Chapter ten

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• Treasures and thorns   Chapter 12 || Assertions and new beginnings

  Rukkayya"Will you like a drink?" Nusaiba asks from where she is standing by the foot of the bed. I turned slightly from my position on one of the chairs in front of the bed."No, thank you."The colours in Nusaiba's room are warm. I expected it to have a girly feel to it. It was simple and unique nonetheless.The walls were painted ash and a neutral silver strand colour. It matched the headboard of the bed and the super soft throw pillow on the couch I sat on."So how are you settling in?" Nusaiba inquires. She is casually dressed in a blue shirt and black trousers. A small black veil sits carelessly on her head revealing her exceptionally black hair. I wonder if she knows how resplendent she is.I wasn't sure of how to properly respond to the question. So I opted for a safer option."Alhamdulillah."I didn't

• Treasures and thorns   Chapter ten

  RUKKAYYAIt had been a week and five days after our wedding. I look down at my fading henna and sigh. I miss home. Is that even a thing to say? I am supposedly home and the home I had been referring to was never mine.I should feel exhausted, strangely I'm not. I woke up abruptly at 3 am. I stare into the darkness in my new room, motionless for a few minutes before I decided to invest in a more fruitful venture. I got up and headed to the bathroom, performed ablution and prayed two rakah Nafila.Immediately after our wedding, we travelled to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah, the lesser hajj. I was so excited when Ya Ahmad told me and I was right to be. It was pure bliss.Luckily, we stayed in a suite with two rooms so I had a room to myself else it would have

• Treasures and thorns   Chapter nine

  OMNISCIENTThe Modibbo's had sent a delegation to deliver the wedding boxes as per tradition two weeks to the wedding date. They were warmly received in the Nasir's residence. The gifts they had brought along with them had people gossiping for weeks afterwards.It didn't come as a surprise to Sadiya, Rukkayya's mother, she knew such extravagant gift would reach them which was why she especially requested that it was moderated but Fatima Modibbo wouldn't hear of it. They said that Rukkayya had become one of them and everything had to be befitting.The guests had come in a grand convoy. They arrived in a spectacular way with ten flashy cars. The party only started when they started off loading their delivery. The delegation that met them was awestruck. It ended up becoming an event itself. The boxes were like nothing they had ever seen.There were 30 boxes in tot

• Treasures and thorns   Chapter eight

  AHMADI had been forced to clear my busy schedule to travel to Minna to meet my proposed wife. It was the last thing I wanted to do but what choice did I have? I guess its important to meet her since there is no walking out on the marriage.However, I was glad that I had gone down there to meet her. The first thing I noticed about her is that she is timid. I find it rather amusing. I don't know many shy people and didn't they say shyness is the best accessory a woman could adorn herself with?If I didn't have prior knowledge, I would have thought her to be older, although, she had a baby face. She was so different from my ex in every aspect. They were like opposites. How could I survive with someone so different?She is simple, cultured and perhaps a little naive. There isn't any challenge or a

• Treasures and thorns   Chapter seven

  RUKKAYYAI was born on the 14th of August when the wind was humid and the sands were damp from the heavy downpour. I was told it rained cats and dogs on that day. They said it signified a blessed day and I am 'special'. Which day isn't blessed?I use that information to my advantage most times but I don't really believe there is anything special about me. It is a bit cliche.Nana forcibly enrolled me in a four weeks continental culinary class much to my dismay. It was her 'early birthday gift' to me, she even added that I would thank her for it someday. I felt insulted because I am quite a good cook. Who cares about Continental food?Albeit after attending my first class, I realized that I wasn't as good as I thought I was. The instructor introduced me to kitchen equipments that I had never heard about in my whole life. It was so fascinating. Frankly, the classes also gave me something el

• Treasures and thorns   Chapter six

  AHMADThe only time I had to wallow in self pity was the weekends. I had indulged myself ever since my wedding got cancelled.Once upon a time, I was always active on the weekends. It was during that time that I could hit the gym or catch up with friends. However when she left, my desire for such things vanished.I indulged in working on the weekends. All I would do was lie around in my room and work. It was the only distraction that was effective. I only hit the gym whenever I got bored. It became my second distraction.The situation that I had found myself in, forced a change in what had become my 'weekend routine'. The gym became my first option once again.There is a fully functional and well equipped gymnasium in my father's mansion which I frequent. It is a