"Love is the voice under all silences, the hope which has no opposite in fear, the strength so strong mere force is feebleness, the truth more first than sun, more last than star".

********************************

Zulai

Thunder stroke the sky and shook the earth. I let the heavy raindrops hammer my skin as I walked home quietly, thinking about my life, my future, and all the stupid decisions I have made lately including courting Danlami.

Aunt Rakiya helped me got rid of Alhaji Tanko, and I agreed to start courting Danlami in return. We had a deal and it was arranged. Though I intend to mess it up.

Danlami arrived on time, he met my cousin at the gate and he assumed I was the one anxiously waiting for him to come like my life depended on his arrival. He looked at her from head to toe.

The first words that flew out of his mouth were "you're not even as beautiful as they say you are, I shouldn't even waste any more of my valuable time". he turned around and made his way out of the building.

Aunt Rakiya came running, she managed to stop him from leaving. she welcomed him and ushered him in.

My mother heard him talking with Her on their way in. She stopped and listened to the little conversation they were having and she didn't like what she heard. She heard Danlami saying

"Rakiya, if this girl is not as beautiful as you say she is, I swear you will pay me back all the money I have been sending you and  I'll lock you up in jail and leave you there to rot for lying and wasting my time" Danlami threatened her.

"I promise you she is, you won't regret it. Let me go and fetch her for you, have a seat and make yourself at home" Aunt Rakiya replied.

Aunt Rakiya came into my room and informed me of Danlamis arrival, She looked so nervous and desperate. She begged me not to piss him off. What a pity, I intend to do just that.

I went into the sitting room and took a seat as far away from him as possible. He was quiet for a while with his mouth wide open as he examined me. He was lost in a trance but he recovered quickly

I stared at the ceiling with my mind full and yet empty of thoughts as he kept talking like a fool.

He did almost all the talking, he didn't even give me a chance to introduce myself, he said it wasn't necessary. He talked about his accomplishments and how wealthy and powerful him and his entire family are.

Danlami is just a narcissistic selfish idiot and a shallow amateur who is too full of himself Like he could shape the future of humanity, I concluded.

I wonder why you're still single at this age with all those accomplishments and wealth, does it have to do with your character or personality? I asked, without even knowing where those words came from. Either ways, I was voicing out my thoughts.

He looked angry and shocked, he was speechless for a little while. He Glared at me with murderous eyes. I thought he was going to shout at me and insult me, but he didn't. He smiled at me and continued talking instead.

My eyes dilated in shock when he threatened to lock my parents in prison and marry me weather I like it or not if I do not cooperate or if I ever decide to change my mind. He scared the living hell out of me.

After a few minutes of awkward silence, he decided to leave. He brought out a lot of money and handed it to me, but I declined. He got pissed. He hissed, then made his way out without saying a word with me trailing behind him.

He threw a bundle of cash at Aunt Rakiya  on his way out and she shamelessly picked it up. He asked her to come and meet him tomorrow morning so that they could seal the deal. That woman's got no dignity and self respect.

Everyone's eyes and ears were on me as I narrated my own side of the story like everyone else had done earlier during lunch. Danlami has ruined his chances with me by himself

When I was done, every one laughed except my brother. every thing is funny to him, but I wonder why he's not finding this funny.

After laughing for a while, Aunt Rakiya made an announcement. She caught me by surprise, I didn't see it coming. She said Her husbands son "Jamilu" is on his way to see me.

"It's been settled, you'll soon be his beautiful bride. He confessed his undying love for you to me when he heard your wedding with Tanko had been called off".

Jamilu? I asked, with my eye balls popping out, ready to fall off their sockets. God knows I never liked that guy.

Why? What about Danlami? I asked.

"Don't worry about Danlami, I'll take care of him. Besides no one in this family approves of his union with you, Aunt Rakiya replied.

My brother snapped, "What the hell? why does she have to marry that stupid jerk? Honestly, he doesn't deserve it. He doesn't deserve her.

In case you haven't noticed, Zulai is a freaking boy magnet, It's a blessing and a curse. Every boy falls for her at the sight of her, that doesn't mean we should give each and every one of them an opportunity. Besides, this one is a prick. A stupid spoilt brat".

He looked at Aunt Rakiya and asked her "are you here to destroy her life? Do you even know what Love is? Why do you want to ruin her life because of your selfish motive.

When have you ever put someone else's interests first? Never, you always put yourself first. To you, Zulai is just a valuable piece of merchandise ready to be sold to the highest bidder

He turned to my mother "Mother, she doesn't even like him. it's all because of her" he said, pointing at Aunt Rakiya.

"I know you're allowing this just because she's your sister, zulai is your daughter for God's sake"

What's the worse that could happen? broken sister-ship ties? you can live with that. Besides she's not the only relative you've got.

It's okey to let her go instead of letting her ruin us. You have no idea how many ties I have broken, how many friends I have lost because of this. And I think that broken ties hurt much less than broken hearts. Why do we have to break so many hearts?

What if she already likes someone? what if that someone is the one for her. Maybe she's just in denial or just too stupid to see, or better yet, she hasn't even realized it yet.

Open your eyes young lady. I think that someone you like deserves a chance too since we could afford to give it to that worthless jerk.

Why am I still here? he asked himself before walking out and slamming the door behind him shut.

I didn't know what is worse, knowing that My chances of escaping this marriage is very thin since aunt Rakiya always gets what she wants or the fact that my brother was so angry, and he shouted and accused everyone for this mess or that his accusations were right.

He made a lot of sense. It was the truth, the kind of truth we all didn't want to believe in

******************************

Tanimu

I was in the sitting room when zulai had that meltdown, she had an emotional breakdown yesterday.  i pitied her innocent soul.

Somehow, I'm glad she did what she had done. As a result of it, I have received the most wonderful news ever. The wedding has been cancelled, she wouldn't have to spend the rest of her life with that monster.

Now We have a chance, there is hope for us. Zulai could be mine. I need to tell zulai how I really feel, I have to make her fall in love with me before someone brings another man into her life again. I'm not letting that happen.

I was on my way to her house in the blink of an eye. I'd rather take my chances with her, I'd give it a try Instead of breathing pointlessly alone until I die. I would turn that little flame inside of us into a bonfire

When I entered the house, I spotted zulai in the sitting room buried in her thoughts. She had a worried look on her face. I quickly sat beside her without saying a word. She acknowledged my presence after a few minutes, she was so happy to see me.

We talked nonstop for several hours, but she kept avoiding a topic I kept bringing up, her called off wedding.

There were moments when She lost her self in her surroundings and her thoughts while I lost myself in her, she turned me into a dumber Romeo.

She made my heart flip, and before you know it I said the words, the three words I have been avoiding all my life, the words I never knew I would be able to pronounce, much less tell anyone. I blurted it out like an idiot. What was I thinking.

I knew this day would come, I have been denying this feeling for far too long. It was time to concede, surrender and give up fighting and denying. I felt defeated and tired of fighting my feelings for her

On hearing those words, She gasped as if a hundred thousand electricity bolts hit her, Her brown eyes were shining with some unidentifiable emotion under the tears that were about to be shed.

"I don't love you, I hate you. I am promised to another" she said. I heard her voice crack at the end.

I shook my head baffled by her words. I was enraged. I raised my head and looked her in the eyes, I didn't care if she could see the Miserable expression on my face.  I didn't care if she could see the red in my eyes and my trembling lips.

She walked away with a hurtful expression on her face after breaking my heart into a million little pieces.

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