The hazy weather of late October covered the sun and reduced its heat. Time passes real quick these days that a day seem like a minute and a week like a day.
Nadeeya rolled on Dada's bed,stretching uncomfortably as She groaned annoyingly because of the barrier the baby bump is creating between her and the bed and sad story she can't sleep flat on her tummy again.
It's already seven days since Baba Ajiya left and the cries have died down but the amount of visitors that keep walking in and out of the house is just unspeakable.
She adjusted her khimar and stepped down, it's already 2:00pm and she needs to get her clothes ready because Abdoul is coming to pick her up today.
She packed her clothes and went to the parlor to say bye to Dada and the rest.
Abdoul came in almost immediately after her settling beside Ikko and Woah! She couldn't just help but stare.
One can tell this person have been having sleepless nights because of the dark circles under his eyes,and his natural sleepy eyes blinking oftenly.
The nature of the man she is staring at right now is something she always admires and that's the solid foundation of her accepting his proposal. He taught her how to love herself more, how to admire every single breath she inhales down to the tip of her toes. Yea he is broken too but he is handling it in a much matured way, growth has taught him alot too. Even though he always says he is fine but she can see right into his reflection, his eyes says a different thing. It's alright actually, he is in denial and low-key she is waiting for the day he will breakdown completely then maybe he might feel better.
"Toh Dada,zamu kama hanya. Munbarku lafiya." Abdoul stretched his hands and placed a bundle of clean one thousandth naira notes besides each of the three wives.
They bid them farewell and Baba Rasheed took them to the airport in Gombe. They arrived in Malumfashi around 9pm exhausted but couldn't help but join the family members.
The atmosphere there wasn't exactly conducive because all of them were in Maama's Chamber talking about Yusrah's and Abdoul's divorce.
"Ke Yusrah abun da kikeso kenan,kizama bazarawa?" Baba enquired. The circumstances in which the marriage took place was wrong,very wrong in-fact but looking at how Yusrah is he couldn't help but admire the girl. He knows right how she was treated and how she is being treated in this place.
She looked up unsure of what to say.
Nadeeya who is sitting by her side squeezed her hands and whispered.
"I swear I won't mind you being my co-wife."
She shook her head side ways.
"Eh Baba."
"Toh shikenan tunda kinyi magana. Abdul na umarce ka sake ta."
Hesitant at first,Abdoul excused himself and requested Yusrah to follow him and she did.
Being an adult isn't Abdoul's hobby but it's like a responsibility he needs to fulfill and now he feels indebted to Yusrah, even though she wants it too but the Yusrah he knows will sacrifice what she loves the most to not loose to people and here she is willingly waiting for him to divorce her.
"Thank you Yusrah and I really hope you find someone better, Munir is a good person Yusrah, but don't let him get you easily. If he proposes,give him a hard time kaman yadda yanmata sukeyi kinji?" They both let out a chuckle.
"You can call me big bro you know?"
She looked up surprised at his words. She has always admired having one and now the person standing here is giving her that chance. If a random person will meet them months back, one will think they will use whatever power it is to destroy each other.
"Thank you big bro."
They stayed in silence for a minute or so before he opened his mouth to speak.
"Ni Abdoul-jabbar Taufeeq Shehu Malumfashi na sake ki Yusrah Badaru saki uku."
Relief, that was what they both felt at a moment followed by a splitting heart. He can't deny the connection he felt for her after the kiss, undeniably Yusrah is a good person with a broken past.
"Thank you....thank you so much Abdoul." Yusrah said in between sobs.
He used his pointy finger to point on her nose.
"You're welcome Yussy." They converse a bit and walked back into Baba's chamber with a wide smile on their faces.
"Welcome the new addition Yusrah Tawfeeq shehu."
Abdoul said and almost everyone there burst into fists of laughter.
Divorce has never been this relieving, it creates a rift between families most of the times but this, this is very different because it only seems to bring them closer to each other.
"Baby mama. Now I can officially call you Anty Nadeeya." Yusrah laughed at how Nadeeya pouted. She can vividly remember how the name came into existence.
"Don't even try that..."
Baba excused himself with Maama claiming it's late and they need to sleep.
******************
The bright rays of sun hit Yusrah on the face. She squeezed her eyes due to the intensity of light.
"Moooooommmmmmmmmm."
She whined.
It's been two weeks since she got divorced and she has been at peace with herself and her mother...well her mother has been nothing but supportive.
"Sleeping beauty should wake up already. Baba is here."
She moved back and opened her eyes in surprise. Her dad has been away since she got back home and the truth is she missed him a lot. She can't help but jump to hug him.
"Babaaaa."
"Se kin balla shi Koh?"
Her mom said in between laughter.
"Batta daya daya ce fa."
They spent some more time laughing at some stuffs Baba was telling them about.
" I have spoken to Abdoul. We are moving the case to court, and I need your outmost support."
With no more explanation Yusrah and her mother understood the case.
In other to be better parents for their daughter and better leaders to the people of katsina state, the Governor and his wife decided on exposing Nadeeya's parents case. It was a really hard decision for them to make because that will be a dark paint on their political image but not withstanding the truth is better than their political carrier.
Yusrah opened her arms to welcome them into a hug.
"I am proud of you guys. Come here already."
The fact that they are a piece of a puzzle that is broken doesn't make them any less. They have been through a lot of obstacles, sinned a lot of times but even God can forgive yeah?
And yes, Yusrah is so proud of them at the moment even though she is yet to break the news of her disease to them because she knows how it'll break them.
A lone tear stroll down her cheeks the moment her parents are in her arms. They sure needed the hug.
"We will be fine." She reassured herself.
"In sha Allah."
At this point she knows right that her parents aren't heroes, they are just like her, broken yet trying to act fine.
The situation was getting tensed because Governor Badaru can hear his wife's silent sobs already so he sat upright.
"Now let's not get emotional. Let's go and do something fun and guess whatttt?!"
"Tell us already!"
"I have gotten alott of BREAD for us."
He screamed the bread part loudly.
"yeahhh baby boyyyy."
With a loud shriek, they went downstairs to get on making snacks for iftar, it's Thursday and it has been their habit to fast on Mondays and Thursdays for the past two weeks.
The most exciting part is that they now have the kitchen to theirselves because Yusrah insisted on giving the maids break until she is married again with the words 'I need to learn how to cook'.
****************
Inner peace....
Is something not is everyone is blessed with. Some days you feel so chaotic inside but plaster a fake smile on your face to make people believe you're alright. It's right, emotional pain is worst than any physical pain. Especially when the world seem to be against you and you can't tell anyone because at the moment everyone around sees you as the wall to lean on.
Abdoul walked down the stairs of his office with a box filled with all his items from the office. His day started as a very beautiful one because the Governor told him he is getting the case himself to the court so he need not to worry about that but well.... For the past three months he has been having problems with the people in his office. A lot even. His personality of not allowing any illegal usage of money is causing problems and the fact that he is working with corrupt people makes it even worst. He signed a deal with a company unknown to him it was all a trap causing his own company to loose over half of the money invested and he couldn't bring himself clean because he signed the deal and unfortunately he got a red flag, meaning a meeting will be held against him and if he doesn't bring himself clean he will be fired from the cooperation.
With the thought of Nadeeya in his head, how he is going to start breaking the news to her. How disappointed Baba is going to be...well before he gets to explain things to him, he increased the speed of his car,reviving sound of the engine.
Could it get any better? To him, the best coping mechanism anybody could get is speed,using car speed.
With the windows down,he adjusted his tie and removed the first three buttons of his Armani white shirt hoping that will help him clear his head before getting home.
At about 6:30pm, he drove back to the mosque near his house and prayed Maghreb and sat down there with his head down until it was time for isha. He prayed with the people and greeted some of them before sitting back.
Babe where are you? I've missed you. Take care of yourself. I love you.
A text from Rabbaitul Qalb popped in. A sad smile crept up his face. God knows he loves this woman and the last thing he wants to do is hurt her.
He picked up his car keys and phone. It's better to let it all go than to keep it in and endure. He is going to do the right thing.
"Hey babygirl."
"God I've missed you. Where have you been? Why do you look so dull?" A series of questions flowed out of Nadeeya's puffy lips.
He smiled at how adorable she looked. He cupped her face and pecked her lips.
"I love you."
He picked her up and dropped her on the couch.
"And I am all fine. How's our peanut?"
"Peanut is missing his Papa but he doesn't want to talk to papa until papa is clean so first go and bath then we talk."
With a little push up the stairs, he walked up, took his bath and rushed down to his wife who is warming what he expected to be beef sauce in the pan.
"I've missed you girl. Soo much."
"The next time you sneak up on me will be a surprise for you, coz bro I'm gon use this spatula on you."
"You can't."
"Watch me."
"Before i watch you, let me help with something."
He moved his hands down the baby bump and lift it a bit.
She moaned and threw her head back on his shoulders in satisfaction, God knows how heavy and uncomfortable it has been and this is just the perfect thing to do.
"Thank you."
"Anything for the baby mama. Now let's go and eat."
Picking up the plates and bowl sauce, Abdoul walked to the dining arena.
"Yusrah called me earlier and it's about the case."
"Oh yeah, I've spoken with the Governor earlier."
He chewed the piece in his mouth and swallowed.
"I feel a bit confused about it. But it's going to be fine yeah?"
"Yes baby, in sha Allah."
"By the way, you don't look yourself. Anything I should know?"
He shrugged off his slumped shoulders and gave her a small tight smile.
"Naaah, I'm good. Just exhausted. I have taken my paternal leave already. So we'll be staying together until baby peanut is out in sha Allah."
A wave of happiness wavered into her heart. To her, her husband is the keyboard and she can argue about all time.
"I love you papa peanut. Soo much."
"I love you too. Now let's eat up and go to the bed cuz damnnnn man is tired."
He said in between fake smiles.
Please love me at my worst....