Her Little Secret(Prior)

Chapter 24 *namaste wahala*

Haleemah

I took a large sip out of my cucumber smoothie and closed my eyes to relish the taste. Everything tastes better today.

I had on an ear pod listening to my program which is being aired late in the night. Your companion, was the program title and it had the highest rating presently.

Ten more minutes and it was done. Almost immediately, my phone rang and I smiled before I picked it up.

"Today's program was lit" he said with an enthusiasm much more than I had expected.

"Was it?" I asked reclining back on the white sofa in my room. With Jameelah's absence, I could proudly call it mine. It's been almost a month now.

"Yes berry! It was. Yasmine was too sly, I can't believe it. And it was good to have her separated from Benazir. She could have successfully manipulated her"
I listened intently as he continued on with the highlight of the story. And from the looks of it, he really enjoyed it.

After my last program had flopped because of a certain Nasir Maje who had decided to drag me down with my career, the director had instructed me to come up with a counter measure and this was it.

It's original version airs in the night and I used my normal air time to go over the story again and open the studio for interactions. It went well.

That way, more people would listen to it during the time they are trying to rest for the day or in the beginning hours of those who worked in the night. And those who aren't free enough to listen to it in the night will be opportune to do so in the day.

It was a disappointment at first, because with the flop of my previous program, many people seem to lost interest in Haleemah's programs. But I'll give credit to my ability not to back down. At the end, it was worth it.

As unpopular as audio media is becoming today, this program proves it could still make it to the top. Because even AIT Tele-media requested a joint broadcast. Another reason why ATV just has to make do with me as a journalist.

The program opens up interactions among the viewers because they were handpicked real stories of people I had collected over the years and I just reviewed to make it more interesting.

"Berry!" Nadeer called. I hesitated to answer but I did in the end. Just like he didn't ask why I call him bright, I didn't ask why he calls me berry.

"Good job. You did well" he praised and I smiled. It felt good.

And it's evident I was happier these days.

If anyone wondered how I came to this point with Nadeer, then he would have to ask Sarah. We had fought real hard when she met Nadeer. She said I didn't do justice to myself if I ever turn him down.

She broke my last resort in the last minute, I could have dealt with Nadeer and forgot about his existence. She didn't even care that I had ignored her for a whole week.

She made sure she brought me back on track and the last day she came, I uttered one statement which I knew I would have to explain soon.

"What if in the end, I carry around a secret which will make no man want me and no child would be proud to be my daughter?"

She looked at me dead in the eye and scoffed but said "even if you carry around a ticking time bomb that could explode any minute, I would still advice you to breath in the freshest air and sought for happiness until the last minute you'd explode"

Sarah didn't know, but I might really be a ticking time bomb. The little secret I carry around isn't really little.

*

🎵🎵🎵
Do the shaku shaku for me, I go do the bhangra for you.

I no want trouble, take your trouble far away.

When you see me passing by say Hello ( hello!)
If you go gimme trouble just go (just go)
Me I no dey like wahala,
I no want no drama

Oh no, oh no.

Namaste, wahala...

🎵🎵🎵🎵

I kept humming the lyrics of Namaste Wahala theme song while doing the dishes and dancing with my toes. It was clear that I was having a blast. Because on occasions, I'll twirl and break a mini Indian dance and then continue with my chores.

Namaste wahala might not be that popular but I loved it. The romcom drama was all about vibes.

And I'm just about vibes now.

I had just finished re-watching it, so you could imagine.

I had stopped when I heard someone clear a throat, but knowing no one would be in this part of the house by this time, I continued.

Lunch had just been served and anyone home would be in his/her room eating by now. What would anyone be looking for in the laundry part of the kitchen? I wouldn't be too, had it been I wasn't the one who cooked.

I had to turn abruptly when I heard the sound again and halted when I came to face Hajiya babba. Was she watching me make a fool of myself all this while?

"Mummy, Good afternoon!" I greeted as my hands fell to my side in an attempt to recompose myself. There goes my poise and calm nature!

"The happiness!" She beamed as she walked in and I swallowed, waiting to be reprimanded.

"Care to fill me in" she asked as she side stepped me taking over the washing while I started to rinse.

"You know, we could turn this place to a Bollywood dancing parlour and everyone would join in" we both laughed.

She isn't joking.

If this was Bollywood, Nadeer would have appeared out of nowhere to join in and it would turn festive with a lot of people whose appearance would be gone with the wind immediately the dance is over. We wouldn't know where they came from. What matters would be I and Nadeer being together.

"You've been home quite a lot these days" she commented.

"Yes mummy, except I need to be on air live, it's easier to work from home now."
No, it was always easier to work from home, only that with Jameelah in the room, it was second to impossible to do the needful.

If Hajiya understood the meaning, she didn't say anything about it. Slowly, the room was mirroring me these days, flowery and bubbly. With a faint scent rather than the heavy ones Jameelah loves.

"So, when is he planning to reveal himself" she asked and I steeled.

I. Didn't. Expect. That!

*
(Grins)

I no want trouble wahala, but he said hello, kasala!

Drop your favorite part too, if you know the song.

Ain't we getting closer to the secret?

Ciaoo...