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Chapter twelve 👑

"An daura auren Khalil Sheikh Al-farsi de Nazneen Umar Bahzad. Allah ya ba su zaman Lafiya" the Imam's voice was heard all through the mosque and the already stunned groom still stood rooted to the spot. Hushed whispers and murmurs was heard from the crowd. At least they weren't the only ones confused.

"Anybody mind telling me how Khal's name was mentioned up there" Aaman said too.

Mas'ud narrowed his eyes as he watched the Imam exchange whispers with a man who looked like he could be in his early thirties,he had on a black hoodie with the hood drawn over his face like he was hiding his identity and aviators that managed to completely conceal his face. Something isn't right because the younger man kept looking sideways making sure nobody was listening to them.

"Something isn't right" Mas'ud voiced out his thoughts as the man in black disappeared through the back door as quickly as he came and then the Imam continued with the sermon.

"You tell me" Khalil said. Abbiey was already walking towards them with a slight frown on his face.

"Maybe it was by mistake" Aaman said.

"No it wasn't, you have a lot of explaining to do" Abbiey said once he got to them.

"Abbiey...?"

Mas'ud mind wasn't with them. He saw the man in black again but this time he was discreetly peeping from the wall behind the Imam intensely staring at something. He followed the man's line of sight and found out that he was looking at none other than Khalil.

"How about the girl I introduced to you last week, you agreed" Khalil said not minding to ask for an explanation. This time Abbiey walked away without saying anything.

"I'm fine with this Nazneen though" Aaman butted in but the glare Khalil shot his way was enough to make him keep quiet.

"Shut up Aaman!" Khalil sneered. "Mas'ud, do you mind... " He trailed off noticing his friend's attention wasn't with him. He looked at the direction of Mas'ud's sight and his gaze clashed with that of man in black.

"You're looking for answers?,ask him before he escapes" Mas'ud said then grabbed Aaman by the arm leading him outside.

Khalil gulped as he walked towards the man who didn't look he was planning to take off. If anything,he detached himself from the wall and stared down as Khalil approached.

Once Khalil was standing in front of him,the man looked at him from head to toe before breaking into a small smile.

"Khalil, long time no see"

"Who are you?"

The man chuckled "If I'm going to have to take you on a trip down memory lane to jog your memory,at least let's do it outside before someone recognizes me"

With that,the man walked away leaving Khalil with the choice whether to follow or not. Khalil did the expected. He followed the man closely behind keeping a safe distance between them so that no one would suspect them. The man led them to a secluded part of the parking area under an umbrella tree. He unlocked the sleek black BMW and slid inside without inviting Khalil but he still got in.

Once they were in the confines of the car under the protection of the heavily tinted glasses, the man finally took down the hood.

"Khalil Sheikh Al-farsi, am I correct?"

"Yes but do I know you?"

"Of course, I'm the person you're indebted to" the man said with a sly smile on his face "You owed me a favor and you just repayed it"