Fifteen
1125 Words
Zahra stared at her ringing phone again and this time she decided to pick the call.
"Yes? What do you want?"
"This isn't fair we've been outside for thirty minutes now"
"We? Who's we?"
"Just come out" he paused "with the materiels please" he quickly added, she sighed and ended the call. Zahra derived pleasure from torturing Haidar, she always loved to make him suffer. She threw on a knee length hijab before jogging out of her room, down the stairs and out to the parking area where she easily sighted Haidars car. Zahra tried to make out the face of the person sitting on the passenger side of the car but couldn't, as she got closer she realized it was a girl and when she got close enough she saw that it was Halima.
Hmmm, abun naku ya yi karfi... (This is serious). She thought.
Haidar was already standing outside, leaning against the door of his car when she got there.
"Finally" he said in frustration.
"Oh please, you're lucky I even came out" she noticed him staring blankly at her with a smile on his face.
"Why is this one smiling?"
"I've never seen you in a hijab. You look beautiful" he replied, his soft smile still clinging onto his lips. Halima whose presence was forgotten hissed to remind them of her presence, Zahra tilted her head to get a clear view of Halimas frowning face.
"Any problem?" Zahra asked, Halima gave her a dirty look in return "Alee, can we leave now?" She whined. Zahra turned her attention back to Haidar who was with no doubt holding back a laugh, she let out a devilish laugh "This girl is playing with me" she said to herself while circling the car to the passengers side. Zahra swung open the door and looked down at Halima.
"Madam, you should know that you're too small for me to compete with you over a guy. If I wanted Haidar I would've taken him the moment I met him so you can stop your stupid jealousy because I'm not going anywhere and if you're not careful I will get rid of you" she raised her head so she was looking directly at Haidars shaken eyes "And you" she chuckled "I won't let our matter out but I'll deal with you later" she flung the books she was carrying at Halima "Sai anjima"
✊✊✊
Maryam huffed in confusion as she passed by Murtalas room, this was the third time this month she heard laughter coming from his room. She chose to shrug it off and continue to her destination only to come back thirty minutes later and hear the same sounds. She knocked and slowly opened the door with a 'salam' ,Murtala was seated on his bed with his back to the door facing his laptop. He quickly pulled out his earpiece and turned to the door with a reply to his mother "Mami" his smile grew.
"Is everything alright?" She asked moving deeper into the room till his laptop screen came into view "Oh" she said eyebrows raised as she saw the woman looking at her with a hint of shyness "carry on" she aimed for the door but was brought back by her son, Murtala swiftly disconnected the earpiece so Nadine was on speaker.
"Mami this is Nadine, my coworker" he pointed to the screen where Nadine had a grin on her face as she waved at Maryam.
"Nadine this is the love of my life"
"Good evening the love of Murtalas life" Nadine greeted carrying a smile she couldn’t shake off.
"Evening young lady, how are you and your parents?"
"We are fine Ma, I hope you're doing fine too"
"I am. I best leave you two, it was lovely meeting you Nadine"
"And you too. Goodnight"
Maryam left Murtalas room almost dancing, since the incident with Aisha she hadn't seen or heard of anyone else.
"You should be ashamed of yourself" Murtala said putting back on his earpiece "I can swear I saw sweat dripping from your face when she came in" he threw his head back giggling.
"How was I supposed to know I was meeting your Mom? Look at me, I'm in my PJ's fisabilillah couldn't you at least give me a heads up?" She rolled her eyes.
"What's the big deal? Its not like you're seeing your in-laws or something, its just Mami"
"The love of your life, I thought I was the love of your life" she placed her hand on her chest feigning hurt.
"You know your own love is on another level"
She sighed "Anyway, I have to go before my annoying uncle who just won't die comes to make sure I'm asleep as if I'm a child"
"Haba don't say that, I'm sure he's not that bad"
"Yes, he's worse. I'm only spending the night here because of Anty Halima, she really is trying staying with that man, if I was the one I would've shot him a long time ago"
Murtala gasped playfully "Is this how you'll treat me when we get married?!"
"As if" she laughed "Goodnight Muree. If you like come late tomorrow"
"You know I will. So who's going to end the-"
"Later loser!" Nadine yelled and slammed on the mouse before Murtala could finish his sentence, he shook his head and dropped the laptop on the side drawer still giggling.
✊✊✊
"I said I was sorry"
"Sorry for what? Its not your fault you're a fine boy just tell your girlfriend to be careful"
"She's not my girlfriend!"
"You should try telling her that. I have to go now, I'm paying Yaya a surprise visit"
"What's the surprise in that? You saw him this morning"
"That's none of your business, if you're done with your apology I'll like to go please"
"God Zahra, I don't know what to do with you!" He said looking up, defeated. They said their goodbyes and Zahra left for Murtalas office where she found him seated alone working on his computer.
"Yaya" she half yelled, his head shot up and a smile appeared on his lips "Buttercup"
"Thank goodness you're here, I thought you'd already be out for lunch" she managed to get him out of his chair so she could sit and spin on it.
"To what do I owe this visit?"
"I'm taking you out for lunch" she repeated her sentence in her heard and stopped spinning so she was facing Murtala "No, let me rephrase that. There's this amazing waffle place that I want to go to so I'm taking you with me"
"And?" He knew how this conversation was going to end, with him paying.
xoxo hairanumar
- Writer
