Chapter 23: Chapter 23

“Khadijah, Act like you have blood in your body now, bring it fast” Khadijah fought the urge to groan, she knew that so called maman Abdul was bad news.

Hajiya Ladidi had woken her up by seven saying she had to get up and help her prepare snacks and drinks because Abdul and his mother were coming, she thought he traveled so she voiced it to which her mother answered saying the trip was postponed.

If she knows her mother well enough, she must've insisted on his coming but she didn't voice that, she got up and took a bath grumbling inaudibly all the while. She had just finished frying the samosas hajiya Ladidi made earlier, she was arranging them on the tray but her pace didn't seem to be fast enough for her mother.

Khadijah walked out with the tray in hand and dropped it on the center table she didn't know they had, she didn't bother asking where her mother got it from, only the woman knows her things.

“Better, they'll be here any minute, go and wear something presentable” Khadijah pushed her mouth forward, she looked okay in her A-shape gown with bell sleeves, she didn't bother tying the headtie so she tied a veil muffler style, not wanting to argue with her, she walked back to her room and rummaged through her wardrobe, nothing fits her fancy since she wasn't planning on dressing up for him, she hopes he would run for the hills since he'd always thought her a witch because of her eyes.

Her phone started ringing drawing her attention from the two gowns she held trying to decide which to wear, she smiled seeing Sadiya's name.

“Asslamu alaikum ya Sadiya, good afternoon” she greeted and Sadiya replied though her voice didn't sound at all like her. “Is everything okay? you sound sick” she asked worriedly sitting on the bed.

“Just fever, I talked with unma and she said you were going to meet with one Abdulmalik, before you say it's what you want better listen to me, I know how umma is and don't let her push you into another fruitless marriage, though we don't know how this one is but please Khadijah think about yourself, your mental health is way more important to me than your marital status or our mother's twisted beliefs, okay?”

Khadijah nodded with tears prickling her eyes she remembered Sadiya couldn't see her and muttered a small yes.

“Okay good, May Allah see you through, remember I'm always here for you.” she said Ameen and they both stayed quiet for a few seconds, each lost in his thoughts, “Please come by the house when it's over, I need a little help with the kids” Khadijah replied with she'll be there and after saying their goodbyes, she hung up and made way to the ensuite to clean up, as usual she avoided the mirror, after rinsisng her face and a couple of breathing exercises, she stepped out and picked the first dress.

A blue pastel flared out gown with regular sleeves, since the veil she tied was black she didn't bother changing, though she removed it from the muffler, she didn't apply anything on her face except lip gloss and even that was colorless, with a sigh she opened the door and walked out the same time she heard voices exchanging pleasantries, she reminded herself that she was an adult and no one would force her, with that she plastered the biggest smile she could muster which looked like she wanted to be anywhere but there, and entered the living room.

Hajiya Ladidi who had a broad smile on her face turned in time to see Khadijah entering, she had thought she would wear traditional clothes but seeing her like that made her almost lose her smile, she turned to maman Abdul who also just saw the new comer, Khadijah squatted a little and greeted her before making way to the empty seat which happened to be opposite Abdulmalik, she didn't have any choice but to sit, they exchanged pleasantries with his mother, she greeted him curtly and turned.

Hajiya Ladidi who was over the moon with joy thinking of the possibility of Khadijah and Abdul hitting it off, the former who was occupied with her phone missed the casual glances he kept throwing her way but her mother saw and that made her more happy. She went ahead and kept talking with Hajiya Zainab, Abdul's mother catching up on lost time, her two daughters Zubaida and Hafsa were both happily married with children, she made a joke about Abdul refusing to bring a wife to which hajiya Ladidi smiled and said in Hausa, “Well, see his younger sister here, we can see what Allah will do” the two women laughed at that.

“Dije, your mother here tells me you have a tailoring shop, Masha Allah, I'll bring my clothes one of these days” Hajiya Zainab commented while Khadijah only smiled politely. She's heard that a million times from her mother's friends, it was natural for them to make comments like that in the heat of conversation but none of them have ever stepped foot in her shop, though she was grateful for that, she's seen the likes of them and she doesn't want more.

“Let me show you around the house” the older women stood up under that guise but Khadijah knowing her mother, it was a plan to leave them alone but she wasn't planning on breaking the terse silence that ensued afterwards.

Abdulmalik on the other hand couldn't help but gawk at her, he remembers her clearly, she's grown up to be more beautiful than he could imagine, her eyes didn't even bother him, her dark complexion that has always made him choose her sisters over her looked divine, he could swear he's never seen melanin look that good on anyone else, he didn't voice it though, he kept staring quietly.

Khadijah's phone rang breaking the silence, she looked at the caller ID and saw an unknown number, she didn't want to answer but something compelled her to and she tapped the receive button and put the phone to her ear at the same time she stood up and walked to her room.

“Hello?” she closed the door behind her, she could hear her mother and Hajiya Zainab's laughter from there, whatever it was making them laugh so much, she thought her attention barely on the phone.

“I thought you would be busy," The voice sounded familiar but she couldn't place a face to it “Or maybe I'm just lucky, good afternoon Dee”

Fahad, she said mentally, she replied his greeting and kept quiet afterwards, he hadn't called when he asked for the number and she almost even forgot.

“I'm sorry I didn't call, though hope you're fine,” she replied with fine and he kept quiet, he didn't know how to start, he's never had a more awkward phone call but he needed to do that for his cousin.

“This might seem all too.....strange to say the least but I'm calling because of Layla, well not completely, it's part of it though, God I'm ranting," she heard him take a deep breath but she kept mum, mostly because she had no idea what to say “I don't know if you know the complete story though, it's weird I'm calling it story-” he chuckled “-I need your help to get Layla out of the shell she's planning on crawling into, I know it'll be hard and you're bu-”

“-Anything you need” she didn't think twice before cutting him off, Layla has been there for her all her life, heck her business was thanks to Layla, there's nothing she wouldn't do for her.

He replied with okay, she could hear the relief in his voice, he hung up with the promise to call later because he had work, she replied giving him the go ahead, besides, he just made it easier to throw Layla's party because if there was one thing she is sure Layla would leave the house for, it's to eat at her favourite restaurant.

“Khadijah,” her mother opened the door with a small frown “What are you doing in here? We have a guest over.” knowing she had nothing to defend herself with or to get out of the hostess thing, she stood up with a sigh and followed behind her mother.

“Sorry she left you alone, she's always busy with work and doesn't like resting, maybe you'll talk her out of it.” hajiya Ladidi finished with a small laugh while Khadijah mentally scoffed.

“Hajiya Masha Allah, the house is really beautiful.” hajiya Zainab smiled her attention on Khadijah who had a far away look on her face, the latter was mentally checking things she had to do for the party, vendors to call and the likes.

“We should get going, Abdul still has to get ready for his flight”

“I'm not leaving until tomorrow don't worry,” he smiled at his mother, he changed his mind because he just realised he had unfinished business, in the form of a beautiful dark lady “I want to spend more time with Khadijah.” he smiled slyly with his head down, that action almost made Khadijah scoff out loud, she's spent enough time with them already and and she wants them gone, of course she didn't voice that, she just kept twirling her phone.

The two women laughed heartily at that and made a comment about young love. Hajiya Ladidi couldn't be any happier, her plan worked.

Khadijah on the other hand was trying her absolute best to not glare at him, for Allah's sake, he should leave with his mother and go back to whatever they came from.

Against her wishes, she found herself sitting opposite him again because their mothers' suddenly had to go visit a friend few houses from theirs.

“So, Khadijah it's been long yeah? Ten years?”