Chapter 47 – The Space Between Silence
A shadow flickered restlessly across the walls, stretching and shrinking with every step Rihannat took.
Back and forth.
Back and forth.
The room felt smaller than usual, as though the walls themselves were closing in on her.
It was late—well past Maghrib. Earlier, she had stood by the window, fingers lightly pressed against the frame, her eyes fixed on the darkening sky. She had been waiting.
For what?
Even she didn't know.
Now, standing in the middle of the room, she froze, as if suddenly aware of her own pacing.
Folakemi had already gone home for the weekend. Her other roommate was out, probably laughing somewhere with friends, completely unaware that someone else in the same room was slowly unraveling.
The silence was suffocating.
Only her heartbeat filled the space—loud, uneven, uncalm.
Her hand tightened around her phone.
Her thumb hovered over the screen.
One tap.
That was all it would take.
The number glowed back at her.
Basit.
Her breath caught.
For a moment, her finger moved… then stopped.
A sigh escaped her lips as she dropped the phone onto the table like it had burned her.
"I don't even know what I'm doing…" she muttered, sinking into the chair.
She wasn't herself.
Not at all.
Ever since she returned to the hostel an hour ago, something had been… off. A restlessness she couldn't name. A heaviness she couldn't shake.
Then—
The Adhan for Isha echoed faintly through the air.
Her head snapped up.
"SubhanAllah… have I really been like this since Maghrib?"
Time had slipped past her without knowing.
She stood immediately, walking to her prayer mat.
As she began her salat, something shifted.
Her sujood lingered longer than usual… each prostration heavier, deeper—as though she was pouring out words her lips couldn't form.
Ya Allah…
I don't even understand what I'm feeling… but You do.
By the time she finished, a fragile calm settled over her.
Not peace.
But something close enough to breathe again.
The next morning…
The classroom buzzed softly with early chatter, chairs scraping, books opening.
Rihannat walked in, composed as always.
Then she saw him.
Basit.
He entered quietly, took his seat…
…and didn't look at her.
Not even once.
Her fingers tightened slightly around her pen before she forced her gaze away, her expression unchanged.
But something inside her dipped.
Why does that… hurt?
The lecturer arrived shortly after, and the class began.
Everything went smoothly—until her name was called.
"Rihannat, can you answer this?"
She stood, steady as ever, explaining confidently.
But in the middle of her answer—
Her eyes met his.
Just for a second.
Basit looked away immediately.
So quickly it almost felt like rejection.
Her voice didn't falter.
But her heart did.
Was that… real?
Or am I imagining things?
A strange ache spread through her chest.
It didn't make sense.
She should feel relieved.
This was what she wanted… wasn't it?
Now Balkis wouldn't feel threatened.
Now nothing would complicate their friendship.
So why—
Why does it feel like something is breaking?
The rest of the class blurred past her like a dream she couldn't hold onto.
The moment the lecturer left, she moved.
She didn't think.
"She didn't plan to."
Her feet carried her to him on their own.
"Salam alaikum, Basit."
His heart stumbled at the sound of her voice so close.
"Walaikum salam warahmatullah… Rihannat."
He didn't look up.
He couldn't.
If he did, everything he was trying to bury would surface.
And he wasn't ready for that.
Silence stretched between them.
Heavy. Awkward.
Unfamiliar.
Then—
"Hey!"
Rayyan's cheerful voice cut through the tension as she appeared beside them, Balkis trailing quietly behind.
She tapped Rihannat's shoulder, winked knowingly, and greeted Basit brightly before pulling Balkis along.
Balkis glanced back once.
Her expression… unreadable.
Something in Rihannat twisted.
Suddenly aware of what she had just done, she stepped back slightly.
"I… I just wanted to greet you."
The words came out too quickly.
Too stiff.
Before he could respond, she turned and walked away.
Fast.
Too fast.
Basit blinked, stunned.
Did that just happen?
A small chuckle escaped him as he stood, intending to follow—
But she was already gone.
Not even a glimpse of her outside.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair before returning to grab his things.
Around them, whispers lingered unspoken.
Something was off.
Everyone could feel it.
But no one dared ask.
Behind the faculty building…
Under the wide shade of the old tree…
Rihannat stopped.
Breathing hard.
As though she had run miles.
"What is wrong with me… Ya Allah…"
She pressed a hand to her chest, trying to steady herself.
Tears prickled, threatened—but didn't fall.
Instead, her thoughts drifted.
Back to the night before she returned to school.
Her parents' voices echoed clearly in her mind.
"Rihannat, we know you are matured and can decide for yourself, so we won't interfere in your life much from now on unless necessary."-- If only they know how confused she is right now.
Alhamdulillah we train you well and you surpass our expectations. So we will believe in your judgement...
In your choice of man, we will wait till the time you wish to marry but please don't wait too long as a woman has a prime age and don't let your destined man, your soulmate bypass you. Don't regret later, it has no dose nor medicine."
"We know the Mustopha boys are interested in you but we can see you don't have such interest in them, so we won't push or force you. But we notice that you treat basit differently from the other men, you might not know this but we as your parents know. And l can assure you that the boy has feelings for you. I dont know why he is hiding it from you....., or maybe he has already known you won't reciprocate or you told him not to have idea about you which is why he is tight lipped but Rihannat I can feel it that he is your other half. Please pray about it dear. Don't make an irreparable mistake." Her parents had told her that night.
Her head started aching with the voices cutting and rephrasing themselves.
"We trust your judgment…"
"We won't force you…"
"But don't wait too long…"
Then—
"You treat Basit differently."
Her chest tightened.
"We can see it… even if you don't."
Her father's voice had been calm.
Certain.
"And that boy… he has feelings for you."
Her breath hitched slightly.
"I don't know why he hides it… but I can feel it—he is your other half."
Her eyes fluttered shut.
"Pray about it, my daughter… don't make a mistake you can't undo."
A long sigh escaped her as she shifted on the grass, turning to her side—
And froze.
Then—
"Ahh!"
She screamed.
"Not again, Rihannat!"
Basit's voice came, half-annoyed, half-amused.
"Is screaming the only way you greet me? Why do you always scream whenever you see me?!" basit asked perplexed.
She stared at him.
"You—! Why do you always appear out of nowhere?! Did you pop out of air?!"
"Out of nowhere? Pop out of air?" He laughed, shaking his head. "Seriously? You are hilarious!"
"I've been sitting here for thirty minutes."
She blinked.
"What?"
"You were so deep in your thoughts, I didn't want to interrupt. I had my own things to think about anyway." and...you were far gone into space that I had to wait for you to come back on earth." He joked.
A calm wash over him as he sat with her trying to sort out his thoughts. His mind filled with words and questions to ask her but he suddenly felt short of what to say when she finally notice him.
He leaned back slightly, still smiling.
"So tell me… how exactly did I 'appear out of nowhere'?"
Her lips parted, then closed.
"You're impossible."
"And you," he shot back lightly, "were clearly in another world."
"Class assistant," he added teasingly, "please don't blame others for your daydreaming."
"Class president," she replied sharply, "you're the one who keeps appearing when I'm in a trance."
"Fine," he raised his hands. "You win."
She scoffed. "You only beat me by a few marks last exam. Don't get too proud and cocky."
His laughter came easily—freely.
Like it had been missing for a while.
"Look at you," he said, smiling. "You said the same thing last time you know …..and see now beautiful —"
'Thud.' His heart jolted.
He stopped.
Too late.
The word had slipped.
"Beautiful."
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Sudden.
Both of them felt it.
Basit looked away, cursing himself internally.
Why would you say that?
But the damage was done. That was how he had always teased her before.
Rihannat turned fully toward him now.
There was a little distance between them.
Her voice lower but serious.
"Why have you been avoiding me, Basit?"
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