Hajara's Journey (A Love Story)

Chapter twenty three

Not edited

From the beginning i knew she was bad luck. From the way she wanted us to dress differently at every ceremony we attended to the way she talked bad about everyone. my instincts told me she was bad news. But surprisingly Sister mami thought i was only ranting. This woman was a bad person. I wasn't perfect either but she, she was a wolf in a sheep clothing. A hypocrite! Yesterday, i received a call from sister mami, and the day I had been dreading came into being.
Hajia successfully convinced sister mami to let Hakeem marry her only child, Sumaya.
And apparently, Mami overheard Hakeems conversation with one of their beneficiaries of their scholarship.

Of course, I was hurt. I wasn't invited neither did I have any idea  about the wedding. Sister mami and I fought about an issue. A long time secret I have kept to myself that even my own husband had no idea about.
She was angry, I was angry, she tried to. I know she only wanted me to do what's right. But that could cost me my marriage!
And the unfortunate happened, she told Hajia what I discussed with her after Hajia realized our coldness towards each other.
I felt betrayed, I didn't expect her to be discussing what we shared with a total stranger.
Mami tried to explain herself but I was to hurt, ego and shame took me faraway from her. And even though, she tried calling me or coming to the house, I gave numerous excuses just to avoid seeing or hearing from her.

That's is why when I received a call from Sister Mami yesterday I was surprised. Its been almost a year I heard from her. She called thrice. The first two calls I ignored but only answered the call after my husband gave me the 'are you that childish' look.

HAJARA'S POV

Today I realized the house was a quite empty. Everyone seemed to have vanished over the night or at dawn. I woke up to a relatively quite house as compared to yesterday.
"What's happening?"  I asked myself as I went down the stairs.
Even mum who I had greeted earlier wasn't as bubbly as I know her to be.
And she avoided eye contact with me.
Well, I shrugged everyday is not a party day.

I entered the kitchen and only met Rahina and Anita the help in the kitchen.

"Good morninggg" I sang as I made my way to the sink to wash my hands. But everyone seemed to be in her own thought.

"Eerrrm " I cleared my throat to draw their attention but it was only Anita that responded to me.
I went ahead and poured some cereal into a bowl,added some berries before adding some milk and a spoon.
I sat on the stool to take my breakfast. Definitely tired of everything.
"The wedding has been cancelled" Rahina blurted
"What!" I slurred as I tried hard to swallow the berries. My heart was beating very fast. I hope i t wasn't because of what he told me yesterday. Oh God why's my life such a mess.
"Why?" I asked secretly hoping it wasn't because of what he told me or that's what I forced myself to believe.
" I don't know, but I'm kind of glad. That girl was already getting on my nerve and I just can't imagine what would have happened if she got married to my brother" Rahina said as she bit into the apple in her hands.

I stood up to make my way to the hall area my appetite long gone.
Just as I did that,we heard a scream from the hall.
"Oh no, I hope its not Hajia" I mumbled as I followed Anita and Rahina out of the kitchen.

And truly it was her. She lay on the floor as she rained insults and curses on the witches and wizards in her family after, she stood up to tie her wrapper her daughter Sumaya, who I was seeing for the first time behind her.
"Mamiiii, mamiiii" she screamed by this time almost everyone was gathered in the hall. I turned my back to see Abdul Hakeem and mami coming down the stairs.
"Oh sister Mami what did I tell you? I told you this girl was bad luck. From the very first day I saw her I could feel it in my guts. From the way Hakeem looked at her to the way you treat her. I knew, I knew something was wrong. She's just tricking you people to fall for her. Such a character."

Is it me she's talking about? I turned around and everyone's eyes were on me. I couldn't breath I can't breath. I rushed to the kitchen for some water and surprisingly Hakeem followed me.
"Are you OK?" He asked.
"Yes I am." I wanted to stay back in the kitchen. But he held my hand.
"Let's go" he said as he dragged my arm with him into the hall.
Once we got there, i realized mom was trying to calm her down and even made her sit on the one setter.
Surprisingly, dad wasn't home.
"Hajia,you have to understand that Allah does everything for a reason. If my son isn't interested, I can't force him. This is a lifetime commitment we are talking about. Try and put your feet in the kids shoes and see how you'll feel.
Of course I'm at fault because I didn't ask my son about how he felt about the whole marriage thing. You lead me astray and you know it. At least we thank God that the flier wasn't shared and its only family that knows about this." Mam added.

"Nooo, I'm not taking it I'm not taking any of this. Its either Hakeem marries Sumaya or this rat leaves else I will..."

"Else you'll do what? Mr Hakeem added
At this point I was so scared. I wanted to leave but Mr Hakeem held tightly to my arm.
I was feeling so tensed and I kept on shifting from one toe to the other. I felt things was escalating and I just wanted to leave.

" Else I will" and just immediately, her high heel landed on my head.

"Asalamu alaykum" I heard a strange voice greet from outside before I collapsed on the ground. My vision clouded with the blood that oozed from the wound.