Mrs Mahmud, Mrs Mas'ood

52

Hanan: Hauwa, are you home? I was thinking of coming to see you because I miss you.

Hauwa: That doesn't sound completely true.

Hanan: I got you nice lingerie and I wanted to surprise you with it but since you don't want to play along, I will send it through a dispatch rider.

Hauwa: Hanan, relax. No, I'm not home. I just left the house. I'm going to Nizamiye to see Mahmud.

Hanan: Are you meant to be texting while driving?

Hauwa: I pulled over to call Mummy to ask where they were. Have you even called them?

Hanan: Yes! I called them when they were in Lokoja. I am not a bad daughter, this woman!

Hauwa: Sorry, ma.

Hauwa: Ehen, what was Amal talking about on the group? I just skimmed through. I saw her mention something about you all getting a new house.

Hanan: Yep!

Hanan: Zayd bought a property and altered the blueprint to fit his standards. It was a half completed building so the constructors have taken down a few walls. Work on it started yesterday and Zayd says it should be ready by the first quarter of next year. We're tired of moving between houses so we decided to just build our own. All the worries I had before the marriage are gone now and well, it's nice to be in the same space with Amal, Zayd, Yarah and Yazan. You understand right?

Hauwa: Of course I do! I'm happy for you three. I'll always support you, Hanan. I can't wait to see how the house comes out. Is it also in Asokoro or is it in another district?

Hanan: It's still in Asokoro. It's about six minutes away from our current estate so there isn't so much changing.

Hanan: Let me not keep you long. Your fiancé is waiting for you. Tell him I said hi and that I'll see him next tomorrow at the train station In Shaa Allah.

Hauwa: Sure. I love you.

Hanan: Love you too!

~*~

Mahmud's hair was longer than ever. The low ponytail he had been wearing since he came in that morning was now a loosened mess. With a sigh, he reached up and pulled the hairband away so his hair fell past his shoulders.

If anyone asked, he told them he kept his hair growing because he wanted to see how it looked on him. Only those really close to him knew he kept his hair growing out so that at the end of the Umrah he and Hauwa would go on after the wedding, not a lot of hair would be cut from his head. Even if a lot is cut, it wouldn't completely change his appearance.

He could not remember the last time his hair had been cut so short and he wasn't looking forward to that anytime soon.

It was his last day in the hospital and although he was tired, he was extremely happy. He got a six week leave approved. There were conditions attached though; conditions he didn't mind one bit. They had twelve days until the wedding and each time he thought about it, his smile would stretch from ear to ear.

With the smile on his face, he pushed his office door open and walked in. He stopped in his tracks when he spotted the woman already waiting for him. The door slammed shut behind him.