EP__________2️⃣3️⃣

They stopped and looked at each other and Mum finally asked her voice filled with shock, "What's happening in this house?"

Fadila shook her head, indicating she didn't know, before entering the room, "Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji'un." She said looking at Aryan who was sitting on the ground in a hausa animism style(zaman Yan bori), she surveyed the room, which was in disarray.

"Subhanallah, what am I seeing?" Mum exclaimed behind Fadila, aryan didn't even budge, unaware of their presence.

"Do you want to kill yourself or what, Aryan? What kind of trouble is this? You just want to kill me and yourself, I can't handle this I'll go call your dad," Mum said, but Fadila quickly stopped her, saying, "Mum, let's follow this step by step, lets go and talk now." She held Mum's hand and they stepped out of the room.

They stood outside the room door and Fadila said, "Mum what's happening." 

"Wlh Fadila nothing's happening, actually he came back from his trip today and you know about the proposal today so when your father went there, the marriage was finalized. You know how we've been trying to get him to agree to marriage, but he ignored us, making us repeat the same conversation every time. I was even afraid maybe a jinn has married him and I'm sure he's doing all this because of the marriage."

"Mum, please go and sit down and don't let your blood pressure rise, don't call Dad, I'll speak with Aryan now In sha Allah everything will be okay," Fadila said, turning to re-enter the room.

The way they had left him was exactly how she found him. She walked carefully due to the broken glass on the floor and pulled up a stool to sit beside him, saying, "Aryan?" 

If a deaf person could respond from afar, Aryan would have answered.

"Aryan, look at me mana  haba bossy," she said using the nickname she'd called him since childhood, given him tendency to act like the senior as he always wished.

Still, he didn't budge but she knew he was listening and that realization encouraged her to speak calmly. From all indications, he was shaken by her words because eventually, he looked up at her and began speaking, his voice laced with emotional pain. "Why does Dad refuse to understand me? Why is everyone giving me the same look?"

"Even if they don't understand you, I understand you Aryan," Fadila said in a persuasive tone.

"Why don't you all stop Dad from forcing me into this marriage?"

She found his words amusing but remained silent not wanting to provoke him with her laughter. She knew that forced marriage typically affected girls not men but since he took his marriage as a forced arrangement, she took it the way he said.

She calmed her voice again, speaking persuasively. "Aryan, from my perspective when Mom or Dad makes a decision for us, we shouldn't question them they're our parents and they know what's fair and unfair more than us, We should follow their guidance and obey them unless it goes against our faith. Many times we desire things that aren't good for us and resist things that are, be patient and get up go take a shower, I'll have the maids to tidy your room."

He just nodded, and she stood up and left.

He was lost in thought for almost an hour. Even when the maid came in and saw him, they quickly disappeared without doing what they were asked to do. "Who will I share my worries with, to make them understand my condition?" He shook his head, stood up, picked up his car keys, and left the house.

As he reached Mansur's house, he didn't encounter anyone until he reached his room. He found Mansur lying down, facing the pop, with one hand under his head and the other on his beard, fidgeting slowly. Aryan stormed in and Mansur saw him from the corner of his eye but didn't budge. 

Aryan fixed his eyes on Mansur before he completed his entry and sat beside him. "Mansur?" 

"What?" Mansur asked in a serious tone.

"I'm sorry," Aryan murmured weakly. 

Mansur looked up, surprised. "You're sorry? I'm already used to hearing you apologize, just tell me what brought you here?" 

(Destined Marriage has now become a paid book and free pages will stop at episode 25, you can get access to the full book by paying ₦300 airtime. Just DM this number *** to get yours.)

Aryan took a deep breath, jingling the car keys in his hand. "I'm sorry for my words and actions, kayi hakuri da duk abinda na ma."

"It's not what you did or said to me that makes me angry, Aryan you and I know you're in a worrisome situation, right?"

Aryan closed his eyes slowly and opened them without saying a word. Mansur continued, "Why can't you share your worries with me? Ko nine wawa? Everything I'm going through, I come running to tell you."

He paused a bit before shaking his head and saying, "Some problems can't be solved by discussing them mansur, I just need your prayers." Mansur looked away, feeling a sense of pity for his friend, since he knew Aryan has a worry but decided to keep it from anyone.

He stood up, brought a first-aid box and started cleaning Aryan's injured hand which was stained with blood.

"Ouchh," Aryan said.

Mansur looked up, eyed him and said, "When you were hurting, didn't you feel the pain?"

Aryan smiled and continued looking at him until he finished dressing the wound.

"Thanks Mansur, thanks for everything," Aryan said calmly.

Mansur raised an eyebrow and picked up his phone, which was ringing. "Yes Mum, he's here..., he paused to listen to what mum was saying before responding, "In sha Allah Mum, no problem." 

He keep the phone after mum hung up and went out of the room, returning with a jug and a tumbler, he found aryan lying down, lost in thought.

Mansur shook his head and nudged Aryan with his leg.

Aryan looked up as Mansur poured cold tiger nut juice into the tumbler and handed it to him. Aryan hesitated before taking it and changed his position from lying to sitting.

***         ***        ***

Faryal was overwhelmed by a strong fever, but she tried to ignore it and told everyone not to bother to tell Maama or ammi, but when manira saw how much she's shivering she ignored faryal's protests and went to inform Ammi .

Ammi and aunty mimi returned with her, Ammi examined her and prescribed medication, which aunty Mimi sent arham and nasar to buy from the pharmacy.

With Allah's help, after taking the medications she felt relieved and slept, she didn't wake up untill 6pm.

When she woke up she no longer had a fever, but she had a little headache, As she finished praying isha, ammi and aunty Mimi came in and sat down and gave her some valuable advice before they left, she was just looking at them but their words weren't sinking in infact she wasn't fully understanding.

🕝 TWO WEEKS LATER🕝

Both houses began preparations for the wedding meanwhile the bride and groom were dreading the wedding day so much that they almost wished for death. Mum bought 4 beautiful expensive sets of boxes, totaling 16 but Appah suggested they keep them at her house when she get there she will see them and without a hesitation they agreed.

Maama prepared for the Mother's Eve at home and the walima, as she was marrying off her first daughter, despite having more plans but faryal's lack of interest discouraged her. 

Shenal, Manira and hadiyya handled everything including faryal's outfits, the decorations and so on, faryal's only contributions was her presence and even that was limited she'd just stare blankly, she had become thin due to self imposed pressure but her skin glowed as a result of bridal spa sessions Maama insisted on, even though faryal would pretend to have a fever whenever Maama or ammi brought it up .

He stood in front of his spacious closet staring at the clothes inside with his hands on his waist, thought his eyes were fixed on the garments but his mind was elsewhere.

"Laaa Aryan come see mutallab's newborn baby, I think his wife gave birth just today."

Hearing the silence, mansur looked up and called out, "Aryan?"

Still no response, "aryannnn?" Mansur called out loudly.

"Naam Naam are you talking to me mansur?" He asked snapping back to reality and focusing on mansur.

Mansur set the phone aside and kept his gaze on Aryan who said , "sorry whl I didn't hear you."

"I thought you were bringing your clothes I didn't think you were counting them."

He just smiled, turned around and pulled out an ash coloured kaftan.

"Bakaji ba?"

"Eh? He answered putting on his clothes ."

"Mutallab ya samu karuwa call and congratulate him don't say I didn't tell you, If we were doing the right thing ma ai we'd visit him but I know you won't, so I will save my breath."

"Karuwar me?"

"He has a new born baby."

"Masha Allah, may Allah bless the baby in sha Allah I will call him." He said putting on his wrist watch.

As they left his house they headed home to answer dad's call because since the wedding preparations had begun their house had been filled with family members which is why he  packed his things and moved to his own house.

They found him sitting in his living room talking on the phone. They spotted a spot on the floor and sat down, waiting until he hung up. When he finally looked at them, he teasingly said. "Ango ango are you hanging out with your bachelor friend."

Mansur laughed and patted his head, saying, "dad please include us in your prayers."

And Aryan forced a smile, with only his lips curling up.

As usual dad interacted with them playfully but today only mansur responded because aryan since he had greeted dad, merely offered a forced smile whenever they joked.

Dad picked up some documents from his side and handed them to Aryan, who accepted them with a glare waiting for more information.

"Here are the documents for the house you will be staying in with your family, everything is ready there."

"Emm Dad, I don't deny your point but........he paused reconsidering the words he'd rehearsed in his mind before he finally said, "Dad we'll just stay at my house in Banana Island since it's also under renovation."

Dad smiled, "I know Aryan, but this is my gift to you I won't force you to live in it because now all the choices are in your hands ."

"Thank you dad, may Allah increase your honor," he muttered drained.

Dad felt a chill run down his spine too, because that's not how he usually interacted with his son, Aryan being the youngest had a close bond with him, they would joke and laugh together like friends.

He sighed and called out, "Aryan,"

"Naam dad, " he said looking up at dad.

"I know maybe you are still upset with me about what happened but in Sha Allah Aryan you won't regret obeying, I'm keeping repeating this for your benefit, fear Allah this girl is your amana she left her family to live with you dan allah don't cheat her."

He nodded and said, " in Sha Allah dad."

He looked at mansur and said, "Kunje kunga amaryar taku ne?"

Mansur stole a glance at aryan and said, "Ah, ah dad but we're planning to do so."

"Ai you should've gone to hear what they are planning, If there is something you should do, then do it."

"In Sha Allah dad."

"Tho Masha Allah, may Allah bless you all."

"Ameen," they chorused, standing up and bid him farewell before leaving.

When they came out, mansur looked at him and said, "you heard what Dad said?"

"Yes," he answered, getting into the car.

"When are we going?"

"Zaka je dai." He replied dismissively.

"me?"

"Yes," he retorted, pulling his car onto the street as the gate was already opened for them. He took out his ATM card and handed it to him without looking. "Withdraw what you think will be enough for them and go give it to them."

"But Arya...."

He gestured for him to halt said, "If you won't go, lemme know."

"Shikenan tho," he said taking the ATM card.

As they had planned, it was mansur sitting in faryal's living room with refreshments and snacks in front of him. Hadiyyah returned with a jug and set it with the rest.

"Sannu da kokari, nasa ana ta baki wahala."

She smiled and said "ango kake ai, baka laifi bros."

His eyes wide with surprise and said, "Who told you that I am the groom? I'm his best friend or rather his brother."

“Sorryyyy I thought you were the groom."

"Ummm never mind, you're not wrong, I'm also the groom for another day."

She nodded and smiled saying,"Let me inform her."

"Thank you, but I don't know our sister's name."

"Hadiyyah!"

"Umm what a nice name it suits the owner perfectly."

She headed out saying, "thank you"

Not long after she left, Faryal came in wearing a long black hijab that reached down to her knees. After they greeted each other, he said how was preparation for the wedding."

"Alhamdulillah," she murmured, playing with the ring on her finger.

"What is being prepared for us?

That's when she looked up at him and said, "There's no event I'm attending, it's just that maama will be hosting the mother's Eve and walima."

"Wow, Ashe amaryar tamu ustaziya ce, like bride like groom, he also suggested skipping the event, but here is this, he said I should bring it for you," he said, keeping a small, beautiful bag on the center table for her.

"Thank you, but tell him we have got everything covered and don't need any more money."

"It's a matter of the wedding you will need them so please be patient and accept it."

"Ermmm I think we shouldn't argue about it, just return it to him."