never mind, your house is so beautiful. I love the color scheme." She gushes as Yusuf places her bag on the couch.

I ignore the strange feeling I got and focus on her compliment. "Thank you."

"Yas I'm leaving now." Yusuf gives his wife a kiss on her cheek before he turns to me. "Please make sure she behaves." He says with an indulgent smile.

"I don't think anyone can do that." I laugh.

"I'm right here guys. Yusuf just go, you are acting like you are dropping me off at a play date." She rolls her eyes.

"Is this not a play date?" He asks, trying to annoy her.

"Madeenah send him out please." She plops down on the couch.

"Yusuf you've heard the lady." I say to him.

"I have. Goodbye." He leaves, shutting the door behind him.

I sit next to Yasmine and remove my veil as she does the same. "Is Muhammad around?" She asks.

"No he's in Kaduna. He won't be back till later tonight." I say.

"Good cause I'm too tired and exhausted to be modest right now."

"Don't worry it is just us. Inayah is also at Mami's."

"Oh my god I haven't seen Mami in so long. And Asma too."

"You never told me how you knew Muhammad fa." I settle in more comfortably.

"Oh we were in the same school from primary all the way to university and my dad and his are business partners." She folds her legs as she turns to me. "Is this where I tell you all the dirty details about him?" She grins and I grin back.

"Yes please."

"Well then this will be very boring. Muhammad has always been quiet ever since we were kids. When all of us would be outside playing during break he would be inside reading a book and not even the ones with pictures. I'm a lawyer and I didn't start enjoying reading until I was in Year 10." She shakes her head at the memory. "Nothing ever really affected him. He was always so nonchalant except with-" She stops abruptly.

I smile already knowing what she's about to say. "It's okay to say her name you know. I'm not jealous of her and I know she was his wife before me. She will obviously be part of his story and I want to know everything." I assure her.