ORNAMENTS✅

Chapter Twelve

DASUKI STATE, NIGERIA
2021.

Umaimah had just finished cooking and was carefully packing the food into coolers. A'i, always willing to help, accompanied her as she took it all to the main house since dinner was going to be there today. Umaimah had prepared stuffed Masa, alongside a strawberry shake to complement it.

It turned out they were having Iftar with Asad’s father, who had only just returned the day before. Umaimah found herself wondering, as she always did, what his job entailed. He was always on the move, constantly traveling. The longest he had stayed home in recent memory was a mere three days before leaving again. What could possibly require him to be gone so often?

With Maghrib prayer imminent, Umaimah hurried to her closet. What could she wear for Iftar? Surely, she couldn’t just walk out looking like this. But then, on second thought, she could. Show up for Iftar in clothes stained with Masa batter. Her in-laws might just assume she was a little scatterbrained from the fasting, or so she hoped. Her eyes caught an Ankara free ball gown, and despite it all, she knew that’s what she would wear—whether they liked it or not.

Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!!

The sound of the Maghrib call to prayer blared through the speakers, snapping Umaimah out of her trance. She rushed to the freezer for some cold water “What would i do without you cold water? ”

She drank an entire bottle, then quickly performed her prayers. In no time, she had finished, taken a bath, dressed, and was seated at the main house’s dining table.

"I'll gist you later," Asma whispered as she sat beside Umaimah. Umaimah suspected it was about the new guy she’d been hearing so much about. What was his name again? She couldn’t quite recall, but that didn’t matter.

It wasn’t like he was her father, so why bother keeping track? Honestly, she doesn't’t even remember her own father’s name. She quickly pushed the thought aside as the man of the hour arrived—Asad’s father, of course, along with his not-so-lovable wife, Hajiya.

They exchanged pleasantries before taking their seats. A'i and Naja served the food, and the table fell into an unspoken quiet. The silence lasted until Asad’s father finally spoke.

"Wow, this Masa tastes really nice," he said, and Umaimah, about to respond, was swiftly interrupted by Hajiya.

"It’s Umaimah who made it. She’s becoming a very good chef," Hajiya remarked, and Umaimah gave a polite smile. Asad, sitting beside his father, knew better than anyone what kind of chef Umaimah was. His stomach had certainly paid the price for it the previous day.

"Wow. That’s great. Remind me to gift you later," Asad’s father said, his words carrying a tone that suggested a promise, though Umaimah silently hoped it meant money. She needed to keep saving and get out of this place.

The meal continued, and Asad’s father and Asad discussed work, leaving Umaimah to silently contemplate whether she should help A'i and Naja clear the table. But a subtle look from the duo was enough to tell her not to bother. Baba was around, and they didn’t want her to be scolded.

So, Umaimah excused herself, following Asma to her room. It didn’t take long before the conversation shifted to the new guy, Nabeel.

"Asma, you’re completely smitten, aren’t you?" Umaimah teased, watching as Asma practically glowed.

Asma sat on her bed, clutching her pillow as though it were the only thing keeping her grounded.

"Umaimah, you can’t believe it! Nabeel invited me to a Ramadan Halaka tomorrow, hosted by the company he works for. There’ll be poets, writers, motivational speakers, and Quranic scholars. And guess what?” She paused but Umaimah didn't respond.