Married To A Tyrant

Before The Wedding (Part 9)

MANSUR

"You know how girls nowadays like to waste their time putting on makeup and all that." Aunty Rahama laughed nervously, glancing up at the staircase for the seventh time. I rolled my eyes and stared at Umma's feet, not bothered by what was going on. I actually hoped that Salma wouldn't come downstairs, and this entire sham of a marriage proposal would be forgotten completely.

"Ai babu komai. Ko wadannan yaran da qyar na samu suka fito da wuri (Don't worry about it. Even these girls took a very long time before they got ready)." Umma replied, rubbing her feet gingerly. I gritted my teeth as I stared at her legs. Umma has been dealing with diabetes for a very long time now. I knew she was too stubborn to go to a specialist, but it was obvious that she was hurting. Her left leg was completely swollen, and her right leg was beginning to swell up as well.

"But before she comes, I guess we should start the formalities." Uncle Yahaya, Abba's older brother said, removing his cap.

"Yes, of course." Salma's dad said, leaning forward. "Since it's something that's within the family, I guess we can just speed up the process. No need for overcomplicated protocols."

"Exactly. You know sometimes, all this overcomplicated issues are what cause problems in marriages. Uncle Yahaya chuckled. Everyone joined him in laughing. Everyone except me. I was in no mood to laugh at his lame jokes.

"Forgive me for asking, but I haven't noticed Uncle Sharif with you guys. Is he not here?" Aunty Rahama asked, looking straight at Umma, who averted her gaze. My eyes went immediately to Rukayyah, who was already opening her mouth, but she shut it quickly. I narrowed my eyes at her, daring her to speak. Wisely, she kept her mouth shut.

"Um... He's feeling a bit...under the weather, so he asked us to come without him. That's why we came with Yahaya and Mas'ud. Aminu said he'll get here before we start anything." Umma said, her eyes fixed on me as she spoke. I averted my gaze, not wanting to discuss anything related to Abba.

"Very well. Ladies, you can wait for us in the living room upstairs. We'll call you when we're done." Uncle Kabir said. Aunty Rahama stood up and led the way, while all the ladies followed her. Rukayyah stood up reluctantly, dragging her feet as she exited.

"Mansur, you should leave as well. We'll call you when we're done." Uncle Yahaya said, just as Uncle Aminu walked in with Uncle Mas'ud, sweaty and flustered. "Assalamu alaikum." he gasped, muttering something about their car breaking down on the way. We all replied his Salam before I turned to face Uncle Yahaya. "Why should I leave? Are we not going to discuss my marriage?" I asked.

Taken aback, Uncle Kabir leaned forward slightly. "Yes Mansur, we are going to discuss your marriage. But that is why your family members are here. I believe you've spoken to them prior to your arrival. Anything that has to be said, they'll say it on your behalf." he said.

"But I want to be here." I said.

"Kai, tashi ka bar wajen nan (Hey, stand up and leave this place)." Uncle Mas'ud suddenly said, glaring at me. Everyone kept quiet as they watched us.

"I want to be here." I replied adamantly. "What are you going to discuss that I have no right to listen to?"

"You are not supposed to be here." he said, his eyes locked in a staring contest with mine. "We'll call you when we need you."

"But I..."

"If you can't leave, we'll leave this place so you can handle everything." he said, reaching for his phone and cap.

"Mansur, just stand up and leave." Uncle Kabir said, smiling at me. For a brief moment, I considered staying put and jeopardising this entire proposal. But I decided otherwise.

So, I grudgingly stood up and left the living room, just as Uncle Yahaya started to apologize on my behalf.

*****

"Zo ka zauna a gefe na (Come and seat beside me)." Umma said, patting the spot on the sofa beside her. I ignored her and sat at the table behind them, pulling out my phone. I could feel Rukayyah's gaze burning a hole in my neck, but I chose to ignore her. I was surprised to see twelve missed calls. Vanessa had tried calling me. What in God's name did she want?

"Wai kai irin ka girma ko (So you want to pretend that you're grown up now, right)?" Aunty Rahama chuckled. I ignored her as well and continued to scroll through **.

"Masha Allah. Sai yanzu kika samu damar fitowa, ko (So you finally decided to come out, right)?" Umma laughed a little bit too loudly, looking up just as everyone turned towards the living room entrance, myself included.

Standing by the doorway was the woman whom I was being forced to marry. She was wearing the black sequined gown which Umma had insisted that we buy a few days ago. And she was wearing very minimal makeup, but what irked me was the fact that she was covering more than half of the gown with a very large white hijab. Why was she trying to pretend that she's a religious person?

She dropped her gaze as she walked in, slowly going over to greet Umma. "Allah yayi miki albarka, 'yata. Allah ya baku zaman lafiya, ya albarkaci wannan auren naku (God bless you, my child. My Allah grant you peace and tranquility together, and may He bless this union between the two of you)." she said.

"Ameen." she muttered, bending her head as Umma patted her shoulder.

She exchanged pleasantries with my siblings, before she left the living room to serve some drinks. "The food is almost ready." she said as she dropped the tray of drinks beside Umma. I wish she'd show more skin.

"So Mansur," Aunty Rahama said suddenly, "Where do you plan on going to for your honeymoon?"

The shattering of glass shocked everyone in the living room.

"I'm sorry." Salma muttered, hurrying out of the room.

"Ikon Allah (Wow)!" Umma muttered, unable to hold it in. Salma returned with a broom and dustpan, while her sister Nana followed with a mop. She swept the glass where the glass had shattered, then used a mop to get the tiny pieces.

"Be careful next time." Umma cautioned, moving her feet away from the spot. Salma nodded quietly and left the living room.

"Kinji wai auren Maman Kamal ya mutu (Did you hear about Maman Kamal's divorce)?" Aunty Rahama asked suddenly. The entire atmosphere of the living room changed, as everyone exchanged knowing looks.

"A'a wallahi, ban jiba (No, I didn't hear)." Umma muttered, taking an unnecessarily long sip of her drink.

"Wallahi wai kwanan nan ya faru. Kuma ba wanda ta fada wa (They said it happened recently. And she didn't tell anyone)." Aunty Rahama continued.

"Yauwa Salma, zo nan, 'yata (Salma my daughter, come here)." Umma said, trying to change the topic just as Salma entered. Her constant entrance and exit was already getting on my nerves. She knelt down beside Umma and bowed her head.

"Ba zaki yiwa mijin ki magana bane (Aren't you going to talk to your husband)?" Umma laughed I felt a chill run down my spine as she finished. I couldn't stand being in the same room with her, not to talk of standing next to her.

"Kije ku gaisa mana. Miye na wani kunya (Go and say hi. Why are you acting shy)?" she continued, glancing over in my direction.

Salma hesitated for a few seconds, before she stood up and walked towards me. I scrunched my face in disgust, staring intently at my phone like it was the most interesting thing in the world: which it was.

"Assalamu alaikum." she said, looking to the side.

"Wa alaikum as salam." I replied without looking at her.

"You guys can sit and chat a little bit." Umma said. Why was she trying to force this girl down my throat? I don't like her. Not even a little bit.

She pulled the chair farthest away from me and sat down, staring intently at her fingers.

"Salma, come here." Aunty Rahama called. She eagerly stood up and went towards her and bent beside her. Aunty Rahama whispered something into her ear.

"Amma Mama (But mother)..." she started to say.

"Shut up." she said, her voice barely audible. "You will do as I say, or you'll suffer the consequences." she whispered. I saw a cloud pass over Salma's eyes, and she hesitantly nodded.

"Mama tace kazo (Mother said you should come)." she said to me, staring at the ground. I glared at her, but she didn't look up at me. So I stood up and walked towards Aunty Rahama.

"I meant you should come with me." she said, walking towards the door. I shrugged and followed her. Just before we walked out, I caught Hafsah glaring at me. I furrowed my brows at her, but she ignored me and continued to stare.

Salma led me through the corridor, past several doors onto the terrace at the end of the corridor. She pushed open the French doors, and we stepped into a large terrace almost the size of a small bedroom. Their house was located on a small hill in the secluded part of Asokoro, so the entire view of Abuja could be seen from the terrace. There was a hot tub towards the left, with the cover closed over it.

"You can seat over there." she said, pointing to a pair of chairs kept opposite each other towards the right. There was a small table between the chairs, with a bowl of fruits on top. I took my seat on one chair and resumed my scrolling on **.

Rather than joining me, Salma went to stand at the other end of the terrace, looking off into the distance. The chilly evening air blew through the house, whipping her hijab around her.

"Aren't you going to sit?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No." she replied, not even turning. I shrugged and went back to my phone. "Suit yourself." I muttered, scrolling thorough some pictures of a mouthwatering girl.

Twenty minutes later, Salma's brother Jafar came onto the terrace. "Mama tace ku zo (Mother said you should come)." he said, looking straight at his sister. Wordlessly, she turned and headed out of the door.

"And as for you," he said, taking a step towards me. "Don't think for a second that I approve of this marriage. I hate you, and I'm not going to pretend about it. If you ever cause my sister to cry, then I swear to you that you'll spend that night in a hospital. And if you think I'm joking, then just try to make any stupid move. I dare you." he said, poking my chest. "Do I make myself clear?" he asked.

"Loud and clear." I smirked.

With that, he turned and left me alone on the terrace. "You have no idea who you're messing with." I muttered, rising from the chair.

Downstairs, everybody was getting ready to leave. When I walked in, everyone smiled widely at me. Or rather, all the parents did. Everyone else was glaring at me.

"Alhamdulillah, Mansur a date has been fixed for the wedding. Since we're not strangers, we saw no need to take so long in completing all the formalities." Uncle Kabir said.

"Alhamdulillah." I smiled, my eyes straying towards Salma, who was standing at the other end of the room, looking very miserable. 'You deserve it' I thought to myself.

"The wedding has been fixed for two months from now, Insha Allah." Aunty Rahama smiled at me. I returned the smile and shook hands with the men as they all left. Umma hugged Aunty Rahama and her kids, before heading for the door as well. "Make it quick." she whispered to me as she walked out.

As all the girls hugged Salma in turn, a single tear slid down her cheek. I hastily took my handkerchief from my pocket and handed it to her. She looked up at me through her lashes, looking back down immediately.

"Wipe your tears. I don't like seeing your tears." I whispered into her ear. Her head shot up as she stared at me, her eyes wide as saucers.

"Soon, you'll be mine, Habibty."