Endings

10

I was thinking about her all day long. Who she was, why she chose my car, where she came from, where she was heading to, what her name was, how and why it all happened. Everything I cared about didn't matter when I thought about her, she was so gorgeous. Her yellow velveteen scarf hung effortlessly off her shoulders and swayed from side to side whilst the wind blew in through the window. Her eyes were a warm hazel brown and her cheeks were a bright baby pink. Long hair cascading down her back, hair darker than burnt paper. Her hair smelt of cinnamon and lilies. She was truly a vision. Was she aware of her intense beauty? Did she know that she was immensely pretty? I was never the type of guy to fall for someone right off the bat and I never really payed that much attention to looks but not only was she beautiful but she was also funny and humor means a lot to me. She saw past all that my cancer had put me through and decided to have an honest conversation with me in that moment, in my car. I was enthralled by her, though I had no intentions of looking for her. I wasn't about to drop everything and risk getting shot down just to find someone I wasn't probably going to see anytime soon. It's best that I just left things the way they were.

"Ali mums home, come say hello" Jamila said

"I'll be out in a minute"

We weren't on the best of terms considering the fact that she flat out ignored what I had told her about Khalil. In her mind he's the perfect guy and there's nothing that I could say or do that'll change that.

"You look so good mum! Someone's been treating herself to a few spa days I assume"

"Well I do try my best to look my best" she said cheekily

"Come give me a hug" she added

And in no time I was engulfed in her motherly love. I had missed her presence so much and I needed someone other than my grandmother and Jamila to talk to. My grandmother didn't even seem to exist. She was never noticed and she kept to herself. The whole purpose of her visit was basically brushed under the rug and we more or less took care of ourselves, not that I'm complaining but for someone that was adamant on keeping us in line she was a bit lenient. Not that I'm complaining.

"How was your workshop?" I asked

"Come on Ali, I know you guys could care less. Go put on some nice clothes I want to take you guys some place to eat. Anywhere you want, just pick. We need to catch up and bond and I'm pretty sure food is the best way to go so go get ready and I'll go take a shower and get dolled up and we'll be on our way. Okay?"

It was odd, out of her character. This wasn't a normal occurrence so me and Jamila were a bit taken aback. Dad was normally the one who planned dinners and took us out but I guess now that he's gone she took up his roll and hey I'm not complaining.

"Erhm, sounds good I guess mum. I'll be ready in no time."

"Can Khalil come along?" Jamila asked

"I'd love for him to tag along honey but it's more of an intimate immediate family kinda dinner okay?"

"Whatever" she muttered

* * *

We were on our way to the Tulip Bistro, my favorite restaurant even though Jamila insisted on Ivory Place, this high end expensive restaurant. Mum wasn't a fan of splurging on food, as long as it tasted good and it left you full at the end of the day she was good and it was also good for me. Jamila on the other hand wanted to dine with the gods. She was never content.
   We arrived at the Tulip Bistro and I couldn't wait to just sit down, relax, have an actual adult conversation with my mum and eat with my family. It was long overdue.

"So what do you want to order?" Mum asked 

"Oddly, I have no pregnancy cravings so I'll have a chicken caesar salad " Jamila answered

"No baby talk at the table please! Can we just go one night without talking about the baby? Is that possible? Can we just do that for me?" I said

"Whether you like it or not I'm having this baby and I'm having it with Khalil so the sooner you get over it the better. Okay?"

Way to be nice, her hormones really made her a ragging twat.

"So what have you guys been up to? Other than being at each other's throats? Anything new that I don't know about?" Mum said enthusiastically

"God mum, we get it you missed us but I don't think you need to know every single aspect of our lives" Jamila replied with a straight face

What was up with her? First she sorta goes off on me and now she's giving mum attitude for just asking a simple question, well questions. If the choice of restaurant was pissing her off that much she could have politely said so and we would all go home and eat rice or something. Mum was trying to be nice and take us out to eat and bond as a family, a divided and odd family but still a family. I was disappointed in her behavior.

"You want to go home? Is that it? You want to throw all this away? As little as a gesture it might be, you should still try and appreciate it. Don't be a downer and give mum attitude. I could care less about all your issues with Khalil so if this is about him then keep it to yourself and stop acting like a little bitch."

"Ali! Language! I appreciate it but calm down, it's fine. She's pregnant and hormonal so it's okay for her to act out. Now apologize to your sister."

"Apologize? I should apologize? To her? You must be kidding mum. How am I'm the wrong here? She's free to act out but when I try to put her in check I'm in the wrong? Wow thats good to know. I guess it's okay to act out now, I can see it's the norm. I'm leaving, enjoy your dinner."

I couldn't believe that my mum was taking Jamila's side on this. All I wanted to do was have a nice dinner at my favorite restaurant with my family and now that's all ruined. How the hell was I in the wrong? Yes she's having a baby and is "hormonal" but I have cancer and I hardly get irritable so excuse me for pointing out Jamila's appalling attitude.
As I was walking out the door someone bumped into me and didn't even seem to care. I mean is apologizing such a big thing in Abuja? People need to learn manners.

"Hey! So you're not going to apologize?" I yelled

She turned around and laughed, it was Huda. Standing there with a broad smile on her face. I was ecstatic. I was genuinely happy to see her. I waved and she walked towards me.

"Someone seems down? Why the pissy attitude? Cancer got you down?" She asked with a smirk on her face

As I was about to answer this guy came towards both of us and put his arm around her and then said,

"Babe I've gotten us a table, let's go"

"I'm sorry, I have to go. By the way this is my boyfriend, Faisal."

He extended his hand out to give me a handshake and I politely did the same. They both said goodbye and went to their table. It was inevitable, a girl like he was bound to have a boyfriend. I was silly for thinking otherwise.