Over and Over

Seldom

EL-BAAZ MANSOR
KANO.
NIGERIA.

NARRATOR'S POV

"Sir, I thought you were feeling cold earlier," Zubair said, as he noticed Hakeem seated by the entrance, rubbing his palms while skimming through the newspaper on the table before him.

"Yeah, I was," he admitted, his voice distant as he glanced up from the paper.

Just then, domestic helpers passed by with large luggage boxes. "Damn," he muttered under his breath.

Zubair couldn't help but smile at Hakeem's helpless expression.

"Sir, let's go inside," he said teasingly, curious about his reaction.

"No, I'm fine here," he quickly replied, peeping through the corridor.

Zubair teased yet again, "Are you waiting for someone, sir?"

---

Layla, dressed in a long brown wrap-around skirt and a white cape top, walked briskly to the dining room, eager to have breakfast and leave early as she was homesick.

The atmosphere at the table was tense, silence reigning due to His Highness's absence.

The mood shifted instantly when Maymun unexpectedly entered the dining room.

Her presence was a surprise to all.

Layla quickly approached her, and took ayra from her and greeted her warmly.

After her arrival the dining area buzzed with newfound energy.

"Why are there luggage boxes outside? Is anyone traveling?" Maymun asked as she was served.

"Yes, Layla is going back to Abuja today," Ammi replied.

Hakeem then suddenly sensed a chance for reconciliation, so he quickly spoke up.

"Layla, why don't you stay a little bit longer?" He said winking at Maymun.

"Yes, you can even escort me to the dermatologist," Maymun added, catching his signal.

She hesitated for a while, but eventually agreed to stay until 1:00 PM after Maymun's persistent pleading.

Maymun then dragged her to her room to help unpack.

However, Maymun's fake dermatologist appointment got canceled, rendering Layla's extended stay seemingly pointless.

Soon, it was lunchtime, but they decided to pray before eating.

The dining room's earlier tension had turned into a peaceful atmosphere.

This peace was shattered by the sudden entrance of Khadija.

Everyone froze, spoons in hand seeing her.

"Khadija!" Maymun shouted excitedly.

"How dare you, Hakeem," Khadija snapped, ignoring Maymun's greeting.

"How could you marry this... thing? What does she have that I don't?"

"Sense, beauty, and morals," Hakeem replied swiftly.

LAYLA'S POV

"I knew she was trouble from the moment I saw her," Khadija sneered.

"You are a leech, daughter of a poor, useless man," she spat, pointing at me.

I glanced around, unsure if Khadija was addressing really addressing.

But yeah I realised that i really was the target, and my heart sank.

Before I could finish processing the insult, Hakeem intervened, with a loud voice and silenced Khadija which made her tremble.

He ordered the helpers to escort Khadija out and barred her from returning.

As always, Hakeem defended me vehemently.

Surprisingly, Maymun started fuming and arguing with Hakeem, she was angry that he had humiliated her friend.

I tried to calm Maymun, but then she lashed out on me,  blaming me for everything.

The argument escalated until Ammi intervened, restoring order.

"I guess it's time for me to leave," I said quietly to Ammi after the chaotic scene.

She patted my shoulder while nodding her head.

I turned and walked slowly, approaching my room to get my bag and veil.

"Layla," called hakeem who was standing by the door as he fixed his rough morning wavy hair.

"What do you want?" I asked in a cold voice.

"Are you really leaving now, layla?" he added as he completely immersed himself in the bedroom.

"Are you blind or what?" I replied as I rolled my veil around my head.

"Darling, please stay," he said, standing behind me in front of the mirror.

Upon hearing that cheesiness, i quickly turned to warn him about that.

"Don't you dare call me that again, you are so shameless," i said, pointing my finger at him.

"Ok," he said, bringing my finger down.

And I pulled my finger from his hand without hesitation, and continued what I was doing.

"Zubair add more cars to the convoy and more men," i heard him saying on the phone as he moved around with his left hand in his pocket.

"And yes, make sure you protect her," he added.

"You don't have to protect me" i interrupted picking my purse, "just because I'm a woman doesn't mean I can't protect myself" I added as I dipped my hands inside the purse.

"I'm not protecting you because you're a woman. I'm doing so because you're my woman." he said, moving closer as he fixed the collar of his black coat.

I pushed him aside and made my way out of the room as I was in a hurry.

I walked down the hallway in the hope of seeing maymun, but I didn't get to see her.

"Ammi, I'm leaving now," i said as I sat on the seat adjacent to Ammi, "toh layla Allah ya stare, yaushe zaki dawo" she said giving me an elderly stare.

"After the engineering trip," i managed to say, "that is after eid Al adha,"  said Ammi.

"No way," said hakeem, who was standing by the door for some time now.

I didn't even pay attention to what he was saying.

"Its currently August now, and you're saying that you want to return June.

No way that's happening, " he said, crossing his legs like men do while he scratched his head.

He kept quiet waiting for Ammi to speak like always, this time around, she was also out of ideas, I guess.

"I know she is sensible, and she knows what is right and wrong, so please allow her van," she said, giving me a warm smile.

Ammi walked me out and I got into the car after Ammi prayed and blessed me.

"Have a safe journey, dear," she said, waving at me.

Hakeem stood behind Ammi and also waved at me with one hand while the other hand was pocketed like always.

I ignored his wave and walked to the car. "Bye," I said to Ammi waving as we drove past them.