Chapter 41: Chapter 41

They were sitted on the circled sofas in Baba's living room, the lugubriousness on their faces was palpable, their gazes were fixed on Baba, whom refused to utter a single word. Mama fumbled on the sofa she was sitting on, she was getting impatient "You summoned us here, but you didn't say anything, I have guests to attend to, please," she spoke softly, yet impatiently.

Baba cleared his throat, looked at sombrely looking Yusuf and Husna, then Mama "I don't know how you will take what I'll say, but believe me, that's the best I can do," he narrowd his eyes on them. They nodded for him to continue, as they were eager to know the reason behind this call, as Baba is not the person of meetings.

"Ummi's husband has another wife, he got married to two wives yesterday, I hope you'll all help me in pacifying her," Baba's voice was gruff, he sounded guile, as he thinks what he does wasn't good.

Mama and Husna's eyes bulged out in disbelieve and shock, Yusuf stiffened on his spot, trying to be calm amd gentle. "Do you mean she has a co-wife? What a mistake Alhaji, why would you do that to your own daughter? Why? This is unfair, we're not tired of her, how would I face Ummi and tell her she's not his only wife? how?" Mama burst into tears out of pain and sadness, she couldn't believe what she heard. She knew Ummi was the jealous type, she was the one talking to her about it, that she's not sure if she'll live her life as her husband's only wife. She didn't know this would happen, she would've have braced her daughter well for it. But wait__could it be true?

Husna closed her eyes, as lone of tears cascaded down her cheeks, her heart was burning inside, she knew how her sister would feel, being married with a co-wife same day? This is terrible. The pain can't be vocalized. Yusuf grisps his knockle tight, he doesn't want to loose his control infront of his family, he had to be strong for Mama, Husna, and Ummi herself.

"What are you crying for? Is it a crime having a co-wife? What's your problem women?" Baba flared up, wrathfully looking at Mama and Husna. He was enraged by their sudden outburst, he sees nothing in having a co-wife, what's there? Will she kill her? Everyone will look for his Jannah.

Mama sniffs between sob, she was the only person that has the guts to talk to Baba at this kinds of situations. "But Alhaji why will you accept it? Is it a most? They didn't torture you, why would you do this to your own daughter? Did you consider her feelings? You got her married on such a very short notice, and still that isn't enough, she has to live with a co-wife. This is just too much," Mama spatted out of anger and melancholy. Both Husna and Yusuf were humbugged, is this Mama the benevolent person? This co-wife of a thing must have obviously besetted her to the core.

"Enough if all this! Ummi is married, she has to live with her co-wife and husband. Peacefully," Baba finalised amd stomped out of his living room, leaving devastated Mama and Husna behind. Yusuf silently ensued him, as he has nothing to say, he needs to know the condition of his sister.

***

Sitted on the beach sand, their hands entwined, her head on his broad hard chest, was Laila and Laith, he was feeding her with an ice cream, she laughed at something he said, throwing her head backwards.

"L, what did you said to them? I was curious__ like how didn't they solemnize the wedding even without you," Laith spoke with a truimphant smile plastered on his lips.

Laila gigled, thanking Inas for the umpteenth time, Inas was her life saviour. "L, that isn't something to worry about. Anyway__I called Hajia and informed her I was sick, Yaya knew about it but left me behind, I was going to be operated may be. So she got hyped up and cancle the wedding I guess, because my phone was switched off since then, I switched it on because of that," she shrugged Hajia's thought off, she knew Hajia would be worried about her, but she has to do what Inas said, she couldn't just ruin their plans. Impossible!

"So smart of you, L. Mom was happy about it too, but she was afraid too," he ended with a glum look on his face, his voice was laced with anger and pain.

"Why would she be afraid? I thou.." she was cut off by Laith, whose voice was a bit higher this time around. "She wasn't the only one, I am too," he spoke lugubriously.

Laila's forehead crinkled, she was curious about where was Laith's real Dad? As he told her Mr Bradley wasn't his real Dad. And why didn't he trust and love any Nigerian apart from her? Why did he got hyped up and sombre whenever the name 'Nigeria' is been called? Why is he afraid of Nigerians? Many whys kept rummaging in her brain, but she suppressed her questions, as this isn't the right time to ask him these.

"Why would you be? I love you, and that enough can make them get us married, they can't force me into an arranged marriage, Hajia won't agree," she smiled ostentatiously at him, trying to persuade him.

He smiled ruefully at her, probably a smile of pity, he knew how Nigerians are, he knew they can't let them get married, unless it's their destiny, but those people are guile beyond expectations. "L, I won't argue with you, but those Nigerian can be heartless and senseless, they don't reason with people's feelings while making decisions. That's why I want us to get married here, you can go back later," he stared deep into her eyes, holding her hands with his, his eyes emoting love, plea, fear, and anger.

She shifted her gaze on her flat Aldo shoes beside her, "It's okay, L, you shouldn't worry about this, I'll talk to Inas."

***

Ummi kept staring in disbelief, she was befuddled, how did he get to be her husband? Of all people? Why him?

He hung his head low, as happines filled his heart, he was overjoyed, he felt at the seventh heaven. Is he really married to her? Could it be true?

He kept monotoning Alhamdulillah as he slowly trudged to where she stood, looking at him in disbelief.

Without a second thought, he leaned in and hugged her, hugging her tight, as if his soul belongs to her. With the Alhamdulillah not leaving his mouth, he spoke softly, yet endearingly "I've always wanted to hug you, I've always yearned to make you mine, I've always dreamt of you being my wife. All thanks be to Allah, he granted my unspoken wish, Alhamdulillah, he is the Mudabbirul umur, his change turned into a forever grateful change," he muttered through her neck, snuggling. He felt out of word, long forgetting the lady he was hugging, he forgot that he's no more her lover but an enemy, she's no longer seeing him as a good person but a guile one, she won't easily accept him as her husband. Alot of work awaits him.

Ummi abruptly broke the hug, she looked at him disgustfully, how dare he hugged her? Being married to him doesn't give him the chance to hug her, she's just physically his, not internally.

She wanted to talk to him, she wanted to shout at him, she wanted to tell him how being married to him puts her ina a state of melancholy, but she procrastinated. Without a single glance, she silently sat back, took her Qur'an, and continue reading Suratul Yasin, it will help soothe her pains, ease her worries, and put her mind at rest.

He knealt in front of her, as she continue reciting the holy Qur'an with her melodious voice, full of tajweed, his eyes on her were piercing through her soul, she felt uneasy sitting an inch close to him, a slight move will make her legs brush his broad chest.

She finished her recitation, his eyes not taking off from her face and whole body, with every move she makes, his eyes were on her. She said her prayers and put back the Qur'an in it's beautiful shelf on the bedside drawer.

She closed her eyes ruminatively, practically shooing him out, but he didn't flickered from his knealing position.

His words took her unaware, he even have the effrontery, wow. He's full of annoying wonders "You were my friend, friendship exonerated. You were my girlfriend, relationship exonerated. You're now my wife, proposal exenorated. So__will you be my loving, obsequious, and religious spouse?" He asked, narrowing his eyes through her lifted ones.

She guffawed at his ninniness, is she stupid again? Isn't she shrewd now? This won't happen again.

"Get out of my room!" She spatted silently, yet dangerously.

He looked at her for a minute, and silently trudged out her room.

***

Husna was placating Mama since when Baba dropped the bombshell, Husna had tried her best but all in vain. Ya Yusuf didn't come back since he left, she wondered if he's safe.

Husna handed Mama a cup of water, she gulped it down, wiping her tears with her palms. "How will I face her? This is complete betrayal, we should've have told her since," Mama whined for the umpteenth time.

"Mama, why would'nt you call her? It will be much easier for the both of you," Husna spoke, silently praying Mama will pay heed to her advice, as it's the only solution to her worriedness.

"Don't you think it's late? Won't I disturb a newly wedded bride?" Mama stated sadly, looking at the wallclock in her room.

"Mama, you won't, trust me. She might heard the co-wife thing now, you'll be the only person she'll need," Husna assured, and it worked. Mama took out her phone from her purse, unlocked it, and dailed 'Ummy na'. Fresh lone of tears started cascading down her cheeks, when it started ringing. She pitied her daughter.

***

Ummi was ruminative about how her life would be in this house, a dungeon is better than this house to her, she sees a lion less dangerous than her husband. Her phone's ringing tone jolted her out of her reverie, her eyes swelled up with tears, as the callers name popped on her screen.

"Assalamu Alaikum, Mama, already missing me?" She joked sombrely, trying to suppress her sadness. She needs to be strong now.

After all the pleasantries, asking everyone, how was everything, as if she left the house years ago. Typical women.

Mama heaved a sigh "Ummi, I want you to be obedient to your husband, be kind and loyal to your co-wife. Having a co-wife isn't because you're lacking anything, it's the will of Allah, it might be good or not, all you have to is pray. Don't stress yourself because you have a co-wife, a co-wife you were married on the same day, have to share the same husband. Whatever he said; please be obedient. You can let her have him first, pray, Ummi, pray. It's the least you can do for yourself, as Allah is in control of everything," Mama was sobbing silently, she hang up before Ummi could utter a word.

Ummi was flummoxed, is Mama obfuscating something for her? But she sounded impotent. This is paradoxical. Could it be true? But Mama has paraphrased it for her, it's true. She has a co-wife, they were married on the same day, has to share the same husband, is this another way of betraying and putting her in pain? Is this a way of shattering the pieces of her heart she took years mending? No way. She needs to stand for herself.

She sombrely trudged out of her room, her heart was beating vigourously against it's ribcage, she was in an agonizing pain. Being married to a same husband on the same day? This is a pain that can't be vocalized.

She spotted a door opposite to her's was slightly opened, she turned the door knob? And it creaked ajar, she saw him sitted at the edge of the bed, his face on his palms, he looked ruminative.

She entered the room, stood in the middle, hands akimbo, looking at him enragely. "Al-amin!" She half-yelled, wrathfully.