Twisted: A Hausa Love Story.

**Marwan**

First I witness Afrar crying in the parking lot, then Mayriam comes back saying she left to stay with a friend and then I saw her at the supermarket looking miserable she was so good at hiding how she felt, if I hadn't seen her at the parking lot that day I would never have guessed she was depressed and even when I called her to try to talk she openly declined.
I was on my way to see Mudassir when Baba called and asked me to meet him, although it was weird I happily obliged.

Now any chance I had with her is shattered, completely.
I sat there still trying to process everything, what engagement are these old men talking about?

I kept looking at her, she was trying hard to stay calm and I couldn't even say anything to make her feel better. She would look at Jafar pleadingly, like he was stopping her from punching me, not that I blame her because the situation seems wrong.
"So..we are not interested in any celebration because I will be leaving in 2weeks. We can have the celebration another time" Baba says tapping me encouragingly on the back.

He looked so happy and proud. "2weeks" Afrar repeats looking at her father.
"Exactly" Baba replies happily.

I think baba still hasn't realized that everyone seated at this table is extremely tensed, even her father who helped concoct the plan.
"Yes it's in two weeks. I should get back to the house...I'm meeting with some people" her father says.

Without so much as a word she gets up and walks out with Jafar following behind her.
"Sorry, it is still something new to her"
"That's marriage" Baba jokes.

.....
.....
.....

I sit on the couch looking at the wall blankly, Baba just screwed me over.
Mayriam comes in and sits next to me.
"What's up? With baba's jolly mood I thought you would be excited too. So tell me what happened? Who did you meet?"

I look at her but say nothing, this might also ruin her too.
"Baba has screwed us over, you and I"
"What? How?"

"We met with Afrar and her father"
"So? They are friends aren't they?"

"Those old men are trying to force her to marry....." I point to myself "Yours truly"
She looks at me with her mouth hanged wide open.
"She looked....I'm sure you can guess" I end my sentence with a huff.

"Oh God! What if she thinks this was planned from the very beginning? I'm officially fired" she buries her head in her hands. "What am I going to do?"

We sat there for minutes without a word.
Sometimes parents don't understand the situation, they feel they are doing the right thing but the truth is somethings are just better handled by the child.

......
......

I sat in my office shaking my legs nervously.
I convinced Mayriam to go to work and I hope things go well.

My phone finally rings and I quickly pick it up.

So?

It was like nothing happened. I'm scared, what if she is planning something against me?

Are you serious? What did you talk about?

She just asked me if I knew anything about it and I told her I didn't. At first she was looking angry and pissed but after I confirmed my innocence she went back to being her normal cheerful Afrar.

That's Good.

I'll try to explain to her that you didn't know too.

Don't! That might destroy what you just fixed, I'll try myself.