Better Late Than Never

29

"Ayman fainted and is in the hospital keh?!"

Ayra, who'd been trying to get some actual sleep because of her unusual cramps, opened her eyes and slowly rolled over. Ibtihaj, who'd been out of the house since the wedding ended, stood in front of the closed door. She was still in her komole but the gele had been removed, her head now covered with a veil in the same cream shade. She had her phone by her ear and her expression was a mix of confusion and disbelief.

Pushing back the blanket, Ayra sat up, wondering what was going on while her chest squeezed just as Ibtihaj spoke again, her eyes meeting Ayra's.

"Ehn, Loveworld Medical Centre is really good. Thank God they took him there...Are you going there now? Have you gone far from my place? Can you turn around?"

Ayra put her hands together, waiting as patiently as she could while itching to ask what exactly was going on. Ibtihaj moved from the door, her eyes narrowing as she approached the bed.

"Adil Bello, it's barely twenty-four hours since we married so don't try me. Turn the car around and come back, my friend. Which one is you don't want me to be stressed? Are you me? If I was stressed, will I be telling you to come back?"

Ayra had to smile a little, momentarily amused before the worry returned. Ibtihaj hissed. "Tah, come back here, my friend. I will just remove this my komole." Her expression then softened. "Oya do and be coming. Bye, bye."

Immediately she hung up, Ayra asked "Ayman's in the hospital?"

Ibtihaj sighed heavily and tossed the phone on the bed before removing her veil. "My dia, that's what Adil is telling me o."

"What happened?"

"They said they had barely arrived at the apartments' when he collapsed in the lobby. According to what Adil said they told him, the doctors said it is stress abi na exhaustion." She then hissed. "That Ayman sef. I know he never shut up about liking Lagos but hian! E no reach to faint na."

Ayra was already moving to get out of the bed. "Is Adil coming back to get you?"

"Yes. Shey you were sleeping?" Ibtihaj regarded her best friend properly. "Ayra, why are you looking like that? Shey you don't want to sick too o."

Ayra shook her head, nearly letting out a small laugh. She headed to her box to grab the first abaya she could reach. "It's just my period and I'm having cramps. You know I don't always have cramps so this is just out of the ordinary." She grabbed a matching veil. "I'm coming with you."

"My friend, better go back to –"

Ayra didn't want to hear it. "Ibty, I'm coming with you. The same way you just told Adil to come back and get you is the same way I'm telling you that I'm going along with you two. If I have to sit in the booth, then so be it. You can't stop me."

A moment passed before Ibtihaj pointed a finger at Ayra, her eyes narrowed. "Come, you and this Ayman. I have hanging issue with the two of you. Shey you people's own is to be sneaking out of wedding receptions, abi?"

Ayra wore her abaya over her pyjama set, smiling innocently. "It was needed."

"I have put my eye on two of you. You people should just –"

"Ibty, please." Ayra blew out a small breath. "Let's talk about this later. Adil is almost here and you haven't gotten out of your komole so let's just go see Ayman and then we'll have all the time in the world to go back and forth on this."

Ibtihaj nodded. "No wahala. We will come back to this. Don't think that will make me take my eyes off you and Ayman o."

"I don't know what you're looking for, Ibty."