Nine

They both stood up, all eyes were on her, including Sadeeq. He wondered how she knew the result, he knew they haven't opened the result, unless she had something..Ya Rabb! All this is befuddling. 

At first he didn't understand why their parents will make them carry out those tests, and now, the petrified looks on their faces. At the little knowledge of biology he had; he knew SS and AS aren't compatible, so what did that mean? Ya Ilahi. He really can't fathom.

"Let me see the result, Ihsan," Daada said, as he stood up and began walking towards them.

It was as if Ihsan was waiting for the move, she quickly sprinted towards the dinning area "Ha'an, Daada; don't you trust me again? I've told you the result, even the rhesus factors didn't match. So no need to see any result," She spoke in a pitched tone, as she hid the result behind her.

"Ihsan my dear, let's see the result please. Seeing is believing you know?" Ummu spoke, trying to comvince her with her words, but it loomed she wasn't going to succeed.

As Daada moved closer, Ihsan bagan running around the living room; yelling "By Allah Daada, Maama, my Abbu, and Ummuna, you don't need to see this. Sadeeq, see how you stood there like a statue; just tell them I'm not lying abeg."

Daada was tired of following her, he slumped on the sofa; panting. He looked at Sadeeq and ordered "Sadeeq, get me the paper, by hook or by crook, even that means you will break her hand; just ignore her whines."

"Noo, Sadeeq, don't make it hard on her," Abbu spoke for the first time, Maama was just looking at Ihsan; wondering how she became like that. They both knew Ihsan so well to know she wouldn't give the result peacefully.

"Keh! Give me the result," Sadeeq tried to be bossy, he thought he'll frighten her.

"Kini? (what)," she scoffed, as she rolled her eyes at him. "See this boy, abeg, you thought this serious expression you make would make me give you? Think twice, Mumu," she added and speed up, trying to leave the house.

"Aren't you in your senses, Ihsan? How many time would I tell you it isn't good? Sadeeq, make sure you bring that paper, even if it's to strangle her down," Maama half yelled, feeling shy at the words Ihsan utter towards Sadeeq.

Sadeeq made some quick steps towards her, that's how they began roaming around the living. "Ihsan, let's just have the result nah, what if you fall down?" Sadeeq said, as he took swift steps towards her.

"Is it by force? I've already told them the result, let me rest please," before she could register what was happening, Sadeeq had twisted her hand and taken the result; sighing in truimp.

"Daada," Sadeeq said, as he handed him the result, before slumping on the floor. Ihsan dabbed her feet on the floor; before slumping on the floor, opposite him with pouted lips.

Daada haltingly opened the result, before a huge grin broke his lips. "Alhamdulillah. Alhaji, they're compatible," Daada spoke enthusiastically, as he handed the paper to Abbu.

"Masha Allah. Alhamdulillah," they both chorused, with elated smiles on their faces which made Sadeeq more confused.

Abbu looked at Sadeeq, whose head was hung low, ruminatively. He cleared his throat, which made Sadeeq looked up "Sadeeq, I know you might be wondering why you had to carry out those tests...," he was cut off by Daada, whom whispered something in his ear, that slight distraction gave Ihsan the chance.

"Hey!" She whispered, looking at Sadeeq who had his attention on her. "Don't concurr to whatever is it they'll tell you," she whispered again, giving him the 'do you understand?' look.

Before Sadeeq could reply, Abbu had his attention back on them. "Sadeeq! I know you're a good and obedient child whom is always willing to fulfil his parent's wish. So please, don't discur or make any hassles about this, Allah is with you, and it shall be good, Insha Allah," Abbu said, as he slowly patted his head.

Sadeeq looked up, completely befuddled, his heart was beating at a higher speed, perspiration was all over his body, all hell didn't broke loose until Abbu dropped the bomb shell as it completely thundered his heart. "You're getting married to Ihsan, next week."

Albeit the coolness of the living room; Sadeeq was drenched in sweat. He couldn't clearly assimilate what Abbu just utter. Flummoxedly, he looked at Ihsan as if he was waiting for an assurance of what he heard wasn't hallucination. She squinted her eyes at him, emanating he should discord, he knew her, and with every gesture she made, he knew the meaning.

He looked away, as he bagan calming his racing heart with breathes. "Abbu, pleas.." he couldn't complete his sentence when Daada cut him off.

"Say your mind, Sadeeq. I won't let this happen if you don't like it," Daada spoke softly.

Sadeeq looked between Abbu and Ummu, he could read what's on their minds, they want him to accept, but how would he? He's just a normal 19 years old guy, he had to chill before getting married. And even if he's getting married at this young age, wouldn't it be another girl apart from Ihsan? Ya Rabb! This explained everything, from the admission, sudden summon, the tests, and Ihsan's behaviours.

"My Sodikeke, say something dear," came Maama's tender voice. She had always loved Sadeeq, he was her favourite before they became estranged with Daada, that's why she named him Sodikeke.

Sadeeq was out of words, he didn't know what to do. Would he just discord? It's as simple as ABC. But with that; he would hurt his beloved feelings. His heart? That made him wonder, he knew it would be in a state of melancholy__from the day he would be tied with this girl. 'Ya Rabb! Solution please, solution,' he silently whispered, palming his face.

Without looking at anyone, Sadeeq uttered "I'll think about it, please," almost inaudible, before he swiftly decamped from the house.

An unexpected grin broke Ihsan's lips, she looked at her glum parents and spoke enthusiastically "Daada, Abbu, Ummu, Maama, why couldn't you just leave us, please, he wouldn't concord; and same here. It's just about studying, and he would take care of me without us being married. Please mon Amores," with that, she made a pleading gesture with her hands and prowled to her room; a part of her heart filled with truimp; while the other has an unfathomable feeling ebbing in it.

Abbu heaved a sigh "I know he'll concurr. Whenever he says 'I'll think about it' it's because he couldn't say yes at the instant. Let's just keep our minds at ease," he wasn't only calming them down, but himself too. He could envisage a to be called-war ahead. 

"Alhaji, don't you think we should all let me be? Since it's palpable enough to tell us they don't like it? Aren't you afraid, we might make a mistake," Daada spoke, he began to feel empathy towards Sadeeq; he knew being married to someone you didn't like is heart detrimenting.

Abbu looked at him and smiled. Daada was always the soft type, he wasn't harsh. "Alhaji, don't you think letting them study in the same country, same university; same area of living is more dangerous than getting them married? Something bad might happen, what would we do then? To cry when the head is cut off? You all should think about this," Abbu spoke, a feeling of satisfaction filling his heart as to how they were nodding their hands in concurd.

"It's more safe and secured," both the women chorused; but deep down, their hearts had an empathy feeling towards their children.

"May Allah entend our lives to witness," Daada uttered.

"Ameen," they muttered in unison.

***

It was already 12am, but Sadeeq couldn't rest, he was knackered before the bomb was unravelled;  and now he didn't think he could sleep in the next five hours.

Not knowing what to do, he sat on his bed and brought out his phone. He called his bestfriend; whom advised him to call Ihsan and make her tell their parents that they didn't like the whole marriage thing. Satisfied, he ended the call and began calling Ihsan; whom picked at the fifth ring.

"What is it please? You've disappointed me! How would you just say 'I'll think about it' think about what? My friend, just tell them straightforward," came Ihsan's taunting voice, as it was laced with wrath.

Ya Rabbi! This girl...would be his end. "Respect yourself young lady, why didn't you tell them that? Stop venting your anger on me; I'll not take it," he flared back, he was uncertain himself, don't know what the next step would be.

Ihsan sat up from her lying position, "So you know how to talk like this, but acted like a coward, god forbid. Besides, why did you called me?" She inquired, feeling irritated.

"Go and tell them; they should call off the wedding, please," he slowly whispered, a beseeching tone laced on his voice.

"Ohhh...I'm the disobedient type huh? Why wouldn't you tell them yourself?" 

"Because I.." he trailed off.

"Ohh my God! Because you love me?!" She gasped.

He hissed, rolled his eyes "In your wildest dreams. Go and tell them, I'm so serious about this! But if you make the mistake of letting them hitch the knot, you're so dead!" He enigmatically roared, and ended the call.