The sound of the violin playing drowned out what Teema was saying, so I pulled her hand and we left the living room. I asked, “Where’s the makeup kit I told you to bring me?”

“Ummi said to come back and call you.”

“Is she okay?”

“She didn’t tell me, but I think Baba Abu is waiting for you — you two are going somewhere.”

“Somewhere?” I repeated in my head. She only said she didn’t know why I was being called, but I didn’t hear anything about going out somewhere with Baba Abu, so I forced a smile and said, “Go back and bring my hijab.”

She went back — she’s about five years younger than me and very sensible and obedient, like all the children in our home. I put on my hijab down to my feet and wrapped the niqab on, and we headed home. I asked her, “Is the house full of people?”

She nodded. “Even some people from Maiduguri have come. By the way, how did you like the perfume spray Yadikko brought you? It’s really nice — please put it away after you use it. When I get married, give it to me.”

I only smiled without saying anything. Was she already planning her wedding? By the time we reached home she kept insisting that I shouldn’t cancel the marriage; I followed her because our house is very near and we arrived quickly.

In my father’s living room I found only Ummi packing my things because some girls from the neighborhood were going out in a group. I sat near her and smiled — honestly there is nothing I love more than my mother.

“Hello, Mom, Ummi, Umma, Mami, sweetheart, dearie…”

“That’s enough of that,” she said, throwing me a playful look — she knows when I’m happy I call her all kinds of sweet names.

I smiled. “Okay then.”

She didn’t look up. “Call him tonight — you and Baba Abu will go get your test because you know the wedding will be at 11 a.m.”

“Test?”

“Yes, you know they don’t perform a marriage without it, right?”

I nodded, but my mood changed — truly that word made me upset. Even hearing that the marriage might be cancelled because of it was painful. I looked at her calmly and said, “Ummi, what if my genotype is AS and his is AS too?”

“Then cancel it,” she said directly without looking at me.

My face fell badly. Not because she was my mother — what I would say to her wouldn’t please her — but quietly I said, “Cancel it? You said the wedding is tomorrow? Ummi, this feels like interfering with God’s will. People get married without these tests and they live their lives. Are they worse off?”

She turned to me. I have a very good relationship with my mother; I’m not shy about anything or hiding anything from her. She knows very well that I want to marry. Calmly she said, “That’s why I told you many times to go get your test, but you refused. This isn’t interference, Nafisa. I know you’re sensible and you’ll understand what I mean.”

I said nothing. I got up and left her, but deep inside I felt I couldn’t give up on Sufyan. I love him as he loves me. In fact, Sufyan has all the qualities I need in a husband, and I also have the qualities he wants. I am twenty-seven and I’ve never been married — and now to be told to cancel after waiting so long for this day? What would people say?

I flopped onto my clean bed and rubbed my hands over my face, knowing for sure I’m AS and that he’s AS too, because when Umma used to take us for that test we kept it secret so nobody would cause us trouble. And now they want to bring that up just as we are about to fulfil our dream.

I picked up my phone and dialed him. It finished ringing and he answered in a soft voice, “Assalamu alaikum, my other half.”

“Who is your other half?” I asked with playful jealousy — whenever he says that I always ask.

He always replies the same, “You’re the one I’ll share the babies with.” He never changes that.

I smiled and said, “How are you?”

“Alhamdulillah, fine.”

“And the helper?” I asked cheerfully.

“She’s with us. Right now we’re going to do the decoration for the wedding venue,” he said calmly — the kind of composure that made me trust him.

“Hmm.”

“And you?” he asked.

I softened my voice. “Habibi, do you love me?”

“Are you asking? Do you doubt the love I have for you?”

I shook my head. “I’m not doubting — just tell me again. You know I never tire of hearing ‘I love you’ from you.” I finished the sentence playfully.

“I love you more than love.”

I closed my eyes and nodded slowly, then said, “And you promise you’ll stay with me in every situation?”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

“No — I just want you to say it again.”

“Wait, why all these words, Nafee? Go straight to the point.”

“About that genotype… I’m afraid it will separate us, Sufyan. I swear I can’t live without you, you know…”

He cut me off. “Stop, please. Could you ever leave me, Nafee?”

“No.”

“Then what are these words? I don’t think there’s anything that can break our relationship — not genotype, nothing. I would marry you even if you had HIV. People in the past married like that and lived normal lives. Don’t bring me pain.”

Softly I said, “Sorry.”

“Okay, my queen of apologies, I love you. Did they bring your drinks already?” He changed the subject.

I nodded as if he could see me. “Hmm.”

“Okay, what would you like?” he asked.

I said quietly, “Nothing, everything’s fine.”

“Thanks be to God,” he said.

I hesitated then said, “Ummi told me to tell you — after Maghrib you should come; we will go for the test.”

“May God grant us safety and life,” he replied.

I didn’t know what moved him to say that; he said it with conviction even though he knows both of us are AS and that it would be very difficult to get married without doing anything about it. I sighed and bit my lower lip — God knows I felt cold inside — but the courage I felt from Sufyan made me determined to fight to keep him.

We talked for a long time before I hung up. I pondered with my eyes closed, thinking intently, when Fannata knocked and pushed the door open asking, “Why don’t you come lie down? People are waiting for you.”

I rolled over, sat up, and rubbed my face. Softly I asked, “Did they bring snacks?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, please go on, I’ll be there soon.”

Just as she turned to go I called her back, “Fannata! I don’t like the way you left. She’s my childhood friend — from nursery to university we were together, so whenever I need advice I consult her.”

“Yes?”

“Please come and listen,” I said softly.

She came back and sat beside me, facing me.

Quietly I asked, “How did you feel the day your wedding was cancelled?”

With a sigh she said, “Will your wedding be cancelled, Nafee?”

I shook my head. “No, I just want to know.”

She pressed her chest and said, “By God, my chest fell. Tell me, please.”

Her eyes filled with tears. She took my hand in hers and said, “What can I tell you after you know the anguish I went through, Nafee? I cried, as if my soul would leave me because of the pain. And you know what upset me most after that? People started saying I was a loose woman and that’s why the groom cancelled on the wedding day. You know when a woman’s wedding is cancelled, they don’t even investigate the cause; they brand her with blame.”

She spoke the truth. After her broken engagement many of our friends gossiped and said hurtful things: some said she was promiscuous, some said she had HIV, some said she was pregnant — none of which was true. The real reason was genotype: he was AS and she was SS, so the marriage was called off.

She interrupted my thoughts, “Do you know your genotype?”

I nodded. “I’m AS.”

“And Sufyan?”

“He is too.”

She breathed out in relief. “Then it’s easy. You two could have children who are AA, AS, or SS. But please don’t let them cancel your marriage for that. Otherwise people will smear you with black paint. And you two love each other more than we do — God forbid you give up. I’m telling you this because after my wedding was cancelled, how many years passed and not a single suitor came near me. Please don’t let this happen, Nafee. Keep faith; this is in God’s hands, and you both know how to keep each other healthy so sickle cell won’t be a problem.”

She spoke honestly. Even without people’s gossip, our love for each other wouldn’t fade. So I asked, “How?”

“You’ll just cross — the first child might be AA, the second SS — you might lose one before birth, the third AS, the fourth AS — that would be enough for life. But truly, don’t agree to cancel. You’ve waited so long for this man, and God chose a good man for you who loves you and cares for you. If you lose him you’ll regret it. I myself regret not getting married. ”