Inside the club it was like dancing on the northern lights. Beneath the dry ice smoke swirled an array blues, acid greens, hot pinks and gold. The music played over the dance floor as if it had fused with the bodies. The sight of the dance floor brought a frisson of joy to her soul.

Forgetting what he did, she joined her friends at the bar to have a quick chat before heading to the dance floor. And doing what she does best.

“Oouu, look at you… You look so pretty! Happy birthday!” Hidayah enfolded her friend in a warm embrace. She broke the hug as she spoke. “I’m so sorry I didn’t bring anything for you. Adam was a little bit cranky so we couldn’t stop to get anything.” Hidayah finished speaking as she looked around to see where he was.

“Oh, c’mon it’s okay. You being here is more than enough. Although, you have to keep an eye on your boyfriend.” She pointed at him with the champagne flute she was holding. Hidayah turned to the direction she showed her. She narrowed her eyes, walking towards him.

Not looking at the lady he was talking to, she stood before him. “Can we talk? In private.” She spoke, irritated, still not sparing a glance at the lady behind her.

“What?” He grunted after she pulled him aside.

“We are here just a few minutes but you’re already chasing other girls. What is wrong with you?” She whisper-yelled. She was already angry before he responded.

He rubbed the space between his eyes and sighed. “Look, she was my course mate back in the university. So I knew her before I knew you, and you obviously don’t have the right to tell me what to do here.” He shoved her aside but she briskly held his hand before he could walk away. He had done enough damage for the night.

“Let’s dance.” She spoke, insisting. Despite the fact that his words pained her, she swallowed the hot ball of anger and led them to the dance floor. She wrapped her arms around his neck, closing the gap between them. He smiled, looping his hands around her waist.

Her lips found his in a tender, yearning kiss. He holds her tight against his chest, deepening the kiss into a fervent embrace. Hidayah moved away after brisk seconds and stared at him as he smiled at her.

“This is what I wanted, and you knew but you chose to play hard to get, huh?” She chuckled softly and shook her head. Disappointed, she felt. This was the only way she could see him smiling or actually saying something positive to her.

“No, I was just waiting for the right moment, which I finally got.” She spoke softly and rubbed their noses together. Adam sighed, slowly lowering his hands down to her butt. She grimaced, notwithstanding the fact that she didn’t allow him to see her facial expression. Another thing she hated about Adam’s behavior; touching her.

“I want more, but… not here, not this place.” He whispered in her ear and planted a kiss there.

Hidayah cleared her throat, holding his hand before he could attempt to do anything imbecilic. She shook her head sideways.

“Why does it always have to be like this with you?” She asked softly, afraid he would get offended by her innocent question.

He breathed out, already getting irked. He slowly freed himself from her body and stepped out of the club. How can her harmless words get him pissed off so easily?

Without hesitation, she followed him, calling his name continuously.

“Adam, I’m talking to you! Why do you always choose to humiliate me in front of our friends? Why? What have I done to you please? Or you don’t love me anymore?”

Adam halted, a few inches away from his car. He then shook his head before walking to his car and unlocked it.

She watched his retreating back as he entered his car. In a hurry, she walked to the door and tried to open the car. She knocked on the glass, but before she could demand for anything, he zoned out of the place, leaving her mortified.

There was a scream from deep within her that wanted to force itself out from her throat. All she felt was anger, all she felt was that she couldn’t keep up with Adam’s ridiculous attitudes. For one thing she was getting fed up with his rude behaviors but she was still obsessed with the arrogant man. She let out a deep sigh when she felt a soft grasp on her shoulder.

“C’mon Hidayah, you’re more than this. Just look at you, as beautiful as you, how can you just let this so-called guy be treating you this way? Don’t you see that he’s obviously using you.”

Hidayah gave her friend a cold look, feeling as if she should punch her face for the anger to cool off.

“And who told you he’s using me? Look, I’m not in the mood for all of this.” She shrugged her hand off her shoulder and started walking away.

Sitting by the gazebo alone, she sensed an intruder settling down beside her by the bench. She briskly wiped the tears and looked at the person.

“Excuse me?” She spoke but he never looked at her, left alone to tell her why he was invading her privacy. Hidayah scoffed and turned her head away from him. He continued staring at the blank space before finally turning her way and examined her side view.

“My name is Tahir and you look like you need some company. How are you feeling at this moment?”

When her emotions handed her the sadness card, that’s when the tears came back again. This time, it was worse. Tahir observed her for a while. He saw what happened earlier through the glass window but he couldn’t tell exactly why it happened.

“It’s okay to have a bad night,” he assured her and somehow, Hidayah felt she could trust him. “Care to enlighten me?”

“I don’t really know what he wants from me, I mean I do everything that he wants but he’s always boorish and ungrateful. I try my best for ‘our’ relationship to work but it seems like I’m the only one that wants things to work out. He tells me he loves me but he never shows it to me. I mean action speaks louder than words right?” She sniffed and furiously wiped her tears away. She felt enraged for crying over someone that left her stranded at a club.

Tahir nodded his head, eyes focused on her. She was so obsessed with the guy she was talking about, he mused to himself. And he observed speaking bad about the guy would make him break the trust she has for him. Instead, he consoled her.

“Don’t treat failures as reasons to give up but as stepping stones that lead you to succeed.” He encouraged her. Hidayah moved her eyes away from him, reasoning.

Then, she peered at him. “So you’re saying that things might work out between me and Adam?” She asked, having her hopes high.

Tahir hesitated before shaking his head. “Not really, but… But if you believe he’s the one, maybe things might work out between you two.”

Hidayah smiled softly and nodded her head. “I’m glad you understood me. Thank you.”

He smiled back, nodding his head to her. “Can I buy you a drink?” He offered, hoping to get a positive response.

“No, thank you, I don’t drink. And I have to go now.” She got to her feet before grabbing her purse that was sitting on the bench.

“Oh no I don’t mean that kind of drink. I don’t drink either, I just came here to eat at the restaurant.” He pointed at the entry inches away from the club.

Hidayah gave him a sheepish smile. “Well, thank you again. Good night.” She turned on her heels, having said, he stopped her. She hesitated before slowly turning to look at him. She raised her brows, waiting to hear what he has to say again

 “It’s pretty late already, can I take you home… Please? A pretty, young lady like you shouldn’t be stranded alone by this time of the night.”

Knowing well he would still insist and it would be unsafe and unwise for her to start wandering around alone, she accepted his offer. Tahir smiled, almost letting out a sigh of relief. He led the way to his car.

On their way home, Tahir tried to make a conversation but Hidayah seemed distant and he knew it was about her so-called useless boyfriend.

The rest of the ride home was a silent one until they arrived home. She thanked him again before dropping out from the car, and ambled to the gate. Few knocks on the gate, Garba rushed out to open the door, knowing she was the one.

“Welcome back Hajiya,” he greeted but in return, she glared at him and hissed before walking away.

He shook his head, staring at her retreating back. He peeped out to see who dropped her before he scoffed and locked the door.

Hidayah unlocked the door with her keys and gently stepped in. Not turning on the lights, she tiptoed to the stairs. Taking gentle steps upstairs, the lights of the living room suddenly turned on, making her heart sink.

She slowly turned just to lock eyes with Ummah. A very furious and disappointed Ummah.