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Behind 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 : 2024-09-03Behind A Smile 160
For two consecutive days, Zynah hadn't been herself. Bilal's death came as a shock to her. Had she known he would die so unexpectedly,, she wouldn't have stayed away from him. Not even for a split second. Had she known he would be gone so soon, she would have clung to him like a lifeline, would have made him know just how important he was to her. Had she known he was going to leave so soon, she would have let him know of his baby, growing in her. She had so many regrets. So much that she wished she could turn back the hands of time and rectify her mistakes. Five minutes - five minutes was all that was needed. Her parents had arrived two days ago and strangely, they were being so sympathetic. Her father's attitude surprised her the most, but she held back her emotions, her heart too heavy for words. Ramlah had been very supportive. She was always at her beck and call. When she had sleepless night, she would always stay up with her and try to lighten up the mood, by reminding her
Last Updated : 2024-09-05Behind A Smile 161
"Didn't I tell you it's nothing serious?" Ramlah asked, immediately Zynah walked back into the room. Wordlessly, Zynah sat in her bed and wiped her eyes, preventing the unshed tears from falling. She swallowed. "I have finally told Adnan that his father is never returning. I told him that Bilal is dead." Ramlah nodded, reaching for Zynah's hand. "That was the right thing to do. It's been two days already. How did he take it?" "How else?" Zynah wiped the corners of her eyes. "He was sad. He cried and later calmed down." "He is going to get used to his absence, and forget him in no time," Ramlah said. "He is still very young." Zynah looked at her sister in disbelief. "Forget about his father? How could you say that? Even if he is dead, he is still his father and he loved him immensely. No matter what happened, Adnan will always remember him. I'll make sure he never forgets his father." "I didn't mean it in that way," Ramlah said, realizing her mistake. "Sorry it came
Last Updated : 2024-09-05Behind A Smile 162
"I'm actually talking about my Bilal," Nazmeera chuckled humorlessly. "My brother." "It's true," Zynah confirmed, wiping away her tears. "My husband is dead. He passed away two days ago." Nazmeera's took in a sudden breath, her hand flying over her mouth. "Bil—" she choked on a sob. "That can't be...can't be true," her voice cracked. "You're lying." "Please calm down," Ramlah said, her voice gentle. "We didn't come all the way here, just so we can lie to you. It's the truth. I'm sorry, but your brother has passed away." "Ramlah," Zynah called, shaking her head. "Let me do the talking, please." "Fine," Ramlah replied, stepping back. "Do the talking then." "Naz—" Zynah began. "Bilal can't be dead!" Nazmeera yelled, cutting her off. "I have apologized to you for the flagitious things I did, right? Are you telling me this right now to get back at me?" "Who do you—" Ramlah had just begun to speak, when Zynah glared at her, making her stop talking instantly. "Ramlah
Last Updated : 2024-09-05Behind A Smile 163
Slowly, Zynah picked up the box. Her breath labored as she read the caption aloud. "Letters to my loved ones." Her heartbeat rapidly increased and tears prickled her eyes as she realized that Bilal had written those letters and wanted them to be read once he was gone. They were his final messages to those he loved. Tears welled up in her eyes as she made her way to a stool at the extreme of the room, and sat down. For a fact, she knew reading the letters at that time would stir up the feelings she had been trying so hard to bottle up, but now faced with the empty space he'd left behind, she felt compelled to delve into his words. With shaky hands, she managed to uncover the box, by lifting the lid. For some inexplicable reason, she felt uneasy, but the feeling didn't hinder her from proceeding to do what she had started. She needed to know what was written in the letters. Astonished, the first letter she saw, was a letter to Mr idris - his father. She wasn't supposed to
Last Updated : 2024-09-06Behind A Smile 164
"8th April. Dear, champ, By the time this letter gets into your hands, I hope you'd still remember your father then. In all the four years of your life, I know I have barely been able to spend a year together with you. I haven't been present as much as I would have liked. But in the span of that one year, I have gotten really attached to you. You're my son - my flesh and blood" We got to do the things you wanted, but sadly, I won't be there when you reach milestones in life. graduations, convocations...wedding. I'd have loved to be present with you in each and every one of these occasions. To whistle and shout out to the audience what a proud father I am, but in life, we can't always get what we want and the best we can do, is to accept it as our fate and move on. Move on to brighter and higher heights. This is a life lesson you should always put in mind. You know, at times, I feel lighthearted, knowing that I won't be there when you're all grown and wise. I have always i
Last Updated : 2024-09-06Behind A Smile 165
Ramlah sucked her teeth. "I have been waiting for you to return to the room for a while now. I freaked out, thinking something bad has happened to you or you've done something to yourself," she added the last part in a barely able voice. Zynah resisted the urge to roll her eyes at Ramlah's words. She didn't expect her to commit suicide, did she? "What?" Ramlah shook her head. "You weren't meant to hear that part, so just forget it. Anyway, what are you doing here? You've been here for a while, and your eyes," she said, her voice dropping. "What's in there?" She inquired, her gaze fixated on the mini box. "Can I take a look?" Zynah inconspicuously hid the box behind her, and stood up. "What's wrong? Why were you looking for me? Did something happen? Is Adnan fine?" Ramlah nodded. "Adnan is fine, and nothing is wrong. I was just worried about you. Also, Dad and Mom are about to leave. You're the one they are waiting for." Zynah waved a dismissive hand. "Alright, you shoul
Last Updated : 2024-09-06Behind A Smile 166
9th April. Dearest, Zynah, "Before you start reading this, I'd like you to calm down first. Do not cry! It's a command from your husband. Will you disobey? Amidst tears, she smiled. "How does he know so well," she whispered, her emotion threatening to overwhelm her. His words only served to make her even more emotional than she already was. She couldn't help but miss that particular playful side of him, the playful banter they used to share. "I know you must be crying profusely as you read this, because you love me so much. Even though you refused to utter those words to me aloud, I figured it all out. Remember, action speaks louder than words. I have known this all along, but I have also longed so badly for you to say then to me again. It would have been so good to hear them from you once again. It's really a nice feeing, you know. I wanted to relive the moments, but, well..." The amount of regret that suddenly washed over Zynah couldn't be overemphasized. She vastly regre
Last Updated : 2024-09-07
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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
