SOOTHE

Episode Seven

EPISODE SEVEN

The day flew like a whirlwind and Ni'mah for once didn't feel threatened or shaken. She actually feels protected. Remembering how Ahmed stood the caller up made her inside do an exhilarating ballet dance! "His woman,he called me!" She couldn't help but smile. She observed her 'Ishai with her girls,said her adhkar and tucked the girls in ensuring they said theirs before going into the dreamland. She checked on Sa'ad too and made for bed. Since she's been so happy,she wanted to make the night a special one,so she laid her king size bed with the beautiful bedsheets and duvet her trusted customer sells-Rizqahcares and slipped on the beautiful nightie she bought from her. "I need to order another beautiful ones from from her,"she checked her phone,found the number -07056224586, " Alhamdulillahi I got this and Blissgarden better be here too after all we need to get the "owanbe" materials sampled- 08053621915,the woman is bae too" .

"Good morning Miss A..jar,am I right ma?" Having seen her name tag. " Yes you're ma. How may I help you ma?"
"May I be allowed to see Mr. Ahmed?". " and you are?". "Ni'mah,umm Sa'ad"
"Subhanallahi! I'm so sorry ma,he's been itching to see you ma. Do come along ma"
" Ma,if you don't mind,I love your qimar and niqob,you must spend hours in the laundry getting it ironed"
" Jazaakillahu khairan. Thanks. Quality speak,that's all. SnowBiss got me covered " she answered happily.
"Really? You mean you don't iron? Mine are usually looking rumpled and fade out easily and you know how expensive they get" Ajara inquired sadly
" yup! I don't. I trust her taste in materials and her sewing is superb,top notch "
"Really? May I have her number, ma. I sure wanna look as gorgeous"
"Of course,you can -07038110818"
"Saved! Thanks ma. Here you're!" Ajar opened the door curtsying
Ni'mah smiled and shook her head while going in.
"Seen something you like?" Ahmed inquired seeing the smile on Ni'mah's face going to open the door so wide so they don't be in seclusion,since Ajar's desk is opposite his office and she definitely can see them so clearly.
"Really? Let....'s see,your shirt looks nice so does your pair of shoes" she responded
"Alhamdulillahi. You can't help but love MORE's work. The guy is dope so is DESTINY footwear's"
"Really? It's sewn? That's fantastic! Can I have both numbers,Sa'ad must have a taste"
"MORE-07069578688 for calls and 08099855235 for WhatsApp while DESTINY 08102435146
" Jazaakumullahu khairan". "We hiyaakum"
"Now,to business,so?"
Ni'mah hesitated before deciding to tell him. "It's actually a long story and I don't know where to start from"
"Let's see from the beginning and I've got time. Plus I'm all ears. Just hold on." He dialled Ajar to summon her in. " make sure you don't leave your desk unless I say so and make sure no one disturbs me until I'm through. I hope that's understood!".  "Yes sir"
"Okay. I grew up with my parent and we were living happily but mind you,I wasn't even using a headscarf then though" Ni'mah started shakily to which Ahmed only smiled. " I've always wanted to live a normal life and not be seen as the daughter of a rich man. Actually I haven't told you but my father is Mr. AbdurRaheem Isiaq Owonifaari" she looked up to read his expression but he looked so undisturbed,she shrugged it off and continues " I'd a chauffeur take me to every nook and cranny I deemed fit. It felt choky and I only spoke to my mom about this. She understood but assured me it's for my good since i was the only "petals" they have. When I gained admission,I made sure I put an end to all the dotting. I lived on campus,shared a room with 5other girls who were no one and I loved it. All was well until my second year when my mom took ill. She spent months in the hospital but I wasn't told. When her case deteriorated, she continuously asked of me and I was told to come home. I was looking forward to seeing my ever cheerful mom's face but alas when I was driven to the hospital, the woman I saw on the hospital bed looked nothing like my mother. I was only able to identify her by her voice" At this stage Ni'mah was close to tears but she was able to hold it in. Ahmed nodded encouraging her to continue.
" I only saw and spoke with my mom for just an hour before she died. I was mad with everybody. I wondered why they waited till the last hour before telling me. She's my mother after all and my best friend too! Losing her felt like I lost everything ever valuable to me. I went back to school and I was never the same again. I went partying,skipped classes,went clubbing and made sure I was on the cover page of any rumour hungry magazine. Why I did those I still can't say but I was sure I just wanted to make everyone as angry and hurt as I felt. My father and brother tried all they could to no avail. Few months later,two months to be precise,my father took in another wife. I felt like my worldwas crushed under a huge mountain. Like how'd he get another woman,just two months after mom's demise!so much for the love and affection. I never wanted to see him,my brothers nor the wife. One day,my father summoned me home and told me to accept he new wife as my mother but I told him outrightly that my mother is dead and buried and the woman is his wife and wh knows maybe his concubine who he's been seeing while mom was alive. That earned me a slap but I still never cared. I left home and went back to school but never visited for the rest of my stay in school. Nobody attended my graduation since I told no one. I went home and immediately I stepped in,my dad announced my marriage to Sobur,a man suggested by his wife since according to him all I've been doing was tarnishing his image. I didn't say a word and just went along since I didn't even care what happens. Two days later  I was married.
On our wedding night,I was so scared since I'd never been in seclusion with a man before. I begged him to just let me be and i explaind that i had never done this before but who lets his entitlement be. The marriage was consummated but there was a problem" Ni'mah paused to take a breadth.
"What?" Ahmed asked croakingly since he couldn't get past how unloved she must have felt
"I didn't bleed"
"Not all virgins do. Doesn't he know?"
" I guess he didn't and I was not bothered since I know me very well. I might have been wild but I know I was untouched, never took alcohol as well but nobody believd me. Everything was fine. I was dutiful as best as I could. When I gave birth to Sakeenah,I met a neighbour who's a sunni. She taught me about the deen,I started going for halqah. I joined a sister study circle. And eventually I started using the small head scarf. Sobur turned a blind eye but as soon as I started donning the qimar,all hell let loose. He told me he never married a masquerade as a wife. He'd slap me at first for any slight provocation. I took it calmly and endured. Soon it went to being hit in other places and finally I was beaten into pulp at a slight unpleasantness. Still I bore it. Then one day, someone a lady I presumed called me and told me she knows me and all. Eventually we became friends online. We'd talk about everything. Then one day, she asked for my picture. I told her that I don't take pictures. We skipped it and continued the faceless friendship. I told her about a beautiful nightie I bought from Rizqahcares and she wanted to see it since she needed one. I took a picture of my neck down to my knee and sent to her. I never thought otherwise and all this while Sa'ad was there,he asked why I'd take a picture of me while on my nightie and I explained to him that it's a woman and she needed a sample to buy hers. Few days later,Sobur came home so angry and beat the living daylight out of me. I was unconscious for3days. When I gained consciousness I found my father and his wife and my brothers plus Sobur in my room. I was given time to relax then everyone let loose how disappointed they were and wondered how I could be so loose. I wasn't getting it and I asked them what I was accused of. They told me my husband told them that a man called him and told them he's been seeing me and to buttress his point,he sent the picture to him. I couldn't say anything and just cried my eyes out. My little prince Sa'ad explained and explained,he begged to be believed,but who would believe a 5year old child?" "That incident changed everything. My husband called me all sorts of names and told me he never believed my virginity story and wondered how I made a fool of him. Along the line Masturah was born. And the statusquo wasn't changing. My step mom got wind of how my father wanted to will most of his properties to me since my brothers were buoyant and voila she arched a plan with my loving husband"
"How did you know this?"
"Walls have ears you know? I was relaxing at home one day though unknown to my husband who just came back from work and I heard his conversation with her because the phone was on speaker. He explained how tired he was and how he didn't plan on being Married for this long and how he wanted out. She assure d him to patient since once everything is willed to me,he automatically becomes the owner too since he's the head he can order me around. He explained to her that he doesn't even want all those since the girl is innocent and has a good heart although he couldn't stomach the fact that she cheated on him.  Plus he'd prefer he frees her to being provoked by her masquerade self since despite all the ill treatment I wasn't taking off my qimar. Having heard all these,I only sent a message to my step mother praying that Allah rewards her effort on me and my family. I waited few days and begged my husband to divorce me. He's happy to oblige and begged that I forgive him and funnily he told me all the plan with my step mother and sought my forgiveness. I forgave him and left the house to him since it was a gift from my father. I also left a car,sold the other and left Kaduna to Oshogbo,then Ibadan and now here I am"

"Hmmm! Interesting! I'm so sorry" "yeah thanks"
"Who's this strange caller?".  " I don't know,really"
"It's a woman not a man,I hope you know. It's obvious she distorted her voice but that's story for another day. And your father?"
"What about him? I haven't heard from him in 5years"
"Would you want to speak with him?"
"Are you for real? Like you know him"
"I do. I paid him a visit"
"I never told you about him. How did you know him? No wonder you weren't surprised"
Ahmed was skeptical of telling her but then sincerity would prevail so he took his chance
" AZ,my personal Assistant,friend and my control man was asked by me to dig out information about you" He couldn't look her in the face
"You sneaked behind me to dig out information! Subhanallahi! Why? I thought you'd be different. Can't I just live my life? You want to control me too?" She couldn't hold the rage in.
" you weren't forthcoming with information and I was getting impatient and I didn't want to lose you so I needed to secure your hand before I lose you. I'm sorry"
" so he gave me out again without my consent!" Ni'mah shook her head unhappily
"No petals. He didn't. I begged but he made it clear he wouldn't since he didn't want to hurt you for the second time. Your dad misses you,sincerely he cried when he got to know you use the qimar and niqob."
" if he did,why hasn't he gotten in touch for 5years Ahmed!"
" maybe he's scared don't you think?" " would you just speak with him,please?"
"And why do you care?"
"He's going to be my father in law and I wouldn't want my woman to have hitch with her father to smoothen my own processing" he winked
Despite the anger, Ni'mah couldn't help but smile.
"So,petals?"
"Fine! Just call him already. Wait! You still want to marry me? Does that mean you believe my story?"
"Yes and yes" he replied dialling the number. Mr. Isiaq picked on the first ring
" Ahmed! How's she? Can I talk to her. I miss my princess. Subhanallahi! How could I hurt her so!"
Ni'mah listened and just couldn't help but cry so her father doesn't detest her. Ahmed passed the phone to her putting it off speaker
"As salaamu'alaykum abii"
" wa'alaykumusalaam sweetie. How've you been? I'm so sorry. Could you find it in your heart to forgive me my princess?"
"Yes I do dad. I'm so sorry too sir. Okay We'd visit soon. Alright. I'll get the number from him. They're fine and all grown" Ahmed watched her talk and felt happy he was part of this. I can just marry her already,he thought.

Past unveiled! What next?

N:B: In as much as this is purely fiction those additionally names mentioned and their contacts aren't folks. Those persons make sense. A trial would convince you