LOUD SILENCE🌬

Episode 2

3/01/019
By Bilkisu Musa🌺🌸

Episode 2

     The busy street that seemed to be in contract to give birth to tons of cars after tons, The haphazardness of the people buying or selling some wandering aimlessly but still adding to the large crowd. And the twin building of battri market that stands on both sides of the street, that has promised to provide ends meet for the strong hearted. Meena and her mother are not weak hearted and as such they include the first little crowd who arrive early to carryout their businesses. "Arrange the fresh ones i brought yesterday first before putting the over ripped ones beneath them, I think you should put six six on each rubber instead since the price has depreciated".
It was mummy's tired voice passing out instructions but meena's attention wasn't there, she hadn't been listening, her eyes were busy searching for chris, and in between, the search gives way to thoughts about yesterday's event. When she had returned home, Mummy was seated on a wooden bench in the veranda of their small home, And like always she knelt down briefly and greeted " Maamii Good evening"  Her eyes fixed on the cemented floor.
"Evening, what kept you so long? We agreed you will come earlier, What happened?" Mummy's voice sounded impatient."I had too attend to something very important, sorry maamii." Her voice came very coherent and frim." Mummy must not know that another year has passed her by, She must not know that all the funds they had raised from the sales of months passed has gone down the drain, All the days they had strayed late at the market waiting and hoping for someone to come and patronize their over ripped tomatoes in order to save some more money were all in vain, And marwan who was sent home from school. She was at the verge of tears, So she avoided more questions and hastened to her room. "Hey! Meena," Called the husky voice it drew her out from her depth of thoughts. "Hello chris" she turned to face him. "You came late today, What happened?" She asked as she forced a smile. " I bumped into an old friend so we went to do some catching up" He answered and inclined his head giving her a vivid view of his one cheeked dimple, It reminded her of how different he looked, He always seemed to look different each time she didn't see him for a day or two sometimes he looks more taller, Other times he looks more built and most times he appears to be more handsome that she always mistakes him for an actor instead of the boutique owner that he was. "Why?" His lips spread out in a smile she had been staring at him without her knowing."Do i look different?". No, l...I mean yes you do" she blushed and turned away her eyes fall on mummy who was busy arranging empty baskets of tomatoes and as she raised her head their eyes met and she arched her brows urging her on. Mummy has always liked chris, He is the only friend meena has and she knew about his outstanding character as such she respects him a whole lot. "Hope you had fun with your friend" Her voice was cold this time, Talking about fun made her remembered how unhappy she was. Standing few inches above her he heard the racing of her heart. "What's the matter with you?" He inquired, his eyes focused on hers. " it's nothing just that am a little bit tired today" she lied.
  "But you don't look like this when you are tired, What is the problem? You know i hate it when you get like this meena" His words were soft almost like a caress. "I said am ok you don't need to worry" she placed her hand on her forehead the sun was shining brighter now and the path which they stood was slightly crowded by people. " ok i will be in my shop when you need anything" He started to head for his shop but meena's voice stopped him.     "Wait! I... am ok, just that am not in the best of moods" She avoided his eyes.      "It's the admission stuff right?". " No it's nothing" The words came coldly from her lips.
"Fine I won't ask you again just don't stop me, you can handle your problems after all you are capable" His voice was louder this time.
  " Chris you are shouting"she reminded
"Am not shouting I just don't like it when you keep things from me"
     "Ok I will tell you but not today" She promised her eyes met his.
    "All right I will wait but please don't take too long" He inclined his head but this time it wasn't to show off his dimple but for her to see the plea in his eyes.
"I won't" she added.
  So he turned and headed for his shop.
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Dawn came too slowly for Adil, He hadn't slept all night and the cold added to his worry. If only Ama will understand that cousin hanan means no harm, that she was just a relative and all they once had has been mere youthful exuberance". He let out a sigh and adjusted his sleeping position.
"I will shout it into her head if that's what she wants".
But the truth is he need not to remind her, He had said it over, and over again that she has memorized the way he always said it. And he always sounds convincing until her topic came up or she comes and they end up having a little fight.
Ama too hadn't slept an hour, she had been busy talking to herself and cursing cousin Hanan for spoiling her day. And in between she had thought she heard footsteps approaching her room, But she wasn't sure why he hadn't stepped in. "Or was it that i was hallucinating" She hissed and turned to lay flat on her back.
  She wasn't hallucinating, it was indeed  Adil's footsteps that she had heard but he heard her murmured his name and hissed afterwards so his grip on the door handle had tightened so as his lips. He had wanted to come in, take her in his arms and apologize but if there was anything he detested with passion is for someone to hiss at him and for the fact that it was Ama that did,doubled his anger. So he had retracted his steps back to his room and the bed squeaked as he climbed and pulled the duvet to him.
  Cousin Hanan was the first to come out of her room all glam in her red dress, She made herself breakfast and left some for Adil and Ama.
  The door to Ama's room let out a sound as she pushed it, She might be angry and not talking to Adil but she can't deny him his meal.
  "Morning Hajiya" it was cousin Hanan's sarcastic tone, I made breakfast you don't need to worry she uncrossed her legs and straighten out her dress, she looked like the lady of the house with the way she sat on the dining table.
   "What!" Ama couldn't believe her ears. "Who appointed you chef in this house? Her rage intensified as cousin Hanan feigned innocence.
  "I don't know what games you are up to but you have over stayed your welcome and if.....". If what? It was Adil's voice asking, her eyes left cousin Hanan and rested on Adil, He was already dressed for work in his well fitted back suit. "Can you believe she made your breakfast, Anyways thanks but no thanks cousin Hanan I will make his meal myself so you can as well have all the one you made" She made as if to head for the kitchen but Adil words stopped her. "Don't worry princess let's just have the one she made". He sounded almost convincing but she wouldn't let it go just like that. "No!" She snapped. We wont have what she made In fact she will be on her way as soon as she's done with her meal.
"Please Princes....."No! Don't princess me, instead explain to me what she's doing hovering around us like a bad aura?" Adil suddenly couldn't find his voice, He had been in a dilemma since cousin Hanan showed up. It's true that Ama is the love of his life but cousin Hanan is family too, He didn't understand the need for all the commotion. He extended his hand and held Ama's firmly. "Come" He said and lead the way to his room. "Sit". He gestured to the unmade bed and like a scolded child she reluctantly obeyed and sat, while he made himself comfortable beside her. 
   "Princess, cousin Hanan will just stay for a day or two and she will leave before you even notice, You know the ongoing strike is delaying her project,She just needs a place to stay.
  "Is that what she told you?" Ama won't give up easily. "What about her parents? My love can't you see?"  Her hands found his cheeks. She just wants to stay here close to you please don't allow her deceive you" She pleaded
"Amatullah" he said as he took her hands from his cheek. She wanted to stop him before he continued, and ask him why he called her full name, he doesn't even call her Ama when they had big fights. But she kept quiet instead and he continued. "I know her parents and other relatives are close but she said she prefers it here and I can't chase her away"
"Fine! She can stay but be rest assured that I won't stay in the same house with her" She stood up and left...