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Behind 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
Behind A Smile 043
"How's he doing?" Mr. Aliyu asked, his gaze flickering between his wife and daughter. Since the moment Ramlah called and informed him about Adnan's condition, he had been worried. He even abandoned all he was doing and rushed to the hospital immediately. He might have not shown him any form of love within the three years he had known the kid, because, like Zynah, he also reminded him so much of Bilal and his brutality towards his daughter. Yet deep down, he knew he wouldn't be able to hate Zynah's flesh and blood. He best he could do was pretend not to care. Which he had been doing quite perfectly. Without a doubt, he knew he also contributed to the decision that led to Zynah abandoning her newborn. one word from him to her would have been all it'd take for her to reconsider her decision. Mr. Aliyu hoped it wasn't too late for him to show the little boy that he actually cared. Hafsa, who had not stopped crying, pretended to be oblivious of Mr. Aliyu's arrival. Avoiding his g
Behind A Smile 044
"Hey, Billy," Zaahida squealed, plopping on the couch beside him. Bilal heaved an irritated sigh. Billy? Really? He hated how awful the nickname sounded coming from her. Whenever she called him by that, he felt really angry for some reasons. It felt like she was indirectly insulting and reducing him to a bleating farmyard goat. The thought made his clench his jaw. "Guess what?" She continued, her voice laced with excitement. Bilal couldn't comprehend why she was excited, not that he particularly cared to find out. He remained unmoved by her words and kept on strolling through his phone. "Your father just called and conveyed the good news to me." She squealed, clapping her hands together in a furry of childish delight. Zaahida 's last sentence caught Bilal's attention - his father called? What was it about - he couldn't help but wonder. "Why? What did he say?" Zaahida heaved a deep sigh to calm her overexcited nerves. "He just called to tell me our wedding date has a
Behind A Smile 045
Ramlah pulled into the hospital's driveway. "We're here.," She announced, unbuckling her seatbelt. Zynah felt her heartbeat increase rapidly. Her palms had become sweaty. All of the previous confidence she had managed to gather had all flew and dissipated in the air. She felt apprehensive and very ashamed to face her mother after all these years. She hadn't been a mother to her child and for that, she knew she deserved to be hated. Ramlah placed a hand on hers reassuringly. "Let's to in." She muttered. Ramlah had succeeded in reinstating a little confidence back in her. She gave a closed lip smile before alighting the car. • Hafsa and Mr. Aliyu had just arrived at the hospital, but were still yet to see Adnan or get the chance to speak to Dr. Muslim. They were both seated on a bench, in the reception when Ramlah walked in, followed closely by Zynah. Hafsa's breath hitched as her gaze landed on Zynah, a moisture of surprise and resentment brewing within her. She had
Behind A Smile 046
Lying in the hospital bed, awaiting the doctor's arrival, Zynah couldn't help but feel nervous, yet happy at the same time. She was about to donate her organ to her son. A duchenne smile the crinkled the corners of her eyes bloomed on her face. She had promised herself to make it up to her son, and this was the very first step. Still engrossed in her newfound resolve, she barely noticed the entrance of the nephrologist, followed by a trail of nurses. His voice, rough and snapped her to back to reality. "I need you to relax, Madam. We'll administer an anaesthetic before we proceed with the surgery." "Please, doctor, can I make a request? Can you make this quick? My son's life depends on —" "I perfectly understand the urgency," he replied, his tone stony. "And, I know my job. I'll do it to the best of my ability." Averting his gaze to one of the nurses, he ordered. "Get me the gloves, please, and prep the OR." Zynah puffed out air from her mouth and started to mutter si
Behind A Smile 047
Lying motionless on the floor, Zaahida could cry no more. The pain Bilal had inflicted on her body was nothing compared to the one in her heart. She was barely alive, lying in the pool of her own blood. Subconsciously, her eyes opened and closed on their own terms. She couldn't decipher what was about to happen to her. All she could see was blank. Remorselessly, Bilal stood tall before her, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.. "Do you now understand the consequence of disrespecting me? If you think you can do it, and get away with it, simply because my father approves of you, then you're badly mistaken. I'm Bilal," he smirked. "No one, especially someone as worthless as you, disrespects me and goes scot-free. You are not my wife, Zaahida," he hissed. "I need you to get that into that thick brain of yours. And even if you were, you can't talk back at me. Not at all." "I may have tolerated and ignored your craziness, for the past few days, but that's not how I always am. Hec
Behind A Smile 048
Since the doctor's pronunciation of a successful surgery, Zynah couldn't contain her nervousness. She was happy, undoubtedly, but at the same time, apprehensive to see her son for the first time after abandoning him for three long years. She knew the boy wouldn't recognize her as his mother, but that was okay, as long as he wouldn't end up hating her. She believed it was not to late to introduce herself to him. Zynah was still engrossed in her thoughts when Mr. Aliyu approached her, and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I have noticed you look troubled. Is everything okay with you?" "No, dad," Zynah admitted, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. Mr. Aliyu took a seat beside her, his presence a silent source of comfort. "Should I call the doctor? Why did you even leave your room when you're not perfectly fine yet?" "Dad," She called, a lone tear finally escaping her eye. "It's not about that. It's about... him." Mr. Aliyu's face scrunched up in confusion. "Who? "Ad...A
Behind A Smile 049
One week had passed since Bilal physically assaulted Zaahida. Standing in front of the mirror, she stared back at her reflection. The bruises Bilal had inflicted on her had begun to fade. Her eyes weren't as swollen as they were a few days back. Zaahida adjusted her head tie around her head, and as usual, began to conceal the still visible scars with make-up, to prevent her family from finding out. She felt it was unnecessary to tell them because they wouldn't think twice about calling off the wedding. And she didn't want that. The mere thought of losing Bilal even after what he did was appalling. She felt it was all her fault, and a mistake on Bilal's side. She shouldn't have provoked him like she did. After the call with Mr. Idris, he had asked her what she did to Bilal, and even suggested that she apologized to him, just for peace to reign. But she hadn't done it yet. Bilal wasn't even speaking or looking her way. She was scared to even approach him. The memory of the last
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