Mrs Ahmed Shehu

32

AHMED

My phone ringing pulls me out of sleep and I roll over to pick it up, praying it doesn't wake Suraiya up. The kids are calling; they did promise to do so yesterday.

Silencing the call, I slip out of bed and she rolls over. I stare at her for a moment before heading out to the terrace, accepting the call then. Adeelah's voice rings in my ear once the device is there. "Baba, good morning!"

It's still drizzling lightly but the skies are brightening. I smile a bit. "Good morning, sweetheart. Isn't it really early there?"

"Yes! We just prayed Fajr. Mama said we should allow you rest a bit but we didn't want to. I wanted to hear you voice and Ummi too!"

My other hand goes into my pocket and I look down at my bare feet, my smile widening a little. "You're hearing my voice now. Your Ummi's still asleep though."

"We'll call later toh."

"There's no problem." I raise my head, staring at the beach in the distance. "Are you good, sweetheart?"

"I am! I'm painting with Mama these days, Baba. She taught me how to sew a dress too!"

"Oh really?"

"Yes! I'll show you when we come back In Shaa Allah."

I look forward to it. "In Shaa Allah. Where are –"

There's a scuffle on her end and then Teslimah is talking. "Baba, Adeelah didn't want to give us the phone."

"Hello to you too, sweetheart."

She giggles. "Hi, Baba. Good morning."

"Good morning. Did you sleep well?"

"I did! I'm going to go back to bed though. Today is a very busy one for me and Nurudeen."

I can't help but frown. "What's happening?"

"We are going to a water park with Mama's friends. Adeelah says she doesn't want to go; she wants to stay with Mama and make more dresses. Mama is really sewing nice things here, Baba. She's doing really good."

"I'm glad." I really am. In the background I hear Asma calling out to Nurudeen, telling him to come towards her so she can carry him. "I should allow you go back to sleep then, sweetheart. Ensure you and Nurudeen have fun."

"We will! Where's Ummi, Baba?"

"She's sleeping."

"Is she okay?"

"Yeah, she is...She's just a little tired."

"Why is she tired? Were you two busy yesterday?"

I clear my throat, flustered. "Yeah, something like that. We had a lot of activities and it stretched until this morning so she's resting. I had to wake up to take this call."

"Well, you love us."

It's easy to smile and nod. "I really do."

"Let's go and sleep, Baba. We'll talk later In Shaa Allah."

God, she's getting so mature. "In Shaa Allah."

"I love you, Baba."

"I love you too, Teslimah."

Adeelah is able to scream she loves me more than anyone before the call ends. Still smiling, I turn around and Suraiya's there. Like I did last night, she's leaning against the doorframe. Her arms are folded across her chest and there's a lazy smile on her face while her hair is an honest – but beautiful – mess. She's in a white shirt of mine and it stops mid-thigh, reminding me nicely that there's nothing else underneath.