Asaal

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Asaal
Auntie Khadija was in our house for like two weeks now and I didn't mind it at all, anytime I came back from school I atleast sat down with her in the living for like an hour to talk to her, she was so nice, then when Nurain came back from work we all eat dinner together and probably watch a show, but Auntie Khadija didn't join us in watching shows, immediately we all prayed maghrib she'd go to her room, and Baba has visited her at least twice in these two weeks, Today was Friday and my mom was coming to visit me with Fati, I told Auntie Khadija just incase she didn't want to run into them, she didn't mind, she was seated in the living room while I was at the dining table setting up plates and coolers, the door bell rang and the maid went to open the door
"Asalamualaykum" Mama and Fati said
"Wa'Alayakumusalam" I and Auntie Khadija said
Then mama came to the living room and fati greeted auntie Khadija but mama was shocked
"Ya khadijah? Is that you?" Mama said looking at auntie Khadija
Ya Khadija? Are they like secret siblings and i didn't know?
"Aisha?" Auntie Khadija said
Then she stood up and mama came to her and they hugged each other
"Ya Khadija it's been forever!" Mama said trying not to cry
Fati came and stood beside me at the dining table, I'm confused
"I missed you Aisha, I'm back now, no more America" auntie Khadija said
"I'm so happy you're back, it's been forever and so much has happened!" Mama said, I believe my mom is still a teenager, they hugged each other again and both sat down
"How is sadiya? Where is she now?" Auntie Khadija asked
"She's in sokoto, I have to take you to her!" Mama said
Then I went to the living room, so did Fati, we both started at them as they were talking
"So, how do the both of you know each other?" I asked
"Ya Khadija is like my older sister, I stayed with her in America when she was pregnant with Faruk" Mama said
"Oh" i said
"Initially it was her and auntie sadiya that were friends, but when auntie sadiya got married, the communication wasn't that strong" Mama said
I told them to come to the dining table and we all started eating, then I heard the front door open
"Asalamualaykum" I heard Nurain saying
I looked at the time and it was just 2, what was he doing at home?
"Wa'alaykumusalam" I said quickly standing up to go to the door
"You're home early" I said looking at him, helping him with his laptop
"Bad day at the office, dinner date today?" He said kissing my forehead
"If Mama and Fati leave early" i said smiling at him, nowadays I've been the happy one and Nurain has been so stressed
"They're here?" He asked
"I told you, catching up lunch, but I think mama has reunited with an old friend" i said
Then Nurain looked at me confused
"Me too I was confused" I said
Then we went to the dining room and he bent down to greet Mama and auntie Khadijah
"How was work today?" Auntie Khadija asked
"Stressful as usual" He said
"Sit down and eat, your wife made delicious food, I never knew she was a good cook like this" Auntie Khadijah said
"She cooked today?" Nurain asked, he looked at me and I nodded my head
"Asi, please take my laptop upstairs to charge" He said sitting down on the dining table
I took it to our room and looked for his charger, I know his charger has problems, so I have to open the laptop to see if it's actually charging, i opened it and it was already open, I put in the charger trying to fix it so that it could charge, then a face time call came in, it was someone named Farida, Farida? I don't know any Farida, I waited for it to finish ringing and then I checked his call log and Faridas name was there, he was calling her everyday at 2pm at work, who was she? She's probably his friend from school, but why would they be doing FaceTime? I closed the Laptop and went back downstairs, who is Farida? I sat down opposite Nurain and I just kept on thinking, if he's going through something why can't he speak to me? Isn't that not why I'm here? As his partner? I know this week we haven't had time for each other, but I'm here for him always and forever
"Asaal, quit that your zoning out rubbish" Mama said
"I'm sorry, what did you say?" I said looking at her quickly
"I said do you mind if I take Ya Khadija away from you for a while?" She asked
Then I looked at Auntie Khadijah, it looks like she might need someone to actually talk to this time around
"I mean you guys have been separated forever, you guys have a lot of catching up to do" i said
She smiled at me, and when they were done eating, I and fati cleaned up the dining table, and took the plates to the kitchen
"Are you okay?" She asked
"Yes, why are you asking?" I asked
"You barely touched your food" She said
"I'm just thinking of my test that is all" I said
"Hmm okay, Liar" She said
"Piss off" I said
We both left the kitchen and Auntie Khadija was with her box in the living room, I don't even know why I started crying, was it because of the Nurain issue or the fact that the only person that had time for me was leaving, I went over and I hugged her
"Thank you so much for having me" she said
"You're family, it's nothing and I'm going to be visiting you okay?" I said
"Yes Asaal, I'd love your visits" She said
I released her and Nurain also hugged her, we escorted her to the door and told her bye, she mama and Fati left and now it was just me and Nurain, should I go non verbal? Before I could walk away and go upstairs Nurain held my hand
"I know what you saw, and I can explain" He said
"Nurain-
"Please just give me a chance please" He said
I closed my eyes and gave in, he took me to the living room and we both sat down
"So who is she?" I asked
"She was my very good friend in University, and throughout this week and last week, we both didn't have time for each other, we only had time for each other when we were going to sleep, and then I had some many things I wanted to to tell you but" Nurain said not finishing his sentence
"But what? I've never told you that I didn't want to hear your problems, and anytime I tried asking you, you'd avoid the topic" I said
"I know, I know, but I don't know what came over me to tell Farida my problems, everyday calls? What was I thinking?" He said
I shook my head
"There's no excuse for this, calling another woman while you have a wife? So what am I here for? Decoration?" I asked, I stood up and left him in the living room and I went to the room, I prayed Asr and changed into my polo outfit for today, I took his car keys and went downstairs
"Ina za ki je?" He asked
I looked at him and he looked at me
"Polo? Let me take take-
"Don't, cause nothing is okay between the both of us, I need space to clear my head, please stay at home" I said, I left the house and went to Guards, I parked the car and Nurains friends and some other girls by the stable
"Ha'an Asaal where is your husband?" One of his friends said as I was approaching the stable
"At home" I said with a straight face, they all looked at me
"He has practice" he said
"He's at home, he can come for your practice tomorrow" I said then I looked at the soldiers by the stable
"Ina Danlami?" I asked
"Bari mu kira shi Yanzu ma!" They shouted, I entered the stable house and they saluted me before entering, I saw Khalid and Asaad sitting down, and if there's one thing I know about Nurain, he definitely told them
"Hi sister" Asaad said
"What ever you want to say, just keep it to yourself" i said sitting down
"No nau, just normal gaisuwa" He said
"So how was lunch today?" Khalid asked
"It was good" I said
"Just good?" He asked
Before he could talk there was a knock on the door, I quickly stood up and I went to the door and left the stable house
"Ma, akwai matsala, dokin ki bai da Lafiya" he said
My horse?!
"Why didn't you tell me?!" I said
"Mun gaya ma oga, ya riga ya ba da kudin magani da komai" He said
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath
"A fito mun da dokin Oga" i said
He looked hesitant but he did it anyways, just when I was about to climb the horse Nurains friends came to me
"You can't ride his horse today madam, the horse needs rest for tomorrow" one of them said, I think his name was Hanif, I hated him, always sticking his nose in what wasn't his business
I looked at him with disgust
"Are you his wife?" I asked
"We're telling you, you can't ride it, he strictly gave us an instruction not to let anyone ride it" another one said
"Please be for real, call him and tell him I used it, just some minutes ago, you guys asked me if I he was coming and of course if he came he would have ridden this horse, so there's literally no difference" I said, climbing the horse
"You-
"I said call him" i said
Then I started riding the horse, I rode it to my uncles stable and to my surprise Ra'ees was there with some of my other cousins
"Let's race Asi" He said
"Sure what ever" I said rolling his eyes
"I like your horse, Argentinian?" He asked
"I don't know, it's Nurains horse, my horse is sick, but yeah it's probably Argentinian" I said
"Nurain didn't come? Strange" he said
We all did the race and Ra'ees won, he escorted me back to my stable cause it was getting late, I came down from my horse and shook Ra'ees
"Good night sis" He said
"Good night Ra'ees, say hi to Halima for me" i said
"Za ta Ji" he said , he went back on the horse and left me, I got back into the stable house and told Asaad and Khalid good night and I drove myself home, I entered the room and living room lights were on, I went upstairs to the room and dropped my bag by the door, Nurain was on the bed using his laptop, I entered the toilet and showered and performed Ablution and prayed maghrib and I went on the bed
"So I see that we're doing the same thing to each other?" He asked
"I don't know what you're talking about" I said using my phone, then I looked at him and his phone was already up, a photo of me and someone riding a horse together, Ra'ees, I looked at him with pity and shame and shook my head
"I can see you haven't learnt anything from the Kabir situation, but that's fine, continue listening to all those your unmarried friends that want to ruin this marriage, and watch how i slowly detach myself from you" I said
He kept quiet and went back on his phone
"And they said you were rude to them?" He asked
"Didn't you not hear anything I just said to you?! Stop listening to those your stupid friends! People that don't know what love and relationships are, you want to listen to them? People that smoke and do nonsense?" I said, I'm so done with Nurains behavior, I don't even know what to do, it's so annoying
"I'm sorry" he said
"Please, let's just manage this small understanding we have between the both of us before you push me away any further, please and please, I love you, but not to the extent of you trying disrespect me and I'll keep quiet and look at you" I said
"Then let's talk it out, please" he said
"No, cause what you did was hurtful, and you basically admitted that there was no excuse for what you did, cause I know if I did the same thing to you, you would give me silent treatment and make me cry" I said
"Then please forgive me" He begged
"I have forgiven you, but stay away from me please, I'm not going to get hurt from your stupid actions" I said
I turned my head to the other side and used my phone till it was Isha, I prayed and I climbed the bed and I slept off.