chapter forty one

I was a living dead for the past two weeks. I took fifteen minutes explaining to my parent about my sudden change of mood and the constant wet eyes.

Lying in my room and chatting on the phone to get rid of time,my mum walked in.

"Ummul Khair." She called sitting on my bed. The way her voice sounded made me drop my phone and sat upright.

"Yes mum. Where's dad?"

"At the bank. So let me get straight to the point." She said and I gulped.

"What is happening to you?" She questioned

"Me? How?"

"You know what I mean Ummul Khair. I'm your mum,don't hide things from me." She said quietly and that made me told her everything about Ibrahim. I even showed her the letter and she comforted me and advised me on what to do and what not.

Finally! I found some peace.

.......

My happiness knew no bound when my parent decided to take me to see some families. I don't care if I would look like their big pet puppy following them everywhere, at least its better than dying of boredom.

We are going back to Abuja in three days and I couldn't be more happier.

"Salam Alaikum." Someone said entering my room.

"Uncle Haroon!" I took off with speed and hugged him.

"I don't have time for talks. Get ready we're going out." He said looking at his wristwatch. I beamed and quickly pushed him outside to change from my pyjamas to a decent cloth.

"So where are we going?" I asked as I get in the passenger's seat.

"To a newly opened restaurant. The food there are so oh my God." He exaggerated closing his eyes.

"Hey watch the road." I shouted punching the idiot and he opened his eyes with a frown.

"I know my road well in Kaduna. I can even close my eyes and take you anywhere."

"Well done Mr know road." And as I said that,nobody utter anything again until we reached the fancy restaurant.

We entered inside and ordered some food not forgetting my smoothie. I don't know why I'm so obsessed with it. I think any eatery that don't sell smoothie is not a eatery.

"Excuse me I have to pick this phone call." Uncle Haroon said standing up.

"Why can't you pick it here? In front of me?" I asked crossing my arms.

"Cos I want to talk to my fiancée and I don't want you to hear a thing." He said fully standing.

"But...."

"Its PG 16." He winked and left.

"I'm more than 16. Arggh there's no point in arguing when he has left already." I said to myself and continued eating.

I finished the food on my plate and uncle is not yet back. I started sipping my smoothie slowly.

"Salam Khairee." Someone said and I jumped slightly in fright. I turned my head to where the idiot scared me and upon seeing him,my eyes widened.

He was the man from our school.

I quickly turned my head back with my heart beating wildly

"Can I sit with you?" The man asked and my eyes widened more.

No!

"Yes pls." I blurted out and face palmed myself internally.

'That's so unladylike'. I thought.

He grabbed the seat facing me and sat down.

"How did you know my name?" I asked shifting silently on my seat.

"Who wouldn't know this gorgeous lady's name." He smiled and I tried hard not to blush.

"I'm being serious."

"I'm being serious too. You remember the day on Smith's party? I was the one that took you home that night. So from there,I knew your name." He explained and I nodded in surprise.

I kept quiet and don't know what to say anymore. Where the hell is uncle Haroon?!

"By the way I'm Ahmad." He said after few minutes of silence.

"OK nice to meet you." I said. There was a comfortable silence between until when uncle Haroon decided to break it.

"You!" Uncle Haroon said as soon as he set his eyes on Ahmad and the guy just smiled.

"Good to see you again Haroon." Ahmad said extending his hand to uncle Haroon which he took slowly.

I gradually sipped my smoothie while watching the drama going on between these two. I didn't mind the awkward moment as I continued eating.

After their conversation for five minutes,uncle Haroon said "if you're done eating,meet me in the car!" And with that,he left.

Guess they both are holding some bad grudges against each other.

"Uh sorry I have to go now." I said to Ahmad getting up.

"Ok before you go,can you pls give me your number?" He requested and I smiled in my head.

"I left my phone at home but next time. Bye." I said waving shyly and sashaying out if the restaurant. I can't possibly give my number to a handsome stranger. He can be hot but bad? Who knows.

"I know right! The guy is just ultimately annoying. I can't stand his sight.....he's name is Ahmad....my equally annoying sister is here so bye. Love you." Uncle said in his phone before hanging up.

"Who were you talking to? And who are you talking about?" I questioned facing him as I got in the passenger's seat.

"Firstly, I'm talking to my fiancée. Then I'm talking about this Ahmad guy. I feel like crushing him." Uncle Haroon said indicating 'crushing' with his hand through gritted teeth. I can't tell if he's joking or not but I hope he's joking.

"Woah woah woah! The Ahmad in there? As in the one you shook hands with? The one that was talking to me? The Ahmad sitting at my table? The....."

"I get it! Yes! He's the one." Uncle Haroon interrupted turning the ignition on.

"And before you asked further questions on why and when I disliked him,I will tell you why. You remembered that day when I took you to Ibrahim's house for the first time and a very important meeting came up so I left with Mustapha that day and you hanged out with Ibrahim." He stopped and glanced at him.

I vividly remembered that very day. My heart ached at the remembrance of Ibrahim.

"Continue." I said to him.

"The meeting was obviously with the Ahmad guy. The meeting was to give a presentation and if you win,you get a contract to work with the biggest multi billion dollars construction company and of course Ahmad's and his dumb gangs has to win. Now their company is advanced and established in the US. I disliked him from that day. I was so closed to being famous. So close." Uncle Haroon explained and I slightly smiled feeling proud of Ahmad.

I know. I'm somehow crazy

"Sorry about that but i think you're just jealous of his handsomeness. You have to try harder next time." I concluded and he glared at me like never before.

"Ok ok before you eat me raw. I'm sorry." I said putting my hands up.

"You know what?" Uncle Haroon started and that's how we ended up in an abstruse argument and before I knew it,I was at home.

...........

We went back to Abuja the very next day due to some circumstances that I don't have idea about. I decided to pay Maya a visit.

Its been long when I have went to that house.

Paying the cab man, I alighted from the cab and went straight to the gate and knocked on it. The uniformed gateman opened the gate and I greeted him. He didn't bother to answer as he opened the gate wider for me to get in. I'm officially recognized and welcomed to the house anytime I want.

I walked to the parlour door and knocked. A familiar maid opened it and upon seeing me,she smiled.

"Khair!" She said and I just kept smiling cos I don't know what to do and I don't even know her name.

"Maya is up in her room." She said already knowing what I would ask for.

I didn't knock on Maya's room as I entered quietly. I was planning to get her scared but I met her face timing someone on her phone. The person was none other than..... I squinted my eyes to get a better view of the person.

Xavier!

Maya was laying flat on her stomach with legs swinging like flag of Nigeria.

"I know. I missed you too." Maya said in tiny voice.

"You gotta come back soon. I have to see you physically before I travel to NYC for further education." Xavier answered. Its like Maya unintentionally put the phone on loudspeaker.

"When are you leaving?" She asked

"Next week." He simply answered.

"Ok I'm coming back to San Fransisco in two days time just for you. Happy?" She said and I know she would be smiling like a lost fool now.

"That's super nice cutie. Love you." Xavier smiled blowing her an annoying kiss and the dumb Maya pretends to catch it.

"Love you too. Bye smooches." She cooed hanging up not before Xavier winking at her.

What in the name of the moon goddess am I seeing and hearing today?

"Oh my Lord!" I exclaimed and Maya shouted jumping out of her skin and almost dropping her phone.

She turned and looked at me and shouted again jumping out of her flesh this time. If that's possible....

"I almost died." She yelled with a surprised face.

"I know you will after been caught doing...?" I raised my brows at her.

"Let me explain." She started but I cut her off.

"No need. You're just so stupid!"I deadpanned and she looked embarrassed.

"K whatever." She said with no more care.

I didn't try to interfere in her 'loving love' life again as we chatted like nothing ever happened.

"Geez Maya its eight in the night I have to go back home if not I will be a roasted dinner fish tonight." I shouted getting up.

"Chillax,we can have a sleepov...."

"No no. Impossible. I didn't tell my parent that and beside I don't have any cloth here." I argued

"Call and inform them and my clothes are your clothes. You're my best friend, you're the sugar in my tea,the pillar of my life,the...." She started her sweet talkings just to make me stay.

"OK enough. I..." I didn't get to finish my sentence when my phone rang.

It was my mum calling. My heart dropped to the pit of my stomach immediately and I gulped before picking it up.

"Ummul Khair, its night time already and you're not back. Your dad is not back yet but if he eventually comes back and can't find you in the house,then you will smell your buttocks today." My mum said in a surprisingly calm voice.

"I'm coming already." I answered.

"Suit yourself." She said and hanged up.

"Ughhh. Maya did you hear that?" "Now I have to find for a cab to take me home." I groaned pinching my purse as if its the one that offended me.

"I'm sorry. I don't know what to do. I would have said i will drop you off but my car is not here. My dad might probably be busing with those his nosey clients." Maya sighed clearly worried.

"Hey don't worry yourself. Is it not cab,I will get it." I assured hugging her.

"Okay. Be safe." She said and I closed her door for her.

On my way to the living room,I saw Maya's dad coming inside probably heading to his room.

"Good evening Sir" I greeted completely kneeling down. I respect this man a lot for all he has done for me.

"Ha! Khair,how are you? It's been long when I saw you. Pls get up." He said with a smile.

"I'm fine. How's work and everything?" I asked with my head hung low.

"Its all good Alhamdulillah."

"Alright, good night Sir." I said while taking slow steps.

"You're going home? Do you have a car?" He asked and I shook my head 'no'.

"Its a long walk from here to the main road. And it is not actually safe for you to walk alone." He said and bought out his phone.

I thought he wanted to somehow teleport me with his phone but I realised how stupid that sounds.

"I will manage." I said smiling

"No wait you....." "hello? Pls how far are you from my house?.....OK then do you mind coming back pls? I want a favor from you?..... Just want you to drop my daughter for me at her house....OK OK thank you." Maya's dad said to whoever he was talking to and then hung up.

"Just wait a minute. Someone will enter now and take you home. Tell him the address of your house. I will be going inside now." He concluded.

"OK thank you so much. Good night." I said bowing my head and he left.

He actually saved my transport money and time too.

I walked outside and stood few centimeters away from the gate.

Someone knocked and the gateman opened the gate.

"He say you should come and enter. He is not coming inside oh." The gateman said to me and I nodded walking out of the gate.

"Good night." I said to him but he just have this annoying habit of not answering people,or rather,me!

A car was actually waiting for me outside. I opened the front door and hopped in not before saying 'salam' and praying silently in my mind.

"Oh my God." I shouted jumping from the seat upon seeing the least expected person and if not because the door has been closed,I would have fall down from the car.

"Ahmad?!" I exclaimed and he looked at me with amusement.

I composed myself and cleared my throat awkwardly. I embarrassed myself!

"Khairee,how are you? And why were you scared of me?" He asked still with the amusement on his face.

"I'm fine and I just didn't expect to see you here." I told him the truth and he smiled. He turned on the ignition and started driving after I gave him my address.

"Why are you at Maya's house?" I asked looking at him.

"For business." He simply said and continued driving.

Nothing was said after that until we reached my house. I thanked him and alighted from the car.

I went into the house and my dad was thankfully not back. My mum of course has to scold me and a lifetime preaching was awarded to me by my dear mum.

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