A man like khalid

19

It had been two weeks since Nadeen returned from Yola, and everything seemed to be moving smoothly. On Tuesday, she was in the kitchen, making masa and vegetable soup—one of the best Nigerian foods she loved. She had learned to prepare several Nigerian dishes by watching videos on YouTube, and her friend Zaituna had even suggested she join an online cooking class, which she did.

The aroma of the masa filled the kitchen as she stirred the pot, smiling to herself. The masa had turned out perfectly—golden brown on the outside, soft and airy on the inside. She was proud of how far she had come in mastering these dishes. Once the masa was done, she carefully plated everything and walked to the living room, carrying the food flask on a tray. Hanif lay in his crib, gurgling happily as he batted at the colorful toys dangling above him as he babbled to himself. He had grown so much in the past weeks, becoming a chubby little bundle of joy with a smile that never failed to lift her spirits.

She set the dining table, arranging the plates and cutlery with care. Just as she finished, she heard the front door open. Khalid walked in with a salam to which she answered, his presence immediately filling the space with warmth. Nadeen greeted him with a smile, taking his bag and placing it on the couch.

"How was your day?" she asked, watching him as he went to Hanif, who was now reaching out for his father.

"It was long," Khalid replied, picking up Hanif. The baby's face lit up with a big smile, and he let out a joyous giggle as Khalid lifted him into the air. Nadeen watched them, her heart swelling with affection. Khalid was so good with Hanif, his love for the child evident in every gesture.

As she watched them, a thought crept into her mind, one that had been nagging at her since her visit to Yola. Some of her cousin's kids had commented on how Hanif resembled Zeenat's husband. The thought had scared her then, and it scared her now. What if Hanif started to look more like his real father as he grew older? The idea sent a shiver down her spine, and she quickly pushed it away.

"The house smells amazing," Khalid said, interrupting her thoughts. "I can't wait to eat. I didn't even have lunch today because of work."

Nadeen smiled, trying to shake off the unsettling thoughts. "Why don't you take a bath first?" she suggested, heading toward the kitchen to fetch some water.

"Nope, I'm too hungry for that," Khalid called after her, his voice light and playful.

She returned with a bottle of water and a cup, setting them on the table as Khalid took his seat. They ate together, Khalid talking animatedly about a patient that had been brought in that day. Nadeen listened, nodding along, but her mind kept drifting back to Yola, to the comments, to her fears.

Later, as she was in the bathroom taking a quick shower, she heard Hanif start crying—loud, piercing cries that made her heart race. She hurried, quickly rinsing off before stepping out, still dripping wet. She grabbed a towel and wrapped it around herself, her hair tied up in another towel.

When she emerged from the bathroom, she saw Khalid trying to soothe Hanif, bouncing him gently in his arms, but the baby was inconsolable. Nadeen rushed over, her short towel barely covering her lap as she took Hanif from Khalid's arms. The moment Hanif was in her arms, he latched onto her breast, his tiny hands gripping her as he nursed.

The crying stopped almost immediately, and Nadeen felt her body relax. She sat on the bed, her back against the headboard, as Hanif nursed contentedly. She didn't need to look up to know Khalid was still standing there, watching her. She could feel his gaze, heavy and intense, making her skin tingle with awareness.

When she finally looked up, their eyes met. Khalid's expression was unreadable, his eyes dark and filled with something she couldn't quite place. It made her feel vulnerable, almost naked, sitting there with her towel barely covering her. She quickly looked away, focusing on Hanif, but she could still feel Khalid's eyes on her.

Since she had returned from Yola, she had noticed a change in him. He seemed more distant, more pensive, and it wasn't just with her. Even when she visited his mother, Hajiya Sakina, the older woman had seemed off, as if something was bothering her. Farhana, too, had been unusually cool toward Nadeen, their conversations less frequent and more strained.

She sighed, breaking the silence. "Is everything okay?" she asked gently, not meeting his eyes.

Khalid finally looked away, a small, almost sad smile on his lips. "Yes, everything's fine," he replied, but Nadeen wasn't convinced. There was something in his tone, something that made her heart twist with worry.

After a few minutes, Hanif had fallen asleep. Khalid helped her by gently picking him up and placing him in his crib. Nadeen watched as Khalid left the room, saying he was going to the mosque. She nodded, but her mind was racing. She could feel that something was off, and it scared her.

The call to prayer echoed through the neighborhood as she changed into her sleeping gown, a soft sky-blue fabric adorned with tiny moon and star patterns. She performed her Isha prayers, trying to calm her racing thoughts, but even as she knelt on the prayer mat, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

When she finished, she started drying her hair with a blow dryer. The noise filled the room, drowning out her thoughts until she heard Khalid's voice again. He had returned from the mosque, his greeting warm as he entered the room.

"Your hair is so long," he remarked, watching her with a look that made her heart skip a beat, as if this is the first time he was seeing it. There was something different in his eyes now, something softer, more tender.

She smiled, not sure what to say. "It's always been long," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Come sit beside me," he said, patting the bed next to him. "I need to talk to you about something."

Nadeen's heart pounded in her chest, but she wasn't as worried as she might have been because there was a softness in his voice, a hint of something warm and reassuring. She sat down beside him, her eyes locked onto his, waiting for him to speak.

"Nadeen," Khalid began, his voice trembling slightly. "I can't hide my feelings anymore. Since you came back from Yola, I've been trying to find the right time to tell you how I feel, but I just can't hold it in any longer. When you were in Yola, I missed you so much. I realized that I can't be without you."

He paused, his eyes searching hers for a reaction. Nadeen felt her breath catch in her throat, her heart pounding wildly. Was this really happening? Was Khalid really saying what she thought he was?

"Nadeen, I love you," he continued, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm so afraid of losing you and Hanif. You need to know that no matter what, Hanif will always be my child. I will never reject him, and I promise to be with you both, no matter what."

Nadeen's eyes filled with tears, her heart swelling with a mix of emotions—relief, happiness, love. She had never expected this, never imagined that Khalid felt the same way she did. "You won't lose me, Khalid," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Because I... I also love you too. I meant what I said at the airport. You've been my rock, my support, and I can't imagine my life without you. You've accepted Hanif as your own, and that means more to me than you could ever know. It's hard to find someone like you, a husband like you."

Khalid reached out, gently wiping away her tears. His touch was tender, his eyes filled with a deep, unspoken understanding. He wishes he could tell her everything about Hajiya finding out about Hanif. But he doesn't want to burden her with more worries.

They were so close now that they could feel each other's breath, the air between them thick with unspoken words and emotions. Nadeen felt a warmth spreading through her, a sense of belonging, of finally finding the one person who understood her completely.

That night, as they lay in bed, their bodies close, their hearts even closer, Nadeen knew that everything was going to be okay. They talked late into the night, sharing their hopes, their dreams, and their fears. And when Khalid finally kissed her, it was gentle, full of promise and love. It was a kiss that sealed their future together, a future that they were both ready to embrace. That night they had their very first wedding night.