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Behind A Smile 152
Waking up with a splitting headache had become a normal routine for Zynah. She yawned and stretched out, then closed her eyes again for a few more minutes, before the adhaan was made. Groggily, she got out of bed and ambled towards the bathroom to perform ablution and then offer her fajr prayer. It was already a quarter past seven when Zynah finished reading the Qur'an and had returned it safely to its place. The rays from the morning sun penetrated through the small opening of the window and shone on her - a reminder that a new day had begun. She sauntered towards the window and allowed her gaze wander around and linger on the beauty of nature; the sky was bright, flock of birds could be seen flying about. To Zynah, the morning seemed extraordinarily beauteous - she was having a good feeling about the day. Zynah heaved a sigh, breaking free from her trance. "What's this feeling?" She asked herself, as a smile crept its way up her lips. She shrugged it off, and sauntered out
Last Updated : 2024-08-29Behind A Smile 153
After they had had breakfast, Bilal offered to drive Adnan to school, but Zynah wouldn't allow it. She insisted he rested and that she would drive him instead. Bilal didn't want to agree, but he knew he couldn't win the argument against Zynah and besides, he wasn't feeling too good, so he ended up giving in. "Thank you." He had muttered to her. Zynah smiled and shook her head. "Get some rest. I'll be back soon." Bilal nodded, his gaze following her as she picked up his backpack. "I'll be waiting for you," he said, his voice barely audible. "Drive safely." "I will," Zynah assured him. Then, she turned to Adnan.. "Say bye bye to Daddy." "Bye bye, Daddy," Adnan waved enthusiastically, his face beaming with excitement. "Bye, champ. Be good, okay?" Bilal replied, his voice filled with pride. "Okay," He responded and ran out of the house. With one last look at him, Zynah turned around and sauntered out of the house, the sound of her footsteps echoing in the quiet m
Last Updated : 2024-08-31Behind A Smile 154
After tucking Adnan in for the night, Zynah kissed him in the forehead and turned off the lamp before walking out of the room. As she opened the door to her room, she was surprised to find Bilal sprawled out on her bed. She definitely wasn't expecting him there. Carefully, she closed the door behind her and walked into the room, and towards him. He wasn't asleep. "Hope you've taken your medicines for the evening," she began, her voice soft. "I don't want you to get sick again." Bilal hummed in response, his gaze trailing after her as she moved to the walk-in closet. Zynah could sense his gaze boring holes in her body, but she chose to ignore. After changing into one of her lingeries, she walked back to the bed. Bilal's gaze hadn't wavered from her. Not even for a second. Zynah stood beside the foot of the bed and gaze skeptically at Bilal. "Do you plan to sleep here, tonight?" she asked, not in an offensive tone. Bilal hummed again in response. "Can I?" "Yes,"
Last Updated : 2024-08-31Behind A Smile 155
"Good morning. How are you feeling?" Dr. Muslim inquired, from the other side of the phone. "Better," Ramlah replied, a smile tugging at her lips. "The migraine has subsided. I feel much better now. "That's good to hear," he commented. "I'm glad. By the way, I have good news," he began. "Do you want to hear it?" "Good news?" Ramlah's eyes lit up. "What's the good news? Please tell me already!" "Okay," he chuckled lightly. "I have managed to find a donor for Bilal. He can finally get a transplant done," Dr. muslim announced. "Oh!" Ramlah remarked. "That's great. Have you told Ya Zynah about this? She must be very happy. She's been so worried about him" "She is," Dr. Muslim replied. "I told her earlier. Bilal will most likely be taken to a hospital today. The earlier the transplant gets done, the better it would be for him. We've lost a lot of time. We can't afford to lose more." "Hmm...do you... Do you think he is going to make it?" Ramlah's voice was laced with
Last Updated : 2024-09-01Behind A Smile 156
Zynah's heartbeat skyrocketed when he remained motionless, her breaths coming in ragged pants. Not even a finger was moved. She shook her head disdainfully, her whole body trembling vigorously. The urge to scream at the top of her lungs was overwhelming, but her throat was constricted, a lump of fear lodged firmly in her chest. Every muscle in her body aches with tension, her mind racing with a thousand terrifying possibilities. Everything seemed like an illusion to her. Yes, it was exactly what it was. It couldn't be true. Bilal couldn't have possibly left her. He was too obsessed with her to do so. Zynah was supposed to take him to the hospital immediately, she knew, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. Perhaps she wasn't ready for the news that awaited her. The truth that would shatter her world. The fear was paralyzing. "Bilal!" She bellowed, her voice a hoarse, desperate cry. "If you don't get up right now, I'm going to...I'm going to hate you. I'm never going to fo
Last Updated : 2024-09-01Behind A Smile 157
"How will we know where they are right now?" Ramlah heaved a sigh, her voice barely audible over the roar of the car. "We're almost in Abuja." Muslim glanced at her, concern etched on his face. "Calm down. Have you called her yet?" he inquired. "The network is poor. My call isn't going through," Ramlah hissed. "You should take it easy. Keep trying. The signal might be stronger now," Muslim suggested. "Stop panicking so much. He'll be fine." "I hope so," Ramlah replied, her voice trembling slightly. "I wonder how ya Zynah is doing right now. Please hurry up." "As it is, I'm already speeding. Are you trying to get us killed?" Muslim teased, trying to lighten the mood. "Don't worry, Ramlah, we'll get there soon." "Sorry," Ramlah mumbled, her face falling. "I'm just so worried about my sister." "I understand, but you have to keep calm. Worrying too much is not good for your mental health. Try calling her again." This time, fortunately, Ramlah was able to get through.
Last Updated : 2024-09-02Behind A Smile 158
Dolefully, Zynah sat on the hospital bed, tears streaming down her face. In a matter of just few hours, she felt her whole world crumbling. She couldn't comprehend what Ramlah had told her. It felt like a dream - a nightmare. "What are you saying?" She choked out, her voice a hoarse whisper. "We were talking yesterday." "Ya Zynah," Ramlah called, softly, her voice filled with a mixture of sorrow and helplessness. "Please accept the fact that he has left this world and just like him, we're also going to follow the lead someday. I know it's painful, but you just have to accept it in good faith. He's gone for good." "No!" Zynah shook her head vigorously. "Don't you understand what I'm saying, Ramlah? He was with me last night!"Her voice quivered. "We were talking... laughing..." her viuce trailed off, replaced by a sob. "Ya Z—" Ramlah reached for Zynah's hand but she pulled back. "I know it's hard but we just have to accept it." "Don't!" Zynah yelled, raising a hand. "Don't
Last Updated : 2024-09-03Behind A Smile 159
After jum'ah congregational prayer, Muslim returned with few other people to take the body for the janai'za prayer. Completely zoned out, Zynah was seated on the floor next to Bilal's body when they walked in. "Ya Zynah?" Ramlah called softly as she approached a distraught Zynah. "They are going to take him away now." Zynah immediately snapped out of her trance, as the biggest reality hit her. He was going to be buried and she was never ever going to see him again. Desperation etched her face as she pleaded; "Please wait for a little longer. His father doesn't even know about this yet." "Ya Zynah, I took his number from your phone. Muslim and I have tried calling him severally, but he didn't pick up. He even switched off his phone, before we could text him," Ramlah stated. "I don't think it's wise to wait for him. Let them go ahead and bury him." "This has to be done as soon as possible," someone suggested. "We can't keep wai—" "Please," Zynah sobbed, completely shatt
Last Updated : 2024-09-03
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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
