"The second runner-up of the 22nd contest of home of recipe is" the Kenyan male judge said looking up from the plain white sheet of paper he was holding, the three contestant including Nadia who remained from the last stage anxiously awaited whose name would be called, "Aslam Isham from Algeria" he said causing an uproar from the crowd, the third position was given a bronze medal and rose flower before she was asked to stand on the elevated stage,

"the first runner-up is" Another judge said looking between the two remaining contestant who had their eyes shut tightly, "Nadia Suleiman from Nigeria" the crowd screamed and applauded loudly. when the uproar died down a little, "making Priyanka khan from India the winner of this contest" he said causing another wave of screams and praises.

Nadia smiled as she hugged the winner, she ambulated towards the stage to collect her silver medal and rose flower, though Nadia really wanted to emerge the winner, she was still very contented with the second position she ended up with, she lived by the saying that no matter the little someone had, contentment was the most important because if you aren't contented, even if you have the whole world in your palm, it still won't be enough. The winners smiled widely on the stage as the crowd clapped loudly for them.

****

"Congratulations" Abdallah said giving Nadia a one-sided hug when they met outside the building,

"thank you" she said sniffing the red bulky rose flower she held in her hands,

"you're welcome" he smiled at her holding her hands before they walked to the car.

Abdallah drove Nadia to a nearby ice cream stall to celebrate her victory, they alighted from the car and walked towards the stall, they were few small multi coloured canopies arranged in front of the stall with two chairs under each canopy.

Abdallah drew one of the fancy green iron chair for Nadia to seat on, so he could go get the ice cream from inside the stall,

"I'll be back now, what flavour should I get you?" he asked looking deep into her big eyes with a small smile playing on his lips, he placed his two hands on an arm of the chair she was seating on enjoying the proximity,

"uhhm" she squinted her eyes and placed her index finger vertically on the side of her head "I'm having a hard time choosing between strawberry and vanilla" she whined,

"I'll just get you the two then" he said amused by her action, he pulled his hands from the side of the chair before placing it into his trouser pockets,

"thank you" she pouted watching him as he went inside the stall.

****

Nadia checked the thin strap silver wristwatch she was wearing on her left hand, it has been 15 minutes already and Abdallah still isn't back, she wondered why it was taking him that long. She adjusted her plain beige veil properly on her head while she watched as people walked around chattering and smiling with their loved ones, she will surely miss this place when she returns to Nigeria.

Another 5 minutes passed, Abdallah still isn't back, Nadia was about to check for him inside the stall when something caught her eyes. That face, she has seen it before, she can't be mistaken, that was him she was so sure it was him, the man who saved her in the train attack.

He was standing across her making a phone call, he started walking as soon as he finished with the call placing the phone in his pocket, she knew she had to do something, she needed answers to her questions, he told her someone close to her sent him, she needed to know who it was.

She quickly put on her brown flat shoe which was loosely hanging on her feet, so she could follow him as he was walking fast, she followed him behind totally forgetting about Abdallah who she was anticipating his arrival. He was some metres away from her, she fastened her pace slightly raising her long dress. He took a turn to the left which she followed, the turn lead to a silent close end which was devoid of anybody, she reduced her pace when she saw him talking to someone, she wanted to see what was going on, but he was blocking her view with his bulky body.

"Excuse me" she said to bring his attention to her's, the man's back tightened when he heard someone speak behind him, he wasn't expecting to see anyone here at this moment, "excuse me" Nadia said slowing her steps down as she walked towards them, the man shifted his body from the other person revealing his face.

All the blood from Nadia's face drained when she saw him, she didn't know whether she was dreaming or not because how is this possible?, she has never heard of something like this before, but again, her eyes couldn't be deceiving her,

"ya idris?" she asked with her lips trembling, even though she hasn't seen him for the past 8 years, she could still recognize him, but how is he alive?, she knows where his grave is located, she visited him recently, tears fell down Nadia's eyes as she looked at the man covered in beards standing in front of her, "ya idris?" she asked scared of what his answer will be,

"Nadia" he said with tears forming in his eyes which was almost the exact replica of nadia's, he didn't know she'd see him like this, he knew he was bound to show his face to her, but he wanted the mission he has been planning for 8 years to be done, he wanted to make sure she was fully safe before showing up to her,

"ya idris is that really you?" she asked again when she got very close to him,

"yes Nadia, I'm so sorry for leaving you for so long" he said as he embraced her tightly rubbing her back to soothe her, he was supposed to be there for her, but he couldn't for her safety, he hated himself every day for that even if it wasn't his fault, he lightly pulled her away from his embrace looking at her already puffy eyes, he cleaned the tears falling down her cheek with his thumb, "Nadia I'm sorry, but you can't stay here for too long",

"why?, where have you been, how?" she asked with her voice breaking, she needed answers, she's in the dark, she wanted him to shed some light, she watched as he rubbed the crease that formed on his forehead, he has really changed, his cheeks was now fully covered in black thick beards, his eyebrows were full, his long eyelash complemented his big bulgy eyes, he looked more matured now,

"I'm sorry I can't tell you now Nadia" he rubbed his hands on his face, "but I promise I'll tell you soon"

"okay" she said cleaning her eyes with the tip of her veil,"please stay safe and don't leave me for that long again" Nadia said looking at him with pure adoration,

"I promise insha Allah," he said, "and please don't let anyone know about this meeting, including your husband" She nodded embracing him once more though she was surprised he knew her husband,

"has he been watching her?" she thought to herself, she turned to look at the man who once helped her, he was standing watching the emotional sibling reunion, he wished a miracle like that will happen in his life also, she bid them goodbyes before going back to the stall.

Nadia walked down the road relieved like something very heavy has been lifted away from her, she felt happy to know she had at least someone left, but she really wanted to know how he escaped the incident.

She went back to the ice cream stall, not knowing Abdallah had witnessed her meeting with her brother, and he also had a different interpretation of it.

Abdallah wanted to get Nadia a cake with 'congratulations' written on it that was why he took a long time returning, he went to the bakery across the ice cream stall, he wanted to let her know that even though she came second place in the contest, she'll always be his first place, he wanted to surprise her, but he was surprised instead.

He was going to present the surprise he had for her, when he saw someone with the same kind of veil and dress she wore, he stopped in his track when he saw the shoe and her figure, it was definitely her.

He was about to approach her when he saw her hugging another man tightly like her life depended on it, his heart broke into pieces watching that scene, he watched as the man caressed her cheeks lovingly, the cake he was holding fell from his hand scattering into tiny pieces.

He knew giving her a chance was a bad idea. Rage, anger, jealousy, and disappointment filled him, he wanted to make up for the bad times, but she didn't deserve it. He walked back to their seat in the stall with a hardened look and heart, he wasn't going to let her know he had seen her, but he promised to break her like how she has broken the remaining piece of him into smaller bits.

"ohh you're back?" Nadia said when she saw him seating,

"where did you go to?" he asked with an angry expression completely ignoring her question, a part of him hoped she will tell him the truth, and assure him she was all his,

"uhmm I just went to check for you" she said reluctantly biting her lower lip,

Abdallah stood up from his seat towering over her, he stared at her for a short moment trying to communicate his emotions through his eyes, he brushed past her aggressively before walking towards his car,

"what's up with him?" Nadia thought to herself before trailing behind him.

@zinat Abdulkadir ✍️