Chapter 51: Chapter 51

He shaked her vigorously, all in an attempt to vulgarize her back___but it loomed she wasn't going to pick up. It suddenly hits on him___that they were still in the kitchen, he should take her out, she might pick up if she breathe in a fresh air.

Turning off the cooking gas, Al-amin swiftly took her to the living room. He opened the curtains and windows, increased the rate at which the fans and AC's were blowing. He came back and sat down, not knowing what to do. Should he cry? Hug her? Or what? His brain had somehow got into a hiatus.

'You were once a first aid group member' his subconscious remindered. He swiftly layed her straight on the sofa, and began thumping her chest; hoping the heart would pick up. It didn't help either. He distraughtedly sat down; he knew she wasn't died, how would she even die when they have buttercups to make? How would she die when they haven't fast together in the month of Rahmah and observed their Umrah amd Hajj? She can't do this to him. She loves him, and he loves her more than she could think of.

Gently putting her head on his laps, he began doing the CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) treatment. How he felt her lips became dry and cold breaks his heart into shards. Luckily, she began coughing and panting for breath. Al-amin ran his palm through his muffled hair, a fleeting smile curving his lips.

She finally gained conscious. He helped her sat properly, her back against the throw pillow. She smiled at him, amd opened her mouth to talk, when he cut her off.

"What was the meaning of that, Arub? Why would you go there for godsake?" His voice was trembling, it was now that the tears decided to cooperate.

She laboriously took his hand and squeezed them a little, before slurring the words with aplomb. Her lungs still hurts, added to the squirming her heart was suffering from. "It's nothing to worry, Babyy, I'm fine now. It was just that, I have a lot of things in mind, so everything coalesced and languished the respiratory organs."

He slowly lugged her to his body and engulfed her into an ardouring hug. He let out the breathe he doesn't know he was holding. It was a breath brimful of relief and truimp. What could he have done if she by any chance.....No! He couldn't even think about that.

"I love you, Arub, it was good having you back," he spoke endearingly and pecked her forehead. Ummi smiled and patted his chest in answer, she still doesn't want to talk, the lungs haven't had the air they needed.

It took them minutes, ensconced in the warmth of each other, endearingly feeling the warmth of each other and savouring each and every feeling. It felt out of the world, it was the best feeling one could ever feel. Being ensconced in the warmth of the person they love and would adore forever. That feeling is sensational.

She slowly broke the hug, her eyes looked pale and sick. Her always pink luscious lips were now purplish and chapped. The orbs that always makes him drool, now held nothing but pain and many enshrouded neurosis. "Don't you think we're getting late, Al-amin? You should hurry up please. I don't want her to yell at us again," Ummi feels pain with every word she utter. But practicing the teachings of Mama; she learnt that patience is virtue. And no matter how deep a man loves you, treat his family good; don't ever show him that you despise his family or doesn't care about them___with that, you'll be worth more in his eyes, he'll be your protector amidst his family. It was so simple to hear those words, but putting them into action___was the hardest thing Ummi has ever done in her life.

He looked at her with an unvocalized affection. She was the woman of his dreams, she was the lady he had silently being praying for, and now___Allah has answered his unvoiced prayers. Indeed, Allah is the all hearer!

"Arub; believe me, I love you more than the word 'love' itself. Please, try not to be obfuscating your pains to me, voice them out, you'll feel better. I love you so much, Aysha. Thanks for being my wife." How his voice sounded was an endearment, how his hazel orbs emote sheer adulation was a sight to behold, she can dive in them for all the years she had been given in her life. His lips___ya Rabb! How the lips curves, it gave her an unfathomable feeling that etches her yearning and broken heart.

"I love you more, Al-amin. Please stay with me, no matter what is it," she whimpered, her pale orbs emoting how beseeching she was.

He smiled at her, before she slightly pushed him and stretched down on the sofa. "I'll wait for you here, be fast, so we can leave please," she spoke silently and closed her eyes ruminatively.

He pecked her forehead and sauntered inside tbe kitchen. He knew no one on earth would make him take her back to that hospital, she's shattered enough; he could see it from her eyes.

As her eyes were closed, different thoughts were rummaging in her brain, before mother nature took her to a peaceful slumber. He finished cooking the food, made the kunu for Hajia and abandoned the fruits she brought out for Laila's smoothie. There's no way he'll cook for that evil.

He sauntered out of the kitchen and met her sleeping peacefully. He pecked her forehead and scuttled to his room to take a shower, he was glad it was weekend; what would he have done with his work? And Ummi too, she'll soon start working with the NGO, albeit he didn't fully agreed.

He took a long relieving shower, wore an ash long sleeved mandarin collar shirt with a black jeans. He trimmed his hair, as to how he looked sensationally handsome. He descended the staircases and found her in the same position he left her, and perhaps; it was a sight to embed. As her lips were pushed forward into a pout. Starnds of hair were revealed on her forehead. She looked radiant and peaceful. He had no choice but to bring out his phone and snap her. The flashlight made her squint her eyes, as her sleepy orbs fell into his hazel ones.

"Would you wait for me to take my bathe?" She asked softly, flashing him a factitious smile. All her problems downed on her, the instant she opened her eyes. Indeed, sleeping is blessing.

He sat close to her, as she was still laying down. She looked distraughted and enfeebled. "It's okay, Arub. I can go by myself. You're sick, remember? Eat well please. I would be back with a doctor. I don't want Hajia to see you in a doctor's office and start ranting questions on us, you knew how dramatic she could be. So rest well, Arub," he leaned in and pecked her forehead; to which she closed her eyes, as the shudder she felt her body did.

"But I really want to go, don't you think it would be a problem?" She asked slowly. But deep down, she doesn't want to go either, she've had enough.

He stood up, wore his shades; which made him breathtakingly handsome___Ummi almost drooled at the sight. "No, Arub, you have to rest. Bye, I love you," he pecked her forehead again, and walked out of the house; different thoughts on how to deal with Laila rummaging in his brain. He must surely deal with her.

A factitious smile curved Ummi's lips. She palmed her face, she was afraid of what would happen in the hospital, she has a paranoidic feeling gnawing at her. Letting out a breath, she stood up and descended to her room, took another bathe; before exiting the toilet.

She sat on the vanity stool, looking at her reflection through the mirror. She had lost weight from all the tears, she looked pale too. Pushing Laila's thought aside, she applied her lotions, trim her messy hair and wore a crazy blue jeans with an armless navy top; that stooped on her waist. She crazily wrapped a navy blue veil on her hair before ascending downstairs, her stomach had been grumbling.

She finished her breakfast and did some chores, before she went to the garden and sat on the resting chair; before she called Meeno___whom picked at the fourth ring.

"Goes to the world's best bride," her voice was filled with amiability; as she rolled her eyes, she knew Meeno must whine.

And behold; "Ayshaaa, Ya Rabb! Wasn't it my mistake for accepting your brother's proposal? I seriously can't deal with you as a sister in law," Meeno whined as Ummi expected. But deep down, how she heard her voice wasn't the usual Ummi, she sounded down.

Ummi nibbled a sliced apple before she chortled humorlessly "Aminatu my sweetheart," she called out, followed with a chuckled. She could remember every time she calls Meeno that; she surely needs something. But today, it was a different case, she just feels her heart needs to emote all the love she has for her loved ones. It feels her heart would be crucified soon.

Meeno laughed it off "Aisha diyar alfarma, what do you want now?" Knowing so well Ummi wouldn't call her something lovely without wanting something in return.

"Ha'an, can't I love my best friend and Sister Inlaw? You ought to be proud girl; the greatest Aysha is loving you, adding more to it___you're marrying her handsome brother. Isn't it soething to be suave of?" She flipped her imaginary hair, trying so hard to suppress her laughter. She knew Meeno will insult the remaining life in her, but afterall___that's what she called her for.

Meeno hissed loudly making Ummi to think her lips would rapture. "Who is the greatest? With that your tall husband and you looking like a smashed potato? Move let me pass abeg. And for your handsome brother___don't instigate me, I can call off the wedding, and you would be the one nursing your handsome brother that is madly in love, in a hospital. So respect this girl, for she's a Diva!" Meeno yelled the last words with a proud tone on her voice. She knew Ummi would rant those insults beneath her soul; and yes, she missed those insults.

Ummi couldn't swallow the fruit she nibbled in her mouth. She spurted it out and sat upright. Meeno is really in for it. "Meeeeeeennnnnoooo!!!!!!! I'm so going to kill you wallahi! Am I the smashed potato? Na rantse da Allah sai kinyi bayani (I swear to god, you'll face the consequences) I think you forgot my name huh?" She yelled at the pitch of her voice. Her pains long forgotten, she felt like strangling Meeno with her bare hands. How dare her call her a smashed potato?!

Meeno let out a chortle, what she intended to has been achieved! She brought out what she missed the most in her best friend; her craziness. "To yar tasha, ai dama an dade ba'a yi ba (I don't know how to translate. But like she's insulting her; something like she's a ghetto girl) Aysha, You know I can make Hubby to drive all way from Kaduna to Abuja just to deal with you?" Meeno inquired sarcastically, she knew this would hype Ummi more.

"Yes, make him if you can, my husband will strangle both of you! And you're calling me yar tasha ba? Kin manta kasuwa ce bayan gidanmu, tasha ce gefe, asibitin mahaukata na kallonmu, unguwar kauraye kuma ta hannun haggu (I can't translate this woo, Imagine a sarcastic reply biko)," Ummi replied sarcastically. They nattered away away for an hour. In the span of that hour, Ummi had forgotten what a pain feel like. The best feeling in this world, is talking to your crazy bestfriend when you're bored or in pain. That's the best feeling ever. (I love my friends❤).

***

Meanwhile; Al-amin, Abba, Mami, Hajia and Laila were sitted in the hospital room Laila was admitted in___an envelope in Abba's hands, shaking his head sideways, emanating he wasn't convinced with what he saw.

"Isma'il, what's the meaning of that? Give him the envelope, stop shaking your head as if you were born by a lizard," Hajia bellowed, annoyed at how Abba was shaking his head, she knew he would be hard to convice.

Abba looked up from the floor, he was inwardly seething with rage; but knowing Hajia so well, he couldn't help but suppress his wrathfulness. "I see nothing reasonable here, Hajia. Let's just keep this matter slide, please. It's Laila you want him to marry huh? That would never be a problem, but not this please," he spoke softly and convincingly, looking at his mother with beseeching eyes.

Hajia hissed and yanked the envelope from Abba's hold, she glared at him and flinged it towards Al-amin. "Check it, it's for you; not him. And Isma'il, don't you dare interfere in this, take your wife and leave," she waved her hands in the air dismissively. It was as if Abba and Mami were waiting for that, they stood up and swiftly decamped from the room, their hearts filled with empathy towards their son. No one mess with Hajia.

He felt numb. His body felt cold and slacken. With a heavy heart, he opened the envelope and peak through it, what he saw scourged his heart, how did that happened?!

Abruptly, he yawed his gaze to Laila's side, whose head was hung low, fiddling with her fingers nervously. "What's the meaning of this, Laila?!" He clamoured, as he stood up; seething with rage.

She looked up at her, with fear twinkling her eyes, as she quivered. "I don't know, Yaya, I have no clue," she answered, her mouth breaking. What she saw infront of her, was more like a monster, he wasn't the Al-amin she knew. Would this be the way out?

He took another step towards her, with the envelope cluched tightly in his hand. "How would you tell me you have no clue? Just how, Laila!! Could by any chance something happened there, and brought up this just.... scratch that____I demand for an answer, what's the meaning of this, Laila!!" He roared. His infuriated voice echoing through the confines of the room; sending shivers down their spines. Hajia too was frightened as to how she saw him. He wasn't her usual Aminu.

Acting brave, Hajia stood up and shielded shuddering Laila, whom had tears sprinkling down her cheeks, as her body kept shuddering. "If you dare move an inch, Aminu___I'll call your father and curse him rightaway!" She yelled, she knew it would only be the way out.

Looking between Hajia and Laila, as his brain registered Hajia's words, he knew she's capable of doing something more than that. He staggered backwards, shaking violently. "This doesn't mean the end of this, you have to tell me how this happened, how it even get here!" He yelled and left the room, banging the door so hard.

Laila heaved a sigh she didn't know she had been holding. She remembered Laith; she missed him and still love him, but couldn't be together with him, not after what he did to her. She knew he would never yell at her, talkless of trying to beat, that would never be her L.

She slumped completely on Hajia's laps and broke down, "I miss him, Hajia," she whimpered, her heart aching as the memories ebbed in her mind. Couldn't they be rewinded, so she could remove all those hurtful memories, the memories she was sure would haunt her for eternity.

Hajia shifted comfortably, patting Laila's back soothingly "Don't worry, He'll come back here himself," as the words slipped out of her mouth, Laila let out a groan inwardly. She was heading the north, whilst Hajia was still left at the southeast.

***

Al-amin parked his car in the parking space and rested his head on the steering wheel. He couldn't let out what he saw in that envelope. Reaching out for it in his pocket, he opened (That locker-like thing in a dashboard. Don't know it's name)___and placed it in it, before closing it.

His heart squirmes painfully, almost choking his breath. He doesn't even know what he feels, the emotions are just too much for him. Seeing it was past nine, he opened the car and entered the house. There was no one in the downstairs parlour, he knew she might be in her room, or the upstairs parlour; for that has became her favourite place in the room.

He silently ascended the staircases, walking towards the living room, he heard faint voices coming from the TV, he knew she was watching there, whilst eating or nibbling on fruits.

He slightly knocked and entered, without waiting for a permission. The sight of her completely crucified his heart. She was dancing to a Hausa song named 'Mariya', following their steps, grinning from ear to ear. She was probably in a very good mood, he couldn't want to bring an end to this heart melting smile.

"Arub, don't break our waist please; take it easy," he curved a factitious smile on his smile, as he spread his arms wide; waiting for a welcome hug.

She gasped and turned, before sprinting towards him, engulfing him in a bone crushing hug. She had missed him so much for the hours he took without her seeing him.

"I miss you so much, Babyyy," she shrieked, breaking their hug.

"And I love you so much," he cupped her face and planted a soft kiss on her lips.

She noticed his glumness, so she guided him to the sofa and sat beside him. "What happened, Babyyy? Why the sudden change of mood?" She asked sympathetically, squeezing his hands slightly. How she saw him made the gnawing feeling in her intensified.

Abruptly, Al-amin stood up and slowly yanked off his hands from her hold. "I think I need a space for a mean time, Aysha."