ASMAU
"What's wrong with you, Asmau?" Ibty asked, sitting near me at our table.
"Ibty, it's nothing. Just go and continue dancing with your husband," I replied, not wanting to burden her with my problems on her special day.
"I'm tired of dancing; my legs hurt. Now, best friend, tell me what's wrong with you. Where's Abubakar? I thought you were supposed to come together?" She asked, a concerned look on her face.
"He's with Iman," I said, my voice heavy with disappointment.
"Iman? What did you just say?," she asked, clearly puzzled.
"I said, he's with Iman."
"What is he doing with Iman?" She looked at me, perplexed.
"I don't know, Ibty. I don't know what's going on. I asked him, but he hung up on me," I explained, frustration creeping into my voice.
"Hey, calm down, best friend. Maybe something happened, and he needed to be there," Ibty reassured me.
"But I wanted him to be here with me, and he just ran off to that woman," I sighed.
"I don't like to see you sad on my wedding day. You should be happy. Let's have fun and dance. The kids are there, dancing and having fun, so you should too," she insisted.
"I'm not in the mood to dance, Ibty," I admitted, my mood still sour.
"Alright, then let's just sit here," she said, settling back into her chair.
"Aren't you going to your groom?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Nah, let him have fun with his friends. I want to sit here with my best friend," she replied, taking my hands in hers.
"Ibty, I'll miss you so much," I said, pulling her into an embrace.
"I'll miss you more, I swear. Thank God we'll stay in Abuja for a week before moving to Katsina," she said, as we pulled apart.
"He's taking my best friend away from me, imagine," I teased, trying to lighten the mood.
"Don't worry, best friend," she reassured me.
"No, let me worry. We won't be seeing each other like before," I sighed.
"Don't worry, we'll be having FaceTime," she suggested.
"It won't be the same, but my advice to you is to be the good and respectful girl you've always been. I'm sure his family will love you because you are very loving, friendly, and caring. Ibteesam, you're starting a new life, a new family, and a new environment. We won't be there, Mama won't be there, and Adda won't be there either. But continue to be the good person that Mama raised you to be. I trust you, best friend, and I love you so much. Thanks for always being there for me," I said, trying to hold back my emotions.
"You're making me cry," Ibty said, fanning her eyes.
"Come on, Ibty, don't cry. Do you want Tijjani to deal with me?" I teased, trying to lighten the mood.
"He doesn't dare try touching Abubakar's queen. I love you, Ma'u," she said, pulling me into a hug.
"Love you too, my Ibtylo."
"Stop calling me that."
"No," I giggled.
"Mummy," Noorie called out, and I turned to see her returning to us, struggling with Afeen in her hold. I reached out, collecting him and placing him on my lap.
"Is he crying?" I asked, peering into my little boy's teary, innocent eyes. He's not usually the emotional one like Afeena, except when he's hungry, of course.
"Yes, he is, and also Mummy, I want water," she replied, her lips forming a pout.
"Are you done dancing already?" I asked, handing her the water bottle.
"I'm tired," she replied, taking the bottle and sitting down to drink. I glanced at Ibty and noticed a hint of sadness in her expression as she looked at Afeena.
"What's wrong?" I asked, concerned.
"I'm just really going to miss my little angels," she sighed.
"We'll miss you too, Aunty Ibty. Mummy and I will come to visit you," Noorie chimed in.
"Yes, of course you will. In shaa Allah," she replied, placing a soft kiss on Noorie's cheeks.
I smiled, my heart melting at their bond. When Noorie finished her water, she went back to her siblings, and I continued my conversation with Ibteesam, while Afeen began to doze off in my arms. As night approached, Abubakar came to pick us up, and we headed home together.
**
When we returned home, I didn't say a word to him, and he remained silent too, even during the car ride back. He followed me to the room, finally breaking the silence by asking about the wedding.
"It was fine, Alhamdulillah," I replied tersely.
"Asmau, I'm sorr--" he began, but I cut him off.
"Please, don't waste your words apologizing to me. I need to freshen up now," I said, brushing past him towards the dresser.
"Please Asmau, listen to me," he pleaded as he followed me. "Iman was seriously sick, and she called me because she really needed my help at the moment."
"Ooh, have you turned into a doctor now?" I retorted sarcastically. "Couldn't she have called her mother for help? Why is it that you were the first person she thought of? Answer me, Abubakar! Please, I want to know. I'll even sit down so you can explain to me better," I said, sitting at the edge of the bed with folded arms, my anger surfacing.
"I don't know, Asmau. Maybe I was the only person she thought of," he replied.
"Don't worry; I'll give you your answer. That woman just lied so you could be with her. I'm pretty sure she wasn't really sick; she just wanted you with her. And you just ran to help her like that? You just went to her and then ditched me. I waited for you. I refused to go with my friends, Abubakar, just because I was waiting for you. But then you ditched me for that woman!" I yelled, my voice laced with anger and hurt.
"I didn't ditch you, Asmau. She needed my help and as the mother of my three kids, I couldn't leave her like that," he pleaded.
"Ooh, really? Wow, just wow!" I exclaimed in frustration. "You should be given an award for the best in caring for his exes. People were asking me where you were at the wedding, and I actually should have said that you were there taking care of your ex-wife, since it makes sense to you, right? Abubakar, what you did was so unfair, so unfair!"
"Asmau, you're making this a big deal. You're blinded by jealousy,"
"It's not jealousy because I have every right to be angry. Anyone in my shoes would be angry because of this. You're making that woman your priority, and I don't like that. She's not your responsibility," I retorted, frustration and hurt evident in my voice.
"Asmau, you're just tired. Freshen up and let's sleep," he tried to calm me, reaching out to hold my hands, but I pulled away.
"Let go of me! You always try to change the subject, and I'm seriously angry with you this time! Why would you do that to me? You disgraced me. I feel like you're choosing your ex-wife over me."
"Don't say that, of course not," he sighed.
"Then what?! Answer me! Come on, don't be a coward, answer me!" I snapped, pushing him back angrily.
He grabbed my arms, getting frustrated as well. "Asmau, will you stop doing this?! Stop arguing with me! This is so foolish. You never understand; you're always blinded by jealousy for Iman, and I'm getting sick and tired of it. What is wrong with you? You always want us to be arguing every single time. Damn it, I'm tired of it!" he spat.
"You're yelling at me because I'm speaking the truth. Okay, then, just go. Leave me alone," I retorted, my voice quivering with anger and hurt as I tried to walk away. However, Abubakar's grip on my arm held me firmly in place.
"Asmau, please," he began, his voice held with frustration.
I glared up at him my eyes fiery with emotion, and said, "Let go of me."
"I won't. Just calm down,"
"Abubakar, let go of me and leave this room, please!" I snapped, my eyes filled with unshed tears.
"Is that what you really want?" he asked in a low tone. I nodded firmly, not backing down. He didn't say anything else. With a heavy sigh and a last searching look at me, he reluctantly released my arm and stormed out of the room angrily.
"Ya Allah," I whispered as tears finally spilled from my eyes.
"Mummy," I turned around to find Safeeya standing in the doorway, looking worried.
"Safeeya." I whispered, wiping by tears so she wouldn't notice.
"What happened?" She asked, her voice gentle.
"Nothing dear," I replied,
"I heard you both shouting. Did you fight with Daddy? You guys were arguing, right? And I know Ammi is the cause of it," she said.
"No, Safeeya, we weren't arguing. Just go to your room. I'll freshen up, then come out,"
"But Mum-"
"Please, Safeeya," I interrupted gently, needing a moment to collect my thoughts.
"Okay," she said, as she walked out silently, leaving me alone with my thoughts of our heated exchange.
Edited version✨