The Mechanic's Wife (Preview)

CHAPTER 10: THE MOVE.

It wasn't all gleaming in the Azare mansion for months, Lubna, the new bride was already fed up with Zeenah's bratty attitude as she put it. Hajiya Ajwa didn't want any trouble, so she stopped Zeenah from going out of her quarters. Yet still, there was trouble always. 

Lubna had visited her parents for the first time, since she got married. After three weeks of that visit,  Abbie had announced her return.

"Zeenah, go and call Sabuwa." Ammie had announced, Zeenah went reluctantly, fuming about how her cartoon was interrupted. They were back shortly.

"Sabuwa, Lubna is on her way back you should make an adjustment for lunch."

"Okay, Ammie."

"DO we have some gruel left?"

"Yes, we have millet flour I can make fura to go with it."

"That is good. Then make everything accordingly, I am going to the  hospital, but I will be back in the evening in sha Allah."

"Okay, Safe trip Ammie." Zeenah went to her mother and hugged her goodbye. 

"Ammie you didn't tell me what to do?"

"What will I make you do? If I ask you to do something you always frown at me, it is better I  do it myself."

"No, I am sorry I will do anything you tell me to."

"Go and bring your veil we are going out together."

"Really?" When she nodded,  Zeenah sprinted back to her room bringing a small veil with her. There was nothing she liked more than escorting her mother to her place of work, she liked seeing the things happening at the hospital, and her curious mind always got satisfied because she got to ask a lot of questions, all the doctors and nurses were her friends.

They came home late almost time for Maghrib. Ammie went to her room to get ready for the Salaah and instructed Zeenah to do just that.

Zeenah was busy with her homework after her Isha prayer when she heard some raised voices. She slyly came out of her room and walked towards the voices, they were coming from Ammie's living room. What she saw shocked her, she hid behind the curtains watching the scene before her. 

"I am disappointed in you!"

"But, Abu Na'im how do I know there was something in it? I was not even at home in the first place."

"That lady said you gave her the instructions to prepare everything. How can you not pay attention?" She didn't miss how he regarded Sabuwa, her help with disgust. One penchant of his that still amazed her to that day.

"Ya Salam, I made sure I arranged everything for you, your rights are on me, not your wife's right. If I see it fit to do good and arrange lunch for her how was that a problem?"

"Well, tell that to the woman whose child you've just aborted!" he spatted bitterly.

Zeenah was now trembling, she had never seen Abbie talked to her Ammie in that tone. And when he left, her Ammie was shattered, she knelt in her living room sobbing, that was when Zeenah ran to her and hugged her, they cried together. 

"Ammie, please stop crying, I know you did not harm anyone we came in together. You did not even touch the food."

"Enough Zeenah, why did you stay here?"

"I can't see you in tears, stop crying. That woman is lying, I know that she is, and she will be punished for lying."

"Go to your room and sleep, I am okay." She said, wiping her tears with the back of her hands. Zeenah wiped them with hers too.