I had spent almost all day at Ralia's -my cousin- house. I went with Abba but unfortunately, the little boy slept off before we left the house so I had to carry him. Ralia carried my bag-because I had complained about Abba's weight- and her mini suitcase. The sound of Ralia's laughter made him shift in his sleep.
Ralia is my favorite cousin. Although she is three years older than me,we talk like age mates. She was a final year student of Biochemistry at Ahmadu Bello University,Zaria. At the same time,the family was preparing for her wedding.
We had agreed that I will spend the day at Ralia's then she will spend the night at my house. This was a kind of tradition for us. We would take turns to sleepover at eachpthers house every once in a while.
Ralia's house was a very quiet close. There were seberal other houses there. The ground outside Ralia's house was very sandy which I did not like because the
sand kept getting in to my slippers.
We took our leave after our Isha prayer(the fifth and final prayer for the day) I have always hated going out at night and I was not so pleased with having to leave so late but Ralia had pleaded with me earlier not to take a taxi but to wait for her fiance to drop us off. We had been standing there for less than 10 minutes and the mosquitoes had already found there way in to my skirt and started to bite my legs. Ralia was safe from their attacks because she wore a long hijab and socks. At that time I wished I had at least put on my socks.
Just as Ralia finished laughing at me, I noticed a car approaching. I did not pay much attention to the car thinking it would pass. The sound of the engine got closer but It was difficult for me to see the face of the driver because of the powerful headlight. As the car got even closer I managed to observe that it was a black sienna. It pulled over in front of us.
"He is here"Ralia beamed.
I needed no further explanation. She Opened the door of the backseat for me. As I entered, I greeted the her fiance. He answered me cheerfully. I immediately believed everything I had heard about him. I balanced Abba on my laps and rested his head on my chest.
I have always hated being around couples and that situation certainly was not an exception. I engaged in my favorite past time-day dreaming. I got so distracted that something happened between the Ralia and her fiance,umar.
He turned back and flashed me a smile I found suspicious. I shifted uncomfortably. Just then, A nokia tune ringtone pierced the silence,increasing the tension in the car.
"Hello sweetheart!" Umar began.
My body stiffened. I could feel Ralia's tension from where I sat.
"I'm sorry love, I'll be with you shortly." he added.
The distance from Ralia's house to mine was less than 20minutes but I felt like it was more than two hours. It was a very quiet drive except for Ralia who was directing Umar.
Finally, the car took the last turn that was only three houses away from my house. The car pulled over in front of that familiar Brown colored gate.
I moved Abba from my laps to my shoulder as I opened the door.
"Good night" Umar said. "Its too bad we had to meet like this,I've heard a lot about you," he added.
"yeah" I murmured- accompanied with a fake smile- as I got off the car.
I waited for Ralia inside the house just by the gate. My shoulders were very much strained because of Abba's weight but I was not in a hurry to get inside the house.
When she joined me, the was an obvious sign of hurt on her face. This made me hold all the questions I had prepared to ask her. We walked inside in silence.
After we had showered and changed in to our night gowns,I could no longer hold it in.
"Ralia, what exactly are you doing?" I asked
" What do you mean?" she queried clearly pretending not to know what I meant.
" You know what I mean Ralia" I accused.
"Haneem,believe me" she started,he is not who you think,he's just as i've always described him,he just changed recently" she reassured.
"Ralia,the wedding should not go on if he is like this. I want you to be happy,I want you to have a good man in your life" I cried.
"He is a good man sis,believe me I know it,he is just going through a phase I'm sure it'll pass" she said almost in a whisper.
"What if it doesn't?"
"Haneem,I have what many people long for,this little problems are nothing to me" Ralia went on.
"Ralia don't do this to yourself please,I'm begging you" I pleaded.
"Haneem dear,the wedding will go on In Shaa Allah(By the grace of God), I will become his wife,I'm ready to tolerate anything" Ralia ended.
As I went to sleep,my heart was filled with grief and pity for Ralia,she was determined and commited to live with daily heartbreak all for the sake of love.
Ralia dissolved in to laughter as I narrated what Abba did to me. It was a week later and I was still annoyed.
I had spent almost all day at Ralia's -my cousin- house. I went with Abba but unfortunately, the little boy slept off before we left the house so I had to carry him. Ralia carried my bag-because I had complained about Abba's weight- and her mini suitcase. The sound of Ralia's laughter made him shift in his sleep.
Ralia is my favorite cousin. Although she is three years older than me,we talk like age mates. She was a final year student of Biochemistry at Ahmadu Bello University,Zaria. At the same time,the family was preparing for her wedding.
We had agreed that I will spend the day at Ralia's then she will spend the night at my house. This was a kind of tradition for us. We would take turns to sleepover at eachpthers house every once in a while.
Ralia's house was a very quiet close. There were seberal other houses there. The ground outside Ralia's house was very sandy which I did not like because the
sand kept getting in to my slippers.
We took our leave after our Isha prayer(the fifth and final prayer for the day) I have always hated going out at night and I was not so pleased with having to leave so late but Ralia had pleaded with me earlier not to take a taxi but to wait for her fiance to drop us off. We had been standing there for less than 10 minutes and the mosquitoes had already found there way in to my skirt and started to bite my legs. Ralia was safe from their attacks because she wore a long hijab and socks. At that time I wished I had at least put on my socks.
Just as Ralia finished laughing at me, I noticed a car approaching. I did not pay much attention to the car thinking it would pass. The sound of the engine got closer but It was difficult for me to see the face of the driver because of the powerful headlight. As the car got even closer I managed to observe that it was a black sienna. It pulled over in front of us.
"He is here"Ralia beamed.
I needed no further explanation. She Opened the door of the backseat for me. As I entered, I greeted the her fiance. He answered me cheerfully. I immediately believed everything I had heard about him. I balanced Abba on my laps and rested his head on my chest.
I have always hated being around couples and that situation certainly was not an exception. I engaged in my favorite past time-day dreaming. I got so distracted that something happened between the Ralia and her fiance,umar.
He turned back and flashed me a smile I found suspicious. I shifted uncomfortably. Just then, A nokia tune ringtone pierced the silence,increasing the tension in the car.
"Hello sweetheart!" Umar began.
My body stiffened. I could feel Ralia's tension from where I sat.
"I'm sorry love, I'll be with you shortly." he added.
The distance from Ralia's house to mine was less than 20minutes but I felt like it was more than two hours. It was a very quiet drive except for Ralia who was directing Umar.
Finally, the car took the last turn that was only three houses away from my house. The car pulled over in front of that familiar Brown colored gate.
I moved Abba from my laps to my shoulder as I opened the door.
"Good night" Umar said. "Its too bad we had to meet like this,I've heard a lot about you," he added.
"yeah" I murmured- accompanied with a fake smile- as I got off the car.
I waited for Ralia inside the house just by the gate. My shoulders were very much strained because of Abba's weight but I was not in a hurry to get inside the house.
When she joined me, the was an obvious sign of hurt on her face. This made me hold all the questions I had prepared to ask her. We walked inside in silence.
After we had showered and changed in to our night gowns,I could no longer hold it in.
"Ralia, what exactly are you doing?" I asked
" What do you mean?" she queried clearly pretending not to know what I meant.
" You know what I mean Ralia" I accused.
"Haneem,believe me" she started,he is not who you think,he's just as i've always described him,he just changed recently" she reassured.
"Ralia,the wedding should not go on if he is like this. I want you to be happy,I want you to have a good man in your life" I cried.
"He is a good man sis,believe me I know it,he is just going through a phase I'm sure it'll pass" she said almost in a whisper.
"What if it doesn't?"
"Haneem,I have what many people long for,this little problems are nothing to me" Ralia went on.
"Ralia don't do this to yourself please,I'm begging you" I pleaded.
"Haneem dear,the wedding will go on In Shaa Allah(By the grace of God), I will become his wife,I'm ready to tolerate anything" Ralia ended.
As I went to sleep,my heart was filled with grief and pity for Ralia,she was determined and commited to live with daily heartbreak all for the sake of love.
No comments:
Post a Comment