Tears and Trust

Chapter 7

After he sighted the Love of his life from afar, Faisal couldn't just be himself again.
"Yes, I saw it right!" He said to himself.
He largely blamed himself for going out to walk past via the road that lead to the "Lovers Resort." He had no any reason to go out, just to stroll and nothing more but as he was walking, what met his vision happened to be a great eyesore. His own Halima standing with another man by the resort_!
The man he saw was about 2 times older than her. An Alhaji with a round pot belly. One don't need any further proof of wealth because such pot belly said it all.
But what puzzled him was that the man she stood with was so older to be her cousin and what did she needed to do in a resort with a cousin?
He reached for his cellphone and dialled her number. It was switched off. He sat wondering what she might be doing with such an elderly man that she had to put off her phone. After 30 minutes, he called again and she picked.

"I dialled your number several times but it was switched off." He said angrily.

"I'm sorry dear. I met my cousin I told you about and afterwards, I decided to take a nap so I had to put my phone on Flight Mode."

"But did you go somewhere today?" He asked.

"NO, I've been home since morning." She replied.

To Faisal, that was the last straw that broke the camel's back. He was sure he saw her with the Alhaji and she just lied to him. Moreover, he was looking for a reason to break up with her.

"So you put your phone on Flight Mode because you didn't want any incoming call to interrupt your sleep right?"

"Oh yes dear!" She responded in relief.

"From now, feel free to sleep with your phone lines activated. No need for flight Mode anymore. I won't disturb you again.
Bye forever." He said and ended the call.

Within a couple of minutes, Halima had called him over 10 times but he didn't pick any. When he realised she won't stop calling, he blacklisted her number.

His breakup with Halima was just a big opportunity for him to concentrate on Christine and build a strong relationship.
It was just a week left for the vacation and schools would resume for third term activity in 8 days time. Faisal thought he needed to spend good times with Christine before resumption.
Just when he was about to call her, she called.

"Sweetheart, Good p.m. I'm just missing you." She said coldly.

"Hope you're fine my darling, I'm missing you even more."

"Oh sweetheart. Since we are both missing each other, let's meet at the usual garden by 4p.m." said Christine.

"Alright Love, I love you."

"I love you too, bye."

Such invitation was just a big relief for Faisal. He just experienced heartbreak and a break-up. He was sure some kisses sufficed to wipe away all his pains.
It was 3:30pm as he looked at the wall clock so he quickly started preparations for the date. By 3:50, He was already dressed in his black shirt and black trousers.
When he was about to leave, Mallam Sambo called him.

"Barka da Rana Baba." Faisal greeted his dad in the Hausa dialect.

"Yawwa, zauna." The father responded and commanded him to sit down, in the same dialect.

"Faisal at this your age, is it proper for you to start love and relationship stuff?
Well, I know this your generation is too bad and you guys are very stubborn. So if you'd have to love, why a Christian girl?
I learnt that she even comes here to this house when I'm away. Don't you respect my prestige and the good name of this family?"

"Baba, I'm sorry about it but please dad, what is so negative about dating a Christian girl?"

"Look Faisal. You don't know anything. I know the Qur'an permits us to marry Jews and Christians but haven't you considered some of the practices in their religion?
Don't you know that Christians are fond of getting drunk which is a dirty lifestyle? Okay, will you be happy that your children be raised by a drunkard? Can't you see that their religion is mute about fornication and adultery? Do you love their mode of dressing too?" Mallam Sambo posed the series of questions.

"Dad, that is what we are made to believe. Some things, we just hold them based on misconception. When we say all Christians are as you said, it is called stereotype. We have drunkards and fornicators even in Islam. There are bad elements even in people that don't believe in any religion.
Dad I have the holy Bible. From my study, I found out that Christianity prohibits all those things you mentioned. The book of Ephesians 5:18 as well as the book of Proverbs 20:1 warn against wine consumption and getting drunk. I read many verses against fornication and adultery in the Bible. I can remember that even the book of Proverbs 6:32 is to that effect. The book of 1 Timothy 2:9 warn against indecent dressings.
Dad, so many Christians out there abide by the rules of the Bible. They live a decent and clean life. Only a few minority are the bad elements. We don't judge a people by the act of their minority.

"I'm not saying there are no good Christians. Okay I understand. Don't do anything that may tamper with my prestige or something that would spoil your good name. Be careful."

"Thank you dad. I will always do the right thing." Faisal responded and exit.
It was 25 minutes later than the appointment time so he rushed and mounted a commercial bike.

Christine waited for over 20 minutes but Faisal wasn't coming. She was about to call him and asked why he exceeded the scheduled time then she had a tap on her back. It was Faisal.

"Sweetheart you're late! Over 30 minutes..."

"Yea baby. I'm so sorry for that. My father stopped me for a talk and that was the reason why I couldn't come by 4.

"Oh, so what was the talk all about?"

"Nothing really, just concerning my schooling." He said and kissed her.

They sat so close to each other talking and for the next an hour, they had fun.