Chapter 15: Chapter 15

Bamboozled, he stood there and kept staring at her; whilst she was crying profusely. Realizing that they would be late, if he let her cry like this; Sadeeq tapped her shoulder with a slight touch "Ihsan, for godsake; we're running out of time, let's not miss our flight," he spoke in a bit tensed voice.

She looked up with her bloodshot eyes and flashed him a fiesty look "I wasn't used to waking up this early at home. Leave me alone, Sadeeq. You can go, Daada will pay for my ticket in the next one week; I'm too tired to travel," she informed and tilted her petite frame, in attempt to lay down again, still sniffling.

He knew how stubborn Ihsan could be, since she had started talking like this, he knew it would be hard for her to obey him now. And so, she left him with no other choice. Sadeeq leaned in and lifted her up, his left hand under her thigh, whilst his right was at the back of her head. Bridal style.

She abruptly darted her eyes open, disbelievingly looking at him. "What are you doing, Sadeeq? Let me go!" She roared, even though her voice was a little bit hoarse, due to sleep and the tears.

"I'm taking you to the bathroom, and one word; I'll bathe you myself!" He declared, as if it was a no big deal. He knew she would be afraid of his threat.

Slowly, she placed her head on his chest, as more tears washed down her face. Daada and Maama were there sleeping peacefully, not knowing what they had embroiled her in. She so much wanted to get rid of Sadeeq!

Not knowing how, she felt herself being slightly placed down. She squinted her eyes and realized they were already in the bathroom.

"Do fast, Ihsan. Or else..." he winked at her and left the bathroom; inwardly snickering.

After so much curses towards him, Ihsan bathe and came out of the bathroom, water dripping from her body, as she used the head towel to dry her washed hair. She felt his eyes all over her, as she moved towards her trolley and brought out all she needed.

Sadeeq got alarmed, when he saw her trying to plug the hand dryer to a socket. "What are you trying to do, Ihsan? Dry your hair or what? Now that we're few minutes late? Look at how you're sluggishly acting for Allah's sake!" Sadeeq nagged in a whining tone. She was too sluggish for his liking. Abbu and Ummu embroiled him in a very difficult thing, had it been he was alone; he would've been in the airport by now.

She turned around, as she was already seated on the vanity stool. "Are you done starring? You don't have any manners, Sadeeq. You were supposed to go out before I came out, but Nah! You want to look," she retaliated sarcastically, for she felt so uncomfortable under his intense gaze.

He stood up and moved to the dressing mirror, where she was peacefully blow drying her long black and bushy hair. "Ihsan, you're acting as if we don't have something important to do, do fast please," he knew he should act nice, else; she can spend upto an hour here. He could remember when they were in secondary school, Ihsan would be the last person to come out, she was the one that always made them go to school late.

She looked at him through the mirror and rolled her eyes wrathfully, she was still angry at him for waking her up this early. "This is my usual, and you can leave; I told you Daada would pay for another ticket next week," with that, she went back to her work, without even flashing him a second look.

"Let me help," he didn't even wait for her to respond, as he collected the hand dryer and began drying her hair, afraid not to make any mistake; he knew she would be nagging endlessly.

He finished and packed the hair in a pony tail, as she stood up and wore a beautiful black Abaya, which made her looked like an arabian girl. She rolled the veil over her face, spritzed perfume all over her body, before she sashayyed with her trolley, towards stiffened Sadeeq whom was looking at her mouth agape.

"Can we?" She rolled her eyes at him, manoeuvred beside him and left the room. He swallowed a lump in his throat and dragged his trolley out too.

They met Ummu, Abbu and Manal glumly sitted at the living room, one could tell they were sleepy and knackered. Upon the sight of them, they both stood up with smiles on their faces.

"We've been waiting for you, you might miss your flight. Do fast and eat something," Ummu said lovingly, slowly dragging Ihsan towards their humungous dining table.

Sadeeq worriedly looked at his wristwatch. So Ummu made something for them? Or should he say for Ihsan? For he knew it was because of her. And knowing how Ihsan eat, she might take minutes.

"We're late Ummu, we'll eat there please," he made his best puppy face, pleadingly looking at Ihsan.

"I'll eat, Ummu!" She avowed, sitting on one of the chairs.

"I'll eat too," he said, ignoring the glances they were sending his way. They all knew he didn't eat if he was to embark on a journey, especially on flights.

"Marriage changes person," Manal hushed with a dreamy smile on her lips.

He sat down close to her, and took a spoon; before he dug in her plate. She looked up and flashed him a 'What's the meaning of this?' look. He smiled mischievously and mouthed "Don't act stubborn, or else; you'll regret ever going to Qatar."

Not knowing what he meant, Ihsan shrugged it off and continued eating her food. She saw him thrusting a spoon brimful of pancake towards her mouth "Let me feed you, so you can be fast, you aren't a princess you know," he said sarcastically and shoved the contents in her mouth, as she opened her mouth to retaliate.

That's how he fed her, whilst Ummu and Abbu kept starring at them in awe, silently praying this would be for eternity. They finished eating and stood up to leave, that's when Ihsan's waterworks begins.

"Manal will accompany you to the airport, take care of yourself, Ihsan. If he did anything to you, we're just a phone call away!" Abbu and Ummu said in a loving tone, patting her back.

Their luggages were already taken to the car by the driver. She yawed her gaze to their house, the house she once called home, and now she was leaving, without even seeing the loves of her life. "Can I bid them adieu?" She slurred, hopefully looking at Abbu with her misty eyes.

He hugged her one more time, "Daada said you should just leave, I know he doesn't want to cry in your presence," Abbu tried to make her smile, and he did; for she curved a lopsided smile on her lips.

"I love you. Tell them I will not miss them," she hugged Ummu and Abbu again. With pouted lips and teary eyes, she glanced at the house, before she entered the car and they drove out of the estate.

Manal was talking to her, but she ignored her and took out her phone from her side bag and began writing a text.

~Daada! I wanted to see you for the last time, see that loving smile, feel that warm hug; but couldn't. You caused all this, Daada. I asked for schooling abroad, not getting married.

The last thing is, I won't miss you over there, and you have to suffer before you could contact me. That too, alot!~

She wiped away her tears, imagining how Daada would be grimacing and smiling ruefully when reading her text. And as they made her cry, she'll make sure her Maama did too.

~Maama! You know what? If I say I'll miss you, that might be a lie, for I wasn't used to your presence, nor was I used to your warmth or loving smile. I grew up as a child with a single parent, so it won't change a thing, since you decided I should live my whole life with a young boy.

I know you would cry, but don't stress those unique and magical eyes that could melt a moutain please. My beautiful Maama, take care of my Daada so much please. I love you all.~

She couldn't stop the tears anymore. She put her head amidst her legs and let out a wail, crying silently; yet anguishly. She didn't know when they arrived at the airport. Manal silently tapped her shoulder, she looked up and realized they were already in MMA2.

Sombrely coming out of the car, she heard their flight number been announced; as the passengers were starting to board. They swiftly hugged Manal and sauntered to the departures. She was about to enter, when she turned and looked at Manal that was waiting for them to vanish before they will head back.

"Take care of my Maama, I know she would be lonely and bored. Always check on her," she flashed her a beseeching look as Sadeeq took hold of her wrist, and they walked to where 'Qatar Airways: 0134' passengers were boarding.

They boarded the plane and sat on their sits. She rested her head on her chair, looking at the city of Lagos, as their flight took off to Qatar.