BRAVE

Chapter Twelve

Umar had woken up already and was sitting outside the room he slept in, the kettle he performed ablution with was also close to him.

He heard Liman coming from the inner house and stood up.

"Salaam alaikum" he extended a hand and the two men shook.

"Let us head to the mosque now."

Liman took the lead and the two men walked together in a comfortable silence.

"Yauwa"

Umar turned to see what had caught the Liman's attention and gulped when he saw Ahmadu. If the young man knew he was there, he gave no indication.

"Yauwa Ahmadu. Dama, I had the intention to stop by your house later today." Liman said and turned to indicate Umar.

"See that man over there? He has come to smoothen some misunderstandings and get together with his family. I know how calm you are and how great with words you can be and that is why I want to ask you to accompany the two of us to his son, so he will ask for forgiveness"

"I am afraid that won't be necessary" Ahmadu went straight to the point, not battling an eyelid. Liman's eyes widened in surprise. "How do you know that? You never know until you try"

"I have to go home Liman, goodbye." Ahmadu started to walk away. "There will be no need to plead for forgiveness because it will not be given"

Throwing the words as casually as someone would wear a coat, he walked away and the two men stood watching him till they could see his back no more.

Liman turned to Umar perplexed "I am sorry about that, I do not know what has gotten into him."

Umar smiled bitterly and exhaled. "Nothing has gotten into him Liman. He has every right to be that way"

"I don't understand"

"The son I told you about, he is Ahmadu" Umar bowed his head, keeping his gaze on the sand. His eyes were stinging, it seemed something entered his eyes for he was blinking rapidly.

"Dama kai ne azzalumin?" Liman heaved, his chest rising and falling rapidly that Umar feared the man would have a stroke or strangle him immediately.

"It is I. But...but..I swear by Allah, I truly regret it since that same year. I have been looking for Indo for over ten years before I found her finally."

Liman laughed and spat on the ground. "Shame on you and I will not discuss this here"

Umar didn't refuse it and walked some steps behind the old man, following him back to the house.

Liman sat down on the mat and crossed his legs, gone was the friendly and hospitable expression his face carries yesterday.

"Hold on" he held up a palm just as Umar opened his mouth to talk. "Do not be under any impression that I will insist on Ahmadu and his mother accepting you back into their lives, no matter what you say to me."

Umar did not expect the man to say that and was in a daze for a while before he slowly nodded his head.

"Years back, you came with her and you promised to marry her"

Liman continued, his voice dangerously low. "You took advantage of her naivety and her fragile heart. You took advantage of me and my hospitality twice"

At the last part, the old man laughed and spat bitterly again, Omar hung his head so low that his chest could've swallowed his neck.

"I had just returned to the country then, full of life and youthful vigor" He choked, recalling those years when the world seemed to be at his feet.