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Behind A Smile 144
Ramlah took in a deep breath before finally walking down the stairs and out of the house. Dr. Muslim black car parked outside was the first thing she saw when she stepped through the gate. With a mixture of nervousness and uncertainty, Ramlah approached the car. And immediately she did, the car door swung open, revealing Dr. Muslim. Ramlah hesitated for a moment, her heart racing in her chest, before finally sliding into the front seat. For the next five minutes, silence dominated the atmosphere. Ramlah didn't know where to start from. Dr. Muslim didn't speak either. It seemed as though he was also gathering his thoughts. Finally, he broke the silence. "Your sister called earlier," He began, his voice low. "I know," Ramlah responded curtly, her tone defensive. She wanted to ask him why he'd been avoiding her calls but like a coward, the words died on her tongue. "She said she wants to speak with me," he continued. "What is it?" Ramlah hummed. The conversation was get
Last Updated : 2024-08-23Behind A Smile 145
For some inexplicable reason, Bilal felt uneasy. He had tried to reach Zynah several times, but her line was either busy or she wasn't picking up. He waited for a while, then called again, and when she didn't pick up this time, It had him worry, for it was highly unlike her. With slightly trembling fingers, he dialed her number again, and this time, it connected. A sigh of relief escaped his lips as she spoke. "Zynah, I—" "This isn't her," Ramlah's voice cut him off, her tone laced with a hint of smugness. "Oh! Ramlah..." His voice trailed. After everything that had happened in the past few months, he didn't feel comfortable speaking to her. It was high-key awkward. "How have you been? How's home?" Ramlah rolled her eyes. "Good," She responded, curtly. "I have been trying to call Zynah. Is she close by? Please give her the phone," Bilal went straight to the point. It was obvious Ramlah didn't want to speak to him, and he understood her reason. "She isn't here," Raml
Last Updated : 2024-08-24Behind A Smile 146
Zynah's jaw dropped in disbelief. She had to double check to see if he actually hung up on her. A surge of anger coursed through her veins as she turned to Ramlah. "How did Bilal know Ibrahim was here?" "Sis," Ramlah called gently before slowly approaching. "I...told him." Zynah swallowed hard. "That was so insensitive of you! How could you do that!" She exclaimed, her voice rising. "I'm sorry, Ya Zynah, I just wanted to...I wanted to—" "Don't even try to explain anything! Thanks for complicating things!" She hissed and stormed out of the room and headed straight to her patent's to inform them she was leaving. She just couldn't bear to spend a minute more in the house, not knowing the preposterous things cooking up in Bilal's mind. She felt a fanatical need to explain things to him in a way he would understand. In the hallway, she met Ibrahim, leaving already. She heaved a sigh to calm herself down a little. The last thing she wanted was to take out her frustration on hi
Last Updated : 2024-08-24Behind A Smile 147
Bilal froze - his hand hooked, midair. His heart instantly began to thump rapidly in his chest. He quickly brought down his arm and opened his mouth to explain, to apologize but words failed him. Instead, a lone tear slipped out of his eye as he realized the gravity of his action. Without another word, he turned around and walked away, leaving Zynah stunned and hurt. Once an abuser, always an abuser - Zynah couldn't help, but agree with the harsh truth. Her eyes were still widened. She still couldn't believe Bilal had attempted to hit her again. Not after all they had been through. Not after promising never to do it again. For the past few months, Bilal had worked really hard in trying to make her know how changed he really was, but one little hurdle in the way, was all it took to reignite the monstrosity in him. She understood why he was angry - anyone in his shoes would be, but instead of listening to what she had to say, he acted rationally and ended up exacerbating the situat
Last Updated : 2024-08-25Behind A Smile 148
Bilal's heart raced as he parted his lips to ask her if she loved him too, but he fathomed he could be crossing the boundary drawn, so he ended up stomaching his question. He would patiently wait for the time she would reciprocate and if the time never arrived, he would accept that as his fate and learn to live with the fact. If her feelings for him were indeed still alive, they would reveal themselves in due time. Zynah's lips thinned into a line. She seemed to have predicted what was on his mind. She heaved a sigh, as she also didn't have a straightforward reply to the question. "So...I found out what you and Adnan were up to. Why you two were so eager for me to return, huh?" Bilal chuckled. "The surprise has been ruined, all thanks to my irrational self." "Trust me, it wasn't ruined," Zynah reassured him. "I sincerely appreciate your efforts, yours and Adnan's." "Adnan!" He suddenly exclaimed, glancing at his wristwatch. "Oh no! It's five minutes past his closing hour
Last Updated : 2024-08-25Behind A Smile 149
Zynah stretched her limbs and yawned, her eyes opening to reveal an empty room. The soft morning sunlight streamed through the window, casting a warm glow in the room. She glanced at the nightstand and found a plate of freshly cut fruits. A small smile spread across her face at Bilal's thoughtful gesture. As Zynah got out of bed, and sauntered towards the living room, she could already hear the sound of video game playing. As expected, she found Bilal and Adnan seated with folded legs in front of the television. Her presence wasn't even acknowledged until she cleared her throat. Bilal's gaze automatically darted to her and his lips curved into a lopsided smile. "And the sleeping beauty is finally awake." Zynah couldn't hold back a chuckle. "Did I sleep for too long?" She asked, taking a seat on the couch behind them. "Not really," Bilal replied, dropping the gamepad on the floor, and moving to sit on the couch beside Zynah. "Are you feeling better now?" "Yeah," Zynah re
Last Updated : 2024-08-26Behind A Smile 150
Clad in a pure white kaftan, Bilal was standing in the living room and glancing at his wristwatch. He had been waiting for Zynah to emerge from her room for quite a while now, but she seemed to have forgotten that they had somewhere to go. He heaved a sigh and was about to go to her room when he sighted her approaching. "I'm sorry for keeping you waiting," she apologized as soon as she got close. "I couldn't find my phone." Bilal waved his hand dismissively. "It's alright. Let's go." He jiggled the keys in his hand as they walked out of the house. Zynah locked the door and sauntered out to Bilal standing by the other side of the car. Immediately she got close, he walked to the other side of the car and and opened the door for her. "Thank you," Zynah muttered. "You didn't have to do that though," she said, a smile tugging at her lips. As much as she wanted to deny it. The little gentlemanly gestures from Bilal warmed her heart. It had always been what she wanted from hi
Last Updated : 2024-08-28Behind A Smile 151
Bilal was seated in the car, his head on the steering wheel. Zynah's gentle knock on the window startled him. "Bilal," she mouthed before opening the door and getting in. "Bilal," she called again, her voice rising in alarm. "Are you alright?" Her heartbeat raced when she got no reply. "Bilal." She panicked and tapped him on the shoulder. "Bilal!" "I'm fine," he finally replied, raising his head from the steering wheel, and inserting the key in the ignition. "Are we leaving?" Zynah asked, surprised. "Is there something else you want to do here?" He asked, his tone flat. "Have you talked to Nazmeera's doctor about the speed of her recovery?" She asked. "We really need to know how it's going." "I have," Bilal responded curtly. "Anything else?" "We still have to talk to the doctor Muslim referred," Zynah persisted. Bilal's face scrunched. "About?" "About your own health of course," Zynah huffed. "Maybe some other time. I'm tired," He muttered, twisting the key in the
Last Updated : 2024-08-28
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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
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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
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
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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."
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
