Chapter 5
"Khairiyya stop crying like this, please I'm getting worried tell me what's wrong." Suhaila couldn't stand seeing her tearing up like that.
Khairiyya used the tissue Suhaila gave her to wipe her tear ridden face, her eyes were already swollen.
"Suhaila mummy doesn't want me to marry Abdulmaleek, mummy doesn't like him one bit."
Suhaila's eyes flew open in shock "what do you mean?"
"I noticed that since I told her about his parents intending to come and see daddy. Mummy openly told me to forget about him, she said she doesn't want me to marry him." Khairiyya burst into tears like a little kid deprived of her favorite chocolate.
Suhaila hugged her "it's alright babe stop crying, you know I hate seeing you in tears, there's a possibility that I could also cry." She wiped away Khairiyya's tears.
"Why doesn't mummy like him, or is there something bad about him which you don't know. You two have been together for 3 years and mummy never said anything right?" Suhaila was confused.
"Mummy never approved of our relationship since day one, it didn't bother me at first, I kept praying for the best, maybe she would change her mind, but she never did. So when I told her about his intentions, she got really angry and told me to never talk about Ab to her again." Khairiyya's tears kept flowing.
"But why doesn't she want you to marry him? I mean he's a very nice guy, your perfect match and from a well to do family."
Khairiyya smiled, a pained one "Suhaila it's like you still don't understand who my mum is, I'm not supposed to be saying this but I have to, mum is obsessed with who she is, she looks down upon people who are not like her, she is tribalistic. She doesn't want me to marry Abdulmaleek because he's a Hausa man and as she said is too degrading for me, that's her first reason. She has this weird believe that Hausa men don't treat their wives well, they are unexposed and no matter how educated they are, they act like illiterates. I felt that's a very lame reason because if a person isn't told, he'd never know Abdulmaleek is a Hausa man, for God sake Suu he wasn't even born nor brought up here. His life and how he behaves is entirely different. I've tried countless times to make her understand that Abdulmaleek is very educated and well brought up to behave how she believes Hausa men do. But mummy wouldn't hear of that and she stands on her opinion that I'd never marry a Hausa man no matter what." She sniffed before continuing.
"Her other reason is so lame that I laughed when she said that I deserve someone better than Ab, that he can't give me the luxurious, exquisite and expensive living I was brought up in and used to, even though I don't spend extravagantly she said he can't afford my extravagant spending so I'll suffer when I marry him. Mum said she wants me to enjoy my life in wealth which is her only concern, she doesn't care about me living in love or being happy." She shook her head sadly.
"I don't think that's a reason, Abdulmaleek is rich and has all the wealth to spoil you and to live an exquisite life extravagantly after marrying him. For crying out loud he's a petroleum engineer and on the board of directors of his fathers company, apart from the countless number of shares he owns. Abdulmaleek is not just anybody, anyone who knows him knows that he's a guy of substance who comes from a very wealthy family." Suhaila stated.
"Oh Suhaila! Who's talking about all these? I don't care if Abdulmaleek owns the world and everything in it. We're talking of love here not wealth and I'm not interested in what he has. Suhaila I'm not after materialistic or worldly things. I love Abdulmaleek for the sake of Allah. Money and love are entirely two different things to me. Marriage is not about wealth but love, respect, understanding and honesty, and I'm 100% sure Abdulmaleek can give me all that and even more. What do I need his money for. I'm independent, I've more than enough to make me not wait for a wealthy husband to give me his." Suhaila placed her hand on her friend's shoulder in a comforting way.
"You very well know how mummy believes in matchmaking and has since been trying to make me accept 1 from the numerous number of suitors sent to see me every now and then. I feel they are not my match. I don't think I can ever get along with any of them, most of them are spoilt brats who depend on their parent's wealth, they are too proud, arrogant, narcissistic, egocentric and authoritative. That's the reason I shoo them off after our first meeting. I can't stand them, and can never marry someone like that. Suhaila a wealthy husband is a showoff to the world but a loving, religious, pious and trustworthy husband would be a showoff in the hereafter, that's what I want. Yes mummy and daddy were match-made and it worked out perfectly so that doesn't mean I also have to go through that. Mum wouldn't understand how I love Abdulmaleek and the love he also has for me is really much. I just can't let him go, I can't!" Khairiyya broke down in tears again.
Suhaila felt tears filling up her eyes, it would only make matters worst so she quickly wiped it away, she couldn't believe Khairiyya hid all these problems behind her smiling face without anyone noticing, Suhaila knew how she was, she might have a mental break down if she was in Khairiyya's place.
"Khair I know what you're going through is not easy and I must praise your been able to hide your problems behind your smiles. Keep making mummy understand who Abdulmaleek is and all would be fine. Be patient and keep praying for the best. Allah is the all Knowing and all Seeing, He knows your problems and would provide solutions at the right time." Suhaila hugged Khairiyya and that made her smile, their love for each other knew no bounds.
A soft knock came through the door and when Khairiyya gave permission for the person to come in, a maid came in, she had been knocking for the past 1 hour but the two friends were so engrossed in talking that they didn't hear the knocks.
"I'm sorry I've been knocking since and maybe you were too busy to hear me. Your mum said I should tell you food is ready so would you like to be served on the dining here or the one downstairs, or in the kitchen since everyone has eaten?" The maid asked politely with her head down.
"Bring it here, I mean in this room." She didn't feel like going out of the room.
A few minutes later the maid came back with two others following behind her holding trays and food warmers, after arranging everything, they went out. Khairiyya began opening the warmers one after the other before turning to Suhaila who was busy with her phone.
"Shuu what would you like to eat? There's fried rice with chicken pepper soup, basmati rice with cheese sauce, shredded cheddar, vegetable couscous, beef steak and kidney pie, pounded yam and egusi soup, potatoe salad, shawarma, glazed dougnuts, date and coconut smoothie, kunun aya, tamarind juice,hibiscus drink, samosa, red velvet and chocolate cake. Come and check what you want."
Suhaila's looked at the numerous foodwarmers, trays and bottles there "why do you always have varieties of food like this, like a restaurant."
Khairiyya smiled "you know how this house is, always full of visitors. Mummy has some very important visitors from Azare that's why." Khairiyya had no appetite at all so she sat on the couch watching Suhaila as she began eating.
"Come let's eat."
"Suhaila I'm not hungry, and have no appetite at all. Just eat!"
"Oh baby, forget about everything. Allah is in control. Just come and eat. There's your favorite shawarma and chocolate cake." Suhaila places a wrap of shawarma and cake on a plate for Khairiyya.
"I'm not hungry, just eat yours, I'll try and eat something later." Suhaila wouldn't hear of that and the look she was giving Khairiyya made her collect the plate.
She only ate the cake with some tiger nut milk before pushing the plate away. Suhaila noticed that and got up, she was already done with hers.
"You're acting distressed and you need some refreshment babe, so let's go out and catch a little fun." Khairiyya just sat there with her shoulders slumped.
"I don't feel like going out of this room nor going out of this house, moreover you can't go out without your bodyguard and driver, what if daddy finds out?"
"It's my best friend being happy we're talking about and not those statues. Daddy wouldn't even find out so get ready we're going out."
Khairiyya knew how pestering her friend could be so she got up without arguing. She came back dressed in a maroon crepe abaya with pink embroidery on the neck and sleeves, she hanged a Gucci bag and after grabbing one of her cars keys, the two friends headed out of the room.
"Call" by Joeboy was blasting through the car's speakers as Suhaila followed the lyrics. She would say little jokes occasionally trying to lighten up her friend's mood until Khairiyya felt half of her problems wafting away.
Suhaila didn't notice when a Peugeot 406 with tinted windows appeared from a junction, it was like the driver had lost control, she almost crashed into the car but reversed quickly making the tyres screech as she released the brake, her heart beating erratically. Suhaila parked and both she and Khairiyya came out, the Peugeot had also parked too.
"What sort of nonsense is this, why would a person drive so reekless?" Suhaila fumed at she neared the car, anger was visible in her voice. She reached the car waiting for the driver to come out, she waited for a few second but the driver didn't come out.
"Show yourself and tell me the goddamn reason you almost killed us driving like a maniac." She banged her palm on the bonnet so hard that it startled Khairiyya who was standing behind her. Suhaila stood hands akimbo still fuming.
The driver's door opened and a leg in black shiny boots appeared followed by the other. Suhaila was looking at the other side uttering complains that she didn't notice the driver standing there until she turned her head, her breathe hitched for a second but she quickly composed herself.
The tall, light skinned muscular man standing meters away from her was clad in a camouflage uniform, how he was standing in all his glory, screamed power and authority, she looked at him from toe to head, his name tag read "KA Mahmood" and when her eyes landed on his face he smirked removing his shades. She didn't even flinch, she eyed him from head to toe again before moving a step closer.
"Now tell me the the reason you were driving like that, or are your blind? It's broad daylight so I'm pretty sure you can see."
"Please Suu kiyi hakuri don't land us in trouble, he's an army officer." Suhaila didn't say anything, she pulled her arm from Khairiyya's hold before she averted her gaze to the other side of the car where another man also wearing the same uniform stood, he was dark, tall and also muscular, his name tag read "AB MOHAMMED." He had a neutral look on his serious face.
"I expect you two to talk and stop looking at me like zombies, or do I look like someone with two heads? Just because you're uniformed doesn't give you the audacity to drive recklessly, and however you like. What if something bad had happened?"
KA Mahmood stood looking at her dumbfoundedly, he was amazed by her guts and how she stood for herself without worrying about who he was. He had a thing for feisty women and he was enjoying everything, he kept mute so she could keep talking, her voice was a melody to the person listening.
"Please young lady, what happened wasn't intentional and you're also supposed to honk before entering, so we're both at fault. Therefore accept our apologies." The friend stated humbly.
"Oh save that please! You're the only one at fault so shoo! I'm sure your friend isn't deaf or dumb, so I'm not talking to you." KA Mahmood shook his head, this stubborn damsel won't kill him. He pushed his hands into his pockets admiring her from head to toe.
"Zainab has anyone ever told you how beautiful and attractive you look when you're angry." His deep voice was calm.
"So you talk? My name is not Zainab." She eyed him.
He laughed "Alright what's the name?"
"What's your problem with that?"
"Just want to know." It was obvious that he was enjoying the conversation. Khairiyya was trying very hard to hold her laughs while Suhaila was red from anger.
"I don't have your time, so get your car out of my way and stop wasting my time, I have somewhere to go." She was getting annoyed.
"I'll do that after having your digits, here." He held out his phone to her and she felt like collecting it and smashing it on the road. She muttered some words and he winked at her.
"Hello quiet friend can you please tell me this beauty's name?" He directed the question at Khairiyya who just smiled.
Suhaila was baffled, she couldn't believe she stood wasting her time with these guys so she decided to keep mute because she knew how disrespectful and crazy she could get each time she was angry.
"I hate repeating myself so get this box you call a car out of the way." She made her way back to Khairiyya's car. She got inside and when Khairiyya also got in she started the engine, these funny men had wasted enough of her time.
The dark friend got into the car and parked aside while KA Mahmood stood beside Khairiyya's car looking at Suhaila, those eyes were beautiful he must admit.
"Alright I'm very sorry, so can you tell me your name and can I get your digits?
Suhaila was left speechless, all she could do was to slide the gear before driving off. It was better she ignores him. Khairiyya couldn't stop laughing, her best friend had surely met her match. They were not aware that the Peugeot was closely following behind them. KA Mahmood wouldn't let Suhaila go, he felt something for her, was it love at first sight or love at first rant?