MAHMOOD'S POV
I knew she wouldn't take it well, because the moment Abbu started talking, my eyes were trained on her for any reaction, and i immediately noticed her arm shaking a bit from within the ridiculous hijab she is wearing,
As Amma was explaining to her, i realized it will just be a matter of seconds before she passed out and as i pointed it out "she is passing out" out of instinct i found myself by herside as her squatted body went limp and down to my body and her Lulu eyes closed right before mine.
Ya Allah, who gave them the idea ti get us married that very day, is it even allowed to be forced into something like this,
She is even Lucky she got some explanation, i was about to head to the airport to board jet to Addis Ababa for an important meeting when Abbu's call came in, ordering me to come by the house immediately,
Abbu is the main fatherly figure i have known and i knew when his voice spelled seriousness and this was one of the times.
And one could imagine my shock when i came into the sitting room to meet uncle Sahib, uncle Mansur and two mallams, then another elderly man and from the looks of it his son and another younger man who i haf no idea were some seconds away from being my inlaws,
It was Abbu who motioned for me to come sit down on the rug near him as he was facing one of the mallams who has a long rosary on his hand,
"The bride price" the mallam said and i watch Abbu bring out five bundles of 1000 naira notes and handed to me,
With my years in the business world i knew without being told that it is a halve a million,
Abbu motioned to me to give the mallam which i did as my mind begin to wonder whose bride price is it, whose quite daurin aure is it,
But i got my answers when i heard the Mallam loudly say "Alhamdulilah, an daura auren Mahmood Kameelu Matafa da Ameerah Sultan Alfa a bisa Sadaki naira dubu dari biyar (the marital knot of Mahmood Kameelu Matafa and Ameerah Sultan Alfa has being tied based on the bride price 500 thousand naiar)"
My breathe immediately hitched as Abbu with smiles begun to pat me while the men begun to happily exchange handshakes,
"Aure nah kuma Abbu (my marriage Abbu)" i asked hoping with all my heart he will laugh and say no, it was a joke, but who was i kidding, this ain't no joke, these looks real
"Yes Mahmood my son, you know i will never choose anything of harm for you" he said with a smile and i nodded with my usual poker face,
"I choose to get you married to a wonderful lady, a daughter of mine, late Jabir's wife"
"Who" i breathed, as i was trying so hard to recall her face and the moment her beautiful sad and pale face flashed in my head i gasp,
I can recall now, her face, on that very day was Jabir's seventh day prayers, she looked so sad and i even wondered at that time, how can someone be that pale and sad but still beautiful but that was our second meeting,
I first met her during cousin Asma's wedding cocktail, she was in a beautiful sky blue gown with a light makeup and all smiles,
One might wonder how i can still recall something like that of almost 4 years, well it was because her image kept popping in and out of dreams for so long, not minding she was Jabir's wife, the guilt didn't stop dreams from coming and some time ago it stopped and now we are married, just like that.
"Now move over and greet your father inlaw, his son and their own inlaw" Abbu said,
I did with no enthusiasm even as they shake my hands ,with smiles saying congratulations,
أنت تقرأ
ANOTHER CHANCE ANOTHER LOVE.
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