Muneerah wrote her resignation letter and handed it to the manager. Though, she was supposed to work for two years before bringing that up. However, the reasons she stated were genuine. He told her he would review it with the CEO. Mr. Dele and the CEO discussed it over and he told him they had no choice but to look for someone else to replace Muneerah. “We can’t stop the young lady from getting married. Yes, I understand it’s hard to find such a dedicated staff like that but we’ll try. We plan. Allah plans and He is the best of planners.” “Okay sir.” “She still has four months left to spend with us. Before that time, we’ll get someone else. The new chef will work along with her and master some of her kitchen signatures. I believe it will work.” “You are right sir. No one is indispensable.” Adnan didn’t reply to that. If only Muneerah could be his, he would have been the happiest man on earth. She would have been in charge of his restaurants. But perhaps Allah has other plans for him like his sister said. Two months later, Adnan traveled outside the country for vacation. And there, he met a renowned chef who was also there for vacation. They met a couple of times and they became friends. It was from their discussion that he found out who she was. They exchanged contacts and the relationship started from there. When both of them left the United Kingdom, they continued to get in touch. Then Adnan proposed marriage to Azeemah. His younger sister as well as his parents were happy for him. - - The introduction ceremony between the Oyekanmi family and Akindele was the first to take place, then two weeks later, Adenuga’s family and the Oyekanmi family also met. Mrs. Adenuga couldn’t come because of her health. Ahmad’s paternal uncles and aunts were present, including his sisters and their husbands. Mrs. Rasheedah and a few of her children attended too. While Baba Lati and his wife represented his mother’s side. Three months later, Muneerah and Haleemah got married to their heartrobbs. The ceremony was officiated in an event center in Ibadan with people of high caliber in attendance. Adnan Giwa and his sister attended too. Muneerah was very happy to have her namesake around since the day preceding her wedding day while her brother attended in the company of the manager. Immediately after the aqd nikkah, reception followed. The program was entertaining and educational. Ahmad and Adnan wouldn’t stop smiling at their wives. After the celebration, families gathered to pray for the couples. Ahmad and Haleemah’s car was the first to leave while Haroun and Haleemah left afterwards. Buba was so happy to see his two role models getting married. It was a dream fulfilled. By now, there were already three domestic staff managing the home affairs. One was in charge of cooking, one was responsible for cleaning and the last one was manning the gate. “Come here My Love,” Ahmad invited his wife to their bedroom. It was beautifully decorated with rose petals on the floor and also used to form the shape of a heart on the bed. The couple freshened up before performing ablution. They prayed two rakaah of nawafil together. There after, Ahmad placed his hand on his bride and prayed: Allaahumma 'innee 'as'aluka khayrahaa wa khayra majabaltahaa ‘alayhi wa ‘a’oothu bika min sharrihaa wa sharri maajabaltahaa ‘alayhi. Meaning: O Allah, I ask You for the goodness of her and the goodness upon which You have created her, and I seek refuge in You from the evil of her and from the evil upon which You have created her.” (The recommended prayer for the newlyweds). Once they were done seeking Allah’s blessings upon their marriage. Muneerah went to her bag and brought out the bangle Mama Buba asked her to give to her son. “My King, thank you for coming into my life. You taught me how to love and how to protect it. You know we have gone through a lot of hurdles which separated us before we reunited. Despite everything, there is one thing that became a tool that tied us together. It’s the thread of fate. Have it dear,” she gave the bangle to him. Ahmad moved her closer to himself and pecked her forehead. He blushed. “I am lost for words, honestly. But if there is someone who should be thanking the other, it should be me. My Love, you have done so much since you entered our lives. Not only mine, but my brother too. Only Allah can repay all your efforts. In sha Allah, I will try my best to prove to you that you made the right choice. Thank you, Ife mi.” He received the bangle from her, fixed it in her hand and kissed her deeply. Muneerah wanted to say that it was his inheritance. It should be with him but whatever she wanted to say was poured into his mouth. Even if it’s not allowed for men to wear gold accessories in Islam, he could keep it as an investment. Ahmad on the other hand had planned it all along that the inheritance from his mother would be given to Muneerah as a gift for her patience, resilience, endurance and strength. She deserved it. Just as the bangle was worth millions of naira. His wife was worth more than that. Besides, what would he do with it as a man? After all, whatever belonged to him was hers too. That night, the couple consummated their marriage. For Haroun and Haleemah, it wasn’t different. They were done praying for blessings upon their marriage. It was after supplication that Haleemah walked to her son’s nursery room. She stood beside him, watching him sleep. Just then Haroun entered. “Now that my son is sleeping, let’s allow him to enjoy his sleep.” “Can I stay with him for just this night?” “Why? Don’t you want to give him a sibling?” “You are acting naughty here.” Before she knew it, he already buried his mouth in her neck, then kissed her deeply before carrying her to their bedroom. They consummated their marriage too. That night, Fareedah cried her eyes to stupor. Finally Ahmad and Muneerah got married. She attended the wedding in disguise but couldn’t wait till the end of the ceremony. Muneerah and Ahmad were too much into each other. The love in their eyes for each other made her feel more jealous. How could Ahmad do that to her? How could he throw everything they had into the air like that? She would definitely deal with him. All she had to do was to wait for the right time to strike. - - - Two years later, Muneerah and Ahmad already had a six months old son. That fateful afternoon, Ahmad came to check on Mrs Adenuga. However, Fareedah came there for the same thing. She was surprised to see his car in the compound. As she rushed inside to greet him, he was on a call. He was backing her. Fareedah moved to him when she overhead him, scolding Muneerah at the other end of the phone. “What were you doing when my son fell off the couch? What kind of a mother are you?” She heard him yelling over the phone. Fareedah quickly tiptoed back to sit down before Ahmad caught her. When he was done with the call, he looked so angry. “Is everything okay?” She asked. “I don’t understand what is wrong with my wife. She is always careless with my son. Tell me, what else should I do to protect him. She is his mother. I expect some level of maturity on her part,” he said angrily. “I’m so sorry about that. I’ll suggest you hire a nanny for him.” There was a flicker in his eyes. Why didn’t he think of that earlier? “Thank you, Princess.” He smiled broadly. She was impressed. She couldn’t even remember the last time he called her that. “But the issue is I don’t know of any nanny.” “I can help you work on that. I’ll help you contact a staffing agency owned by an acquaintance. Ahmad thanked her profusely. The following week, a nanny was employed for his son. In no time she showed her dedication and loving spirit. One evening, Ahmad returned from work. The moment he stepped inside, he saw no signs of Muneerah. Then he saw his baby’s cot, standing a few inches away. He dropped his briefcase and was about to move to the cot when Muneerah came out of the kitchen, cleaning her hands with the handkerchief. “Welcome My Love,” she hugged him while he pecked her forehead. “How have you been My Love?” He said caressing her new neatly hairdo. “Your hair is beautiful. Who made it?” “My sister was here earlier today. So, I seize the opportunity to loosen the previous one and make another one.” He winked at her. “Your sister is good at what she does. I owe her. Tonight is going to be special for us,” he kissed her before pulling away. “Let me check on my baby too,” he said, leaving for the cot. “Please don’t wake him up.” He nodded. The moment he got to the cot, he found nothing like his son. It was only the quilt he was covered with that was there. “Is everything okay?” “My son is not here.” “What?” Muneerah also moved closer to the cot to see for herself. Her eyes blurred instantly. Who could have taken her son from the cot? “I don’t understand what’s going on. He was here.” Ahmad didn’t even let her finish her statement before rushing upstairs to search for him. He returned to yelling at her. “Where is my son?” “Muneerah, you better talk now! Just because his nanny was on break to treat herself you left him unwatched. Have I made a mistake by giving the woman sick leave? Muneerah, all you had to do was to take care of your own son. Was that too much to ask for?” A thought struck Muneerah to ask the gateman. She quickly put on a gown and her hijab and rushed out. Ahmad also followed her. She called out the gateman who hurried out like a flash. “Who was here?” She asked him. The gateman furrowed, not understanding what she was saying. “My son is missing! Who came here to carry him?” The gateman shook his head, raising his hand. “Nobody was here to take him.” “If no one was here to take him. Where is he then?” The gateman clasped his hands on his head. “Mo dáràn óò.” Ahmad rushed inside to get his car keys. He drove to the nearest police station to report the case of his missing son. He wrote his statement and then the police came home to arrest the gateman. As the one watching the gate, he was the first suspect. It was at that time that Abubakar returned from the madrasah. He hadn’t even asked for the matter going on before he got to know that his nephew was missing. He began to panic, asking Muneerah a series of questions. Where was she when it happened? How did it happen? Who and who came to visit her? The questions were too much for her as she sat down, crying. Everything was just like a dream. It was so shocking to her. Ahmad reached out to the policemen asking if the gateman had confessed but the response he got was that he didn’t. He kept saying he knew nothing about it. Muneerah continued to pray through her tear stained eyes. She tried to recall if she received anyone but couldn’t remember anything. Even the domestic staff were living out-helpers. In fact, she gave the two of them off to rest. So, who was responsible for her missing son? Ahmad couldn’t even explain what was happening to him. No matter what his sisters, Haroun, Haleemah and Buba were saying, nothing entered his ears. He would heave long sighs, stand up, and go to his baby’s cot. The disappointment would hit him and he would hit the wall. Muneerah on the other hand could no longer cry. She just sat there, hugging her knees, expecting her son to show up anyhow. At night, everyone who came had already left for their respective houses, promising to check on them again. Ahmad held Muneerah’s hands outside in the compound. He cupped her face, asking how his son went missing. Both of them were inside the heavy rain. “I can’t suffer the same fate my mother went through because of you. Tell me, where is my son? Muneerah, ask me for anything. My wealth, my company, even my life. I will lay them in front of you but please, give me my son. He is the reason for my happiness.” Muneerah wanted to hug him instead of replying to him but he moved backward. “I want my son, that’s all.” “I don’t know where he is. He is equally my son, Ahmad,” she cupped his face but he flung her hands away from him. “You never loved that child. You never cared. All you care about is your restaurant,” he said and walked out on her. Muneerah called for him but he didn’t look back. She followed him but he locked the door on her. “Ahmad, it’s raining! Where will I sleep?” He opened the door, staring at her with his eyes emitting fire. “Where will you sleep? So, you will sleep without knowing where your son is?” A broken laughter eluded him. “You are not qualified to be a mother. Just leave.” “Where should I go?” “It’s none of my business. Do you think I care?” “Can I get my phone, please?” Ahmad went to the center table to get her phone for her. Once the door locked behind her, she put Haleemah through the call. “I ended up just like others. I am returning home just like the rest.” Back inside, Buba woke up from his sleep. He came to the living room to find Ahmad crying. He asked where Muneerah was, he told him he already sent her away. Buba fell on his knees, asking him to reconsider his decision but his mind was made up. “If you don’t stop begging, I will trash you till you leave my sight,” he yelled at him. Buba trembled. He’d never seen him in such a state before.
