JUMA'AT KARIM❤️

ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA.

Ahmad paused at the threshold of his home at the amazing smell and best aroma he's smelled in months. His mother is not a great chef neither is his aunt so he didn't get to scent things as amazing as this and Fatima shouldn't even be mentioned in that category. Wherever chefs are mentioned, Fatima shouldn't even look at the place to avoid getting the word smashing on her face for no reason. She's never tried wanting to cook and at the rate she is taking hunger and never trying to help herself, she is a hopeless cause.

He then remembered the guest they have but the silence in the house confirmed the lack of car outside, Fatima is not back from wherever she went to but he knew she is safe since her bodyguards didn't call to update him on any trouble she's caused. She's been lenient these days that he is afraid of what she is planning to letter him and from what angle it will come from. She likes taking him by surprise and no matter how much he wants to find out what goes on in her mind, he can never solve an embroiled, intricate and entangled person like Fatima Musa Babagana.

He furthered into the house to greet their guest and found her removing an apron from around her in the kitchen, her back turned to him. He stood for a bit so he won't startle her before opening his mouth and greeted her with Taslim which she replied without turning back, her hands are tugged to remove the tight knot that wouldn't unlatch itself. Ahmad politely entered the kitchen in that quiet strides that Fatima despise because to her, man as big boned and large as him should stomp while he works. How does she want that to happen when he exercises and run more than a cheetah does?

"May I?" She nodded briskly so he used two of his fingers and expertly untied the knot with such ease that surprised her but did nothing to him. He is used to ambushing tough places and using such tricks are must.

Adda-mama turn around to regard her son-in-law only to deflate, her eyes widened as she stared at him and his did the same because he knew this woman and she does him. Ahmad could see his whole life crashing down from the highest crest to the trough in ruthless crashes making his head ache fully behind his skull. The woman stared back with complete disbelief, her face damaged and marred with galvanization that sure is registered all over his face. His head throbbed some more making it ache excruciatingly and his heart became restless in his myocardium. This is not good.

They didn't talk to one another the whole time and five minutes passed, none could muster enough courage to say anything because the shock didn't wear off. Her eyes glossed over as she took him in again, registering that he is looking far better than when she's met him years back. His face has filled up and he stood straighter like a man, no more lanky movements of someone who's grown unexpectedly and didn't know how to handle longer limbs. His eyes changed though, that wasn't the color of his eyes and she is sure he used something to hide the real color from everyone. Why hide such beautiful thing?

Ahmad gazed right back, his eyes blinking in rapid strokes, the eyelashes disturbing his cheekbones. Just like she's thought him looking better than he had years ago, he also thought so because she looks younger now and more beautiful than he recalled. Her small frame has filled up with age, her wide set doe-like looking more pretty above her narrowed button nose. Her face gained a bit weight but didn't disrupt the beauty of her age which is probably touting for sixty. She didn't age much, a family trait or something relatively close.

"Ahmad." She finally whispered after what seems like decades passed by. He couldn't say anything only looked at her like he's suddenly lost his vocal cords, he feels like he has though.

Sighing, he held her elbow and accompanied her to the living room knowing whatever he does he cannot forestall talking to her. But why would his past come crashing down on him in form of Fatima? What on earth is the universe trying to prove now by bringing this woman back into his life? He's suffered through so much to want to endure more pain than his entire lineage could carry.

He's taken the burden of so many people on his shoulders totally disregarding his own sheaf of trouble following him in slow steps and eating him corrosively. Why had he forgotten his own life so easily?

After they both sat down in the quiet room, Ahmad decided to break the ice this time around because he wouldn't want Fatima to come back without them dissolving whatever issue is between them. "I see you are looking better than before." He remarked, his words totally eloquent from the look on his face, the cool nonchalance.

She licked her lips, closing her eyes tightly as if to end the nightmare from appearing before her eyes but it's still there. Ahmad is sitting in front of her in his police uniform looking extremely handsome and suave. She's always knew he was going to be a handsome lad right when she saw him, she knew he would break countless hearts and be with the woman he loves but she just never knew the person he would end up with after his wrecked marriage is her daughter Fatima. Her niece. Someone she held in high regard.

"So do you. The uniform suits you like it was meant for you all along." She complimented, threading on the side that won't cause her needle to wreck. When it comes to the matters of the past, one needs to make sure words and actions are chosen carefully to avoid further mishap.

Ahmad's eyes are now red, so many emotions trying to break free and be let out in the arms of this woman but he cannot, not after the things that's happened and transpired between them in the past. It is so wrong for him to feel a lot about her when there are certain boundaries one should always have in mind, he cannot help it. He feels like a small boy again, like that eighteen year old fighting his own demons with the will to make it through life. Like that time when all he wanted was the arms of anyone around him, anyone would've do.

"Thanks. What are you doing here and how are you related to Fatima?" He is not ready to beat around the bush, there is just no time for that game when he is filled with thousands of similar questions that require answers more complicated and embroiled than they would look and feel on tongue.

Adda-mama shifted on her seat not at all that powerful ice queen anymore, she looks nervous and like him, so many myriad emotions that needs to be let out in the open for healing. Her mouth quiver as the emotions enveloped her all over, the words at the tip of her tongue but they wouldn't get discharged. She let out a shaky breath and browse her hands through her face to clear all the perspiration filtering her face like makeup. This isn't how she handles things but whenever Ahmad is concerned, it's just different.

Her skin bunched around her eyes, a pained expression all over her face. "I'm here to see my niece. Fatima's father is my elder brother."

Blanched with the news, Ahmad pales a bit as he muttered numerous curses one shouldn't utter in front of an older person. When had Ahmad become a sailor? Her restless fingers continue to wring around her boned hands, she is sliming day to day and she doesn't like it. So many things are going on with her and the part of it is right in front of her. Why isn't she happy with the fact that Ahmad is right in front of her and she can ask for his forgiveness? Why are the emotions she's sorting through have nothing to do with felicity? She feels trapped in her own web, she cannot escape the claws created herself.

All she could feel is anguish, fear, anxiety, defeat, desperation, guilt, nostalgia and overwhelmed. Her neck corded involuntarily, she wants to place her head on the table before and weep like a baby.

"You mean Musa Babagana is your older brother? My father-in-law?" At her nod, he cursed a few more times before leaning his head back on the headrest of the couch. He cannot believe how complicated and at the same time connected his life had always been.

"Do you know she is married to me or are we both surprised? You have it in you to know about everything before anyone does and never act on it, I won't be shocked." The words are uttered with undue care but the irony beneath it didn't slip past her, she knew what he was talking about and it weighed her down that he didn't forgive her even now.

With quivered hands placed on her forehead to cool the sudden hotness, she answered. "I don't know. I just found out too, didn't you see my reaction? I didn't know she married you. I don't even know about you being here in Nigeria." She tried to explain herself, she desperately need him to believe her.

"I wouldn't know. You are also very good at acting, I won't be surprised. That aside, when are you leaving?" He leaned forward and braced his clasped palms together while his elbows took position on his knees.

Suddenly, a plan plotted itself in her head and she gave a stare pure with determination that she almost resembled Fatima with the mutinousness. There is a remarking semblance between Fatima and her, why didn't he notice it first hand when he saw Fatima? He felt something is familiar with her but never connected the dots with someone he's left in Minnesota.

"I'm not leaving anytime soon. I'm here to stay with Fatima for a few days then go back to the mansion but after finding out you are the husband, I don't think I should leave this soon. I'll stay for a few weeks." She answered in a steady lower pitched voice, her lips pressed together and jaw set in place.

Ahmad glared at her, his eyes hard and unforgiving as if expecting her to blanch and draw back her words but she merely stared back in nothing short of determination. Two can play the same game, has he forgotten what had them merged? She is more determined than he is and have the upper hand for if Fatima walks through those door and hear her request, she'd ask her to stay longer.

She can't just begin to imagine how Fatima will coax Ahmad if he decides to be a mull like he's always been. Picturing the two of them seem like a blurred image, an almost impossible one which makes her more curious how the union commence. This liaison is surely a tale for the next generation of Al-hafiz. How did Fatima manage to shackle a big shark like Ahmad in her net?

"You are not stay here for more than three more hours. As soon as you exchange pleasantries with her, you are going to leave my home. You are not welcomed." He stood up to finalize his words further.

"Whether you like it or not, I'm staying here for a few weeks. Thank you so much for your kind words and hospitality." She regarded him with cool eyes even as she sat small than his large form looming over hers like some tyrant.

"Don't annoy me. I can't deal with both aunt and daughter." He began to stride away when her next words halted all thoughts of going further into the house, he wants to warn her too.

"Why are your eyes dark, Ahmad? If I remembered clearly, they were Aegean." She clamped her mouth shut when his murderous eyes settled on hers, she gulped down thick gob of saliva and muttered a silent prayer to not be slaughtered or assassinated by her son-in-law before her niece comes back.

He leaned down on her small figure on the chair, his expression still intent on murdering her. She's never seen Ahmad lose control like at that moment and it irked her she could do something like this to someone like that. Had she ruin his life so much that he cannot even act civil with her for the sake of his union with her niece?

"Don't talk about my eyes again, you don't have no right. To keep your curiosity at bay, I now use lens because thanks to you, I'm not allowed to look like the person I am. I'm not allowed to be the son of the man gave birth to me till he died. The women in my life have been nothing but pain, your niece included. They inflict nothing but plethora of agony and torment. I regret knowing each and every single one of you, you all have ruined me. Unendurable and agonizing pain is all I've felt with each woman that's been in my life so far. I don't want no part of it anymore. Whatever you are trying to play with your stay here, it shouldn't push me far or the beast in me will have no choice but to retaliate. I don't play good." He breathed heavily as he stood straighter and sweep his hands through his hair in agitation.

How could a single person from the past being out so much in him and dim the lights around him? How could someone from the past get him to lose control with a few words? He despises his past and loathe his present, the future though, he doesn't know yet but with Fatima inside it, he sure is going to abhor it.

Adda-mama stood up slowly on her wobbly legs and approach Ahmad with tentative steps, her eyes shining brightly underneath the chandelier with unshed tears.

"I know I've caused you immense pain, I'm sorry. I hate myself too, I despise the woman I became after my innocence got snatched in a world filled with beasts in angel outfit. I don't have any explanation for what I've done, I'm just going to try to make it work while I stay here. I've heard what happened with your father and also with Eleanor, I'm sorry you had to go through such terrible things at the same time while you had no one to turn to. I'll make it right." She determined before disappearing from his sight to the kitchen then poke her head outside to shout. "Please come down for dinner after you freshen up."

She didn't hear what he said because she slipped into the kitchen to wash her face, she doesn't want Fatima to come back and find them all in a mess. She will ask questions and Fatima is one extremely intelligent girl to be able to place pieces albeit she won't come to the right conclusion, she will try to get seventy percent of hundred and they will be forced to talk about the past they'd rather it stay where it is. Let bygones be bygones. A past like that is better left tacenda, unsaid and not remembered.

Ahmad scowled as he made his way upstairs to freshen up. How dare she come to his home and demand she will stay for as long as she wants? And what right does she have to ask him to come down stairs for dinner? Why is she suddenly ruling his home like the monarch she is? This is his territory and he will make sure she understands that before she packs her rags and leave. He's never felt such volatile amount of violence -except when Fatima crawls up his skin which was every time-but still, this is embroiled with so much he'd rather not describe. It is actually ineffable.

He showered and changed into porpoise sweatpants and matching v-neck t-shirt that fitted his muscular upper frame. He lie down on the bed and closed his eyes, he won't go down to deal with that woman again, he is going to forestall it for as long as he can.