Against All Odds

Chapter Eight

I couldn't sleep that night, i was just turning on the bed.

At about 3:45am, i woke up my wife,  Omobolanle, are you serious about what you said earlier?
Sufyan, wallahi! To Allah who made me, that's what I want and I'll forever be grateful if you do so.
You know some things aren't meant to be and some aren't meant to last, am certain that this marriage isn't meant to last.
Allah is the best of all planners.

Please my dear husband, please for the sake of Allah, free me, divorce me, let me go, she pleaded amidst tears and sob.

It's emotional, we both cried like a baby deprived of breast

Bolanle, i can't do this, please let fight for our love, let's save the future of our precious daughter, Bolanle please, i pleaded amidst tears.

Please my darling husband, you can do it, if you really love me and want me happy and sane.
Our daughter will be fine, bi ithnillah.

Later that night, around 4:30am, i performed ablution to pray 1 rakah nawafil of salatul istikhara (prayer for seeking Allah's guidance)

After the prayer, i read my Quran till it's time for Fajr, and i left for the masjid.
I came back and sat on the prayer rug to say my morning adhkar and surprisingly, i slept while saying the adhkar.

I saw my wife in a purple gown, looking gorgeous and radiant, full of joy, laughing and giggling, i was happy for her, as i was about to hug her, i felt a tap on my shoulder, sweetheart, breakfast is ready. Opening my eyes, it's my wife, standing in front of me looking pale and gloomy, the next minute, i felt tears streaming down my face, so it's was a dream, I said.

Omobolanle, am not ready for food, please let me be, i need some space, i said as i walked out of the room.

I spent the next three days, sleeping in the guest room and on the night of the third day, after salatul Isha, i called my wife Rasheedah Omobolanle AbdulRasaq Balogun for a short talk.
"Rasheedah Omobolanle, you're a jewel, a rare gem and a strong woman, I love you and i will always do, your happiness is my happiness and your sadness is my sadness. Now I realise this marriage isn't meant to last, i only pity our daughter, who'll grow up in an incomplete home but am sure, that's Allah's plan for us. Bolanle, i can see a bright and promising future for ahead of you"

May your path be smooth, may Allah ease your affairs and reward you in abundance for your love and patience.
I couldn't continue because we both couldn't help the tears, it's a sad scenario.
I continued, I sufyan Ahmad, on this day divorce you Rasheedah Omobolanle AbdulRasaq Balogun.
Go in peace, my dear sister and friend and mother of my precious jewel. I leave you with the custody of our daughter Habeebah Olabisi.

And that's the end of our love story and journey, i concluded.

Olabisi was soaked in tears as i concludes the my story, i couldn't help the tears too, it's always fresh in my memory and each time I narrate this story, i end up crying. My love for Rasheedah is never gone.

   She's happy that i released her but her family was disappointed in both of us.
She kept you with her mother while she to school and return on Fridays.
I couldn't put up the courage to go visit you in Alhaja's House because u lack the courage to do so.

Rasheedah left when you're a year three months.
We communicate regularly i discharged my responsibility as a father.

Few months after the divorce, i got another apartment in Akoka(i wanted to live far away from the memories of Rasheedah) and brought sakeenah from Kano.

Three years after, Rasheedah completed her studies but she got the shock of her life.

I was dressing up for an outing, when my phone rang, it's an unknown number, i picked at second ring and the caller said "Salam alaykum, this is Bolanle, Sufyan, Alhaja is dead!"

Bolanle, what do you mean, what happened to her?

Sufyan, Inna Lillahi wá Inna ilayhi rajiuun!
If you want to meet the janazah, come to Agege before 4pm, she ended the call.

I picked my car key and drove down to the Balogun family house in Agege.
The burial rites was completed and Alhaja was buried according to Islamic rites.

Rasheedah was devastated, she had cried her eyes out, she's worse hit.
She was preparing for her NYSC, the following month.

Rasheedah accept my condolence, be strong, Allah is your strength.
May Allah grant her eternal rest.
I consoled her and left.

Driving back home, i remembered the day i drove to Alhaja's house to seek for her forgiveness.
As i entered her living room that sunny afternoon, i squatted in front of her saying "Alhaja mo fi Ọlọhun Ọba bẹ yín, ẹ forijin mi"
(Alhaja i beg you in the name of Allah, please forgive me)
She replied, stand up my son, it's Allah's doing, may Allah ease the affairs of  you both.

Alhamdulillah she forgave before her death.

May Allah forgive her shortcomings and grant her mercy.

I got another shock, when Rasheedah called to informed me of her posting to Benue state for youth service.

The problem was where to keep you, you were just four years old then
I offered to have you stayed with me till she finishes her service.
Bolanle, don't worry, let me take care of Habeebah, I'll bring her to you whenever you are in town. Don't worry, sakeenah will take proper care of her, i said.

That's how took custody of you till date.

She came around twice during her service, i could remember vividly the second visit, we met at the national art theater and since that day Rasheedah neither called nor showed up, till this date.
Her phone was always not available, i checked at her parent's home, no tangible information about her whereabout.

Habeebah Olabisi, this is the story of my life, i concluded.

Habeebah was soaked in tears, even her hijab was a mess, her eyes were swollen and red.
I hugged her, patting her back to console her. I assured her that I'll find her mother very soon in shaa Allaah.

To my surprise, Habeebah said "daddy don't worry, everything has been predestined by Allah, we'll keep fasting and praying to Allah, to make finding my mother easy and i believe Allah will make it happen very soon, she concluded.

Alhamdulillah, Olabisi, you've grown to be a strong lady just like your mother, am sincerely proud of you.