Chapter 3

"Babe... please keep the broom, I bought pizza for us..." She approached him but he stopped her. "Don't even dare come near me Amira, I am not in the mood for any of your crap this evening. It's better you silently head upstairs to your room and let me be," he spoke sternly and went back to what he was doing. She furrowed her brows and hissed.

He stared at her retreating back till she disappeared. He hissed also and continued his work. If this was how marriage life is then he would rather remain single for the rest of his days.

He walked over to his car calmly and drove out of the building. He drove in completely silence as he thought of a possible way to console his heart from what he was going through about Amira. He knew he wasn't in love with her right from day one but he thought that feeling would change when they get to know each other more after their wedding and she will prove the love she has been claiming for him. But things weren't going as he thought.

Things were getting worse day by day. He always tried to avoid it from disturbing him but it was avail. He tapped on the steering wheel tiredly and sighed. He parked the car in front of the black ironed gate and stepped out. He received a call earlier from Amira's father that he wanted to see him. He walked directly to his living room. "Salamu alaikum," he muttered as he entered the living room. Daddy looked up and responded to his greetings.

"Muhsin, sorry I called you in such short notice. I am so worried about my friend and the driver is out with Amira and her mom," he muttered. "No problem, daddy. I'm always here to help," he responded politely. "We should get going right? Let me get the car keys." Daddy excused himself and headed to his room.

Muhsin went back outside and drove his car in to the parking space before daddy came back. He waited patiently for his father in law to step out so they could leave. They set the road to Kuje when daddy finally came out. On their way there, daddy kept apologising and consoling him about Amira. He knew clearly how she was and what happens between her and muhsin.

They arrived shortly at the village and daddy directed him to Ja'afaar's house.

He found a good spot and parked the car by the house. Daddy stepped out and sent a boy into the house to announce his arrival. They were ushered in by ja'afaar's brother. "Salamu alaikum," daddy muttered as they entered the house. He met his sick friend lain on the weaved mat. "SubhanAllah, ja'afaar? How are you feeling? Why didn't you tell me you were sick since last week, I could have visited you on that day." He turned his head to Ja'afaar's brother, "please help me carry him, we're taking him to the hospital right now."

He did as he was told and they rushed him to a better hospital in Abuja. He was immediately taken to the A & E for immediate check up. His wife seated beside her daughter as she tried to console her daughter to stop the tears.

Muhsin scanned their faces and shook his head. Their sight really touched his heart. He can't imagine something like that happening to him or anyone. Losing a father is something huge and distressing.

"You should not worry, Dalia. In sha Allah your father will be up on his feet again, your prayers is all he needs," daddy soothed. She looked up at daddy and smiled a little. She wanted to thank him but the words has long disappeared. They waited for about forty five minutes before the doctor finally came out and summoned for daddy only. He didn't know how to start telling his wife about her husband's condition.

Daddy settled down in the doctor's office, ready to here something positive about his dear friend. The doctor sighed, unable to think of a way to start speaking. "Well, alhaji.... Your brother's condition is actually bad. His blood sugar level is so high that it harmed his kidneys...."

"Wait doctor I don't understand what you're saying," daddy cuts him off, perplexed. He could remember the time ja'afaar told him he was diagnosed with diabetes. Over fifteen years now. "Diabetes can harm the kidneys by causing damage to the blood vessels inside your kidneys. The filtering units of the kidneys are filled with tiny blood vessels. Over time, high sugar levels  in the blood can cause these vessels to become narrow and clogged. And for your brother, we noticed that he's not cautious about his drugs or what he eats that it reached to this level."

Daddy was silent for a while. "But is the situation really bad?" Daddy questioned. "His kidneys are damaged. He will be under treatment for two weeks to see how things will go," the doctor explained. "Can we see him now?" Daddy asked. The doctor shook his head, "he is not completely stable yet." He thanked him before heading out.