Fortuitous Tenderness

The next day, Ameenah woke up feeling a bit relieved. She had prayed two Raka’ats and prolonged her sujood. She poured her heart out to Allah, As-Sami’ about her problems. She had a feeling that her prayers would be answered. In Sha Allah.

She had her bath and got dressed. She was in the kitchen helping Aunty make breakfast when she received a call from Bashir informing her he was outside. Her back resting on the kitchen wall, ”Ameenah just go and listen to what he has to say. And don’t act nervous. Act normal.” She slowly nodded. She left the kitchen and sauntered into her room. She slipped into her hijab and went out.

He was outside the car. His back resting against the car. Arms and legs crossed, smiling gracefully at her. She smiled a little. ”Good morning,” she talked shyly. ”Why are you shy please? You look beautiful this morning, Masha Allah.” She didn’t utter a word. She fiddled with her fingers. He chuckled a little stuffing his hands in his kaftaan pocket. ”How are you? Hope you slept well.” She nodded, ”yes Alhamdulillah.”

”Masha Allah. I would be going back to Abuja today and I am not leaving till you give me an answer.” She raised her head up. Their eyes met. They held nothing but the truth, his love for her. ”Please Ameenah believe me; I’m so in love with you. And I don’t know what will happen to me if I lose you. It has once happened before and I gave up on love but then I met you. And I know, I can just feel it; you’re the one. Please accept my love and be my wife.”

She shook her head no, ”please n-no please stop loving me.” Her words pierce through his heart but instead he smiled. ”Tell me your reasons.” She looked down again. ”I just can’t. It’s going to happen. You’d leave the moment I need you the most and I don’t want to get hurt. You have passed my level. Ni dakai bamu dace ba. A rich person like you can’t be with a filthy poor girl like me. I’m sorry but I can’t you...”

”You’re not filthy or poor. I love you just the way you are. And my parents would love you. They’ll love your family cause you guys are the most nicest people I’ve ever met. I promise you no one would treat you differently in my family if that’s what you’re afraid of. You’re perfect baby, please say yes and you will never regret giving me your heart, In sha Allah.”

He spotted baba coming out of the house. He squatted down to greet him. Ameenah quickly turned to leave when baba stopped her, ”where do you think you’re going?” He asked. ”Uhmm baba, I- I’m helping Aunty with some work.” She replied and headed in quickly. He shook his head and turned to bashir. ”Get up please.” Bashir thanked him and got up.

”I didn’t know you were in kaduna. How was your journey?” Baba asked. ”Alhamdulillah. I came together with Ameenah yesterday evening.” He replied, his head down. He respected that man. ”Uh- baba, if you won’t mind I would love to talk to you about something.”

”No problem, come let’s go in.” He nodded and they sauntered into the house. They settled down at the living room. ”I want to thank you for being so kind to me. I am still surprised you trusted me with your daughter the first time you met me. Baba thank you so much for your kindness. You will make me the happiest man if you allow me to ask for your daughter’s hand marriage.” Baba stared at him for some few minutes. He wasn’t expecting him to ask for that. He was surprised sane time happy.

His lips stretched out to a smile, ”that won’t be a problem son, but I have to ask her first before we go further more.” His heart skipped a beat. What if Ameenah says no? She has showed him today that she’s not interested in him. She had shown him that they’re nothing but only friends. He smiled, ”baba no problem. I’ll wait and whatever you decide I am fine with it. But baba, you have raised a beautiful nice woman who knows what’s right and wrong. Who is God fearing. I’ve never seen someone so respectful and kindhearted. Her characters really attracted me. And I would be the happiest man if she becomes my wife.”

Baba rested his elbows on his knees, hands under his chin while he reasoned Bashir’s words. He believed everything he said. He knows who Bashir is since the first day he saw him. He’s all over the news paper. He is quite popular. And he knows the kind of house he came out from. He knew his daughter would be treated right.