Ibrahim

THREE DAYS AFTER visiting Habeeb I constantly think about what he told me and was also thinking if there's any possibility that I have start developing feelings for Aishah,she is beautiful no doubt but I think I'm just jealous for no reason

I stepped down from my car and lock it before going inside,it was late in the night and I was just coming from work,my father invited me and Aishah for dinner at his place tomorrow's night which I have to let Aishah know beforehand

I stood at the front of her door trying to knock when I heard low sobs,I waited a little thinking about what might be wrong with her

I finally gave in and knocked at her door,after awhile she opened the door and the first thing I noticed is her puffy eyes,I clear my throat and she was the first to talk

"What do you want?"she asked like she was trying all means to discard me

"My dad invited us for dinner tomorrow"

"Ok"she replied trying to shut the door while I step my foot in preventing her from locking the door at me

"What do you want?"she yelled obviously angry

"What's wrong with you?"I found myself asking

"Obviously non of your business"she replied trying to lock the door again but I stopped her,I opened the door further entering inside her room before finally shutting the door

I look around her room it looks so homey calm and comfortable,this was the first time I ever stepped into her room

"What do you want?"she asked irritatedly

"I want to know what's wrong with you"

"Like I said earlier is non of your business so you can leave"she said strictly

"Please"I whispered slowly and she look surprised hearing me plead to her

"I don't want to tell you"

"I'm not leaving till you tell me"

"What's your gain in this?"she asked exasperated

"I will be at peace when I know you are alright"

"You're just pretending you don't care"she shook her head sitting down on her bed

"I do care and I care a lot"

"Why do you care?"she asked already crying which I'm sure she doesn't know of

"I don't know seriously"I said moving closer to her slowly

"Just tell me what's wrong please"I said when I finally sit close to her wiping away the tears in her eyes it looks like the act provoked her and she started crying loudly releasing everything she bottled up

I draw her closer to myself placing her head on my chest while she cried soaking my shirt which I don't really mind

"My dad is sick"she said after awhile

"What's wrong with him?"I asked quietly

"I don't know but it seems really bad and my sister called me this evening that it got worst"she says and end up choking

"Why don't you go and check him?"I asked

"We had problems"

"Hey!"I lifted her face looking directly into her eyes while she do thesame "this is the right time you need to be there for him,if you don't go now and something bad end up happening which I don't pray for you will spend the rest of your life regretting"

"I don't know"she replied slyly placing her head back on my chest which made me smile a little

"I'm driving you to the hospitality tomorrow"

"No don't bother"she said and quickly sit up

"I'm not asking Aishah and there's nothing you can do about that we are going to the hospital tomorrow"I said sternly pulling her closer to myself gently placing her head on my chest

This is the closest we had ever been

"I'm feeling sleepy"she said after awhile

"Sleep"I said and silence fell

I check her after a while and saw she was already asleep,I smiled and gently placed her on the bed pulling the duvet over her body

I lean down and watched her for awhile,she look different like she's not the same girl I have been living with,I lean closer to her and kiss her forehead before leaving the room closing the door

I went back in to my room smiling like I won a trophy,I tried to wipe off the smile from my face but it seems it's not working

I took off my clothes and shower before going to bed too totally forgetting I didn't eat dinner

**************

I woke up the following day with rays of sun shining through my window,I groan angrily for forgetting not to close my window yesterday's night

I finally managed to stand up and went to the bathroom taking my bath and also brushing my teeth after having late subh prayer,I wore a black jogger and a plain white t shirt I went downstairs and met Aishah cooking in the kitchen

She was oblivious of my presence giving her full concentration on what she was doing,I lean at the door looking at her small stature she was wearing a baby pink pyjamas making her look younger than herself and then I remembered she's just 19 getting to 20 years old,she's still young

She finally noticed my presence and turned around looking shocked for seeing me in the kitchen because in usual days I either come down straight to eat my breakfast and leave the house or leave immediately I see she's not through with the cooking and have my breakfast in the eatery

"Good morning"she greeted shyly and I was sure it has something to do with yesterday showing me her vulnerability

"How was your night"

"Fine and yours?"she asked busy slicing onion after slicing the tomatoes

"Nice,what are you cooking?"I asked

"Errmm"she looks uncomfortable with my questions and I can't find it comfortable either when my mouth kept on working on its own without connecting with my brain "noodles with egg and tea"

"Ok"I nodded stepping out of the kitchen to ease the awkward moment

I went to the sitting room switching on the television watching AIT for any news update but I found non of it interesting,I switch it to different channels and finally gave up leaving it in African magic family

Few minutes later I saw Aishah placing the cooked food in the dinning room and I stood up to join her

"You don't mind joining"I said after awhile because I was sure she's going to eat her food in her room that's what she normally does

"I'm fine staying in the room"

"No come and eat here"

"Seriously I won't be able to eat to my satisfaction we don't eat together"she said and I nodded in understanding letting her go

I sat down and ate my food silently as I scroll through my phone

I kept my plates in the kitchen zinc as soon as I was through and wanted to inform Aishah to get ready we are going to the hospital

Suddenly my phone start ringing and it was Halimat,I took the call immediately

"Salam Aleikum"she greeted

"Waleikum salam,how are you?"I asked

"I'm fine,I just finished preparing breakfast and I want you to join"

"I had already eaten"

"You can still come and eat mine then we can talk a little and spend time together"

"What did you cook?"I asked giving in

"Boiled rice with stew"

"Okay I will be coming"I replied and ended the call

I started climbing the stairs Aishah and I met halfway

"Oh I was coming to tell you to get ready before 2 I will be taking you to the hospital"I told her

"Ok"she replied with uncertainty

I jogged inside my room and took off my clothes wearing a blue jeans trouser and a white shirt and sandal, I took my car key and left the house

I parked the car in the front of Halimat's compound and stepped down from the car,she hugs me as soon as she opens the door for me after knocking

"You look handsome"she said checking me out

"I just dressed casual anyways you don't look bad yourself"I replied after checking her out too,she was wearing a black armless gown that fitted her body like next skin

"Come inside already the food is getting cold"she said holding my left hand as we walk inside the dinning room,I sat down at the table and she left to arrange the food

She sat down across me at the table after serving us,I started eating slowly because I'm already full

"You're not eating"she complained

"I'm already full"I replied dropping the spoon"I only came because I don't want to disappoint you"

"Ok"she said and continue eating,I stood up and went to sit in the sitting room changing the previous channel she was watching to another one and making myself comfortable after wards

"What are you watching"she asked sitting with me after twenty minutes of sitting alone in the sitting room

"Wrestling"I replied shrugging

"We need to talk"

"About"I replied giving her my full concentration

"About us"

"What's wrong about us?"I asked while she rolls her eyes

"I'm tired of this Ibrahim,let's get married it's not bad if we get married before she divorce like you can even give her the divorce papers and make everything easy"

"Why are you in hurry?"I asked already feeling irritated

"Is that what you suppose to ask me after everything I said"she says folding her hands around her body while I sighed

"Babe calm down please,we will surely be together don't worry"I say holding her hand

"I'm tired of waiting any longer"

"I will make it up to you I promise"

"When?"she asked with her eyes shining with ecstasy and hope

"Soon babe soon"I said and she lean down and gave me a dry kiss

She sat down on my laps as we continue watching the show before I remembered I have to take Aishah out