The Price Of Revenge

Twenty

"I hate walking outside," Rumaisa complained, pouting.

"You said you hated morning strolls, so I decided we should have them in the evening. Now you're telling me you don't like them at all?" Fuad replied. **"Just like you literally forced me to drink that ginger tea, you are most definitely going to walk with me every evening I get back early from work."

"But the tea was for your health."

"And this isn't? You'll thank me for this one day."

"I thought you'd be too exhausted from work to even lift a book."

"How unfortunate for you."

They continued walking side by side.

A man suddenly stepped out of a house they had just passed.

"Fuad!" he called.

Fuad turned around, and his face immediately broke into a wide smile.

"Mukhtar? How are you?"

He walked over, and they shook hands.

"Great. Two days."

"How is Khadijah?"

"Oh, you only remember her now?"

They both burst out laughing.

"How has she been? It's been a long time since I saw her. How is she holding up?"

Mukhtar's smile disappeared, replaced by a frown.

"She misses you."

"I do too. Honestly, I don't know how to face her."

"Give me your number. I'll send you her contact."

"Oh, okay. It's 08123***126."

Mukhtar looked past him at Rumaisa.

"Who's that?"

Rumaisa stepped forward.

"Oh, this is my lovely wife, Rumaisa."

"Oh my God! Fuad Ibrahim Maitama is married? What a surprise. If anyone asked me, I'd have thought you'd prefer to live the rest of your life as a bachelor."

Fuad laughed with him, but Rumaisa didn't find it funny at all.

She simply smiled.

"Anyway, I'm so glad to finally meet Fuad's wife. Wait..." Mukhtar looked at her again. "Are you Engineer Ali Bature's daughter?"

Rumaisa looked at him in confusion.

"She is. How did you know?"

"I remember someone telling me Mutassim's sister was getting married. He told me her name was Rumaisa, but that I'd never guess who she married."

"Why is it so shocking that I married Fuad?" Rumaisa asked curiously.

"Like I said, no one would have guessed Fuad would actually get married."

Mukhtar and Fuad laughed again.

"Laughing every time he mentions it means you must have been one heck of a bachelor, right?"

Mukhtar noticed the change in her tone.

"Well, we have to get home. I have to go to the mosque."

"Okay. See you later, then."

They shook hands again before Fuad and Rumaisa continued walking.

⸻

Fuad sat on the couch watching television when Rumaisa came into the room and sat down, immediately shaking her leg.

"I'm coming. Let me make a phone call first."

He picked up his phone and dialed a number.

"Hello. Dijah?"

"Fuad? So you know I'm alive?"

"How have you been?"

"Great. After all these years, you remember me?"

"It's not like you remembered me."

"Oh, I was the one always calling to check up on you. I got tired, and then it was like you disappeared. No one knew where the world's number one bachelor was spending his nights anymore."

"Don't say that. People change."

"Not you."

"So, how are my babies?"

Rumaisa glared at him, but he only smiled.

"They're here missing you."

"I miss them too. And I miss you as well."

"So, how has it been?"

"Great. Are you still in the house?"

"Hell no! I packed out three years ago."

"Oh my God. My girls are all grown up now."

"They are, but they still remember you."

"How is my look-alike? Which class is he in now?"

**"JS One."

"I missed everything. I'm really sorry. I was selfish."

"At least you're not anymore. So, how is bachelor life? I told you I could hook you up with someone."

"Come on. I'm married."

"You're lying."

"Do I lie to you?"

"Oh my God! How? Who?"

"Don't worry. I'll come over on Friday to see you and the children and fulfil my duties. It's a promise."

"Duties? Like what exactly?"

"While you meet my wifey, we'll go have ice cream and catch up."

"Alright, but I really have to meet your wife."

"Don't worry. You will."

"Mama is calling me. I have to go."

"My regards to her."

"She'll be so excited if she hears from you."

**"Bye."

"See you, Bach."

The call ended.

Fuad looked at Rumaisa.

She wasn't smiling.

He wasn't in the mood to argue, so he got up and headed upstairs.

Throughout the night, he kept smiling.

Even when they went to bed, Rumaisa couldn't take it anymore.

"Who is this Khadijah girl?" she asked.

"Are you jealous, perhaps?"

"Fuad, who is she?"

"All you need to know, my darling, is that you and I are going shopping tomorrow so we can get gifts for her. We'll take them to her on Friday, alright?"

"Fuad..."

**"Goodnight."

He plugged in his earphones and pulled the duvet over his head.

Rumaisa stared at him, clearly unconvinced.

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