Chapter 2
"Yes, some samples of the textiles are on my system, you can check them out before I come in an hour time or so to show you the new designs. Thank you." She ended the call.
It was a call from the couturier, her paternal cousin all the way from Milan wanted her to design some clothes for her, everything was ready so they were waiting for her.
Khairiyya was more than happy to do that, she was proud of her work, designing gave her so much joy and a sense of being completely independent.
Even though her parent were wealthy and she had enough assets and money that she could spend until the rest of her life, she felt it was a priority for her to be independent, she would never depend on her parents no matter what so she had to make her dreams come true and earn no matter how little it was.
She got up from her reading chair and dropped her phone on the table that had different types of vogue fashion and lifestyle magazines arranged neatly on it. She checked the time, it was 2:30, she had slept immediately she prayed Dhur. The call from the fashion house woke her up. Since she was dressed only in a lilac fluffy dressing gown she decided to change so she could go out.
Khairiyya walked to the closet to get something to wear, different colours and designs of fashionable abayas some designed by her clothing line herself and some foreign hung from every corner of the closet, she wore abaya everyday so she decided to go for something different, a little change wouldn't hurt she thought.
She couldn't remember the last time she wore atampa so she randomly picked out one from the enormous pile some which she'd never worn and can't tell if she'd ever, but for the abayas hanging there gracefully she could swear she'd worn more than half of them.
Khairiyya was a fan of elegant abayas so it became like a compulsory uniform to her but on those days she wore atampa, she looked stunning, appearing the northern lady she was. She loved abayas so much because it was a comfortable piece of clothing, and just pinning the veil in place she could go on her normal business without worrying to adjust a veil around her or struggling with tying up her head tie in place.
Her mother complained endlessly about her dressing preference saying wearing abaya everyday was a boring task for a person like Khairiyya, that she was supposed to wear those extra expensive atampa and laces just like her mother but she wouldn't. Even though her abayas do cost a fortune, they were no match to her mother's too expensive and exclusive clothes that could bankrupt a person to death, clothes that would feed an average earner for a year.
Khairiyya would complain and show her mother how it wasn't fair to wear such type of expensive clothes worth thousands of naira, some not to be worn ever again, she could go for clothes not too expensive but what not? Her mother would shush her before saying that's what a person like her is supposed to wear since she could afford that and even more. She loathed how her mother dealt with money extravagantly, Khairiyya saw all those expensive clothes as a waste.
She had already dressed and was searching through her veils to find a suitable one that matched with her cloth when she heard her phone ringing, she found a peach coloured one quickly and walked out of the closet to pick her call.
The call was from Abdulmaleek, she smiled happily then picked the call and sat on the bed.
"Hello darling." He said from the other side immediately she picked the call.
"My baby." She squealed like a little child hearing the voice she missed so much
"I missed you." She stated meekly.
"You know I'm missing you more baby and because you're refusing to see me I've no option but to accept that wholeheartedly."
Khairiyya smiled after Abdulmaleek said that, she pushed the plethora of pillows off the bed before placing her head over the headboard.
"And when did I refuse you that, I'm also missing you a lot dear."
He laughed in his husky voice which Khairiyya loved. "Alright then I'm taking the next flight to Abuja to see you then."
"What? Don't tell me you're serious." She quickly sat up on the bed
"Of course baby I'm, I'm missing you that's the reason why."
"Come on AB why the rush? Take your time, I also want that but I don't want to stress you out." She smiled.
"See this girl oh! Coming to see my babe doesn't count as that, it's not stress. I just can't spend another week without seeing those beautiful eyes that make me feel like the luckiest dude on earth."
Khairiyya chuckled admiring his heavy British accent, she wondered how he'd be speaking English this minute and the next minute switching to Pidgin English or Hausa, with the accent intact and without losing focus.
"I'm flattered then, and I can see that you're trying to make me agree to let you fly down here but no, stay back there and when you're less occupied you can come, and I'm very sure you're still stressed after coming back from Mexico two days ago."
Abdulmaleek let out a funny laugh "I've had enough rest and who told you I'm occupied? I can abandon all I'm doing to come and see you my princess."
"You won't do that, as you always say and I quote work is really important." She laid emphasis on 'important.'
"Yes it is, but not as important as you're buttercup, I repeat there's nothing as important as you're."
"That why you're my darling." She uttered as if telling him a secret he had never known.
He chuckled softly. "So what if I tell you I'm outside right now."
Khairiyya jumped down from the bed and stood beside the window peeping maybe she could sight a strange car in the parking lot. "Ab you can't be serious?"
"I'm very well serious."
"Is this the point where I say I'm speechless, you're full of surprises Ab."
"Anything for you my girl, I'm outside and I can't wait to see that smiling face."
He ended the call making her smile widely, she so much appreciated his unadulterated love for her, how she was feeling for this man was unexplainable, so this is how it feels like to be madly in love? She asked herself as she moved from the window, where she could see almost everywhere in the house.
She was already set so she just picked up her veil and moved towards the mirror to adjust her head tie. The yellow, brown and peach patterned atampa was sewn into a beautiful blouse and skirt which fitted her modestly. She added a little lipstick before wrapping the peach stoned veil around her, she looked dashing and she admired that. Taking her phone from the table she went out of the room.
She knew her mother was out so she didn't bother to check on her. She went straight to the gigantic kitchen where she met one of the helps.
"Hello Shafa, I'm heading out now but I'll be back in a few minutes. I have a visitor so please get everything set in the parlour upstairs, take everything you feel a visitor would like there, put the AC on, add more incense stick and...." Khairiyya bit her lips trying to remembering the last thing.
"Take the hibiscus drink made yesterday also and the watermelon smoothie, some pineapple squeeze and some snacks."
She patted Shafa's shoulder "that's all for now I think, but if there's any other thing you think is good take it."
Shafa smiled "alright small madam."
"Alright big madam." Khairiyya mimicked jokingly as she headed out of the kitchen.
Khairiyya knew Abdulmaleek usually parked near the garden so she headed there and there was no car, she stood there looking around, she went back to the parking space but didn't see his car, she was about dialing his number when he honked and she turned around.
He decided to park there because he knew she'd wouldn't check there. He wanted to see her before she saw him, he admired how she walked innocently, he admired how she dressed today, he admired how she was smiling as she walked to the car, infact he admired everything about her.
He came out of the car as Khairiyya reached there. "My baby."
She so much loved how he always addressed her with romantic French names.
"Yes and to what do I owe this beautiful surprise on a beautiful day like this?"
Abdulmaleek leaned against the car crossing his arms on his chest and smiling broadly. Khairiyya stood admiring him in his white kaftan which blended well with his dark skin, the kaftan hugged his built body handsomely, his perfectly embroidered cap perched on his head neatly.
"To being the love of my life and to making every moment a one to cherish for me." He answered her question giving her a soft loving look.
She smiled. "You're welcome to my humble home, I'm very well happy to see you and I must compliment you look handsome as always Ab."
"Thank you baby but not as beautiful as you're and I appreciate seeing you dressed this way ignoring your everyday abaya, you look very beautiful."
"You always say I look more beautiful when I wear Atampa but I so much prefer wearing abaya, it's more comfy, classy and beautiful infact it's my favorite clothing". She rolled her eyes dramatically.
Abdulmaleek shook his head "that I know, beauty is you so you'd still look beautiful and attractive even when you wear a sack."
Khairiyya laughed throwing her head back "why on earth would I wear a sack? Let's go inside, I know you're tired of standing." They smiled at each other.
"Alright dear." He looked around the mansion and gestured for one of the workers to come, he came quickly and greeted him after that Abdulmaleek gave him the car key.
"Please help me with the stuff in the booth, bring them inside."
He turned to see Khairiyya giving him a knowing look "yes baby, I know that look so I'm sorry, please don't say anything, there are the gifts I got for you from Mexico."
"It's alright, I know you wouldn't stop no matter what I'll say." They walked beside each other like newly weds smiling and laughing happily.
"I can tell that you made this drink yourself right?" Abdulmaleek enquired seeping from the glass of chilled hibiscus drink that tasted of cucumber, pineapple and ginger. Khairiyya's drinks were out of this world and Abdulmaleek could swear he had never tasted a drink as sweet as hers.
"Yes I did, and it was made with so much love, as if I knew you would come." She stated arranging more cupcakes in a plate for him. He collected it smiling. They were in the sitting room.
"Go ahead and check out your gifts, I know you'd like them mon beau."
"Yes as usual, I've told you times without number to please stop giving yourself a hard time bringing a lot of gifts for me each time you're coming and sending more weekly from Kano, I appreciate everything." She said that as polite as possible.
He shook his head, that was he and Khairiyya each time he showered her with expensive gifts, she would keep complaining that they were to much, but it was nothing to him, he wished he could give her the whole world, so since he couldn't he should at least give her everything in the world.
"It's being said that when people share gifts with each other, they'd love each other the more and that's the reason why I give you these." He said pointing at the beautifully wrapped boxes.
She got up and moved to where the boxes were arranged and began unwrapping them, starting with the biggest one, she smiled broadly when her eyes landed on one of the expensive abayas, she kept smiling unwrapping the remaining boxes that had perfumes, shoes, bags, chocolates and other gifts inside them.
He loved how she smiled admiring his gifts, he could do anything to keeping seeing that beautiful smile on her face.
"Thanks a lot for always spoiling me rotten with beautiful gifts, I appreciate and love your spirit of generosity, may God bless you abundantly ."
"Ameen angel, anything for you. I hope you like the gifts?"
"Like would be an understatement so I love the gifts so much, everything is exquisite and special just like you're to me handsome."
"I love you fine girl. So how's our best friend Suhaila, I hope she's still loving and caring and not being troublesome as usual."
Khairiyya laughed "Suhaila is fine and so you know I'd tell her you said she's troublesome."
"Please do, it'll be like a reminder to her." The two lovers laughed, a laugh that was full of adoration and love for each other. Making each other happy was a top priority for Khairiyya and Abdulmaleek.