So close, yet so far

28

ABUJA, NIGERIA

Mami gently held a crying Hauwa's hand as she led her upstairs to Safira and Safina's room. The room was quiet and still, the only sound was the soft hum of the air conditioner. Safira and Safina were both at school, oblivious to the drama that had unfolded downstairs.

Mami guided Hauwa to the bed, helping her lie down amidst the soft, fluffy pillows. Hauwa's body shook with sobs, her eyes red and puffy from crying. Mami sat down beside her, gently stroking her hair.

"My dear," Mami whispered, her voice filled with compassion. "You are not alone in this. Allah is with you, and He has a plan for you. What happened to your baby was nobody's fault. It was qadr, destiny. What is meant for you will always come to you."

Hauwa's sobs intensified, her body wracked with grief. Mami held her close, letting her cry out her pain.

"I know it's hard to understand right now, but trust me, my dear. Allah knows what He is doing. He has a plan for you, and it is a plan for good. You must trust in Him, trust in His wisdom."

Hauwa's tears slowly began to subside, replaced by a deep sadness. She looked up at Mami, her eyes searching for answers.

"Why, Mami?" she whispered. "Why did this have to happen to me? I was so happy, so excited to have a baby. And now...now it's all gone."

Mami's face was etched with compassion, her eyes filled with tears.

"My dear, I don't have the answers. But what I do know is that Allah is not cruel. He is not capricious. He has a reason for everything He does, even if we don't understand it."

Hauwa nodded slowly, her eyes never leaving Mami's face.

"I know, Mami," she whispered. "I just...I just wish I could understand why this had to happen."

Mami pulled Hauwa into a tight hug, holding her close as she stroked her hair.

"You will, my dear," she whispered. "You will understand one day. But for now, just know that you are loved, you are cherished, and you are not alone."

Hauwa's tears began to flow again, but this time they were tears of gratitude. She hugged Mami tightly, thanking her for her wisdom, her compassion, and her love.

As they hugged, Hauwa made a decision. She would keep quiet about Safar's role in her miscarriage. She knew that Mami and the others would find it hard to believe her, and would think that she was just being emotional. And besides, Hauwa didn't want to cause any more tension in the family. She just wanted to heal, to move on.

As the tears slowly dried on her face, Hauwa felt a sense of peace settle over her. She knew that she still had a long way to go, but with Mami's help, she felt like she could face whatever lay ahead.

Mami stayed with Hauwa until she fell asleep, her soft snores a testament to her exhaustion. As Mami gently tucked the covers around her, she couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and love for her dear daughter-in-law. Hauwa was strong, resilient, and brave. And with Allah's help, she would get through this difficult time.

As Mami turned to leave, she felt a sense of gratitude towards Allah. He had given her the wisdom and the words to comfort Hauwa in her time of need. And as she walked out of the room, she knew that she would always be there for Hauwa, to support her, to guide her, and to love her, no matter what.
•

Safar met Bilal in their usual spot, the darkness of the night shrouding their sinister plans. But tonight, Safar's demeanor was different. Her eyes gleamed with a malevolent intensity, her smile twisted and cruel.