THE LIFE OF A NIGERIAN TEENAGER ✔

40~ THE LABOUR

Two weeks. Surhail and I are still going strong. We haven't had any decent conversations. We still haven't been intimate as Surhail was still slightly confuse on the two Hadiths on ruling for marrying a pregnant lady. One Hadith stated it wasn't wrong while the other stated it was. To be on the safe side we didn't do anything. We still cuddled though when we want to sleep but never surpassing that. I was fed up. I decided to confront Surhail on my own.

We were sitting at the dining and before I could say anything, he spoke up. "What's wrong with you and Basma?"

"Uh...we are not on talking terms."

"I know that but why?"

"She's still angry with me." I paused. "For you the baby."

"Oh." He looked at me. "Don't worry I will talk to her."

"Surhail." I called out when I noticed he was about to leave.

"Hmm." He hummed his reply.

"Why..." I croaked out. Then cleared my throat. "Why did you take the blame? You know nothing about it." I was expecting a grim look but instead he smiled.

"Because if my dad hadn't done that twenty six years ago. I wouldn't have been here now."

"I don't understand."

"My dad and my mom met in the university. They were young adults enjoying their lives and throwing cautions to the window. Along the way, my mom got pregnant and my dad could easily have refused the baby but he stuck with her and married her." He explained. I never knew. Basma never told me. Or perhaps she didn't know.

"But still. Your father was responsible. You weren't." I pointed out. Tears brimming my eyes. He walked to my side. Kneeling in front of me and held my palms.

"Fatima. I love you, nothing is going to change that. I have seen the real you. Sure maybe you made mistakes but you were still that girl that recites Suratul Mulk to me everyday before sleeping. You're the girl who still reminds me to fast every Monday and Thursday. Sure you made a mistake but we're all humans. Besides a child is a child no matter whose it is."
Alhamdulillah. I kept saying in my head. I didn't know how to reply him. So I just hugged him and cried on his shoulder.

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"Tell her you're sorry. Apologize. I can't get my wife and sister fighting and keeping malice."

"No. Why would I? She hurt you." Basma snapped throwing daggers my way.

"Basma." Surhail sighed. " i have forgiven her. Why won't you forgive her too?"

"Because." She sobbed out. "I was the only one who knew how hurt you were. That day you learned she was pregnant, you came back home thinking no body was around and cried. I heard you crying. I heard everything, from you crying to you asking Allah for it not to be true. Why do you think I will forgive her? Why should I? "

I don't know when I started crying too. Surhail showed this hard exterior. Like nothing was wrong and he didn't cry. To learn that he cried himself in his room and cried all day made me sad. He cried for me. Because of me.

"Yes. I admit. I cried, but then I realized i can't live without her. Basma let bygones be bygones. I have forgiven her and I want you to forgive her please. I love her. Come on sis please." He pleaded until eventually Basma nodded.

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Three months later...

My stomach hurt. I felt like I could breath. We were together with Basma although she was in the kitchen making smoothies. I was in the parlor watching a movie when I felt it. I screamed out. Basma already making her way to me but I couldn't reply her. My vision turned blurry as I drift into out.

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So this is the last chapter. Epilogue after this.