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Behind A Smile 035
Taking a last look at her reflection in the mirror, Zynah smiled. She was clad in a sky blue abaya and a white hijab wrapped around her head. She looked breathtakingly beautiful. Satisfied at the image staring back at her, she took her handbag from the bed and ambled out of the house. To her utmost surprise, Ibrahim was standing just outside her gate, with a bouquet of flowers in his left hand. Her eyes almost bulged out of their sockets. She raised her hand, taking a swift look at her wrist watch. "What are you doing here?" She whisper yelled. "So early?" "Good morning to you too," He replied sarcastically, a smirk playing on his lips. "I hope you had a good sleep." Zynah rolled her eyes. "Don't you have somewhere more important to be? The office for example?" "You keep asking me this," He scoffed. "To answer your question, nope," He shook his head. "I don't have anywhere more important to be. I took a day off yesterday." Zynah rolled her eyes. "Okay, why are you
Last Updated : 2024-06-06Behind A Smile 036
A light-skinned, average-height young lady of barely twenty three was in a mall — in the men's section — shopping, alongside a man whose back was turned on her as she searched through the ranks for a shirt. "I think this shirt will look good on you, baby. We should totally get it," She said, showing the emerald colored shirt to him. Without even taking a look at the shirt, a nonchalant shrug was his response before he muttered. "Okay." His back still turned on her, and his focus remained on his phone. Undeterred, she switched tactics, picking up a blue shirt, her voice high-pitched. "Baby, how about this? Do you like it?" "Yes." He gave yet another nonchalant reply. "Come on, baby!" She whined, stretching the words into an annoying singsong. "Just take a look at it for even a second and tell me what you think. Pleaseeee?" "I will be fine with anything you choose," he said dismissively. "No. This won't do! Why did you bring me along then if you knew you were going to
Last Updated : 2024-06-07Behind A Smile 037
"Oh my God!" Zaahida shrieked, her voice laced with panic. "Did you just kill a child?" Her eyes widened and her mouth hung slightly open in disbelief. Bilal shot her a glare before averting his gaze to the little boy lying on his toes. He was pretty sure he didn't hit him with his car, then why did he suddenly pass out? A knot of worry tightened in his stomach. Staring intently at the little boy, he couldn't pinpoint why he looked exactly like him as a kid and that wasn't all, at the same time, he looked like Zynah as well. To get rid of the ridiculous notion, he shook his head vigorously. Missing Zynah this much couldn't be causing him to hallucinate, could it? Yet an inexplicable feeling lingered. "These people will take care of him, let's leave, baby." She placed a hand on his shoulder and spoke in her annoying squeaky voice. "Before someone accuses you of hitting him." Bilal peeled her hand off his shoulder with a grimace, and crouched beside the boy, gently placing a
Last Updated : 2024-06-08Behind A Smile 038
Hafsa stumbled through the doorway in tears. She had tried all she could to look for Adnan, but her efforts were all in vain. She didn't know where he was or in what condition he was in. Every passing moment felt like an eternity. "Please calm down, mum. We will find Adnan in sha Allah," Ramlah reassured, fighting back her own tears. She was trying her best not to break down in front of her mother, but inwardly, she was also losing hope. "Why Ramlah? I shouldn't have left him alone with you!" Hafsa pointed a finger at her accusingly. "Why did you let him out of your sight?" Ramlah's shoulders slumped. "I'm sorry, mum. It wasn't intentional," She allowed the tears that brimmed up in her eyes to finally fall. "I didn't want this to happen either." "Poor Adnan!" Hafsa sobbed. "How are we ever going to find him now? He's still so little." "Should I tell Zynah about thi—" "Don't," Hafsa yelled, cutting her off. "She's not related to him, so why should she be disturbed? Ju
Last Updated : 2024-06-09Behind A Smile 039
"People are just so uncivilised these days," Bilal voiced, shaking his head in disappointment..He was just about to get into his car, when his phone started vibrating in his pocket. Without caring to take a look at the caller ID, he fished the phone out and placed his index finger on the fingerprint sensor. "Hello." "Please where are you baby?" Came Zaahida's high-pitched voice that Bilal found extremely annoying. "I'm stranded. I don't even know where I am!" Bilal puffed out air from his mouth. "And?" "I don't know how I'm supposed to come home. I'm scared, baby," She cried. "Please come back." "Alright," Bilal finally obliged. "Stay right where you are. I will be there in few minutes.""Thank you so much, baby. I knew you'd come back for me. I love y-" he didn't wait for her to finish her statement before ending the call. Getting into his car, he sped off. •"My baby," Hafsa knelt in front of Adnan and engulfed him in a bone crushing hug. Tears streamed down her face uncontro
Last Updated : 2024-06-10Behind A Smile 040
Zaahida held her lower lip in between her teeth and snorted; "Doesn't seem so. Who is present in your life? In your house right now?" Bilal's nostrils flared, disgust laced in his voice. "Just because my father forced me to allow you live here, doesn't mean you have a place in my heart. That would never happen, so I'd advise you not to get your hopes up. Zynah-" "Zynah! Zynah!" She yelled, throwing her hands up in the air in exasperation. "I hate her! I hope she's dead already! I'm tired of hearing you speak about her!" Anger boiled in Bilal's veins, his brows tightly furrowed and his fists clenched. Albeit knowing how childish and annoying Zaahida could get, her words surged right into his heart, like a dagger. Without hesitation, he lunged at her and wrapped his hands around her neck, wringing it mercilessly. Zaahida gasped and choked on air. She attempted to peel his hands off her neck, by hitting and clawing them with hers, but her attempt was futile. Her eyes had alre
Last Updated : 2024-06-11Behind A Smile 041
Hafsa couldn't bring herself to at least take a seat. She was pacing to and fro in the hospital, anticipating the emergence of the doctor with anxiety. Her demeanor was detorted in extreme worry. Ramlah, who had been watching her mother with concern all the while, approached her in a subtle manner and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Please have a seat, mum," she beseeched. "You're making me feel dizzy with the way you're pacing about. Please stop it already. In shaa Allah, Adnan will be fine. I'm sure it's just a fever. Nothing serious." "I hope so," Hafsa muttered. Inexplicably, she was having a bad feeling. Ever since he was birthed, this was the first time he was rushed to the hospital. She felt uneasy. "I—" just as she was about to say something else, the door to the emergency room swung open and a young man of about thirty three years of age emerged. Both Hafsa and Ramlah rushed towards him. "How's he doing, doctor?" Ramlah inquired, apprehensively.
Last Updated : 2024-06-12Behind A Smile 042
"No," Hafsa shook her head vigorously. "We can't do that! Those two don't need to know. We will find a way somehow." Ramlah furrowed her brows in disbelief. "We don't have a choice, mom. We have to do this for the sake of Adnan and besides, they are his parents. Zynah is still his moth-" "The moment she decided to abandon him, she lost all rights to be called his mother," Hafsa cut her off, irritatedly. "Adnan doesn't have a mother." "This isn't about her," Ramlah reasoned, gazing into her eyes in an attempt to draw compassion from them. "This is about Adnan. Let's do this for him please." Defeated, Hafsa crouched down and cried. She never knew a time would arrive when she would ask for favors from Zynah for Adnan. She swore not to even speak about him to her anymore, but we don't always get what we want in life, right? After how Zynah abandoned her son, she didn't deserve to be in his life anymore. Hafsa had given her a chance to change her mind, but she didn't take
Last Updated : 2024-06-13
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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
