BY ZEE ASLAM
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Days passed by, weeks passed by and weeks turned into months. With the chilly winter, the wind was blowing.
It was already dark, moons and stars were covered by clouds and earlier that day, the sky was washed by heavy rain.
Khaleel drove into the royal home and packed his car. Just when he stepped out, the children playing in the compound all diverted their attention to him.
If only they knew what was in his mind, they wouldn’t have all rushed to him. ‘Kai kai kai, he said avoiding them’. They all reversed and went back.
He opened the door to the sitting room and walked in. He smiled warmly as he breathed in the aromatic fragrance of dinner.
He had the intention of only saying ‘Hello’ to them then return home but he couldn’t resist the temptation of the alluring fragrance. When it comes to food, any small gesture could steal his heart.
He had gone directly to didi’s chamber because he knew the king would be busy by that time. He stood by the door for some minutes before walking in.
Didi was just coming out from the kitchen when she bumped into him.
“My son, you are here, have you been here for long, why didn’t you inform me of your arrival”? She bombarded him with questions.
“Didi I just arrived”. He replied furrowing his brows.
“Okay then please take a seat” she said pointing at the seat provided and he sat quietly.
She asked after the family before jumping into a new chapter. Khaleel already know where she was heading to and he wished he hadn’t visited.
“Why have you come to see me alone, I thought we agreed on you introducing someone to me”? She asked and he looked down scratching his head with the car key.
He had totally forgotten about their last discussion. Probably if he had remembered, he wouldn’t be here.
“Ehmm didi, In Sha Allah before this month runs out, I will introduce her to you”.
“Yawwa dan albarka”. Have you seen mai martaba? She asked him.
“No I haven’t, I wanted to see my didi first” he replied smiling at her. Didi is the only one that sees his smile unnecessarily even when he don’t want to.
“Okay come and eat first then you say Hi to him before going” she said and stood up to the kitchen.
She had finished cooking, so she dished out some for him and set it on the dinning table.
“This is a special meal for your father that was why I prepared it myself” she said as she pulled out chair for him to sit.
He sat and devoured the food like his whole life depended on it. After eating, didi continued from where she stopped, reminding him of their discussion but Khaleel smiled it off and left her chambers
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His assumptions were right, the king was actually busy attending to a crucial matter when he opened the curtain and walked in.
Khaleel saukan yaushe, how is everyone at home? Mai martaba asked him.
“I just arrived awhile ago, everyone are all fine”. He replied.
He greeted the elders there and was about going out when he was called back.
“Come sit down, sometimes the youth have better suggestions than us” mai martaba said adjusting his glasses.
Ohhh not again, he dislike anything that had to do with royalty especially this meetings of a thing, he claimed they are all boring to him. But can he actually rejects the king’s enthusiasm.
He came back and sat down quietly. He thought the meeting was going to be boring like he termed it but he was surprised to have picked interest in their discussion.
He admired his uncle so much, he is a king that have his subjects at heart. He is an easy going and kindhearted king. His subjects are always safe around him.
Originally he had been calm even before ascending the throne. His charisma and personality is what they all look up to.
During his stay in the meeting, Khaleel wasn’t even the tiniest bit bored. He enjoyed every bit of the discussion.
Meanwhile as he drove back home, he couldn’t help but think about what he had promised Didi.
Where was he going to get a woman to introduce to her. He have to act fast otherwise he would talk into the depths of the abyss disappointing Didi woefully.
He had made a promise to Didi. On the other hand, his family are on his neck. They always have no issue to discuss with him other than marriage.
When he got home, he took a shower and retired to bed. Some minutes later, he pulled the duvet off his body and went for his phone.
He placed a call to Khalid to seek for an advice on what he had in mind. When the call was picked, he remained dumb, he don’t know how to approach the issue.
Should he trust Khalid with this his silly thoughts or not. However, he later opened up and explained everything in detail.
After listening to him, Khalid started laughing.
“Where did they expect you to get a woman from, didn’t you tell them you are scared of women”? He asked amidst laughter.
“Oh please snap out of this, I never said am scared of women okay, I just don’t get freaked by them at all” he replied.
“Or maybe we should just visit a Mallam, it seems you need ruqiya fa, maybe you have a spirit wife”? Khalid asked again and bursted into another laughter.
Khaleel was beginning to get fed up.
“Okay now let’s be serious” Khalid said and he opened his ears wide to hear what he would gush out.
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“The only choice you have now is to look for someone to do matchmaking for you, probably a woman”. Khalid said.
“Are you stupid, how can I spend the rest of my life with someone I barely know”? Khaleel furiously asked.
“Am sure you did not call me to yell at me, so keep your voice down or I hang up now” Khalid said almost angry.
Khaleel knew he shouldn’t have raised his voice at him. “Man am sorry” he shrugged.
“What about Ramlat your cousin, she is a nice girl ai” Khalid suggested.
“Haba dai how can I stoop so low, haka kawai yarinya ta raina ni, she is Rayhana’s age mate fa” Khaleel said and Khalid couldn’t control his laughter once again.
“You are the one seeing her as a small girl, nowadays you barely know half of what these girls know, so that isn’t an excuse but if you are not interested in her, permit me to shoot my shot” he concluded still laughing.
“I don’t know why you like behaving childish sometimes, stop talking about that girl already and bring out something good from your head” Khaleel lamented.
“Okay okay, I think you should just get your secretary to look for someone for you, she is a nice woman ai and am sure there are women out there like her” Khalid said.
“Even if you will have to just pay the lady to act as your fiancee and then commence a contract marriage, when you get your spec, automatically you breach the contract and go your way”. Khalid added.
“Perfect” Khaleel said and hung up immediately.
