Bound ✅

Unshackled

Sorry I called back the chapter. Abeg, leave comments. Let me know what you think. That's all I ask. Thank you.

"Her hair is 4C." Halima sighed. She pulled at a strand lightly and sighed again. Definitely 4C. The customer came in for a trim and Halima knew the work that needed to be put in.

"I have to go for Jumaah prayers right about now. Chris here." Halima pointed at the head hairdresser, "will help you to your utmost satisfaction." The customer nodded and Halima smiled, signaling for a glass of juice for the lady.

"Use oil and water based treatment for you to know the actual length before trimming. Her curls are the real definition of nappy." Halima walked in the direction of her office to carry her bag.

As she listened to the Imam's preaching, she made a silent dua for strength and courage to deal with the rest of the day. She sure needed it knowing Salisu's mother. She had tucked it in one corner of her mind and dealt with her day, but from time to time, the thought snuck back into her consciousness.

After the congregational prayer, she tiptoed out of the tiled mosque. She looked around for Summayah who said she was doing her Friday prayers there.

"Madam." She turned and smiled at Summayah who was carrying a drowsy Lubna. Jariyah had launched herself at Halima the moment she saw her, all doin less than a second.

"Let's go." Halima stepped out of the mosque and walked to the huge rack where she had kept her slippers. She wore them and helped Jariyah with her gladiator sandals.

"Jary, how was school?" Jariyah smiled up to Halima and began telling Halima about her time at school. Summayah walked behind them smiling, she wanted to say something about how much Jariyah loved Halima but she knew her friend, it would spook her so she kept quiet and watched. Summayah knew that Jariyah sought something like acceptance from Halima and every smile, every kiss or Pat on the head was lapped up by the little girl.

"Summy?" Halima called out as they reached the huge carpark. Finding Jamal's car would be hard since she didn't know what car he brought. They had taken a taxi.

"Halima, Dan Allah call Jamal, my arms are asleep." When Halima absentmindedly nodded, Summayah pumped her fist in the the air. Definitely, Jamal was buying her Hermes birkin bag.

"Walaikum Salam Jamal." Summayah smiled wider at the way Halima said her brother's name. Something had definitely happened at their date.

"Where did you park?" Summayah watched her nod over and over and end the call. As she put her phone in her bag, Summayah caught a blush climbing her fair face. "He said he parked at the car park next door to the mosque."

"What did he tell you that is making you blush?" Summayah asked as they walked, she had decided not to spare her friend.

"That's between the two of us." Summayah wanted to howl in excitement but held her breath because of the sleeping Lubna. If not, she would have yodeled, forget the crowded carpark.

*******

"Welcome."

Halima, whose slippers were dangling from her fingers dropped them when she saw the people sitting in her father's living room. What in the world?

Salisu's mother brought an army with her. Including Salisu's uncle, his sisters and her own father. Her father sat in front of the television, marking the center.

"Sit there." Her father commanded. She adjusted the hijab she had pushed to her forehead when she was at the gate.

"Asalam Alaykum." She greeted instead. Then sat down at the arm of her mother's chair. Her mother was wrapped in a huge black veil and she played with her arms and tapped her left foot.

"Halima now that you are here, Salisu's mother has laid some allegations at your feet. I'll allow her to repeat them now that you are here." Salisu's mother cleared her throat and shifted to the front.

"Good afternoon everyone." She greeted and Halima felt a calmness come over her and drape itself like a veil over her. So she waited.

"While she was married to my son, she didn't treat him well at all. She went to work knowing my only son." Halima watched her put an emphasis on the only. Halima's only reply was to shake her head at the old woman. "Was ill. He couldn't fend for himself yet she refused to give up work and come live with me. Also, during their marriage, she used contraceptives. I was hurt when I found out last week. What wife doesn't want to give birth fo hse husband? And now that there's a chance that a piece of my son could be born, she has refused blatantly. Why?" With that, she promptly burst into tears, using a handkerchief to hide her eyes but not her mouth which she used to cry loudlly.

Halima had watched her father's face as Salisu's mother made her complaints. His face had moved from passive to angry, now she knew he was going to lash out at her.

"First, Halima, go and kneel before your mother-in-law and apologise." When Halima stared at him wildly, he screamed at her to get up, she just looked on calmly, only when her mother's hand gripped her lap pleadingly did she get up.

"Na. I'm sorry for all you said I did." Halima said as she knelt before her. Instead of the old woman to keep quiet, she seemed to cry louder. Everyone looked at themselves in question.

"Can you hear her? For all I said she did as though she didn't do them. May Allah reward you immensely." Halima rolled her eyes slightly and said Amen. She got up and walked back to her seat, thoroughly calm.

"Halima, what do you plan on doing?" Halima clasped her hands on her crossed legs and said "I'll like to say something." Her fatehr waved her on.

"I think in Mama's innermost thoughts, she knows that pressuring me is wrong. All she did while i was married to her son was make like miserable for me." Her father's mouth opened in surprise.

"What do you mean? She took you in and allowed to to marry her son after you rendered yourself useless. What bad person would do that?" Halima pursed her lips in exasperation. This narrative was an apple gone bad. It was not to ne stomached.

"All that." Her father stopped to cough. "Is useless. Why are you refusing to help her?" Halima watched Salisu's mother childishly nod. She narrowed her eyes at the stinking plan to use her strict father against her.

She had not yet said a word when her father asked. "Are you in a relationship? Is that why?" Halima tilted her head in question. One could not call the thing with Jamal a relationship coul they?

She recrossed her legs and kept mute. She could not reply. So her father kept talking. "Since there's nobody. I order you to do as Salisu's mother has said." Her father hadn't finished speaking before her mother who she sat next to spoke up.

"Well. I didn't want to say until we talked privately. She has an offer, her former employer asked me to tell you they'd be coming soon to ask for her hand in marriage." Her mother's words broke the calm that was all over.

******

Hi guys👋🏽🌚,

Hehe. Jamal FC please wave your flags🏁🏁 Y'all have a supporter.

I cannot continue talking because I'm so stressed out. I'm on mid semester break but it doesn't seem like it because I'm as hard at work in school as ever, so please pray for me. 😚😚

My dm is still open for more questions. I've only received a few.

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God bless us.

TheOmoope 🖤