Aishah

WE LEFT THE hospital after awhile when my dad and Ibrahim had their talk,I could see how uncomfortable Ibrahim is and I was curious and scared of what my dad might have told him

We greeted everyone goodbye promising to come visit soon,we entered the car and started driving slowly out of the hospital and decided to ask the question that have been bothering me

"What's wrong with you?"I asked

"Nothing"he replied smiling at me

"What did my dad tell you"I asked still not convinced "because you look tensed"

"Do I?"he laughs "stop worrying yourself Aishah I am fine" he says avoiding my question and decided to let it be till we reach the house

"Thanks for taking me there it means a lot to me"

"Oh you're welcome"he replied

"How can I ever repay you I'm glad really"I smiled at him

"You can actually repay me"

"Seriously?"my jaw almost dropped,I thought he was going to brush it off but he sounds like Abubakar when we just knew each other

No wonder they're best friends

"What do you want?"I asked acting like a professional

"We can be friends,a real friend"he says

"That will not be good before the divorce"

"What are you afraid of"he laughs "it doesn't matter whether we are divorcing or not we can actually become good friends and even when we get divorced we can help eachother"he says

"Well it's not bad, friends it is"I replied and he smiles

"Definitely"

We finally reach home and we entered the house,I was hungry and it was visible that Ibrahim is hungry too

"What do you want to eat?"I asked him

"Anything I'm famished"

"Ok"I replied and went straight to my room

I changed my wear to a simple dark blue tight jeans trouser and a handless top making my way to the kitchen,I decided to prepare potato porridge,I started peeling the potato when Ibrahim suddenly enters the kitchen wearing a jogger and a white singlet that fits his body like next skin revealing his abs, I gulped and averted my gaze from him

"I want to help you know we have a dinner to attend today"he said

"Oh my God I totally forgot,we should prepare something light and eat later at your home"I replied

"What do you suggest?"

"I have no idea"

"Don't do anything I will be back in a jiffy"he says and left the kitchen

I put the potatoes back and throw away the few I already peeled and arrange every other things in the kitchen before going to sit at the sitting room,I tune on the television sitting down comfortably and started watching a movie in African magic Hausa channel

Several minutes later Ibrahim was back with chips and juice,we sat comfortably in silence munching on the chip while still placing our focus on the television

"We should get ready for the dinner"he says after awhile and stood up,I nodded in understanding when I checked the time and went inside to change my wear

I wore a royal blue background Ankara with pink rose flowers imprinted on it,I wore a royal blue heal and a pink veil taking my blue bag before leaving the room,Ibrahim was dressed back on his earlier kaftan

We left the house minutes later and rode on Ibrahim's car,the ride was quiet till Ibrahim broke the silence

"How are you feeling now?"

"I'm fine,thank you for today"I said smiling at him

"That's what friends are for, making sure the other is happy"he says smiling and I smiled back at him

If anybody would have told me that I will ever smile at Ibrahim talkless of becoming friends with him I would have laughed at the person's face

"It's weird calling me your friend"I found myself saying

"How?"he replied with his focus on the road

"We use to you know be on our own we don't talk and it seems like things changed so drastically"I say shrugging

"It's not weird to me, it's okay"

"Yeah you're not bad at all"I say and he gave me that really look earning a loud chuckle from me

"You're not bad too Aishah"he says after awhile and I smiled at him averting my gaze from him looking outside the window as the city pass in a blur,I found myself smiling

"So how's the divorce going?"he asked after awhile clearing the smile from my face

"Nothing much,I want to get my self an apartment first before taking further steps"I replied and he nodded

"Where? I'm talking about the apartment"

"Abuja"

"You're really going somewhere far"he says looking surprised

"I need a fresh start"I replied and he nodded in reply

"And also there's been a book I have been writing for four years now and I want to be through with it here in Zaria before leaving"

"A book?"he asked looking surprised

"Yeah though I haven't been serious with it,I'm not a good writer"

"What's the book about?"he asked looking at me

"Uhmm its about my friend,I lost her though she had leukemia and died and all her dreams died with her,I wanted to write about her life"I say getting emotional, thinking about Blessing brings tears to my eyes

"Why do you want to write it here?"

"Everything happened in this land"I replied

"How many months do you have left before you leave Zaria"

"Highest four months"

"Wow"he said absentmindedly "don't worry I will help you"

"How?"I asked

"I'm a good writer and I won different awards when I was in secondary school,you have a good editor living with you"he says and winked

"Oh my God"I say covering my mouth "I can't believe I'm ever going to get the book done"

"The pecks of having me"he says looking like a pride dog and I laughed

"Don't feel too big about yourself"

"Why won't I when I can do something you can't do"

"Jeeez! Your ego is bigger than you"

"Thank Allah you know"he says and wink at me,I found myself smiling and also shaking my head at the same time

Silence reigned for awhile before my phone starts ringing and it was Abubakar then I remembered I haven't talked to him for awhile now

"Who's that?"Ibrahim asked when I was about picking the call

"Abubakar"I replied and he kept quiet while I picked the call

"You forgot me"Abubakar said as soon as I picked the call

"I'm so sorry dear,been busy how are you doing?"

"I'm fine,where are you?"

"On my way to eat dinner at Ibrahim's family house"

"He is in the car with you?"

"Yeah"

"Why do I feel like there's something you aren't telling me"

"Of course there is,why don't we see tomorrow"

"Ok then have a blast"

"Thanks dear good night"I replied and the call came to an end

The drive was silent afterwards,Ibrahim didn't say anything throughout and he looked gloomy

We finally arrived and he parked his car beside a blue car,I stopped him when he was about to go out

"What's wrong?"I asked him

"Nothing"he replied monotonously and stepped down from the car

I was confused because he was alright awhile ago and just like that his mood changed like a bipolar person,I shrugged it off and followed him inside the house

We were greeted by almost the entire extended family of Ibrahim most that I only met at the wedding,they look happy to see us and we were greeted

I went further to formally greet Ibrahim's parents and step mom,they look happy to see us but Ibrahim doesn't look good then I guess it has to do with him here

"We should all go for dinner"Ibrahim's father said and we're guided to a grand dinning room,we all sit down with Ibrahim by my side but he didn't spare me any look

"We were served varieties of food and decided to eat spaghetti while Ibrahim took Semolina with vegetable soup,we were busy eating with questions thrown to individuals while Ibrahim and I remain quiet throughout

"Aishah how are you doing?"a petite woman asked me who I recognuize to be Ibrahim's aunt

"I'm fine ma and you?"I say

"I'm fine just wandering while we haven't heard any news of you been pregnant"she said and I dropped my spoon immediately

What was she thinking,I haven't been romantically involved with Ibrahim and I can't just get pregnant through the air

"Maybe she's barren"a younger looking lady replied and they both chuckled while I started getting angry

"Who gave you the impression I'm barren"I asked

"Because you should be pregnant by now you have been married to my cousin for a year plus now and your tummy is always flat"

"Who knows what she did when she was younger"the elder woman muttered quietly but enough for me to hear

"Will you shut it up Aunt Lariyah and Fatimah"Ibrahim roared standing up and tears was already clouding my eyes

"We were just pointing out the truth"The Fatimah girl says casually shrugging

"This dinner wasn't set up for fight so everybody should keep quiet and eat"Ibrahim father said

"That won't be necessary because we are leaving"Ibrahim said and I look at him with the tears in my eyes

How could he understands how I felt at the moment

"That won't be necessary Abba"his father said

"My wife is not feeling too well and I can't stand when she's been talk to in that manner"he replied and took my hand making me to stand up

This is the very first time Ibrahim is going to call me his wife without me feeling irritated

I hold his hands about to walk out of the place while his mother stopped us

"We can talk about this"his mother said quietly

"We have nothing to talk about mom because it seems what aunt Lariyah and Fatimah said is the same thing in all of you minds"he replied and walked me out of the house holding my hand firmly

We climbed his car and he ignited the engine driving us from the compound,I started crying immediately because I was angry about how lowly they think of me

Ibrahim was quiet throughout the ride letting me cry and it was obvious he was angry,he entered our compound and parked the car before we entered the house

He pull me into an hug as soon as we entered the sitting room and I started crying much more louder

"It's okay Aishah,I know you are decent"

"It's not okay Ibrahim they all think I'm barren like I can't have a child when nothing ever happened between us"I say and cry louder

"It's okay things will be alright soon,I promise"he says and kissed my head,I nodded and placed my head on his chest for awhile before I stepped back

"Thank you"I say

"For what?"

"For standing up for me even though they are your family"

"See Aishah you're my family too even though we are going to get divorced soon and also you should know I'm your friend and friends stands for each other"

"I appreciate"I said and hug him one more time before pulling away

"Are you hungry?"he asked

"No"

"Then you should go to bed"

"Yeah"