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Behind A Smile 120
Throughout the night, Zynah couldn't sleep. She kept tossing and turning. Her mind had been constantly railing over Bilal's words. What did he mean by making the statement: let's make unforgettable memories? She swallowed as a wave of paranoia washed over her. The ethereal call to dawn prayer broke her out of her trance. Her gaze softened as it landed on Adnan, who was peacefully sleeping beside her on the bed. She planted a tender kiss on the forehead, before getting out of bed and sauntering to the bathroom to perform her ablution. Emerging from the bathroom, she put on her hijab, spread the prayer mat and began to offer her prayers. With the prayer completed, she took the holy Qur'an and began to recite suratul yasin. As the final verse echoed in the room, she lifted her hands in supplication. Her heart poured out in earnest prayers for the prophet, peace and blessings upon him, for her family, including Bilal, then finally, for the ummah at large. • Bilal returned fro
Last Updated : 2024-08-05Behind A Smile 121
"Zaahida..." Bilal's voice trailed. He couldn't bring himself to form a coherent sentence.The scene before him was terrifying. Another cruel smirk twisted Zaahida's lips as she tightened her grip on the knife. "Too bad you're going to witness 'the love of your life' die." She emphasized, her voice as sharp as the knife she was holding. Tears rolled down the sides of Zynah's face - Zaahida was acting like a total psychopath. It scared her, but she was even more scared for Adnan. She silently prayed for him to remain sleeping in the room. "Zaahida..." Bilal called again. "Let's talk about this, okay? You're acting like a lunatic right now. Drop that knife, let's talk!" "There's nothing to talk about," She boomed, her voice echoing across the room. "You've already made my stand in your life clear to me, all because of this nuisance! I'm going to kill her today. You can kill me afterwards, I don't care. In fact, I'll be happy that none of us will have you. Since she's decided
Last Updated : 2024-08-06Behind A Smile 122
Disbelief washed over Zaahida. "No...no...no." She frantically shook her head as if to dispel a nightmare. This couldn't be real. She had to be hallucinating. "In the next thirty minutes, I want you out of this house. Do make me drag you out," He spat, then turned and walked out of the kitchen. Zynah's heart ached for Zaahida. The sight of her distress was almost unbearable. She knew that wasn't supposed to feel sorry for the person who wanted to take her life, but thinking about it rationally, she realized that Zaahida did everything out of the enormous love she had for Bilal. She only wanted to be loved in return. She felt it was extremely unfair of Bilal to divorce her. A part of her wanted to comfort Zaahida, to tell her that it was for the best, but she knew it'd be futile. Zaahida would only see her as an excited rival who'd finally gotten her longtime wish. Zaahida glared at Zynah, her eyes red and puffy from crying so much. "This is all your fault, you witch!" she
Last Updated : 2024-08-06Behind A Smile 123
With shaky hands, Zaahida brought the phone to her ear. "Naz...Nazmeera." Her voice cracked mid sentence. "Oh my God!" Nazmeera exclaimed. "What's wrong, Zaahida? Why do you sound like you've been crying?" "Bilal..Bilal," she managed to choke out. Nazmeera's voice sharpened. "What happened to him? What the hell have you done to my brother?" Because Zaahida wasn't in the right frame of mind, she chose to ignore Nazmeera's accusation. "He... He divorced me, Nazmeera, Bilal has divorced me," She said, bursting into sobs. "What?" Nazmeera's voice was laced with shock. "Please calm down and explain to me in a way I will understand. Why did he divorce you? You must have done something extreme that triggered him to do it. What did you do?" "It's all that witch's fault!" Zaahida cried. "But this isn't the end, Nazmeera. She hasn't seen the worst of me yet. I'll destroy her life in ways she will never be able to comprehend. I will make her question her existence. I will—"
Last Updated : 2024-08-07Behind A Smile 124
Zynah sat tensely in the living room, her gaze fixed on the front door, awaiting Bilal's arrival for their hospital visit. The silence was shattered when Zaahida dashed out of the house with nothing, but car keys clutched in her hand. Zynah was surprised. She had anticipated a dramatic exit, but not this abrupt departure. Not after she had sworn not to leave the house without putting on a fight. She shrugged her shoulders, spurning the thought from her mind. Bilal entered, clad in a white jallabiya, with Adnan trailing behind. "Are you sure you want to come along?" He asked for the umpteenth time. Zynah simply nodded in response, her determination unwavering. "Alright then," he heaved a deep sigh. "Let's go?" She nodded again. "Are we going to granny's?" Adnan suddenly asked. "No, son," Bilal replied and paused for some seconds, thinking of what to tell him. "We're going for a drive," a reassuring smile accompanied his words. "Really, Daddy?" "Yes, champ." He
Last Updated : 2024-08-07Behind A Smile 125
Bilal maneuvered to where his car was parked. He fumbled for the handle, his movement jerky. Once inside, he slumped into the driver's seat, his chest heaving with ragged breaths. His palms were slick with sweat and his heart continued to race in his chest. Up until the moment, he still couldn't bring himself to believe that his father would actually go ahead with his threat to disown him. Bilal had always thought he always only used it as a weapon to get him to do whatever he wanted, but apparently not. Mr. idris hadn't exactly been a good father to Bilal by only providing him with material things. What he needed ever since he was just a child was his father's undivided attention and unconditional love. Bilal had yearned to get the love of a mother, who he wasn't opportune to meet, in his father. He has always wanted someone he could go to for advice but Mr. Idris had never been available. Although he hadn't been the ideal father to him, Bilal was contented with the fact that he
Last Updated : 2024-08-08Behind A Smile 126
"As salam 'alaykum wa rahmatulah wa barakatuh!" (Peace, mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you). The deep, familiar voice echoed through the living room. Ramlah's heart skipped as she recognized the voice. It was Mr. Aliyu. Her father was finally back! With a surge of excitement, she leapt from the couch and raced towards the door. "Dad?" She jumped up and raced towards the door and opened it. "Dad!" She threw her arms around him tightly. "Welcome home! I have missed you terribly." Mr. Aliyu chuckled, returning the embrace warmly. "I missed you too, but I missed my beautiful wife even more. How have you been? How's You look taller and plumber. What have you been eating?" "Dad," She giggled. "That's impossible. I haven't gained any weight." "If you say so," he replied settling onto the couch. "Where is your mother?" "She went to see the neighbors. She will be back soon," Ramlah responded. "Alright. Call Rashida and Omar. I want to speak to them." "They have alread
Last Updated : 2024-08-08Behind A Smile 127
"End stage renal disease is a severe, irreversible condition where the kidneys have completely stopped functioning." Zynah couldn't believe her ears. A tear slipped out of her eyes without her even knowing. "What...what do you mean by end...end stage?" she stammered. "It's the last stage of kidney failure," the doctor explained further. "If this condition had been detected earlier, medications may have slowed down the progression. Unfortunately, we've reached the final stage." Zynah's eyes glistened with unshed tears. "Are you saying he is not going to get better now? Is there no hope?" "Of course not," The doctor shook his head. "That's not what I'm saying. His life can be prolonged if he is put on dialysis or preferably, undergoes a kidney transplant. I have had this discussion with him before, and the transplant needs to be done as soon as possible." "Kidney transplant?" She asked, swallowing a lump that suddenly formed in her throat. She couldn't help but remember
Last Updated : 2024-08-09
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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."
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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
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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
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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
