THE HEARTS REAWAKENING

43: MAVERICK.

KANO STATE, NIGERIA.

"I think I'm going crazy now, Afi." Amirah gulped, dropping herself on her mattress coming back from the palace all stressed and tired to bones. She even forgot to remove the takeaway of food from Uzair out of her bag, too slothful for that.

Afaf's face pinched with worry, she stood up and took the bag from the floor, taking out the takeaway pack and smiled widely. Today Uzair made her favorite then, spiced Lebanese kebab. Since the first time she tasted it few months ago, she got hooked and crossed her fingers all the time hoping he will do it soon and he did that thrice already. She's met the man and all she could say is Masha Allah, his wife is one lucky woman to have that man. A cook and beautiful face? Totally her dream for a guy.

She got back to the matters at hand after serving Najla. She could've sworn to hear the fear in Amirah's voice albeit not the one to get off her mavericks. "Why do you think you are going cuckoo?"

Amirah licked her lower lip, traveling down to what has happened that day in the office with Imad and her stupidity. Since the day she's flirted with him, she didn't do anything remotely close to that but the pinch is always there inside of her. Imad is taking everything from her sanity leaving her bare and vulnerable to his bites. Nowadays, he is always on phone with Usayma and it is getting underneath her skin. She made sure to interrupt whenever she could or leave the room if possible.

Does he know about her feelings for him and is doing this intentionally? Because seriously, he wasn't like that the first few days they were working together. It seems like she is burdening him now at work, he answers her with this hesitation and tinge of pontification which irked her beyond words. It all started because of her! Why does she have to open her wide mouth to compliment him despite having such horrendous past with him? She was stupid and still prepubescent.

If he knows about her feelings for him now or her eyes are betraying her to show it, then he is going to make it abysmal. An arsenal of pain is waiting for her if that is the case which she wants to desperately say she is ready for but she is not. How could she be? The pain she's endured for three years or more is enough to render anyone weak on the knees. She feels like there is no pain more pinnacle than the one she's gone through all alone by herself and still is.

That pooch again in her chest, the one that is trying to tell her to consider what Imad has gone through after she's abandoned him but she is focused on herself. The pain, the avalanche of it and the days she's spent on bed and in nothing but throe. But then, she is sure Imad had it rougher and tougher.

"It's Imad." She gulped, holding Najla closer to her as the little girl nip on her own kebab, smearing it all over her face and curly hair. "He is confusing me but most importantly, my love for him is at the point where I can't even hide it from him. I am sure my eyes are all lovey while staring at him all the time. I cannot help myself at this rate, Afi. I thought I had it all reined but clearly, that is my own imagination. He will definitely use this against me. Afi, I love him so much that it hurts." Deep breaths released. "Do you understand what that means?"

Afaf stopped kebab midway from reaching her lips after hearing what she's talked about. She is definitely in love with Imad, that is not news but to the point where she can't hide it away from him now? This is definitely news to her and not good one, a really disturbing one at that. Some might think this is histrionic but it is not, that is the reality of them now. This is one of the sporadic moments Amirah opens up to her so she will make use of it good.

The kebab fell from her hand back to the takeaway pack and she yaw around to look at her younger sister with eyes filled with comfort. "First, Ami, tell me whether there is any chance of your marriage getting mended in future. How many decrees was cut then? You never talked about it with anyone since you came back that night." Afaf crossed her arms over her chest, sure her appetite will be gone till the matter is out of the way.