HEREMAKONO ( AWAITING HAPPINESS )

Chapter Seven. Part Two

Six months have passed since their wedding. Nnadia only got to see little of her husband. He did as he promised. Made sure not to get in her way or disturb her with his presence. He travels a lot but whenever he is in town, he leaves early for work and comes back late. During weekends he is either out or locked in his room. 

Nnadia has deeply regretted why she didn't speak up that day. She yearned just to get a glimpse of him. She felt lonely now more than ever. Whenever he was home, she would wake up early to join him for prayers. The first time she had entered his room, he was shocked. He didn't expect her to enter his room out of her own free will. When he came out of his shock, he was polite as always. 

For Nnadia, this was the only time she could get close to him. Standing right there behind him as they prayed.

To avoid thinking about him all the time, Nnadia busied herself with serving humanity by visiting orphans and donating to them. Abdullah had deposited a huge sum of money in her account. Even if she shopped every day it wouldn't make a difference.

At home, she spent time learning new recipes from their cook. She also always visited her parents and Hajara frequently. She had lessened her visits to Hajara's place. The amount of love and care, plus romance Hajara and her husband display in front of her, is enough to make her feel bad about her own marriage. Even though she loved her friend dearly, she had stopped visiting frequently because she envied them. Though not in a toxic manner. 

That morning, he was home and they had prayed together. After which they gave each other awkward smiles. Nnadia couldn't sleep much after that, so she went down to make breakfast for him. Hoping that he would eat food cooked by her for the first time. After making breakfast, she realized that he had already left for work. She was so disappointed, she wanted to cry. 

Later that afternoon, she went shopping and when she returned home, she was met with the shock of her life. Nnadia nearly fainted had she not quickly held on to the door. 

On the couch in the sitting room, Abdullah's head was on the lap of a strange woman. She was slim and very pretty. Her one hand was on his bareback while she used the other to play with his head, fingers running through it. His beautifully sculpted body was clearly visible to both of them and Nnadia's anger escalated. 

The lady looked at Nnadia and turned her glance away. 

Nnadia walked up to them, heart-pounding vigorously. This is exactly why she never trusted him. She had felt it in her bones that a day like this would come. She planned on just tapping him to wake up but she ended up hitting him hard. This was the first time her hands touched his bare skin and she felt her body tingling. 

In normal circumstances, she wouldn't have dared to come this close, not to speak of waking him up. But this was far from normal. Even though they practically lived like strangers, this was still her husband. And that too in the arms of another woman. Nnadia couldn't just stand there like a statue, not when she had these strange feelings for him. Feelings that make her act dumb sometimes. She hit him again and that earned her an angry glare from the lady. Ignoring her, Nnadia shook Abdullah in anger. 

He hazily opened his eyes and slowly got up to sit. Their gaze met and Nadia's heart skipped a bit. She didn't know what to expect. Is he going to mock her or tell her it's all her fault that he is cheating? 

Her heart ached, mind overwhelmed and the sight in front of her was enough to drive her crazy. 

" Nnadia." He said, acting as if he hasn't been caught doing anything wrong. She averted her gaze then decided to look him straight in the eyes. She wasn't going to let this play out like the last time. When she had just stood there and allowed Mike to walk all over her. Not this time, she thought. Not in my matrimonial home. " Not when I'm slowly falling in love with him." She muttered quietly under her breath. 

All the while, Abdullah was busy staring at her with curiosity. She blinked back tears and hardened her gaze. 

" Who is she?" She asked, pointing her finger to the person next to him. 

Face palming himself, Abdullah replied. " Oh, I almost forgot. Amina this is my wife, Nnadia. And Nnadia this is my Lil brat of a cousin, Amina. She couldn't make it for the wedding because of exams and I have been traveling frequently so she couldn't come." He explained. 

That was when everything came rushing back to Nnadia. His mom had told her about Amina and how she was the closest thing to a sibling he had. She tried her best to keep her jaw from dropping. 

Embarrassed by her own thoughts and behavior, Nnadia quickly collected herself and spoke. " Hi Amina, mom has told me a lot about you, how is school?" She asked, smiling warmly. She was very relieved that her husband was innocent. Her heart was overjoyed. 

" Hi," Amina replied coldly. 

" Let me just get you something to eat real quick," Nnadia informed her. 

" No need, I'm fine." Amina retorted. 

Nnadia knew she had misjudged them badly, so she wasn't surprised how cold Amina had sounded. She looked over at her husband who smiled at her.

" Okay then let me go change." She told them both. 

" Okay," Abdullah replied but Amina just looked elsewhere. Totally uninterested. 

When Nnadia came back downstairs about thirty minutes later, she couldn't find them. She was about to go to Abdullah's room when she heard voices from the kitchen. She went close but stopped in her tracks when she heard what they were discussing. 

" Look, big bro, I have a friend Maria, she is also very beautiful, with perfect hips and ass. Light skin for that matter, she fell for you the very first time she saw your picture on my phone. Just divorce this girl and let me go ahead and arrange the perfect wedding for you with Kim k's twin." She heard Amina say. 

Nnadia felt light-headed instantly. She heard Abdullah chuckle and she almost passed out. "Is he really going to agree?" She asked no one in particular. 

" Thank you, madam matchmaker, but I'm very much okay with my wife. And even if your friend is Kim Kardashian herself I'm not interested." Abdullah told his cousin with a serious tone. 

" Okay with what exactly? Her not caring for you and ignoring you? Imagine she even goes out doing only God knows what." Amina replied furiously. 

" Hey, hey. Get up right now. Go back home and stay with mom. I won't allow you to stay here and badmouth my wife." He told her sternly. 

" Wife that doesn't love you?" Amina retorted. 

" Maktub," Abdullah replied back. " If this is my fate, then I accept it." 

" Listen, you know how much I care about your happiness bro. Just divorce her. You don't have to accept anything that is not in your favor. I mean have you seen yourself?" Amina said, trying to cajole him into agreeing with her. 

" Yes, I have. And I'm also trying very hard not to get angry with you. You have overstayed your welcome, and I don't want my wife to even mistakenly overhear any of the rubbish that you have just said. And don't ever try to make her uncomfortable as you did earlier. Let me take you to your car." He told her. 

Nnadia walked away quickly. Her heart was filled with joy after listening to their conversation. She grew more respect for Abdullah at that moment. Perhaps it's time she stopped guarding her heart. She thought. Her husband has shown her that he was trustworthy in every way possible. Nnadia couldn't believe he chose to stay loyal to her even though they kept away from each other.  ' Maybe she was going to get a happy family after all. ' She thought, with a wide smile plastered on her face.