The Twins 2,
Chapter One – The Journey Begins
The morning air was crisp and cool as Zara sat beside Lukman in the car, her head resting against the seat, fingers playing idly with the edge of her veil. The road stretched ahead, but her mind was elsewhere, a sense of unease settling in her chest.
Lukman glanced at her, concern etching his features. "Zara, are you okay?" he asked, placing his hand gently over hers.
She remained silent, lost in her thoughts. After a moment, Lukman tried again, his voice tinged with worry. "Zara, what's on your mind? Are you with me?"
Startled from her reverie, she apologized softly, "Oh, sorry. I'm okay." She urged him to focus on the road, hoping to mask her disquiet.
Lukman nodded, turning his attention back to driving. Yet, the silence between them grew heavy, filled with unspoken concerns.
Suddenly, Zara's eyes widened in horror. "Lukman!" she gasped.
Bright headlights bore down on them, too close, too fast. A truck was veering into their lane.
Lukman reacted instinctively, yanking the wheel to the side. The car swerved violently as the truck's horn blared, the deafening crash of metal on metal filling the air. Glass shattered, the world spun, and then—darkness.
---
Zara's eyes flew open, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Her heart pounded against her ribcage as she struggled to orient herself. The familiar surroundings of their bedroom slowly came into focus, the soft glow of the morning sun filtering through the curtains.
Beside her, Lukman stirred, his eyes opening to find her distressed.
"Zara, are you okay?" he asked, his hand rubbing soothing circles on her back.
She struggled to steady her breathing, the remnants of the nightmare clinging to her. Unable to speak, she simply nodded, though her racing heart betrayed her.
Lukman rose quietly and poured a glass of water, offering it to Zara with a concerned expression. She accepted the glass but set it aside, her mind elsewhere. Without a word, she left the room and headed to the bathroom, where Lukman knew she would perform ablution—a ritual she adhered to whenever plagued by nightmares.
These unsettling dreams had become alarmingly frequent over the past week, disrupting the tranquility they had worked so hard to rebuild in their marriage. Two months had passed since their reconciliation, a period marked by renewed affection and understanding. Yet, as night fell, Zara's recurring nightmares cast a shadow over their days, leaving Lukman feeling helpless and anxious.
Emerging from the bathroom, Zara appeared composed but weary. Lukman approached her gently, taking her hands into his.
"Zara, I know you don't want to do this, but I think it's time you tell me what your nightmares are all about," he urged softly.
She shook her head firmly, avoiding his gaze. "No, I can't, Lukman. Please, let's just pray," she replied.
"Fine, Zara. We will get through this," he said, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead before releasing her hands. Together, he performed ablution and they stood side by side in prayer, seeking solace and protection from the unseen fears that haunted their nights.
___
Would you also like me to pack this?" Lukman asked, holding up one of Zara's dresses.
She nodded eagerly, flashing him the radiant smile that never failed to lift his spirits.
By morning, around 9 a.m., Zara was seated on the bed in a white T-shirt and blue jeans, her red gown folded neatly beside her. She would change into it once it was time to leave for Kaduna. Lukman busied himself packing both his clothes and hers, occasionally glancing at Zara with admiration. They chatted as he folded, teasing and laughing, while he asked her which outfits she wanted to take along. Seeing her like this—relaxed and happy—was exactly what he wanted.
The trip was for a special occasion. Zara's best friend, Safina, was finally getting married. The announcement had come suddenly, just three weeks ago. Safina had called their close-knit group—herself, Safiyya, Safeera, Zainab, and Zara—excitedly revealing that her wedding was set with a family friend she had met less than a week before. Everyone had been overjoyed for her.
Originally, the wedding was supposed to be in Abuja, but plans had changed, and it was now set to take place at Safina's family house in Kaduna. Today was Friday, and they planned a two-day trip—leaving by 1 p.m. The wedding and its events would all take place on Saturday, and by Sunday morning, they would return home.
At first, Zara had planned to go alone. But for the past week, Lukman had been insisting they travel together, especially considering the nightmares she had been having. She had finally agreed last night, though no one else knew yet.
"So, Lukman, I wanted to ask you something," Zara said, resting her chin on her palm.
"Uh-hmm, go ahead, Mrs. Zara," Lukman replied, turning to her with a curious gaze.
She hesitated for a moment before speaking. "How was your life without me? I mean, all those years before we met again and got married... How did you live? Did you stay in this house alone, or with someone?"
Lukman paused for a second before turning back to continue packing his clothes. "Why are you asking me this all of a sudden?" he asked.
Zara shrugged. "Nothing serious, I was just curious. I realized I don't know much about your life before we got married. And apart from my family, I've never really seen you with anyone," she admitted.
Lukman was her cousin—her mother's younger sister's son. But unlike her, who had Zainab and her brothers, Lukman had lost both parents at an early age. She wondered what his life had been like without a family around him.
"There's nothing much to tell, Zara," Lukman finally said. "I never lived in this house until after we got married. Before that, I lived with Afra until she got married. After that, my life revolved around work. On weekends, I would either visit some distant relatives or bury myself in work."
"Then why did you say you can't stay away from me for two days? There was a time we lived in the same house, yet you barely looked at me or showed any interest," Zara said, her face holding an annoyed expression.
Lukman turned to her, his gaze intense. Zara immediately covered her face shyly. "Please stop looking at me like that," she complained, making him look away.
"Zara, why do you always remind me of the past?" Lukman sighed. "And who told you I was never interested in you?" He moved closer to her. "Zara, do you see these beautiful eyes? This mesmerizing, innocent face? I couldn't look at you for too long before…" He paused, looking away for a brief moment before continuing. "Unlike before, now I know you. I've spent time with you. I know what I like, Zara. It would be difficult for me to spend even two days away from you."
Zara swallowed, her heart swelling with emotion. Me too, Lukman… she thought, but she didn't say it aloud.
These days, they were living their best life—love upon love, showering each other with affection. They couldn't seem to get enough of one another. Lukman was trying his best not to make the same mistakes as before, and since their reconciliation, Zara couldn't help but feel that it was only now she truly experienced marriage.
But the nightmares… they troubled her deeply. No matter how much she tried to push the thoughts away, she couldn't ignore the fear creeping into her heart. She had been praying hard about it, leaving her affairs to Allah.
She hesitated before speaking again. "Lukman… imagine if we go to the wedding, and I never return. How long would it take you to replace me?"
The cream bottle Lukman had been holding slipped from his hands, landing on the floor with a soft thud. His eyes locked onto Zara, filled with a mixture of shock and disbelief.
Lukman stared at Zara, his expression unreadable. For a moment, the only sound in the room was the soft thud of the fallen cream bottle against the floor.
"Zara," he called, his voice quieter than before, matching her tone. "Why would you say something like that? Are you okay? Is something bothering you?"
Does this woman want to give me a heart attack? Lukman thought, his chest tightening with worry. He sat down beside her, his eyes scanning her face for any sign of what she was truly feeling.
Zara averted her gaze, fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve. "I don't know… I was just wondering."
"Wondering?" Lukman exhaled sharply, running a hand over his face. "Zara, I don't even want to imagine a life without you, let alone think about replacing you." His voice was firm, yet laced with emotion.
Zara smiled lightly, trying to ease the tension. "I was just teasing, Lukman. You're too serious sometimes."
Lukman shook his head. "This isn't something to joke about, Zara." He reached for her hand, holding it gently. "You're my everything. There is no replacing you. Ever."
Zara's smile faded slightly. "Really? You know, men who say things like this—who promise their wives the world—are often the first to do the opposite. They always break their promises."
Lukman quickly rose to his feet, his mind racing. He had no idea where this conversation was coming from, but he was sure it had something to do with their journey. Or maybe… her nightmares. That had to be it. Otherwise, why would she ask him something like this? Why would she say something so absurd?
"You know what, Zara? We're not going anywhere," Lukman said abruptly, turning to leave the room.
Zara's eyes widened as she rushed after him. "No, please, I'm sorry, Lukman. Please, I want to go. It's my best friend's wedding." She clung to his arm, pleading.
"No, Zara, you're not in the right mindset to go anywhere," Lukman told her firmly.
"No, Lukman, I can't miss her marriage, please," Zara pleaded.
Lukman sighed, studying her face. "Then you won't talk like this to me again. You scared me, Zara."
She quickly nodded.
"May Allah ease your affairs, my Zara," Lukman said, pressing a gentle kiss to her knuckles.
They returned to their packing, with Lukman finishing up the last remaining clothes. This time, it was Zara who initiated most of the conversation, sensing Lukman's shifted mood.
Zara picked up a picture beside some neatly folded clothes. She traced the edges with her fingers, her voice barely above a whisper.
"This woman is beautiful… she looks like you."
Lukman, already knowing who she meant, came to sit beside her. "Who?"
"Afra," Zara replied, glancing at him. She knew how much his sister meant to him, hoping the mention of her might lighten his mood.
Lukman smiled softly. "Do you think we look alike?"
Zara studied the picture, then him. "A little…"
"Who do you think looks better?" he pressed, turning to her with playful curiosity.
Zara stiffened. Her heart pounded as she looked at the picture again, avoiding his gaze.
You, Zara thought; she hadn't seen anyone who looked better than her Lukman yet, she thought to herself.
"Why are you asking me that?" she muttered.
Lukman chuckled. "Because I want to know what you think."
Zara quickly stood. "We should hurry. I'll go cook."
"Zara, wait—"
But she was already halfway to the door. Lukman sighed, shaking his head. He knew she was shy, always running from moments like these. With a smirk, he wore his slippers.
"I'm coming too."
Zara turned back, wide-eyed. "No, stay. And finish packing the clothes. We'll be late."
Lukman simply grinned. "Too late. You're not escaping that easily."
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