My Young Love ✅

The Conclusion

I didn't need anyone to tell me the woman who stared back at me when we knocked was Maryam and my mother for she looked the way I think I will look in 20-25 years to come. It seems it was same with her as she stood there frozen, then slowly let out a cry and engulfed me in a hug, even before I could show her the picture or offer her any explanation. "I have been dreaming of this day all my life, Alhamdulillah Ya Allah for bringing my daughter back to me" she kept saying as she hugged me the more. A boyish looking man appeared behind her tying an apron and a cap in a funny way "What is happening here Hun, who are these people?

"It's my daughter Shamal, my daughter came back to me, look at her" -even his name sounded funny. His eyes instantly brightened up as he also moved forward and hugged me "Welcome home my daughter, my name is Shamal, but you can also call me Daddy, please come inside" he led us and served us with some refreshments, my Mama was still holding my hands tightly, as if afraid I might disappear when she let go.

"Young man, I was cooking for my lady before you came, you can join me in doing so, for your lady also" he winked at Sheriff who nodded shyly and followed him to the kitchen. "Shamal was my secondary school sweetheart and I loved him so much. My father would not hear of it as he said he wass too young for me and couldn't take care of me obviously because he had no money. I was married to your Baba against my wish, he put up with all my ill treatments towards him as he loved me more than you can ever imagine. He was so nice, so loving, so caring, but he wasn't the one I loved. Shamal still occupied my thoughts. I begged him to let me go but he refused, saying he loved me so much. So after I gave birth to you, I breastfed you for a year then weaned you and ran away, it too him two months to trace me, but I refused to come back with him. The condition I gave him was that he would let me go if I followed him back, he had no option than to agree. We came back and he explained things to my father who got very angry. Your Baba pleaded with him for peace to reign and he finally gave in but not before telling your Baba to go away with you since I chose another man over you both.

I cried and cried but there was nothing I could do and I was scared of making myself known to you. I am sorry, I feel so ashamed of myself, for choosing him over you my daughter. I was so selfish, love blinded me. Please forgive me" She cried and I cried with her, I understood her for at least I knew what love was. I forgave her instantly and she thanked me, then asked me what was wrong with me, I burst into fresh set of tears as I told her everything "History is about to repeat itself Mama, I love Sheriff so much, I can't marry Abdullah" we heard Daddy's laughter, followed by Sheriff's chuckles then later they laughed together at intervals "That's how he is" Mama signalled at the kitchen, he's always bubbly like that, you see the reason why I loved him and still do"

We ate the food they prepared before leaving and Mama advised me to follow my heart and not take a decision I will live to regret. We left, promising Daddy we would visit again another time. I was thrown into what ifs and left with mixed feelings when we left my Mama's house, I wanted to be happy, I wanted to live the rest of my life with Sheriff, I couldn't take it anymore.

I summed up courage and approached Baba with it when he came back, I told him I had someone I loved. He took it lightly and asked why I didn't tell him all along that I had someone in my life. He said he wouldn't have introduced someone to me if he knew. He was pained that I didn't confide in him, I told him I didn't want anything to happen to him as I overheard him with his doctor. Baba laughed and said that was more of the reasons why he didn't want me to know, he said my happiness was his and whatever made me happy, brought him joy. He promised to talk to Abdullah and his father and that was how the chapter ended. I never knew it could be that easy!

I rekindled my relationship with Sheriff and couldn't have been happier, it was so surreal. Baba asked to formally meet him, he was impressed by his zeal and potentials and offered him a job in his company but Sheriff politely declined. Baba then used his connections to get him an appointment with one of the country's top running companies, of course Sheriff had a first class, he was a hot cake. Baba fell sick and was hospitalized not long after that. Sheriff was with us through it all.

"I want to introduce you to someone Baba, if you wouldn't mind" for some reasons I thought seeing Mama and making peace with her will help him heal. The way he stared at Mama painfully and shocked, unable to utter a word made me believe he still loved her, I could see Daddy's eye shift with jealousy and discomfort. He quickly cleared his throat and introduced himself as Mama's husband. Mama sincerely asked for Baba's forgiveness for all the heartache she's made him go through. He forgave her and said he was happy she found love and happiness at last. Baba recuperated within a short time, true to my thoughts, forgiving Mama and letting go helped him a lot.

Baba and Daddy bonded with each other within a short time, we were always dining at each others place, sometimes we went over, other times they came. Sheriff was also invited to such dinners. Sometimes Mama and I prepared the diner and other times, the men did. I happily watched Baba get better each passing day and I saw a bubbly side of him I never knew existed. A year later, Baba was in hospital again.

Daddy cried like a baby the day Baba died. He said he saw a brother in Baba, he sat by his side all the while while I knelt by his bedside and held his hand with all my might, praying, hoping. Baba handed the documents of all his properties to Daddy, to hold in trust for me and pleaded with him to be my guardian and take care of him. Daddy said he could do anything for him and thanked him for giving him a daughter which they never had.

Following the rulings of Islam on inheritance and Will, the fact that a testator cannot Will out more than 1/3 of his estate, he willed 15% of all his estate to Sheriff, 10% to Daddy and Mama and 8 to be added to the charitable funds he's already established. He lightly told Sheriff that now he is compelling him as a father, to come help me run the affairs of his businesses as I was too young to do it alone.

Their voices where floating over my head, amidst tears, I heard him seek for everyone's forgiveness, then I heard him reciting the shahada, I didn't let go even when I heard Mama gasp and yell then Sheriff ran away to get the nurse, I didn't let go even when the nurse checked his pulse and said he was no more, I still held on when his eyes were closed and the hospital sheets were covered over his body and the last thing I could remember was slipping into unconsciousness.

I moved in with Daddy and Mama after Baba's death, his death left me a totally different person, he being the only parent I had known all my life, Baba was everything a father should be and more, I prayed everyday for Allah to grant him eternal rest. Life with my second family was fun, Daddy tried all his best to make me feel loved and comfortable. Sheriff and his Mama were there too, I honestly felt loved.

Sheriff resigned from his job and joined me at Baba's company, I couldn't be more happier, and together we grew the company. We got married as planned, two years later and it was the best day of our lives even though I wept so much for Baba, I wished he was there on my big day.

Just like how I dreamt it to be years ago, we picked and argued about fixtures, furniture, electronics and everything we would put in our home. Sheriff's Mama said she would be happy if we stayed with her and I gladly accepted. She was the first mother I knew even before I knew mine. She had two rooms to herself and we had two rooms and a sitting room to ourselves. She would cook and feed us morning, afternoon and night happily without complain or allowing me do any work while we went to work together with Sheriff. She spent time with us and will scold us and settle all our quarrels and silly fights

I told Sheriff I didn't want to start giving birth just yet and he was okay with it, Mama would force us to take concoctions, pray and fast for Allah to bless her with a grandchild to keep her company. We would laugh and make fun of her behind our closed doors as she was kept in the dark from our plans. Five years later our kids started coming and today we have three lovely kids. Asma, Zara and Sheriff Junior. They're all in the University and we love them so much.

We had our ups and downs and bumpy rides but I had never for once regretted marrying Sheriff, and most importantly, my young love have never been a day older.

                        THE END.

Just a fun quick something 😀😀the Lead character has no name, you can give her one. The essence of the whole thing after all was to write a story without mentioning the name of the lead 💃.

Amira Julde ❤❤❤
22nd October, 2018.