~°°~The truth holds more than you can imagine~°°~

No location, 23rd March, 2022. 1:02pm ~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~

Were they racing? Like some teenage freaks? It just didn't make sense but they still kept doing it.

Imran felt like the other car was a competition to him, and I'm sure the opposite party Involved also felt the same. They had been racing and overtaking each other's car ever since they left the city of Abuja.

Even though they both knew it was risky to do that but they still went for it and Imran made sure to win because he was first to reach Bauchi and the car diverted into one of the driveways at the city which made it clear to Imran that it was the final destination of his racer while he continued his journey to Gombe state.

Call him childish, but he was glad about the tough, risky and weird competition. It is not always you get to see those kind of people on the road while traveling.

As much as Imran hated the idea of traveling that long distance in a car, he couldn't help it. He always traveled in a car when he is the one driving because he understood his fear for heights ever since the first time he got on a plane to carry out an operation in Spain.

Imran didn't attend a school abroad, and neither had he ever gone beyond the international borders in the name of tour or vacation which was why he got his fear for heights.

Ever since he realised he had those fears, he never tried to board a plane unless at times totally necessary. And whenever he does, he made sure to take sleeping pills that would last him the duration of the flight which he rarely does. So he preferred just driving as long as it was within the country's border.

It took Imran the required hours to reach the city of Gombe. Instead of getting a rest before starting a chaos, he decided to just be done with everything and quickly return back to Abuja. Within a day if possible.

The first place he went was to his first uncle's place. Even though it wasn't his daughter they were throwing at Imran, he knew for sure that he was behind whatever dump they were trying to put him in because whatever he said always goes even when their parents were alive.

"Ah Imran, what a surprise" Talib said stretching his hands out for a handshake, he was Imran's first cousin which means he was the eldest. "Yes indeed it is" Imran replied taking his hands for the handshake which they released in seconds. "Let me guess, you wouldn't visit my home even though you came around" Talib said.

"No that's not true, I just arrived at Gombe and this is the first place I came to. I wanted to spend a week here but I think I'll be here less than that so I'll surely visit" Imran replied, he knew what Talib was referring to because that wasn't the first time Imran went to Gombe and didn't visit his house.

Talib was a husband of two with five kids, four from his first wife while one from his second wife. From what Imran had calculated just by that conversation, he understood that he hadn't been to his house ever since his second born was just a day old.

"Okay I will be expecting you. I have to go now" Talib said before he flashed Imran one last smile and left.

Imran then moved himself into the house where he found most of the people of the family there, well except His uncle who was not home, Talib who just left and the three married daughters of the house.

"Assalamu Alaikum" Imran said and greeted all the elders in the room while the youngsters greeted him and he replied.

"Yaushe a gari?" His uncle's first wife asked. "Just now" Imran replied. "Oh then you should eat something, Dalila go get some food and water for him and keep them on the dining table" His uncle's first wife spoke again.

The other two wives didn't say anything except for greetings. The second one because they don't really get along and the third one because his uncle forbade him from talking to her. That is because she was 18 years old, so his uncle forbade even his sons to speak to her afraid they'll make her fall for them.

"Go eat Imran" Imran nodded before walking into the dining area, he was truly hungry so he forgot about what actually brought him there. Even if he remembered, he could not have done anything because the one who would take action was not there.

It was after a long while that his uncle returned back home.

"Kawu, I don't want to marry Jabeen" Imran said going straight to the point when they sat together in his uncle's parlour. "What do you mean by that? You know we can't leave you without a wife at this age right?" Kawu said. "I know, I have someone I love already and I'm sure Jabeen has someone she loves too" Imran said. He never thought he had that courageous side of him but when it comes to her he knew how sure he was.

"I will agree only on one condition" Kawu said. "I will insha Allah agree to it" Imran said too.

"The marriage has to take place within two months and if not, you'll get married to Jabeen" Kawu conditioned. "That is not going to happen" Imran agreed. "How can you be so sure?" Kawu asked. "I know what I'm aiming at, real things always win and no doubt my love will win" Imran said.

Call him shameless, he didn't care for all he cared about was making sure his love came true.

"Very well then, nothing more to discuss" Kawu sighed, he never knew he could be that easy but when it came to his dead brother's only family, he was ready to sacrifice his ego and authority. He wouldn't forgive himself if any of them feel like he is the reason behind their lack of happiness.

"Nagode, Kawu" Imran thanked. "When will you return?" Kawu asked, Imran would say he was surprised by the sudden show of concern he was getting from his hardcore uncle.

"I plan to spend a day or two here insha Allah" Imran replied. "Okay then, feel at home" Kawu voiced and Imran nodded before moving out of the living room to the room that had been prepared for his stay.

Imran decided to stay because he got treated better than he expected. At least they didn't end up fighting with his uncle, he honestly thought he would be getting a slap that day.

The rest of the day was spent with Imran sleeping his tiredness off. It was a long distance he traveled so it would only be fair if he was tired from it.

The next day, Imran decided to pay visits to almost all his relatives that reside in Gombe, Talib wasn't an exception because he knew he wouldn't get another opportunity to want to visit him again. Even if there was, it was far fetched.

"I honestly thought you were lying when you said you'll come but then to my surprise you actually came" Talib said sitting on a seat opposite the one Imran sat on.

"I love surprising people" Imran shrugged, it was only natural that all his relatives would be surprised to see him in their abodes because it rarely happened.

"I can see that, How's the army? Looks like it suits you" Talib voiced with a humourless chuckle. "I don't think so, your eyes must be aching for you to have not noticed how skinny and black I've become" Imran chuckled too.

"Man, that's not true" Talib said. "Ok, the army has been fair enough" Imran replied. He wouldn't reject or criticise the army whatever the case might be. After all, he wasn't forced into it but he joined because he loved the army, so much that he decided not to run his father's business.

"That's great. We should eat something, let me get them to arrange the dining" Talib offered and Imran nodded. He hadn't eaten lunch so he would need some food at the moment.

Talib got his wife to set the dining table for them with the two varieties of food they cooked. Imran and Talib ate the food together while chit chatting with each other. In other words, they did some catching up.

Imran would say he didn't regret ever going to Gombe that time. He mended relationships and built some with his decision even though he thought things would go wrong. But things couldn't have gotten better because even when his parents were alive, he didn't care about his relatives but during that visit, he decided he would come back a hundred times to experience relations again. He just realised what he had been missing.

As much as Imran wanted to stay, he needed to go mend his life back in Abuja. He needed to make sure he doesn't lose Husnerh and also his way of living. Hence, he took an early morning journey back to Abuja the next day.

With no barriers, fear or worry, he headed to welcome in the biggest blessing of his life.

Love is a bed of thorned roses to anyone who owns it but for Imran, It turned out that the thorns were rather invisible to his heart. It didn't hurt him one bit.

~°°~The truth holds more than you can imagine~°°~