章 97: Marriage Offer
Mason Studied the debris, and the close environment. Don, Maya, Roberto, the pilot, and three other henchmen were there. “Abbass did not die.” Mason said.
“He is alive. We will pick it from here.” Maya moved forward. She had an idea as she always does. What could Mason do without this smart lady? “When did the crash happen?” She asked.
******************************************
It has been three months since Petra started working with Floxy Global services and she was contemplating leaving the place. Why? Jubril would not give her breathing space. He was crazy over her and her love for Justin kept growing even in his absence.
To make matters worse, Jubril reminded her a lot about him and it hurts her the more. At a point, she had to investigate him. She found out that he lived with his parents as he claimed and had two elder sisters who were all married.
The eldest, was living in Saudi Arabia with her husband, while the second daughter lived in Jalingo with her husband too. Jubril was twenty six years old from his certificates.
His blood group and genotype was different from that of Justin. They were not related, their similarities was sheer coincidence. Another drama erupted when Maraah began to threaten her, calling her all sort of names.
She even threatened to get Jubril sacked because her father was the chairman, board of directors. It sounded funny to Petra. “What is the blizzard in a teacup all about?” Petra had said angrily one day.
“What is wrong with you? I am not dating him and he is not dating you so where does the problem lie? How do you fight over a man that says he is not into you? And you are fighting a woman who is not into the man you hope will date you?
Can’t you see that something is wrong with you? You better come to your senses before they think you are going barmy.” Those words hurt Maraah but she sat down to think about it.
Jubril never really gave her a chance, he said they could not be lovers and she still hoped something will come up. Now she felt more relieved that Petra was not interested in him. This pacified her and she relaxed.
Now Petra sat in the little garden at the backyard, her face resting on her knuckles. She was still trying to assure herself she was not dreaming. She was summoned by her father that morning, and he asked her to sit down.
She sat on the edge of the sofa while he dropped the daily newspaper he was reading. “May Allah bless you.” He began. “Ameen.”
“I am so proud of you.” He went on. “And time has shown that you have grown more matured. I used to tell your mum that.”
“Thanks to Justin,” she thought. “You are my only daughter and you know how much I love you. There was a point in time when you must have thought I was thwarting your joy. The time I tried to stop your relationship with that boy.
Now you see the wisdom of the elders. We did not know him, or anything about him. He even jeopardized your life and ours. We nearly got killed. You were too young to understand then…..”
“I will never grow then because I will never understand.” She said in her mind.
“Now you are a fully grown woman, and a graduate.” He continued. “Every parent’s dream is to see their daughter in her marital home. I really want to see you get married before I die.
I want to see your wedding day and you seem not to be thinking about it. Aazim showed a lot of interest and his father spoke to me about it but I made him understand that you seem not to be interested. Aazim was present when I said it.
I told the father how I tried, what happened and Aazim confirmed it. I even allowed you to go and work with him just to give that chance but…you were adamant. I would not force you into marriage if you don’t give me a reason to do that.”
“….if you don’t give me a reason to that?” she marked those words. So there was still a possibility of doing that.
“He was very understanding.” He continued. “And we forgot about Aazim’s proposal. A few weeks ago, some people came to seek permission from me, to allow their son seek for your hand in marriage. I did not mention it to you until I made my investigations.
They are good people and the boy is very responsible. I got back to them that I have given him permission. The rest remains between you two. I will not force him on you but he has my consent.” Petra felt her head banging.
Se was trying to sound calm, like he was given her liberty but she feared his final decision. She was confused. She did not know why she felt Justin was alive. She felt his heart beats, his breath even though it is from afar. She felt he could pop up soon or later and she wanted him to be the first, and the last, if wishes were horses.
“I asked him to come and see you today, I guess he would be around later so please wait for him.” She nodded.
She dared not tell him she was not interested and it would be worse if she told him she was waiting for Justin. She nodded. “Thank you Father. May Allah chose what is best for us.” He did not say Ameen on time. He could not ask why she said that, it was a prayer but…..he sensed something. “Ameen.” He said.
As she got up to go out, he said, “you will chose between him and Aazim. I think whoever you chose or I choose will be the answer to your prayers. We don’t know what is good for us. Allah does. Thank God my daughter understands that.” She said nothing but walked out.
She had gotten the message. She felt like bursting into tears. “Petra.” She heard her mother’s cool voice. She turned to see her standing behind her. “Come to my room now.” She followed her mother to her room.
Immediately she entered, she burst into tears and embraced her mother. It took a few minutes to calm her. “Stop crying and be strong.” She said. “I know what your father told you. I need you to listen to me. Whatever we do, prayers should be our guide.
I understand your plights, and fears. I know how you feel and what you have been going through. I am a woman and I was once a girl. You never opened up to me, thinking I will not understand with you, but a mother knows her daughter.
Remember I was with you when you fell in love with that boy. Allah knows there is no boy I love to have as your husband like him. That is your wish and mine. What is it is not what Allah destined? What if we are all wrong? We don’t know if he is dead or alive.
Even if he is alive, he is nowhere to be found or seen. Remember I spent a lot of money for his search. You know I cried a lot before and after he was shot.
The boy is full of mysteries. We have every reason to be skeptical but my heart felt love and compassion for him. It is over three years now. I want to see you get married.
I am not going to force you, but give the boy that is coming a chance. I did my investigations. If I am to advice you, get married to him because I know you don’t have anyone else in your mind.”
She remembered Jubril. No! Jubril would have only made things worst. He reminded her of Justin and she could never let Justin out of her life. She wiped tears off her eyes.
“I trust your judgement Ummi (mum).” She said. “I have made up my mind. Let him come, I will marry him, whoever he is.” “Do not talk like that.” She said.
“You are making it look or sound as if you are being forced and capitulating to intimidation. I feel you will come to like him.” “Okay, ma.” She said.
“I will go and wait for him.” She got up and left the room. She went into her room and cried for almost an hour. She lay there, thinking of her days with Justin, the best moment of her life, and one she would never forget. After a while, she made up her mind on what to do.
Now she sat in the garden waiting. She could see the gardener doing his job happily. She wore a simple gown and veil. A few minutes later, the message came: he was around.
Her heart sank. She wondered who he was, or what he looked like. Did she even care? Would that change anything? She got up and walked out of the garden, down to the back door and entered the living room where she found him sitting.
Petra was stuck for a while, then moved and the salam mumbled from her mouth. He replied.
“Jubril, you?” She said and sat down. He smiled, looking so elegant in his sky blue brocade. This guy had taste when it came to dressing and he knew it.
“Surprised?” he asked
“How dare you?” Petra said
“Relax, I am not here to…..”
“Wait.” She wove him stopping. “Sarah.” she called.
“Ma’am.” Sarah answered. She was their teenage house help.
“Come with us.” she said to the girl and to Jubril, she said, “come with me.”
She led him back to the garden and asked Sarah to sit afar from them.
“Nice garden.” He commended.” I love gardens.” “It was you all this while?” He nodded.
“I am sorry if I took you by surprise but Petra, I am so much in love with you it drives me crazy. And if what I have done is crazy, please forgive me because it is the effect of my feelings for you.
It has never been like this with me……” “Excuse me, Jubril. I appreciate your feelings for me and do not think that I despise you. You are a good man and deserve something good.”
“And I found not something good…I found the best.” He said.
“I am not the best……for you. I may be the best for someone else but definitely not you. I like you and feel you don’t deserve me.” Petra responded.
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