Ya Amar (My Moon)

Thirty five

"Noor" Familiar voices screamed when I walked into the restaurant.

I turned, my hijab whirling at my movement. Feyi and Temi were seated at one corner of the not so busy restaurant waving frantically at me.

I smiled and waved back at them as I headed to their table. Feyi stood up laughing. She wore a black and white patterned shirt dress that stopped right above her knee paired with red stiletto sandals. Her hair was plaited into tiny braids that reached her waist. She looked prettier and glowed more than the last time we met. Temi sat smiling at me. She wore jeans trousers and a sleeveless top. Walking up to them made me know how much I have missed seeing them.

"Look at her" Feyi said wrapping her hands around me. "She is glowing. I have missed you so much Noor" she said before we broke our hug.

"I miss you both" I replied accepting Temi who had gotten up into my wide arms.

"You ladies are prettier than the last time we saw" I said settling down.

"Have you checked your face in the mirror? You are prettier than the last time I saw you" Feyi said.

The giddiness in their eyes and the happiness of seeing me warmed my heart.

"Those video calls had actually lied to us" Temi chirped.

"Noor, you missed so much. How is that husband of yours?" she said with an eyebrow raised.

"He is fine" heat sprung to my cheeks but I averted it immediately.

"I have so much to tell you. There are lots for us to talk about. I could have called you and told you everything on phone but international calls are expensive" Feyi sighed at the end of her conversation.

"You" Temi pointed a finger at me with a sharp look in her eyes. "You are a sly. You could not tell me you were coming"

"I am so sorry. I just wanted it to be a surprise"

"We spoke the day before yesterday and just for you to call me yesterday and tell me you are in Nigeria. Dude that was shocking" she cried out earning few glances from people.

"I got something for you ladies" I dropped the shopping bags I had walked in with on the table.

"Really what did you get me?" Temi's anger vanished replaced with a wide curve of her heart-shaped lips.

"Check them" I gave each of them their bags.

"The stuffs you sent to Nigeria last time were beautiful especially that pair of gold earrings. I loved them" Temi said checking her back.

"I loved the dinner dress you got me. That black off shoulder silk dress. I wore it to a movie premier and I met this guy" Feyi babbled, her eyes twinkling. "You have to see him. His name his Bamidele" she clapped her hands bouncing with thrill on her chair. "He was dark, tall and handsome. When he looked at me, I felt he was looking at my soul. You have to see him Noor" she grabbed my arm. "He is gorgeous and has money"

"What about the one you met in the palms before my marriage?"

"That one" she hissed waving her hand in the air. "Na old story jare. The bastard wanted to take me to bed. What does he take me for?" she snubbed. "I gave him a slap that sent senses to his head. I am sure he might not be able to father a child again with that kick I gave him where the sun does not shine" she narrated upset. I chuckled at how she looked.

"We shoulder better eat because we might not hear the end of Feyi's story today. Waiter" Temi raised a hand alert a waiter.

"Why had Ogechukwu not arrived?" I said referring to a friend of ours. "Chinaza will be here soon. I am so happy she is engaged" I squealed.

"Oge said she is on her way. She would meet us at the spa" Temi answered.

"Spa?"

"Yes, we are going to the spa"

"I want to get my hair done. I want to braid it"

"There is a salon there" Feyi said after sipping her juice.

"That's good. I will do my hair there"

After eating and telling me the latest gossip they had, we headed to the salon and spa. On our arrival, Oge arrived looking gorgeous as always. Oge was a childhood friend of mine. We grew up together just that when everyone began to live their life, we contacted less and talk less. She got married before me. She had been married for seven years with three kids at the age of thirty.

I noticed the change immediately when she walked up to us. She was a mother of three and still a nursing mother but her weight had reduced. I remembered on my wedding day, she had said she wanted to shed some weight, not skinny but just okay and I was surprised that one month later she had shed some of her weight. How did she do that? I can't do that because of laziness.

"This one na lie o!" I exclaimed when she hugged me. "Oge, wetin you do to your body? You have shed some weight girl"

"I just did it but I tell you ladies, it is not easy" she hugged Temi and Feyi.

"This is why I do not want to marry. This perfect body of my will go away when I give birth" Feyi huffed.

"Listen baby girl, you do not have to worry about that, you can get it back. Motherhood might be hectic but I tell you it is the best" Oge encouraged as we walked to the beauty parlour.

I changed my mind about doing my hair. I mean it was a public place and men come to the place. No one will want to plait your hair for you in a secluded place. So I requested for a home service. It was expensive but I was sure my husband will not mind giving me the money when I inform him.

The day was amazing with my friends. Chinaza arrived later in her new car. We did what most women do when they hang out. After leaving the spa, we headed to the ice cream parlour where I ate ice cream and decided to pay. It was my threat. By evening, we parted ways.

I arrived home together with Raihana. Raihana had shopped to stupor. The girl was a shopaholic like my mother. That was one thing I did not take from mom. My husband and my brother were not back but grandma and dad were back from their various outing. I talked with Mi Jin not minding if international calls were expensive. She misses me so much and I miss her already. I had just begun my vacation and it was great, very great. I just hope it becomes better by the time I am alone in a foreign country with my husband.

***

Efo riro had always been my favourite vegetable soup. Apart from it being nutritious, it is delicious especially when it is garnished with varieties of fish and meat. Raihana never really like cooking. But she had decided to make it because I was around. It was delicious and my taste bud just wanted more of it. I had to wait for dinner to get more of it. I reduced the heat under the soup when it was almost done and checked the yam we wanted to use for pounded yam. I had missed my African dishes a lot. I had promised myself I will eat them during my stay in Nigeria. I had little time to stay in my country which was saddening.

"The yam has done" I announced to Raihana who was typing away on her phone.

"Really?" she jumped down from the kitchen island and walked to me putting her phone away in her gown's pocket.

"Get the yam pounded ready" I ordered.

"It would have been better if Kehinde is around. I prefer the yam pounded with mortar and pestle to the yam pounder" she complained.

"He is not around so we are using the yam pounder. You can't expect me to pound when I don't know how to do it"

"Yam pounder makes the yam softer but the local way of pounding is just better"

"Stop complaining sis and let's do it quickly and get out of the kitchen. My husband will soon be home and I don't want anything holding me down to meet him" I switched off the heat under the soft yam and got ready to pound.

As the yam began to pound, I heard Raihan and Amir's voices coming from the living room. My heart somersaulted with joy. He has arrived. I smiled washing my hand to meet them. With my family in the living room, I knew I could not welcome him the normal way.

"Someone is eager to meet someone" Raihana teased.

"Just keep quiet Tee" I scolded cleaning my hands.

I wanted to check myself in a mirror to see if I was okay to step out but there was none. I stepped into the back yard and used the kitchen window as a mirror. I had my hair out so I combed my hand through it to make it neater and adjusted the blouse I wore. I had changed the crop top I wore to a blouse. When I walked back to the kitchen, I wished I had a perfume with me. I just hoped I do not smell of fish.

"He got you all this?" Raihana asked her twin who had shopping bags on the kitchen island.

"Yep" Raihan answered. "He said I should choose anything and I did"

"I am jealous o" She said staring at the bags. Kenny huffed before speaking.

"That has always been you daily routine so I am not surprise"

"What did you say?" Raihana glowered at him.

"Nothing" he grinned.

"Better"

"Assalamu alaikum big sis" Raihan greeted flashing me a smile. I answered ambling closer to them. "Your husband asked for you. He wants to see you. Check your room" he said with a mischievous smile. I eyed him and went to the room.

"Amir" I called walking into the room. The room door was slightly open when I got to our room and I had not caught a glimpse of him from it.

"I am right here" he answered from the dressing table where he kept his wristwatch, a bouquet of red roses in his other hand. My lips stretched up into a smile as he walked from the dressing table to me.

My heart began to thrum at a slow pace. I had not seen him today and here he was walking to me with a bouquet of red roses. He looked gorgeous as always.

"For my lady" he gave me the large bouquet of roses with a little bow. Blushing, I collected it and smelt it. They were fresh and pretty.

"I love them" I said gazing up at him.

"I knew you would" he said looking back at me with a happy glint in his eyes.

"How was your day?" I asked dropping the flower on the bed.

"It was fine" He encircled his hands around my waist "Raihan and I went out with my cousins" I wounded my arms around his neck, smiling. "You remember them Tajudeen and Nasirudeen?" he asked pulling me closer. His musky scent wafted my nostrils.

"Of course, I do. I missed you" I whispered stroking the side of his neck.

"I missed you too. You are prettier with you hair out" he admired brushing a hand through my hair. I blushed at his gesture.

"I was thinking of braiding it today when I went out with the ladies" I replied.

"Why didn't you do it?" he brushed his lips on my forehead.

"Because it was a public salon and men were there so I decided to have one of the hair dresser come home to do it. It is expensive"

"How much?" he moved our bodies to whatever beat he had in his head. My smile grew wider. I told him the amount which he chuckled.

"I will give you that later. I want to see how you would look with your hair plaited" He moved his hand from my hair to the side of my face them leaned in slowly. I closed my eyes to accept what was going to happen next. Just as his lips brushed against mine once, the sound of someone clearing his or her throat came.

My eyes flew open. I realised Amir had done the same thing. Together, we turned to the direction of the sound. Amir and I jerked away from each other as if we were doing something bad when we saw who it was. I was shocked and Amir had the same expression on his face.

"Dad?" I called not able to meet my father's eyes.

My heart beat faster and I became restless. I moved my hands not able to stay in one place. It was dad. My father just caught me kissing my husband. I freaked out in my head.

"Dad...I...we...what...when....I...I...why....what...where...we" I stammered, words refusing to pop out of my lips.

I became clammy due to the hard look dad sent to Amir. It was embarrassing. Amir stood, his hand rubbing the back of his neck with his face the other side. He was red on the cheeks. I rubbed my wet palms together.

"What can we do for you dad?" I asked avoiding my dad's eyes.

"We make door for privacy. You should at least close the door" Dad peered his eyes at Amir while speaking. "I want to talk to Amir when you are done" he said and closed the door with a stoic look.

I exhaled placing a hand on my chest, my heart still stomping from what happened.

"He did not see us right?" Amir asked exhaling.

"He did" I almost yelled. "Dad freaking caught us!"

"Subhanallah" my husband huffed shoving his hands into his pockets.

Since our marriage, I have never seen Amir so embarrassed like he was. I moved away and sat on the bed. Amir strode to me and held my hand, the other in his pocket.

"I got you something" he said playing with my hands.

"What?" I looked at him to gaze into his eyes. He leaned closer and kissed my forehead.

"This" he held a necklace in front of my vision.

I do not really cherish necklaces. But the necklace dancing before me was beautiful. The pendant was two hearts clustered together. It was beautiful yet simple.

"It's pretty"

"I thought you would never like it since you do not really necklaces" he unhooked the necklace. "I had always wanted to give you before we left London" he pushed my hair away to clasp the necklace around my neck. "I am glad you like it" he kissed the back of my hand as my other hand caressed the pendant.

"You should leave now to see dad. We can talk better later" I kissed his cheeks and pushed him to the door.