Strangled

CHAPTER NINETEEN

JUNAID ABBAKAR

    It was really him, it was her cousin. The only one who stood by her side when things were going down the drain, maybe if she hadn't turned away from him things won't have gotten to this stage . He tapped again this time gently and she unlocked the door and he slid into the car.  He was as shocked as she was probably even more he cleared his throat bringing an abrupt halt to the starring contest,  each one waiting for the other to speak “are you looking for Baba? ” he asked in the calmest way he possibly could and she nodded turning away from his gaze “I think it's high time you come home ” he replied it sounded more like and order than an opinion.  She turns her head sideways and broke down once again,  he watched her silently as she cried her pains out handling her tissue to blow her nose where possible luckily for the both of them the car was parked at a secluded area in the street and no one saw them. She looked bloated and her fair skin turned red with her pointy nose redder than normal , this what happens to fair women that are too emotional “I don't think it's safe for you to drive, let's go home ” he said to her and she nods getting out of the car as fast as she could to move to the passenger seat.
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“Ammi,  please can I borrow your car? ” Imran asked his mother “where are you taking  my car to? ” she asked non chalantly “I just want to visit a friend, this house seems empty ” he replied emotionless. 
      Ammi looked at him with longing he was the closest to his sister and the effect she left on the family affected him more than anyone. “alright then, you may take the car just return home for Magrib so you may accompany your father to the masjid ” he left without hearing her last words saying goodbye to her from afar.
“Ammi ” Imran called out from the kitchen door “what is it? ”she half yelled from the kitchen “you need to see this please ”he replied “what is it abou...........” her words hitched in her throat as the spoon she held fell onto the floor. Jalilah was caught halfway to her knees, her mother hugged her so tight,  she held her so that as though life depended on it breaking into a series of tears “Ammi forgive me,  I made a mistake ” she managed to voice out “it's okay my child,  shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Say no more” she replies after what felt like a decade she let's go “look at you ” Ammi said holding her daughter's face in her palms “know that I have forgiven you for a long time,  all that happened was for a reason,  Allah doesn't burden us more than  we can bare  and i'm also sorry for not being their for you all those time” she starts to cry again “no Ammi I'm sorry I was wrong and you did everything you could to make me see the light but I I I just , I'm sorry ” they hugged each other again and tore apart when they heard the voice they've all been waiting for .
Gently she turns back to face her father he looked worn out and his sad face looked surprised she moved gently because at this moment she doesn't trust her legs ,he held onto her hands stopping her from getting on her knees with a deep frown on his face “never ever kneel in front of anyone except your creator,   welcome home my child ” he smiled gladly looking at her knowing that she's finally home is enough to convince him that At last everything will be alright. She cried hard as she held onto his hands,  her red knuckles looked as though they might snap any moment soon. But all of was worth it,  Jalilah Hashim Maigoro is back.
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   The sweetest scents woke her up from where she feel asleep in her praying mat,  her mother never gets tired of scenting the house with bukhour home sweet home indeed“Good morning Ammi ” she said through her nose “go take a bath,  someone is waiting for you downstairs ”she answered, “who's that? ” she asks with her face scrunched up “you'll see for yourself ” and with this said Ammi left the room. Looking over at herself on the console mirror in the corridor she adjust the tip of her veil and her green pattern kimono she sure looked full of  life and had a reason to smile everyday she walked into the sitting room only to be knocked down by a lady squealing her name round the whole house “Hannah!” she yelled. “I for once thought you're all grown up but it seems other wise, get off me please you're heavy ” she said, “young lady I'm going nowhere, unless you stop calling me fat”Hannah got more comfortable “are you kidding me right now?  OK you're as slim as a model, now get off me ”she yelled “OK,  that'll do, next time you won't call me fat ” Hannah was being way too dramatic “are you sure you're a mother of three?  Because you still need more sense on your brain ” Jalilah replied “yes and I'm about to be another mother ”  for once she thought she was hearing things eyes as wide as saucers looking at her friends face once more for confirmation then squealed at jumped here and there like frogs “I'm so glad you're finally here with us” Hannah had a wide smile on her face “I just wanted to thank you for standing by all this while. You're not just my best friend but a sister ” Jalilah smiled wholeheartedly as she pours her heart out to her best friend. They had a girls night out and were tired as hell when they both returned home.
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Looking over her was the shattered pieces of glass,vases and reminants of dirt littered everywhere,  she lifts her hands and gasped at the amount of blood dripping from them . Her gown was a mess torn her and there, with tear stained face she lifts herself up and limped into the kitchen   went through the back door and meets Hameed smiling wholeheartedly at her “glad you are awake sweetheart” as confused as she is she concluded all these was a dream and continue to walk away“are you deaf or something! ” he yelled pushing her off guard onto the cemented floor and she yelped and shouted for help.
Drenched in her own Sweat and tears she jerked out if bed, washed her face in the bathroom and wrapped a veil to cover her hair without having a glance at the time she moves out.
  Silence covers the whole house as at this hour every single person was asleep as she enjoyed every minute of her stay at the balcony she thought about the decisions she's made in her life she inhaled deeply as the breeze blows her veil here and there “can't sleep? ” Junaid's voice startled her and she almost collapsed out of fright “ calm down, it's just me ” he uttered trying his very best to make her calm down.“yes, I've been having insomnia lately ” she replied looking away from his face concentrating  more on the moon “ I sensed that,  hmm.. the moon is beautiful tonight don't you think? ” he asked starting a conversation. Typical of Junaid always trying to make most of the moment and Jalilah nodded in agreement “I love how quiet everywhere is, it helps me think” she replied smiling a little “it's so weird to be having a conversation at 3am when  the whole world Is asleep ” Junaid laughed mid sentence “yes it's shows we're unique” Jalilah smiled a genuine smile it was obvious she missed all these small talks about things that matters and things that doesn't she miss talking about the stars,  good food, places and what not she believes it's more better compared to talking about people behind their backs “can I ask for a favor? ” Junaid asked drawing her attention from the moon “uh-hummmm...” she mumbled looking at his face “marry me ” he said at that moment she felt the world at a standstill and she felt as if she was under water and oxygen was an enemy, with this blood in her face draining she managed to muter . “Junaid Abbakar ”.
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Alhamdulilah  two chapters to go and I'm so greatful if you've read till this point.  Thank you for your support. 
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Love Zarah 💖