The Untainted– Threads of Intention
Morning arrived quietly, but the city was already alive.
Vendors shouted in distant streets. Cars hummed past the university gates. Life moved forward as it always did — unaware of the invisible threads tightening between several hearts.
At Rihannat's house, the sitting room had turned into a small fashion workshop.
Fabric swatches were scattered across the sofa. A tailor stood beside her adjusting the sleeve of a deep emerald dress while Rihannat's mother observed with careful eyes.
"No, the embroidery should be softer," she said thoughtfully. "She's not going to a wedding."
The tailor nodded quickly.
Rihannat stood near the window, her arms folded, watching the process like it belonged to someone else.
Her mother noticed immediately.
"Rihannat."
She turned. "Yes, Mama?"
"You look like someone who is being sentenced, not someone preparing for a family visit.".....you know, to your godparents house.
Rihannat smiled faintly. "I'm just tired."
Her mother studied her longer than usual.
"Mmm."
Mothers rarely believed simple answers.
But she let it pass.
"For the dinner," her mother continued, lifting the dress slightly, "this color will suit you. Elegant. Respectful."
Rihannat nodded.
Elegant.
Respectful.
Appropriate.
All the things she had been raised to be.
Yet something inside her felt unsettled.
At Basit's House
Ridwan tossed a small ball against the wall repeatedly while Basit worked on his laptop.
Thud.
Catch.
Thud.
Catch.
"You're doing that on purpose," Basit muttered without looking up.
Ridwan grinned. "Doing what?"
"Testing my patience."
Ridwan stopped.
"You're nervous."
Basit finally closed the laptop.
"I'm not nervous."
Ridwan raised an eyebrow.
"You've checked your phone twelve times in ten minutes."
Basit leaned back in his chair, rubbing his face.
"This dinner…"
Ridwan waited.
"It feels like a decision point."
Ridwan understood immediately.
"If her family accepts Qazeem's intentions publicly…" Basit continued slowly, "then everything becomes real."
Ridwan sighed.
"And if they don't?"
Basit didn't answer.
Because hope was more dangerous than certainty.
University Campus – Later That Day
Rayyan burst into the cafeteria holding a small paper bag.
"Emergency sugar delivery!" she announced dramatically.
Balkis blinked. "What?"
Rayyan dropped three pastries on the table.
"For stress."
"I'm not stressed," Balkis said too quickly.
Rayyan leaned closer.
"You look like someone hiding a crime."
Balkis froze.
Rihannat laughed softly.
"Leave her alone."
But Balkis could barely hear them.
Her phone vibrated in her bag.
Her heart jumped.
She opened it under the table.
Segun:
Relax. Everything is under control.
Her stomach dropped.
What does that mean?
Her fingers trembled.
Balkis:
You promised you wouldn't do anything.
The typing dots appeared.
Then disappeared.
Then appeared again.
Finally:
Segun:
Trust me.
Balkis nearly felt sick.
Across Town
Bayo leaned against the doorway while Segun arranged something carefully on his desk.
"You enjoy this too much," Bayo said.
Segun smiled faintly.
"Planning is an art."
"What exactly are you planning?"
Segun picked up his phone and checked the time.
"Nothing dramatic."
Bayo snorted.
"You say that like a villain in a movie."
Segun chuckled.
"I'm not a villain."
"Then what are you?"
Segun looked out the window toward the distant skyline.
"Someone correcting a mistake."
Evening – Faridat's Home
Faridat sat on the veranda, watching the sunset fade into orange and violet.
Her tea had gone cold.
Her thoughts kept circling back to Ridwan.
His distance.
His silence.
His eyes that no longer lingered on her.
Her mother stepped outside quietly.
"You've been sitting here for an hour."
Faridat forced a smile.
"I like sunsets."
Her mother sat beside her.
"No," she said gently. "You like thinking."
Faridat looked down.
"I think I'm losing someone I never even had."
Her mother sighed softly.
"Ah."
That single word carried deep understanding.
"Love is sometimes like that," she said.
"It grows in silence." "Wait, are you in love with someone too?!"
"Oh, Ya Allah! You and your brother! Why is it a mess?... tell me the person.
"No mum."
"Its fine. Tell me when you are ready."
Faridat blinked back tears.
"And know that sometimes," her mother continued gently, "Allah removes someone because their path is not meant to join yours."
Faridat nodded slowly.
But her heart still ached.
Night
Balkis couldn't sleep.
Her room felt too small.
Too quiet.
Her phone buzzed again.
Another message.
But this one wasn't from Segun.
It was from an unknown number.
Her chest tightened as she opened it.
Unknown Number:
Make sure Rihannat attends the dinner.
Balkis sat up.
Her pulse thundered.
Who is this?
She typed back quickly.
Balkis:
Who is this?
The reply came instantly.
Unknown Number:
Someone making sure things go according to plan.
Her hands began to shake.
Because suddenly she realized something terrifying.
Segun wasn't the only one involved.
And whatever was coming to that dinner…
was bigger than she imagined.
Meanwhile
Rihannat finished her night prayer.
As she folded her prayer mat, a quiet unease settled in her chest again.
She didn't know why.
She didn't know what.
But something was approaching.
Something unseen.
Something already moving.
And by this weekend…
everything might change.
@OlukoyaZainab