The Imperfect Whispers

CHAPTER 6: BLUE OR GREY?

"We don't choose who to love or how to love; nature does"
                                    ~Unknown~
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Arshad sat on a plush carpet as he listened to his mother scold him. "Babbu for Allah's sake you have everything. You have me, you have Ummi, you have siblings and you have a good job even though you just got it recently but still. But I still don't know what's bothering you. Um? When did you start hiding things from me? These days I've noticed your strange behaviour and I thought it's because of the whole office work that's making you restless. Tell me please" she pleaded with him.

Arshad just kept his head low and only nodded or shook his head when necessary. "Just don't ever try that nonsense please or else you'll lose me too." she concluded sternly.

Arshad's eyes travelled to her face in under a second filled with surprise and fear. "No! That won't happen Insha Allah. Please don't ever say that. As it is, I've already lost a very important person in my life so losing you will be the end of me too." he said while holding onto her hand tightly.

"Fine then. God bless you." She said "Ehen, about Imam's..." she was interrupted by a phone call. When she saw it was Ummi, she smiled and answered. "Assalamualaikum"

"Wa alaikum salam Umm Na'im" Ummi said on the other side. "How is everyone and how is the wedding preparation going?" Aunty Jamila asked excitedly.

"Alhamdulillah, everything is fine. That's what I even called you for. I want you to please go with Hamida for shopping. I couldn't finish it while I was away in Dubai. The stuff was much so I said I'll finish here but I never knew things would be this hectic. I just finished inspecting the kayan lefe. Tomorrow it will be taken to Katsina. So if you are free anytime please, do call me and I'll send Hamida to you."

"No problem Ummi. May Allah take them safely. So, this week I'll be a bit busy. I have bulk orders for a wedding which must be delivered before Thursday and I have to take Na'im for his second dose of vaccination. But duk yanda akayi din I'll let you know Insha Allah. Thank you very much"

"Ayya, no problem. Thank you too"

"My regards to the family"

"They will hear. Thank you"

Aunty Jamila stood up from the vanity chair she sat on and made her way into the kitchen and found Arshad resting on the kitchen island as he supported his chin with his hand lost in thoughts. As if he knew what she was going to ask, he stood upright and with a puppy face, he said "I'm hungry"

Aunty Jamila laughed as hard as she could and smacked his shoulder trying to go with his little drama. "So... What do you want me to do? Lunch is already done" she crooked a brow.

"No, no" he waived dismissively. "I'm not eating this food of yours. He squeezed his face and gestured towards the dishing pot "You don't expect me to eat this, do you?"

Aunty Jamila looked at him hands akimbo and tilted her head to get a clear view of the adult who's behaving like a child. "Uhm? And what's wrong with it? Food is food"

"No way! This isn't food. I'm not eating this. Please ask your maid to prepare correct food for me or you can even make it for me" he finished the last sentence with a playful smile on his face.

"Lallai ma. I'll get back to you. But tell me Bappu," the mention of that name sends cool shivers to each pore of him. He hated that name as much as he hated the food that was cooked for lunch. "Tell me what's wrong with this delicious miyan kubewa okra soup" she said as she served herself on a small platter with tuwon shinkafa.