Married To The Gateman

29: Dread Of Loss

Nana was making breakfast when Ummah came into the kitchen. She moved to the cooking gas and asked her, "What are you doing?"

Nana stirred the pot before she answered her, "Good morning, Ummah. I'm cooking breakfast for Ya Fareeda."

Ummah smiled and nodded her head before she walked out of the kitchen and Nana followed her retreating back with a confused gaze. She knew she couldn't call that a smile, it would be better if she addressed it as a smirk. She continued cooking and after she was done, she asked one of the maids to look after the warmers for her to go and have a quick shower. She was glad when Fareeda told her yesterday that she would like something apart from the gruel she usually took for more than two weeks now, it was a good sign that she had finally got better, or was getting better.

She took her bathe and came down to the kitchen, "Kamila, will you please help me with the warmers? I want to take them to Ya Mujaheed's chamber but I can't take them all at once." She asked politely and Kamila didn't argue with her.

"Sure, Nana, why not?" She took two of the warmers and Nana took the same as they walked together to Mujaheed's chamber. "You know, I'm not close to Aunty Fareeda but I can tell she's a good person. She's not arrogant like Aunty Asma'u or conniving like Dahlia. I'm so happy she has someone by her side, someone like you, Nana."

Nana smiled and nodded her head, she always loved it whenever someone said something good about Fareeda, it gave her a feeling of satisfaction. "She's a good person, Kamila. So lovely, I wonder why it's so hard for her family to love her just the way she is."

"I wonder why she doesn't like Mujaheed though, I mean, he doesn't look like a gateman, does he? I don't know if it's just for my eyes, but there's something about him that speaks much more than the aura of a gateman could ever."

Nana threw her head back and laughed, "You know the first time I came to this house I thought Ya Mujaheed was Abba's son when I saw him by the gate? But I totally agree with you, he looks nothing like a gateman, probably a mistake in is fate."

They conversed freely until they reached the chamber and Nana knocked softly. Fareeda was the one that opened the door herself and she smiled at them both, "Kamila, it's been long since I saw you. How have you been?" She collected the tray from Nana and ushered them into the living room. Kamila was hesitant at first, but Fareeda urged her until she agreed and walked inside.

"Good morning, Aunty Fareeda." She greeted respectfully and smiled before she immediately stood up seeing that Nana had already found a spot for herself to sit, "I have to leave now, Hajia asked me to work for her, I just have to help nana because the things are so heavy for her to carry." They looked up at her at the same time with smiles on their faces.

"That's not a worry then. Thank you, Kamila. And please stop by whenever you have the chance to, I'm bored as hell here." Kamila chuckled and nodded her head before she walked out of the living room and Fareeda smiled at Nana.

"You worked really hard, Nana." She said as she began to open the warmers, the aroma filled her nostrils, making it so hard for her not to smile. She couldn't remember the last time she ate something edible apart from the gruel, and just staring at the food was appetizing enough.

"I had to wake up early to paint that smile I'm seeing on your face now. It's been long since I last saw it. Good morning, Ya Fareeda." She greeted and Fareeda shook her head, Nana will always be Nana, and nothing you will do or say will change her from being herself.

"You'll always be like this, Nana. Thank you for working so hard to see this smile on my face, I love you." She hugged her lightly and Nana screamed before she ran out of her hold and sat at the opposite sofa from her.