CHAPTER      SIX

At the hospital, she was being attended to by a doctor and some tests were run on Mara. Kelvin and Adele were afraid. This girl must not die! That was trouble! After some time, they were both called into the office. They were going to see the doctor in respect of the lady they had brought.

“Mr. Kelvin, how are you to that lady?” said the doctor.

“That one? She is our friend; a friend to both us. Why do you ask doctor?” said Kelvin.

“Well, that lady in the ward is pregnant!” said the doctor.

“WHAT?” both of them said.

“Yes. She has been confirmed pregnant. Congratulations anyways!” said the doctor.

Adele and Kelvin looked at each other. Shocking! Surprising! Troubled! But the cause for them being troubled was different for both personalities. Adele was thinking about Mara being pregnant for Kelvin. How would they do it? What was going to happen? Would Kelvin take them both as his wives? Were they going to extend their friendship to becoming co – wives? Would Mara agree to abort the pregnancy if they asked her to? Adele was troubled! If that was the cause of being troubled for Adele, then what was it for Kelvin and in what way was it different?

(Somewhere in the compound of the hospital)

“Kelvin, I am troubled. What is going to happen now? What will happen to us? Or are you going to tell Mara to abort he pregnancy? The thought that Mara is pregnant for you is troubling me a lot. What shall we do?” said Adele.

“It troubles me too. I don’t even understand. Mara is pregnant for me? That is impossibe! Mara can never be pregnant for me.” said Kelvin.

“What do you mean?” said Adele.

“Adele, I have never touched Mara. We never did it. I had promised her we would only do it after marriage so she could be assured that I really loved and wanted to marry her.” said Kelvin.

“Oh! So you mean you have never had it with her? You have never touched her?” said Adele.

“Yes. I promised to do that only after marriage and I have been keeping to it. So that girl had been cheating on me? Ahh!” said Kelvin.

Kelvin stormed off! He was going to meet her in the ward. He wanted an explanation! Adele went after him. She was feeling relieved.

Mara was sitting up on the bed all alone in the ward. The funny thing was Mara herself was confused! Baffled! Befuddled! Pregnancy as in how? How come? Mara was bemused! Mara herself sat on the bed as she contemplated on what she had heard about herself which she had no knowledge of. It has been months! After she had parted ways with the last guy before Kelvin, she had not done it! The door opened! Mara looked up as Kelvin walked into the ward. Eye ball to eye ball! The connection clicked. Kelvin was going to confront her. He was going to know who had been rivaling with him. But amazingly, Mara herself could not say.

“Mara, so this is who you are? So you have been cheating on me? You did it to the extent that you got pregnant for another guy. Shameless of you!” said Kelvin.

Mara thought of what to say. How was she going to say it? Would they believe her? It was somewhat heavy for her to say but she eventually said something.

“Kelvin, please believe me. I don’t understand how it happened. I don’t know how this happened. I am myself confused!” said Mara.

“Mara, shut your dirty mouth, you whore! What do you mean? Did the pregnancy fly into your womb? How could it have happened if not that you had slept with a man? So shameless of you!” said Adele.

“Adele, you dare open your stinking mouth to call me shameless? After all what you did? After how shameless you yourself have become?” Mara said to Adele.

“Shush! Don’t you dare talk to my fiancée like that! Shameless whore! Now look here, I am calling it over between us. What am I even saying? It is over already!” said Kelvin.

“Then get out of here!” Mara said defiantly.

Kelvin and Adele got shocked! Who had just spoken and what had she just said?

“Yes! Get out of here! I am also no more in need of you. In fact, I never wanted you. Look at you! Talking to me in that manner? Were you not the same one that knelt down for me to give you my love? Were you not the one that would talk like you were going to cry when you were asking me to give you my love? Because I gave you the chance, you are now feeling like a man!” Mara said.

“Oh! Mara, so this is who you are? Anyways, it is over! It is over!” said Kelvin.

“Then get out! You think I am going to beg you? Who are you? You are out of my life. Get out now before I call someone on you. Bunch of idiots!” said Mara.

“Shameless woman! Shame!” Adele said as she clapped her hands at her face.

“You too shameless! You were so lucky this your toy was there that day that I got my hands on you. I would have finished you. Betrayer! Get out! Both of you get out now!” said Mara.

“Honey, leave her! Let us leave!” said Kelvin.

Kelvin and Adele left the ward. Soon after they had left, Mara burst out crying. Even if she had spoken defiantly at both of them and acted like she felt no pain because Kelvin chose to break up with her, she could not hide from the reality. Mara was pregnant and she did not know how or who did it!

Mara was eventually discharged from the hospital. Mara went home. Who got her pregnant? What was she going to do about the pregnancy? Mara thought and thought. Who could it be? And AH! Mara remembered something! Someone had been in her house sometime ago!

(Flashback) (It was at Mara’s house. You remember that Jimmy had called declaring he wanted to visit Mara? He eventually made it. Mara and Jimmy were now in the house)

Mara and Jimmy laughed. They had been chatting and drinking juice. Afterwards, Mara yawned!

“Hmm. This your yawning, is it because you are hungry or you are feeling sleepy?” said Jimmy.

“I don’t think I am hungry. Looks like I feel sleepy.” said Mara.

“Oh! Then let me go and leave you so you can rest. We have had such a nice time and I loved it. Thank you very much for giving me a chance at an experience like this.” said Jimmy.

“Oh. It is my pleasure. You are also fun to be with.” said Mara.

“Oh! Thank you! So am leaving now.” said Jimmy.

“Okay! (She yawned again) Let me see you off.” said Mara.

Jimmy stood and headed towards the door. Mara followed! Mara had somewhat lost firmness. She was feeling sleepy. Mara was walking behind Jimmy to the door when she suddenly fell to the floor. She lost balance. Jimmy looked behind him to see Mara on the floor. He went to attend to her.

“Mara, are you alright.” said Jimmy.

“Erm.. I… I feel sleepy (she yawned)”

“Let me help you to that couch so you can sleep on it.” said Jimmy.

“Oh! Thanks.” said Mara.

Jimmy helped Mara to lie on the couch. Then he went towards the door. Standing by the door, Jimmy bade good bye to Mara. Mara responded. And right in Mara’s sight, even in her drowsiness, Jimmy got out of the room. To Mara, Jimmy was gone. Shortly after Mara slept off.

(Flashback ends)

Wait! Could it be? Could it be what Mara was thinking? Mara was curious. How was she going to find out? Mara decided she would go visit Jimmy at home. She knew his house already. And off she went!

(At Jimmy’s place)

Mara was off to Jimmy’s house and she arrived the compound. Jimmy’s apartment was at the ground floor. Mara had not visited Jimmy before. She could see a door and she could see a window. Mara moved closer to the apartment. Mara knocked on the door. Afterwards, the door opened. Jimmy was home!

“Oh! Mara, this is a surprise visit. I am so excited with what I am seeing. You are welcome. Please come in.” said Jimmy.

“Thank you!” Mara said and walked into the house. Jimmy offered Mara a seat but Mara declined.

“Why don’t you want to sit down? Come on, please feel at home. Have your seat.” said Jimmy.

“No. Don’t bother. I have actually come here to discuss something with you.” said Mara.

“And you won’t have your seat?” asked Jimmy.

“Jimmy, I am fine standing. Don’t bother.” said Mara.

“Okay, if you insist. So what have you come to discuss with me?” said Jimmy. He went to sit on one of the couches in the house.

“Jimmy, I am pregnant!” said Mara.

“Really? So who got you pregnant?” asked Jimmy.

Mara had devised a plan on how she would engage Jimmy so she could get the truth from him if he was the one who did it. She used a trick.

“What do you mean who got me pregnant? Of course, you are the one who did it.” said Mara. Mara looked straight into Jimmy’s eyes anticipating what he would say. Jimmy was somewhat shocked. Mara was pregnant for him?

“Mara, I don’t get you. What do you mean you got pregnant for me? But we are not dating yet. We are only friends, remember?” said Jimmy.

“Yes, I know. But what you did to me that day, this is the result. I have become pregnant.” said Mara and she looked him straight in his eyes. Jimmy stared back. He was feeling uneasy. He felt trapped! He felt like he had been caught! What would he say next?

“So… So, you mean… you mean you are aware of what I did to you that day?” said Jimmy.

Mara got her answer! Her search was over! It was Jimmy! She thought as much. Mara felt something in heart. She felt heart- softened. She was moved to tears. Mara looked straight at Jimmy’s face as tears began rolling down her cheeks.

“So, you mean you are actually the one who did it? You are the one who got me pregnant?” said Mara.

Jimmy thought he had been trapped. Was he going to go back on his words and say no? Was he going to say he was joking?

“Yes, I did it. Mara, I am very sorry for that. I am really in love with you and I am moved when I see you. I really want to have that experience with you but you were not giving in. So I had to grab the chance when I saw it to satisfy my urges. I am sorry.” said Jimmy.

“Wait Jimmy! How did you even do it? How did you have your way?” Mara said in her tears.

“Drug! I had drugged your drink when you left me in the living room the day and went inside. After I had left that day, I did not really leave. I was around. I came back peeping at you from your window and I saw you were asleep. I then walked into the house and checked on you and I saw that the drug had worked on you. So I did it. I am sorry Mara.” said Jimmy.

Mara bowed and held her head as she cried. But did Jimmy know what Mara had done to her father? Perhaps, if he knew, he would not have done that. Mara had gotten angry!

“Mara, I am really sorry. Please forgive me.”

“Arrrggggh!” Mara yelled. Jimmy was shocked.

“Arrggggh!” She yelled again. Jimmy was there in his shock seeing her yelling like that. She looked fierce.

“Arrrggh! Jimmy, you are going to die!” Mara yelled at him.

Mara grabbed her bag and brought it out. Yes! She was with it. All the way from home! Mara rushed towards Jimmy who was already afraid at the sight of the knife.

“Haa! Mara, please don’t do this. Don’t do… Haaa! Haaa! Haa!”

Mara stabbed Jimmy repeatedly. Afterwards, she withdrew from the business when she sensed something about Jimmy. He was no more speaking! Mara examined Jimmy. She realized the reality! For the second time in her life, Mara had killed someone!

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The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “No man should be alone with a woman unless there is a mahram with them.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (1862) and Muslim (1341).

The Prophet of Islam (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “No man is alone with a

woman but the Shaytaan will be the third one present.”

****************

Mara was taken by panic at the realization that she had murdered Jimmy. What was she going to do? Mara grabbed her bag and ran out of the house. Ran out of Jimmy’s apartment, out of the compound and out to the road. And…

JAM!!!

(Noise in the neighborhood)

“Haa! Someone has been knocked down!” someone said.

“Someone should call for an ambulance!” another said.

“Let us take her to the hospital.” Another said.

“Is she still breathing? Is she dead?” said another person.

“Yes, someone should check on her if she is still breathing.” Another said.

“Haa! She is dead! Hey look, you have killed someone. You have killed someone.” Someone said.

“Hey, come and carry your dead meat. You have killed her. Carry her!” said someone.

“Yes! Carry your meat oo.” said someone.

“Haa. It was unintentional. This is an accident.” said the driver of the vehicle.

Mara had ran into a moving vehicle. She had been knocked down. Blood flowed from her nostrils and mouth as she lay on the ground. And eventually, the end came for Mara. Mara died!

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{Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer - We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do.} [16:97].

{And whoever turns away from My remembrance - indeed, he will have a depressed life} [TaHa 20:124].

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However, whatever of Islamic rulings, fatwas and texts that were provided above does not justify that getting engaged or becoming a fiancé or fiancée to someone like the way it had

happened between the characters above is right. Rather, Islam has its own rulings that govern how a man can get engaged to a woman. There are guidelines laid down by Islam on how a

marriage can take place between a man and a woman. And this applies to whatever is there in the story that is against the rulings of Islam. The above story was only used to set an example to illustrate the teachings that have been given above.

And Allaah is the Source of strength. May Allaah bless our Prophet

Muhammad.

THE END

PRAISE BE TO ALLAAH, THE LORD OF THE WORLDS. THE ONE AND THE ONLY ONE WHO IS WORTHY OF WORSHIP. THE ALMIGHTY, THE GREATEST.

MAY PEACE AND BLESSINGS OF ALLAAH BE UPON THE NOBLEST OF

MANKIND, THE SEAL AND BEST OF ALL PROPHETS, THE GREATEST OF ALL HUMANS THAT HAVE EVER AND WILL EVER SET FOOT ON THIS EARTH, PROPHET MUHAMMAD.

INDEED, THERE ARE TWO THINGS WHICH IF A HUMAN BEING FOLLOWS AND HOLDS ON TO THEM, HE WILL NEVER BE LED ASTRAY.

INDEED, THEY ARE THE QURAN (WORD OF ALLAAH) AND THE

SUNNAH OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD (PEACE AND BLESSINGS OF

ALLAAH BE UPON HIM)