Chapter Six

After walking for awhile, I felt tired and so I entered an eatery and sat down, bought a bottle of water and kept it on the table. Ahmad had called me twice but I didn't pick so, he texted me...

Assalamu alaykum, hope you're fine I wanted to know if you'd be around so I'd check up on you on my way back from work but, you're not picking.

I didn't reply the message either, I had nothing to say to him. My phone rang and after seeing the identity of the caller, I cleaned my eyes and answered the call.

"Bestie!" She screamed into the phone.

"How're you?" I asked in a tired voice.

"You don't sound good is everything okay?"

I cleaned my eyes again, "no, are you at home?"

"Yes are you coming now or, should I come over?"

"No, I'd be there soon." I said right before I ended the call, then I went to pay for my untouched water. I got into a cab and it took me straight to her house.

"Assalamu alaykum." I said as soon as I entered the sitting room.

"Walaykumsalam." Kareema's elder sister, Amina answered looking up from her phone.

"Is Kareema in her room?"

"Yes but sit down let's all gist, I was actually bored." Without waiting for answer she screamed, "Kareema, come down let's gist with Fatima."

"Uhmmm, Amina I'm not in the mood, maybe some other time."

"Oh I'm sorry don't mind me and you don't even look really good, is something wrong?" She asked concern lacing her tone.

I smiled, "I'm fine."

I went up to Kareema's room, she was reading a book, I sat on the floor and sighed.

"Mind telling me what happened?" She said after few minutes of silence, I began telling her everything and when I was done she asked,

"So what will we do now?" I appreciated the fact she used we instead of you.

"I have no idea, he seems so powerful and he's willing to do what he can to make me marry him. I at first thought to myself that if talking to him didn't work out, I'd simply go out of town but then I remembered my school and, and..." I couldn't even finish talking as I finally broke down, all my walls crumbling as the reality of the situation finally hit me.

"Sshh it's going to be okay, please stop crying. Allah will see us through." Kareema said hugging me, after my cries subsided, she handed me a hanky and I blew my nose.

"Do you think I should tell Ahmad?"I asked.

"No, he is sure to go after Alhaji Lawal and that won't be good from what you've told me, that man seems dangerous."

"Yeah, I guess you're correct."

"Are you hungry?" I shook my head indicating I wasn't.

"Get up and pray nawwafil- voluntary prayers while I quickly prepare something for you to eat."

I performed ablution and then started praying, I spent almost thirty minutes on the praying mat crying and praying to Allah to save me from my problems. As soon as I stood up Kareema came in with a plate of noodles.

"Specially prepared by me, how do you feel now?"

"Better."

"Try and eat please, Mom said I should help her with something, hope you'll be okay on your own?" She asked her expression showing concern.

"Yes I'm good and Kareema?" She looked at me, "thanks, I really appreciate."

"Oh shut up! We're best friends and best friends always stick together."

She exited the room leaving me on my own to brood, I just sat there staring at nothing in particular as I let my mind wander. After awhile I remembered the food Kareema had brought in so as not to let it waste, I decided to eat even if it was a bit but as soon as I tasted it, I remembered who my best friend was.

'The Worst Cook In The World' I smiled as I still managed to eat a few spoons, setting the rest aside, I made myself comfortable on her bed and slept off, I was awoken by a soft shake of my leg.

"Fatima, wake up its time to pray maghrib." I sat upright on the bed and rubbed my eyes sleepily, looking over at the weather from the slightly parted curtain of the window I realized she was right, it was sunset already. I didn't know I had slept for that long.

"Go and perform ablution let's pray together."

I nodded and I went into the bathroom and did my business then stepped out and stood side by side with Kareema on the praying mat.

••••• •••• •••• •••• •••• ••••

"Thank you Mustapha." I said as I stepped out from the car, Kareema's mother had insisted the driver come to drop me at home since it was late. I knocked on the gate twice before the gateman finally decided to open the gate, I entered the house.

"Assalamu alaykum." I said as soon as I stepped in all eyes turned to me, even Ahmad was around and I immediately began to panic.

"Walaykumsalam." Few voices replied me, I didn't even recognize them as my eyes were just on Ahmad.

"Young lady, where have you been and why haven't you been picking anyone's call?" Dad's angry voice tore my eyes away from Ahmad.

"I'm sorry dad, my phone was on silent mode" I had totally forgotten I hadn't told anyone where I was headed to when I left the house since morning.

"Fatima, we were all worried about you." Mom said looking at me her eyes told me she was because of the recent happenings.

I turned to look at the rest of my family, Harun was now engaged in a conversation with Zubaida while Ibrahim was simply staring at me something told me he knew about what was going on, Safiya was busy typing furiously on her phone and Zuwee was also on her phone.

As I stared at them all my heart pricked and at that moment I knew I had finally come to a decision for I was willing to do whatever it takes to protect the ones I loved the most :my family, and no matter how much I was unwilling to do this I knew that I had to be selfless and do this, and I knew that there is always a point in someone's life where he/she will have to make the ultimate sacrifice and at this juncture it was time for me to.

"Ahmad let's talk outside please." Even as I stood there staring at him and allowing the cool night breeze to blow me. I knew that this was the point of no return, I have to sacrifice my happiness to guarantee the safety of my family and so before I could regret it. I allowed the words roll off my lips...