Between The Heavens And The Embers

THRITEEN

MARRAIGE TALKS

       Nadir checked his reflection in the car mirror once again,he used his hands to brush his hair and then his fingers to re-comb his beard. He checked his clothes and lifted his arms so he could smell his under arms. He knew he wasn't smelling but just incase,he did not want to scare off Durrah with any undesirable personality or attribute.

    Durrah said yes,those were the words that has been ringing incessantly in his head for the past three days. The words that brought a weird smile to his face unknowingly some times and a little flutter in his heart the other times. Sometimes he just felt warm all over and then something in between restlessness and anxiety kicks in. 

     Durrah said yes,those were the words that his sister had told him the moment he graced the house after work on a Tuesday afternoon. Nusayba had been happier and the usual mature lady with a child had been bouncing on her feets like a two year old ,which got Nadir wondering whether she was the one getting married. Nusayba was the first to hear the news directly from Umma and the first to convey it to him,she considered that an acheivement.

    Nadir gave himself a once-over one last time before stepping out of the car. The gateman who was patiently waiting outside greeted him and asked if there was anything he could carry. Nadir gestured to the back of his car and opened it so he could pick the fruits and juice he bought ,he then picked up Durrah's Donuts and Junior's  toy car.

  The gateman rang the bell when they stopped in front of Durrah's door and the two men waited patiently for the door to open. He could hear the loud sound of cartoon coming from inside meaning Junior was watching cartoon then he heard footsteps and Durrah's voice as she scolded her son "Junior what is this, must you disturb the whole compound because you are watching cartoon, abeg reduce the volume"

   Then Nadir heard the low grumble of the child and the footsteps getting closer,finally, the lock turned and the door creak open to reveal Durrah standing with a smile.

  "Mallam Saminu,sannu da aiki" she greeted the gateman and opened the door wider so that he will enter. Then she looked behind mallam Saminu to see Nadir, an unknown smile made its way to her lips successfully.

   "Uncle Nadir" Junior jumped from where he sat and came to hug Nadir's long legs and since Nadir couldn't pick him up because of what he was holding he resulted to crouching down and patting the boys head with a wide smile.

   "Junior, i hope you are not disturbing mummy"

  Junior scoffed ,the sound coming out like a child's cough "Mummy is disturbing me" he said while rolling his eyes.

  Durrah's eyes widen in disbelieve while Nadir stifled his laughter "my friend will you leave here" she raised her hand in a bid to smack Junior but the child ran away laughing. Durrah hissed then looked back at Nadir "sorry, please come in".

    He picked up the leathers once again and stepped into the house with a salam. For a fleeting moment, he imagined coming back home tired from work and the door creaking open to reveal beautiful Durrah ,then she hugs him while Junior screams his name in the background. Nadir smiled at the taught then quickly wiped it off before Durrah tagged him as weird.

  "Uhm...i brought you these, they are fresh from Ya Nusy's bakery, uhm...donuts" he smiled while handing the leather containing the box to her.

   Durrah mirrored his smile,only that hers was wider. She immediately collected it and brought the box out of the leather then brought it right under her nose to inhale it
  "God" she sighed

  Nadir chuckled, Nusayba had told him that Durrah loves Donut especially the one she made. Seeing Durrah's expression he was sure he did a great job by buying the Donuts even though Nusayba refused to offer a family discount on top of her overly priced-goods.