Burnt Embers

Chapter Eighteen

Time flies so fast ,the twins are 19 months old and Khadijah had weaned them a month back, she has also written her JAMB exams and she passed with 207 points .

Today being Friday, she got ready to visit Zee , she has been going there over the months. She woke up and felt bored and restless so she asked Ummie for permission to visit her other half with the twins who are now walking around the house , the kids are so beautiful and full of life. They are the light that spark up the house with their cuteness .

" Allah Hafiz Ummie, I will come back before maghrib in shaa Allah don't bother to cook" Khadijah called out from the living room, adjusting Ihsan's shoes .

" Be safe dear, I will cook in shaa Allah ,take your time there but don't stay late, my regards to Hajia and everyone don't forget to stop by and collect the parcel from Laraba " Ummie replied back from her room.

She hailed a tricycle easily and they hopped in .They reached Zee's house after 15 minutes drive .

" Assalamu Alaikum" Khadijah said while the twins mimicked her at the same time with their incomprehensible blabs .

" Wa'alaikumus salam ! Ahh my co - wives are here, maraba lale marhabin come in " Zee's mom welcomed them with a wide smile referring to the twins as her co wives .

They entered the house full of smiles while the twins wandered around the house looking for Zee. Umma served them with water and snacks .They were talking about random stuffs and all for almost 30 minutes but Zee is nowhere to be found .

" Umma is Zee not at home?I haven't seen her and she told me she will be around today " Khadijah finally voiced out her thoughts .

" she is in the bathroom doing only God knows what for over an hour now ,help me go in and check up on her " Umma replied getting up to check the lunch she was cooking in the kitchen .

Khadijah picked her bag and went into Zee's room with a smile only to halt in her steps, her smile was replaced with fright . All her life she has never seen Zee in the condition she saw her in, she has seen her cry yes, she has seen her angry and frustrated yes ,but never this disheveled, pale and disoriented .Dropping her bag by the door D went in and hugged her friend rocking her back and forth without saying a word,letting her cry on her
shoulder .

" I know that you're hurting, you can tell me everything Zee , am here and I promise never to leave, we share our joys and sorrows and you have always been there for me and am gonna do just the same for you, don't hesitate to tell me , my past no longer hurts " D whispered in Zee's ear.

" D I don't know what to do without him, I swear my life will be miserable without him,am so used to him, it's like we are joined by a strong bond how can his mom do this to us after I've given my whole heart to him?" Zee said in between sobs.

" Shh it's going to be okay hunnay, pray for khair not what your heart desires , I know that Taheer will never hurt you intentionally but you have to tell me what actually happened ."

With a sigh Zee narrated to D what happened, she got up to take a bath when Taheer's call came in, she picked with a smile only to be met with his gruff voice sounding as if he had cried,he told her that his mom said he can never marry any other girl apart from ....she didn't let him finish off his sentence before switching off the phone, going down to her knees and crying out her heart. Hence the condition D found her in .

" Yahsalam Zee, I thought you've gotten over that conclusive attitude of yours a long time ago, you should have heard him out. But you just concluded everything and wasted your precious tears . Now dry your tears Besty, let me call him " D consoled her friend, praying in her mind that it is not really what Zee thought it is .