Chapter 36

Haidar Jega

Waking up, my eyes scanned the room in which I lay in my mother's house. I was still sleepy though, when I checked my phone it was 10:44 Am. I hissed real loud when I saw this, I hadn't observed my morning prayer so I got out of bed and took calm strides towards the bathroom where I took my bath and then performed ablution. When I came out, I got dressed in a brown kaftan and then sprayed a prayer mat on the floor and decided to pray. I prayed for what seemed like an hour, making all sorts of Dua's as a knock came on the door.

"Fatima, what is it?" I turned to the door and said. It was only my sister who would knock like a maniac.

"Breakfast bro, come let's eat abeg. I'm hungry" she said and I chuckled. I got up from where I sat and took calm strides towards the door and opened it.

"You're hungry? Happy new year chicken!" I pulled her ear and she chuckled.

"Oh, it's New Year. I swear I didn't remember." She placed her palm in mine and walked downstairs Hand in hand. The dining room was in front of the stairs so I saw my mother seated at the table along with Jabar. They were both gisting and laughing hysterically.

"Wow, what's so funny like this?" Fatima asked. Immediately she sat, she took a spoon full of the food before Her. I was sure she didn't say bismillah. So I smacked her hand.

"What was that for?" She said with her mouth full. I just rolled my eyes and greeted my mum. My mum doesn't like us talking while eating so the dining table was silent. Not until my phone rang in my pocket. "Hello, what's up?" I said. It was Nailah who was calling.

"I'm good. Where are you?. I'm at the palace, I came to see you." She said.

"I'm coming, give me ten minutes. I'll be right there, okay?" I said to her.

"Okay, I'm in your house. So you'll find me there." She said and I gave her a nod as though she was before me while saying yes.

"Where are you going?" My mother asked curiously.

"Mother, I have to head to the palace, please. Something important came up." I said.

"Oh okay. But please let me pack you a flask of food. You didn't eat much" My mother said.

"Not need. I'll eat there, I love you" I got up and pecked her. Jabar got up, he looked like he was enjoying his breakfast and I had to deprive him of it.

"Bye Mother, see you again in sha Allah," he said to my mum who smiled at him. We both dashed out of the house and soon sat in the car. My mum's house wasn't far from my palace and like I said to Nailah, I was before the palace in ten minutes. Jabar drove in, I couldn't dare stare at some places as they brought back memories of Lailah when my dad had died. It was painful to watch her die the way she did. And I remembered how her body was taken from here after the jannazah.

Alighting from the car, my eyes met with Nailah. She was seated in front of my house in the palace, I chuckled when I saw her.

"Why aren't you inside?" I asked.

"It's boring in there." She said. I chuckled.

"Okay let's go in." I said. I passed my left hand to her and helped her up. She smiled while looking me eye to eye. I immediately looked away and pretended to cough. Both of us walked into my house, I had changed all the furniture. It looked really beautiful.

"Your house looks amazing" she commented and I smiled.

"Thank you, have a sit while I call a maid to bring you refreshments," I said.

"Oh no, I'm fasting."'she said.

"On a Wednesday?" I raised my brow. She chuckled.

"I fast every new year for my sister's soul to find peace." She smiled.

"Oh!" I simply said while slumping onto the couch along with her. There was a moment of silence in the room before she broke it.

"I came to talk to you about something."
She said.

"Okay, go on. I'm listening" I tried to fake a smile. I had never sat with Nailah after our breakup four years ago and it felt awkward.

"Haidar, I don't know how to put this. Like I'm scared you might not want to hear it." She said while biting her lower lip.

"I Will understand in sha Allah. what is it?" I asked.

"Haidar," she looked away. "Before my sister had died, I still had feelings for you. But I decided to let you go for her sake because it was clear she has feelings for you." She said. I swallowed a lump nervously. "Haidar the thing is, I never forgot how to love you, I still have feelings for you, and after contemplating I decided I'd tell you all this." She said.

"You know I love Lailah, I cannot be with you Nailah. You are nice but I'm sorry" I managed to say.

"I know you still love my sister, it's evident in your every word. But I just wanted to let you know this, I love my sister too and I can never bare to watch her lose what she likes. That's why I decided to let you go and let her have you." She said.

"I'm sorry Nailah, I can never love another woman again, and I've promised someone that I will never marry," I said.

"You promised Lailah?" She rose a brow and I nodded.

"Haidar I know, she's my sister and someone you love very much. But she's dead. You need to move on, you cannot punish yourself like this, you have many years ahead of you Haidar." She said.

"And who told you I have many years ahead of me? I might die today or even tomorrow or next. No one knows, I do not have many years ahead." I said. She blinked a few times before sighing.

"Okay, but I just wanna let you know all this. Now I feel light that I have told you my feelings, see you some other time Haidar. Take good care of yourself and remember this. You need to move on, my sister is dead and there's nothing you can do to bring her back. Stop punishing yourself." With that, she hung her bag on her shoulder and sashayed away. I couldn't help but hiss, there's nothing anyone will tell me that will make me marry. Nothing at all.