5

Usman's wedding with Sa'adah transpired, they were gleefully married, although Usman's attitude changed alot, he barely spoke even so, he always smiled, but his mien says something different. Sa'adah had the skill of seeing some pain buried in his eyes though he's trying to conceal everything.

Sa'adah was a certain__with time he will eventually get over Abu.

  ‘His kid were still with his mom’ thought Sa'adah. She proposed bringing them back but Usman said no and that he needed more time alone with his wife.

  The kid's life changed alot notably Ummi's attitude she hardly speaks, and always had a false smile on her face. She become a solitary.

  When ever she blundered and Hajiya forewarned her, she would lock her self and whimper thinking Hajiya disliked her.

  Ummi's thoughys towards others changed. All she saw in people was detest, she had put it in mind that Hajiya detest them because she wasn't their mom.

   Whenever Amira did something wrong and Hajiya gave her a warning, Ummi will hug her sister to weep together telling her not to fret and Hajiya disliked them that's why she's being harsh on them.

Bottom line was, Ummi perceived her grandmother the wrong way and was impacting her perception on her younger sister, Amira.

****

  It was raining season in the evening, Hajiya and Ummi were sitting in the parlour. It was cloudy outside hence they all sat in. Ummi was sitting beside Hajiya writing some Qur'an Verses, when it began to drizzle.

"Ummi where is Amira? I didn't see her for a while." Hajiya asked.

  "She is outside playing with Bashir." Ummi said while writing.

"Okay go and call her Hajiya." instructed.

  "Hajiya pls tell aunty Balara (the maid) to call her I need to finish two Simuni before tommorow,  you know how slowly I write." Ummi complained.

"Ok then call Balara for me." Hajiya said.

"Aunty Baraka!" Ummi screamed.

  An average woman of not less than 40 years, showed up saying Hajiya gani. Which meant announcing her presence.

  "Balara please call Amira for me. Rain is falling already and she might catch cold." Hajiya mentioned.

 "Ok mam." Balara answered.

  Balaraba went outside, and called Amira who was busy playing with her friends in the wet sand, they did not care about the mud and dirt around them since they were just little kids.

   Amira went inside the parlour showing her disappointment in her face. She then started to grumble.

 Amira looked at Balara with a scrunched face.  "Aunty why did you call me?" she asked looking sad.

   Balara smile and said:

"because it's getting dark, and it's drizzling."

  "But we are seeing what we are doing despite the darkness. Gaskiya (honestly) I have to go and finish building our mud house."

Amira said stubbornly and began to walk towards the door.

     "Amira!" Hajiya who was standing in the varendar watching them  shouted.

"If you step outside again I will beat the hell out of you, just look at yourself." Hajiya added.

    Amira started crying which made Hajiya hissed and take a step closer to Amira, saying see how dirty your body is.

  Hajiya did not care about the way Amira was crying, she carried her to the toilet, and washed the mud on her hand and feet with warm water.

   As Amira entered the palour she hugged her sister Ummi. Ummi was her new mother or rather mother figure. Whatever happened to her, she rushed to Ummi.

"Yaya Ummi I believe you! Hajiya hate us but I am not feeling anxious since she is not our mom..." Amira said, pursing her lips.

  "Ummi is that what you are telling her? Who told you a granny will ever hate her grandchild? I never hate you!" Hajiya stepped in.

  The little Amira smiled and ran to Hajiya happily. She gripped Hajiya's hands playfully. Amira was elated that Hajiya liked them. After all, it was her sister that was changing her mindset gradually.

"Hajiya is it true you do not hate us?" Amira asked grinning,

Hajiya smiled.  "Why will I hate my angels?" she replied, rubbing Amira's hair.

"I knew it! You will never do that. Yaya Ummi is mistaken." Amira said, clapping her hands.

   Ummi left the palour with anger, telling herself if Hajiya do not hate them, then why will she let their father marry another woman, and a woman like Sa'adah who destroyed their Mom's happiness. She hissed and said: 'I hate betrayers.'

  ****

Sa'ada was sitting watching one of her favorite movie Ga duhu ga haske (The Darkness and the lightness), it's an old Hausa movie. Usman came out from his bedroom, He wore a sky blue kaftan, his cap matched with his dress, the scent of his perfume informed Sa'adah of his presence. She glanced at him and accidentally they made an eye contact with him. Like always, he smiled at her such that she couldn't help but smiling back.

    He looked so handsome to her eyes. 'good morning' that's what she said.

"Is this morning to you?" He asked grinning while looking at his wrist watch, I am going out." he added plodding along the door.

 "I thought today is mine," Sa'adah said raising her voice for him to hear, he turned back rubbing his hand across his lips and peering apparently to her face.

"Your day like how?"

 "No what I mean is since it's weekend you should at least remain at home." she said languidly.

   Like always he smiled before saying it's my choice to remain at home or not, you don't have to remind me I know what am doing.

   She smirked before saying, "but Abban Umm... "

He cut her. "Please if you have nothing important to say I have things to do." He then left the place.

Sa'adah had nothing to do but to watch him leave. She tilted her head and licked her lips. "Ops!" She sighed dejected.

****

   When Usman came back It's already 2 am, he parked his car in the parking lot, and moved to his room. As he stepped in to their main palour the silence and the fact that the light was off made him know Sa'adah was asleep.

  He switched on the light, he glanced at everything like always everything was there, he don't know what he is thinking but the room felt empty he also felt something was missing.

   He moved at slow pace to his bedroom as he moved he looked at the dinning area, he hasld to rub his eyes to confirm what he saw. It was Zainaba sitting staring at him smiling, like she always did when he come back late, he smiled back at her and went to her saying: I told you not to wait for me you need to sleep early but you refuse.

  She smiled again in a way that showed her upper teeth and took a step closer to him she gripped his hand. "Please Usman stop going to bar." Before he could say a word she vanished.

He was hallucinating.

   He bit his lips and slapped himself. 'Usman please wake up, what are you thinking stop dreaming Zainaba will never be yours again' he said to himself.

  He opened the food set on the dinning table, nothing special it's the same food he ate yesterday he hissed and moved to his bedroom.

   To his surprise Sa'adah was on his bed comfortably sleeping he stared at her for about 2 minutes before he slapped her thighs.

  "Please Usman what is this?" She mumbled half a sleep.

  "Sa'ada leave this room!" Usman shouted.

she did not say a word rather went back to her sleeping position again.

   "Sa'ada didn't you understand? I said leave, you are pissing me off," he roared at her furiously.

His flexible voice made her leave the room without any hesitation. She slammed the door and moved out.

   He hissed and said nonsense.

  He sat on bed side, it's surreal Zainaba was his world and he has already lost her. He knew Zainaba loved him with all her heart, she cared for him as she cared for her self she never sleep until he's back and she had to make sure he eat before going to bed.

   He pushed the thought away and went to toilet to take a shower...

If you read please vote and comment