After Agony...

|Thirty seven|

"Hajiya,Ina kwana(good morning)" Suraj squatted before his mother whom was taking her morning pills. The room was silent as she totally ignored him. He sat still as he yet again repeated the greeting.

"Where did I go wrong?"

Suraj sat there confused,having no idea what his mother was talking about.

"Because it has to be something I did for my son,my own son to choose some girl over me"she lamented.

"Mai na maka Surajo? (What have I done to you?)

"Hajiya what are you talking about,nobody is choosing anybody over anyone.You're my mother,the woman who single handedly raised me up. I would never trade you for anything in this world"

"Well your actions speak otherwise. That witch you call a wife has already poisoned your mind. Baka jin maganan kowa sai nata. (You don't listen to anybody except her)."

"If it's Huda you're talking about,then my wife is no witch. I don't know why you don't like her. Hajiya is there anything she has done in anywhere to disrespect you or make you hate her?"

"Baga shinan ba! (Here it is!) even in her absence,you're still defending her. Innalillahi wa inna'illaihi raji'un. (From Allah we are and unto him we shall return) ta gama da kai (she has finished you!)" she said as she burst into tears. But he sure knew his mom too well to know she was just being dramatic.

"I'm sorry if it's-

"Assalamualaikum" That was Imam who just stepped in,only to be met with the mother and son duo.

"Waalaikumussalam" Suraj answered as they did a handshake.

"Hajiya Ina kwana(good morning)" he said respectfully.

She took a tissue paper and wiped her face as she turned towards Imam.

"Lafiya kalau Imam,kai ne yau a gidan(I'm fine Imam,is this the sight of you?)

"Can you see what your friend is doing? Choosing a stranger over the woman that gave birth to him. I've become a slave in my own husband's house,he only dances to her tunes"

Imam was utterly perplexed as he turned to stare at Suraj whom was equally staring back at him.

"Hajiya kiyi hakuri,in shaa Allah zan masa magana.(God willing,I will talk to him)He can never choose anybody over you,I'm sure it's all a misunderstanding" he tried to reason with her.

"Kaga dan albarka,gwara dai ka fada masa ko zai ji(God bless you,better tell him)"

"In shaa Allah" he said with a smile.

"Hajiya,again nobody can turn me against you" Suraj said,clearly frustrated.

"Will you shut up! Ba ga Imam din ba,shi meyasa bai aureta ba?(why didn't he marry her)Or wasn't he suppose to marry her,only God knows what he heard about her,ko Imam?(right?)"

Both men stood there,utterly dumbfounded.

"Hajiya kinsan ai matan mutum kabarin sa" Imam said with a smile.

"This one will surely send him to his grave"

Suraj stood up and signaled Imam to follow him.

"Sai anjima" they both said as they walked out of the living room and made way to Suraj's house.

Meanwhile,back at Imam's residence,all hell was about to break lose. After she had bathed Maya and put her to sleep,Huda arranged the room and made way to the living room to start off the day. She made sure to sweep and clean every nook and cranny of the house before she headed to the kitchen to make lunch.

After she had put everything into place,she decided to take a breather in the living room and wait for the food to be done.

"Kin ga wannan,(you see this)make sure you put it under his pillow before he sleeps. And also don't forget the other one I gave you" Hajiya Saude instructed.

"Mama,you know I don't really believe in these kind of things. Is it not even considered to be shirk?

"Ni zaki fada ma addini? Tun kafin kizo duniya nake yin sa"

Huda felt like she was eavesdropping,when she finally made her presence known.

"Ah Mama,you're leaving already? Gashi kuma bai dawo ba( and he's not yet back)"she spoke gently.

"Uhmm" Hajiya Saude replied.

"And how is that any of your business" without doubt,it came from Sophie.

"Yanzu ke a tunanin ki,ke matarsa ce? (So you think you're his wife?)You see this beautiful woman" Hajiya Saude pointed at her daughter whom arrogantly did a twirl.

"Nine months! Nine months was all it took for her to bring his daughter to this world. And here you are,a year into the marriage and you have nothing to show for"

Huda didn't feel the need to reply them,because after all she couldn't talk back at a woman her mother's age,but the annoying laughter got to her.

"Niko nake matarsa. When was the last time both of you shared a bed? Oh that's right you can't even remember. So we both know who the real wife is and not some mummy's pet who can't do nothing for herself" she ended with a smirk and look of satisfaction on her face.

"Oh what,cat got your tongue? I thought as much" she walked passed them only to be yanked back by a fuming Sophie who pushed her to the floor.Both mother and daughter ganged up and knocked her off consciousness.

"Mama,its like she's not breathing"

"Dallah,suma kawai tayi,zo ki kaini airport kafin nayi latti (she just fainted,come take me to the airport before I'm late)"

After what felt like eternity,Imam finally left the couple after giving them an earful. He was beyond exhausted and the only thing he was looking forward to was going back him to his wife and child,his family. The only people who give him peace of mind. He couldn't help but smile as he remembered her,so he decided to call her,after several attempts which were futile,he gave up. But it did seem weird,she always picks up his calls.

Stepping into the house,it was awfully quiet,there was no scent of bakhoor,in fact,it almost seemed as if something was burning.

"Bibi? Wai Ina kike ne?" He was making way to the kitchen,only to be met with a lifeless body of his wife.