Chapter 11: Chapter 11

Her heart did a loud thug. When did she started being afraid of him. Or was she afraid to lose him? Or both. Either way, she would never wish to leave him. "What are you doing with this?" He asked snatching it away from her. "Where are you coming from, Amira?" He asked her, brows furrowed.

He looked around before he grabbed her wrist and dragged her into the house. "When are you going to start listening to me, Amira? When...." He pushed her into the living room as he listened to her mumbles. "Please don't leave me. Don't divorce me, I know I did something wrong but please forgive me." First her nose grew very red at the tip as the tears kept cascading down nonstop.

He stood there looking her in awe. What was she thinking? "Leave you? What do you mean? I.... why would I..." He paused and hissed slightly when her wails grew louder. "Would you just shut up?" He shrieked. She jerked back and yelped while she dropped her knees on the marbled floor. He kept mute, looking at her with the same disappointing look he has been giving her a thousand times before. She felt a sting in her throat. Not that she was remorseful, no. What would she tell her parents if he decides to divorce her at that moment for disobeying him? Her father especially.

"You're not a kid, amira. I won't always sit you down and keep trying to correct you or yell at you. If you like, fix your behaviours and allow us to live in peace and if you don't like, that is your problem but I will warn you again, if I see your feet out of this house without my permission again, you'll face my wrath." With that, he walked away and left her there on her knees.

She didn't rise up till she heard the sound of his door closing. She sighed and scrambled up before wiping her face. She hissed a bit when she realized he has taken the gold with him. She shrugged and walked into the kitchen to warm up her left overs.

An hour later after he had prayed Maghrib, he left the house again to Yusuf's place. He entered the house and met him in his leaving room playing football. "Again, don't know why yapendo agreed to let you have your own house," muhsin mouthed teasingly as he settled down on the soft sofa beside his cousin. Yusuf paused the game and glared at him. "Same reason why you own your own damn company. I'm old enough," he claimed before he pressed play and continued his game.

"What's up? You seem a little rough," Yusuf spoke, eyes fixed on the screen. "Same thing everyday." He heaved a desolate sigh and rubbed his temple. "What did you cook? I'm so hungry..."

"Aren't you tired of going places to eat?" He paused the game and faced his cousin. Muhsin gave him a puzzled look. "Yes, aren't you tired? I mean you need to man up! You're are the man of the house. It's not like I am giving you a bad advise but you need to fix things around your house, man. Man up and change things around your house."

Muhsin threw his head back laughing heartily. "You know amira since day one and you know how tough I am with her but you're still speaking like I am the one letting her do things on her own. You need to understand how entitled this girl is. She is the only daughter daddy has so I am not surprised by how spoilt she is."

"That doesn't mean she should be like this and if it's that way, You only have one sibling too but you aren't like that and it makes no difference to me," he opined. "I have a sibling, like you said. And I am a male, she is a female. There's a lot of difference," he corrected Yusuf. "You're not being that tough because you've never slept outside when you know she would be worried. You may think that I am crazy but if I was the husband, I would threaten to beat the crap out of her, maybe that would get some senses into her brain," he opined as he paused his game. Muhsin stared at his cousin in amusement. "I can't hit her, Yusuf. Though I don't love her but I cannot hit her..."

"Never said you should," he defended himself. "Well I'm not hitting my wife and I'm telling yapendo you advised me to," he jokingly spoke. "My mother knows how innocent I am, she would never believe your words," he claimed as he stood up from the sofa. Muhsin followed him into the kitchen, "don't forget, I am her favourite nephew, you should stop playing with your life because I have her heart."

Yusuf threw his head back laughing before he shook his head. "So, how's the new construction going? When are we going to launch it?" He asked excitedly. "Ohh it's going pretty great alhamdulillah. The new branches will be launched in few months by Allah's will." he sighed happily when the thought of his new branches came rushing back to his mind. That was one of the things that made him relieved whenever amira upsets him.

Yusuf cooked noodles for him before they headed out to the poolside and settled down as they conversed more about his new branches. Muhsin didn't leave the house till it was passed 10pm.

He entered the house the moment he arrived home. He met her at the same place he left her watching lord knows which movie. She looked away and Continued munching on her popcorn. He smiled, that was what he wanted; her silent treatment. It was a punishment for him, she thought. But what she never knew was he gets satisfied when she doesn't speak with him. Peace of mind, he chuckled as he opened the door to his room. He wouldn't mind if they lived that way. But she'd eventually get tired of the silent treatment and come rushing back to him. She was always the weak one. She regretted letting him know her weak point, and he was using it against her without him knowing he was.

The next day, Dalia finally gets to finish her registration with the help of Muhsin. He was on his way to take her home when his attention was being called at the office. "I was called at the office and I have to be there now. I can't let you use commercial car," he mouthed as he swerved the steering wheel. She gazed at him and looked away without saying anything. He shrugged and continued driving to the company.

She focused her gaze on the people and cars passing by while the thought of her mother crossed her mind. It was past 5 in the evening, she knew her mother must be outside the compound getting some fresh air like she always did especially when her father was at home. She sighed calmly at the thought of her father.

Sometimes his memories makes her sad especially at night and sometimes it made her smile when she remembered the precious time they spent together. It was almost a year since he passed away but the mourning had not run it's course. The heaviness was in her limbs as much as her mind. Things she used to find funny now only caused a deepening of the pain. He should've been there to rejoice with her when she passed her Jamb at her very first attempt. He should've been there to dance with her when she got admission into one of the most expensive universities she knew in Nigeria. He should have been there when she started her registration, to hold her hand and soothed her whenever she was nervous but no, she had to learn to embrace herself and do things on her own. She missed being a daddy's girl. She missed being pampered even when she threw her tantrums even though most of the times she did it to get his attention but he was long gone now and she won't get to see him again till hereafter.

"Come out let's head in," he spoke, cutting her ocean of thoughts. By the time she had realized they were already at the parking lot, he had already stepped out of the car waiting for her to do so. She slowly alight from the car and kept her file on the seat before she closed the door. She followed him inside as she looked around the huge bold name written, MM Worldwide. She averted her gaze from the company name to his retreating back.

They headed into the building as four men is suits welcomed him. He called his receptionist. "Take her to my office and serve her whatever she wants," he commanded her. She briskly nodded as squatted before she ushered Dalia to his office like he commanded her to.

They headed towards elevator that directly went up to his private office. A huge room occupying the corner of the building with floor-to-ceiling windows giving views in two directions. The two remaining walls contained a moderate living room with three sofas by the side was a water dispenser. A huge flat screen TV. A low book shelf, a vase flowers by Vincent Van Gogh. The black glass surface of his desk was equally uncluttered: a computer, files, neatly arranged by the side of the computer, a framed photograph of his parents and his a name written boldly on a golden plate.

Who would want an office to be this big? The owner of the place? He must be the owner of the company. The MM made sense now. Muhsin Mubarak, she read his name in her mind. "Please feel free ma'am and what would you like? Tea? Coffee? Ice tea or any drink you'd like to take and also snacks," the receptionist asked her politely as she smiled at her. His wife was beautiful and calm, the receptionist thought as she observed Dalia. They knew he was married, just that they have never seen the wife, only her name.

"Don't worry, I'm okay," dalia rejected politely. The receptionist didn't insist knowing she would still reject. "Okay ma'am if you need me please just pressed that button that has reception written above it." She bowed before walking out of the office. Dalia looked at the place she pointed at. She scanned through the multiple buttons and nodded in amusement. So he would just press a button and summon whomever he needed, with just a button?

She moved closer to the Tv, above it was his picture. She stared at the picture, smiling without knowing she was. He was handsome from the depth of his eyes to the gentle expression of his voice. He had the kind of face that stops you in your tracks. He must be used to ladies staring at him, she mused to herself. He had a tousled black, curly hair, which was thick an lustrous. His eyes were mesmerising hazel nut brown, flecks of silvery light performed ballets throughout. His face was strong and defined, his features folded from granite. He had dark eye brows, which sloped downwards in a serious expression. His usually playful smile had drawn into a hard line across his face. His smile etched his way back into his face.

If she had a husband that handsome, it would be a great challenge for her whenever he was going out. Girls definitely flirts with him, she mused. Not that she would but it was obvious. But, maybe his serious and nonchalant attitude wouldn't allow you to even dare near his way. How would she even cope with it? Ladies would keep attacking him. Dalia blinked twice and looked away, brows furrowed while her thoughts caught up with her consciousness. Since when had she considered having any man in her life, and why for God's sake, was she using Muhsin for comparisons? Unbelievable.

She turned and settled down on the sofa before he comes back and catch her drooling over his picture.

She found herself lain on the soft sofa as time flowed. She checked her small phone for the time. A minute had passed since she last checked an hour ago, or so it seemed. Laid there with nothing to stare at but the huge elegant photo of Muhsin. She rolled her eyes and glanced away. She closed her eyes, it was pointless too. She began to drift into an unpleasant daydream or was it a fantasy? A fantasy that would never happen in real life but it helped to pass the time.

Her eyes softly closed and her body became floppy. She tried to fight it but couldn't. She was too tired and bored to try staying away. She was fast asleep when she felt a soft tap on the sofa.

"Tired?" He smiled apologetically. She jerks awake with a start, and stares weirdly at him. "No, I'm fine," she muttered, rubbing her eyes. "I am sorry for keeping you waiting and thank you for your patience." He smiled to her again. Her stomach twirled as she peered at his relaxed facial expression. "It's fine. Can we go now please?" She asked as he walked over to his desk.

He opened one of the drawers and brought out another car key. "Sure, after we go eat," he informed her as he walked over to her again. "Let's get going." he started walking toward the glass door which automatically opened when he reached there. She quickly followed him and they entered the elevator together. "But it's almost maghrib time," she protested. "We won't take long at the restaurant," he spoke nonchalantly while he typed away from his phone. She sighed and folded her arms around her chest.

They stepped out of the building and started walking towards a different car. "My file is in your car," she mouthed. He unlocked the car and opened it. "You're done with registration?" He inquired and she slowly nodded. "Then that will not be a problem. The car will be taken to my house and I will bring the file for you whenever I get the chance to." He entered the car and started the ignition. She wanted to scream out of annoyance but she restrained herself. She opened the front door and hopped in before they left the entire building.

She was still drowsy off on their way to the restaurant. He looked at her and fixed his eyes back on the road. Few minutes later, the car came to a halt and she slowly opened her eyes. BluCabana Restaurant & Cafe, she mused to herself. She had been there before with him. That was the restaurant he took her to her first day in abuja.

He stepped out of the car same time she did and they headed into the restaurant. A waiter welcomed them and asked for their orders the moment they settled down. When muhsin was done taking his order, the waiter averted his gaze to Dalia. "She will have the same as mine," muhsin briskly muttered. The waiter answered before he excused himself to go take their orders to the kitchen.

He noticed how off and uncomfortable she was. "We will leave this place the moment we're done eating," he reminded her. She raised her head up, "I don't want mommy to get worried about my whereabouts." He smiled a little and nodded. "You know there's no way I would be roaming around this city with you without them knowing, especially daddy, so calm down, they know we're together." She slightly nodded and ducked her head, not that she was at ease. For some awkward reason her heart kept racing especially when she remembers the looks mommy sends her way whenever she was with Muhsin.

His phone vibrated from his hand and without any second thought, he picked the call. "Aunty en nyalli jam. Adon jam (Aunty, good evening. Hope you're doing okay.)" He spoke gently. Dalia raised her head to looked at him and their eyes locked but she ended the staring contest too soon. He was speaking the language again. She ducked her head and smiled as she listened to him even though she couldn't understand a word he was saying.

"Muhsin anandi bangal derdi ko ma lutti asawere. Miyida mi nana a hokki am uziri fere. A Wada alkawal a yahan. Daga dai a wairi Yola? Kon dai a do waddin na am dalila fere. Junta ka mi host dalila fere. Dikka a taski asawere metande a va'a jirgi be debbo ma. (Muhsin, you're aware that your cousin's wedding is next week. I don't want to hear any excuses. You promised to go. When last did you visit your family in Yola? You keep giving me excuses all the time, this time, no amount of excuses will save you. Better get ready next week Thursday and board the next flight to Yola with your wife.)" Aunty kept ranting nonstop. She hardly ranted but when she does, she wouldn't stop till your ears started bleeding. He bit his lips and pushed back the laughter. "Toh, toh aunty, mi yahan to Allah yardi jabi, mi wa wata yahugo be amira, o semtin tam on tan. (Okay, okay aunty I will be there in sha Allah but I can't come with amira, she will just embarrass me like she always does.)"

"Muhsin ta'a mettin na'am bernde. Esiko ma yahan bangal man toh mi larai hujja ko'a viya ta debboma yahata. (Muhsin don't get on my nerves. Even your mother in law is coming to this wedding so I do not see any reason why your wife will not be there too. Better inform her early.)" When she ended the call, he knew there was no way out of it. He scratched the back of his head and kept the phone on the table. The last thing he would want to do is travel to Yola with amira. She had embarrassed him quite too many times. His family accepted her despite her being the worst in law.

All his cousins are after her husband, she thinks. That's why they were never on the same page with his female cousins or any of his aunts. The thought of going to the wedding with her infuriated him. He slightly hissed and sighed.

The waiter arranged their order and left. "You have to eat. I left you all alone and tired for hours." He smiled to her again. That was the third time he was smiling to her today. He had never even smiled to her that way before. His face was always straight. Or maybe it was because of what he had done to her, keeping her waiting in his office for hours. She tried smiling but failed. All she wanted was to be home and rest.

He started eating his meal as he scrolled through his phone. He was already half way his food before she started eating. He dropped his spoon and took few sips of his water. He stared at her till she noticed his hot gaze on her. "Are you always this quiet, Dalia?" He dared to ask. Her eyes widened, unable to think of an answer that would suit his ridiculous question. He chuckled softly and shook his head. "Finish eating, then I will take you home." As if that was what she was waiting to hear, she continued eating. She never realized she was hungry till she had almost eaten everything on her plate.

She wiped her mouth with a tissue, waiting to hear him announce they were leaving. He called the waiter and paid the bill. "Shall we?" He stood up gently and she did the same. Together they walked from the brightly lit, calm restaurant out into the moonlight street.

They left the place and headed to daddy's house. He took his phone and dialled Yusuf's number before he placed the phone on his ear. "To a woni? A andi ko Aunty ve'am na. Ovi sai to miyehi bangal Hadiza bo sai to mi yadi be Amira (Where are you now? You cannot believe what aunty is making me to do. She said I have to attend Hadiza's wedding and I have to be there with Amira.)"

Yusuf hummed wondering why he was speaking Fulfulde. "I am at the clinic. Now what's up with the language?" He asked, suspiciously. "Oh I am together with someone and I don't want her to understand what I am saying obviously." He spoke smoothly. Maybe she knew how to speak it too but he wouldn't even care if she knew what he was saying. "Hypocrite. Who are you with? I am definitely telling amira now if you don't bribe me," he teasingly spoke. Muhsin hissed, "be serious here, man. What should I do?" He asked. "You know amira would just embarrass me there and when aunty utters a word, it stays."

"I know how aunty takes her words seriously. Erm... you just have to warn amira. Like be serious with her and warn her, that's the only way. I know how you're a mama's boy, you can never skip her commands."

Muhsin sighed, "you're right, I will do that instead. We will talk when I get home." He ended the call after Yusuf's response.

He dropped her off at home and left after he had entered and greeted amira's parents. Mommy felt her anger rising when she saw them together but she never showed one sign of her anger to anyone. The time when they would realize what she has been complaining was surely going to come.