𝓜𝔂 𝓫𝓪𝓫𝔂, 𝓶𝔂 𝔀𝓲𝓯𝓮

29# AUNTY AUNTY

THE KHALIL RESIDENCE,
ASOKORO.
JANUARY, 2021.

Jamilah's morning started pretty uneventfully. By the time she got up from bed, the birds were chirping, the sun was smiling......and the bed was empty.

Jamil had already left for work.

Feeling lazy, she remained sprawled out on the bed, until sleep overtook her again.

When she woke up hours later, it was with an incessant series of hunger pangs.

Jamil had been the one to bring her food since the day of their wedding. He'd lay a mat on the floor and made sure she ate her fill.

An involuntary smile pulled at the corners of her lips as she remembered it.

There wasn't any talking involved, and it wasn't like Jamil was hand feeding her or doing something awfully cute, but by God did her heart pound!

There was something about the way he watched her eat that drove her mind wild. He'd have his own morsel in his hand, but he wouldn't eat.

He'd watch her quietly as she picked hers up, his stare unrelenting. And just when she made to put hers in her mouth, he'd do the same.

They always ended up eating at the same time.

And when the food was about to finish, he'd tell her he was full but wouldn't get up.

He'd just sit there waiting for her to finish it all.

In the silence of the room, with little words being exchanged, Jamil made her feel like a silly little school girl.

She made sure she'd play her part too, however little.

Once they were done eating, she'd round up the plates and take them to the kitchen.

And when she got back, Jamil was always back on the bed, on his stupid laptop!

He wouldn't look at her again when he was with that thing. Not at least, until it was time for the next meal.

Jamilah couldn't help but anticipate her meals. It was evident in the slightly rounder shape of her face.

The man would make her fat, she was sure of it.

And for some reason, she didn't think it'd be too bad.

Not if he kept up the staring and attentiveness, it wouldn't!

However, her stomach was growling, and Jamil wasn't back.

She made quick work of taking her bath, perfuming herself and getting dressed.

And just then, her door swung open.

But it wasn't the Jamil she wanted to see that stood in the doorway.

It was his lighter-skinned, less-jovial(if it was possible), more-gossipy aunt that stood at the doorway.

Jamilah thought it rude that the woman didn't have the courtesy to knock, but smiled anyway.

Her smile, though fake, was borne from the knowledge that the woman, as well as all the guests that had come for the wedding, would be gone by the next day.

"Hajia, good morning", her voice came, in what she hoped was a polite tone.

But Hajia Mairo didn't look like she cared for pleasantries.

If anything, she looked like Jamilah had just insulted her.

"Why won't it be a good morning, when you've been sleeping since morning. It's almost afternoon and you're still here, lazying about while the rest of us are cooking".