Ya Amar (My Moon)

Thirty three

The sun that beat down on the earth was hot and fiery. It rays brilliant like fluorescent lights lightened the busy day. Lagos was known for its constant bustle and hustle, nightlife and lousy environments. It had not changed a bit since I left for London. The illiterate and rogue conductors of the yellow buses common with rogue drivers were still functioning stopping at places to pick passengers. The roads were busy, everyone doing something or having a place to be. I stared out at the road through the tinted glass of the car happy to be back home, the smile on my face vivid and excitement pumped through my veins. My stomach churned with anxiety of what was going to happen.

Even though I had spoken to my family the day before, I had not told any of them I would be in Nigeria the following day. Sister Amatullah had told me how busy she had been since the arrival of the twins. The twins had not made things easy for her. Their cries at night and demands had made being a nursing mother hectic. Her mother had decided to stay with her until the babies were six months old. It had been helpful and brother Yusuf had also tried his best to help. The babies were the cutest thing I had ever seen. They had chubby cheeks and eyes like their father. Brother Yusuf sent their pictures.

Taking away my attention from the busy road, I looked at Amir sitting beside me doing something on his phone. How would it be to have his child? We had not spoken about having babies but I can't still imagine myself being pregnant with his child. How can you have his child when you have not consummated your marriage? A voice spoke in my head. I moved closer to him wrapping my hands around his arm and laid my head on his shoulder wanting his warmth immediately. He turned to look at me, a smile on his face.

"Any problem?" he asked locking his phone before keeping it inside his trousers' pocket.

"Nothing" I answered moving closer. "I just want to stay like this" I looked at his face.

Even with a small smile, he still looked attractive. His honey wheat eyes were the prettiest of his facial features. The deepest gentle eyes I had ever seen.

We had arrived in Nigeria in his private jet. The journey was boring unlike when I was leaving for London. At least, there were people with us who spoke and laughed. It was only two of us with the flight attendants. At that time, I decided we won't be going to Prague and Italy in his private jet. We would take a commercial flight. It would be fun and better. The two of us alone in a different country, work and school out of the way. Just perfect!

"You are grinning. Any problem?" Amir nudged my arm.

"Nothing, just happy Alhamdulillah" I replied tearing my gaze from his face.

The speed of the car began to reduce and I looked ahead of the driver. In front, there was congestion of cars every driver coming slowed down to meet the line. At first, I pondered on what was happening before knowing it was traffic jam, Lagos biggest challenge. How could I forget that?

After more than two hours of being stuck in a traffic jam, we finally drove through the street leading to my father's house. To be stuck in a traffic jam was tiring. I felt like I would die. The continuous hooting of car, the frustrated screams of people almost gave me a terrible headache. The hawkers in the traffic jam did not help the situation. They kept knocking on the tinted window expecting me to buy something when I do not want anything. Amir saw my frustration and had laughed at it. It was not funny. But despite that, I still love the city.

"Welcome to Lagos" he had mocked me.

At last, the driver who had been the one that drove us to the airport the day we were leaving for London stopped in front of the familiar black gate. I was home. I had finally gotten home. He hooted and the small gate opened. Aliyu, the funny Hausa gateman came out, his old radio tucked under his armpit.

"Who you be?" he screamed at the car in pigin (broken) English, annoyed by the interruption he had gotten from the car horn.

I laughed rolling down the glass to look out.

"Aliyu, na me" I answered back in pigin english.

"Wayo Allah!" he screamed. "Noorie, na you?" he shouted and ran inside.

As he opened the gate, I could hear him scream I had arrived alerting the family. I laughed sitting back in the car. The car pulled to halt beside a red Toyota Venza I had never seen. It's probably a new car.

The main door of the house opened and Raihana stepped out.

"Aliyu, wetin dey worry you? Why you dey shout na? You dey disturb person sleep now" Raihana questioned like a typical Lagos girl. "If you wan make noise, make una do am for una head"

"Small madam" he mocked her knowing she hated being called that. "Noorie don come" I stepped out of the car together with Amir.

She whipped her head to our direction and an ear piercing scream like a siren left her lips.

"Sister Noor! Dad! Grandma! Raihan! Sister Noor is here!" she screeched running like Usein Bolt towards me and crush me into hug that made me sway. She screamed into my ears holding me tighter. I giggled hugging her back.

"Sister Noor!" Raihan's masculine voice came next. Behind Raihana, Raihan ran to me and crushed me into a hug. They jumped together happy to see me.

"Eh! Eh! Eh! Abdulraheem, Doyinsola mi ti de. My granddaughter had arrived" grandma said heading to my direction, her walking stick supporting her. The twins released me and I walked to her.

"Noorie oko mi" she exclaimed engulfing me into a hug.

"Granny"

"My dear" she held my face in her hands after we pulled apart. "I have missed you so much"

"I miss you too" I hugged her again.

"Noorie" Dad called walking out of the door.

"Dad!!" I called running up to him.

"My little girl" he said as we hugged. "I have missed you so much" I said with a watery smile, my eyes tearing up.

"I miss you too dear" he kissed my forehead.

Releasing me, he walked up to Amir who had Raihan clung to his side and grandma hugging him.

"Ah! Sister Noor" Raihana took my arm. "What did you get for me?"

"Lots and lots" I answered.

"I knew you are the best" she screamed hugging me again. "Ah! Mo ma gba! My enemies will be embarrassed when I step out in one of those lovely things you have gotten me" she said dramatically. "You know that girl that I told you beefs me a lot"

"Bisola?"

"Yes" she clapped her hands. "She wanted to die when she saw me in that pretty abaya, shoes and bag with that nice scarf. E wo, mo wa gbe sunglasses mi le Ahhhhh!" Sge dance around.

"Really?"

"Ah, mo hot ku? You have to see Bisola's face when she saw the new red Toyota dad got me. It was priceless" she laughed.

"Before you kill her with questions Taiwo, get her inside. They have been on a long journey" Grandma said taking my hand. "Oko mi, pele. I hope the journey was not stressful" she rubbed my back.

"It was kind of stressful and the traffic jam in Lagos made us come late. We spent more than two hours on our way from Ikeja to this place"

"Sorry, I am sure you have gotten used to London" she laughed talking me inside.

Behind us, Dad and Amir walked in while Raihan and Aliyu struggled with our boxes. Raihana was screaming on the phone talking to brother Yusuf.

"You did not tell us you were coming. We would have gotten your room ready" Raihana said giving Amir and I a glass of water each. "Sikira" she shouted the maid's name. Sikira ran out, greeted Amir and I before listening to what Raihana wanted to tell her. "Clean my sister's room sharp! Sharp!"

"Ya Allah! The heat is too much" I complained fanning myself with my hand.

"Look at her" Raihana laughed. "She had spent a month in London and has forgotten Nigeria's heat" her twin joined her.

"Winter there was terribly cold" I complained. "At a point, I had fear of freezing?"

"Fear of freezing? Which kind Phobia be that one?" She frowned with distaste.

"The light just got interrupted. Aliyu will switch in the generator now" Dad said sitting down. Amir sat by his side then Raihan settled down beside Amir.

"Doyinsola mi, tell me. How was your stay in London?"

I began to tell her everything and both Raihana and granny listened, laughing at what was funny and giving their remark on some things. I avoided the family drama and Aaban's issue. I told them about Shazia.

"I have hated her at first sight" Raihana had said with a peeved look.

I also told them how wonderful Amir's maternal family was. Grandma was moved. She told me Nani was a very nice woman. While my father and brother talked with Amir, the females chatted away. From time to time, I stole glances at my husband who was having a very good conversation with my father as if they had known each other for years. Time passed and when it was almost Maghrib time, Brother Yusuf and Sister Amatullah arrived with their babies. I could not contain my joy as I ran to my brother and gave him a tight hug. Sister Amatullah looked more beautiful. Her dark skin radiated, her face glowed. The babies were prettier than they were in the pictures.

Amir and I had held them and taken pictures with them. Raihan was the photographer. He was better than last time and wishes to own his own photography business. During dinner, I realised how much I had missed my family and country. There was no place like home. Nothing had changed except the new additions in the family, my niece, my nephew and my husband. Raihan and Raihana had not given up on their petty fights. It was still funny watching them fight like kids even though they were twenty two years old.

After Isha, sister Amatullah and brother Yusuf left for home. I gave them the things I had bought for them and their babies. The babies were adorable especially their eyes. I had called my Nigerian friends to inform them I was back for a week. Feyi kept screaming into the phone while Temi had called me a sly because I did not tell her. We had laughed over it and agreed to meet the following day.

Later, I joined Raihana in her room where we made up for our lost time. She told me the gist she had piled up while I was away. She could not wait to get the stuffs I brought and had jumped on me when she saw the Louboutin heels I had gotten for her. It was almost ten when I left her room. Grandma and dad were asleep when I went to check them. At that moment, I felt weak and some of my joints began to hurt. The familiar loud voices of my husband and brother came from the family room. With a smile, I walked to the family room. It might not be as big as the one at the manor or with exquisite designs but it was cosy. Raihan was dancing because of a game he had won while my husband groaned with defeat.

"Why are they shouting?" Raihana's voice floated behind me.

"They are playing a game" I replied.

"You are flushed" she pointed at my cheeks.

"Am I?" I touched my cheeks.

"Yes, why?" she asked looking at me and back at Amir.

"Ahhhhh!" she said. "Now, I understand" a mischievous glint and smile appeared on her face.

"Don't say anything" I warned before words start jumping out of her lips.

"I was not saying anything" she said innocently.

"Good" I cleared my throat. "Amir, I am off to bed. Are you not sleeping?" I asked with a straight face preventing a smile from showing on my face.

"I have been waiting for you" he stood up and stretched. "Goodnight dude" he rubbed Raihan's head.

"Goodnight"

As we walked away, I gave Raihana a stern look before entering my room. I heard her giggles as I closed the door. She can really be crazy. Amir walked to the bed and slipped under the covers.

"Are you not going to take a bath?" I asked removing my earrings.

"I have taken my bath. Did you not notice the change of clothes?" he asked adjusting himself on the queen size bed.

"No"

"I had expected your room to be pink or purple. Well, I am disappointed it is monochrome"

"I never loved pink or purple" I answered slipping out of my clothes.

"Why?"

"I don't know" I wrapped a towel around my frame. "It's been a hectic day right?"

"Not really. Your family is amazing especially your dad. I saw your mother's picture along the hallway" he paused. "She was pretty just like you" his voice became low and soft.

"I will be back" I walked into the bathroom.

I came out of the bathroom feeling fresh and clean. Amir was talking on the phone.

"I want the house ready before I come back Vincent" he said authoritatively into the phone. Vincent was his manager and Fawaz was his lawyer. Fawaz works in his father's law firm. "I don't care how expensive it is. Nani said she would pay" he gritted. "I just want them out of the manor before I arrive from my honeymoon" there was a pause. "Mahira will furnish the house. Just get it done" he ended the call and kept his phone nightstand. He muttered something angry under his breath in Urdu. I changed into my nightie.

"Won't you sleep?" I spoke walking to my dressing table.

"I was waiting for you. You took so much time in the bathroom" he closed the tablet and kept it on the nightstand beside him.

"Cleaning the dirt away from my body" I sat down.

"Nani called. I told her we arrived safely. Everyone send their greetings"

"I miss them already" I smiled as I rubbed cream on my face.

"They miss you too which makes me jealous"

"Jealous?" I turned to look at him amused.

"Yes, I am jealous they missed you and not me. What did you do to win their heart?" I sprayed perfume on my neck.

"I don't know I just won their heart" I got up and marched to the bed. I checked my phone on the nightstand by my side. There were messages from Aunt Sabr, Mi Jin, Mahira and others.

"Then how did you win mine?" he asked his voice closer.

I turned to look at him. He was almost close to me. I looked back and answered the messages on my phone.

"I don't know" I switched off the bedside lamp and left my phone beside it. "That answer is something you should know" I laid in bed then moved closer to him.

"Really?"

"That should not be a question for me?" I stroke his jaw. His lips curled up into a smile as a little chuckle left his lips. I dipped my finger into the indents on his cheeks while his stubbles caressed my hand. Silence fell in and we just stared at each other. "Your dimples are cute" I said.

"I know" he captured my lips with his.

My heart tumbled in my chest then stopped. When his lips moved on mine, it began to beat again. His soft lips were hard and fiery filled with desire. He broke away staring at me with raged breathe.

"What was that for?" I tried catching my impaired breath.

"I don't know. I just felt like doing it" he ran his fingertips on my bottom lip then moved them to caress the side of my face.

"I am glad to be back to Nigeria"

"I know Hayati" my hand moved from his cheeks to a button on his pyjamas which I fondled with. "It brings back memories of my family just like London" he took my hand from his chest and planted gentle kisses at the tip of my fingers. "We should sleep. We are both tired"

"The pain is meant to be felt Amir. I understand it but just remember something, I am always here for you" I smiled.

He said nothing but there was a sparkle in his eyes and the sides of his red lips moved up. We said nothing and just stared at each other but there were lot to be felt and lot to be given away by our eyes.