Bound ✅

Abaya Galore

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Halima sat quietly and watched as Summayah conferred with the driver before entering the vehicle. Mummy had asked her to come meet Summayah since Jamal was in Lagos.

"Does she know we're here?" Halima shushed Jariyah and the little girl held her lips in mock silence. She nodded and turned back to the door where Summayah was talking to the driver. She watched Summayah bring out some pound notes and ask the driver to share it among the airport security who had helped land the plane.

"Ameen. Ameen Ya Allah." She muttered, responding to prayers when she opened the door. Halima watched her slink into the deeply upholstered seat tiredly.

"Asalam Alaykum Summayah Abubakar." Summayah screamed, she held a hand to her mouth and when her hand dropped from her mouth, she screamed again.

"Oh Ya Allah. Halima. Jariyah. Oh my goodness." She hugged an exuberant Jariyah to her tall frame. She kissed Jariyah's forehead carefully and pinched her cheeks happily.

"Lee? Thank you." Halima smiled. Summayah was well known for theatrics, a little gesture had turned into something about to make her cry.

"You're welcome. How was your flight?" Summayah nodded and clasped her hands. "Alhamdulillahi. Bad weather when we got halfway though, we had turbulence for nearly one hour straight. I've never prayed so much in one sitting." Halima nodded. She understood.

"Welcome back." Once the driver saw they were done with pleasantries, he asked if he could move. Halima replied him and buckled Jariyah into her seat opposite them. She looked like a little angel with all her curly hair flying around.

"How are you?" Halima clicked her tongue and smiled.  "You, Summayah. How are you?" Summayah scooted closer and set her head on Halima's shoulder.

"I was so scared I'd never see you again." Halima carefully put out her hand and patted Summayah's back.

"You're here. Alhamdulillahi. Okay?" She felt Summayah nod into her neck.

"Jary boo, how's school?" Jariyah as though waiting for the question began to explain her school and her teacher.

"I wear a white and navy blue uniform now. With a tie. We're sixteen in my class, I sit in front till my glasses come next week." Halima looked outside, Jariyah had complained about not seeing the board well and failed some tests. So, Jamal flew her to Dubai to see an ophthalmologist and they recommended glasses or a laser surgery.

*******

"My house is full already. Even Farida is returning tomorrow afternoon. I don't need more people Jamal. Stay in your house." Halima giggled quietly as she sat with Lubna who was watching a cartoon on her tablet.

"Two!" Lubna shouted at the device and Halima jerked out of her reverie to see Summayah walking towards them.

"Mummy says Jamal stays here too much and that's shes tired of fielding questions from people who want to know why Jamal still stays at home." Halima stopped helping Jariyah press her device and sat up properly.

"Why can't people mind tbeir business. He has his own house in Asokoro doesn't he?" Summayah nodded with a smile and Halima frowned.

"Why are you smiling?" Summayah coughed delicately and rolled away from Halima before replying her.

"See as you're defending the love of your life." Halima frowned more and shook her head.

"So, tell me, what's up with you two?" Halima shrugged and then frowned when she thought of the question again.

"Which two? There's no us." Summayah didn't reply, she just got up and adjusted her scarf with exaggerated steps.

"Until the man comes to kneel in front of you. That's when you'll see that there's a two of you."

****

Halima knocked at the door of Mummy's in house office and waited for a reply. When she was asked to come in, she opened the polished wooden door and entered with her bare feet, leaving her house slippers at the door.

"Dear, how are you?" Halima smiled at Jamal's mother. She was in a dark blue Abaya stoned at the sleeves and around the neck. Her glasses hung from around her neck with a beaded rope and her white salt and pepper hair.

Halima stood in front of her desk shyly until she offered her a seat. "I don't know why you keep behaving like a stranger. Do you see Summayah come in here and wait for me to offer a seat?" Halima shook her head and sat down.

"So, what can I do for you?" She asked Halima, not unkindly, a smile forming on her face.

"Well, since the salon is opening in a few days, I thought I should remind you that I want you and my mom to be my first clients." Jamal's mom twisted her lips and shook her head.

"You this child. Just remind me a day to. I'll come. Okay?" Halima nodded and clasped her hands again.

"Isn't that all?" Halima nodded, but she still sat there.

"Well. Since that's all, will you go through those abayas i placed on the sofa." Halima looked at her she pointed and saw a stack of clothes on the Navy blue sofa.

"They're so beautiful." Halima smiled with such reverence when she reached the clothes. She opened a ziplock bag that one black one was placed in and carefully brought it out.

Jamal's looked up from her paperwork. "That one is for Hajiya Sambo. It's the one with Swarovski crystals on the sleeves and length." Halima looked around the Abaya she was carrying and quickly zipped it back. That must have cost her entire savings.

"It's not that expensive. Just some three hundred thousand. Nothing much." Halima goggled and patted the clothes reverently. There was so much money in this world and beautiful things to spend it on.

"Those ones on the neck of the sofa. Yes. The black one for you, the blue one for Summayah, the dark purple one for Farida. Please drop them in their rooms." After saying that, she went back to reading her paperwork. Halima was too much in shock to speak, so she walked up to her with teary eyes.

When Jamal's mother saw her, she eyed he and shook her head at her. "You've started crying again. What will you do when you buy more expensive things for yourself ehn? You'll weep a bucket then. Please carry those things and leave here. I don't want to see tears, just say prayers for my business instead."

Halima smiled through the threatening tears and walked out of the room shutting the door behind her. It was so surreal how lucky she had become with this family.

When she reached Summayah's room, she had wiped her tears and she handed Summayah's Abaya to her.

"From your mom." Summayah collected it gleefully and tore the package open. "Oh my goodness. Mummy gets us the best Abayas. It's so pretty." The heavy material slinked down from her hands to the floor.

"Isn't it too much. For you and Farida, it's fine. But for me, its a little too much." Summayah threw the Abaya down and pulled Halima unto her bed.

"You've become like a sister to me, you helped me from marrying a rapist, you helped my mom keep Daddy's illness, helped Jamal keep his babies. Have you seen how polite Jariyah is? You raised those children for two years.

Hell, you're my sister. I don't know why you can't just accept gifts and get on with life." Halima from where she was perched on the bed, didn't say anything, she just gave thanks to Allah in her head. For His blessings were too good to be true.

*********

Helloooo,

How are you doing?

How's everything? How's life treating us? Amazing.

Just came here to drop off these baby. So, see y'all soon.

TheOmoope