ORNAMENTS✅

Chapter Twenty Three

Dasuki State, Nigeria
2022.

Nabeel heard his father’s voice echo from the main house. What time was it? Seven? Eight? What could Abba possibly want now? It had been ages since he had a decent sleep. But Abba didn’t relent. He yelled Nabeel’s name again, and Nabeel had no choice but to get up. He groaned in frustration.

He stumbled out of the BQ and saw Abba and Nini already standing in the corridor.

"Good morning, Ab—" Nabeel started, but was immediately interrupted, not by the usual annoyance, but by a slap from Abba. One, then another. And a third, until Nini hurriedly stepped in and begged him to stop.

"How dare you?" Abba’s voice was thunderous. Nabeel knew that Abba only asked that question when something was seriously wrong. But what had he done? Everything seemed fine until last night. Had Abba found out about Umaimah?

Abba threw his phone at Nabeel, who bent down to pick it up. The screen cracked as he did. Not that it mattered; he was Alhaji Shamaki, and Nabeel was sure he wouldn’t care.

His heart raced as his eyes fixed on the screen. Zainab? How dare she? The video showed him hugging her, performing a private poetry session for her. And she claimed that he was her boyfriend. Being seen as her boyfriend was an insult. The thought of it made him want to puke.

"Care to explain?" Abba’s voice snapped him out of his trance, Zainab couldn’t be trusted. She might know where he was hiding Umaimah.

The caption on the post read: Is Nabeel Shamaki and Zainab in a relationship? We are yet to hear from Nabeel himself, but Zainab says they are.

Did Zainab do this? How dare she!

Abba stepped forward, about to slap him again, but Nini hurriedly stopped him.

“Let him explain,” Nini pleaded.

“Do you want to ruin my reputation? Is this what’s been keeping you busy?” Abba glared at Nabeel recalling yesterday's conversation. “Poetries?”

Nabeel walked over and handed him the phone. "Abba, I only have one thing to say. Yes, I hugged her, but you know I didn’t do it for happiness. If you trust me, you’ll understand. I did it for a greater cause, and nothing else. Look, there’s something I need to take care of right now. I’ll explain everything when I get back, but something urgent needs my attention."

Abba called Nabeel’s name, but he didn’t have time to answer. He had to leave. Nabeel drove out, heading straight for the place where he was keeping Umaimah. Everything was fine. Like, really fine.

He said his taslim and entered the room where Umaimah was staying. She was sitting on the bed, wide awake.

"Wa Alaikumus Salam," she sighed. "When are you planning on letting me out of here?"

Nabeel sat on the bed next to hers. She might think she’s clever, but he was way smarter.

"Since you’re asking this, it means you tried to escape," he said with a smirk. "But then you saw the guards, didn’t you?"

"Yes, I tried, and I’ll keep trying. I’m sure my family is searching for me."

Nabeel couldn’t hold back a laugh. "Family, you say?" He played the video on his phone showing Asad clearly divorcing her. "I have it in writing, but I didn’t bring it with me. Don’t worry, I’ll give it to you."

To his surprise, Umaimah started crying. Crying? If Nabeel had been in her shoes, he would have been partying, not sobbing.

"What did you do? Answer me. He wouldn’t divorce me just like that," she pleaded.

"What if he did?" Nabeel shot back. "What if you were just a nuisance to him, nothing more?"

"You’re lying. I know him, he’s my husband!"

Nabeel slammed his hand against the wall. "Husband, family, family, husband. I’m tired of hearing this. Your real family are looking for you, but you don’t care. You’re here obsessing over a family that doesn’t even deserve you. You’re a fool."

She didn’t respond, just shivered and cried.

"You lost a child, but at least you know the child is dead and won’t come back. What about Nini? Every day, she wonders if you’re dead or alive. Is she well? Sick? She’s your mother. Get that into your head."

He looked at her, still in the patient clothes from after her treatment. The doctor had only prescribed some medication.

"Get up, we’re leaving," he said. She didn’t move.

To his surprise, she stood up, and without saying anything, followed him. He told the guard to bring the car around, and they drove off, with Umaimah quiet beside him. Nabeel didn’t know where he was going, only that he had to stay away from home. Abba and Nini would kill him if he returned without an explanation.

He called Yazid.

"Fck you, man!" Yazid answered the call with a curse, no surprise there.

"Good morning to you too," Nabeel replied dryly.

"Why are you calling? Did you finally decide I can help you? You’ve been doing everything without telling me. Thought we were brothers. What’s with you and Zainab?"

"Shut up, man. Do you want to interview me? I’ve got a lot to explain, but right now, I need a place to stay. A two-bedroom apartment for a week or two."

"Two bedrooms?" Yazid replied, skeptical. "Don’t tell me you’re moving in with Zainab?"

"Yazid, I need the apartment now. Send me the address." He replied cutting to the chase.

"Okay, sure, but I thought you only went on a date with Zainab to thank her for helping with Asad and Umaimah's wedding venue. You took it seriously?"

Nabeel hung up before Yazid could say more. He didn’t need his nonsense.

After driving for another hour with no destination, Nabeel received the address and headed there. Umaimah stayed silent the entire time.

They arrived, and Yazid was waiting in the living room. "Umaimah?" He rushed toward her, his eyes filling with emotion as he pulled her into his arms.

She struggled but didn’t resist for long. He held her tight, tears in his eyes.

"One minute... two minutes," Nabeel muttered to himself, checking his watch.

"Let her go," Nabeel said. Yazid reluctantly released her.

Umaimah shot Yazid an angry glare. He understood why.

"Oh, I’m sorry," Yazid said, trying to break the tension. "I’m Yazid, your brother, I'm hundred percent your Muharram, I'm allowed to hug you."

"Maryam. Your name used to be Maryam, and no one thought you'd be this tall," he added, trying to lighten the mood.

"I’ll show you to your room," Nabeel said to Umaimah, cutting off Yazid before he could go on. He opened a door to what he thought was a room, and she entered, clearly uninterested in Yazid’s attempts at small talk.

Nabeel walked back to Yazid, and they sat down.

"You have a lot of explaining to do Young Man," Yazid said, sighing.

“You need to tell Abba and Nini about Umaimah."Nabeel said rubbing his temples.

"Why should I tell them? I wasn't the one who kept her." Yazid protested.

"Look, Yazid, just tell them I found her. I’ll be back home in a week or two. Don’t mention where I’m staying."

"If we tell them now, what's the use of hiding her in the first place? How did you even get to her."

How do i tell Yazid his younger sister had a child and the baby is dead. How do i tell him i picked her up from the scene where she gave birth on her own without any assistance, it's too overwhelming.

"Yazid, i promise I'll explain everything but for now you need to know Asad has divorced your sister thrice. He's not eligible to marry her, till she's a divorcee again."