Innalillahi wa'ina ilaihi raji'un" everyone in the room chorused in shocked.
"What?!" Rasheed who was also taken by surprise also muttered in surprise. This will be the first time of hearing such thing against him in his life. "Could Zuwairah stoop so low just to make me get out of her life? Is this her way of making me leave her?" He thought as tears flow down his cheeks. Since the day he was born,and has known what's right from wrong, he has never cried like this, not until today. Zuwairah has turned him into someone else
He thought he had offended her but now, reverse is the case. Now he knows that she was the one who doesn't want him around her and she kept lying. She made sure to hide her true identity just to humiliate him on a day like this...all in the name of what?- nothing! Pure nothing!
"Zuwairah my dear,please what are you saying? That my son is HIV positive?"
"Ye...yes Mom " she stuttered without looking into anyone's eyes.
"No! No I can't believe this...we need to go for a test ASAP! This is about our families reputation and it can't be ruined just like that" Rasheed's Mom said to her self "and you!" she turned to Rasheed as she glares at him with an angry eyes"We are leaving now to our same hospital, you need to run a test right now!"
With that being said,Rasheed's mom drag him out of the house with her husband trailing behind them,they tried to stop her but she turned a deaf ear to everyone. Rasheed's friend Abubakar also excuse himself leaving Zuwairah and her family on seated.
"Ba ki kyauta ba walahi...Zuwairah! You knew he's this disgusting and....and you never said anything! You...you made me spend all my money on that wedding! Do you know how much I spent?! Forget the fact that, that guy has the money,it can feed you guys for more than six years! Why?! Why didn't you tell me? If you're so sacred of your parent,why then didn't you come to me and explain everything to me?! Things would have been settled then,I wouldn't have spend my money on you two!" She pointed an accusing finger at Zuwairah
"Would things have change?" Zuwairah asked looking boldly at her Aunt
"What?!"
"Yes Aunty,would things have change if I should disclose the truth to you all? Most especially you?!....would you have agreed for the marriage to be call off? Would you had believed me?"
"Still yet,you shouldn't have hidden it! You could have told us the truth. My money wouldn't have gone wasted! "
Zuwairah only rolled her eyes at her stupid ranting. She knows nothing other than her money! What a waste!
"I'm sorry everyone, but I really need to get some sleep"she said as she stood on her feet, she let her leg drag her to her room. Ever since she has broken the misery news to everyone, her parents have been quiet and haven't uttered a word.
"This house is really full of drama! " Aunty Hauwa uttered dramatically as she wave her right hand in the air with a slight sigh
"For me,I'm going back to my house. When everything is settled, you all can call me and Yaya?" She called out her brother's attention.
"Hum" he hummed.
"Please I don't know if you can help me,my money mustn't go wasted. Could you help me take back my money from that disgusting guy?" She asked trying her best to show her puppy face to her brother.
He looked at her for some moment before he hissed and walk away, which his wife followed him immediately.
"What have I said wrong now?" She asked her self .
"Seriously Sis!" Fatima said as she roll her eyes at her "with all that has happened, is this what you've got to say? All you cared for is your money and nothing else!"
"Dan Allah keep quiet! Shegiya kawai!"
•
After Rasheed has been tested,the doctor asked them to come back the following day for his result and here they are, waiting patiently for the doctor to give them the worst news
"Sorry for keeping you all waiting " the doctor said as he took his seat with the file on his hand
"I'm sorry to say this but....."
"You don't need to say sorry doctor,we knows the truth already. We only wanted to confirm it, that's all" his Mom said glaring at her son.
"Please calm down Ma'am" he beseech.
"Even if you leave here for another hospital, it will still be the same outcome,the result will still be the same,our equipment here are reliable and we don't lie,we make sure to give the patient a true response and try to monitor them,so that he or she won't regret their actions......"
"So as I was saying,we carried out the test already and we find out that Mr Rasheed is HIV Negative"
Silence
Silence
Silence
"This isn't a joke,I'm serious Sir, your son is perfectly fine"
"What?!!!!"
"Yes....."
"I knew it!" His dad exclaimed happily.
"That girl! That girl! What a liar! How dare she! How dare she lie to us?! Not only that but she also claim to be innocent, in fact she's the devil. I swear, I won't spare her" Rasheed's Mom said as she forcefully drag her bag making it fall on the floor.
"Mom be careful " Rasheed warned.
"Of course I'll be careful,and don't bother your self much coz I'll save my energy well in other to fight those family. I'll make sure I fight them with all I've got" she said with so much ambitious.
"Mom-"
"shut up young man" she cut him off and instantly Rasheed zip his mouth.
•
Today is another family gathering. Everyone is present including Aunty Hauwa "so what do you guys have to say again? Coz the last time we gathered here,it didn't turn out good" she said eyeing them.
"Well we went for the real test and we're not saying this not just because we wanted you guys to believe us but to clear our name,our family reputation that your daughter here intends to ruin"
"What do you mean?" Mrs Hadiza asked looking confused
"Here! Here is what I meant" she fling the test result as it landed in front of Mrs Hadiza. She took it and read every details of it in
"Subhanallah!!" She muttered in shock.
"What?" Her husband asked as he also took the paper and read it. Immediately his eyes came in contact with it,he slump himself on the chair.
Aunty Hauwa stood up and took the paper away from her brother "Yes! I knew it! I knew it will be true,and you all have the gut to come back to this house and start blabbering-" she was still ranting when her eyes lock with the word ' NEGATIVE'
"What?!!!!"
"Yes! This is the real result and mind you, we never fake anything, this is the truth,pure result"
Aunty Hauwa walk closer to where Zuwairah was sitting as she land her right palm harshly on her right cheek which made everyone gasp in surprise.
"Ke Hauwa! Ki bari!!" Mr Dauda warned.
"Yaya lemme teach this dirty girl a lesson!" She said facing him "and you" she turned back to Zuwairah
"Is this how far you can go? Tarnishing your husband's image just because you don't want to be with him? Gaskiya ke yar iska yarinya ce fa walahi" she uttered disappointedly shaking her head at her.
"Now tell me, why did you do it? Just why the heck will you lie against your husband... No wonder,I thought as much! How could a good, handsome young man like Rasheed be HIV positive? His face looks innocent and so calm..now tell me,why did you lie?"
"Aunty, I have my reasons"
"And what stupid reason could it be?"
"He...he's a rapist,killer and a kidnapper Aunty! I...I wanted him to confess yesterday, I thought he'll, but he was so adamant"
"What?!!!!"
"He's here,why don't you all ask him?" She said pointing her hand at him as all eyes set on Rasheed.
"Rasheed is she saying the truth?" His mom asked.
"I...I... I didn't mean to-"
"This is enough proof already" Aunty Hauwa blurt in cutting him off as everyone nod in agreement.
"Zuwairah my dear can you enlighten us more?" She nod as she started.
"It all happened when........................"
"It all happened when........................""STOP!!" Rasheed cut her off. He was so confused, he doesn't even know what to say anymore."What i meant to say was that......I didn't mean to..I didn't mean to say this, but I think Zuwairah is suffering from a mental illness ""What?!" Everyone in the room chorused together."Yes..coz I really don't understand her anymore. First,it was the false HIV and now.....,she is accusing me of being a rapist,murderer and a kidnapper? Haven't anyone ever thought about it? Isn't she acting weird? I mean, who told her all these lies about me? Who was the one deceiving her?" He asked calmly but still Zuwairah kept mum.Should i say it? I think I should, at least all his bragging will be over once I let out the truth"ANSWER ME ZUWAIRAH!!!" He yells angrily making her flinch in fear."I really don't understand what's happenin
FlashbackTwo weeks later"Tracy please calm down, please""Zuwairah how could I? How could I? My life is ruined already,can't you see?! My life is ruined! " she frustratedly said. She's in so much agony that she can't even tell how she's feeling right now,she only knew that she had lost everything in life."Please just try to calm down,we can find a way" Zuwairah tried to calm her down giving her some hope,even though she knew there's nothing that can be done, she still want to say some good words into her"Did you just say we can find a way?" She scoff as she laugh dryly."Tra-""Tell me what is the way out of this?" She cut her off."I think-""Do you think there's a way out for me? What way could be for someone that's infected with HIV positive?" She cut her off again."I just lost all the right of b
"Zuwairah, take this" Zulaiha said as she pass a small bottle which contains black leaves inside to her friend.'Wh....what...what's this again Zulaiha?" She stuttered as she stare blankly at the bottle in her hand without making an attempt to accept it."Just take it you idiot!" She whispered softly to her,she doesn't want people to know what they are doing.Today is the big day, Zuwairah's wedding and she's not happy about it. She was scared that she had to tell her friend that she doesn't wish to get married to Rasheed but Zulaiha was so good in convincing her. Now, they are in her room with some other relatives and guest dressing up."Take" she then accept it with a shaky hands."What do I do with this?""This will make your husband loves you so much Zuwairah,he'll love you more than his first wife..I know you love him,you can never hate him and it's all written on your face. Th
The Muhammad's Mansion was as quiet as grave yard. Visitor's keep coming from different places when they heard about Rasheed's death. It was a painful death to everyone. Everyone loves him,most especially their relatives, from his paternal and maternal came with a broken heart, just to console his parents.His wife was sitting beside Habiba,while Mardiyya and Habib sat beside their uncle, Rasheed's Mom and Dad sat close to Zuwairah's parents and some other relatives were there consoling them most especially Zuwairah for her loss.Zulaiha badge in with tears already in her eyes "Innalillahi wa'ina illaihi rajiun!" She muttered dramatically as she burst into another tears."Wayyo! What happened? How did it happen? What killed him?" She asked her friend with fake tears on her face."How could this happen! How could Rasheed of all people be dead?" She ask again with tears running down her cheeks."Zulai
Flashback"Where are you going to?""I need to use the restroom, I'll be back" He said and she nod her head.Just as Rasheed was out of her sight, she sit up straight and quickly pour the portion into the food. Immediately she was done, she quickly lie down back to her pretending of a sickness thing. Unknown to her that her husband saw her"What was Zuwairah doing with my food?" Rasheed thought. He finished his business and sauntered back to the bed. He took a sit beside his wife."Erm.. you're back?""Why are you doing this?" He asked going straight to the point,he doesn't even understand her anymore. First, she was acting strange since the day they got married to each other and now, she's ill? He was sure she was okay this morning, so why is she like this all of a sudden? And that thing she was pouring inside his food?-"Why are you doing all of this Zuwaira
A Month laterIt been already a month after the fake death of Rasheed,everything had been in places except Zuwairah. She couldn't forgive herself even though her husband had did that already. Most of the time, she will space out or cry her self to sleep. This action of her got her husband worried, to get a glimpse of sleep is now an issue for him too. He tried to talk some senses into her for so many times but it was all useless.As usual, Zuwairah was in her deep thought without realising that her mother in-law was already in front of her. She looked up to meet her in the eyes with her blurry eyes. Mrs Hindatu was shocked to see Zuwairah in that state, her veil was soaked with her tears."Zuwairah! What happened my child? Why are you crying?!" she asked, with a concern tone."Mom I...I don't know why, but I just can't find it to forgive my self,I can't believe that I almost kill my husban
"What has gotten into Rasheed all of a sudden?" Zuwairah thought whilst tears flow down her cheeks slowly.We were both fine few minute ago,so why the sudden change? Did I do something wrong? or was it the call? But he seems calm even after receiving the call. "No, no it's very clear, it's not about the call but me" she shook her head.But what was my offence? I thought he had forgiven me? Ya Allah, I know I'm a true sinner but I hope my husband will forgive me, coz I can still see that he haven't."Rasheed, please forgive me" she muttered.•Rasheed got to the address Zulaiha gave him, he hop down from his car as he glance over everywhere. He hoped he will get a glimpse of her but no. He had been trying her number but it's wasn't going through.He was really getting frustrated. He entered his car and that was wh
"What has gotten into Rasheed all of a sudden?" Zuwairah thought whilst tears flow down her cheeks slowly.We were both fine few minute ago,so why the sudden change? Did I do something wrong? or was it the call? But he seems calm even after receiving the call. "No, no it's very clear, it's not about the call but me" she shook her head.But what was my offence? I thought he had forgiven me? Ya Allah, I know I'm a true sinner but I hope my husband will forgive me, coz I can still see that he haven't."Rasheed, please forgive me" she muttered.•Rasheed got to the address Zulaiha gave him, he hop down from his car as he glance over everywhere. He hoped he will get a glimpse of her but no. He had been trying her number but it's wasn't going through.He was really getting frustrated. He entered his car and that was wh