Chapter Six

Innalillahi wa'ina ilaihi raji'un" everyone in the room chorused in shocked.

"What?!" Rasheed who was also taken by surprise also muttered in surprise. This will be the first time of hearing such thing against him in his life. "Could Zuwairah stoop so low just to make me get out of her life? Is this her way of making me leave her?" He thought as tears flow down his cheeks. Since the day he was born,and has known what's right from wrong, he has never cried like this, not until today. Zuwairah has turned him into someone else

He thought he had offended her but now, reverse is the case. Now he knows that she was the one who doesn't want him around her and she kept lying. She made sure to hide her true identity just to humiliate him on a day like this...all in the name of what?- nothing! Pure nothing!

"Zuwairah my dear,please what are you saying? That my son is HIV positive?"

"Ye...yes Mom " she stuttered without looking into anyone's eyes.

"No! No I can't believe this...we need to go for a test ASAP! This is about our families reputation and it can't be ruined just like that" Rasheed's Mom said to her self "and you!" she turned to Rasheed as she glares at him with an angry eyes"We are leaving now to our same hospital, you need to run a test right now!" 

With that being said,Rasheed's mom drag him out of the house with her husband trailing behind them,they tried to stop her but she turned a deaf ear to everyone. Rasheed's friend Abubakar also excuse himself leaving Zuwairah and her family on seated.

"Ba ki kyauta ba walahi...Zuwairah! You knew he's this disgusting and....and you never said anything! You...you made me spend all my money on that wedding! Do you know how much I spent?! Forget the fact that, that guy has the money,it can feed you guys for more than six years! Why?! Why didn't you tell me? If you're so sacred of your parent,why then didn't you come to me and explain everything to me?! Things would have been settled then,I wouldn't have spend my money on you two!" She pointed an accusing finger at Zuwairah 

"Would things have change?" Zuwairah asked looking boldly at her Aunt

"What?!"

"Yes Aunty,would things have change if I should disclose the truth to you all? Most especially you?!....would you have agreed for the marriage to be call off? Would you had believed me?"

"Still yet,you shouldn't have hidden it! You could have told us the truth. My money wouldn't have gone wasted! " 

Zuwairah only rolled her eyes at her stupid ranting. She knows nothing other than her money! What a waste!

"I'm sorry everyone, but I really need to get some sleep"she said as she stood on her feet, she let her leg drag her to her room. Ever since she has broken the misery news to everyone, her parents have been quiet and haven't uttered a word.

"This house is really full of drama! " Aunty Hauwa uttered dramatically as she wave her right hand in the air with a slight sigh

"For me,I'm going back to my house. When everything is settled, you all can call me and Yaya?" She called out her brother's attention.

"Hum" he hummed.

"Please I don't know if you can help me,my money mustn't go wasted. Could you help me take back my money from that disgusting guy?" She asked trying her best to show her puppy face to her brother.

He looked at her for some moment before he hissed and walk away, which his wife followed him immediately.

"What have I said wrong now?" She asked her self .

"Seriously Sis!" Fatima said as she roll her eyes at her "with all that has happened, is this what you've got to say? All you cared for is your money and nothing else!" 

"Dan Allah keep quiet! Shegiya kawai!" 

•

After Rasheed has been tested,the doctor asked them to come back the following day for his result and here they are, waiting patiently for the doctor to give them the worst news 

"Sorry for keeping you all waiting " the doctor said as he took his seat with the file on his hand

"I'm sorry to say this but....."

"You don't need to say sorry doctor,we knows the truth already. We only wanted to confirm it, that's all" his Mom said glaring at her son.

"Please calm down Ma'am" he beseech.

"Even if you leave here for another hospital, it will still be the same outcome,the result will still be the same,our equipment here are reliable and we don't lie,we make sure to give the patient a true response and try to monitor them,so that he or she won't regret their actions......"

"So as I was saying,we carried out the test already and we find out that Mr Rasheed is HIV Negative"

Silence 

Silence 

Silence

"This isn't a joke,I'm serious Sir, your son is perfectly fine"

"What?!!!!"

"Yes....."

"I knew it!" His dad exclaimed happily.

"That girl! That girl! What a liar! How dare she! How dare she lie to us?! Not only that but she also claim to be innocent, in fact she's the devil. I swear, I won't spare her" Rasheed's Mom said as she forcefully drag her bag making it fall on the floor.

"Mom be careful " Rasheed warned.

"Of course I'll be careful,and don't bother your self much coz I'll save my energy well in other to fight those family. I'll make sure I fight them with all I've got" she said with so much ambitious.

"Mom-" 

"shut up young man" she cut him off and instantly Rasheed zip his mouth.

•

Today is another family gathering. Everyone is present including Aunty Hauwa "so what do you guys have to say again? Coz the last time we gathered here,it didn't turn out good" she said eyeing them.

"Well we went for the real test and we're not saying this not just because we wanted you guys to believe us but to clear our name,our family reputation that your daughter here intends to ruin"

"What do you mean?" Mrs Hadiza asked looking confused 

"Here! Here is what I meant" she fling the test result as it landed in front of Mrs Hadiza. She took it and read every details of it in

"Subhanallah!!" She muttered in shock.

"What?" Her husband asked as he also took the paper and read it. Immediately his eyes came in contact with it,he slump himself on the chair.

Aunty Hauwa stood up and took the paper away from her brother "Yes! I knew it! I knew it will be true,and you all have the gut to come back to this house and start blabbering-" she was still ranting when her eyes lock with the word ' NEGATIVE' 

"What?!!!!"

"Yes! This is the real result and mind you, we never fake anything, this is the truth,pure result"

Aunty Hauwa walk closer to where Zuwairah was sitting as she land her right palm harshly on her right cheek which made everyone gasp in surprise.

"Ke Hauwa! Ki bari!!" Mr Dauda warned.

"Yaya lemme teach this dirty girl a lesson!" She said facing him "and you" she turned back to Zuwairah

"Is this how far you can go? Tarnishing your husband's image just because you don't want to be with him? Gaskiya ke yar iska yarinya ce fa walahi" she uttered disappointedly shaking her head at her.

"Now tell me, why did you do it? Just why the heck will you lie against your husband... No wonder,I thought as much! How could a good, handsome young man like Rasheed be HIV positive? His face looks innocent and so calm..now tell me,why did you lie?" 

"Aunty, I have my reasons"

"And what stupid reason could it be?"

"He...he's a rapist,killer and a kidnapper Aunty! I...I wanted him to confess yesterday, I thought he'll, but he was so adamant"

"What?!!!!"

"He's here,why don't you all ask him?" She said pointing her hand at him as all eyes set on Rasheed.

"Rasheed is she saying the truth?" His mom asked.

"I...I... I didn't mean to-" 

"This is enough proof already" Aunty Hauwa blurt in cutting him off as everyone nod in agreement.

"Zuwairah my dear can you enlighten us more?" She nod as she started.

"It all happened when........................"