2

He walked over to his car calmly and drove out of the building. He drove in completely silence as he thought of a possible way to console his heart from what he was going through about Amira. He knew he wasn’t in love with her right from day one but he thought that feeling would change when they get to know each other more after their wedding and she will prove the love she has been claiming for him. But things weren’t going as he thought. 

Things were getting worse day by day. He always tried to avoid it from disturbing him but it was avail. He tapped on the steering wheel tiredly and sighed. He parked the car in front of the black ironed gate and stepped out. He received a call earlier from Amira’s father that he wanted to see him. He walked directly to his living room. “Salamu alaikum,” he muttered as he entered the living room. Daddy looked up and responded to his greetings. 

“Muhsin, sorry I called you in such short notice. I am so worried about my friend and the driver is out with Amira and her mom,” he muttered. “No problem, daddy. I’m always here to help,” he responded politely. “We should get going right? Let me get the car keys.” Daddy excused himself and headed to his room. 

Muhsin went back outside and drove his car in to the parking space before daddy came back. He waited patiently for his father in law to step out so they could leave. They set the road to Kuje when daddy finally came out. On their way there, daddy kept apologising and consoling him about Amira. He knew clearly how she was and what happens between her and muhsin. 

They arrived shortly at the village and daddy directed him to Ja’afaar’s house.  

He found a good spot and parked the car by the house. Daddy stepped out and sent a boy into the house to announce his arrival. They were ushered in by ja’afaar’s brother. “Salamu alaikum,” daddy muttered as they entered the house. He met his sick friend lain on the weaved mat. “SubhanAllah, ja’afaar? How are you feeling? Why didn't you tell me you were sick since last week, I could have visited you on that day.” He turned his head to Ja’afaar’s brother, “please help me carry him, we’re taking him to the hospital right now.”

He did as he was told and they rushed him to a better hospital in Abuja. He was immediately taken to the A & E for immediate check up. His wife seated beside her daughter as she tried to console her daughter to stop the tears. 

Muhsin scanned their faces and shook his head. Their sight really touched his heart. He can't imagine something like that happening to him or anyone. Losing a father is something huge and distressing. 

“You should not worry, Dalia. In sha Allah your father will be up on his feet again, your prayers is all he needs,” daddy soothed. She looked up at daddy and smiled a little. She wanted to thank him but the words has long disappeared. They waited for about forty five minutes before the doctor finally came out and summoned for daddy only. He didn't know how to start telling his wife about her husband’s condition. 

Daddy settled down in the doctor’s office, ready to here something positive about his dear friend. The doctor sighed, unable to think of a way to start speaking. “Well, alhaji.... Your brother’s condition is actually bad. His blood sugar level is so high that it harmed his kidneys....”

“Wait doctor I don't understand what you're saying,” daddy cuts him off, perplexed. He could remember the time ja’afaar told him he was diagnosed with diabetes. Over fifteen years now. “Diabetes can harm the kidneys by causing damage to the blood vessels inside your kidneys. The filtering units of the kidneys are filled with tiny blood vessels. Over time, high sugar levels  in the blood can cause these vessels to become narrow and clogged. And for your brother, we noticed that he's not cautious about his drugs or what he eats that it reached to this level.”

Daddy was silent for a while. “But is the situation really bad?” Daddy questioned. “His kidneys are damaged. He will be under treatment for two weeks to see how things will go,” the doctor explained. “Can we see him now?” Daddy asked. The doctor shook his head, “he is not completely stable yet.” He thanked him before heading out. 

Ja’afaar’s wife scrambled up and walked over to daddy. “How is he please? Can we go see him now?” She asked as her voice shook with fear. “We can't go see him now because they're not done, Amina. He will be under treatment for two weeks now to see how things will go. Your prayers is all he needs, but in sha Allah he will be fine,” he consoled. She slowly nodded even though she wasn't convinced. “As soon as they're done, they will inform us. I want to go pay the bills now,” he excused himself. Amina looked at his retreating back as the tears she has been holding came rushing down. What would have happened to her husband if not because of this man? Forever grateful they would be.

After ja’afaar was wheeled out of the A & E, they changed his room to a private one. Daddy asked Muhsin to take Dalia home to get whaever they'd need for their stay at the hospital. He did as he was told and they set the road to Kuje. No matter how he tried to console her, it was avail. He couldn't describe her pain but he knew she was in deep sorrow. 

They went back to the hospital afterwards. Daddy was still there with them. They bought all the necessities before leaving the hospital with a promise they'd be back tomorrow. 

Muhsin went back home later in the night. Amira was on the sofa watching her movies, as usual. She looked up and smiled. “You're back. Daddy told me you have been together since in the afternoon,” she spoke and turned her attention back to the TV. He sighed and settled down on the two seater while she was on the three sitter. He was very hungry and he knew asking for food was a waste of time and stressful. 

“You could not believe what happened today,” he started. Having a conversation with his wife would hurt. That’s if she actually pays attention to him. She looked at him smiling, “what, babe?” She asked as if she was going to listen to him. “We took daddy’s friend to the hospital. The sight of his family really broke my heart. Only Allah knows what they're going through....” He paused when he realized her attention was far away from him. He hissed softly and stood up. He left her there and headed up the stairs to his room. 

**

When the words couldn't come out, the tears did. The mourning was supposed to be something dignified and stoic in her and her mother, but she cried like a child, noisily, with running snot and choking sobs and she wasn't ashamed because losing someone so close to you, especially a father wasn’t something that would pass one time. 

“Mama is he really dead? They're joking right? Abba just went into a coma, I know he is not dead... you should stop covering his face, else how would he breathe?” Dalia lamented, traumatised. She couldn't take the news that her father has really passed away.  

How were they going to live without him? She couldn’t even imagine life without her abba. “It’s okay, Dalia. Our prayers is what he needs not your tears, okay? May Allah grant him the highest rank in jannah. In sha Allah he's in a better place.” She hugged her daughter firmly while they mourned together. 

Dalia cried until there was nothing left inside but a raw emptiness that nibbles at her insides like a hungry rat. Her irises were threaded scarlet and her eyeballs hung heavy in their sockets. Her whole body hung limp like each limb weighed twice as much as it had before and just moving it about was a slow, painful effort. No beauty left in the world as from that day. 

“Salamu alaikum,” daddy uttered as he rushed into the room. Dalia’s mother raised her head up and looked at him. She wanted to smile but the pain in her was too much to bear. She couldn't even reply his greetings. 

“Innalillahi wa’inna ilaihir rajiun,” he murmured looking at the corpse still lain on the bed. He moved to the bed and opened his friend’s face to see if it was really true. He stared at the face, many memories rushing back to him. Ja’afaar was not only a good person by heart but also soul. He was a good friend. A friend that always listened to his stories, a friend that always killed his worries and replace it with joy. He was a friend daddy would never forget about. 

He covered it back as he shook his head. How would he even start to console them? He couldn't even imagine what they were going through at that moment. 

“Ya Allah,” he sighed and turned his head to the mother and daughter clinging onto each other. “Amina I don't even know where to begin with,” he started but then sighed. “I can understand the way you feel. And I know you feel like He’s being unkind but Allah always chooses what’s best for us. May his soul enlighten the garden of paradise. Please have patience.”

She didn't even pay attention to what he said, left alone to reply him. She held her daughter so close and stroked her back. 

Ja’afaar’s brother came back to the hospital together with some of ja’afaar’s friends. They took him home and on that same day, he was taken to his righteous home. 

**

Two weeks passed by in a blur and ja’afaar’s family still mourned about his death, most especially his wife and daughter. Things haven't even gone far but they were already seeing lots of changes from his family. After the seventh day, none of his relatives came to visit them again nor ask if they needed help. 

The only person they could show the world they appreciate was daddy and Ja’afaar’s younger brother who has been with them all through. 

Daddy visited everyday, made sure they lacked nothing. He was responsible for all the food given out to people that came to offer their condolence to them. 

On the 15th day of his demise, daddy visited them after jumma’at prayer together with his driver. He met Amina together with her daughter still as down casted as they have ever been. 

“I hope I’ve met you in good health.” Amina smiled and responded. He cleared his throat after they have finished exchanging pleasantries. “Dalia,” he called her name, smiling. She answered as looked up. “Could you please give us a minute, I need to speak with your mother,” he spoke politely. She smiled a little and nodded. She respected him more than words could tell. She gently rise to her feet and entered her room. 

He turned his gaze to Amina who had her head ducked the whole time. You could tell she was going through lots of pain but rather not speak of it. She heaved a sigh as she placed her hand on her cheek while placing her elbow on her lap. “Amina, I have been wanting to speak with Dalia’s father about something but Allah had better plans for us. I know what I’m about to say might sound selfish to you and unfair but what I intended to do is for the sake of Allah, and I know it will be best for all of us. Please if you don’t mind, I would like to take Dalia with me, I think that is the least I could do for my friend, ja’afaar.”

She gawked at him for brief seconds and took her eyes off him. What does he mean by take her daughter with him? How would she cope if he takes the only person she had remaining in her life? “Alhaji you have done a lot for us that saying a single thank you will never be enough and we could never repay you for what you have done. And I don’t think we would’ve done anything without your support. Thank you for your effort and time but I can't give you my child, she's the only one I look at and feel relieved.”

He knew it wouldn't be easy to convince Amina about that matter but Dalia deserve a better life. She deserve to continue with her education. She deserve every love, care and support she’d get. “I know Amina, I know it will not be easy but I want to help you, for the sake of Allah and make her life a better one. Dalia deserves to continue with her studies also don’t you think?” 

Then she remembered, she always wanted her daughter to go further with her education, become a doctor or a nurse or even an engineer, anything Dalia wanted to be. But her father’s family wouldn't let her daughter be at ease. If not because ja’afaar was being tough, they would've married her daughter off to whomever they wanted long time ago. Maybe this was a great opportunity for her daughter to fulfil her dreams. And she knew if she leaves Dalia with her, they will definitely marry her off. 

She peered at daddy who was looking helpless. She smiled a little and nodded. “You're right and I agree with you but, you should go speak with her father’s brother first. If he agrees, I give Dalia till she’s ready for marriage.” He smiled and nodded. “Where exactly is his house? I will go speak with him right away,” he stated. 

Dalia took him to the house as her mother asked and she went back home immediately. Ja’afaar’s younger brother Jibril, came out immediately he heard it was daddy. They settled down on the weaved mat and exchanged pleasantries before daddy told him what brought him to his house. Jibril was silent for a moment before he nodded. “This is something to be happy about. Someone willing to help you no matter how little, you should always appreciate it. I would be more than happy if Dalia moved to abuja and continued with her studies. As long as her mother agrees, I have no problem with it.”

Daddy smiled brightly and thanked him unceasingly. He couldn't stop the guilt of not helping ja’afaar before he died. He thought; this might be the way he could help his friend even though he was no more. 

He went back to their house afterwards and told Amina everything they have spoken about. He left with the promise he’d come pick her up after 40 days of Ja’afaar’s demise. 

Later that night, Amina summoned Dalia to her room. She didn't even know how she’d start telling her daughter about it. She knew how Dalia was stubborn and it would be hard to convince her. “My Dalia, do you want to continue with your studies and become the surgeon you always wanted to be?” Amina asked and she slowly nodded as she smiled. Amina could see how her eyes sparkled as she mentioned education. 

“You want to have better life, grow up and help me right?” She asked another question again and Dalia nodded again. “Mama, am I going back to school? You know my waec result was excellent and I would want to write jamb in the next few months.” She muttered, excitedly. “Yes but only if you do what I ask you to do,” she spoke and Dalia quickly nodded her head.  “I will do it mama, what is it?” She inquired. “You can clearly remember Alhaji Mubarak since you were eleven right? When we used to live in abuja and how close your father was with him. You remember when we always took you to his house for holidays and how he treats you as his own daughter, right?” Dalia smiled again and nodded. “Mama how could I ever forget what he has done for us? He’s a very good man.”

“You're right, Dalia,” Amina said as she nodded in agreement. “When he came here earlier, he asked me if he could take you with him to his house so you could continue your education and I agreed.”

Dalia looked at her mother, perplexed. She did what? How? Why would she do that. “Are you going with me?” Dalia asked but her mother shook her head. “I will be here praying for your success my dear, it’s nothing to stress yourself about, okay?” She soothed but Dalia shook her head in disagreement. “If it means I have to leave you here all alone then I am not going and I give up on all my dreams as long as I will be with you, I don’t care.”

Amina smiled and pinched her nose, “why are you so stubborn. Zan kwade miki kai fa.(I will hit your head)” Dalia pouted and looked away. “This is for your own good Dalia, and this is a great opportunity and it only comes once, don’t forget. You will have a better life there and you can always come here to visit, it’s just a 20 minutes drive and I know he’ll always bring you here whenever you want to see me.”

Dalia was mute for a bit. She wanted to argue again but her mother cuts her off. “I want you to have a better life, Dalia.” She looked into her mother’s her eyes. She wanted to have that life too. She heaved a sigh and ducked her head. She was afraid to leave her mother all alone. “I promise, I will be fine here and I will always pray for you and besides, I will ask your cousin Amrah to move here, I know her father wouldn't say no.” Amina tried to reason with her daughter. Dalia hesitated before nodding. “I pray this is the beginning of our happiness,” Dalia prayed. Her mother smiled and enfold her in a hug. She would really miss her stubborn daughter being around.