CHAPTER XL

Rahama stride angrily to her friends. She was boiling in jealousy at what just happened at the entrance of the hall. How dare them! What gave them the right to  make me feel like this?. That stupid rahama, what does she take herself as? Just because she is close to sadiq, must she flash that her stupid smile at him?. Sigh, to hell with all of them .

" Girl calm down, why were you walking as if someone stole something from you "  badiyya asked as rahama got closer.

Rahama flare her nose as she exhale. Technically ,someone actually stole something from her. He wasn't even hers to begin with, so why does all these affect her so much?, she thought.

" Nothing happened " she said instead with a forced smile.

Sakeena moved forward " you don't get to say that because what we just saw said otherwise. What happened at the restroom? "

She shook her head " I said nothing happened. I just felt like walking faster to you guys " she shrug

Badiyya shared a look with sakeena. They knew it has something to do with sadiq. They saw him walking out through thesame door rahama just walked in from.

" it's my brother isn't it? "

Rahama pout" of course he is the one. I don't know what he think of himself! Must he rub it in my face that the other rahama is his friend? " she said in distaste

The other two shared a secret smile " now I get what this is all about. You're jealous that's it"

" NO!, I'm not. I'm not jealous!" she gritted out " I'm annoyed that's all"

" annoyed? "

" yes!. The worst is that he referred me as Mansir's wife!. I mean, who told him that I was married to Mansir for God's sake? " she exclaimed

" OK, calm down. This might be some kind of mistake" badiyya reasoned

Rahama looked at her with a raised brow" a mistake? I don't think that was a mistake. He said it as if he was sure of what he was saying "

" Don't worry, I will explain all to him. I will tell him that you aren't married "

" please don't. I see no difference if you do. That won't make him come back to me. Infact he will only look at me in pity  or worst tease me about me" she told badiyya with a shake of head

" why do you always want things to turn out negative. You might be surprised that he still likes you . Maybe he hasn't said it because he thought you are married to Mansir. Its best you tell him or I explain it to him"

Rahama knew what badiyya said might be true but what got her thinking is why badiyya was so sure that sadiq likes her.

" why are you so sure that sadiq likes me?" she asked  badiyya this bugging question

" Good question" badiyya grinned widely  "I confirmed it myself from him"

" how? " Rahama queried with furrowed brows

" Two years ago, I had  this serious conversation with yaya sadiq on the phone. I told him about you getting married to Mansir, yaya sadiq was almost at the verge of busting in  jealousy. Then and there I asked him if he likes you and guess what yaya's reply was? Yaya's answer was 'yes'. He said it without any mistake. But unfortunately, when it was remaining just two weeks to your wedding with Mansir, yaya told me to please stop giving him any update about you since you would soon become someone else's. That was how we stopped talking about you. Now I get why he thought you are married to Mansir. That is because no one has told him about your harsh break up with him yet. "

" Don't worry rahama, I'm very sure that old love never dies. He might act as if he doesn't have any feelings for you but I know that deep down he still does ." badiyya assured her

Rahama smile widely at badiyya " you're the best friend anyone could ask for. Thank you badiyya. You just boost my confidence "

" what about me? I'm the bad friend right? " sakeena asked with fake anger.

" No ,no you aren't. You two are the best friends anyone could ask for " rahama said to them.

" better "

" What is all the giggles about? " a different voice said from behind

Badiyya turn around " yaya!!! " she screamed and ran to hug him " I have missed you so so much. How comes you didn't even tell me that you're in Nigeria!. You didn't even call, you just left your sister on her own. What you did wasn't  right at all "

Sadiq could only watch her as she kept blabbing on and on. He chuckles at her " I know I wronged you. I just want it to be a surprise "

" damn right, I was surprised. In fact I'm still in surprise " she grinned " I miss you" she hugged him again.

He laughed " I missed you too. I miss all your troubles "

" so I'm troublesome? "She pull out of the hug and pinch his arm

" ouch" he grown in pain " your hand hurt"

" serves you right" she smirk

A giggle broke  in from behind. Sadiq then remembered that there are two other people with them. He blames it on badiyya. Anytime they are together he tend to forget things because of her banters.

He took note of sakeena first and then  rahama who was pretending as if she wasn't the one who just giggled right now. Sadiq internally smirked

" Assalamualikum ladies. Sorry for not greeting you guys earlier " he apologized

" waalaikumussalam"Sakeena answered " you don't need to apologize,we understand.  Isn't that Right, rahama ?" said sakeena as she lightly nudge rahama.

Rahama rolled her eyes at the said man who still wore a smirk on his face " right " she said rudely . What happened few minutes ago came back rushing to her.

" oh mrs Mansir, forgive my manners. How is your husband ?" he pretended to be sorry for not asking .

The kind of glare rahama shot at him could make one piss his pant but sadiq wasn't even fazed by it .

" Don't call me that" she said through gritted teeth

Badiyya stifled a giggle same with sakeena. This two  lovers are one hell of a drama.

Badiyya finally decides to interfere " yaya you got it mixed up. Rahama isn't married to yaya Mansir "

" Really? " he appeared surprised.

" yes she isn't "

" oh, good for her then" he simply said without looking at rahama " you ladies need to excuse me, I have important people to welcome "

His word were life a stake to the heart for rahama. Does that mean she is the non important person? She don't worth his time then! , rahama thought to herself.

" You're free to go. See you soon" badiyya told him. He smile ,with a nod he left.

" please rahama don't take it wrongly. I'm sure he didn't say that to hurt you "

She smile sadly " erm, I think I should just go home. "

" no please, try to understand. You can't just leave like this" sakeena reasoned

" please you two should stop this. Stop trying to make me feel better. I know what he meant and I know he was indirectly talking to me. I can handle myself" she walk out of their front.

**

Immediately rahama walked out, she broke into tears. She held the railing as the tears keeps flowing down her cheeks. She hiccup and slide down the floor

" He does not like me . H..e doesn't " she said inbetween tears.

A clearing of throat was heard. Rahama quickly wiped up her tears and stood upright. She took a deep breath before turning to whoever was behind. Behold it's non other than Mansir

She internally groan. She is not ready for any part two right now.

" what do you want? " she rudely asked. He still looks thesame except that he has reduce a little weight and his lips are a bit dark. Does this means he now smoke?

"I was only passing when I heard cries from here. I thought to check and it turned out to be you " he calmly explained

"  Are you stalking me? In fact you don't need to answer that. Since you've filled in your eyes, you can leave" a rude rahama said

He ignored her rudeness " I hope all is well rahama?Who hurt you? Is it sadiq? "

Her eyes flickered to his immediately " why must it be sadiq? Haven't you hurt me enough? "

He rub his face out of frustration " but I have apologized"

" your apologies aren't needed. Please just leave me alone" she yelled

" I still love you rahama. Wallahi I do" he look very sincere

She shook her head " I don't believe you. I don't want anything else from you, please let me be"

He went forward to grab her hand but she was fast enough to move back. His action really scares her.

" leave me alone" she said bravely while masking her fear. She look around and was sad to see that no one was outside. It was just the two of them.

Mansir was surprised to see the fear in her eyes. Is she scared of me?, he thought to himself. He never wanted her to be scared, no he doesn't . He was only trying to make her understand.

He tried moving forward but rahama moved backwards

" don't come any closer " she gritted

" do you actually think I am going to hurt you? "

She shot him a look and said' isn't that what you want to do? '

" Ya Allah. Rahama how could think that I was going to hurt you. I swear I wouldn't "

" just let me be" she turned  around to walk to her car but the said man followed her. She fastened her paste and he also fastened his too. He was behaving like a creep

" wait rahama "

" leave me alone please"

" I just want to talk " he move faster and grabbed her hand

" let me go " she screamed out of fear " please "

Before anyone of them could comprehend what was happening, a blow was thrown at Mansir.

" Didn't you hear her? She said you should leave her the hell alone" Sadiq growled out in anger

The blow came as a surprise for Mansir. He touched the blood on the side of his mouth and was angered at the sight of it. He return a punch of his over at sadiq who lookingly dodge it .

" You bastard. I wish you rot in whereever it is you went to" Mansir growled

Sadiq smirk at him " luckily I didn't "

Mansir tried sending another punch but instead he received a kick in return. He groaned in pain. Mansir knew he got zero chance with sadiq in this fight coz sadiq was more huge than he was. Instead, he decide to taunt sadiq.

" what do you think will happen? You think she would choose you over me? " Mansir taunt sadiq like a sadist

" I don't need to think and that is because I don't need her anyways, I have never needed her. I don't go for used products " came sadiq reply. Even Mansir was filled with utmost shock

Come to think of it, and here rahama thought she has to thank him for saving her from Mansir when in fact it was Sadiq she needed to be saved from . He totally surprised her with his hurtful words.

She didn't need to hear more instead she open her car and drove out of the venue with heavy heart.

***

Jafar was totally disappointed with what he just heard. He could not believe that his friend will go this far with his words.

" Man, you didn't try at all" Jafar tsked and stood up to get water from the fridge.

He arrived from Kano just two hours ago when sadiq also came back from the party. He couldn't believe sadiq will go this far. He knew sadiq is still finding it hard to accept rahama because he fear that she might only likes him just because he is now rich. He  was scared of  heartache after all he had gone through for the past three years. It isn't easy to be a millionaire just in one night. It has never been easy.

" Don't blame me. It was all Mansir's fault. I needed him to know that I don't give a damn about her " sadiq defend himself.

" but must you be too harsh with your words? From what I heard from people, they said that girl is now a changed girl. She isn't the rahama you once knew"

" please spare me that, I don't care whether she is still a spoilt brat or not. All I care about is that I don't need her in my life again. You will be surprised that she is only pretending to be a changed person for some reasons. I have warned you to stop trusting people too soon, jafar"

Jafar was speechless . The sadiq he knew will never talk bad about rahama so where is all this hatred coming from?

" are you for real man? We're actually talking about your rahama. The same rahama you wanted to call two years ago to tell her your feelings! "

Sadiq rolled his eyes " that was then. This person you're seeing over here is the new sadiq. " he said with alot of seriousness

Jafar raised a brow " we all know that all these you just said are mere words. Very soon you will start crying to me that you want to call rahama in other to prophesies your love for her " jafar teased

Sadiq fling a throw pillow at him " I have never said it like that "

" of course I know you won't believe me"

" in fact I'm going upstairs. I don't think I can sit here and listen to all your nonsense "

" don't say I didn't warn you"  Jafar warned as he held his ear " that aside, I haven't seen rahama around. Don't be mistaken, I'm talking about the other rahama"

" yes I know who you're talking about " said sadiq with an eyes roll " she is staying with her aunty at the other estate in the next street "

" oh no wonder. If not I'm sure she will be all over you by now" Jafar joked and in returned he received another pillow thrown at him

" ouchh" he held his nose " abeg don't come and break my nose. Sakeena still loves my handsome face o"

" Don't be deceived"

" I'm not. In fact we are having a date tomorrow. I told her to make necessary arrangements, I want to meet her parents" he smile remembering there conversation on the phone.

" I'm happy for you. This is a good news" said sadiq happily

" yes it is. I have waited long enough for this."

" yes you have " nodded sadiq in return. Sadiq yawned " I think I need some sleep. See you tomorrow " he stride  up stairs to his room

" Good night " answered Jafar

**

Sadiq fell flat on his king size bed as he got  into his room. Drowsily,his remembered seeing rahama. She was the first thing he saw when he arrived at the venue.

She had her eyes closed, taking a deep and calming breath. She looks so beautiful in her blue dress. She was just like a flower. Not just any kind of flower, she is a rare type of flower that  is so hard to get. Before she could catch him looking, he walked away. Finally , sadiq was consumed by sleep .

"