Six

Nasir walked out and Aisha walked to the bathroom after that. She washed her face before she walked after him, she knew Mama was waiting for them and it was time to meet their father. She had always loved a whole family, where you can have a father and mother all together. May be it was her dream being fulfilled, who knows?

She saw them seated on the dining table and there was an elderly man seated too. Her whole body trembled, anxiety surged into her like the tsunami surged into an ocean. Numerous questions made a chaos of her brain, and the first question she was cleared of was; would he accept her?

“Come over, Aisha. You shouldn't be slacking behind.” Mama said from over the dining gable, she had sensed Aisha's reluctance of walking to the dining table.

Aisha gulped down a lump in her throat and wiped her sweaty hands over the soft fabric of her dress. She got to the dining table and dropped down to her knees. “Good afternoon, Alhaji.” She greeted, because the scrutinizing look he had been flashing her ever since she walked out of her room had inflicted his fear in her.

“Good afternoon, Aisha. How are you feeling now?” Mama had never imagined he would answer her. Because when he came back, she made sure he was in his before she walked in and met him taking off his clothes while he was trying to take his bathe.

She sat down at the edge of the bed and heaved a sigh, he sat beside her. “What's wrong, Hajia Maryama? What happened to you?” He asked, because Mama is a very cheerful and bubbly lady, whenever she looked down, it was surely something huge that happened.

Mama looked at him and her eyes got misty. She knew the best way to make him do something he didn't want to. And it was through her tears. She wondered if there was anything he hated in this life apart from her tears. “Subhanallah, Hajia Maryama, what happened? The patient died?” He could remember her asking him to follow Abba to the general hospital today to see Nasir's patient. And if it was surely the patient that died. Alhaji Tijjani knew that he had a lot of work to do today. Because she would spend her whole day mourning over that.

She shook her head softly, “She didn't die. But I brought her home with me. I want her to live with us henceforth.”

And he stood up at the mention of that. She had never done something without his knowledge. Then why this now? “How can you do that without even telling me not to talk of asking for my permission, Hajia Maryama?”

She stood up as well, finally letting her tears to fall on her cheeks. “I know it's wrong of me to do that, Alhaji. But please you should understand my condition, I had no choice but to do that. Because I couldn't dial your number while she was sitting in the car. She's only seventeen, but she got raped by five men, and those five men are her uncles, unfortunately.”

He was silent for some minutes before he spook, still not buying the idea of adopting a grown up girl like Aisha. “What of her parents? Doesn't she have Family atleast?”

“Baba, she doesn't know her family apart from those uncles and their family, that's what I understand from how she was acting. And she asked us to take her to the car park when we asked her where to drop her. When I asked where she was going from Bauchi she said she didn't know. How can I let a girl like Aisha wander on the streets of this frightening world, Baba?” She sometimes called him Baba. And whenever she did that, he couldn't help but do whatever she wanted.

He might be a little bit strict when it comes to the matters of his house, but he was soft to deal with as well. But the thing is, whenever he said, there's absolutely no one that can ever change it to a no. Same applied when he said a no, nothing, absolutely nothing on this earth can change it to a yes. Not even Hajia Maryam herself.

“If you say so, Hajia. I pray we all get the reward from Allah.” She softly squealed and hugged him. “Thank you so much, Alhaji. You're forever the best. Ameen.” And she went out of the room for him to have his bathe, and she found Nasir seated on a couch reading a book.

“Nasir, Baba agreed!” She said in a thrilled voice, and Nasir had to drop down his book. He had that fear too, because he knew how Baba is.

“I'm glad he did. You know I was really afraid that he wouldn't agree? Because I couldn't think of a place to take Aisha, and I can't let her go as well.” He said and shifted on the sofa so Mama would find a space there to sit down.

“I'm so glad he did, Nasir. I want you to take her to the market later in the evening please, buy her some clothes and take them to my toilet for sewing.”

“Okay Mama. That's so nice and thoughtful of you, Mama. Jazakillahu khairan.” They say there for a while before Mama looked at Nasir and asked him to call Aisha so they could have their lunch. Just as he walked into the room, Baba walked out of his room.

And that was how they had their lunch, with Aisha eating her lunch reluctantly as if she was afraid that something would happen to her that instant. Even when Mama told Baba that they would go to the market with Nasir to buy her some clothes. He looked at Aisha and smiled, “Aisha made sure you run Nasir's account dry.” They all laughed, but Aisha could only smile.

They finished their lunch and Aisha went back to her room and Mama came in shortly afterwards. She looked at Aisha that was sitting on the bed, staring into space.

“Aisha,” Mama called, and Aisha turned to look at her. “Yes, Mama.” She answered with a small smile.

“Aisha please you should stop letting these thoughts get to you. Do you want to be hypertensive?” Mama asked, and Aisha was so fast in shaking her head.

“No, Mama. I really don't. That's a painful sickness, right?” What Mama noticed about her was her innocence. And she felt an immense love for the little girl.

“Okay you should stop wallowing in thoughts too much, kinji? We love you, and we can't have you hypertensive at this tender age. About the market going, you're only to buy ankaras, laces and abayas. I'll go with you tomorrow to buy your inner wears, because I'm sure you can't buy that with Nasir right?”

Aisha nearly shreaked, “No, Mama. I can't buy that with him.” And Mama laughed, seeing how freaked out she was.

“Calm down, that's why I said we will go tomorrow and buy. Make sure you choose whatever you want for today, Aisha.” Mama said and stood up. Aisha lovingly looked at her and smiled, this woman had done enough to her. She showed her love as if she was the one that gave birth to her, and they met only some hours ago.

“Insha Allah, Mama. I can't thank you enough.”

Aisha prayed her Asr prayer and waited for Nasir to come back home. He entered the living room and met her seated on a sofa with her hijab on, waiting for him.

“Aisha, you're ready? Let's go.” She nodded her head at him and stood up.

He walked out after they told Mama they are leaving and she wished them a safe trip. He walked out while Aisha followed after him, her heart pounding a bit. His car was parked outside, he went where the car was and unlocked it. Aisha stood by the car, unable to get in.

He looked at her from the driver's seat and smiled, he understand her fear. She was afraid he would rape her again. Just like her uncles did. “Aisha, you promised to trust me. What again? I swore on my life that I'll never hurt you, we're just going to buy some clothes for you, nothing more.”

It took her sometime before she finally fought her demons and entered the car. Nasir heaved a sigh before he ignited the car to life. They kept driving in an eerily silence before Nasir peeked at her face and turned his attention back to the road.

“Aisha,” he called, and she turned to look at him. “I don't know what happened to you, but I feel like there's more to it. Yes, I know the pain of rape is unbearable, but I feel like you're battling more pain than just the pain of rape. I'm not probing you now, but whenever you need someone to talk to, Mama will always be there, I too.”

She smiled at him, and if only she knew what her smile did. Despite having fluffy red eyes that spoke the amount of tears they shed, the smile was beautiful. “Thank you so much, Dr. I really don't have enough words to thank you. You saved my life in a way no one could. I owe you alot in my life.”

He scrunched up his face and playfully glared at her, “Aisha for the sake of Allah, my name is Nasir, not Doctor. You're going to live with me for the rest of our lives, you can't be calling me Doctor.” He whined and she chuckled. For the first time he heard a genuine chuckle coming from her, and it sounded as beautiful as it should.

“That sounded cute, Doctor. I met you as a Doctor, and I'll continue to refer to you as one. You aren't just a medical doctor in my life, but a doctor in all the aspects of my life.” Just then, they halted in front of a huge boutique and both Aisha and Nasir walked out of the car.

They entered and started walking around the chamber they had their ankaras placed. The first one that caught Nasir's attention was a flowery patterned purple ankara, it had a beautiful colour match. “Aisha, this will suit your fair skin. Take it.” And he put it in the cart, and they kept walking around. Aisha picked some ankaras, but Nasir picked five more.

She looked at him and smiled, “Doctor, these are enough really. I can only wear per day.”

“They will look good on you. Let's move to where they keep their laces. Make sure you choose the most beautiful ones.” He said to her and they both smiled. She can't believed she had ditched all her beautiful clothes back at home.

She picked the ones she felt were beautiful and despite her effort not to run his account dry as Baba said, Nasir picked more for her. But when it came to Abayas, she was the one that picked almost all the abayas. He only picked a mustard coloured Abayas with beautiful embroideries on it.

“This will look beautiful on you. It's so beautiful.” She smiled at him and nodded her head in affirmative.

They moved to the chamber and Nasir paid the money before they went back to the car. Throughout their drive to the tailors shop, Nasir hadn't uttered a single word to her, so as Aisha. They entered the shop and met Mama's tailor.

“Malam Nasir, Hajia sent you for her clothes?” The tailor asked, but Nasir shook his head.

“Actually, I brought more clothes for you to sew. But it's for this lady here. Her size and everything. She doesn't have a style of choice, just make sure they all look nice and will look beautiful on her.”

The tailor looked at Aisha that was fidgeting with her fingers and smiled, before he turned his attention back to Nasir. “Is she the bride?” Both Aisha and Nasir had to look awkwardly at him.

“Which bride?” Nasir asked and the tailor smiled widely.

“I thought you got married, and these clothes are for her lefe. But really, she looks like your wife. You two would make a nice couple.” Nasir looked at Aisha then to him before he softly smiled.

“No we aren't married. What about her measurement?” He asked, a bit uncomfortably.

“I'll have Christy to take it now. Young girls no more allow guys to take their measurements anymore, you know.” And he called Christy, whom rushed and Aisha's measurements were taken.

Nasir paid him the money before they got back into the car and before they drove off, an old man came through Aisha's window, begging. Nasir pulled out some naira notes from his chest pocket and handed it to Aisha to give him, she did and the old man smiled.

“Thank you so much, Hajia. I pray Allah bless you with obedient children soon. If you already have them, may they have a beautiful life ahead.”

Aisha opened her mouth to say they aren't married when Nasir beat her at her. “The children aren't here yet, Baba. But ameen to your prayers.” And he drove them off.

He waited until they drove on a highway before he looked at Aisha and how uncomfortable she seemed, he chuckled outwardly. “What were you trying to tell him because I cut you off?” He was trying so hard to suppress his laughter, seeing how she was biting at her nails, awkwardly.

“I don't get how their brains could think about that. That tailor said that, and this old man went ahead of the tailors thoughts. Do I look like a married woman? I'm too young to look like one, right?” She was honestly asking him, and her lips were pursed into a pout.

“Aisha, you aren't too young to get married. And unless you tell, one could tell you're 18 or 19 but never 17. So put your heart at rest, it was a good thought and a very good prayer.” He laughed now that her eyes widened at that.

“I really look that old? But Mommy always said I'm still young and I'll forever be young.” She didn't know when Mommy's name slipped off her mouth. She guessed this mistake would happen often.

“You're still young, Aisha. But you won't remain old forever. What I'm certain at is, you'll forever be beautiful. Will you like an ice cream?” He asked as he made a stop at an ice cream parlour.

Aisha smiled thankfully at him and nodded her head, “Yes, and some chocolates if they have.”

He went put and came in holding two cones of an ice cream. He didn't ignited the car on, and she guessed he meant they should lick their ice creams in the car, and she squealed when he handed her one. “How do you know my favourite flavour?” For the first time, her lips widened and he saw her teeth when she smiled. It was genuine and happiness filled.

“Because it's usually the kind of flavour young girls like.”

“Rub it on my face that I'm young,” she said and pouted her lips, while she licked on her ice cream with a smile.

“What do you actually want to be? Young or old?”

“I'm in between. Just a normal and beautiful lady.”

“Okay, Beautiful Aisha.” He chuckled, and she looked at him with a smile.

“You got it right, Doctor.”