Mrs Ahmed Shehu

16 (Part II)

AHMED

Our cleared dishes and cups have been taken away. There are now two milkshakes on the table; caramel for Suraiya and oreo for me. Suraiya rests her chin on her hand which is held up thanks to her propped up elbow and she smiles at me. "Carry on with your story, Ahmed."

She doesn't have to ask twice.

"She spoke about Hussayna a lot so I knew she really, really liked her. Teslimah was growing well and our businesses were doing really well too so it was a really nice period for us." I swallow the lump that grows in my throat. "Then Hussayna introduced us to Amal and eventually we met Zayd and everyone else. Suddenly getting such a friendship circle and support group was really nice. That doesn't come easily but we got it on a golden platter. It was the best thing."

Suraiya listens with rapt attention and I continue.

"Asma and I found out about our second baby in May, 2018. I think it was in the middle of the month." My chest squeezes. "I was a little scared because I didn't think we'd have kids so close to each other but Asma was sure we could do it. We couldn't be really happy about it too because as at that time, Amal had her third miscarriage and..." The memory's haunting even though it's been years. "And she was recovering from a suicide attempt."

Blood drains from Suraiya's face. "Innalillahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon."

My smile is small and tight. I nod slowly. "Yeah..." I can still see how it broke Zayd and I remember how guilt ate Asma and me up when we eventually had to tell them that we were expecting a baby. I exhale slowly. "It was a really crazy period for all of us and I remember all of us going for therapy to support Amal and Zayd...We were mostly quiet during the pregnancy term, until we could all hang out and talk like before. It took us months to get there though. We had Adeelah in December and while Teslimah was a calm baby, Adeelah was anything but." She's been loud and feisty since day one. "She's an exact reincarnate of Asma. She just looks like me."

Suraiya's digging into her milkshake and I do the same. "You have some strong genes, Mister."

I laugh and nod. "I do. I won't even deny it."

"Carry on."

"It was nice after that. Teslimah and Adeelah actually got along well and Asma had become a very popular fashion designer. I had done some expansion of the company too so it was a lot of attention on us. We agreed we wouldn't get the kids into it and it's one decision I'm still grateful for today."

"It's the best, honestly."

"I'm glad you agree...In March or so," The memory's a bit fuzzy. "Asma said we should try for another baby. I thought she was joking until I realized she wasn't. I didn't agree at first but she went on and on about it until I gave in. We got pregnant and found about it when Ramadan began which was in the first week of May and we didn't tell anyone until the near end of the month. Our friends went mad."

I want to laugh as I remember how Sunday hit my back and how Catherine said Allah wouldn't plan otherwise when we said we don't plan on having more kids unless Allah plans otherwise for us.

Suraiya chuckles. "I can imagine. Your first daughter's barely two, your second daughter's barely seven months and you're pregnant again. That's a lot."

I nod. "It was a lot. I know I prayed a lot for a child that looked like Asma. I didn't care if it was going to be a boy or a girl. I just wanted someone that looked like her. She prayed for the same thing too. When we found out it was a boy, I was elated. Amal was the one who named him Nurudeen."

"Are you serious?!"

I nod. "Asma went out for lunch with them and when she came back, she said we were naming our baby Nurudeen. It fit perfectly and there was no need for me to argue. Nurudeen was born on the exact date the doctors had given us and all of us were whipped from that very moment. When it became clear that he was going to look exactly like Asma, I was so happy. He was really calm too and I didn't want to say I'd gotten a favourite but I think anyone who's met Nurudeen can attest to the fact that there's just something about him."