Jiddah's POV
Two weeks passed by in a blink of an eye. I am fully settled in my new home and ready to study, I have cleared my mind of my past and my toxic marriage, I need to stay strong for my self and my Daughter.
Sometimes, I wonder what life has for me in the future but that's not going to be solved my too much thinking so I have made up my mind to concentrate on my studies and the upbringing of my daughter, the apple of my eyes. She is now used to me leaving her at home with Habibah and going for lectures.
"Hauwa" I averted my gaze to where the sound is coming from, "Na'am" I smiled. "What are you doing here all alone" she asked, her name is Azeemah, she's the only one I talk to in our class, maybe because we met during registration. "Waiting for the next class to start obviously" I chuckled. "Okay oo"
We talked a little before the class commenced, and after the lectures, we strolled to the main gate. "Are you living in the hostel?" I asked her, "Nope, Off campus" she winked. "Ohh," "Yeah, you?" "Same here" I said.
"By the way, where do you live?" She asked, "I live in the Estate opposite murna supermarket"
"Oh wow, my house is close to that place, I'll come visit you tomorrow" she said, "Okay sure, I'll appreciate it" I smiled. "Okay then bye" she waved her hand at me and left. I also took a Keke and went home.
Maryam was fast asleep while Habibah was watching a hausa movie on the television. "Welcome" she said and tried to collect my hand bag. "Don't worry. Hope she didn't cry today?" I gestured at Maryam. "No oo she didn't" she grinned, "okay" I Said and left for my room. I collapsed on the bed right after I came in, I am so tired and exhausted. I dragged my self to the toilet and took a hot bath, after that I wore a loosed gown and went to the parlour.
"Have you eaten?" I asked Habibah, "yes we ate indomie" she grinned, "Okay" I nodded and went to the kitchen. I fetched some of the jellof rice in the fridge and warmed it in the microwave. After heating it I went to the sitting room and joined Habibah.
"Habibah get me my phone from the room" I said, it has been ringing since. "Okay" she said.
Who could it be? I mentally asked myself and dialed the number. An unknown number called 6times. "Salama alekum!" I had to shift the phone from my ear.
"Wa'alaikumu Salam" I replied, Its kawu. "Do you recognize the voice?" He said with a high pitch. "Yes, Kawu Ina wuni" I said.
"I'm fine, how are you and your husband?, How is my granddaughter?" He chuckled, your granddaughter indeed. "We are all fine Kawu" I said getting disgusted already. "Ever since you followed your Inna to the village, you stopped caring about me, and even now that you are married you never even cared to call and hear how are are doing. I am just like a father to you haba Hauwa'u" he nagged.
"Toh kawu ayi haquri, ya mutan gida?"(Sorry kawu, how is everyone athome?) I asked. "We are all fine" he laughed. "Okay then, bye" I said.
"Wait wait, your Inna wants to talk with you" "I don't want to" I concluded and cut the call. I don't want to hear her voice, it might just bring all the bad memories back.
The only good memories of the village I have are the ones I shared with my parents when I was little and the one from my school, the NYSC Teacher, he's probably married with a kid by now, he was a really nice soft person.
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"Thanks for the ride" I said when she stopped the car in front of my house, Azeemah brought her car today so she offered to drop me at my house. "Wow, you live here all alone?" She exclaimed. "Yeah, please come in and have a drink" I said.
"Maybe next time" she chuckled. "You better be coming out of the car oo" I teased. "Okay, if you insist."
I knocked at the gate and waited for the security to open, "Madam Oga is here oo" he grinned, "Okay" I smiled. We went into the parlour and met Yusuf watching is should I say looking at the television. He looked stunning in his maroon kaftan.
"Assalamu Alaikum" Azeemah's voice interrupted him. "Wa'alaikumu Salam" he answered after giving me a glare. "When did you come?" I asked nervously, "Since.Who is she?" He pointed at Azeemah, that was Soo impolite. "Her name is Azeemah, she's my coursemate and friend. Azeemah meet my Husband Yusuf" I introduced them to each other.
She looked confused and baffled, i never told her I have a husband or even a child. "Hi" she waved at him, "Hello how is school?" He faked a smile. "Alhamdulillah, I never knew.."
"It's almost maghrib time, you should get going before Aunty starts looking for you" I said and escorted her outside. "You!..you never told me you have a husband" she grinned. "Well now you know" I smiled.
"Masha Allah he's so handsome, you guys fit wllhi" she chuckled, "Thanks, Bye" I waved at her and went inside.
"Who is she?" He asked again, "I told you she's my friend" I answered, "Hhh friend indeed" he walked towards me. "Yes" I nodded my head. "So you think you can fool me?"
"She's just a friend, what's wrong with befriending a girl?" I asked confused. "That's how it starts, from there you'll start hanging out with boys, who knows maybe you even have a boyfriend by now, so you want to use this opportunity to misbehave right?" He said with gritted teeth.
Tears brimmed in my eyes as I looked at him in disbelief, people who do bad always think others are like them too. "She was just a friend, at least I am not commiting a sin like some people and in shaa Allah I will not, na San mutuncin aure" I snapped and before I could close my mouth, I felt his hand on my face, he slapt me. "So because you're now in university, you think you can talk back at me" he tried to unbuckle his belt "Noo" I cried trying shield my self from his beating.
"Wretched soul" he kicked me out of the way and went out furiously. I was now rolling on the floor and crying out loud, this pain is too much for me to carry on with. "Ma..maaa" I heard Maryam crying and calling my name. I took her in my arms and continued crying while Habibah was behind my back comforting me.
Few minutes later
I was now sitting before the dresser in my room and staring at my puffed face with my red eyes craving for happiness. I was contemplating on wether to call Goggo and tell her what has been going on or not. I later on decided to call her so I dialed her number and waited for her to answer.
"Assalamualaikum Jiddah"
"Goggo" I cried, "Jiddah, Mai ya faru, what Happened?" She asked, "Jiddah you're getting me worried answer me now, are you sick?, Or is it Maryam or Yusuf?" "Goggo we are all fine" I sobbed.
"Then tell me why you are crying now haba Jiddah" "it's Yusuf Goggo, he's abusing me" I cried more. "what do you mean by he's abusing you?" Sh asked. I told all that has been happening and how he had always treated me with disregard. "Jiddah" "Na'am Goggo" I sobbed. "All marriages have their ups and downs okay, someone out there is experiencing something worst than yours, and you're Lucky you married into a rich family and they are also sponsoring your education. No Man is perfect okay? Every married woman you see has her own challenges, do I'll advice you to try and make between you and your husband, and about him roaming about with another girl, keep praying for him, in shaa Allah zwi gyaru, he'll change by the special grace of God. It is also your job as a woman and also his wife to try and show him the right path and give advices when necessary, Allah ya bako hakuri, kinji" in conclusion what she said just broke me down more and nothing else. "Ameen Goggo, sai anjima, a gaida mutan gida" I cut the call and continued crying.
So there is no one who can stand up for me?, I don't want this kind of marriage where all I have to achieve is materialistic stuffs and not peace of mind, I've gone through a lot in my life, at least now I deserve happiness, Astagfirullah. I performed ablution and prayed to raka'ats, in my Sujud, I cried to Allah and poured out all my pains and sorrows to him, I asked him to save me from this marriage that is eating me up and ruining every aspect of my life.
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