The Imperfect Whispers

CHAPTER 9: BITTER MEMORIES

Abuja, Nigeria.

"Stop it! It's obnoxious." Hussaina said while hitting Arshad's hand. "I hate the fowl smell." she pinched her nose in disgust.

"What's wrong with the smell? I mean..." Arshad sniffed the Daddawa locust bean he was holding. "The smell is so, so, so, grossingly nice." he said while releasing a deep breath.

"No way! Get lost. And please allow me to cook before Ummi and Ya Imam come back home. Please." Hussaina pleaded while squinting her eyes.

"Fine. Make sure it tastes good. And you know, Abba is coming back. So you have to make special arrangements." Arshad said.

"Yesss. My darling father is returning. I know."

Arshad pulled her nose "Masu darling father." He said sarcastically. She winced in pain,"Ya Arshad!"

"Miss me." He shouted before making his way to the door.

18:52pm

Alhaji Ahmad Datti rang the door bell. Everyone excluding Imam and Arshad rushed to receive their father. Aminullah and Hussaina took his trolleys to his room after greeting him. He directly made his way to his only wife's room. He was greeted with the smell of farce which was the mark scent of her room and a cooling breeze from the air conditioner.

Moments after he prayed his missed prayers and refreshened up, the dining table was already set for the whole family. Everyone asked him about his trip. "Alhamdulillah. It was a long journey." Ahmad Datti said.

"Abba? How was the turbulence? Did you encounter a lot of them?" Hussaina asked curiously.

"Yes, we did. China isn't a joke."

The whole family laughed at Ahmad Datti's expense. They knew how he hated long journey and that too if he was more likely to go through turbulence.

He cleared his voice, "Is Muhammad not back?" He looked at Ummi with furrowed brows.

Ummi shook her head, "The last time I saw him was after returning from the market. Imam?," Imam looked at her. "Do you know where he went?" He shook his head.

"He went to hustle." Aminu said.

There was a moment of silence in the air before Ummi decided to cut it, "He will be back soon. So everyone eat in silence and make sure to empty your plate."

Arshad never returned home that night. In the morning around 7am, someone knocked on Dr Ahmed Datti's study office. He wondered who it could be, "Who is it?" He asked, turning his head towards the direction of the door.

"It's me, Muhammad." Arshad said.

"Come in."

Arshad took respectful steps towards his father whose eyes were stuck to the book he was reading. And stopped a few steps away from the study chair his father was sitting on. He squatted, "Good morning Abba." He said in a low tone enough for him to hear.

"Morning. How was your night?" He asked while drawing his brows close, not even looking at Arshad.

"Alhamdulillah" He said dismissively.

"Ya gajiyan tafiya? How was your trip?"

"Alhamdulillah"

Arshad smiled at him and stood up to leave. "Get ready, in the afternoon I'm sending you to Kabir's house to deliver something."

Seriously? Not that house please!

Arshad nodded, "Allah ya kaimu."

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