Chapter 74

"How could you say you did nothing when you took her away from me? You took the girl I wanted to have as mine away from me. You took Dalia away....." Yusuf stopped talking when he realized he had spoken too much. He scanned muhsin's face for reaction, as the silence hung in the air like the suspended moment before Yusuf broke the silence. "Look, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that and I shouldn't have accused you that way..." "You love her?" Muhsin cuts him off with the question. "I did before but now I promise you, she's all yours..." "Why didn't you tell me you loved her?" Muhsin questioned. "Because I couldn't gather the courage to. I couldn't even man up and go ask for her and in marriage and all you could talk about this passed weeks was her, what was I supposed to do?" The silence folded the living room again as they stared at each other. "I'm so sorry, I never knew you felt that way about her." Yusuf smiled and shook his head. "You did nothing wrong. A girl should never come between us and beside, she doesn't even like me." He shrugged off his shoulder. "And I know we weren't meant to be so stop bothering yourself. You have my full support on this and I know I will find my own soulmate.... one day.... hopefully." Muhsin returned a smile that never reached his tired eyes or his heart. He felt guilty inside him. How could he not notice that Yusuf liked Dalia? Why was he being so selfish. "No more secrets, please." He stretched his hand out. Yusuf stared down at muhsin's hand. "Fine, I promise." One month had passed by in a blur, Dalia had gone back to Kuje and had started receiving skin treatment. She had thrown different kind of tantrums but none it worked. Just as they were done for the day, she had her bath and went back to her room to rest. She looked around the place again and beamed, a complete transformation. She came back five days ago just to find out that daddy had did a little renovation to their house. He made a complete change of the house since her mother had vowed not to leave Kuje behind. "Dalia, you haven't taken your drugs," an intruder came into her room. She furiously raised her head up and looked at her aunt. "Please do not waste my time, it's better you get up, take it and continue with whatever it is you were doing." "You keep asking me to take these pills that I don't even know what's it for." She groaned as she took the pills and gulped it down with a glass of water. "If your husband comes, you should ask him." She packed the glass cup and pills before sauntering out. Dalia rolled her eyes as she hissed, "he's not my husband." She took her phone from the side drawer as it continued to ring nonstop. She beamed from ear to ear before she answered the call. "Salamu Alaikum, dalia." She heaved a sigh and sat up right. "Wa'alaikumus Salam, good evening. How was work today?" She spoke softly as if she wasn't the one that kept ranting few moments ago. "I'm outside waiting for you," he announced, his voice was deep, whenever he spoke. He had that rich, silky tone. He speaks as if he controls the world, his experience seeping through. He would remind you of a stormy a day, a nice one. "Now? Right now? Why didn't you tell me you were coming?" She asked relaxed. "I'm sorry, I just wanted to surprise you and it worked, right?" She chuckled softly as she imagined how his facial expression would look like at that moment. "Okay, I'll be out soon." She ended the call and rise to her feet. She slip into her hijab and headed out to her mother's room. Amina looked at her from head to toe. "Dalia, don't stay long outside. Come back before maghrib." Dalia's eyes bulged out as she tried to suppress a smile. "Mama you didn't even hear what I had to say." She tilted her head as she pouted. "Your husband is outside, you don't have to rub it on our faces," her aunt spoke teasingly. She felt the urge to scream but restrained herself and hurriedly sauntered out of the room. He was already outside the car waiting for her when she approached him. A smile flickers on his face as he scanned her face. She looked up into his eyes as she smiled. "Good evening," she greeted and lowered her gaze. He stares at her for a long moment... then heaved a sigh. "Have you looked at yourself in the mirror?" He asked her. "What? What happened to my face?" She asked panicky as she touched her silky face. "Hey, it's nothing.... You're just.... Glowing... I love it." She could feel the heat growing in her cheeks. By now the must be beyond an attractive rosiness. She looked away with a hot blush. He chuckled and then his face turns serious as he gazes down at her. "I always wanted to see how your town looks like. Care to show me around?" She quickly nodded as she smiled. "Of course I will. Kuje is filled with beautiful things you wouldn't imagine. I'll also show you my hiding spot when I know I'm in trouble with Mama or when I'm sad."