Kameela

Chapter 18 - Bad News

"Hey Chan!" Ismail said as he entered the kitchen and pecked her on her cheek.

"Chan? Where is that coming from?" She asked with her eyes fixed on the eggs as she used the spatula to free the pan off the hold of the egg.

"Your eyes. They are really narrow. Like the Chinese." He said using his index fingers to tug the skin beside his eyes making his eyes appear narrow.

"Stereotype much." Kameela flipped the egg as fast as she could knowing the other times she tried doing it slowly made the eggs scatter.

"I forgot to tell you yesterday, Gwaggo is coming today." He said as he opened the cabinet and took out two plates.

"Gwaggo? As per your grandmother?" Ismail grew up with his paternal grandmother. His parents both got married early and they decided to move to the city. They both were struggling with work and trying to find a good serene place to settle down so when Ismail was born, they took him to live with his paternal grandmother.

"Yes her. She called yesterday." He dropped the plates on the island and moved towards Kameela.

"Oh oh oh oh." She said distantly as she took out the egg and put it on the plate that was placed beside her on the gray marble surfaced counter.

"She's the best grandmother anyone can ask for but she could be sassy atimes but don't worry about that." Ismail said as he leaned into the counter, trying to see Kameela's face.

"Maybe I should call Safiyya so they could hang out." Kameela said nervously as she poured in another set of eggs into the pan. He removed the bowl that previously contained the eggs from her hand, dropped it then he held her hand.

"Don't worry. I'll be with you throughout." She looked down to her feet.

"Look at me." He said as he held her chin up.

"I've got you." A smile crept up on her face. Something about the said phrase comforted her heart. It made her feel warm and gooey.

°°°°°

As Kameela wiped the top of a counter, she heard the gate open. She assumed it was Gwaggo. She wrapped her veil loosely around her head and briskly walked to the front door. As she heard sound of shoes with hard, non-rubber soles being dragged on the tiled steps, she opened the door with a smile. She was met with an elderly woman who had a face of minimal wrinkles and hands adorned with red henna from the middle of her forearm to the tip of nails, no design to it at all. The woman had her lips tugged down as she evidently observed Kameela from head to toe before she brushed past her and walked into the house with pride oozing out of her. She looked around before taking a seat on an armchair and crossing her ankles. She removed her floral veil and placed it on the arm of the chair she sat on before looking at the door where Kameela was seeing wonders of God.

"Why are you still standing there?" The question brought Kameela out of her current state. She replaced the dumbfounded look on her face to her precious smile. She shut the door and walked towards the old woman who took her eyes away from Kameela to explore the house more. At arrival, she knelt right beside her legs and widened her wonderful smile.

"Gwaggo sannu da zuwa." She said with her eyes plastered on the floor.

"Mm I've heard." She sounded dissatisfied.

"Gwaggo ina yini."

"How many times are you going to greet me? You did it the first time I said I've heard. What do you want me to say now?" She shouted. Kameela fervently prayed for Ismail's arrival.

"Sorry."

"Sorry for yourself!" She hissed.

"Where is my boy?"