Two
1140 Words
"Salam" Maryam said upon entering the room. Sahabi looked up from his newspaper, frustration taking over him. He obliged to Hajiyas command and got married again to Mayam Babangida, a divorced fulani woman from Mubi who his good friend Alhaji Shehu recommended. Maryam was a good woman, she understood that the only reason he married her was to please Hajiya and he really cherrished his space.
"Wa'alaikis Salam" she dropped the tray she was holding on the coffee table.
"I brought you some Warm milk" she smiled.
"Thank you" he said raising the glass to his lips. She sensed he didn't require her presence and stood up to leave.
Their marriage only had distant conversations and sometimes little acts of kindness. Maryam would spend three to four days without seeing Sahabi and they were in the same house. She spent everyday parading around the mansion, at least she could eat whatever she wanted and could go wherever she wanted which was the only thing keeping her in this marriage. Sometimes when she saw the cold looks her husband gave her, she dreaded rushing into the marriage although he was very nice to her she still wanted more.
They had been married for six months and not once did they share a bed together. Sahabi had greater worries, he was helping run a country but his main reason was Samira. He didn't want to betray Samira but Maryam never understood, she felt she wasn't good enough. She made all efforts to make him notice her but to no avail, he never really cared. Maryam decided to call it quits, he was denying her her rights.
She had been counting down to the day she would leave him for good, she knew Allah wouldn't account her for anything since she always had a pure heart.
"Alhaji I need to speak with you"
"What is it?"
"I can't continue like this. Ever since you married me you have been denying me my rights which is haram! Would you prefer if I start engaging in extramarital affairs? What would people say then? That your wife is insolent when you're the one who pushed her to make that decision. I have needs too!" She made her point without raising her voice.
"You can not speak to me that way!" he was covered with guilt, not really knowing what else to say he just hid behind his raging eyes.
"Forgive me if I have offended you but you know I have only spoken the truth"
"You are here only to bear me a child" he said furiously. He realized what he just said and wished he didn't, bearing him a child meant he had to be intimate with her. It meant he had to betray his beloved Samira.
"A child" she paused "In sha Allah I will give you that child" if he really wanted a child they were bound to consummate their marriage which was all she really asked for. She was grateful he gave her a listening ear. She turned around and left him, alone with his fury.
✊✊✊
"Allahu akbar allahu akbar
Allahu akbar allahu akbar
Ash-hadu anla ilaha illah Allah
Ash-hadu anla ilaha illah Allah
Ash-hadu anna muhammadar-rasulullah
Ash-hadu anna muhammadar-rasulullah
Hayya as-salah
Hayya as-salah
Hayya al-falah
Hayya al-falah
Allahu akbar allahu akbar
La ilaha illa Allah" Sahabi recited into the baby's left ear before passing her to her mother. He was genuinely happy, happier than he'd though he would be. Hajiya had just arrived and entered the room all smiles she praised God before going to collect the little girl from Maryam.
"Allah ya raya mamu keh diyan nan (May God grant you long life child)" she rocked her in her arms. Maryam was well enough to return home that same day.
"Do you have any name you want to give her?" Sahabi asked his wife. In his heart, he wanted to name her after his dead wife but he knew Maryam wouldn't take that very well so he decided to let her pick a name and if she didn't have any in mind, he would name her after his late Mother.
He looked down at her and smiled unknowingly when he heard the name she mentioned, coincidentally it was the name he had in mind. Maryam had never seen him smile, he was rather good looking which he concealed well under his poker face.
✊10✊Years✊Later✊
"Ummi!" She heard her father yell from inside. He was so loud the birds that had taken shelter in the trees close to her room had flown away.
"Zahra you are done for today" she muttered to herself. The ten year old ran as fast as she could back into the house with her long black fulani hair which was tied into a pony tail bouncing up and down as she made her way upstairs to her room where her parents were patiently waiting for her. She stood wide eyed looking at her dad whose hands were folded and her mom who had a killer look on her face, Zahra was either going to die or she was going to die!
"What is this?" her dad asked gesturing to her room which was now painted... Yellow. She had connived with Andrew one of the Bodyguards, hired a painter and turned her room into a chicken house. She managed to keep her parents out of the room for three days and was happy with her achievement.
"Come here you little brat" her mom dashed towards her, she squealed and jumped behind Sahabi who raised his hands to stop Maryam "Run my Ummi" he said "Go to my room" she ran out and went to his room locking the door behind her.
"You keep letting her get away with all these acts" a fuming Maryam said "Even when she shaved her head you did nothing!" he sighed and wrapped his arms around her from behind saying "That was four years ago, let it go" she breathed out "But she needs to be reprimanded"
"Its Okay Maman Ummi, let her be" he added. She had to let it go. What could she do when Sahabi would always let her go scot free but when she gets her hands on that girl...
The couple had fallen in love a few years after Fatima was born, the year his tenure as the Vice president ended. He realized he had given his life to work and didn't even try to open his heart again. Fatima was the key to Sahabi's heart and Maryam loved that about her, she loved Sahabi even more. The old man grew romantic by the day, he never let a day go by without thanking Maryam for fixing his life and bringing sweet little Ummi into it.
xoxo hairanumar
- Writer
