Affairs Of The Hearts |✅

1|Meet Jalilah

BISMILLAHIR RAHMANIR RAHIM
IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE MOST MERCIFUL, THE GLORIOUS.

2019.
Maitama, Abuja, Nigeria.

"Jalilah, Jalilah my dear, wake up; your Malam is here," Hajiya Khadijah called out.

Jalilah jerked up at the sound of her Malam's name. "Ya Allah! Mummy, I'm in deep trouble—I haven't memorized the Surah he gave me yesterday. What am I going to do?" Her face showed her worry.

"Why didn't you, my dear?"

"Banina and I went to Zara's birthday party yesterday. Wallahi, I totally forgot," Jalilah replied, massaging her temples.

"Oh, Jalilah! Why do you always get yourself into trouble?" Hajiya Khadijah reprimanded.

"I'm really sorry, Mummy, please help me," Jalilah pouted.

"I will, but don't repeat what you did, okay? I won't be here to help you next time. You have to learn to be responsible in your life, Jalilah," Hajiya Khadijah warned.

"In Sha Allah, Mummy. I love you." She smiled and hugged her aunt, who was like a mother to her.

Jalilah had known her as her mother her whole life. Her parents had died when she was only a year old. She didn't even know them, though she'd seen their pictures. A part of her wished they were still alive. But Alhamdulilah, her aunt and uncle made sure she never felt like she wasn't their own.

Still, she had cried herself to sleep the day she learned that Alhaji Abdurrahman and Hajiya Khadijah were not her biological parents. She was only eight then, and it had been a disastrous day. She barely spoke to anyone for days and ate only when necessary.

"I love you more. Let me see what I can do," Hajiya Khadijah said, then exited the room.

Jalilah, being the mischievous girl she was, followed her aunt to see how she was going to help her out of the situation.

"Mummy, why isn't Jalilah here yet? Malam has been waiting for us," said Banina, Jalilah's cousin and Hajiya Khadijah and Alhaji Abdurrahman's daughter. The two were age mates, with Banina older by five months. They might as well have been twins, given the bond they shared. Together, they were always up to shenanigans in the house.

"Jalilah isn't feeling well. Please inform your Malam about her," Hajiya Khadijah said, sitting next to her husband on the couch. She hated the fact that she was lying but couldn't bear to see her niece in trouble.

"Subhanallah, what happened to her?" Alhaji Abdurrahman asked, setting his teacup down on the coffee table.

"It's just a fever; I've given her some painkillers. It will subside soon, In Sha Allah," she replied, closing her eyes. She hated lying!

Jalilah let out a squeal from where she was eavesdropping in the corridor that led upstairs. She quickly ducked out of sight so no one would see her.

"Who was that?" Alhaji Abdurrahman asked.

"I have no idea. It must have been from Nabeel's room," Hajiya Khadijah shrugged, knowing fully well it was Jalilah. Ya Allah, what was she going to do with her naughty girl?