CHAPTER 1
Today we have with us one of the most influential Muslim woman in Nigeria and hopefully in Africa in the nearest future, please allow me to welcome our beloved Nur Ali" The interviewer announced, enthusiasm written on her face.
A tall woman came on stage wearing a gold and black abaya her steps screamed elegance and sophistication, with her abaya she had a Niqab on, yes a Niqab the only parts visible were her palms and her black coloured iris, she sat on the sofa opposite the reporter and said.
"Thank you for inviting me here Lily." Her cool voice came with no emotion whatsoever.
"Its my pleasure Miss Nur to have a well accomplished woman like you on my couch.
"So Miss Nur, Nigeria is curious to know who is the woman who came 5th on the most influential Muslim women in Nigeria's list this year, and what got people more curious and heightened the eagerness to know you is your mode of dressing, do u mind telling us a little about yourself?" Lilly said, gesturing to Nur.
" Well I'm Nur Ali I'm 28 years old, I am an architect, graduated from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, then I furthered my studies In Dubai, I specifically went for interior decoration. I guess that's all to me" she said as she chuckled a little.
"28, wow you truly are amazing. You are like the youngest that have ever graced that list". Lily praised, her smile never leaving her face.
Nur flashed her a shy smile( that she couldn't see ) and said
"Thank you Lillly, it's the favour of Allah (S.W.T)."
"So miss Nur, which of your works do you think made you eligible for this list?" Lilly interrogated.
"I think I became famous or maybe famous is a little exaggeration but you know what I mean. So I think I became known for being the architect of Abuja mart, some organizations that I head and through social media too" Nur replied doing some hand movements and slightly nodding her head.
"Ohhh yes, Abuja mart is magnificent, you deserve all the credit you got for that and more, C.F.O (charity for orphans) and F.H.Y(Funds for Hardworking Youth) are the organizations that you head right? Those organizations are like the best of their kind, doing what they are meant for, I think this is 2 years since CFO and 1 year since FHY right ?" Lilly asked as she adjusted herself on the couch.
"Yes, you are right, and the organizations are doing well by the grace of Allah, you will be surprised at the number of people willing to selflessly extends their hands to the needy,I'm really glad these organizations found wonderful investors Alhamdulilah." Nur answered
"So Nur are you married or planning to marry anytime soon" lilly asked as mischief danced In her eyes and a broad smile on her lips.
"No, I'm not married and as for plans, well, we plan, Allah plans and Allah is the best of planners." Nur answered.
"So there's nobody on your mind right now?"Lilly prodded.
"That's my personal life,I'm afraid I won't answer that." Nur answered,her calm demeanor still intact
"You know there's this rumour that's really popular that you don't believe In love, some said you are an extreme feminist and so on.What would you like to say about that?" Lilly interrogated, she knew she was breaching their agreement about personal questions, but she had to make her troubles worth it, she'll make her spill about her personal life.
A low chuckle was heard and a calm voice followed.
"People make up things as far as it keeps them less bored. I can see what you are trying to do, and it takes more than a groundless rumour to provoke me into running my mouth. As we agreed, we are going to talk about what made me famous and from what I know I'm famous for my work not my personal life, but nevertheless I'll answer this question. I believe in love and I'm not a feminist at all, in fact we have so many disputing opinions, consider this answers a gift from me to you" Nur ended her statement, a sense of victory overwhelming her as she looked at the dumbfounded expression on Lilly's face.
'That's more like it.' She thought.
Lilly cleared her throat before she replied
"I have heard you are intelligent, I guess it wasn't an understatement, I am sorry for breaching our agreement. I have one more question here, It is from a viewer, you can choose not to answer it.
It says " I once posted on my story how my boyfriend is abusive but I still love him and I feel he loves me too, how I think marrying him and showering him with a lot of care would change him, your reply was if love is in the only reason you want to get into an abusive relationship I hate to break it to you, but love isn't worth it, would love to hear an explanation on your views" Lilly read and a smirk made its way on her lips, it seems personal questions and Miss Nur are meant for each other.
'I'll make very good use of this opportunity.' she thought.
"OK, what I meant by love isn't worth it is, love is an exaggerated feeling, it fades with time, what keeps a relationship is trust, understanding, tolerance and commitment, I agree that love makes a relationship but it also destroys it, because its a feeling that comes as a result of the right conditions and circumstances, so it has the tendency to be felt for another person later in life. In fact love breaks more than it makes. It's the excuse people use when they cheat on their partners, its the excuse people use when they elope therefore breaking family ties. Love leads a parent to abandon his or her family just to be with the person they feel that love for, so what I want you to understand is, if all the love and care you showered him while dating didn't stop him from beating you, him knowing that you are not Bound to each other and you can leave anytime you wish did not make him change in order not to lose you, then what guarantee do you have that he won't keep abusing you when you are bound to him by marriage and walking away isn't so easy anymore." Nur concluded as she turned away from the camera to face Lilly.
"Wow, that was deep." Lilly sighed
"And its truly a very valid argument, so if I may ask, what made you see love this way?"
Nur laughed and said "Lilly,you never miss an opportunity, but I recall perfectly, you said that was the last question."
Lilly not willing to embarrass herself anymore concluded the interview and bid farewell to the viewers.