On his return home, Abdulsalam met his mother and siblings dining. He paced up so he could avoid his mother, but just before he reached the corridor leading to his apartment, she called.
" Are you not eating with us?"
" I'm not hungry" he answered facing away from them.
" Come on I made some ginger juice" Baby sang.
" No thanks."
"I can bring it to your room. There's -"
" No one comes to my room. See you all tomorrow" he said wishing his mother would adhere to it. He was sure in a few minutes she would be knocking on his door and entering without permission, which he would be giving be giving but just after she entered the room. She would want to talk on the topic he dreaded the most. The Him-Yasmeen-Khadija triangle. It was the last thing he wanted after a long day. He used to find his father's political talks tedious, but now it would be rewarding to hear them compared to his mother's troubling words.
He was not used to having choices or options. He was always told what to do and when to do it. Places to go, friends to be around, whom to talk to, what car to drive, where to live. The closest he was to making his own choices was when he wanted to move out of the house, which ended with his mother condemning it to making him live inside the house with them, closer, and with a bigger chamber, which obviously meant NO LEAVING. His father didn't have problem with him leaving the house at first. He thought it was brave , until his mother managed to convince him otherwise.
He sighed as the warm water fell on his skin. He stood under the shower for minutes, just standing, feeling the lines the water was making as it flowed down his body. He closed his eyes for a while, then opened them sharply, gasping. He quickly used his soaps and left the bathroom as if he was being chased.
___________________________________
The next morning, Hajju arrived at the Mai Kuras to felicitate with her son in-law on his winning the primary elections.
" Aishe don't wake him up. I will be here all day." Hajju said in her sweet voice,softly.
" He is up already. I already told him you were on your way." Aishe said smiling. She was merry. It was the first time Hajju was visiting them since their return. " Sayinna is taking long to return. He didn't use to tour this long "
" That you know of. It's your father's tour season. He would visit some of his friends before Ramadan came. He does this every other year." Hajju stated nicely. She inspected Aishe's face reading pale sadness." Aishe is something wrong?"
Aishe shook her head frantically." Everything is fine Hajju. Aimaba dey . I was just inquiring." She smiled." Ruwaya would not stop asking if he's back."
" He would rush back home if he knew she was calling." Hajju laughed, Aishe joining her.
As the women talked, the maids arranged snacks on the table for Hajju. Amir, who had just woken up ran to her, crushing her in a hug. As she hugged him back, he snuggled into the hug filling her with his foul morning breath.
" Amir go freshen up first" Aishe instructed, but Hajju held him closer stating that she didn't mind. When Abdulkarim arrived downstairs, he crouched down to greet Hajju. Aishe simpered at his gesture. She was happy that he had won the election and stayed up late in the night for his return. Until he arrived while she was eagerly waiting to congratulate him.
She watched from the living room windows upstairs, hoping she wasn't seen as she thought it was childish to be seen all jolly. She peeped through the curtains she had slightly shifted, hiding the rest of her and watched as he exited the car. Her smile disappeared on the sight of the person that appeared from the other door. Hauwa Sadiq, all dolled up wearing a delightful smile. Aishe watched as she walked around the car and then to Abdulkarim. Rage was building up within her and she could almost hear her heart pounding in her chest. Abdulkarim only stood there as she increased their proximity. As Hauwa got closer and closer to Abdulkarim, Aishe took a step back, veiling the torturous sight before her. The night was ruined for her. She returned to her room while the children were downstairs ready to welcome their father home.
She could not sleep that night. Abdulkarim had gotten what he wanted. A supportive wife who knew politics. Per se, hauwa was born into politics. Her father was one of the oldest politicians in Nilefa. He knew his way around anything political. His daughter was bound to take after him. Her mind was consumed with visions of what had happened earlier, how close they stood to each other. How the woman looked at Abdulkarim. She, for the first time wondered how Abdulkarim was in his other household. If he was happy and cheerful as he was here with them. If he looked at Hauwa the same way he looked at her, if he touched her- she flinched at the thought of Abdulkarim touching another woman the way he did her. She had thought they were married for two years, it would be foolish to think he had not lain with his new and younger wife. At that thought, she felt her nose heat up and her eyes tingle. She fought the urge to wail loudly, as it was the only thing she wanted then. She wouldn't mention to him that she saw them from the window. She swallowed her pain and welcomed him, doing the best she could to look okay.
She looked down as he and Hajju exchanged pleasantries. She avoided his and Hajju's eyes all the while.
"Aishe can I talk to you for a second" Abdulkarim said, standing up. Aishe's face grew hard and she glared at him. His demeanor always changed when Hajju was around. He liked bossing her around, making her do the tiniest things for him. That made Hajju happy, which made her shower their marriage with blessings again and again. The part she hated the most was when he asked to speak to her alone, in Hajju's presence. She had even warned him not to, but he repeatedly did anyway. There was this smile Hajju would wear whenever he asked her alone. Hajju was wearing that smile now and it made her uncomfortable. She glared in his direction as he ascended the stairs.
" Hajju is3na wake up!( T.Hajju is here)." She banged hard on Yasmeen's door and left it open.
Abdulkarim stood deep in their spacious room fidgeting with his wristwatch when Aishe arrived. She moved and sat on the bedside drawer on the opposite side of the bed from where he stood.
" You asked me here" Aishe said looking away from the playful smile he was giving her. It won't work.
"Yes I did"She heard him walk around the bed to her side. He sat on the bed" I wanted to ask you"
Aishe was still looking away from him." Are you pregnant?" Her head jerked up hearing that.
"What?!" Eyes wide she looked at him.
" Are you?"
" No Abdulkarim don't be ridiculous" she avoided his gaze again.
" I couldn't help but ask because this is the treatment you gave me whenever you became pregnant."
" What treatment? You know what you did. I told you I didn't like you bossing me around when Hajju came."
"Hajju loves that you are being a good wife. Come to see the pride in her eyes" Abdulkarim touched her face. I am doing it for us. He laughed when she pushed his hand away asking him to stop it." What? You have been giving me this silent treatment from last night. Have I offended you?"
She raised her eyes to look at him. There he was. Her loving husband, all ready to apologize for whatever fault she threw at him." No. It's nothing.... Just that everything is changing so fast. There's suddenly security hovering around, we hardly ever see you-"
"What I am hearing is that my wife misses me" Abdulkarim drew closer, wrapping his hands around her waist, wearing a mischievous smirk.
" Stop it" she tried to push his hands away but he wouldn't budge. After they struggled and ended it laughing, she touched his face softly." I do miss my husband and wish things weren't this hectic. But most of all I am proud of you,of how far you have gone in achieving your goals. I may have made you think you weren't doing enough but you are doing just fine. We appreciate you so."
" This is the most beautiful I've ever heard." He kissed her cheek" This means nothing without you by my side Aishe. Thank you."
They embraced each other for a while not saying a word. Aishe closed her eyes. Even for a brief moment, she was satisfied. She would get used to his scarcity.
" We should get back to Hajju" Aishe said still holding him close.
" Are you sure?" Abdulkarim asked as she still held him. She only nodded against him." Perhaps you should loosen your grip on me. " She pulled away sheepishly smiling. " You know if you were pregnant this would be new. You know, you and I all sweet and loving"
She pushed him away and stood up then. " You don't have time for this nonsense Abdulkarim. Go face your work."
He was surely mocking her bringing up all the pregnancy talks. Perhaps he was finding a way to tell her that his wife was pregnant, who knows?. She glared at him and sauntered out of the room mumbling something he couldn't hear.
" What's wrong?" He was confused at her sudden behavior. " You know what? No I think you are really pregnant"
She slammed the door hard behind her.