4. The Engagement

HANEEFAH POV

I laid on my bed, listening to the whistle-like sound of the evening breeze. I was so bored that even my social media feeds looked boring. After some time I decided to go see Kaka, after all my friend and grandma was still at home. 

I jumped off the bed and adjusted my hair into a ponytail before heading to her room and Surprisingly I found her in the sitting room. 

"Kakalle na come let's gist." I said, finding an empty space close to her and kept my butt. 

"Ok my child what do you want to discuss" she asked

"I didn't say anything about discussion I only want to jist am bored" I replied in a whiny tone. 

"Don't you have your exams coming soon?" She asked.

"Yes am just bored." I answered with a sigh.

"Ok I even need to ask you a question" she now said, adjusting her glasses while i giving her my full attention. 

"Yes kaka am listening" I replied, Changing into a more comfortable position.

"Are you close with your cousin?"

"Which cousin?" I asked.

"My husband Mana Haneef." She calls him her husband because he is her first and only male grandchild. So calling him her husband was just another way of being a doting grandma. 

"Oohhh!! no we are not even close. He doesn't like talking and I like minding my own business" I said.

"You should try and be friends with him he is not a stranger he is someone you will always be seeing for a lifetime Insha Allah." She said with a smike.

"Kai Kaka am I his wife? even his sisters he doesn't say much to them and I am pretty sure he will be like that to his wife also." I replied with a non-chalant shrug.

"Then she should try and change him" she said. "people change for love okay?"

"Ok granny that is for his wife to deal with I have no business with that so let's talk about something else, this has even changed my mood I need to go study." I replied heading to my room.

"Ok but I want you to always know that anything can happen at anytime so put it at the back of your mind." She called at my retreating figure.

"Ok ma" I answered without turning back.

Pshh!! Old people and their problems they always think they are not going to live to see another day so they make sure to give you advices, I need to call Ikhlas.

"Hello peaches!!" I said with a giddy smile.

" Hello sunshine how was ur day" she answered.

"It was fine and yours?"

"Fine are you sure you read? don't think today is Sunday and you relent please we need to study hard I don't want to repeat 500level and you know you must pass RRBN (Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria) exams so please don't take it lightly."

"Ok mummy I won't" I said. "Just called to hear your ear splitting voice" I teased.

"I don't have your Time" she chuckled. "I will so finish you when I finally have your time. Goodnight Sha don't be late for tomorrow's lecture." She added.

                               ~~~

Ikhlas and I were busy discussing Radiation Protection after class when my phone rang.

" Hello Fati how are you doing?" I asked.

"I am fine Alhamdulillah and you?"

" Yes I am fine what's up" I asked.

" Nothing I just call to find out if you are okay."

" I am alright what's wrong?" I asked.

"Umm... yeah... no... nothing i just want to... to ... make sure you are alright you... you know exam tension and stuff" she stammered, which is weird and unlike her. 

"Ok oo. I am fine thanks for calling" I replied and she hanged up.

"Who is that?" Ikhlas asked.

" Ohhh it's Fati she called to ask about my well being because of the upcoming exams" I answered.

"Awwwnnnn that's sweet of her I really like her because she is nice" she said.

"She really is nice" I answered.

Haneef POV

"Wallahi Alhaji that will be over my dead body" my mother said clearly furious.

"Then get ready to die because Inshallah it is going to happen" he told her. She continued ranting and he ignored her, typing away on his computer. 

I don't really know why my mom is so disturbed this issue. I here don't actually mind cause I knew that old woman was up to something.

"Ohh  Allah choose what is best for me and if this is the best I will gladly accept it" I silently prayed.

HANEEFAH POV

"Babyyyyy !"  my mother called.

"Na'am Ummah" I answered.

"Come here" she said gesturing for me to sit close to her. I went to her and sat down beside her. She looked at me affectionately for some seconds before asking"Baby do you have a boyfriend?"

I almost choked own saliva.

"Ummah boyfriend fa am just 22 years old and I am still pursuing my career I don't have time for commitments" I Answered.

" Better do cause your dad wants you to get married" she replied sternly.

"Marriage!!! why will I get married? I don't even want to have a boyfriend" I whined.

"Ok we will see to that. meet me after Isha in your dad's room we need to talk" she said sternly and left.

"I need to call Ikhlas" I muttered, dashing into my room to look for my phone. I finally found it under my pillow and I dialed Ikhlas's number. After what felt like Ages, she finally picked.

"Hello Ikhlas I am in trouble ooo, my dream is shattering like a pack of cards, my world and my everything wants to come to an end." 

"Take it easy haneefah, stop saying rubbish and tell me exactly what happened" she asked and I narrated everything to her.

"Haneefah she wants the best for you and you know it. You can still pursue the career and have a family, you can achieve everything you wanted so don't panic, tell her you will accept one of those guys so you will buy time for yourself ok just do this first we will figure this out together okay?"

"Ok Ikhee I trust you" I answered.

"So go then let's know the outcome."

"Ok" I answered, "Ya  Allah please help me." I silently prayed.

I met my parents in my father's sitting room. "ina wuni Abba (good evening dad)" I greeted him "lafiya kalau mamana ya Shirin exams (evening my dear how is the preparation for your exams) " he asked.

" Alhamdulillah" I answered.

"Come and sit close to me mamana because of your exams you don't even have time for your dad" he teased.

I similed a little before saying "it will soon be over Inshallah it is only a matter of time."

"Mamana your mother said you don't have a boyfriend."

"Uhmm" I answered.

"Toh please mamana this is not my fault I love you and I will do anything to make you happy."

"Yes Abba" I replied.

"Your grandma wants you to get married before the end of this year.

She didn't order me to get you married she only begged me to fulfill her last wish as my mother you know I cannot turn it down and you know by then you will be done with your exams.

The internship is easy mamana you can do it in your husband's house. Please and please my child I beg of you help me to fulfill my mother's wish, she is all I have as a parent and I love her."

I quietly sobbed and my mother continued. "babyna please I beg of you, do it and I promise you won't regret it. You are all I have and I won't want something bad to happen to you.

We know we shouldn't pick for you the man whom you will spend the rest of your life with but I assure you that this person will make you happy and you won't ever regret getting married to him."

"Ok Ummah I have accepted whatever Allah has destined for me, if getting married to him is my fate then I am going to gladly accept it" I sobbed.

"you can go ahead with the necessary things."

"Thank you mamana may your children always heed to your words, may they be as kind hearted as you are, may you never worry because of a child.

You have made me the happiest father in the world I am so proud of you my daughter and I will continue love you" he said happily and for the preparations I already got you engaged to him when I went to Gombe with your uncle.

I raised my head to see my mom shedding tears, "Ummah why are you crying?" I asked.

" I am crying because I am so happy you grew up to be the person I wanted you to be. I am proud of myself and I am proud of you my baby" she said hugging me and my dad hugged us all.

"Ok Abba I need to go study" I said.

"Ok do not stress yourself or don't you think you need to sleep you just cried and it will give you headache?" He asked clearly concerned.

"Don't worry if am not able to read I will sleep" I assured him.

"Ok goodnight my dear and thank you once again."

I hesitantly walked out, my legs felt like Jell-O, I felt so weak that am not sure if my legs could successfully deliver me to my room.

I opened the door to meet a very pleased Kaka with her ear pressed against the door. 

"Kakalle were you evesdropping?" I asked, my eyes now as large as saucers. 

" No" she answered sternly. 

"Then what are you doing here?" I asked, cocking my eyebrows ready to teased her and what she did next took me off guard. 

She hugged me and said "thank you my love what you did today touched my heart Ninety nine percent of girls wouldn't do that and I promise you won't regret it."

" Ok hajiya kakalle" I said chuckling and excused myself.

I got back to my room to meet missed calls on my phone, Ikhlas called me 7 times.

I called her back and told her everything that transpired between my parents and I.

"Thank you very much Hanny" she said. "may Allah reward you, you acted like a true Muslim. You accepted your fate and I am proud of you My soon to be Mrs. I'll see you in class tomorrow just rest and sleep okay."

" Ok goodnight peaches" I said.

The next morning, I woke up early, got ready for school and went to greet my parents.

"Inakwana" I greeted "lafiya Lau mamana kin shirya Zaki fita kenan,"

" Yes Abba am leaving now." I answered.

"Ok your husband - to - be will come see you this evening so come back early today okay."

"Inshallah" I answered and headed for school with a heavy heart.

"Ikheee Abba Said he is going to come see me today do you think he will like me? what should I wear? should I use makeup?" I asked nervously.

"Just be yourself Hanny and I am sure he is going to love you" she said and I felt a bit better.

"What if I don't like him?" I asked.

"See him first before we talk about that and don't ask me anything again till we finish reading this course so get back to work" she ordered and I reluctantly agreed.

I wore a simple Ankara gown with veil and flat shoes, used my deodorants and went to see him outside he was sitting in the balcony with his back facing me.

" Assalamualaikum" I greeted Waalaykisalam he answered.

This voice is familiar who is this? Yaya Haneef Kaine? (Yaya Haneef is that you?)"I asked.

"Were you expecting someone else?" he answered,

"No I just didn't know u were the person."

My heart was beating fast and my lungs felt empty all my thoughts were Ikhlas loved him I betrayed her I am a bad friend I started feeling dizzy he was calling my name but I was hearing it faintly.

"Ikhlas!!!"  and I blacked out.