Adornments Of The Heart

02

She mustered all the courage left in her before she walked up to Alhaji Nasir, trying all she could to make sure that the smile she painted on her face was unwavering.

"Good evening, Alhaji," she greeted, taming down the urge to scream her lungs out.

"Good evening to you too, Muhibbah. And thanks a lot for giving me the chance to visit you, it really is a pleasure." She only nodded her head, because she didn't have an answer to that. What was she going to tell him? That her mother forced her to see him and she told her how she should even be thankful to him because he was someone willing to take her out of her spinsterhood?

"Can you please get in the car? There are a lot of people here and I'd like us to have a conversation, if you don't mind." He said and she looked between him and his car before she shook her head softly.

"I'm so sorry, but I think here too is fine. I've had a rough day at work, so I'd really love it if you can make this as short as possible. Maybe we can see again and talk in depth when I'm back home during the weekends, right?" She hoped that he would see it from her expression that she really was in no mood for all of this. She wished he would just bade her goodbye and leave.

"Okay no problem. Just wanted to re-introduce myself. Even though your mother assured me that she had done so, but I believe it would also be better if you hear it directly from me, right?"

She wasn't looking at him when she nodded her head. "Yes please, go on."

"My name is Nasir Jamilu Kofarbai. I was born in Katsina and brought up there, everything. Currently I'm working at Ummaru Musa Yaradua University, Katsina, a lecturer too..." He flashed her a toothy grin at that she looked away because instead of her to feel all warm and fuzzy due to the smile, because she could tell that was the purpose of it, she felt annoyed.

"Anyways, I was married for 8 years before we got separated with my wife two years ago. That means I've been unmarried for two years now. Had no children, I hope the first one I'd get would come from you."

She didn't smile at that either. Because from a strong source, when they didn't even know that she'd ever have something with him, Muhibbah heard of his habits and she wasn't willing to be the mother of his kids.

"May I ask why you got separated from your wife, please?" She was trying all she could to be polite, but she was reeling within.

He smiled softly, nodding his head as he held his hands together. "Well, you have all the right to do so, just as I'd like to know why it took you this long yet you're still single." It must've been the look she flashed him, because he quickly brushed it off and answered her.

"We got separated because we're still yet to have a child and her family badly wants her to have one, that's it."

"May Allah fulfill all her wishes." That was all she said. Because this wasn't what she heard. It was said that he was secretly putting abortion pills to her meals and she ended up miscarrying every pregnancy she had. Reasons known to him. And well, he was a chronic womanizer. All these Muhibbah couldn't provide an evidence for, but he had a reputation for them.

"Ameen." He simply said and from his expression, she hoped she had angered him by praying for his ex-wife, strong enough to make him back off. Because she knew left to her, whatever she was going to do, nothing would make Mama say no to Alhaji Nasir. Because apparently, apart from being a lecturer, which was his way of meeting young girls, he was a business man and doing extraordinarily good.

The small talks came to an end ten minutes later, because Muhibbah had refused to add another word from the last one she had uttered and he obviously got tired of speaking to himself.