Married to Mysterious

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

Another morning, Another day I'm grateful to live. I put my earphones listening to the recitation of suratul baqara by Ahmed Suleiman as I went on about making breakfast and cleaning the house. I finished earlier than usual and headed to the toilet and showered. I dressed and put on my eyeliner and nude lipstick.

By the time I went back to the dining room Adeel is already sitting there.

"Good morning." I call out.

"Morning. How was your night?"

"It was fine. Are you not eating?"

"I was waiting for you."

I sat down and picked a plate when he did the same. I began eating like nothing happened when I noticed he is staring at me more than he is eating the food. He look very attractive in his black shirt that seems to stretch over his muscular form. I look at his dimple as he chewed the food in his mouth. I met his eyes and I realized he was looking at me the whole time. I quickly averted my eyes to my food and began eating. I didn't raise my head until I was done.

"Can we talk now?" He folded his arms across his chest. With a look of determination on his face.

"Sure" I shrugged my shoulders.

"About yesterday jidda. I'm truly sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I'm not asking you to forgive me, I.. I want you to know that, I really am sorry and I feel bad about it. I didn't know what made me.. I"

"I think you do." I cut him off." It's because of that woman."

"Your feelings for that woman.."

"I don't love her." He almost shouted with such distaste laced in his voice." She is not a part of my life anymore."

I stared at him for a moment watching the expression on his face. At the mention of her name he is already looking very angry. His face is strained.

"I do not think the same about that Adeel."

"What do you mean?" He asked looking at me straight in the eye as if daring me to say something.

"I said I do not think the same about that. Because I believe she is still in your life. Whether you still love her or you don't she is still in your life and she is still a huge part of it."

He slammed his fist on the dining table making me flinch and the plates to shake. The mug rolled over breaking into pieces.I quickly got up and take a step back. I don't want a repeat of what happened yesterday.

When he noticed me step away his eyes softened.

"Adeel no matter how much you deny it, you know she is still a part of your life. Just.. Just look at you. At the mention of her name. You get angry. You get so angry that you scare me. It's changing you and making you a different person. You have to let go of whatever you are holding for you to be free. I don't know what happened between you two. But whatever it is, it's taking control of your actions and your life in general. You have to be able to let it go before you can move on. It's all up to you."

I bend to pick up the broken mugs when I felt his hand on mine stopping me.

"Don't do that, you are going to get hurt."

"I'll go get a broom then."

I finished cleaning the place and he is still here standing against the wall.

"What you said is right." He spoke looking ahead with a distant look in his eyes. His voice becoming very rough I almost couldn't recognize it.

"Huh?"

"What you said is right. I used to love Nadia at one time. But what happened was.. It.. Was.. Hard. "His voice cracked.

For a moment he look vulnerable and loss. Unless it's my imagination that is playing with my head.

"Nadia.. She... "I noticed how hard he is struggling to get the words out and I place my hand on his arm.

"You don't have to tell me. Yes I do want to know but I want you to tell me when you are ready. I'll wait until then. You got to let it out at some point or it will forever keep you a prisoner of it. I hope you will tell me on your own someday."

He nodded his head and turned to look at me with a calm look on his face.

"I'm sorry for what happened yesterday jidda."

I nodded my head.

"I'm going to Lagos for a week. Some urgent business came up. I have called mom. Asma is coming to stay with you."

"You are leaving today?""'

"Yes. I'll go and do some packing now. My flight is two hours and I have other things to tend to before I leave. I'll see you before I leave."

I replied a quick "okay" before going to my room.

***********************************

We just finished watching Moana with Asma. She went to the kitchen to make herself a cup of coffee while I'm here lying on the sofa and staring at the ceiling. Adeel left about 12 hours ago. He gave me some money, which insisted on giving me even when I told him we have everything that we could probably need. ask me to call him if I needed anything and left. I was escorting him out when he told me to go back since I'm not wearing hijab and his friend is picking him off. I had blushed at that and he had smiled looking at me longingly is if studying my face.

"Missing your husband already?" Asma called out waving her hand at my face.

"No. No. No. Very wrong."

"If you say so." She shrugged.

"Are we watching the horror movie or not?"

"NOT!"

"Aunnntyy Zaraaa" she pouted.

"Well if you really want to watch, you can do it alone."

"That's no fun."

""Why will scaring myself to death be fun?"

Fine. No horror movies. Why don't you call your husband and I call my boyfriend? Because I'm not watching Moana for the third time she added quickly.

Call my husband? If she only knew that I don't even have the devil's phone number. What will I even tell him.

Hello? How was your journey? This your wife calling.

I'm your wife, this my no, called to ask if you reached safely?

Maybe I should just send him a message?

Hope you had a safe journey.

Jidda.

Maybe I should just send him a text that will do. I'm not going to ask Asma to give me his no. Maybe I should just copy it from her contact.

Her phone began vibrating the moment I was about to ask her. She reached out for it smiling and I'm sure it's her boyfriend calling her. She didn't even notice me exist the room. I went to my bedroom and changed into my pyjamas before I start playing candy crush on my phone.

My phone began vibrating and it was number.

Maybe it's Adeel my heartbeat increased with the expectation of him calling.

I slid my finger across the screen before it cut off and placed the phone to my ear.

Assalamu Alaikum. I called my voice unsure.

Missing me already angel?

The devil himself!

Can't get your tongue angel? He mused his voice deep and he sounded very tired. My heart drummed in my chest and for a moment i almost forgot how to talk.

Almost.

In your dreams baby. I muttered. My voice dripping with sarcasm.

You called me baby! I'm touched. But I'm sure that word doesn't fit me angel.

Whatever,

Uhm how was your journey? I asked.

It was okay, Alhamdulillah.

So did you miss me angel ?

Why would i miss you?

How I'm I suppose to know angel?

What's with you and calling me angel? I ask instead.

Because I want to, I like to.

Because I want to, I like to. Oh my, vanilla ice cream and spicy noodles.

Whatever helps you sleep at night. I muttered under my breath and I'm more than sure he heard me.

I heard muffle sounds and I'm sure he is turning around on his bed.

So. Wat. And. What. Did. You. Do. Today. He asked separating each word and I hear background noises.

You didn't ask me to keep a list.

Fine, have you eaten dinner?

What are you now? A loving boyfriend?

Hmmmmm. He hummed. Now that you mentioned angel, I was never your boyfriend. Was your fiancee and then your husband.

Can I be your boyfriend?

What?

I want to know what a girlfriend jidda will be like. I bet you will be a witch.

And you will be no less than a devil.

Should we give it a try then? Angel ?