Chapter 49: Chapter 49

Al-amin needed to be pinched, he wasn't sure of what he was seeing. Is she the really the one? Or was he hallucinating? Even if she's the one, who steered her to their house? Ya Rabb! He's sure she wasn't here with something good.

"What brought you to my house? To kibosh the little happiness I'm nurturing or what?" He half-yelled, piercing a hateful glare towards her.

She flinged in fear, wiping her tears that weren't ready to stop. She knew she wouldn't be welcomed here, but what would she do? She has nowhere to come but here__it's more like a sanctuary to her.

"Yaya," she whimpered, and broke into tears completely. She couldn't even look at Ummi, for she felt a spasm of jealousy squirming her already shattered heart. She came here to find peace with him__but upon seeing this damsel beside him__she had almost give up.

"Just leave! I said leave! Would you?" Al-amin barked, pointing at the huge ironed gate.

Laila flicked back in fear, what she saw in his eyes wasn't what she was used to. Her eyes bacame teary, she looked at Ummi with a beseeching look. Suppressing her jealousy, she smiled ruefully and spoke sombrely "Aysha, please, would you beg him for me? You're a lady, and you would surely know how it'd feel, if you were in my shoes. I couldn't go to Hajia's house now, it's too late."

Ummi looked at her, and gulfed down the lump she felt in her throat. She smiled at her, "Let's have a minute, please," she said, before she slowly grisped Al-amin's hand and dragged him inside the house.

"What do you think you're doing, Arub? That girl isn't the type to feel any empathy for, she can be enigmatic beyond what you could think of," he half yelled, irritated at how Ummi wanted her to stay. He had known Laila for almost all the years of his life, she was naturally the garrulous type, with an enigmatic sense of wickedness. She wasn't the type to be trusted.

She held his hands in hers, and spoke in a soft; yet ardouring voice. "Babyyy, she's a lady, and your sister for crying out loud. Wouldn't you think of what would happen to her if you haven't let her stay here? It's too late, how could she go to Hajia's house now? Please."

Al-amin yawed his gaze from her sight, his Adam's apple bubbling up and down, emanating how infuriated he was. "Arub, wouldn't you just reason with me? I know her so much! She isn't the type to be trusted!" He bellowed, as he held her shoulders tight, his fingers dipping into her flesh.

Tears swolled up her eyes, she laboriously looked at him "Al-amin, you're hurting me, please," she whimpered, as the tears rolled down her cheeks.

That was when realization hits him, he was blinded with wrath, he could vividly saw her in his arms, kissing passionately....he couldn't even want to think about it. He slowly released the hold on Ummi's shoulder and engulfed her into a hug, "I'm sorry, Arub, didn't meant to," he slowly whispered.

"It's okay. But please, let her stay, it's just a sleep over," she pleaded, clearing the tears in her eyes. She wished, deep down beneath her soul__the detaching feeling she had been feeling to vanish. It hadn't left her even for a single second, her brittle heart too was beating in an unsteady beat.

Al-amin broke their hug and cupped her face, she lifted her eyes__and they fell into his hazel orbs. "She can sleep over, for your sake. But she should leave by 6:30am. And also__no matter what would happen, don't leave me please, Aysha. Stay with me," he doesn't know why, but an unfathomable feeling has been gnawing at him. He felt something detaching from his serene soul; and unknown feeling replacing what was fading away.

She slowly hugged him, rested her head on his broad chest before she spoke. "I'll never leave you, Al-amin. But one thing I want you to promise; please don't stop loving me, don't hurt my feelings. My brittle heart here couldn't take it," she silently whimpered, tears rolling down her cheeks. Her tone held an enshrouded fear beneath it.

"I love you so much, Aysha. And I'll never leave you, nor would I ever hurt you intentionally. Thank you for being my wife, Mrs. Al-amin," he smiled genuinely at her, pecking her forehead. She looked up and reciprocated with her billion dollar smile.

"Thank you so much, Esposo. I love you to the square of infinity, Mr.HB," she jested, pecked his cheeks before sauntering to the door.

Al-amin smiled with full adoration glinted in his eyes, before he ascended the staircases. He doesn't want to see her face again, it revives the bad and forever regretful moments of his life.

"I'm sorry, we left you waiting, you can come in," Ummi smiled at her, before shifting__so she could pass.

Laila entered the house with a salam that doesn't reached her heart. She sat down on the sofa and began looking at the luxury in Al-amin's house. Not that she hadn't seen what has passed the luxury in his house; but the taught of she might have being the one living with him, enjoying their lives in this sumptous house__made a pang of jealousy squirmed her heart.

"I'm so sorry please, this is the little we have now. You might be jet lagged and need to rest, there is the guest's room, there is everything you would need in there. Incase you need something, call me through the landline please," Ummi informed, as she dropped a tray full of snacks, with a yoghurt to compliment. She showed her what she thinks Laila might need; before she bade her good night and ascended the staircases.

All this while, Laila had been faking a smile on her face, she was shattered beyond mending, and what she saw in this house__completely breaks her heart into shards. Something somersaults in her noddle; she smiled enigmatically and prowled to the room Ummi showed to her, with the tray on her hand.

***

Ummi entered his room with a Salam, she met him on the bed, his elbows on his thighs; head hung low__he was probably ruminative.

"Earth to, Al-amin. What are you thinking about?" She inquired, as she sat close to him, took off his elbows from his thighs, and smiled placatingly at him.

He looked up, how she smiled made him fall for her__more. He wanted more of her, he would forever crave for that smile, he yearns for her in every single minute, she's like a remedy to his sickness. "Nothing, just waiting for the Queen herself," he mimicked how she would flip her invisible hair, with an eye roll; ostentatiously.

A loud chortle crept it's way out of Ummi's mouth. She laughed so hard; looking at him with an unvoiced tenderness. He looked breathtaking, how he flipped the hair, the eye roll, how his lips curved...Ya Ilahi! Isn't she lucky?

"Babyyy, you're so cuteeee," she drawled, stretching his cheeks.

Al-amin grimaced and take off her hands from his cheeks. "A day would come, when I'd say 'Arub aren't I cute?' And your answer would probably be 'No Babyyy, my Buttercup is more cute than you're'", he feigned hurt, letting out an outward chuckle at the flummoxed look she sent his way.

She held his torso and rested her head on his shoulder "And who would be that Buttercup apart from you?" She slightly punched his torso__with pouted lips.

He winced and rubbed where she punched. "Ohh...how am I going to face the world, and tell them my wife is a dumbo?" He couldn't help but laugh at how her eyes dilated, she was clearly surprised by his words.

"Ahhh my heart! It has been stabbed with the most hurtful words from the heartless heartbreaker," she whined, letting out her crocodile tears__as she moved away from him.

"Arub, Ya Rabb! Somebody should help this poor soul please. My wife isn't only a dumbo, but a lachrymose," he exclaimed, moving towards her. She yanked off his hands from his shoulder and continued crying; she vowed to make him apologize.

He stood there for nanoseconds before an idea popped in his mind. He wore his seductive expression before he softly patted her shoulder. She wrathfully turned, but her looks subsided at the look she saw in his eyes. He knew it would work!

"C'mon, Arub. Give Babyyy a hug," he winked. That was it, she knew he did it intentionally, for she would trade the world for that wink.

He stretched his hands. She stood up and headed towards him, with a smirk on her face. Inlieu of her to hug him; she began punching his chest "I hate you! You called me a dumbo and a lachrymose, and you think you can seduce me?" She kept punching hard. Al-amin was laughing and trying to hold her hands but couldn't, she was really upset. Together; they fell on the bed and began panting for breath__he was still laughing faintly.

She rested her head on his chest and slowly looked up "What's the meaning of that buttercup?" She asked, her hands felt weak and frail. He has a broad and sturdy chest.

"Ohh Arub, just admit it first__you're a dumbo," he was really getting on her nerves today. But what would she do? Damn the curiosity!

"It's okay then. I hate you," she smacked his heart.

"That hurts you know?" He stroked her hair that was spread on the bed and his face.

"Just tell me mana! I'm sleepy as hell," she murmured, her eyes closing midway.

"Okay, Miss always sleepy. Your Buttercups would be our children," an wide enthusiastic grin curved his lips at the thought of having children with his Arub.

"Ohhhhhhh myyyy godddd," she panted, and dipped her head onto his chest. "You're really a bad shild, oh my innocent ears," she exclaimed, closing her ears with her palms.

He chuckled outwardly and lifted her up from his chest. "Let's start making the Buttercups," he winked seductively.

She dilated her eyes at him "Al-amin....Yau na shiga uku da rashin kunya (I'm doomed with your naughtiness)," she panted exaggeratingly.

"What's the rashin kunya about this? Isn't it a progress?" He chuckled. Before she could open her dramatic mouth; he sealed it up with a passionate kiss__forgetting all his worries.

Meanwhile; Laila was in her room, but she heard all their laughs, chortles, Ummi's dramatic wails, Al-amin's chuckles and their little romantic fight. If she doesn't have more days to live in this world; she would have gulfed down her bleeding heart out of jealousy. With tears streaming down her cheeks, she avowed on having Al-amin, by hook or by crook!

***

Al-amin groggily squinted his eyes at the Adhzan that had been proclaimed. His gaze fell on sleeping Ummi; whose hair was sprawled all over the bed, half her face was covered with it. She looked happy, radiant and extraordinary beautiful.

He wanted to leave her so she could rest, but this is something he couldn't go against. He silently tapped her shoulder, she groaned and tilted to the other side.

"Arub, wake up, it's time for prayer," he called silently, hoping she wouldn't throw tantrums on him. It has always been like that, whenever she was knackered; if he wakes her up, she would throw tantrums at him, and sometimes even cry, saying he doesn't love her, since he couldn't let her to rest. 'What's the harm in sleeping?' She would always ask, wrathfully.

He striped back the strands of hair from her ears, and hushed an air in her ear. She shifted uncomfortablely and spoke in her glum voice "Buttercup, what's it please? Ammi isn't up yet."

He couldn't help but chuckle, so she was even dreaming about the Buttercups. He prayed they have them soon. "Arub, it's the Babyyy now, wake up please."

Upon seeing she wasn't ready to wake up, he stood up and moved to her side, before lifting her up from the bed by her shoulders. She flared her eyes open, disbelievingly staring at him. "Another way of enraging somebody huh? What's this again? I was having a beautiful dream, and you now cut it," she whined, shrugging his hands off her shoulder.

"Ohhh, I see, you were busy calling Buttercups__already got one in there?" He asked, pointing towards her flat belly.

"Huh! Ya Allah! What have I done to deserve such person as a husband? Al-amin da asubar ma bazaka bari bakin mutum ya huta ba (It's dawn, Al-amin. And you can't let my mouth to rest)," she grimaced and began scavenging for her veil on the bed.

"Iyyeh! So you have the mouth to complain now abi? But you were calling me sweetnames yest..," he haven't complete his sentence, when she cut him off.

"Na shiga miliyan (I'm doomed) Al-amin ka rufa man asiri (So I don't know how to translate this. But we all know our Ummi being the drama queen she is)," she briskly said and decamped from the room; heaving a sigh of relief.

"You should come down please, we have a guest to make a breakfast for," she half yelled, in her thin sleepy voice.

"She should leave my house ASAP! I don't want to come down and meet her here," he yelled back, a tone of finality laced on his voice. He palmed his face, he has even forgot about a creature named Laila. With a sigh, he entered the bathroom.

Ummi bathe and performed her ablution, she prayed and wore a knee length gown, with a skin tight beneath. She isn't feeling like wearing something heavy today. She didn't even apply the Kohl she's obsessed with, as she descended the staircases__hoping Al-amin would come down soon.

She was bringing out the ingredients she needs from the pantry, when Laila sauntered inside the kitchen__a mischievous smile plastered on her lips. She still has Inas's traits.

"Good morning, Aysha," she greeted, as she heads towards the fridge, brought out a bottle of water and majestically merged out of the kitchen__without even glancing at Ummi; whose mouth was agape, looking at her in disbelief.

Ummi shook her head side ways, she knew people usually says 'Dangin miji (Husband's relatives) are not to be trusted or act soft unto' but she hasn't believe it till now. Isn't she the one that was begging them to let her sleep over? But see how she was majestically walking? With nose held up in the air, as if he owns the house itself.

Taking off Laila's thoughts, she continued making the batter for pancake, until she heard Al-amin's yellings. She heaved a sigh and swiftly walked out of the kitchen, only to see Al-amin and Laila standing in the living room, Laila looking sorry and pleading__whilst Al-amin was nothing but infuriated.

"Babyyy, what's happening please?" Ummi asked, tensed, as she moved towards them.

Al-amin looked at her, a stern expression on his face "Arub, haven't I told you that she should leave by 6:30am? What is she still doing in my house? When it's even 7:15am?!" He clamoured, wrathfully looking at them. The look Ummi saw in his eyes made her flicked back in fear, she wasn't used to this side of him.

"I'm sorry please. Let her have breakfast, by then, the taxi drivers are out," Ummi made an impotent expression, her voice was soft, she hoped he would concur.

"Break what? So you're even cooking for this piece of thrash? What have I told you about cooking yourself? Aysha, why can't you just understand? I know this girl, the empathy you feel towards her isn't worth it. She should leave my house, now!" He thundered, piercely looking at Ummi. She knew that look, it was a warning and 'I'm coming back to you look'__before he yawed his gaze to presumptuous Laila, whose head was hung low; tapping on her phone.

"Out! Now!" He bellowed, pointing at the door.

"Espo..," before Ummi could finish, Al-amin cut her off.

"Arub, don't get yourself involved in this!" He warned, which made Ummi sealed her mouth. She doesn't want to infuriate him more.

"It's okay, Aysha. Thank you. And Yaya, you're kicking me out of your house huh? Me? Laila?!" She emphasized the 'Laila' as if she was his wife or even mother.

"Would you leave my house before I slap you and beat the hell out of you or not?" He took an enigmatic step towards her, she knew him, she knew the look in his eyes__even if Mami would be here, she couldn't stop him from beating her.

"Laila, don't try my patience. You knew this side of my better than anyone, so kindly leave my house, before I loose my anger on you," he spoke softly, yet with a coarse voice that could send shivers down a soul.

She opened her mouth to talk, when her phone screen flashed. She flashed a statue-like Ummi, whom was astounded at Al-amin's behaviour, she had never seen him like this__a beautiful smile before she sauntered out of the house.

He slumped on the sofa and held his head in his hands, Ummi brought a cup of chilled water to him, which he gulped down instantly. She sat down beside him, as he rested his head on her laps__which she began massaging softly. She kept mum all this while, she knew when to talk and when not.

The landline rang, Ummi answered the call "Hello, Good morning Mallam Garba, how may I help you?" She wondered why the gate man would call them at this time.

In a minute, Ummi abruptly stood up, swiftly ascended the staircases and come down with an abaya on top of her clothes. She agitatedly looked at Al-amin, tears rolling down her cheeks, "We're doomed, Al-amin. Hajiya would rip out our hearts. Laila was hit by a car, few steps away from our house, she was probably looking for a taxi," Ummi panted, as she made her way out out the house.

"Ya Allah!" Al-amin muttered, took his car keys and followed his distraughted wife.

They drove to where they saw people gathered in a small-crowd to be called. They halted beside them and opted out of the car, the tears not stopping from Ummi's eyes. She knew Hajia would say she was the reason why he kicked Lailah out, she might even say she was the one that planned the accident.

Pushing back the people, Ummi came in veiw with Laila's lifeless body on the ground, drenched with blood. She knelt beside her and broke down completely. Al-amin knelt beside her and clasped her shoulder in an attempt to placate her.

"Let's take her to the hospital," Ummi sobbed, as she tried lifting Laila up from the ground.

"Take off your hands off her! She doesn't need all of you! And you__you shall surely pay for this."