HEREMAKONO ( AWAITING HAPPINESS )

Chapter Ten. Part Two

           SIX MONTHS LATER 

" You can go home now dear, the work hour is over a long time ago." Mrs. Bangura, the director of the orphanage where Nnadia works told her lovingly. 

" I'll leave soon." She replied. The truth was, she would rather be at work than go home. This has been going on for months now, ever since she volunteered her services to the orphanage. She was happy to come to work every morning and dreaded going back home in the evening. 

Her parents' house, which is where she has been staying since her husband separated from her, is close enough to hell for her. Nnadia's parents weren't particularly overjoyed to have her back. Her dad was always angry with her over little things. And her mom would taunt her every chance she got. Her job at the orphanage was the only thing keeping Nnadia's sanity in place. She would smile a bit whenever she saw the children playing and having fun. Sometimes she would daydream about her child with Abdullah. And when reality hits her, she would cry silently because she knew how impossible it is for that dream to come true. 

When Nnadia got home that evening, she was hugged by her anxious-looking younger sister. 

" Big sis, just guess how SUIT is going to end tonight. I just can't wait, let's go to your room now." Salma said. 

Feeling sad as always, Nnadia tried to warn her because their mom doesn't want to see them together, at least not in her room. " Salma I'm tired today, just watch it in your room and tell me about it tomorrow. You remember what mom had told you right?" She said to her sister. 

" Come on sis, mom won't know unless we tell her. Please..." She showed Nnadia her cute puppy dog face. 

" Okay fine, but if you get into trouble just remember that I warned you," Nnadia replied. 

They hadn't even spent ten minutes on the episode when their mom barged in. " Salma. Haven't I warned you not to linger in this room? What exactly do you want, for her to teach you how to chase different men at the same time?" She screamed angrily. 

Nnadia closed her eyes in pain. " I must be used to her insults by now. " She told herself mentally. Her sister just sat there, wanting to rebel because she knew her elder sister wasn't like that at all. 

" Please go watch it in your room, baby doll. If you stay here she would only hurt me more with her words. Please." Nnadia said to Salma. 

Salma got up angrily and left. She had been the only one in the house to still treat her sister like before. Their mom left too, hissing loudly. Nnadia went to bed as usual, with tears in her eyes. 

Every morning when she wakes up to pray, she would pray for her husband. Pray for their marriage even though she doesn't know which day he would come asking for a divorce. That's what he wanted at first, but his mom stopped him from divorcing her because of her friendship with her mom.

She missed him so much, her heart aches every time she thinks about him. She missed when they prayed together, she missed his smile, his scent, the way he looked at her as if she was his favorite snack. She missed everything about him. 

Later that morning, she was packing up her lunch and ready for work when her mom walked into the kitchen. 

" Good morning, mom." She said politely as always. 

Her mom only hissed and started making some tea. After a while, she spoke. " Why are you still wearing that ring? If you valued it that much, you would have kept your vows." She taunted. 

Nnadia didn't reply. She loved her husband and she wasn't going to take off his ring for anything. She quickly packed her lunch and was about to walk out when her mom spoke again. 

" He is getting married, you know. His mom has found someone worthy of him. You are lucky that she didn't let him divorce you, but how long is that going to last when his new wife finally enters his house."

Nnadia felt the world spinning around her. She didn't expect him to move on this fast. She burst out crying and ran away from there. Nnadia was a mess by the time she got to work. She stared at her reflection in the mirror and realized that she cannot go in looking like that. She made a U-turn and drove for Hajara' s place. 

When she entered the house, her friend wasn't surprised at all. Shaking her head, she spoke. " You and tears, why don't you listen to me and stop crying for once." She told Nnadia 

"What happened this time? Is it aunt and her taunts?" Hajara asked. 

" No. It's, it's Abdullah." She hiccupped. 

" Is he back in the country?" Hajara inquired. 

" I don't know, I just heard that he is, he is, oh God. He is getting married to someone else." She cried. 

" Come here," Hajara said, taking Nnadia into her arms. " Don't worry about it, he is still your husband even if he gets married again."

" I can't take this, Hajara, I've done everything possible to talk with that man, but he left the country instead. And now, he is going to marry someone else. Maybe he is in love with her. What did I ever do to deserve this?" She said in tears. 

Her friend did all she could to console her but Nadia's heart was beyond broken. She was tired of everything. 

She took some sedative she had bought some time ago and spent half the day sleeping at Hajara's place. She went back home in the evening. After praying maghrib, she was about to lie down because she was still feeling dizzy when she heard a loud knock on the door. 

" Come in." She called and her younger sister rushed in excitedly. 

" Salma, look, today is not a good day at all to find mom's trouble. Please leave." She told her but Salma only smiled at her. 

" I'm here because mom herself sent me to you. She wants you in the sitting room now." Salma replied. 

Alarmed, Nnadia probed her sister for answers. " Do you know why she wants to see me? Please tell me, Salma, I don't want her insults again." 

" No, I don't, but I know that you have an important visitor." Her sister said excitedly. 

" A visitor? Who is it? Tell me please." She pleaded. 

" Why don't you come see for yourself." Her sister replied, turning to leave but then she turned back. She checked her sister out like she was about to attend some party.

" You look perfect even in this simple dress, but please put a little bit of lip gloss on." She said and winked. Nnadia only stood there wondering if her younger sister had gone mad. Why must she put a lip gloss on, just to see her mom and some visitors? She thought. 

Not wanting to get in trouble, Nnadia left immediately to go meet her mom. When she entered the sitting room, her heart nearly came out of her mouth. 

Because the couch just opposite her parents was a man that looked just like her husband. He raised his head to look at her and she staggered on her feet. This was Abdullah alright, and he looked perfect, just like the first time they met.