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Zaliha caught up, running slightly, and said, "Hey, Sopy, why did you leave me behind?" Sopy turned to look at her. “Well, I saw that your only concern was your makeup, even though you know that the precise man who is going to lecture us today is about to start.”
Zaliha replied, "Alright, let's go then. There's still some time left." They sat under a tree before the lecture was scheduled to begin. Zaliha nudged Sopy. “Sopy! Sopy! Look, there is your man!”
Sopy turned around. "Who on earth is my man?" Suddenly, their eyes locked beneath the shared shade of the tree. She quickly averted her gaze when she noticed him heading in their direction.
The people gathered around began greeting him. He approached with an aura of confidence, dressed in a red shirt and black trousers, leaving a strong trail of fragrance behind him. His well-groomed beard sat perfectly on his handsome face. Sopy thought to herself, *"Oh, today he decided to wear casual clothes."* Hearing Zaliha greet him brought her back to her senses, and she greeted him as well. He replied to their greetings politely. Everyone’s eyes were fixed on them.
Seeing this attention, he played it cool to save face and asked the group, "Who among you is Sakina Musa?" Zaliha replied, "Uncle G! Even we don't know her." Sopy didn't say a word. He turned to ask the other students nearby, and they also stated they didn't know her. He turned and walked away, feeling deeply annoyed with himself. *When on earth will this girl understand my intentions? Or does she want me to explicitly declare it with my own mouth?* He let out a small, frustrated sigh. *This girl's aloofness is simply too much.* Yet, love for her had overtaken him rapidly and completely caught him off guard. He closed his large, captivating, green-tinted leaf-like eyes🍃. "Ya Salam," he muttered, letting out a heavy breath.
He returned to his office, sat down, and leaned back against his chair, keeping his eyes closed as if he were asleep. A knock sounded at the door. He didn't even move. It wasn't until the third knock that he asked, “Who is it?”
A sweet, melodious voice replied, "It's me!" He let out a frustrated sigh. "Whoever you are, come in." The door was gently pushed open, and a beautiful, exceptionally fair-skinned girl stepped inside. He said coldly, "Whoever you are, state your business!" With a trembling voice, she said, “Actually, my dad asked me to tell you to come see him for a meeting whenever you find some time.”
He opened his bright eyes, which had grown slightly bloodshot by now, though he remained leaned back in his chair. He looked at her with utter contempt. "Why exactly is he looking for me?" She adjusted her posture. “He just wants to speak with you.”
He nodded slowly. "Then inform him that he should come here to find me, because I do not visit anyone's house. Furthermore, I have an immense amount of work to do. And if this visit is regarding the conversation I already had with you, he shouldn't even bother coming to me. As for you, I am warning you once again to stay out of my way. If you don't, I will continue to humiliate and distress you far beyond what you can imagine." He pointed toward the exit. “You may leave now, I have work to do.”
Her face fell as if she were about to scream. She pleaded, “Please, Uncle G! Please let us just talk so we can understand each other. By Allah, I love you deeply. Please try to love me back. I promise you I will be exactly the kind of woman you want. I swear to you.”
Uncle G raised himself from his leaning position on the chair and fixed his eyes on her. "Bahijja! Just as I told you from the very beginning, I did not come to this university for romance. You are not the first girl to tell me that she loves me, and the answer I gave them is the exact same answer I am giving you now. I strongly advise you to let this go, just as the others have. None of you fit the description of the type of woman I intend to marry. Therefore, I advise you to make peace with this reality. From this day forward, never step into my office again. No one enters my office without a legitimate academic reason, especially women." He pointed at the door. “You may leave.”
She took a deep breath, her eyes filling with tears. "Even if they were able to give up on you, I absolutely can never leave you. You are the first person I have ever loved, and you will be the last. I will inform my father to come here just as you requested, since you refused to go to him." As soon as she finished speaking, she stormed out.
He let out another frustrated sigh, stood up, and muttered, "So you'd rather die loving me then? Because I will never love you." He gathered his books and walked out to conduct his lecture.
He headed toward Sopy's classroom. True to his usual strict routine, he locked latecomers out and proceeded with the lecture immediately. Sopy was seated right at the front. Every single time she looked up, her eyes met Uncle G's. Consequently, she stopped looking in his direction entirely, but she could still feel his intense gaze fixed upon her. Just as he frequently did, he announced that they would be taking a test today.
After they completed the test, he walked around collecting the papers. When he reached Sopy, he waited for a moment when the other students' attention drifted, slipped a folded note underneath her test paper, and collected her script. He gestured with his eyes toward the note he had dropped for her. Without saying a word, she simply picked it up. Once the lecture ended, everyone exited the hall before the next class commenced. Sopy didn't even bother to look at Uncle G's note, as she didn't view it as anything important.
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Things were beginning to fall apart for Fareeda. Abdul had completely changed his behavior toward her and their living arrangement, and she was also facing immense hostility from his mother. Abdul’s mother was an incredibly aggressive and troublesome woman; every single wife in the household lived in absolute terror of her wrath.
Fareeda realized that ever since the doctor confirmed she was pregnant, her troubles with Abdul had escalated. He began distancing himself from her entirely, no longer chatting with her, and he didn't care about sharing the same bed with her anymore. The entire situation was tearing her apart. To make matters worse, he had strictly forbidden her from visiting Aunty Sadiya and had long confiscated her mobile phone.
Today, she sat with her chin resting in her palm, crying. She was experiencing severe pregnancy cravings and desperately wanted some meat, but she knew Abdul would never buy it for her. Her pregnancy came with intense mood swings and cravings. She bit her lip as tears streamed down her cheeks. If life was truly turning its back on her like this, she was completely doomed. She had absolutely no one left to turn to for relief. Her closest friend was now distant—so incredibly far away. She knew that there was no one Sopy despised more than her right now. Stripped of family, friends, and parental support, she burst into hysterical, heartbreaking tears. *As the narrator, I simply sneered at her, because by Allah, I didn't feel a single shred of pity for her. I muttered to myself, "Let me leave her here and check on my friend Sopy to find out what was written in the note Uncle G gave her."*
Sopy was relaxing on her mattress, with a freshly cut plate of watermelon right in front of her. Her mind was completely at ease as she went through her text books. After a while, she opened the notebook where she had kept Uncle G’s note. She unfolded the paper, which immediately released a beautiful, captivating fragrance. She smiled softly and began to read:
> *Assalamu alaikum.*
> *Greetings of peace and blessings. I hope this letter finds you in a calm and relaxed state of mind.*
> *I need to see you in my office tomorrow, by God's grace. Please do not stand me up. My phone number is written below; please call or flash me tonight, as I need to have your number.*
> *Wishing you peace,*
> *Youseef Hussain Ahmad Gurum (Uncle G).*
>
Sopy pouted slightly. *“How bold of him. But you will have to be patient, because I am not going to do either of those things.”* Still, she brought the letter close to her nose, inhaled its premium scent, and closed her eyes deeply. She went back to her studies, though she would occasionally look at the letter and smile.
The next day, she dressed beautifully in a red lace blouse and skirt wrappers, wore her floor-length hijab, picked up her bag, and left. She headed straight to the lecture hall. After the class ended, most of the students filed out, but she remained seated quietly. Once the room became uncomfortably warm, she stood up and walked out. She didn't see her usual sidekick, Zaliha, today. She went to sit at her usual outdoor spot, but instead of studying, she pulled out her phone and began chatting with Uncle Kabeer, a beautiful smile radiating across her face.
Uncle G, who was standing nearby behind a tree, watched her and let out a deep sigh, closing his eyes. This girl was driving him completely insane. By Allah, he had barely been able to sleep the previous night. He had stayed up late waiting for her call, but he eventually drifted off without hearing from her. He knew she had read his letter but chose to completely ignore him, going about her day with an entirely untroubled mind. Meanwhile, she had left him in deep emotional distress. He was profoundly in love with her—a pure affection that made him realize that all the other girls who claimed to love him were entirely superficial. He squeezed his eyes shut and opened them, fixing his gaze on her just as she let out a stunning smile that formed deep dimples on her cheeks, causing him to smile in return.
He spent the entire day waiting anxiously for her to visit his office, but she never showed up. He didn't even have a lecture with her class that day. Every single time someone knocked on his door, his heart leaped, thinking it was her, only to be disappointed. By evening, she still hadn't come. He packed his things and left the campus thoroughly dejected. Sopy had done it intentionally; she ignored him and went straight back to her hostel room by 3:30 PM after her classes, entirely ignoring his existence despite knowing he was waiting for her.
Two full days passed since Uncle G gave Sopy the letter, but she hadn't called or visited him. Even though the thought was constantly on her mind, she suppressed it and pretended she didn't care. Today was Friday, and since he didn't have a lecture with her class and she was preparing to head home for the weekend, she packed her bags and left campus immediately after her final lecture at 11:15 AM. Uncle G hadn't even arrived at the school yet at that time.
When he finally arrived, he scanned the campus desperately trying to catch a glimpse of her, but there was no sign of her or her friend Zaliha. He was too proud to ask anyone about her whereabouts to avoid losing his respect. He had no choice but to let it go until Monday. However, he vowed to himself that come Monday, if she didn't seek him out, he would personally go looking for her. He could no longer hold this consuming love inside his heart without confessing it to her; it had taken over his entire being. He got into his car and drove home.
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Safiyya was now back home enjoying her weekend. Inna was overjoyed to see how much Sopy had transformed; she was much more relaxed, though she was still quite slim and hadn't gained weight. She had stopped overthinking and was focusing entirely on her education. Baba was also incredibly happy to see her in such high spirits.
She went over to greet Fareeda's mother and even assisted her with some household chores. Fareeda’s mother continuously comforted her regarding the betrayal that had occurred. Sopy replied warmly, “By Allah, Mama, it is all in the past for me. Allah had already decreed that Abdul would be Fareeda's husband, so please stop blaming her. We should just view this as a part of our destined path in life.”
Mama sighed, “Hmm, Safiyya, you are truly a remarkably patient soul! By God's grace, you will be blessed with a righteous husband who possesses far better character than Abdullahi. As for my daughter, we have left her to face the consequences of her own choices.”
Sopy pleaded, "No, Mama, please don't say that, for God's sake. By Allah, I still care for Fareeda and I don't want our parents to hold a grudge against her. Please forgive her!" Mama stared at Sopy, her heart swelling with deep affection for the girl's immense patience and maturity. Her own daughter had truly lost a gem by drifting away from Safiyya without learning from her exceptional character. They chatted happily until evening. Sopy also made sure to visit Aunty Nafisa, Aunty Hauwa'u, and Fareeda's elder sister, Aunty Zainab, reassuring them all that the past was completely forgiven.
On Sunday evening, Uncle Kabeer arrived at the house to drive her back to campus. He took her out and bought an abundance of provisions, brand-new clothes, shoes, and hijabs for his favorite niece. When it was time to leave, she shed a few tears saying goodbye to Inna and Baba.
Inside the car, Uncle Kabeer asked her if she had visited Fareeda's house. She replied instantly, "Oh, heaven forbid, Uncle! I will never step into Fareeda's house. If she comes to the neighborhood, I will greet her, but I will never visit her home." Uncle Kabeer smiled. "Is that because of jealousy?" She quickly countered, "Uncle, I will absolutely never be jealous of Fareeda. Back then, I was only heartbroken by her betrayal and her selfishness. But now, I have completely forgiven her. However, things can never go back to how they used to be. Right now, I have no close friends besides Inna, Baba, you, and my aunties." Uncle Kabeer laughed. "Fair enough. May Allah grant you a wonderful husband." Sopy covered her face with her hands in deep shyness.
At that exact moment, they arrived on the university campus. He parked the car and pulled out his phone. "Let me call my friend to come help us carry your bags." Sopy asked curiously, "Uncle, who exactly is this friend of yours? Ever since I started school here, I've never met him." He replied, “You will see him right now.”
Within a few minutes, his friend arrived. Sopy’s attention was entirely fixed on her phone as she chatted. Uncle Kabeer opened the car door, stepped out, and the two friends embraced warmly. Uncle Kabeer teased, "My friend, I thought this university would make you visit me more often, but the reverse is the case. Unless something brings you here officially, you are nowhere to be found." His friend laughed. "Don't worry, you'll be seeing a lot of me now that my 'daughter' is a student here." The friend replied, "That's true. I think it's time I finally meet this daughter of ours." Uncle Kabeer said, “Well, she is right here in the car, I brought her with me!”
The lecturer laughed. "Then let her step out so we can head over to the office. The excitement of seeing you made me forget where we were standing." Uncle Kabeer called out, “Sopy, come out and meet my friend.”
She stepped out of the car enthusiastically, but froze completely when her eyes landed on Uncle Kabeer’s friend. It was none other than Uncle G! He was also staring back at her with an intense, unreadable expression. Uncle Kabeer laughed at their reactions. “Well, it looks like you two already know each other?”
Uncle G smiled smoothly. "Yes, she is my student. So you see, this is entirely your fault for not introducing us properly." Uncle Kabeer apologized, "Alright, forgive me. The day I brought her here, I was in a terrible rush to get to work, by Allah." Sopy summoned her courage and said, "Uncle, good evening." He replied, "How was your weekend?" She murmured, "Alhamdulillah." He looked at her warmly. "Masha Allah." He then took Uncle Kabeer's hand. "My friend, let's head inside to the office." Sopy chimed in, "Uncle, let me quickly take my bags to the hostel room first, then I'll come back so we can talk before you leave." He agreed. "Alright, no problem. Go ahead, but find someone to assist you because these bags look far too heavy for you." She replied, “Okay, Uncle.”
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Sopy called Zaliha and another friend, and they assisted her in carrying the bags to her room. However, her entire mind was completely reeled by the shocking revelation that Uncle G was actually Uncle Kabeer's close friend. She became hesitant to go back out until Uncle Kabeer personally called her phone, instructing her to meet him in the office.
With no other choice, she walked back to the office block. As she gently pushed the office door open and stepped inside, she was greeted by a rich, pleasant fragrance. Uncle Kabeer gestured for her to sit in the chair facing him. He asked, "Are you fully settled in?" She nodded. He adjusted his posture and said, “Masha Allah. Sopy, this is my close friend, Mr. Youseef. We attended this exact university together, but since this is where his career path flourished, he works here now. We have been through thick and thin together; we shared absolutely everything during our student days. If you ever need anything at all, come straight to his office. If any academic topic seems confusing or difficult, come to him and he will break it down for you, because this man right here is an absolute genius.”
Uncle G laughed. "You are still the same exaggerated flatterer, my friend. You haven't changed a bit, have you?" Uncle Kabeer replied, "I am only speaking the absolute truth." He turned back to Sopy. “My friend, this is my most cherished daughter. Just as I told you before, she has an excellent brain for academics, so please help me fill her head with deep knowledge.”
Uncle G shifted from his relaxed position and fixed his eyes directly on Sopy. She quickly averted her gaze. He smiled softly and said, "Don't worry, my friend. I accept the responsibility. She is my daughter as well." Sopy was utterly amazed by his behavior; this was the first time she had ever seen him smile or act so warm and pleasant. Furthermore, every single time she dared to look up, she caught him staring intently at her.
They chatted for a long time before Uncle Kabeer prepared to leave. They both escorted him to his car. After he drove off campus, Uncle G turned to face Sopy. She lowered her head instantly, knowing she was completely guilty of ignoring him. He stepped closer. "You should definitely feel ashamed, because you know very well that you crossed the line." Sopy looked up at him briefly before looking down again. She braced herself and whispered, “What exactly did I do wrong?”
He nodded slowly. "I see. Since you don't view your actions as an offense, so be it." He checked his wristwatch. "I have some urgent work to handle right now, but tomorrow, I will be waiting for you in my office. Do you have a morning lecture?" Sopy murmured, "Yes, I do." He asked, "What time do you finish?" She paused to think. “Twelve o'clock.”
He replied, "Perfect. I will expect you at four o'clock." He turned his gaze toward the few remaining students walking around campus, many of whom were staring at them in curiosity. He shook his head slightly. "Go back to your hostel room now, but do not stand me up this time. If you dare to skip our meeting again, I will walk straight into your classroom in front of everyone to confront you." Her eyes widened in absolute shock😳. He smiled. "Are you surprised? If you think I'm joking, try skipping it and see what happens. I'm listening to your response," he added as he began walking away.
Sopy watched him leave in sheer amazement. *This incredibly classy, prestigious, and highly educated man, whom every single girl and guy in this university de
