Shirk in Disguise

Chapter 11

"YUSUF, WHAT ON EARTH IS WRONG WITH YOU?!!" Sarah thundered as she stormed into his room.

Her voice startled him and made him stop what he was doing – packing up to leave the mansion – hopefully for good. He creased his brow as he rose up from his crouching position to stare at the befuddled lady before he ignored her and got back to packing his belongings.

His actions incensed her the more. Wasn't he even going to talk to her, try to explain his actions?? She knew that he was putting on this show of nonchalance because he was well aware of the pain he was causing her by being silent. She certainly hated being ignored and was used to having her way ALL the time!

"Yusuf!!!" she screamed his name again.

At this, he threw down the cloth he was folding and threw her an angry look. He'd been trying to hold down his temper but he was getting fed up with her attitude. How dare she barge into his room like that?! How dare she speak to him like that?? How dare she?!!

He was well aware that she'd never called him directly by name before – a characteristic feature of the Hausa culture whereby one shouldn't call his elder by name but by a respectful title – until now. But that action didn't anger him as much as the manner in which she did it!

He finally mustered the courage to speak after being dumbstruck for a while by her behaviour. "I think I should be the one asking what's wrong with YOU to make you barge into my room like that!"

"You sure as hell know what's wrong with me; I need answers!"

"I don't have to answer to you...I have the right to remain silent." he replied coolly.

"Well I'm not going out of this room till you explain yourself!" she declared.

"Suit yourself!" he thundered back.

"Fine!"

Sarah suited herself. She cleared a place on the armchair next to his bed and stared at him, believing that her presence would make him mellow down and explain his reasons for cancelling his engagement to her. She'd just heard of the cancellation of the engagement from her mother, Hajiya Rahma, earlier that morning and she lost no time in marching straight to his room to demand answers. Sadly, those answers didn't seem to be forthcoming.

About twelve minutes later, Yusuf still hadn't paid any attention to her, obviously determined to ignore her. She realized that her ploy wasn't working and she was devising means to get him to speak to her when a noise interrupted her thoughts. The door was closing...and he was nowhere to be found in the room!

'What!' she screamed inwardly. Was he really leaving without saying a word? When did he get past her anyway?? However, having no time to lose, she quickly sprang up from the armchair and followed suit, banging the door in the process. She spotted him farther down the hall on his way to the main exit of the house.

"Hey," she called after him. "We really need to talk!"

"Do we?" he asked her, his face devoid of emotion as he halted his steps for a bit.

"Of course we do!" she stated indignantly as she caught up with him, panting heavily as she caught her breath.

"Oh really?" he asked, feigning surprise. "What about??"

"You know what, young man! And I don't intend to let you go without reason!" She paused a bit to catch her breath and subsequently mellow her voice to soften his heart and then continued. "How could you do this to me? You know how much I loved you and looked forward to our wedding..."

"'Loved' – that's the keyword there!" he quickly cut her off.

"Wait...what do you mean??" she asked, her pretty face creasing in the moment.

"Look," he began, ignoring her question, "I have to get going!"

"Not before you tell me what all this is about," she stated indignantly. "You know I still love you!"

"Well, maybe you should've thought about that before you got Backups!"

Sarah was ready to counter his every argument but at his last statement, she became dumbstruck and only opened and closed her mouth like a fish. How did he know...???

However, Yusuf just smirked as he left her to collect her wits and maybe recall how he might've known about her other plans even after marrying him. He kept his belongings by the door and made his way to his erstwhile boss's section of the house to bid him farewell. He felt her eyes following him till he was out of her sight.

On reaching Alhaji's part, he met him and his wife discussing in almost inaudible whispers, a discussion they immediately stopped on sighting him. He was however unperturbed as he thought it was none of his business anyway; his business was making his move outta there! He therefore greeted the duo and informed them that he was ready to go.

"Are you really sure about this, son?" Alhaji enquired.

"Yes I am, Alhaji." Yusuf replied, his head bowed while still in the crouching position he had adopted while greeting the couple.

"Can't you at least reconsider the job?" Alhaji asked while his wife gave him a glare which clearly meant: What! So you care for your business more than our daughter's happiness??

"I'm sorry, Alhaji...I really can't." He replied, his head still bowed in respect.

"Okay. Go well, Son! May you excel in every venture!" Alhaji prayed for him, contrary to his nature. They'd had their disagreements but he knew Yusuf to be really responsible. He also gave him a package as a farewell gift, waving off the younger man's protests.

Yusuf finally accepted the gift with profuse thanks and rose to go, Alhaji's sad smiles and Hajiya's cold stares following him. He passed the hall and met Sarah still standing fixed to the spot as if petrified...well that was her problem! He passed her by without a second glance.

On reaching the spot where he kept his luggage, he saw that his belongings were nowhere to be found. He was confused – where could they be? He however breathed a sigh of relief as he realized that the utility staff to whom he'd been so kind during his stay in the house had helped him take the baggage to his car.

'One good turn deserves another', he murmured as he tipped them and entered the car to make his grand exit out of the mansion. He remembered the circumstances that led him to living in the mansion in the first place and smiled wryly.

Now he was ready for his future, vague as it was. "Ya Allah, aid me..." he prayed as he zoomed off.

A/N
This was one of my fave chapters to write. I especially liked the dialogue and felt the emotion behind the words as I was writing.

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