50~Gimbiya Jamila #5
Goats wandered freely inside.
A few sheep rested beneath the broken veranda.
The smell hit them almost immediately.
Animal waste.
Rotting feed.
Dust.
Amira immediately covered her nose.
"Oh my God..."
She nearly puked. "This place..."
Abdul's playful smile disappeared.
Najib quietly looked at Hanan instead of the house.
He could see the pain in her eyes.
Hanan remained frozen.
She stared at the doorway where her mother used to welcome her home.
The small corner where she and Jamila used to sit after school.
The tiny kitchen where her mother cooked delicious meals for her.
Everything was gone.
Only memories remained.
A tear escaped before she realized it.
Amira gently squeezed her hand.
"Hanan... Let's go. There's nothing left here."
Just as Hanan reluctantly turned away...
Hanan's eyes suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure walking past the abandoned house.
She froze.
Her heart skipped.
"It can't be..."
She whispered staring at the young woman dressed in a long black hijab who was making her way down the road with a basket balanced on her head.
Hanan's heart skipped.
"Murja!" She called, waving enthusiastically.
The young woman halted in her steps and turned around, confusion written across her face.
She scanned the group before her gaze settled on Hanan.
"I'm sorry..." She said cautiously. "Do I know you?"
Hanan smiled, taking a few steps closer.
"It's me."
Murja frowned, studying her face more carefully.
Her eyes wandered over Hanan's elegant abaya, flawless skin and her refined appearance.
She looked nothing like the village girl Murja had grown up with.
Just as she was about to apologize and leave, something about Hanan's smile struck a familiar feeling.
Her eyes widened. "...Habiba?"
Hanan nodded with a bright smile.
"Yes."
"Habiba!" Murja gasped before rushing into her arms.
The two embraced tightly after years apart.
"SubhanAllah!" Murja exclaimed, pulling away to admire her. "Look at you! You've changed completely. I almost didn't recognize you."
Hanan laughed softly. "I've missed you too."
Murja smiled warmly before asking,
"How have you been?"
"I'm doing well, Alhamdulillah. What about you? How is Baba? Is he home?"
The smile on Murja's face slowly faded.
She lowered her gaze. "Allah Sarki... Baba passed away last year."
Hanan froze.
"Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un..."
Her eyes softened with sympathy.
"I'm so sorry, Murja."
"Thank you." Murja sighed.
"He was ill for only a short while before Allah took him back."
Silence settled briefly between them.
Then Murja smiled again.
"So... have you returned for good?"
Hanan shook her head.
"No. I only came back to get married."
Murja gasped. "Masha Allah! That's wonderful news!"
"My wedding is tomorrow, at the palace."
"I would love for you to come."
"I will definitely be there!" Murja beamed.
"I'm so happy for you."
"Thank you." Hanan smiled.
"So... you've already met Gimbiya Jamila?"
"Yes." Hanan replied quietly.
Murja nodded. "I figured." She glanced at the royal guards standing behind them.
"It's obvious from the royal guards accompanying you."
"I'm sure Jamila was overjoyed to see you."
Hanan merely forced a smile.
Murja continued.
"You know... She used to visit your house all the time after you left until it was eventually donated."
Hanan blinked. "Donated?"
"By who?"
"Gimbiya Jamila." Murja replied.
"You know she now has the authority as the future queen."
"So it was decided that your house would become an animal shelter for the community."
She smiled gently.
"The house was given as Sadaqatul Jariyah on behalf of your late parents."
Hanan stood speechless.
She looked toward what used to be her home.
Her heart ached at the sight of it reduced to ruins and occupied by animals.
Yet somehow... Knowing it had become a charity for her parents brought her a strange sense of peace.
"Oh..." She whispered. "Murja, thank you for telling me and I'm really happy to see you again."
"Me too."
Murja smiled warmly.
"I'll see you tomorrow."
"In Sha Allah."
"Bye."
"Bye."
They waved at each other before Murja continued on her way.
The moment she disappeared from sight, Amira folded her arms.
"The audacity."
Everyone turned toward her.
"Why Jamila give away your house without even asking for your permission?"
Abdul shrugged. "I actually think it's better this way."
"The house had been abandoned for years."
"At least now it's serving a good purpose."
"But it was still Hanan's house." Amira frowned. "They should've asked first."
Hanan smiled softly. "As long as the rewards go to my late parents... I'm okay with it."
She glanced ahead.
"Come, there's one last place I want to take you."
"Where?" Amira asked curiously.
"My mom."
She smiled.
"My late mom."
"I want to visit her grave."
Amira's eyes widened.
"Huh? You're kidding... right?"
She laughed nervously.
"Are you scared of graveyards?" Abdul teased.
"Yes, Cutie Patootie." She sighed dramatically.
Hanan and the others couldn't help but laugh at the mention of the pet name.
Then she sighed. "But you enjoy horror movies, don't you?" Hanan chuckled.
"That's different! They're fictional but the graveyard is real." Amina pouted the she shuddered. "And look, the sun is already beginning to set... It's getting late."
"We can't go there now."
Hanan's smile faded slightly. "But... I really want to visit my mom."
"It's been years."
"I don't know when I'll get another chance."
Amira sighed. "You guys can go but I'm sorry, I will be returning to the palace."
"I'll come with you." Abdul immediately took her hand. "Let's go."
Najib stopped them. "Wait."
"Do you even know your way back?"
"We'll ask around." Amira replied.
"I'm sure everyone knows where the palace is." Abdul replied confidently.
Hanan shook her head. "Let the guards escort you back."
"I know this village better than any of you."
Amira smiled. "Don't worry about us, you can keep the guards."
"Bye!"
Before Hanan could argue further, Abdul and Amira had already begun walking away.
That left Hanan and Najib alone with the two royal guards.
Najib smiled. "Let them, come. I want to meet my mother in law."
He reached for her hand.
Hanan quickly pulled it away.
"We can't hold hands, the guards are watching."
"So what?" He grinned mischievously.
"You're my woman."
"I'm your man."
"And I want to hold your hand."
"And Amina isn't here to stop me."
Without waiting for permission, he intertwined their fingers.
Hanan could only laugh.
Together, they walked hand in hand until they reached the village cemetery.
An elderly Malam, the caretaker of the graveyard, looked up as they approached.
"Assalamus alaikum."
"Wa alaikumus salam." He returned the greeting before noticing the royal guards accompanying them. "You are guests from the palace. Welcome."
Hanan smiled politely.
"Yes, Malam. I've come to visit my late mother. I'm Habiba Aliyu... don't you recognize me?"
The old man adjusted his glasses and studied her face for a long moment.
"Wallahi... you look familiar, but I can't remember you."
She smiled softly. "That's alright, Malam."
Holding Najib's hand, she led him deeper into the cemetery.
He chuckled quietly.
"How come nobody recognizes you anymore?"
She sighed with a small smile. "I suppose I've changed too much... even my childhood friend couldn't recognize me."
Najib frowned.
"Which friend?"
Instead of answering, she stopped before a sand covered grave with a name tag.
Maimuna Aliyu.
She squeezed his hand.
"We're here."
Her eyes softened.
"This is my mother's grave."
She slowly knelt.
"Assalamu alaikum, Uma..."
Her voice cracked immediately.
"Your Habibti is here... and I brought your son in law with me."
Najib lowered himself beside her.
"Assalamu alaikum, Uma."
Hanan smiled through the tears gathering in her eyes.
"Mom... do you remember your last wish for me? You kept telling me to return to him..."
She looked at Najib before continuing.
"I did."
A faint laugh escaped her.
"The journey wasn't easy. We lost Little Me... the baby you lovingly named."
Her smile trembled.
"But somehow... Allah used that pain to bring us back together. Tomorrow we're getting married again... this time with hearts that truly love each other."
Najib gently rubbed the back of her hand before speaking.
"Uma... thank you for raising such an incredible woman."
His voice was calm but sincere.
"I promise before Allah that I will spend the rest of my life protecting her, respecting her and loving her. As long as I breathe, she will never feel alone again."
Hanan leaned her head against his shoulder.
"Mom... your daughter isn't lonely anymore."
A peaceful smile spread across her face.
"Allah blessed me with another family."
"I have Grandma who loves me like I came from her womb."
"Amina and Amira became the sisters I never had."
"Abdul became the brother who always protects me and loves me unconditionally."
"Nanny Ann fills my heart and stomach..." She chuckled. "With the same warmth you always gave me."
She intertwined her fingers with Najib's.
"And then there's Najib..."
She smiled at him.
"The man Allah destined for me long before I understood His plans."
Looking back at the grave, she whispered. "I'm truly happy and at peace now Uma... Your Habibti has a family who love her a lot."
"And I pray you're also happy and at peace too."
"In sha Allah... one day we'll reunite again in Jannatul Firdaus."
"Ameen." Najib whispered.
Together they recited a few Qur'anic verses, made du'as for her mother for several minutes.
As they stood up to leave, Najib reached into his pocket and handed the caretaker a thick bundle of cash.