Book Club

BENEATH THE SHADOW

By Anonymous writer ✍️🕊️

CHAPTER TWO PART (1) SISTERHOOD

ABUJA CITY

Sumayya lay comfortably on her bed, scrolling through her phone and chewing gum lazily. The soft hum of the air conditioner filled the room, while the late-afternoon sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting faint golden patterns across the floor.

She was so engrossed in whatever she was reading that she barely noticed the door swing open.

Amina hurried inside, clutching her phone, her expression unusually serious.

“Unni, have you seen what's happening in town?” she asked.

Sumayya blew a bubble with her chewing gum and popped it.

“Uh-uh. What's happening?” she asked lazily, barely lifting her head.

Instead of answering, Amina walked over and handed her the phone.

The moment Sumayya's eyes landed on the news, her expression changed. Her eyebrows rose, and she slowly sat up, reading the headline again as though hoping she had misunderstood it.

For a while, neither of them spoke.

The cheerful atmosphere in the room had suddenly vanished, replaced by a heavy silence.

“Honestly, citizens aren't safe at all,” Sumayya finally said, her voice serious.

Amina sighed and sank onto the edge of the bed.

“Hmm, tell me about it. I've been feeling uneasy all day. I can't even drink water in peace.”

Sumayya shook her head.

“May Allah deal with them. People thought things would calm down after Alhaji Alpha died, but it seems that was just a joke.”

Amina nodded sadly.

“That man really left behind a storm. I feel sorry for his family. They probably didn't even know who he truly was. Everyone thought he was a good man, but apparently, there was more to him than people knew.”

Sumayya waved a hand dismissively.

“Let's drop the topic before I lose my sleep over it. Abeg, let's talk about something else.”

Amina's serious expression suddenly gave way to a mischievous smile.

“Coward! But speaking of something else… your crush has relocated.”

Sumayya sat up so quickly that the bedsheet slid off her shoulder.

“What?! Where did he move to? When did he leave Abuja? And do you think he'll come back?”

Amina burst into laughter.

“Cool down, babes! You're asking too many questions at once. You're not losing him, o. In fact, he's gotten closer.”

Sumayya frowned.

“What do you mean?”

Amina adjusted her sitting position, clearly enjoying every second of Sumayya's confusion.

“Your crush. Mr. Unknown. The same man you've been stalking ever since you spotted him in traffic.”

“I'm not stalking him!” Sumayya protested immediately.

Amina ignored her.

“He recently rented an apartment here in Wuse 2. He just moved in.”

For a moment, Sumayya stared at her friend.

Then her face lit up.

“Seriously?!”

“Seriously.”

Sumayya playfully hit Amina's arm.

“I'm not stalking him, you know! I'm just… finding my way to him.”

She paused, then smiled dreamily.

“Anyway, I'm happy about this news.”

Amina folded her arms and gave her a knowing look.

“Since you're happy, then as a token of gratitude, you can do all the house chores.”

She burst into laughter before Sumayya could respond.

Sumayya glared at her.

“Tch! Token of gratitude, my foot! Sis, do you know what”

“Uhum! I'm listening,” Amina interrupted, struggling to keep a straight face.

Sumayya narrowed her eyes at her.

Then, as though a brilliant idea had suddenly struck her, she sat up straighter.

“Let's relocate.”

Amina's smile disappeared.

“Relocate? To where?”

Sumayya smiled mischievously.

“To the same apartment building where my crush relocated.”

For two seconds, Amina stared at her in disbelief.

Then she threw her head back and laughed.

“Are you crazy? No, you must be!”

Sumayya grabbed her hand.

“Please, sis! Come on! Just imagine how much fun this crushing game will be when we live in the same building as him! Oh my God…”

She pressed a hand dramatically against her chest.

“I can already smell success!”

She burst into laughter.

Amina could only stare at her, mouth hanging open.

“But you know we just got this apartment, right? We haven't even enjoyed half of our money. Not even a quarter! And I still owe my share!”

“Don't worry, sis,” Sumayya replied without hesitation. “I'll pay for the new apartment.”

Amina blinked.

“Do you even know how expensive it might be?”

Sumayya waved away her concern.

“No matter how expensive it is, I know we can afford it.”

Amina sighed and shook her head, wearing the expression of someone who had finally accepted that reasoning with her friend was a hopeless mission.

“Alright, then. Just to support this your one-sided love, I agree. Let's move. We'll both contribute to the new place.”

Sumayya practically leapt off the bed.

“THANK YOU, SISSSSS!”

She wrapped her arms around Amina in an enthusiastic hug.

“I love you so much!”

Then she pulled back, holding Amina by the shoulders.

“As a token of gratitude, I'll take you out for dinner tonight at your favourite restaurant.”

Amina rolled her eyes and folded her arms.

“Token of gratitude, my foot. But fine, since you insist, let's go.”

She lifted her chin and looked away dramatically.

Sumayya studied her from head to toe.

“Ah-ah! Fine, then. Forget it. I wouldn't want to stress you.”

Amina immediately turned back.

“No, no, no, no! Hold on! You've already said it, so you can't take it back!”

Sumayya burst into laughter.

Amina joined her, and soon, their laughter filled the room, completely chasing away the earlier gloom.

They had been best friends since childhood, so close that people sometimes mistook them for twins. Their friendship had survived the years because neither saw the other's success as a threat. There was no competition, no unnecessary jealousy, and no keeping score.

They simply had each other's backs.

Both had studied in Abuja. Sumayya was a Cybersecurity student, while Amina studied Software Development. Their personalities were different in many ways, but somehow, those differences made them fit together perfectly.

And apparently, one of those differences was that Amina possessed a functioning sense of caution, while Sumayya had apparently misplaced hers somewhere along the road.

Especially when it came to A.A. Alpha.

ONE WEEK LATER

It didn't take long for the two friends to secure a new apartment.

The estate was newly built, luxurious, and clearly designed for people with money to spare. Tall residential buildings stood in neat rows, their modern glass windows reflecting the daylight. Carefully trimmed lawns bordered the paved walkways, while ornamental plants decorated the entrances.

Young trees lined the roads within the compound, their leaves swaying gently whenever the breeze passed through. A few birds perched on the branches, their chirping occasionally blending with the distant sounds of vehicles entering and leaving the estate.

The facilities were enough to make anyone feel as though they had stepped into a different world.

There was a gym, a restaurant, a swimming pool, a library, a cinema, and even a mart within the estate.

It was practically a small city of its own.

Most of the apartments were still vacant, giving the girls plenty of options.

But Sumayya wasn't interested in just any apartment.

She had a mission.

A very personal mission.

And after carefully considering their options, they eventually rented an apartment on the same floor as A.A. Alpha.

Sumayya was convinced that destiny had finally decided to cooperate with her.

Unfortunately, destiny appeared to have other plans.

A week passed.

Then another evening arrived.

And they still hadn't seen him.

Not once.

😂😂 Be honest, dears!

If you were Amina, would you support Sumayya's crazy plan to move into the same building as her crush, or would you drag her back to reality? 😭😂

TEAM SUMAYYA ❤️ or TEAM AMINA 😂?

I want to see your answers in the comments! 👇🏽 Don't just read and disappear, ooo! 👀❤️

Chapter Two — Part Two is coming soon. Stay tuned! 🖤📖

What's the best book you have read?

Might be bit of a silly question but do you guys ever get curious about what a character in a book looks like that you’re reading? If so, do you ever use any apps or software (nothing ai related though) to actually see? I realize some of you might be like “oh the whole idea of books is to visualize the details in your head” to that crowd I say 🤷🏽🤷🏽 but yeah, any help? Pinterest?

I have started to read Franz kafkas books. He is a deep and thoughtful writer. I can't stop thinking of how much more of his life would be easy if he got the right tool in handling life. One of the things that comes to my mind is his attachment style. I really believe that he was fearful avoidant (disorganized attachment style).

Sometimes a tender touch reaches your entire life, bringing you into its own beautiful world. The core of this existence is love. 🙂"

I realized that a relationship is more important than anything else, this person's sense of responsibility and maturity.

Past is a place of learning not a place of living. ✨🌸🍀

Good Morning 💕

I’m in love with this sentence:

“Your future is shaped by the habits you repeat, not the goals you set.”

I'm starting to write books, and I have many themes circling. What topic would you love to see a book on right now?

Before we start reading the Qur’an, have we ever stopped to ask what Allah says about the Qur’an itself?

I’ve just released a new workbook on Misbah called What the Quran Says about the Quran 📖

It’s 3 short, interactive sessions exploring how Allah describes His Book, why it was revealed, and how we’re meant to approach it.

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/misbah/id6789937899