Labiba

Chapter 15

This chapter would give a bit of an insight to Labiba's state of mind, but she's still withholding some information.

Chapter 15
Labiba's POV

It's been three weeks since we came back from Abuja and things have not improved between Salim and I. We only talk when it's absolutely necessary and that too only happens because Laila is back to living with us full time.

Salim had managed to land Nasiru Falke as his client, I only overheard him telling someone on the phone. At the time it had hurt me because I deserved to be told, seeing as I had a huge part in getting the plan and of course, I followed him to Kano for this job. At the end, I decided I won't let it get to me just because he feels like I should be treated like trash these days.

I still cook dinner everyday and he still eats it. He eats and washes the dishes afterwards, he has taken it upon himself to wash his dishes anytime he's done eating and I haven't done anything to stop him. Lord knows I could use a hand in taking care of the house.

Everyday, he leaves early in the morning and comes back at exactly 6pm. Sometimes, he goes out to God knows where in the night and sometimes he stays in. I don't put much thought into it because sometimes, when I remember how he didn't even give me a chance to tell him my side of the story, I get so angered that I feel like ending everything as soon as possible.

Today, we're spending the day at Salma's. Yesterday, Salim told me that they're travelling with Farouq to Suleja to see Farouq's great uncle who is sick. He told me that if I want, I can spend the day at Salma's house until they're back.

Since it's the weekend, I wake up early and cook breakfast, I make chips and plantain with egg sauce and we both eat our fill. I also feed Laila with her baby formula and she has been forming words and saying the names of objects. It's all too adorable to watch because the only time Salim and I laugh uniformly is when she does something.

On the drive to Farouq and Salma's, he asks "Do you need something at the supermarket? We may not come back early."

"Nothing." I answer simply and we continue to ignore each other.

When we arrive at Salma's, we find her in the living room with her daughters, Amra and Amna sleeping in their cots. "Maman biyu." I tease her as I drop Laila's baby bag and move towards the cot to peek at the sleeping babies, they've grown bigger over the few days I haven't seen them. "Gaskiya ne fa, Amna na kama da ni." I tell Salma and she laughs out.

"Amra kuma na kama da Salim." I only scrunch my nose up at her and she shakes her head.

The old woman that Aunty Hussaina brought from Kano to stay with Salma comes out from the guest bathroom. "Baaba na ce miki ki bar aikin nan, akwai me yi fa."

"Ai ba komai, na saba da aikin a gida, yanzu in ina zaune sai inji jiki na ciwo."

Salma and I laugh at her words and Salma says "Toh Allah Ya saka da alkhairi."

"Aamiin." We answer unison. "Ina kwana." I greet the woman and she answers jovially as she makes her way towards the kitchen and I finally sit down. Salim comes in at that moment and Farouq comes out shortly after that too.

We all greet each other and joke for a few minutes before Farouq says "It's already 10am, we should get going."

"Yes." Salim stands up and move towards me to pat Laila's cheeks.

"Lailus." Over the past week, he has also started calling Laila the way I'm calling her. I fight the urge to roll my eyes. "Toh sai mun dawo. Maman Laila." He only nods at me and I take my eyes off him.