Enjoy

"I will be travelling tomorrow. Something urgent came up." Mahmud said,staring at his wife.

It been three weeks since the couple got married. They have been living like strangers. The only time they talk is when they exchange pleasantries or when Noorie calls him to eat. Other than that,they rarely talk. The duo bury their heads in work.

Mahmud started working a week after the wedding while Noorie will be starting her NYSC next month. She will be serving at the National hospital.

"Okay." She muttered and continue stirring the egusi soup she is cooking. Since today is saturday,she decided to make egusi soup and poundo yam. Even though her relationship with Mahmud is not like that of other couples out there,she makes sure she cooks for him. The only thing she enjoys doing apart from reading is cooking. She suddenly developed a soft spot for cooking after her marriage.

Mahmud who was already used to her attitude gave her a small smile and left the kitchen to his room. No doubt he is going to work there. That is the only thing that keeps him sane in the house. Living with a wife that doesn't talk to you can be so frustrating.

Noorie simply rolled her eyes at him. She is glad he is travelling. Afterall the house will be much more fun without him. She will get to invite Asmau to stay with her. Asmau hasn't visited since after the wedding. Goggo said she should leave the couples alone. She said they are still in their honeymoon phase.

Noorie couldn't help but chuckle at Goggo's words.

She is very excited Mahmud is travelling. She made a mental note to call Asmau later.

Taking two plates,she dished mahmud's food and hers. She told her housemaid to dish her food and that of the gatekeeper.

She walked to Mahmud's room after keeping the food on the dinning table. The door to his room was slightly opened. She peeped through it and saw that he was on a call with someone. Although she didn't know who.

Noorie had no intention of listening to his conversations,but had to when she heard her name.

"I am tired. I don't know what to do again." Mahmud signed,massaging his forehead. The person on the other line said something to him as he listened carefully.

"I have been trying my best. She doesn't want me. I have tried to make our relationship work,but she clearly doesn't want that." He said,slightly annoyed.

Mahmud was not lying when he said he tried to make their relationship work. He has been trying to talk to Noorie about it,but she shush him whenever he talks about it. Noorie doesn't disrespect him,but she gives him a lot of attitude.

"I am tired,Aneesah. I don't know what to do." Affan said,massaging his forehead. Noorie thought he was reporting her to Aneesah. She rolled her eyes and knocked on the door.

"Come in." Mahmud muttered,after saying bye to his sister. He hope she didn't hear his conversation.

"Food is ready." She said and went out of the room the same way she came inside. Affan came down shortly and the couples ate their food in silent. Each lost in their own thought.

Noorie cleared the table after they finished eating and disappeared into her room.
................
Sunday came sooner than expected. Noorie was overjoyed. She will finally get time to gist with Asmau. Her biggest problem is travelling,which is Mahmud.

"Uhm....can I talk to you?" Mahmud asked Noorie,nervously. She looked up at him with raised eyebrows,wondering why he is suddenly nervous. She Hope he didn't cancel his plans on travelling.

"Yes." She replied.

"Aneesah wants to stay with you before I come back. I hope you are okay with it?" He asked,hoping she won't say no.

"I will be fine. Moreover Asmau is coming today. There won't be a need for her to come." Noorie said,trying so hard to sound polite. She sees no reason Aneesah wants to come here. Just how happy she was that Mahmud is travelling,but he had to ruin it for her by mentioning his twin sister's name.

"Okay." He gave her a small smile and went upstairs to his room. Mahmud came back shortly with his car key.

"My flight is in an hour. I will be on my way to the airport." Mahmud muttered. He was obviously angry Noorie didn't like the idea of his sister coming to their house. Convincing Aneesah will be so hard and he is not even looking forward to it. He doesn't know how to start explaining to her that his wife doesn't want her in their house.

"Okay. Come back save." Noorie said,smilling. She gave him a genuine smile not the fake ones he has been seeing since they got married.

She desperately want to ask him where he is travelling to and when he is coming back,but doesn't want him to start having the idea that she cares for him. She isn't ready to give him that kind of attention. As it is,she is still finding it hard married to him.

Without any word exchanged between the two,Mahmud went outside to meet the driver. The driver dropped him at the airport and came back home after.

"Amarya! Amarya where are you?" Asmau yelled,after entering the house with a taslim.

"Why are you behaving like a mad woman?" Noorie asked,munching on her cookie. She is sitting in the livingroom watching a series.

"See how my sister is glowing!" Asmau said in a dramatic way.

Noorie simply rolled her eyes. Sometimes,she wonder how Asmau became a doctor. The girl is so dramatic.

"Okay" Asmau muttered,sitting close to Noorie on the couch. "Am I safe to say you are pregnant." She wiggled her eyebrows at Noorie.

"Asmau!" She called in a high pitch sound. "I just got married three weeks ago. It too early to get pregnant please." It was Asmau's turn to roll her eyes.

"Haven't you seen couples that get pregnant one week after their wedding? What is the fuss about?"

"Asmau can we just talk about something else?" She said,glaring at her. The mere thought of getting pregnant scares her alot. Not to talk of carrying Mahmud's child.

"Okay oo! So what do you have for me? I have missed you so much! Goggo won't let me come here. She will always say I shouldn't disturb you. I am so tired of her." Asmau complained.

"I will tell Goggo you said you are tired of her simply because she didn't allow you visit." Noorie said with an eye roll. She tends to that alot.

"You want her to deal with me? It not fair. I will soon get married and leave the house for her. So you can tell her all you want."

"Let me get you something to eat." Noorie said,changing the topic. She got up and went straight to the kitchen before Asmau could say anything.

Noorie came back shortly with snacks. She placed the tray on a table close to Asmau and sat down near her.

"Thank you." Asmau muttered.

"How is Goggo and Kaka? It been three weeks without them. I missed them so much. I hope they are perfectly fine?" Noorie inquired.

"Alhamdulillah! They are fine. They sent their regards to you." Asmau replied,eating samosa.

"I will make sure I call them later. It is time for prayer. Let's go upstairs and pray." Noorie said and got up from the chair.

"You should just go." Asmau said,resting her back on the chair properly. She is very tired after a long day at work.

Noorie went upstairs without saying a word. She understands why Asmau said she should just go. That means she isn't praying.

She performed ablution and prayed.
............
"How is Na'eem?" Noorie asked,referring to Asmau's boyfriend. She had wanted to ask about him earlier,but was a bit hesitant. Asmau and Na'eem had a big fight last month. Asmau told Noorie he was cheating on her with his cousin. Noorie doesn't know if they are still together or not.

"He is fine." She replied,curtly. There is definitely something wrong.

"Are you still.....together?" She asked,playing with her phone. One needs to be very careful around Asmau when it comes to Na'eem.

"Kind of." She replied,curtly again. Noorie can clearly see she isn't in the mood for this discussion so she let it slide. Asmau will definitely tell her when she wants to.

Noorie was looking at her phone's screen,hoping to see Mahmud's call. He hasn't call since he left in the morning. She hope he is fine.

"I told you he was cheating on me right?" Asmau asked,after minutes of silent.

"Huh?" Noorie was confused at first,but later understood what she said.

"Yes. You told me." She replied.

"He later explained things to me. Apparently,his parent were trying to force him to get married to his cousin. So I misunderstood everything when I saw them together talking. He told me none of them want the marriage so they were just trying to make a plan or so." Asmau explained,staring at Noorie.

"Oh! So what are you going to do?" Noorie asked.

"I don't know! He has been trying to make things work between us. I don't know what to believe. What if he is lying?" Asmau asked,trying so hard to fight her tears.

"What if he is not lying. Look Asmau, Na'eem doesn't look like a bad person to me. Maybe you truly misunderstood everything you saw that day. Give him a chance again." Noorie advised. Na'eem has always been a gentleman since she knew him. It not possible for him to pretending all this while,or is it?

"I don't feel anything for him again." She deadpanned. Noorie was taken aback,but quickly mask it up with a confused look.

"What do you mean?" Noorie asked with raised eyebrows. There is no way she can stop loving him simply because he made a mistake. So where is this coming from?

"I don't love him anymore. I don't hate him or anything of sort. I don't just feel anything for him. Can we change the topic please?" She asked,pleadingly. Talking about Na'eem bores her.

Noorie nodded unable to say anything. Asmau doesn't like sharing her problems with anybody. She find solution to them herself.

"So.....tell me! Are you pregnant?" Asmau asked,having this mischievous look.

"Am not pregnant,Asmau. Do I look pregnant to you?" Noorie asked,glaring at her. She isn't comfortable talking about pregnancy like this. It not like she is ready to get pregnant now,or so she thought.

"You look pregnant. Can't you see how you are glowing. You are getting very chubby. Tell me the truth please." She beseeched. Nobody can convince her otherwise that Noorie isn't pregnant. She looks chubby just like a pregnant woman.

"Asmau! How can I get pregnant when we haven't even consummated our marriage." She blurted out. Only when she finish talking did she realise what she just said. She facepalm knowing Asmau will definitely annoy her today. She can see it in her eyes. The girl looks so surprise.

"You mean...." Asmau trailed off. Here she is thinking about her cousin giving birth in the next 9month and she hasn't even consummated her marriage yet. It been three weeks to the wedding. Three freaking weeks!

Noorie chose to ignore and tried changing the topic by bringing up some irrelevant topic,but Asmau was smarter than that.

"Noorie! What are you waiting for? Goggo is going to kill you if she finds out.

"And who is going to tell her? You?" Noorie rolled her eyes at Asmau and got up from the couch. She didn't say anything to Asmau,but simply went upstairs to her room and lie down on the bed. She isn't mad at Asmau,but have to act mad. The girl won't leave her if she don't act that way.

Noorie carried her phone and quickly sent a text to Mahmud asking him if he arrived safely. There is no way she could sleep peacefully if she doesn't confirm. The door to the room opened and Asmau walked into the mahogany bedroom. Noorie quickly closed her eyes. Asmau knows she isn't sleeping,but let it slide.

They both drifted into a deep sleep after minutes of lying down on the bed.