My Sister My Enemy

Chapter Thirty Four

Early in the morning Abdulrahman made his way to Abuja. He sent a short message to Maryam that he is on his way home but it's nothing to be worried about just some thing he needs to clear concerning work with his father and he will be back by Friday hopefully since it's already Wednesday. She woke up to his message by 7am and she sent him a quick reply wishing him a safe journey and her regards to the family.

There was a lot of traffic along Zaria-Kaduna route but Alhaji made it home around 2pm. He entered their living room and met his father and Baba Ali talking. Surprised by his sudden appearance they all stood up exchanging glances between the three of them. Alhaji Ali came forward tapping a hand on his son's shoulder with full surprise.

"Alhaji what brought you here suddenly? Why didn't you tell us you were coming?? You look worried, is everything alright?" His father asked him these questions in a row while Baba Ali nodded keeping his gaze on Abdulrahman. "Yes! What brings you here Abdul that too with no prior notice? You look tensed, talk to us son." Abdulrahman sighed going on his knees to greet them first before answering any of their questions.

"Good afternoon Baba, good afternoon Baba Ali. Da fatan na same ku lafiya?" He greeted with full respect and they answered in unison "Lafiya lau muke Alhamdulillah. Get up let's have a seat." His father answered. Rahama came in just in time they were taking their seats carrying a tray with juice and two glass cups followed by her mother. The shocked expression on Hajia Zeenatu said it all that she was as surprised as everyone else seeing her son at home suddenly. Rahama dropped the tray and rushed to her brother giving him a side hug from where he was seating.

"Auta how are you?" He asked her smiling. She smiled back at him, evidently happy to see her one and only sibling. "I an fine yaya! How are you and how's was your trip?" She asked "I am fine and my trip was good Alhamdulillah." He moved his gaze to his mother who was now sitting beside his father.

"Mama ina yini? Ya gida ya kuke?? He asked her adoringly and she smiled, glad to see her son even though she wasn't expecting him. "Lafiya lau Alhaji! What a pleasant surprise. You didn't tell us you were coming." He nodded feeling all their eyes on him and if he doesn't start talking anytime soon on why he is their, in their presence that too suddenly, they won't let him be.

"Well I know all of you are worried and want to know why I came all the way here without any notice but it's nothing bad, I am perfectly okay and everything else in Katsina is good as well but my sister here Rahma called me on the phone yesterday crying saying that something is very wrong in the house. She mentioned some arguments and conflicts between you people and it all had to do with my wedding with Maryam. So that's why I said this is not something to talk on the phone. I have to come and talk to you personally, please my parents I beg you to tell me what is happening. I want to know what is going on because i don't want to be caught off guard."

The room was quiet and no one was ready to say anything in response to what Abdulrahman said and Rahma was shifting in her all of a sudden uncomfortable seating position which was beside her brother, on the hand of a couch. Their father directed his gaze on her questionably. "Rahma you were eavesdropping on us about everything yesterday koh? Who asked you to call your brother and tell me anything?? If you really were listening carefully, you should have heard when Baba Ali said no one should tell Abdulrahman about this until he says so and you just did the opposite of that koh! You better start talking before you see the other side of me now."

Rahma was extremely terrified because she knows what her father's tone means. It means trouble and that he is going to loose his cool very soon. She didn't know that Baba Ali has said that because she didn't take part in the second meeting yesterday obviously. She never meant to eavesdrop on whatever happened earlier during the day yesterday, it just caught her attention and it's not like they were speaking in whispers too so there is no way anyone in the house couldn't hear it all. And now here she is, she has to defend herself or rather give a reasonable answer to her father and everyone else seated there. She dropped down to the carpet close to her brother's leg, at least if anyone should come forward with a punch or slap he will shield her, she knows he will because he always did. He always steps into her fight and trouble, gladly facing them as his with no hesitation. She hopes he comes to her rescue this time around too.