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Behind A Smile 017
Climbing into Khadijah's car, a wave of exhaustion crashed over Zynah. She couldn't help, but wonder if this was truly the freedom she yearned for? Was she finally going to be happy away from Bilal while a part of him was growing in her stomach? Indubitably, the child would always remind her of him no matter how hard she wanted to forget every single thing that had to do with him. Fresh tears welled up in her eyes at the thoughts. Zynah felt Khadijah's gaze on her, followed by a reassuring hand on hers. No words spoken, but a message was conveyed. Zynah nodded. "I will be alright." "Where should I take drop you off?" "At the garage," Zynah responded. "I will find my way home." Khadijah's lips curved into a sad smile. "I would have taken you all the way to your destination, but unfortunately, my husband didn't allow it. I'm really sorry, Zynah. This is all I can do for you." "What do you mean sorry? You don't have to be," Zynah smiled reassuringly at her. "You've done a lot
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Behind A Smile 018
Zynah's heart suddenly began to beat faster, if that was even possible. She fidgeted with her fingers as she waited for her to approach. Due to extreme nervousness, she turned her back on the gate immediately she heard the footstep getting louder, and finally, the cracking sound of an opening door. "Who are you?..." She suddenly trailed off and tears instantly welled up I'm her eyes as a flicker of recognition dawned on her. "Zy...Zynah!" She exclaimed.Not able to suppress her feelings anymore, Zynah broke down. Her entire body trembled aggressively as she cried. The mere presence of her mother, Hafsa crumbled all the composure she had been building — the same woman who used to be her strength, her confidant, her courage...but overnight, she lost all of that strength, traded it for a love that turned out to be nothing but a cruel illusion. Turning around, Zynah finally got the chance to see her mother's face - the first face she had ever known, now etched with worry lines that had
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Behind A Smile 019
Vomiting the chyme content of her stomach, Zynah rinsed her mouth and flushed the mess away. She crouched down against the wall of the bathroom and more hot, fat tears emerged and ran down her cheeks. "Dad. Please forgive me. I'm the worse daughter ever. Please forgive me, daddy." She sobbed, clenching her heart tightly in the hopes of relieving the unbearable pain there. "What are you doing, sitting on the floor!" Hafsa exclaimed. "Please get up." She helped her up and practically dragged her back to the living room. "What happened?" Silence."Are you alright now?"Silence"Why did you suddenly throw up?"Silence "I'm worried sick here, please talk to me, Zynah." Hafsa beseeched, grabbing her arm in an attempt to pull her up. Zynah ignored her. Compared to the tightness in her heart after hearing the news about her father, her heath was secondary. "When... Did it happen?"Hafsa gazed at her questionably. "When did what happen?" More tears escaped Zynah's red and puffy eyes. "Whe
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Behind A Smile 020
Not able to hold back her emotions any longer, Zynah lunged forward, throwing her arms around Ramlah in a tight hug. "I miss you so much," She choked out. "I miss you, Ramlah." Ramlah stood in total bewilderment, seemingly in a state of shock. "How have you been?" Zynah inquired, disentangling her arms from around her. "You're in your final year in the university, right? Mum told me... I'm so happy for you. You look so beautiful. Much more beautiful than before. I can't believe I..." She trailed off, realizing she had begun to ramble. "Ramlah," Zynah called, softly. "Why aren't you saying anything to me? Are you that shocked to see m—" Before she could finish her statement, Ramlah enveloped her in a suffocating hug. "OMG! Is this really you, Ya Zynah?" Ramlah pulled back for some sort of confirmation, before wrapping her arms around her again, her tears drenching Zynah's shoulder. "What happened to you? Why didn't you contact us? Me, especially. Why didn't you at least contact me
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Behind A Smile 021
Meanwhile, downstairs, a storm was brewing. "Ramlah! Get the food flask already! Why are you acting sluggishly all of a sudden?" Hafsa bellowed, her voice laced with barely contained excitement. To celebrate her daughters return, she decided to prepare all of her favorite dishes. "Mum." Ramlah rolled her eyes and face palmed. "I just did a while ago, It's right in front of you." "Oh! Right!" She smiled sheepishly. "How about the cupcakes in the oven, have you checked them?" Ramlah rolled her eyes again. "Mum, you literally put them in the oven like a minute ago. There is no way they are baked already." She groaned. "Can you blame me, my dear? I just want everything to be ready before she wakes up. I hope you didn't set an alarm for her? Let her sleep for as long as she wants. She looks exhausted." "No alarm, mum," Ramlah reassured her. "Good, good. Now, let's get back to cooking. While I check on the rice in the kitchen, why don't you start setting the table." Hafsa inst
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Behind A Smile 022
Ramlah couldn't believe her ears. Her grip against the plate she was holding loosened, making it shatter on the floor. "What did you just say?" She asked, her voice quivering.. "Rashida." Hafsa roared. In a flash, her hand lashed out, a stinging slap landing on Rashida's cheek. "How dare you!" Hafsa grabbed Rashida by her hijab and lifted a hand, ready to slap her again, but stopped when Rashida challenged her. "Go ahead! Do it! I have had to endure this my entire life. It isn't new and I'm not surprised by what you're doing. You obviously will choose her over me. Like always. I wasn't surprised when you asked me to leave in her place and I most definitely aren't surprised that you hit me because of her, so go ahead and slap me again. Slap me till you cannot anymore." Rashida dared, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Why so much hatred?" Hafsa asked, her voice breaking. "Zynah is your sister! What has the poor girl ever done to you? Is this how your father and I raised you? Y
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Behind A Smile 023
Muffled by her hands, Zynah's sobs wracked her body, the tears slipping down her cheeks. Her legs trembled, barely holding her upright. She couldn't believe her ears. She was not part of their family? She was adopted? A stranger? The revelation hit her like a truck, leaving her gasping for air. In that very moment, she felt the pain she had never felt in her entire life. Her heart felt too heavy for her chest to carry. She couldn't grasp what was happening around her. It had to be a dream. A nightmare. Her family wasn't hers? Her father wasn't really her father? She betrayed the family who had mercy on her after her real parents abandoned her, and she chose to repay them by choosing a man over them? The thought made her feel like the worse person on the surface of the earth. She couldn't even begin to imagine the sacrifices they made to adopt her, yet she betrayed them. It became crystal clear to her why Rashida hated her so much. She finally had the answer to her lifelong questio
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Behind A Smile 024
"Eat some more, Zynah," Hafsa prodded. Ramlah had been extremely quiet the whole time, picking her food and stealing glances at Zynah. "What do you even know? You're so dumb to even realize what is going on in this family, but I'm not. Well, enjoy living in the shadow of a stranger." Rashida's sharp words kept repeating themself in her head like a mantra. She shook her head to get rid of it, but it only got louder. "Are you alright?" Hafsa asked, snapping her out of her trance. "Why are you zoned out?" "I am fine," Ramlah lied, avoiding her mother's gaze. Zynah offered a smile. She knew Ramlah wasn't telling the truth. It seemed to Zynah that Rashida's words were getting into her head. All the while they were eating, Ramlah hadn't utter any word to her, which was unlike her. Her body language proved Zynah's hunch right. "Where is ya Rashida?" Zynah suddenly asked, breaking the tension that settled in the air. "Hmm..." Hafsa hummed, then trailed off, seemingly sea
Last Updated : 2024-10-29
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Behind A Smile Author's note
I'd like to start by thanking every single one of you for being with me throughout this journey. Thank you for the love and support. The comments 🥺, the gemssss 🥺, the gifts 🥺. I don't take it for granted at all 💞 This book has come to an end, so I'd like to hear your thoughts about it. Did you enjoy it? Did you cry at any point? Did you laugh? Were you disappointed at certain turn of events? I bet it was an emotional rollercoaster for you. Please leave a review and rate this book :) Support me more by sharing and recommend the books to your friends and family. Thank you once again, and expect more interesting stories from me ❤️❤️💕💞🥰😌🫠 deey_jah
Behind A Smile 197
Zynah rolled her eyes. Just who would prefer to be lied to? "Yes," she replied, her voice a soft whisper. "It's true," he replied, his voice deepening. "I came for some work, and..." He drawled. "To make use of the opportunity to meet your family." "To meet my family?" She asked, surprised and totally oblivious to the fact that her mother was still sitting in the same room as her, listening to her conversation. "The kids," He clarified, his voice filled with amusement. "They are your family, aren't they?" "Oh! Okay," Zynah replied, recoiling a little. "Where are you right now? I will send you the address or have someone show you the way." "I don't really know. I will ask around and text it to you," With that, he ended the call, leaving her heart racing as usual. Zynah's lips stretch into an unknowing smile. Realizing what she was doing, she slapped herself on the face. "Who was that?" Mrs. Hafsa asked so suddenly, her voice sharp, catching Zynah off guard. "And why
Behind A Smile 196
When Mrs. Hafsa opened the door, she did not expect to see her daughter and grandchildren. Her lips spread into a smile and she hugged Zynah first, her arms wrapping tightly around her daughter. Then, she crouched and showering many tender kisses on Adnan's face then picked Bilal Jr, showering just as many kisses on his face, he had to pull away, slightly disgusted. "What a pleasant surprise," Mrs. Hafsa exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement. "Why didn't you inform me that you were coming? Come in. Come in, my babies." Mrs. Hafsa ushered. "The kids must be exhausted. And you too." Zynah smile, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "If I had told you, then it wouldn't be a surprise anymore, would it? I didn't want to ruin the surprise. I wanted to make it a special moment." "I'm so excited!" Mrs. Hafsa said. "Rashida and her family are also coming to Nigeria to spend the Eid with us." "Really?" Zynah asked surprised and excited at the same time. "It's about to be a full ho
Behind A Smile 195
Adnan!" Zynah hollered, her tone a mix of exasperation and impatience. "Where are you? Hurry up, otherwise, it's going to get dark before we get to Kaduna." Zynah could not stop glancing at her wristwatch. "Yipee! We're going to see granny and grandpa!" Bilal Jr jumped up and down, excitedly. "Yes, sweetie," Zynah replied, her voice softening. She smiled, reaching down to caress his chubby cheeks. Her mother, Mrs. Hafsa had been requesting to see them for a while now, she figured it would be a good idea to surprise them a day before Eid al-Adha celebrations. "Are you excited? You're also going to see your cousin, your aunties and uncle Muslim too." "Yes, Mommy!" He squealed, his laughter infectious. "I'm going to see all of them." "Yes, you are," Zynah said, kissing his forehead. Then, she stood upright. "Adnan!" She called, her voice rising again. "What on earth are you doing in your room? I'm going to leave you behind, and I mean it." She threatened. "You're the one we're w
Behind A Smile 194
Khalid waved a hand over her face, snapping her from her reverie. He cleared his throat before speaking. "Are you okay?" In that moment, Zynah wanted to speak to him, to tell him what his sister in law came to discuss with her, and most importantly, to tell him that she didn't feel the same way about him if at all he had any feelings for her. But something held her back. What it was? She had no idea. "Why would I be?" She asked, finding her voice. "What do you want?" "Easy!" He said, lifting his hands in a gesture of surrender. "I'm not here to fight with you." Realizing that she had indeed been rude for no reason, Zynah swallowed. Then, she face palmed. "I'm sorry about that. I just... Woke up," she lied. "It wasn't my intention to be rude." "Alright," he replied simply, his voice laced with understanding. "Are the kids inside?" A surge of protectiveness swept over Zynah. "Yes, why? Where else would they be if not at home?" "School?" Khalid questioned, his brows furrowing. "The
Behind A Smile 193
As soon as Aysha left, Zynah walked back into the house, her heart heavy. She picked up her phone, her fingers hovering over Ramlah's number. As if sending her intention, Ramlah's call came through. Zynah heaved a sigh of relief before answering. "Hello, Ramlah, how are you doing? I was just about to call you." "Really? That is to say we're thinking about each other. I'm fine. How about you? How are the kids?" "They are both fine, Alhamdulillah. How's my little princess doing? I'm sure she's as impatient as we all are to see our little prince." Ramlah chuckled. "I also can't wait to hold him in my arms, ya Zynah. It's taking too long." "Three more weeks and your wish will come true," Zynah said, a smile spreading across her face. "You're right. Thank you for always lifting my spirit with your words. I want to visit Mom and Dad soon. How about we go together, with the kids?" "That's a good idea. The kids haven't seen one another for a while now," Zynah reasoned. "It'd be fun."
Behind A Smile 192
Zynah's tears escaped her eyes and ran down her cheeks. All she could imagine, was the pain she must have gone through before she finally gave up the ghost, how hard she must have fought to save her unborn baby. "Ho...how did it happen? Was she the one driving?" Aysha nodded in affirmation. "She was returning from the hospital, after finding out the gender of their baby. I guess she must have been overly excited," Hajara wiped the corner of her eyes and took a moment of silence, before continuing. "She called Khalid to inform him of the news. That was when...when she ran into a trunk. It was terrible. I wasn't there at the time it happened. I had not even met his brother then, but when he told me this story, for a whole day, I cried. I felt affected. It was like I had known her my whole life. I have seen pictures of her, heard only good things about her. I sincerely pity Khalid. Since her death, he prefers to be in seclusion. We've all done everything in our power to make him move o
Behind A Smile 191
Zynah's eyes widened as if they were about to pop out of their sockets. She knew Adnan liked Khalid a lot but that was the last thing she expected him to say. She couldn't even imagine herself being with anyone else. Bilal still resided in her heart. She couldn't see anyone replacing him anytime soon. "No!" she exclaimed, her voice rising. "Why are you even asking me that? Where did that come from, Adnan?" "Are you mad?" Adnan asked, his voice quivering a little. "I didn't mean to make you mad, Mommy." Zynah breathed, trying to calm her racing heart. "I'm not mad at you, Adnan," she reassured. "I just want to know why you asked me that. Do you feel I'm not enough for you? What have I not been doing right?" Zynah asked, a pang piercing through her heart. What if it was the case? She would understand, but it wouldn't reduce the pain. Deep down, she thought they were doing just fine, but apparently, Adnan wanted a father. He wasn't okay having only a mother. Adnan lowered his he
Behind A Smile 190
While Bilal Jr was busy playing with other kids his age, Adnan walked up to where his mother was seated on a bench, and sat beside her. He always did that whenever he sensed she was deep in thoughts or worried about something. The little boy had slowly become her confidante, her best friend. "Mommy," he called softly, his gaze fixed intently on her. "Are you fine?" He asked, his voice filled with worry. Zynah reached for his delicate hands and caressed them gently. "Of course, darling," she smiled, and placed a lingering kiss on him on the temple. "I'm fine. What makes you think I'm not?" "Because," he began, his gaze still on her. "You've been sitting quietly over here for a while now. It's unlike you. You didn't even notice when Jr fell off the swing." Zynah's heart jumped, her eyes widening in apprehension. "What? He fell? When?" she stood up, ready to rush to his aid, but Adnan was quick to stop her. "How didn't I notice?" "...wait, Mommy. He is not hurt at all," Adn
