BOUND TO MY NEMESIS

23 - No Love

"She's back!" I looked over at the porch upstairs to a jumping Mufy.

If I didn't know any better I'd have said she was possessed by a djinn, when did it become a norm to squeal a person's arrival especially if I just left this morning. 

I shook my head and looked over at Nad and I wasn't surprised she was into her phone again.  Whoever this man was I prayed he didn't break her heart.  I killed the car pulling the key out of the ignition and blew out air from my mouth as I held the handle.

"We've arrived."

"I know but it's only appropriate you go out first" she muttered as she pulled the hand of her bag's zip and pushed the phone in,  I nodded and  hopped out.

I smiled when she handed over my bag from the backseat then climbed out of the car,  my eyes followed her as her eyes roved over the parking lot then gradually the compound to the grand house, try as I might I couldn't picture it from her perspective.  She'd never been to my house so she might think this was my marital home.  I chuckled at the thought attracting her attention to me again. "Shall we?" I asked leading the way before she could reply.

We walked to the house with me just a pace ahead,  "be ready for my family's cra-"

"Yay!."  "Welcome!." My words literally went back to my throat, Mufy had her hands tightly encircled around Nad's body like they were long lost friends. 

"Welcome" she squealed again  hopping when she pulled away.  "How was your trip? " she asked while  collecting the bag from her. 

Ok what was going on?  I looked over at Nad hoping she'll understand all the questions in my eyes,  I don't remember her meeting the girls or dad mom was the only one she knew.

She shrugged making me roll my eyes,  Mufy was just up to her usual mischief and this time around she almost fooled me,  I walked away leaving Nad with my annoying attention seeking sister cum sister-in-law and hurried to the house house hoping she'll not talk Nad's ears off,  but the girl was in the law field and we were already home so hopefully she could manage.

A sigh escaped my lips when I finally made it over the threshold,  finally I was home,  it wasn't like I've been gone for long but making up my mind and coming back to familiar terrain lifted a whole chunk of weight off me,  now it was left with the implementing part. 

***
Dinner let me say left me pretty annoyed,  Dad couldn't make it home,  he was out with Papa so he also wasn't around which left me with mom, Mufy, Fareedah and the ever pretty Nad,  she earned pretty as a prefix to her name when Mufy decided she was pretty and gushed one too many times cooing like she'd found a new pet. 

I looked over at mom for  help of some sort when Mufy cleared her throat again after sipping from the glass of water beside her plate of acheke with pepper gravy and fried fish.  "Please take pictures with me so I can show my friends just how pretty you are.  You're so beautiful it's almost unbelievable,  I wonder why you've never been here and I have to show Papa,  Dad and Dan your pics we..... . "

What  was up with this girl,  I let go off the fork in my hand happy at how loud it clanked on the plate drawing the attention of everyone at the table.

"For the love of Allah let us be, let's eat in peace" I added the latter after a long punctuated breath.  "We understand you have to gush but some of us love to eat in serenity and the person you're talking to is eating herself and has replied to less than 5 of the 20 questions you're playing with her,  she might not even be comfortable.  Be reasonable."

I pushed the chair back not minding the loud screech it made and hurried upstairs, happy mom didn't call me back. 

Did she really have to mention Dan,  she was probably getting back at me for not making her do my make-up but  humans aren't always in the mood for her behavior,  she needs to outgrow  that.