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071

Author: deey_jah
last update Last Updated: 2024-07-02 15:59:07

Watching them, Zynah knew she didn't make a mistake by letting Bilal know about his son. The love that shimmered in his eyes for the little boy was like none Zynah had ever seen. Not even when he claimed to be madly in love with her. The amount of tears he had she'd in such a short span of time was more than she had ever seen. Bilal was the type to never allow his emotions rule over his sanity. He always had that toxic masculinity all over him. He believed crying as a man was a sign of weakness.

The day he saw them at the marketplace, she had seen tears in his eyes, but he still managed to keep his emotions under control. But this time, he wasn't even trying to suppress his feelings. He laid his heart bare, letting his vulnerable side show. Maybe. Just maybe, he'd make a good father to their son after all.

"Adnan, sweetheart," Zynah called, also crouching to his level. She gently pulled him from Bilal's embrace and turned him around to face her. She wanted to ask him how he knew
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  • Behind A Smile    072

    Zaahida took a look at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were all red and puffy for crying too much. "This is all that bit**'s fault! I'm going to make her pay for this." Dashing to where her handbag was on the bed, she fumbled for her phone. She dialed Mr. Idris's number, but before it could ring, she ended it. She didn't want him to disturb him with such little matters. Instead, she opted for Nazmeera. Since Nazmeera was on her side, she'd advise her on what to do next. She had seen how serious Bilal was when he told her to leave the house. "Hello, Naz," she started as soon as the call was accepted, her voice laced with urgency. "I really need your help right now." "Calm down, Zaahida and tell me what's wrong. Why do you sound out of breath?" Nazmeera asked. "It's Bilal! He—" Nazmeera heavy breath filled Zaahida's ear. "Again?" "He told me to leave the house." She continued, fidgeting with her fingers. "What?" Nazmeera exclaimed. "What did you do this time,

    Last Updated : 2024-07-03

  • Behind A Smile    073

    Short of words, Zynah gazed at him. He got married to someone else? Good! Why did he feel the need to let her know? Certainly, he didn't expect her to be envious of the same life she ran away from. She shrugged, her demeanor nonchalant. She didn't expect him to not move on after four years. It was his life. He could do as he pleased with it. "Why are you telling me this? It's none of my business, or," she scoffed. "Do you want a congratulations from me?" "I'm telling you because I don't want to hide anything from you. I wanted to be the one to tell you before you hear it elsewhere. This concerns you, Zynah, because we're still married. I'm still your husband." "Not for long," Zynah mumbled. Bilal seemingly didn't hear her because he didn't reply. "I'm not asking you to be honest with me," Bilal continued, searching her eyes. "But I want you to be honest with yourself that you're not affected by this. That you are not hurt by this and that you feel absolutely nothing hearin

    Last Updated : 2024-07-03

  • Behind A Smile    074

    After Bilal had driven off, Zynah walked into the house with a sleeping Adnan on her shoulder. Her face scrunched up in anger. The ultimatum Bilal had given her left her completely stressed. She definitely didn't want to breath the same air with him, talk more of sharing a house with him for three while months. She wasn't ready to go back to her previous life even though it'd be temporary. Heaving a sigh of exasperation, she walked into the house. Rashida was curled up in the couch, a fashion magazine in her hands. "Assalamu'alaykum," Zynah greeted, making Rashida shift her attention to her. "Wa'alaykum salaam," She replied, averting her attention back to the magazine in front of her. Zynah smiled. She wasn't a tad surprised by her cold behavior because she was already used to it. Rashida had never liked her no matter how she tried. She had given up trying a long time ago. Just as Zynah was about to walk past her, Rashida spoke, making her stop in her tracks. She turned

    Last Updated : 2024-07-04

  • Behind A Smile    075

    Since Ramlah got back from her meeting with Dr. Muslim, she had been pondering over his proposal. She had expected it, but not so soon. She heaved a sigh. Did she love him? She had no idea, so she decided to pray istikhara for Allah to show her the right decision to make. "Ramlah! Are you in there?" Rashida suddenly called from the other side of the door. "Yes, Ya Rashida, the door is unlocked," she replied. "Mom wants to talk to us. Meet us in the room," she said and right after, Ramlah heated the sound of her footsteps retreating. Ramlah heaved a sigh. "What now? The problems never seem to end! • When everyone had gathered in the room, Mr. Aliyu began. "Rashida has told us about the condition he gave you," He stated, putting emphasis on the word 'He' Mr. Aliyu seemed too irritated to even utter his name. "Have you made a decision already?" Zynah had thought long and hard about what she wanted. She nodded. "I'm not going to accept his condition." Her voice was shaky,

    Last Updated : 2024-07-04

  • Behind A Smile    076

    "Adnan! Adnan!!" Zynah yelled, racing down the stairs. She couldn't bring herself to calm down even for a split second. Her thoughts kept drifting to many possibilities. What if Bilal had taken him to get back at her? She checked every nook and corners of the living room, but couldn't find him. She climbed up the stairs again and headed to the room she used to share with Ramlah and Rashida. Without knocking, she pushed open the door and barged in, startling Rashida who was seated on a stool in front of the mirror. "Are you out of your mind?" Rashida yelled, placing a protective hand on her bump. "What was that for? Is it your plan to harm my baby?" Breathlessly, she asked. "Where is Adnan?" "Adnan is missing?" Ramlah asked, emerging from the bathroom. "Are you sure? Have you checked the room properly? He might be there somewhere." "He's not! I have checked the room thoroughly, he isn't there. If he isn't here as well, someone must have taken him!" "So you're insinuati

    Last Updated : 2024-07-05

  • Behind A Smile    077

    "In sha Allah, he will be fine." Hafsa reassured, placing a hand on Zynah's shoulder. "How could I be so reckless, not to notice he has been sick? What type of a mother am I!" Zynah asked, her eyes glossy. "I should have known." "Quit blaming yourself. With all the things that have been happening lately, it's only natural you didn't notice his health deteriorating." "Sis, I called Ibrahim earlier. He is on his way here." Ramlah informed. "Why did you call him?" Zynah threw her hands up in frustration. "I don't want to bother him more than I already have." "I just had to. If he finds out we hid this from him, he might be offended. I'm sorry," Ramlah apologized. "It's fine," Zynah replied in a low-pitched voice. Just then, Ibrahim appeared, jogging towards them in the waiting room. His gaze fixated on Zynah for a few seconds, before darting to Hafsa. "Good evening, ma." He greeted, bowing his head a little in respect. Hafsa nodded her head in response, and walked aw

    Last Updated : 2024-07-05

  • Behind A Smile    078

    Immediately Ramlah got out of their sights, she heaved a sigh and shook her head in disbelief. "The nerve of that man!" She seethed. After everything he did to her sister, he still had the guts to show his face to her and misbehave - she rolled her eyes. Had it been her in her sister's shoes, she wouldn't have tolerated any of his attitude. Sometimes, the way Zynah tended to give him a listening ear annoyed her. He didn't deserve any of that. She, for one, would never believed he'd ever be able to turn a new leaf. • Even after Bilal had left the hospital, Zynah couldn't stop pondering on the things he said. He had refused to spill the beans to her. He insisted that she should ask Rashida herself if she was that curious. Her sister said despicable things about her? But what? Zynah shook her head, an attempt to push the thought to the back of her head. But it was in vain. For some inexplicable reason, she felt very uneasy. She wouldn't be able to rest easy until the truth had

    Last Updated : 2024-07-06

  • Behind A Smile    079

    Despite being angry at Rashida for what she'd done to her, Zynah couldn't help but worry about her. Rashida was in so much pain when she was rushed to the hospital. Zynah wanted to go with them, but she decided to stay back. Not out of spite, but because she didn't want to go where she was not wanted. Rashida had shown her nothing but vivid hatred. She felt it was pointless trying to act like everything was alright between the both of them. But still, she hadn't stopped praying for her safety, as well as the child's. Zynah's mind then drifted to Ibrahim. After what had transpired between them the previous night, she felt bad for the way she asked him to leave. She had completely forgotten to call him. She sent him away when he only showed up because he was concerned. She sighed, dialing his number. The best she could do was apologize to him, and make him understand why she had to do what she did at that moment. Ibrahim picked up at the third ring, but didn't say anything. "He

    Last Updated : 2024-07-06

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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

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