"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.

"No. That's not it," she hurriedly walked to him and put her arms around him, his hands hung limply from his sides. She knew she had hurt him, so she looked up at him and said sorry with a cheeky smile. His own cheeks blossomed into a smile and all was forgiven. As they walked into the house, Halima wondered who she could have been with if not him? He treated like her like his partner and an equal, instead of just going off and making decisions as though she didn't matter, he put her in a position where all she saw was immense love mixed with mutual respect.

Saying Jamal was the Love of her life was an understatement. He knew her desires before she spoke them, gave her kisses when she needed to be comforted, sent her food when she forgot to eat. He just was an all round person that his goodness shocked Halima every single time.

She knew she could never thank enough; his mother who raised him to know that he didn't have to stamp on a woman to feel better and  Allah who blessed her with him and him with her. All glory be to the one who made the human she slept and woke up to everyday.

*****

"Your HCG levels are the highest I've seen. But go back to the lab and do this test." The gynecologist handed a sheaf of papers to Halima and Halima got up picked up the small purse she came with and walked through the small clinic hidden in a building in Wuse 2. She had so far seen at least three of mummy's friends in the reception that she greeted over and over. She knew they'd be raising their phones to call Mummy immediately she left.

As the lab technician took her blood sample for the second time that day, Halima's new phone rang. The sound was so jarring that even the technician jumped.

"Mummy, Ina Kwana." Mummy asked her where she was and Halima told her with a chuckle that she was at the clinic. "Two of my friends called to ask me after your health, nosy fellows, those ones." Laughter bubbled out of Halima as she sat in the comfortable plush chair in front of the laboratory.

"I just finished from the Lab Mummy. I'll come straight over when I'm done." Halima reassured her and ended the call. She shook her head as she turned on her data connection, making her phone ping with several messages. Kemi and Summayah had been talking about whether or not Halima was pregnant.

Halima typed on her phone, chuckling as she read the message.

Look at you people, little gossips. Don't you both have important work to do?

Kemi and Summayah sent several laughing emojis. The lab door opened and she was handed another sheaf of papers. The lab technician smiled at her and she smiled back with a nod, it was suspicious.

When she reached the office of the gynecologist, she knocked and entered after being beckoned in. She handed the papers to the woman who smiled and turned to her computer and began to input things, she had earlier asked Halima when she last had a period.

"So, you're about eight weeks and four days pregnant. Yes, you had a period, but it doesn't mean that you are not pregnant. You just need to rest a lot more, drink lots of water and take the vitamins I prescribe. Just please, for now, no heavy liftings." Halima nodded woodenly and leaned forward, took the prescription and walked out of the office. Outside, she pulled out her phone and called Mummy who sent a driver to her immediately.

****

"Mummy," Her mother in law pulled her closer and patted her back. "I thought I could not. I didn't think it would happen so soon." She raised her head to look at her mother in law again.

"Are you happy?" Halima nodded but didn't say anything anymore. "Then, just thank Allah for sending a blessing your way, don't worry about how the doctor called it high risk, we will make sure you're safe, comfortable and happy. Okay?" Halima nodded again and rested on the leather arm chair that Mummy had decorated her private living room with.

She had moved into a four bedroom bungalow in Maitama that allowed her have a garden, two parlours and a small gazebo. It was large by normal standards.

The doorbell rang and a middle-aged woman who served as Mummy's housekeeper went to open the door, Halima heard Jamal's voice and chuckled softly. His mother would have called him, that was sure.

She smelt him before she saw him, he knelt before her and took her hands in his, Halima adjusted and let him sit next to her, Mummy had gotten up before Jamal got into the sitting room they were in.

When Jamal could finally speak, he only said one word, "Alhamdulillah." Halima leaned up, kissed his forehead and laughed at his face.

" Happy?" She asked him. He nodded enthusiastically, "I just nearly cannot believe it. You and I have a life growing here." He put his hand at her belly and rubbed slowly.

"Alhamdulillah." Halima replied with a smile. Nothing else mattered in that moment.

******

Heyo guys,

How are you doing? I hope you liked the chapter enough to comment? Our baby is having a baby. 🎉🎉😭😭😭

I just want to say Thank you for coming this far with me. There is only one chapter left, before the epilogue. We're winding down to the end soon. I can't say Thank you enough to God for giving me the inspiration to write Bound.

I'll see y'all soon. So that we'll start reading Misfortunate very soon. Have you added it to your library yet? Go and do so Abeg😭😭. God bless you.

Ciao
TheOmoope 💙