9

Abdul's P. O. V

"I'm begging you please Farida."

"Pay me first then I'll give you her number," Farida said at the other end.

"Okay how much do you need?" I asked Farida

"Hmm lemme see.. 100k will do," Farida replied.

"What? Don’t do this to me," I pleaded.

Farida started laughing hysterically which is really annoying.

"Okay fine 50k" farida said.

"Send the number first then I'll send the money through your account"

"No Abdul I know you, send 50k and I'll send the number"

"Fine I'll send 25k, when you send the number I'll send the rest. Deal? I asked

"Deal!" Farida said and I hung up. 

I sent 25k to Farida hoping that she'll send the number right now.

I've got the weirdest cousin ever. Just to send me Basma's number I have to pay 50,000 naira. The good part is that it's worth it. It's Basma, I can do anything just to get that girl. When she opened the door for me last 6 days ago at Farida's house, I fell in love with her all over again. She was wearing skirt and blouse and her figure eight was showing. She lights up my world with her smile. Her long black silky smooth hair, pointy nose, her beautiful light brown eyes, her amazing dimples. Her voice takes me outta this world. She's really short and cute.

The beep of my phone interrupted my reverie. "Yes finally she sent the number" I beamed at my phone.

"It's pass 9 maybe she's asleep right now" I thought. "I have to call her just hear her angelic voice.” Without having second thoughts I dialed her number.

"Salamu'alaikum," she said. "Wa'alaikumus Salam basma, it's me Abdulrahman, Farida's cousin," I said nervously.

"Oh hey how are you?" She asked.

"I'm good. And you?" 

"I'm fine, Alhamdulillah.” Her voice is just everything ya Allah. We talked for about an hour, we talked about our lives, she told me her likes and dislikes, I told her mine. After that we bade each other goodbye and I hung up. Ya Allah help me win this girl's heart. She means everything to me. Since when Farida told me she’s single, okay that is the greatest thing I've ever heard my entire life. The respect I held for her was like an aged cheese. It became stronger with age, more mature, more robust. She was unfailingly kind. I had falling for this girl.

Basma's P. O. V

“Yess!!! 22 down, seven to eight more to go.” I squealed. "When are you collecting your Eid clothes from the tailor?" umma asked

"In the next 4 days umma," I replied happily.

"What's wrong with you, you seem happy these past few days," umma said curiously.

"Umma it's nothing wallahi I'm just happy that Eid is around the corner." I lied.

"Hmmm basmatu stop lying" umma grinned

"Umma stop calling me basmatu" I whined.

We continued our gist when my phone started ringing. Umma saw the smile on my face.

"He's the one right?" Umma grinned. I started smiling sheepishly and ran to my room.

"Hey," I said grinning.

"Hello basma," Abdul said on the other end.

"How are you and how's work?" I asked sitting on my bed

"I'm fine and work is good,” he replied. He sounded tired.

"But you know what will make work even better?" He asked

"What?"

"You basmani.” The way he called me that gave me goosebumps.

"Me?" I asked pointing at myself even though he can't see me.

"Yes you. Looking at your beautiful face will make me forget the hunger and stress that's bothering me. Your smile, your smile makes me go insane. And basmani your angelic voice, it makes my heart melt. You're really a beautiful creature by Allah. You're every guys dream basmani.”

All the time he was talking, I was grinning from ear to ear. I was so happy, I'm waiting for him to ask me the question. "will you be my girlfriend?" But for now we're just close friends. It really bumps that we're just friends. I want us to be more than friends. I want us be lovers.

"Basmani are you there?" Abdul asked

"Hmm? Yes sorry, I'm here. Was thinking about you.” I grinned.

He chuckled softly "Really?" he questioned. "Yes. You know you're so special to me. You’re always there on my mind.”

"Basma?" He said we his charming manly deep voice.

"Yes" I answered biting my lower lip.

"I have something very important to tell you but I want it to be in person not phone call or text" he said. "Please basmani where can we meet and talk about it?" He asked me.

"Uhmm I don't actually know. You're always busy with work and I'm busy preparing for my final exams and graduation. The time you close from work, that time I’m already back home. And abba doesn't like it when a girl goes out at night, he won't even allow me to go out," I said apologetically.

He sighed. "Okay basmani please when will you be free because I need to get it out of my chest." He sounded desperate. "Abdul you have to wait till Eid.” I sighed. "I'm sorry" I murmured.

He chuckled. "Basmani it's okay, I can wait, it’s worth it," he said. "Oh excuse me please umma is calling me,” I hung up. I ran downstairs to the kitchen.

"Umma," I said grinning walking towards the kitchen.

"Sannu.” She glared at me. "Umma I'm sorry" I hugged her. “Are you done with the phone call or not?" Umma asked. "Umma I'm done" I smiled.

"Who is he?" 

"Who's who" I pretended.

"Better start talking young lady. It's not bad that you have a boyfriend. It's even good." umma said

"Umma his name is Abdulrahman Nasir and he's not my boyfriend, we're just close friends" I sighed.

"Hmm from strangers to friends from friends to lovers," umma grinned. I blushed while playing with the bracelet that Farida gave me for my 18th birthday. Umma chuckled. "Bring out the mixing bowl and start mixing this ingredients please.

"Adda basma" badiyya said coming into the kitchen.

"What?" I grumbled.

"Nothing, I just like your name,” she shrugged.

"You're so weird" I rolled my eyes.

Xx

(Saturday afternoon, 25th day of Ramadan)

Abdul's P. O. V

I was at home, at the backyard playing basketball thinking of my basmani as always when my phone bought me back to earth.

"Yes my queen is calling." I thought to myself. "Basmani?" I said grinning from ear to ear. "Abdee" she said with her angelic voice. "My dear how are you?" I asked. "I'm good Alhamdulillah" she replied.

"Uhmm hey abdee are you free?" She asked.

"Yes, yes I am" I quickly replied with my hands going through my hair

"Okay good meet me at halims in the next 1 hour," she said then hung up.

Yes! I can finally tell her what I've been keeping in my heart. I can finally tell her how I feel about her. I can finally tell her that I love her and I want her to be the woman I want to spend the rest of my days with.

I quickly went inside the house. Took a hot bath and wore my white kaftan and black cap. I got into my car, I started the ignition and the car roared.  In less than 30 minutes I was at halims. I checked everywhere but I couldn't spot basma.

I find a spot and sat down bringing out my phone trying to call her. I was so eager to see her beautiful face, her breath taking smile and  her amazing soothing voice. I dialed Basma's number but she didn't answer. I called her thrice but no answer.

"Where is she?" I murmured to myself

After like 20 minutes an angel walked up to me. My basma, she's finally here.

"Salamu'alaikum,” she greeted.

Oh my Allah her soothing voice is just amazing. She was wearing a black abaya with a matching veil. She wasn't wearing any makeup, she's so beautiful just the way she is.

"Wa’alaikumus Salam. Basmani I've been waiting for you," I said trying to look serious but I just couldn't hide it, I was so happy to see her.

"Sorry abdee I had to help umma with some work," she said sitting down on the chair opposite mine.

"It's okay basmani, your beautiful face saved you" I grinned at her. She chuckled. "Stop please.” She blushed. "You know you're beautiful right?" I murmured but enough for her to hear. "No,” she smirked. I laughed and we talked about something else.

"Uhmm basmani?" I called out her name looking at her straight in the eyes.

"Yes abdee" she answered.

I cleared my throat sitting upright. "Basmani I have something very important to tell you," I said with a serious face. She nodded biting her lower lip.

"We have known each other for about two weeks now but I feel like I've known you my entire life. Basma you're the type of girl that I wouldn't spare a second without thinking about you. You're always in my mind. You make me smile everyday. You make me happy. Whenever I hear your voice all the anger and frustration fades away. I can't stop thinking about you wondering if you think about me too. You have the key to my heart basma. You light up my world. I sleep with you in mind and wake up with you in my mind. You make me go crazy. Basma, I Love You.” She didn’t blink. She was staring at me. Surprised or probably scared.

"Basma? Basma? Basma!"

"I... I... I don't..." She stammered while my heart started beating faster than usual.

"Abdul I... Don't...." She kept stammering. She started sobbing which it made me to panic

"Basma please what's wrong?" I questioned.

"Abdul" she kept calling my name

"I... I....Feel..."