Chapter Seven

12th August 2014

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The days that followed their dinner date had Amirah terribly missing home, Muhammad was back to work, her only companion for a few hours was Mrs Jane and she tried to keep the woman longer than necessary.

"Is there anything else you want me to do?" Mrs Jane asked her eyes twinkling with amusement, Amirah groaned.

"No, I'm afraid I have to let you go."

"I don't have anything else to do today so I'd be going to the market, would you like to join me?"

Amirah's eyes lit up with mirth and an excited nod followed.

"Finally! An opportunity to leave this place."

Mrs Jane laughed, "it's quite a fun estate, some of the doctor's wives are really nice."

Amirah raised an eyebrow in disbelief, "and the others?"

"Highly rude, arrogant and prideful."

They both bursted into a fit of laughter before Amirah changed into something more appropriate to go outdoors.

The market was quite busy and Amirah was as gleeful as a child allowed sweets.

After about two hours of roaming around the market and getting stuffs, Mrs Jane suggested they go to a nearby restaurant for they were undeniably famished.

Mrs Jane was probaby few years younger than Hajiya but Amirah loved the fact that the lady treated her well, as if they were of close range in age. She understood her and they conversed quite well.

The woman had only two daughters and they were both married, she was educated but worked as a cleaning lady at the estate exclusively, the pay was mouth drooling she had said, Amirah decided it'd be rude to ask how much it was so she had kept shut.

"I know it's not in my place to say but, I noticed you and your husband are not really as chummy as I expected, trust me I know how newlyweds behave and it's no way close to how you and your husband do."

Amirah sighed, she knew her feelings for Muhammad wasn't deep and she wondered why, he was handsome, rich, sweet and the best part, in love with her. A lot of girls are wishing to be in her place but to be honest, she found her husband quite boring and too good.

Oh Allah! what was she even saying? A lot of women hoped for a good man and here she was saying hers was too good for her liking, she must really be crazy.

She noticed Mrs Jane was still looking at her perharps expecting an answer.

"I don't love him."

Mrs Jane's gaze didn't waver, "I guessed as much but your husband loves you dearly, why did you get married to him when it was a one sided love?"

"Long story, maybe some other day." Amirah said suddenly feeling fatigued.

Mrs Jane's smile was a coy one, "do be careful dear, he is a fine man."

Amirah was glad the topic changed from her and Muhammad's relationship for she felt uncomfortable talking about how she didn't reciprocate his love, he knew she didn't but she was sure he wouldn't appreciate her discussing it.

Mrs Jane was happily chattering about her daughters and Amirah smiled at the way Mrs Jane spoke of her daughters with so much fondness and joy and it was obvious how much she misses them.

Amirah wondered if Hajiya ever spoke about her like that, at the thought of that she scoffed, Hajiya would never, not because she didn't love them but their accomplishments come first where she and her friends concerned, and where accomplishments were concerned, Hajiya would rather not talk about Adnan.

"They do not call me." Mrs Jane was saying, "Ella sometimes doesn't pick my call, she feels I pester her a lot, but maybe I do, my girls are grown, they are capable of thinking for themselves, that's what my husband tells me. They 'll still be kids in my eyes, don't worry dear, you'll one day understand the love a mother has for her child when you finally have one of your own."

Amirah didn't want to burst the woman's bubble by telling her she couldn't picture herself wanting a child now or anytime soon. She wasn't really a fan of children, they irritated her with the way they wail over absolutely nothing and everything.

"Is there anything else you'd like us to do before going home?" Mrs Jane asked

"Not really, I'm a bit tired even. I'll just go home and stock the fridge, take a nap before I start preparing dinner."

"Said just like a true housewive, since you get utterly bored during the day, why don't you just get a job?"

A job? Amirah smiled at the prospect, she had thought of it, of course her degree wouldn't be going to waste.

"I've thought of the idea, it does sound like a great one, I'd talk to my... Muhammad about it."

She didn't miss the knowing smile Mrs Jane semt her way, she just chose to ignore it.

"I'm free tomorrow, we could go jub hunting together." Mrs Jane offered.

Amirah found herself smiling again, this woman was God-sent and she silently patted herself on the back for not telling her off the first day she had come knocking at their gate.

"I really don't know what I'd do without you. Maybe slump and die from boredom." Amirahsaid jokingly.

Mrs Jane shook her head, "I need to have a word with that workaholic husband of yours."

Amirah laughed as they stood up exiting the restaurant. Mrs Jane hailed a taxi for her, she told the driver the name of the estate which was located in Lekki.

Amirah waved at Mrs Jane before the woman headed off to take the public bus home.

~~~~

Amirah was frustrated and was currently berating herself.

"Why are you even bothering yourself to get worked up about this? It's not like he asked you to cook him dinner or dress prettily. Stupid, stupid girl, just go to bed, he's not coming home now or even tonight."

She had prepared a sumptous meal, taken a long bath then dressed up in a beautifully sewn atampa. She had perfumed her body, washed her hair and applied a lavender scenting oil on it, all for what? for him to not pick her calls.

Mrs Jane had been the cause of this, she felt bad about the way she's been treating and even treated Muhammad and so she decided since she agreed to marry him, she might as well put in effort into making it work. They were married now and there was probably nothing that was going to change that fact so she might as well start giving it her all, just as he had.

Now look at what that foolish decision had caused her, her heart writhed with agony as a thought crossed her mind; Is he seeing someone else? A prettier woman? One who'd finally show him the love and attention she's been depriving him. It wasn't as if she loved him or anything, it was just a woman's thing, to have something or someone whom you'd always thought would only have eyes for you look somewhere else, give that same attention to another woman was a huge blow to the ego of any woman, deny or may not and that was what Amirah was feeling now.

She cleared the table and threw the food she had painstakingly prepared into the bin, washed the plates and pot clean. Well then, if Muhammad has gotten someone who loves him, she wouldn't be a hindrance, tomorrow she'll go with Mrs Jane on a job hunt and live her life her way since he was doing the same but, he bloody hell not come knocking at her door at dawn for fajr prayers or she might just remove the door from it's hinges and break it on his head.