Entwined By Destiny

Chapter Three

The next morning like every working day, everyone woke up early to prepare for their various activities. In Prof. Naseer's section of the house, his wife Dr.Hauwa was seated at the dining table with Fateema and the kids, taking their breakfast. A light-skinned woman in her early forties, she's visibly pregnant.Seated by her right is a young, chocolate-coloured boy of about three years, whom she was feeding.

"Yawwa, maigidana (good, my husband) take your pap and be stronger than Aunty Ihsan and Aunty Ikram"

"So I can beat them up like Aunty Iman does?"he grinned.

Laughing, she replied, "Yes, even stronger than Aunty Iman.Or have you forgotten you are a soldier and soldiers are the strongest?! "

This earned her another huge grin and prompted him to gobble up the pap just as she wanted. Ihsan and Ikram just ignored them and kept on eating cos they are already used to their mother and Abdallah's gibberish.

Fateema on the other hand was slowly sipping at her freshly brewed mint tea while hiding the secret smile she couldn't resist. Indeed she lacked the ability to resist the joy every mother feels whenever someone dotes on her child.

'Mai da wawa' says the Hausa-man and that's why day in day out the love, respect and adoration she feels towards her Mummy keeps increasing cos of the way she dotes on her son Abdallah. Even though he has long since been weaned, the doting grandma still prepares for him special pap and food loaded with essential nutrients for healthy growth.As such, he grew up into a healthy, strong and vibrant little boy.

Fateema finished her breakfast of chips,omelettes and mint tea but remained sitting on the table, her attention focused on the pregnant lady and the toddler.

7:13am on the dot, Prof Naseer came bursting into the dining room all dressed up for work. All the kids rushed to him chanting, "Good morning, Daddy!"with Fateema tagging behind them.

Prof Naseer picked up Abdallah, threw him up in the air, saying,"Morning, General Abdallah!".

Transferring the little boy to one hand, he side-hugged his young daughters and then Fateema while answering their greetings.

All of a sudden, he checked his wristwatch then looked at Fateema with a stern face,"Hassana what are you still doing at home by this time when you have a test by 8am?"

"Daddy....".

"Don't Daddy-me!I stand before you as Prof this morning not Daddy! Have you forgotten the rules? You should be at the premises thirty minutes before schedule for every test!"

Bowing in respect, she apologized, "Sorry Prof, I'll just go and call Iman and Safiyyah right now".

With that, she picked up her large duffel bag and hurried away, tying her niqab in the process.

As he's fasting (Monday & Thursday nawafil fast), he didn't even glance at the table.Putting down the boy, he smiled at his pretty wife and gave her a peck on the cheek before saying, "I'm off to work. Till you come".

"Just say till we meet later when you return home.How can you know my arrival when you are high up there a sama ta bakwai (seventh floor) while I dey down dey struggle with chalk and blackboard? "

"No, banda sharri fa! (don't paint us black) Mrs Lecturer it's marker and whiteboard .We don't supply you with chalks that can make your hands dirty!"

They both burst out laughing before he bade her farewell and went after Fateema (to his mother's section).

With a stern face he reserves specially for "Prof" moments with the kids, he got to the section with the intention of scolding Iman and Safiyyah for wasting Fateema's time.But alas, upon entering the room, the scene he met with made his expression to change abruptly into one of a proud dad.

Iman, dressed in her school uniform was crouched infront of his mum and was gently applying balm on her legs while Safiyyah and Fateema stood waiting.

Smiling, he sat right beside Iman, greeted his mum then pushed off Iman's hands saying, "Oya, go to school and allow me to get my share of my own mother's warmth. You sleep together, wake up together,eat together and it's still not enough for you? I'll do the massage.Run along, Hassana is already late."

After Iman and Safiyyah greeted him,the trio left the room and hurriedly entered the adjacent one. Just as they expected, the occupant was clad in hijab and deeply engrossed in reciting the holy Quran with her reading glasses on.

In unison, they said,"Good morning Ummi.Daddy said we should make it snappy so, till we come back"

Luckily, she had just gotten to the end of a chapter so she looked up just as the last person was retreating.

"Best of luck, may Allah be with you".

And a chorus of "Ameen" trailed after them.

In her navy blue Ford focus,Fateema drove them off to campus, dropped the duo at Demonstration Secondary section before heading to her department.

As expected, all candidates for the test carry-over students inclusive arrived very early.This is because the lecturer to conduct the test is none other than Dr. Ezeawata or more common, Dr Iza-a-wuta (nickname derived from his name by the predominantly Hausa students of Biological Sciences department of A.B.U, Zaria).

He's every student's worst nightmare cos of his overbearing, extremely strict attitude. Apart from giving them frequent short guns (unexpected tests), he has certain rules and regulations that are too strict even for secondary school students talkless of university undergraduates. He never misses any slight opportunity to make a scapegoat out of his students. That's why whenever it's time for his lectures or tests, each and every student come at least fifteen minutes before time and make sure they behave themselves lest he/she becomes the one that he iza a wuta

(thrust into the fire).

This time around, the bad luck fell on Fateema.As usual, he locked the door as soon as he got into the theatre but instead of going straight to the task like he usually does, he started perusing the entire students with his eagle eyes.

As they fell on Fateema, he pointed at her with a marker, saying, "Hey you with the black rag on your face, come here and identify yourself."

Taken aback, Fateema frowned but still got up and walked towards him, her floor length hijab sweeping the floor.

She showed him her I.D card which he didn't even glance at before saying, "Remove the rag on your face so I can compare with the picture on the I.D"

Fateema scoffed, asking herself "is this man for real?" .

To him however, she said,"With due respect Sir, I can't remove my niqab".

"You can't or you won't?", to which Fateema just kept mute.

Frowning, he looked down at the courageous girl (despite her tall height, he still towered over her with his hunky built).

"Leave my class then.I don't tolerate impersonators that write tests for good-for-nothing so-called students".

The class-rep courageously got up and stammering due to the intimidating nature of the lecturer, he said,"Sir, em... this is Fateema Naseer.She...really is part of this class and she never misses lectures right from our first year uptill now".

The awe-inspiring eyes turned unto the class-rep as he c****d an eyebrow before saying, "Since when did my class turn into a courtroom that we even have witnesses? ".

Returning to Fateema, he added, "I've already given you an ultimatum, prove you are who your I.D says you are or leave my class".

Taking a deep breath, Fateema turned to nod her head at the class-rep in a 'thank you'gesture then exited the hall, leaving the entire students stunned. Who dare defy Dr Iza-a-wuta?.

"Well, Mr.Witness, are you going to follow her or can we carry on?".

The poor guy quickly shook his head, answering, "No Sir, sorry sir!".

And so the lecturer locked the door and conducted his test.

**********

In the evening, Iman was relaxing on her grandmother's laps while gisting with Safiyyah when Ikram ran into the room saying, "Adda Iman, Ya Mahmud is calling you.He's in his room".

A long hiss followed before she said, "Oh, he has finally gotten tired of the hiding game? Lemme go, I've been anxiously awaiting him since yesterday! "

Without salaam, she burst into the room but remained standing by the doorstep arms akimbo, lips pouted and body shaking in a naughty Iman-like way.

Mahmud rolled his eyes saying,"Here we go again! .You call me 'moody'whereas you are the bipolar one.Oya, come and tell me who dared offend sakwara dadin Mama "(mama's namesake).

In response, she just hissed and turned her back at him.Realisation dawned on him then that it was at him her anger is directed.

Walking over to her, he pulled her into the room resisting her pitiable struggles to escape his hold.As they got to the single chaise lounge in the room, he sat her down beside him, with her hands still captive.

"Now tell me what is it this time around Ya Mudi sarkin laifi (chief offender) did?"

"Okay, you have even forgotten, right?Fabulous,just fabulous"she said in sarcasm.

She made a move to get up but he tightened his hold, saying, "No,sit let's talk.Seriously, what did I do? As far as I recall, you and I haven't even seen each other since.... (his eyes lit up as realisation dawned) Oh, oh,don't tell me this is about yesterday evening".

That earned him another glare before she said,"Of course, it is. How could you?!"

"How could I do what?.Tell the truth? .You asked me to tell everyone who my beloved is and I did.I said her name to their hearing just as you requested so why are your hackles up? " .

"Yes I asked you to say her name but I didn't remember asking you to touch my cheek as you said it and for God's sake you even winked!.You & I might know the meaning of the wink but our audience didn't!Couldn't you see they weren't at all joking? Or have you forgotten my name is also Nafeesah?They were already at my neck and seeing you, I felt relieved cos I thought you'll rescue me but you just ended up adding salt to injury!.Now I will never have peace of mind in this house. I can't even talk about Ayman cos they take it as bullshit.Can you imagine?.My love for Ayman, bullshit?

That was even before your so-called 'truth-telling' now I don't even know what they will call it.Though I think we are even(she smiled evilly at this juncture).Think deeply Ya Mudi, do you know the repercussion of your little stunt? Don't you think you have just made things worse for yourself? "

Scratching his sexy beard in contemplation, he said,"But they can't think I was serious. Haba, Iya knows me like the back of her hand, I grew up in her presence and Walida....well, something tells me that deep down she knows where my heart truly belongs. Trust me, you are only over reacting.Anyway, everything will soon be sorted out by Allah's grace.You know I was just waiting to get a job first and now I have one, so....."

He didn't get to finish as Iman gave out a yelp of delight,"Yayy! At long last! I just can't wait. And don't forget your promise, I'm to make your cake.My very first wedding cake! Oh, I just can't wait!".

After her excitement died down while Mahmud watched silently in amusement, she gave him 'the puppy-look'.

"Ya Mudi can I please borrow your phone for a second? "

Seeing the look he gave her, she said,"Oh, please! This is not the time for your big-brother syndrome. Daddy won't let me get my own phone, you didn't let him see me when he came on hols and now just to hear his voice?.You know what? You are a bully and so mean and I hate you!.And it's tit for tat, you'll see what I'll do since you don't keep your own part of the deal. (she got up and headed towards the door) I'll go to....".

In one stride, he got to her and pulled her back unto her previous seat.Bringing out his phone, he handed it to her saying, "I know you can hack into my phone no matter how many times I change the code so no need to tell you. Call His Royal highness and have a royal time.But before then, tell me, are we good?"

She flashed her perfect set of teeth at him, saying, "We are always good, Ya Mudina!".

That earned her one of his trademark half-smiles before reaching out to do what he's always fond of doing--pinching her dimple spot.

With him sitting right next to her absorbing each and every word, Iman chatted with her beloved boyfriend who is faraway in Austria, studying medicine.