I managed to convince Mamie to let us stay until Nasreen's wedding although Mahmud thought it was not necessary to stay that long since we have grown passed the tolerance stage.
Luckily Mamie agreed but still ordered that the house be arranged and cleaned and also more stuff had to be bought in order to furnish the gigantic house we were to move to.
The thing I was most excited about was the excess space as I get to have my very own vegetable and herb garden just like Ammi has back in Abuja and the balcony from which one can see the flowing river close to the house, everything was made perfect I tell you, but I will sure need a minimum of 3 helps around the house.
I can't believe I am thinking of moving in with Mahmud, a year ago I would sit down thinking of a million ways I could take off his head...now I can't seem to take my mind off him. Although I am starting to think I am rushing into this relationship and I think its best I take things very slow but sometimes I can't help it.
"What do you think" i felt someone tap me from behind it was then I remember we were going through some magazines to help Nasreen pick some jewelry sets to match her outfits.
"Oh noo! I don't think that would work" I voiced out my honest opinion.
"Well please pay more attention...no one can look better than me so I can't have you being in two places at once" she said,
"Hahahha! Yaya will be home soon" Amani chirped.
"What has he got to do with anything?" I asked rolling my eyes.
"I'm sure he cannot wait to close from work too" Nasreen teased, "have you noticed that yaya doesn't stay in the office past 5:00pm... And he keeps making up excuses like coming home for lunch break just to see you" she added.
"You are really lucky Minal" Amani chirped looking absent minded,
"Don't worry! I am sure Ya Fu'ad thinks you are pretty too" I teased.
"Wh...who said anything about Ya Fu'ad" she stammered trying to hide her blush.
"Oh My God! Are you blushing?" Nasreen joined and we both laughed.
"I think I am done here" she kept the magazine on the side and stood up to leave,
As soon as she opened the door He was standing right outside, I felt my belly Summersault...I wonder why I get that feeling when ever our eyes meet.
"Oh you are welcome, its actually a good thing you are here... Minal cannot shut up about how good looking and charming you are and how she is crazy about you" Amani said sticking her tongue out at me.
"Really... Are you serious" he began to get all excited.
"You can ask her" she said leaving the room.
"Ehmm, I also have to go check on something" Nasreen followed behind her.
"Hey" he said sitting down on the coffee table opposite my bed.
"Hi" was the only thing I could say considering the embarrassment Amani just put me through.
"You could come work at the office you know...that way you wouldn't miss me so much" he said rolling up his sleeves.
"Who told you that...I am always busy here I can't really be missing you" I said trying not to blush
"Wow so you don't even miss me" he said trying to play his victim card.
"I didn't say that" I replied
"Oh so you do miss me" he smiled moving closer to where I was seated.
"Whatever" I answered rolling my eyes so he wouldn't pester me any further,
"I actually love it when you do that with your eyes...its almost as if you are trying to seduce me" he said with his eyes preying on me
"Ohh no you got it all wrong...i...I'm not trying to do anything like that" I began to explain myself
"I know you don't mean that" he laughed "I can't get my mind off you and its driving me insane...you are so beautiful" he added touching the side of my face, and then to my head removing my head cover to revealing my messy bon.
"What do you think you are doing" I flinched moving a bit further
He smiled leaving the room, it sure felt awkward because deep down I didn't want him to leave.
A dew days later Abbah summoned us all to his leaving room but I had a feeling it was all about Nasreen's wedding arrangements so I wore my black abaya and a black veil over my head.
I met them all seated in the living room. Abbah asked for suggestions on were to go for Nasreen's furniture shopping and other small things any of us would like to buy for the wedding,
We all agreed on Italy and Abbah ordered that we make a list to make the shopping easier. We were about to leave when he stopped us all
"One more thing... Shatuu about these two I think its high time they get their own place" he suggested,
"I have been thinking the same thing as well since they have settled themselves" she replied looking at the both of us
"That's good! Mahmud you can take your wife home tomorrow or the day after that as it pleases you" Abbah ordered,
"Toh fa! Alhaji so soon? I thought maybe we could give them a bit of time" Mamie said,
"Haba Shatu! How much time do you want to give them, they have lived here for a year, they should have moved out a long time ago" Abbah scolded,
"You are right, I will inform Fatima about it inshaa Allah" Mamie gave in
"Please do so but I don't want any formalities, he will just take his wife and leave that's all" Abbah warned
Everyone left the living room excited except for me, this issue of moving in has shattered my excitement about going to Italy and all I could think about was how i was going to cope.
My phone started ringing as soon as I entered the room.
"Hello" I answered waiting for his response,
"Malama you heard what Abbah said so pack your things we are leaving tomorrow evening" he said happily
"Why do I have a feeling you had something to do with this" I asked
"Just be ready to leave" he said hanging up the call.
Can this really be happening to me? I kept asking myself while I tried to figure out ways to stop this from happening tomorrow or at least prolong it for as long as I could.
I decided to talk to Mamie about it but it seems her hands were tied too there was nothing she could do.
Everyone kept moving up and down as if we were having guests or something, the chefs were also busy preparing a lot of mouthwatering delicacies it was beginning to excite me... Maybe Ammi is coming over or something.
We were having a few of the samosas being prepared when Mamie came into the kitchen chasing us out and ordered we all go to the salon,
"But Mamie we were there a week ago" I whined,
"Do it again" she ordered pushing us out of the house.
"Make sure you do some facial treatments" she yelled right before Nasreen drove off
I did love facial treatments but I wonder what Mamie is getting at chasing us from the house. We went to the salon playing a game of what ifs with our minds.
When we came back from the salon there was a young woman waiting to do our henna decoration, of course Amani was excited as she loves painting her hands.
"I go first" she squealed seating down in front of the lady stretching out her hands,
"I think I'll pass" I said walking to my room to take a shower but before I could Mamie found out and came to my room to look for me.
"What is it I am hearing young lady?" Mamie asked standing by the door with one hand on the door knob and the other on her waist.
"Nothing Mamie I'm just not in the mood for all of that" I said picking up my towel.
"Come on! It doesn't bite besides I want all three girls looking dashing... Fine do it for my sake" she said dragging me to where they were all seated,
"Make sure you decorate her legs as well" Mamie instructed the young woman,
Mamie was on the phone all afternoon ordering only God knows what, we were looking like Arabian princess by the time the henna Artist was done and Mamie showered her with a lot of money and gifts before she left.
It was then I remembered that I haven't packed a single thread all day " Ohh Allah where am I going to start from... I can't even tell Mamie we are leaving today, I hope he did" I muttered under my breath
I went to my room and pulled out my boxes but most of them had a lot of clothes in them, some I haven't even used. I sat down on my bed hopelessly wondering how that of my closet would fit into those boxes.
I picked up my phone and dialed his number, luckily it was answered after the third beep,
"Wow! Its been long since you called me...are you okay?" He asked teasingly,
"Well I am having some trouble packing my stuff" I replied bluntly
"Do you need my help?" He asked
"Oh no! I was thinking maybe we could postpone until arrangements are made" I replied.
"Ohh noo noo no, just take what you need that's all" he said
"You are so not fun... I hate you!"
"I love you too" he replied before hanging up the phone.
I smiled a bit leaning back onto my bed, I really hated packing, back home I always had someone to do it and even when I went away to school I had Amma to do it for me.
I sat up to proceed when Mamie came in to the room
"Are you looking for something?" She asked looking at the mess I made but before I could come up with an answer she continued,
"Come on you can continue with that later, let's soak you in some lavender and Jasmine" she said holding my hands
I didn't argue I followed her to her room were a steaming bath tub was ready just for me and I could smell the scent from a distance. "Just what I needed" I muttered.
I came out of the bathroom and Mamie gave me a scented body butter to rub on and some of her most treasured khumra... The "Dan ganin Sunusi Lamido" as we named them because she never let's anyone go near them.
She brought out a new peach and red lace specially sowed for me and when I tried them on they fit just right after that Maryam came in with a kasko in her hands for the bakhur and the scent was mesmerizing.
So much for no formalities Mamie had a make up artist waiting for me in her living room... I couldn't even recognise myself when she was done with me. The last time I looked this good was for my Kamu.
Mashaa Allah I was looking great, Mamie adorned me with the most beautiful gold jewelry I have ever seen and then the silver laffaya perfectly although it was a bit uncomfortable I was loving the look.
I wore my mother's wedding present which was the gold bracelet, I sat alone with Mamie as she preached about endurance and patience and then I was taken to Abbah's living room for his own words of wisdoms.
He sat in the living room dressed in a white kaftan, he was looking so handsome I kept piping through my covered veil.
After some water works (crying) I was taken to the car were I sat in the back with Mahmud,
I begged Amani to come with me but Abbah wouldn't have it. The second car had some boxes while the third had lots of food warmers and trays I began to wonder whom we were going to feed.
Our parting was a very emotional one, it felt as if I just got married and was leaving home for the first time.
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Alhamdulillah! This is so far the longest chapter I have ever written, do enjoy.