Life is like a picture drawn on the paper of fate. No matter how much you try to erase or avoid it, you cannot stop what is meant to happen to you. Sometimes, life makes us cry, but the most painful tears are those that stay inside our hearts, making us sad in ways we cannot forget. Some events leave marks in our memories forever.
When we are born, our parents are like our protective shield. They sacrifice everything for us, covering our lives with their love and care. They raise us with patience and affection until we grow up. This is why their love never fades from our hearts—it is different from any other love we will ever experience. Even when they scold us, their love for us never changes, because they are the foundation of our success and struggles.
As we grow older, our parents grow old too, while youth surrounds us. This is the time when we start to understand the difference between good and bad. This is also when the book of our destiny opens, showing us the challenges we will face. Life becomes a battle—not just for success in this world but also for the afterlife. Every action we take adds to either our rewards or our sins, all of which are recorded by the One who created us. Our parents fight for us when we are young, and when we grow up, they still care for us without getting tired.
When we finally understand who we are, we realize that love from our childhood is always present in our destiny. But love is not just something to watch—it is something we feel deeply. How does love start? Does it end? Or does it continue to grow? These are the questions we ask ourselves when we look back on our journey.
The Three Girls and RK
Three young girls were standing by the roadside, dressed in national service uniforms. Each held a small suitcase while waiting for a vehicle. They tried stopping small taxis (napep), but most were already occupied. The middle girl, who rarely smiled, looked up at the sky, which was getting dark with rain clouds. She really hated rain and was anxious to find a ride. Their journey was long because they were traveling to Kaduna State.
As the wind started blowing, she looked at her friends with tears forming in her eyes. Suddenly, a red car stopped in front of them. They all turned to look. When the driver stepped out, two of the girls smiled in surprise, but the serious girl remained emotionless and turned her face away. The young man was only looking at her.
He walked straight toward her and said, "Even after all my effort, you still ran away from me?"
She frowned and took a step back, avoiding his gaze. He scratched his head and smiled, then turned to the other two girls and jokingly said, "I thought we were friends. Why are you all helping her escape from me?"
The two girls laughed, and one of them, a little chubby, replied, "We would never betray you. If she tried to run, we would bring her back to you! But please forgive us. She is the one forcing us to leave early. She was too excited to go home and see her mom. She didn’t even sleep properly last night!"
The young man smirked and said, "Or maybe she’s just happy to leave Jos and escape from me?"
The other girl, Aneesa, quickly defended, "No, RK! That’s not true at all! I always stand up for her because I know she never wants to hurt anyone. But now, let’s get in the car before it rains and soaks your queen"
The serious girl quietly grabbed her suitcase and started walking away. RK quickly grabbed the handle, stopping her. She froze, refusing to turn back.
Aneesa gently took the suitcase from RK and whispered, "Please forgive her. The weather is bad, and you know rain is not good for her health. He only wants to take us to the bus station. After today, you won’t see each other again. Please, don’t end things badly. RK doesn’t deserve that. Even if you will never accept his love, don’t hurt him today. Let things end peacefully."
Slowly, the serious girl opened her teary eyes. Just as she was about to speak, the rain poured heavily. She panicked as the rain soaked her. Before she could react, Aneesa pulled her into the car, and the others followed.
As she sat in the car, she hid her face between her knees to avoid showing her emotions. But when she finally looked up, she met RK’s intense gaze. He was staring at her like she was the only person in the world. She quickly turned away, looking at her friends. One of them, Zeezah, pointed at Aneesa, blaming her.
Aneesa gave an innocent smile, begging for forgiveness. The serious girl rolled her eyes and looked away, trying to wipe her face dry.
