Bound ✅

Lab Technicians

"This your pregnancy has turned you into a certified crybaby." Halima turned with righteous indignation at Kemi who was brushing lint off the black Jumpsuit she had worn to Jariyah's birthday party.

"I'm not pregnant. That's nearly impossible, it's probably a rush of hormones." Kemi sneered at her and gestured for Summayah who was supervising the workers from the planning company who were taking down the marquee.

"She doesn't believe abi?" Kemi nodded with the sneer still on her face, Halima shook her head at both of them knowing that they must have talked about it at length beforehand. She observed both of them from under her lashes, seeing the confidence they carried in the fact that she must be pregnant.

Then it was her turn to sneer at them, "I just had my period a few days ago. Besides, I don't know when you both turned into my Instagram commenters, always womb watching." She walked away leaving them standing there, but inner turmoil overtook her, her period had been nearly non existent, she had been happy to accommodate it but now, she was worried.

Soon, she reached Zain and Chike who were sitting on two of the chairs still lying around and eating the chocolate cake that Jariyah had chosen to be shared at her party.

"Guys, thank you so much for coming. Jamal and I are very grateful. First for you listening to Jariyah and for showing up here. Thank you so much." Zain nodded with a blob of cake on his beard and Halima nearly laughed. Chike finished chewing before replying, "Jariyah is precious to us. I only pray I have a child like her when Kemi and I's time comes, I'll just leave all my life's work to her knowing she'll take it to greater heights." 

Halima nodded at him smiling, Jamal and his friends were so forward thinking that it was unimaginable that they had been born in a time were reducing women to nothing was prevalent. They just did things that touched the lives of the women around them, and they were not pretentious about it.

She walked away from them slowly, going in the direction of the planner's assistant who had supervised the party. When she reached him, he was sweating from helping the others pack things into the huge trailer they brought.

"Mr Ahmad, thank you. For bringing my baby's dreams to life." Mr Ahmad nodded with a shy smile. He had ordered several Princess Sofia props and watched many episodes of the show to plan the birthday well. He looked around with a nod of his head, he had surely done well.

Halima unearthed a small envelope from her Abaya pocket and handed it to the smallish man who removed his glasses to refuse Halima's gift. Nothing Halima said could make him take the envelope, until Jamal who had gone to drop Jariyah, Safeenah and Lubna at home interrupted the conversation.

"Well, you can have it. We know how strict your boss is about things, but this is between you and us. Okay? " Halima turned to look at her husband and corroborated his words with a firm nod. Mr Ahmad finally took it and hurriedly put it in his Kaftan's pocket without looking at it.

"Thank you ma, Sir." Halima only nodded and pulled her husband back to where their friends were waiting for them at the carpark. She looked round the empty grass that as at two hours before carried a huge purple marquee and huge bouncing castles in purple. Her eyes scanned the grass again for any dirt that could make the estate people call her in the morning and when she found none, she pulled Jamal again to the carpark.

"Guys, let's go. I'm tired." Jamal chuckled and his hands came to her shoulders in a bid to massage it. In a moment of irritation that suddenly came over her, she shrugged his hands away. Jamal looked into her eyes, hurt. She sighed, not knowing what had come over her, he just walked away to the driver's side and entered into the car.

"J." She called out, he looked at her as he maneouved his way out of the park. "I'm sorry." He nodded and turned the steering a bit to stay on the lane. "I'll just ask next time whether you want my hands on your body or not." He said without emotions as he parked behind Zain and Chike's cars in their vast compound.