Chapter 57: Chapter 57

She felt her limbs getting strained, tears pooled her eyes as Laila's joyful voice filled her ears. She fought the tears back and kept walking, as they kept getting more oblivious to her eyes.

"Yaya, give me the remote please! I need to watch that scene, it's one of the hot!" Laila kept begging, as she kept trying to reach Al-amin's lifted hand--holding the remote.

Stretching his height, still holding the remote control; Al-amin's laughter filled the house, echoing through the confines of the walls. "Lily-you're such a bad girl. Move, we have to watch football like old times, then watch that episode on you-tube. Deal?" He spoke, looking at Laila's trying figure.

She got tired of trying and flashed him the 'You've won' look, slumping on the couch. "I've agreed, but the football will be for thirty minutes, then no shouting and yelling from you. Okay?" She warned, reminiscing how he would torture her life with watching all those football matches together with him.

Ummi cleared her throat, that diverted their attention towards her. They were now sitted beside eachother, their hips almost brushing. Laila made her usual smug expression amd looked at Al-amin, whose eyes were not looking at Ummi's side.

With head held up high, as of she wasn't breaking with each step--Ummi walked over and sat close to him; not that close, there were inches between them. Not that she doesn't want to show Laila her status; but being that close to him would suffocate her.

She cleared her throat, straightened her sitting posture and looked at Laila, with a sneering expression on her face. "Privacy needed; Miss Laila," she spoke, looking at her directly in the eye. She doesn't want to look at Al-amin's glaring face, for she would blast up anytime soon.

"What is it?" He asked curtly, not making an eye contact with her. What she did to him wouldn't be easily forgiven, how could she snub his caring side and spit out those words on him? He could see from her sturdy figure; she needs him. He offered to help, but she was so stubborn to oblige.

"Miss Laila, can I have a minute with my husband?" She asked through gritted teeth, completely ignoring a breathing figure called Al-amin.

Laila stood up and flashed her a smug smile "Have it all--when it last," there was a sarcasm filled in her tone; but that's the least Ummi could care for.

When Laila was out of sight and earshot, Ummi turned and looked at Al-amin, how he wasn't looking at her scorched her heart. But seeing how Al-amin is treating her lately, why would she let just this pain her? She has enough in store to worry about.

"Ya Yusuf's wedding events are starting tomorrow, I want to go to Mama's house first; then, to Meeno's," she spoke haltingly, afraid that he might use this way and avenge for what she did to him earlier on. But she had braced her mind_____she wouldn't take No for an answer.

Not looking at her, he kept flipping through the channels as if there wasn't a breathing figure beside him. It was almost when she gave up, she heard his gruff voice.

"You just started working, and I'll be there on Friday--we'll leave then." It was as if he was talking to himself, for he wasn't still looking her way.

"My work shouldn't bother you, and there is no way I'll stay in this a dungeon to be called house till Friday-whilst all my family and friends were their having the fun of their lives." It was hard to restrain herself from yelling at him, for she could sense--the stubborn part of Al-amin were dominant.

"I said you're not going, Aysha. If you can't see; I'm doing something before your intrusion," he snarled, fiercely looking at her. But what he avoided by not looking at her happened. He was afraid all his barriers would be broken if he looks into those brown orbs of hers, and falling into them--he lost himself.

She broke their eye contact and scoffed. Al-amin was so unpredictable, she was sure she was that usual softness in his eyes, but what could she believe? After all those things that had been happening lately. "Do you think I'll take a No for an answer? Come to think of it, Al-amin. I've been enduring all your behaviours in this house, I dare you to stop me from going, wallahi the storm that will thunder in this house wouldn't be reconciliable."

How she was talking calmly; yet, uttering those words baffles him. She sometimes acts like a chameleon, she changes so fast, and her moods were hardly fathomable. He knew she meant it, and if he dare stop her from going, not even Laila; he himself wouldn't stay in this house peacefully. And she would cry endless oceans, pain will gripped her brittle heart--he knew she had enough. Yes, He still care.

"Do what you think suits you then," he spoke and yawed his gaze back to the TV, not glancing her way as she stood up and left for the kitchen.

After spending atleast thirty minutes in the kitchen, she came out bearing a tray and a bottle of water. "I'll take that as a Yes then," she uttered and walked over the staircases.

Ummi entered her room and glumly ate her dinner, not that the food was edible to her taste buds; but for the upkeep of her life--she needs to eat. Finishing all her night businesses, she wore her night dress and slumped on her bed, she could still hear their faint voices, their laughters, silly arguments, sometimes they'll shout at the top of their voices, or Laila's annoying 'Awwwn', different voices with different enthusiasm_____filling her ears, scorching her heart, but there weren't tears flowing from her eyes, it was obvious: she's naturally becoming numb to the pain!

She hissed for the umpteenth time and ducked her head more on her pillow; closing her eyes as she silently prayed for sleep to overcome her. She needs the energy for tomorrow's trip.

***

After she prayed her Subh prayer, she was so excited that she forgot almost all her problems; she was finally going to see Baba--Yes! He's the first person she wants to see. Then Mama, little Amrah, Ya Husna, the groom himself, and Auta Sulele. She knew, meeting them would be like a therapy to her heart, she would smile until her cheeks ache, she would laugh until her stomach ache and tears rolls from her eyes. All the happiness she lost within the span of these weeks would be revived with just a single meeting of her family.

She packed her luggage and bathe. Knowing the long day that awaits her; she didn't hesitate in bathing swiftly and cladding herself in a brown ankara with patterns of light yellow. It was sewn into a peplum blouse and a fish shaped skirt. Draping a milk veil over her head, she looked at her reflection through the mirror; even though her eyes were pale and sunken--the kohl revived the gleam in them. Her dry and chapped lips looked adorable with the nude lipstick she applied on them. Her face looked subtle and ravishing.

She dragged her luggage, her other hand holding her handbag and car key as she walked downstairs; whom she met doesn't baffled her, as she knew he would do all it takes to kibosh her euphoric mood today.

"Good Morning," she greeted as she walked past him, aiming to get to the door and finally out of the house!

She could feel his gaze on her, as his footstepps kept moving towards her---not that she cares.

She put the luggage in the trunk and opened the drivers seat. She sat and was about to ignite the engine when he stood by the side; popping his head through the window.

"Take this, and don't drive all along to Katsina yourself; make sure wether the driver or Sulaiman takes you there." There was protectiveness and possessiveness in his tone; as he placed the bundle of cash on her laps, moving away--not even waiting for her to thank him.

"Lily, do quick please, let's leave," he spoke through the phone.

So that was it, he didn't woke up and clad himself handsomely because his wife is embarking on a journey, rather; he and his classless bride were heading to only god knows where. Ummi didn't need to hear or see more; she ignited the engine and sped out of the house, not glancing his way.

She was minutes through the streets of Abuja when his text popped out of her phone's screen.

I don't know wether you're going there yourself or he's driving you there. Just protect your chastity as a married woman, and don't see any non mahram. Have my words.

S

he too was startled by the hiss her lips made, the tears in her eyes couldn't be suppressed at this point. She parked beside the road and cried to her satisfaction. So Al-amin is even suspecting her? What does he mean by that 'He'? She's sure he was regarding to Mubarak. What does she have to do with him? By Allah she doesn't even have his contact. Only if Al-amin would listen to her.

She got tired of crying and washed her face before she continued her journey. She arrived at their house when it was almost 9am, smiling fakely at the people she met through the hallways and living rooms____she was finally in her old room, legs brought up to her chest, as she kept dailing Ya Husnah's number.

Minutes later, Mama barged inside the room as if she doesn't believe Ummi had came when she heard her relatives talking about her. She met Ummi with legs brought up to chest, head ducked between the legs; she wasn't sobbing, but one could sense she wasn't really okay.

"Ummi?" Mama called tentatively, not sure of the words to utter.

That was all she need, looking up from her position, she engulfed Mama into an embrace; as she heaved a sigh, when she felt Mama's warmth. It was all she needed all those weeks, her mother's warmth.

Mama slowly broke their hug, seeing Ummi wasn't ready to broke the hug. "What is it, Ummi? You looked pale, are you sick? And besides; something surely is wrong with you," Mama inquired, curiously looking at her, as she kept examining her body, as if looking for a wound.

Ummi laughed humorlessly and shook her head. "Mama, I am seriously okay. Just work stress and all, to top it all; I missed you so much. I came here to see you and Baba before going to Katsina, Meeno would soon chop off my throat," she smiled weakly, she couldn't open up to Mama--she was her mother, but knowing Mama so well; she would say there has to be her fault in all, and she isn't ready to bring up a third party in her marital life. Besides, she wasn't used to telling Mama her problem, Baba was always her confider, he might be strict, but not on her.

Seeing the looks Mama was flashing her, checking her palms and lower eyelids--Ummi jerked and stood up, laughing genuinely "And this your mind will start cooking up something, Mama da gaske nake babu komai, don't panic please. I need to see Baba before he went out, tell Sulele to be ready to take me there, or should Malam Ummaru takes me?" She asked, leaning in and hugged Mama, this time with pure love and happiness.

Mama stood up too and took her hands in hers. "I know there is something beneath that heart of yours, kin cika zurfin ciki Ummi, just know that I'm a phone call away kinji? Baba is in his room, and Malam Ummaru will take you there," Mama stated, as they walked out of the room together.

Ummi walked to Baba's living room and sat for almost ten minutes; but Baba wasn't out. She dailed his number and told him she was in his living room, and he told her to enter his room, he's just checking out some things to be done.

She entered the room with a Salam, her gaze falling on Baba's rigid figure, sitting on his study table with his glasses fixed on the bridge of his long nose--which she always envied.

Tears filled her eyes, upon the sight of the only man that would never break her heart in millions of years to come, he would always be her first and forever love. She burst into tears and ran towards him, abruptly taking him into an embrace.

"Babaaa," she drawled, as her tears choked her voice; staining Baba's milk Shadda.

He stood up and guide them to the sofa at the east side of the room. They sat down as Baba kept patting her back softly in attempt to placate her; but Ummi's tears were only intensifying, as she kept reminiscing Al-amin's words, Hajia's words, Laila's, what hurts more was Al-amin's last text.

"Babaaa, it hurts wallahi," she cried profusely, clutching more onto her father; as sweat drenched her forehead, making her headtie to slip off her head.

Baba's sturdy heart was softened upon the sight of his broken daughter, he knew it might be something big, since she choosed to confine in him. He knew she was a well reserved lady, whom hardly speaks out her emotions or worries, she's known to be mai zurfin ciki. But whenever she comes to him with something, Baba knows it has ate her up to the extent that she needs his help to revive her beating heart back.

He softly broke their hug, wiping away her tears with his thumb; as he kept shaking his head sideways for her--emanating she shouldn't cry. "What is it, Ummi?" He asked softly, sympathetically looking at her, as she kept sniffling.

"Can I trust you, Baba? Do you promise not to talk to anyone about it? Not even his parents or him fah." How her bloodshot eyes turned into puppy lifted up his heart, she would forever be his cute princess.

"Sure, Ummi. Don't you trust Baba again? It will be buried deep within my soul. We can even do a pinky promise if you want," he spoke with a tone of amiability, trying to lift up her forlorn self.

She laughed at his words, this side of her Baba would forever be cherished in her heart. "I love you so much, Baba. And yes! A pinky promise as usual!" She hugged him tightly and brought up her small finger____and they sealed the promise.

"I'm all ears then, what made my cute princess, my Ummi chaku, Ummilolo cried this hard?" He pouted his lips also, mimicking her crying face.

She laughed so hard that her stomach ache, before she narrated all that happened to him. Excluding the pictures part, and Al-amin's suspecting this morning--she knew no matter what promise they sealed, he won't take it lightly with anyone that accused his daughter like this. She only told him the problem she's facing with Hajia and Laila being in their house, Al-amin not having her time and all; but never those parts.

When she was done, her heart was magically mending; the sight of her father's worried face, his tight grisp on her hands, the love emoting from his eyes; was enough to heal her shattered heart. She smiled lopsidedly at him and tilted her face sideway, "So, that's what made your Ummi chaku cried for weeks, Babana," she spoke softly.

He pulled her into a hug, patting her back softly. "Cry it all out, Ummi. You have a rigid shoulder to cry on, and a heart filled with love to placate and advice you dear." He couldn't help but be proud of his little girl, so she can be this strong? He had resisted all those pains and kept walking normal for weeks?

She cried to her fill and looked up at him, "Baba, I'm a burden on you huh? I've started complaining on such an early phase of my marriage," she made a worried expression and ducked her head low.

"Hey, you aren't, amd would never be! Baba is proud of you! Now, sleep in Baba's room, with no one to disturb you okay? I'll come and wake you up myself, we'll have a talk before you leave for Katsina," Baba said, as he tucked her in his bed, drawing the duvet to her neck; and adjusted the AC temperature for her.

"Baba, don't let me oversleep; Meeno will chop off my throat. And don't forget our promise please, also--don't be worried about it kaji?" She smiled genuinely at him, closing her eyelids that had been trying to overpower her frail figure.

He patted her shoulder, "Don't worry about Baba, just sleep like the princess you are. And I would've take you there myself, had it been I'm not busy today. We will have a talk on how to deal with him in those ways uno? Just sleep for now." And he walked out of the room.

***

As promised, Baba woke her up around 1pm, she prayed in his room, ate her lunch together with him, as he kept lecturing her about marital life. The do's and dont's. What she should do to win her husband's heart and all.

At some point, she would laugh and duck her head low "Babaaa, it's Ummi fah, not Mama." How he was telling her the ways to a man's heart were quite possible to make her shy.

She bid everyone in the house adieu, after Baba made her promised that she would call him when they arrived, and their plan will start working when she went back to Abuja.

Malam Ummaru ignited the car and they sped off; Ummi's heart filled with love, happiness, and solace_____exact opposite of how she came in before. She closed her eyes and felt had it been she were a bird; she would've fly to Katsina and meet her bestfriend. She's so eager to see Meeno, but she's more eager to have a tour in Katsina state: Home Of Hospitality.