Chapter 56

"But I do hope I'm not disturbing you." She shook her head as if he was there before she responded. "Tell me about yourself if you don't mind." She wanted to protest and asked why he was doing whatever it is. She calmed her nerves and cleared her throat. "What would you like to know about me?" She asked him. "Everything if possible." She chuckled a little and heaved a sigh. "Okay, my name is Dalia Ja'afaar. I live in Kuje but I am from Katsina. I attended my primary and secondary school here in Abuja. Now I'm currently studying Microbiology In Nile university. That's it I guess." "I also did my degree at Nile university but I did my masters in India." He continued to introduce himself to her as they got to know each other more before he changed the topic to a different one. "I need to tell you something, dalia. And... I don't know how you would take it...." He let out a shaky breath. "What is it?" She asked him which made him more anxious that he already was. "Well I know we have met quite little amount of times and what I am about to say might sound insane to you but I saw you.... For the first time and my heart skipped a beat. And.... Uhhh... I got a little restless when I saw you the other day I came. I couldn't help it, dalia. You never leave my mind. I am not making these words up to impress you but as soon as I met you for the second time in my life, I knew you were the one, the one I would like to spend my days thinking of, the one I would want to share my life with, the one I would want to rejoice with whenever the happy moment comes. And the one I would love for the rest of my days. I knew all that as soon as we met." She was expecting him to say that but she had never thought it would be that soon. She tried to remember how to breathe, unable to speak, totally stunned by his words. Marry him and end up like binta? Or she would completely get separated from her mother? She blinked her eyes as she came back to reality, why was she even thinking about being his wife already? "You are joking about this right?" She found her voice. "No, no please I am very thankful but no thank you, I can't do this." "Please tell me the reason why you don't want to give me a chance, dalia?" He sounded hopeless and down casted. But he wouldn't give up, not just yet. "Because I'm not ready for any of this," she whisper yelled at him. She clutch on the phone when it was about to slip from her sweaty palm. Her heart throbbing audibly. "That isn't a reason dalia. look... I know you are afraid but can I give you some time to think of it." Losing dalia was the last thing he would want to do. She was priceless and muhsin had proved to him that she was a precious gem, a gift from God. "Please, I'm not ready, I won't be ready anytime soon, I have school to face and my mother to consider." "Your mother would be genuinely happy about this, I'm sure. Who wouldn't want to see her daughter getting married." "Good night Dr Yusuf." And she ended the call. She shoved the phone back under her pillow and burst into tears. Why would he say that he loves her? Why would he even think of that? At her young age? How old was she to even start thinking of love? That's child abuse, she mused to herself. She sobbed into her pillow and clutched on it. Why was she crying? Her inner self asked. She was turning nineteen in two months, she wasn't getting any younger. And he was right, if her mother would find out about it, she would be happy. Especially now that she was back in school. Was she considering giving him a chance to prove the love he claims to have for her? She hissed, annoyed with herself. But what if she actually gives him a chance? He was going to marry her? Separate her from her mother? Was he even going to allow her continue with school? Because she knew most men don't allow their wives to continue with their education. Maybe he was different. Maybe he would make her happy, some part of her inner self told her. Tears blurred her vision as different thoughts swirled in her mind. What was she going to do now? Why her? Why wouldn't he marry one of his cousins like their cousin, ahmad did? She didn't sleep. She couldn't. She stared at the ceiling through tears, wondering who she was up against. ** She massaged the spot with her hand as she grimaced in pain. Few seconds later it decreased but increased again, much worse than before. She hissed annoyingly before she dropped the heating pad on her side drawer. Her mind screamed out as the pain drove through her lower abdomen. Every thought she just had became so confused as the pain licked up her lower abdomen like scorching needle. She weeped at her own suffering. She tried to stand up to get help but a wave of more pain suddenly washed over her. She knelt down there before she yelped for help. She struggled to get up but failed. She suddenly heard a faint knock from the door, weeping, she asked whomever it was to come in. "Subahanallah, Dalia, what's wrong?" The maid asked as she approached. "Just go and tell mommy, call her now...." She winced again and yelped in pain. She doubted if anyone suffered from period cramps like she did.