THE UNTAINTED
Chapter 98 — The One Who Wouldn't Let Go
A week had passed since the incident, yet life had taken such a drastic turn for the girls that it felt as though a whole month had gone by.
Rayyan had been informed about the proposal. She neither accepted nor rejected it. The truth was, she had been in a trance when she left her parents' house that day. Her mind was still trying to catch up with everything that had happened.
Her parents didn't rushed her like before which she give thanks for.
Should she say she doesn't like Seifullah?
No.
Should she marry him?
She doesn't know.
She left the matter somewhere at the corner of her mind, undecided. While Seifullah is praying with all the Qur'an verses he knows for Allah to soften her heart if they were meant to be.
For Balkis, life had become a rollercoaster.
Khalid had been following her around like a leech clinging to her life. He never approached her, never said anything, but somehow, wherever Balkis went, he was there.
It was almost as though he had taken the phrase "wherever you go, I follow" a little too seriously.
All the girls noticed too but said nothing sin e he didn't cross the boundary. He can do whatever he likes. They won't tolerate any nonsense like what he did before. They were ready to use their family influence and power for their friend if possible.
Rihannat and Basit's families had also reached a decision.
They had agreed that the two would get married shortly after their final examinations, before they continued with their studies.
Apparently, they needed grandchildren.
What a childish reason.
But what could they do? They both love eachother, and Islam did not permit them to remain in an uncleared relationship indefinitely. Yes, they were betrothed from young ages but they haven't complete the full process of it. They would have send the Mahr and wed them but the two fathers will not hear the end of it.
Marriage was the rightful path for the mothers who want to celebrate it, and their families had decided it was time.
Rihannat was still unwilling to rush into it, while Basit was secretly the happiest man alive.
Of course, he dared not show it.
Not when his fiancée could unleash her wrath upon him with just one look.
Still, Basit could sense that Rihannat wasn't completely opposed to the idea. Perhaps it simply felt too sudden. Too new.
To him, however, it was a new journey—a new step toward their future together.
And by Allah, he was ready.
Why keep delaying when they both loved and yearn each other? Especially him! He wants her as his wife, to hold her and make thing lawful between them.
Most times, he would feel like holding her hands but he dare not. He can't look at her for too long, if he wants to keep his sanity and sleep well at night.
Not after they have accepted each other. It's time to stop stealing glances. The prophet (PBUH) said marriage is one of the things that should be done on time without delay or dragging.
And then there was Ridwan.
His parents had finally learned about his feelings for the girl they had long since given up the hope of seeing him choose.
They had never imagined that, after all these years of waiting, their son would finally choose her.
What a miracle.
It was almost unbelievable.
Now they understood why their son had recently lost his appetite, turned moody, grumpy and always lost in thought.
His father had teased him mercilessly when he finally confessed.
Faridat family too were happy when they heard. Hopefully they can do the wedding one after the other.
And now the problem is...
Who comes first?
Basit or Ridwan?
Because the both can't wait?
As for Sulaimon Whitney, he hadn't visited Balkis again since that day.
Instead, he had resorted to messages.
Just messages.
No calls.
Every morning, as soon as he woke up, Balkis would receive a message from him. And every evening, just before he went to bed, another message would arrive.
It was almost as though he was reporting his waking and sleeping hours to her.
Balkis would laugh at his jokes and smile at his ridiculous, cute emojis.
But she never replied.
She understood what he was doing.
He was giving her time.
Time to get used to him.
Time to leave her painful past behind.
Time to move forward.
He was slowly trying to make her comfortable again—with him, with the possibility of trusting again, and perhaps most importantly, with the idea of opening her heart to him.
And she could feel his sincerity.
The weekend came quickly, and soon it was time for the girls to return to the hostel and get some much-needed rest after the hard day at school.
They had barely started walking when a car pulled up beside them.
Everyone stopped.
The front window slowly rolled down.
And there he was.
Sulaimon.
He winked at them.
"Ohhh!"
The girls burst into giggles, immediately turning their eyes toward Balkis, who was already blushing.
"Sorry, girls. Impromptu outing. Who's in?"
Sulaimon stepped out of the car and approached them, bending slightly at the waist with an exaggerated royal flourish.
The girls whistled.
The mischievous Folakemi and Faridat immediately winked back at him.
"Are you here for us," Faridat teased, "or for your dearie?"
Rihannat and Rayyan burst into laughter, joined by the new girl in their group—Faridat's friend.
Sulaimon touched his nose and pretended to think deeply.
His eyes, however, betrayed him.
They settled on Balkis.
Balkis wished the earth would simply open up and swallow her.
When she caught him staring, she glared at him.
Sulaimon merely chuckled.
Then he wiggled his tongue at her, completely unfazed by her murderous expression.
"How about I leave the answer till later?" he said innocently. "I don't want to be roasted."
The girls laughed even harder. At his reactions and carefree nature. They could all see how hard he's trying to win their friend so ofcourse they want to help him.
Sulaimon raised his hands in surrender while laughing.
"Please allow me to have a wife. Don't let her run away."
He never actually said her name.
He didn't need to.
Everyone knew exactly who he meant.
If embarrassment had another name, Balkis would have named it after what she was feeling at that moment.
Shameless!
How could he say something like that in front of everyone?
Without another thought, Balkis marched toward him and stomped hard on his shoes.
"Ouch!"
Before she could do anything else, Faridat quickly grabbed her and pulled her away, saving the poor man from further punishment.
Yet even while nursing his injured foot, Sulaimon was still smiling like an idiot.
Balkis shook her head and hurried toward the car.
She was just about to get inside when a firm grip suddenly caught her arm.
She froze.
Slowly, she turned around.
Her heart dropped.
Her nightmare.
What does he want now?
What have I gotten myself into?
Will he ever let me—
Her thoughts were cut short.
Balkis's eyes widened.
Sulaimon was walking toward them from the other side of the car.
And even before he reached them, she could see it.
His eyes were blazing.
But the anger wasn't directed at her.
It was directed at the man holding her hand as though she belonged to him. As if she was his possession.
The playful smile was gone.
The teasing Sulaimon was gone.
What remained was a man whose eyes carried a warning so fierce that the air around them seemed to change.
And for the first time, Balkis wondered—
Is this the real Sulaimon, the boss of Whitney group?!
His body radiating power, dominance and anger.
***
What was Sulaimon going to do? Tell me in the comment section.