His Gorgeous Muslimah (completed) √

CHAPTER FOURTY

Minal set out to the hospital after having an early breakfast. She didn't want to meet anyone. She glanced at her wristwatch and groaned hoping she would be able to beat the time. Her appointment with Dr Kelvin is by 8 and and it's just few minutes past seven. "Lagos traffic please be nice. " she prayed.
She became so familiar with the route to the hospital that everything seemed so natural familiar. She had to lie to her mum being enrolled in a catering school so she wouldn't be disturbed about her whereabouts and has to coat the lies everyday with coming back home with some pastries and sometimes doing some at home all in the name of practicing.
"Miss Sagir Alkali." the jovial young doctor said removing his glasses. "I'm sorry Doctor Kelvin. I didn't plan on showing up late" she pleaded placing her hand bag on the table as she sat on the chair facing the doctor. Her phone which she forgot to put on silence began to ring as she quickly muttered a "sorry" to the doctor who was smiling at her.
She let out a sigh as saw his name appear on the screen. She knows she hasn't been fair to him lately but she just can't help it. The last time they actually talked for long and had fun was three months ago. That was when her life completely changed. Her life completely change ever since she visited Dr Kelvin once and since then, she has been visiting every Monday and Thursday. She replaced Dr Kelvin and the Hospital with Umar and her home. She no longer has time for him like she used to before. Instead of calling him frequently, she calls Dr Kelvin and trying as much as she can not to let her mother sense anything.

When he stopped his car in the premises of the house, Umar let out a sigh. His legs suddenly went stiff. He sat in his car for over thirty minutes before he gathered up the courage to go into the house. He glanced around searching for her car but it was nowhere to be found. "Where would she be? " he began to wonder as he rang the bell. she isn't aware of his visit because there was no medium he could use to inform her since she has been ignoring him and moreover, he wanted to give her a surprise visit.

"Get the door Minal. Maman Sadiya must be back" she heard Ummu say. She wiped her face with her hands which were covered with icing. I'm never going to make an attempt to make a fondant icing she muttered as she walked towards the door.
"Maman Sadiya please don't tell me I look like a mess. I already know. By the way Ummu.. " she froze as she stared at the person she assumed was Maman Sadiya. Dark chocolate eyes were also staring at her with an expression on his face which she couldn't read.
What is he doing here? She thought and wanted to ask him but she couldn't. She still hasn't recovered from the shock. He slowly removed a hand from his pocket and placed it on the door looking down at her. "Minal! " Ummu called and she left leaving him at the door.
"Who is this I'm seeing?" Maman Sadiya asked struggling with the nylon she was holding which was torn and it's content began to fall. Umar smiled as he bent and picked the oranges for her. "Don't tell me you were about leaving? " she asked after they've exchanged pleasantries. "A'a(no). I'm just coming. "
"Masha Allah. Tou Bismillah." Lemme fetch Minal".
Minal continued starring at her self in the mirror with a red face. "I can't believe he saw me like this" she huffed packing her hair with a ribbon. She couldn't help but promise her self never to make a fondant icing again. She felt it made her look so.... and Umar might end up coming whenever she's making one. So it's a bad luck. She concluded.
I just pray he wouldn't make fun of me. She couldn't imagine him seeing her with her face which was half covered with icing, her uncombed hair which laid freely on her exposed back and her baggy pant which left the flesh under her knee bare.
"You didn't tell us would be having a visitor today" Maman Sadiya said standing at the door. "I was also unaware" she shrugged.
"What happened? You look upset " Maman Sadiya said sitting at the edge of the bed. "Minal shook her head as she wiped her face and hair with a towel. "Why did you pour water on your hair when you'll be covering it soon? Do you want it to smell?" she asked trying to change the topic. She noticed Minal didn't want to say a word about it and she didn't want to force her.
"I don't even know. I did it absentmindedly. Maybe I'll just dry it before I..."

"Haba Minal. Not now. Not when he's waiting. Moreover, he looks like someone who hasn't eaten in day. And also bothered. But what ever it is, just don't do something you'll later regret OK? "
Minal ran and embraced this woman who always has something to say and understands her so well. "Thank you Maman Sadiya. "
"I'm sure you know how much I hate thank yous. Now hurry and wear that blue Abaya. You look breathtaking in it.
She didn't want to wear something nice that he would appreciate but she just has to. For Maman Sadiya.
He was on the floor as usuallooking at something on his phone with an unreadable expression when she came in holding a tray in her hand. She could feel his gaze on her as she walked towards him. He hesitated before answering her Salam.
He just couldn't take his eyes off her. "INA Wuni " she greeted but there was no response.
"Did I wrong you? " he asked after she concluded that he could no longer speak. "She shook her head but didn't look up to meet his gaze. She didn't want him to see the guilt in her eyes. She wished there was a way she could make him understand without going into details but she can't think of any. She can't keep on hurting him.
"You suddenly changed Minal. You hardly pick my calls and neither do you call back nor respond to my messages. You are always looking for an excuse to ditch me when ever we are on the phone and you no longer give me the chance to visit. You showed you didn't care when I told you I've gotten a job here and it is so obvious you are avoiding me. You just can't tell me nothing Minal. Tell me what ever it is and I promise I will understand.
She was fighting really hard not to cry but she didn't succeed. "Did my words hurt you?" he asked as she continuously wiped her tears.
"I've told you there is nothing Umar. I .." she paused as the words couldn't leave her mouth. "I'm all ears Minal" he said. His low voice was as smooth and rich as velvet.
"I.. I.. I.. Uhhm" Ya Allah. When did I begin to stammer again. "Just say it Minal." her inner self encouraged her.
"I just need space Umar." she said softly. At first he thought it was his imagination but then, everything seemed real.
"Space? I'm not sitting so close to you Minal. Two infants can comfortably sit here" he pointed at the gap in between them.
"Not this space Umar. " he sat still and continued to stare at her as beads of sweat formed on his for head. "You no longer love me? " he asked softly. There was pain and anger he was trying hard to control in his voice.
She couldn't say anything and her silence was making his temper rise. He's very good in controlling his temper but things don't seem to be going well today. He wouldn't want to loose his temper on her. He might scare her and probably make things worse.
"I'll wait for you for as long as I can Minal. I'll wait. "
She watched him leave . She wanted to run to him and apologize but her ego didn't help things. With each step he took towards the door, her heart beats faster and his last words kept ringing in her ears. "I'll wait".
"Oh Umar!" she cried burying her face in her palms.

Hospital... Minal... Dr Kingsley... Space...
Does it ring a bell?
Minal is definitely up to something. I'll love to hear from you.