Aishah

A year  and some months later

I WOKE UP to meet I'm the only one in bed and I wondered where Haqam went to,I took my phone and dial his number but he didn't picked the call,I got scared but shrugged it off maybe he decided to go for a jog without me

I stood up from the bed going straight to the bathroom where I had my bath and brush my teeth,I performed my salat and came back to the room and my phone beeped

I took my phone and checked it was birthday wishes from friends, colleagues and family,I can't believe I'm twenty eight years already and everything seems to happen so fast

The first person"s message I clicked was my sister's

Happy birthday to one of the best world survivor,a queen and an empress of her Kingdom

Wish you more of this day and happiness all over,Faiza,Fareed and Aishah send their greetings

I read and laughed I called her number immediately and she bombarded me singing with her horrible voice,I laughed and laughed,and she gave the phone to every other person in the house after the other and we greeted eachother

The call ended and I met Fareedah's message too

Happy birthday to my world best girlfriend, wishing you more of this day and success in all your endeavours,Ali and Aliya send their greetings

I continue reading through her long messages and I trust Fareedah to send me message worth of a whole novel to wish me happy birthday, Fareedah gave birth to her baby few days after my wedding and it was a baby girl,she was so happy that finally she have a daughter to give Fareed,I always laugh whenever I think about her matchmaking,Aliya was of no less than her brother even though she's still a baby she have that tyrant behaviour of her brother and they clicked so well

I read other messages from other people and Abubakar's too, Abubakar got married three months back and I can see how happy he is with his wife because he doesn't let the social media rest always posting her pictures and video with lovey dovey comments

I got dressed for my work and wondered why Haqam didn't mind wishing me happy birthday and he can't possibly tell me he forgot,I got no message from Tayiba too neither mom or dad and I knew something is wrong

Haqam have been acting fishy nowadays and I suspect him of doing something I probably don't know, whenever he talks with mom and they see me coming they shut up immediately and I don't know what they are up to

I can't lie for some months now I haven't been really genuinely happy because of how Haqam always claimed to be busy and I thought maybe he is getting tired of me but that thought alone scare me most of the time because I don't know what I will do if Haqam turns his back on me because I will definitely got broken beyond repair

I took my car key and left the house and went to work not without dialling Haqam's number which he didn't mind picking,a lone tear escaped my eyes and I knew something was wrong

I tried getting some work done in the office but I couldn't and decided to call Haqam's secretary

"Hello ma how can I help you?"she asked and I swallowed beating back the threatening tears

"Trying my husband's line but he ain't picking is he there in the office?"I asked

"Oh yes ma! He came early this morning got some things done and left with a lady"she said and I felt my head spinning

Was Haqam really cheating on me?

"A lady?"I made an enquiry and she answered

"Yes a lady"she replied

"Thanks anyways"I say

"You're always welcomed ma'am"she replied and I ended the call

I gently placed my head on the desk and cried my eyes out,so Haqam was cheating on me maybe he realise I'm nothing and decided on going to women who could really become a mother

I wiped away my tears trying to leave the office and go back home,this is definitely the worst birthday I ever had

"Where are you going?"one of my workers Tiana asked,we grew close recently and our relationship have passed a boss and an employee relationship

"I'm going home"I replied trying to work away I don't want her to see my tears

"Wait!"she tried stopping me when I wanted to walk away "I wanted to show you something but I'm afraid that it might cause a problem in your marital home"she said picking my interest

"What's it?"I asked

"It's your husband,I saw him with a lady few days ago and I have the pictures to prove my point"she said and I halted turning towards her

"Are you serious?"I asked and she nodded searching her bag frankly and brings out pictures,I snatched it from her immediately going through it and I saw Haqam eating and having a nice time with another lady,there were some he fed the lady and I felt my chest constricted,the pain hits me so hard and I couldn't control my tears any longer

"Excuse me!"I said walking away not giving Tiana the time to speak,I rushed inside my car and started crying,what have I done to deserve this I have been nothing but a good and obedient wife,I never say no when he calls me to perform my duties so why did he see the needs to cheat

I cried so hard in my car and decided to call Fareedah

"Birthday girlie!!"I heard Fareedah's cheerful voice and I chuckled

"Hey what's up,what's wrong with you?"she asked and I smiled sadly

"Haqam is cheating on me"I said and burst into tears crying again "I never failed as a wife and I don't know why he decided to cheat on me"

"Hey babe! Calm down what happened?"she asked with a worried tone

"I don't know"I burst into tears again crying bitterly "I just feel like leaving here"

"No you won't try such thing,try and talk to him first then you will see,don't make any assumptions please the both of you have been my couple crush for long"Fareedah said and I smiled

"How's Aliyah?"I asked

"I'm here aunty!"I heard her voice and I laughed

"Walahi Aishah I don't know why Almighty Allah bless me with these two tyrants they're really making life hell for me"Fareedah said and I laughed

"Well they took after you"I said and heard Ali shouting Aliya let's go out and play

"You dare not leave this house Ali I'm going to spank your ass so hard that you won't be able to sit down!"Fareedah yelled and I smiled "hey babe make sure you talk to him first, communication matters in all relationship,I will get back to ya later I have to deal with these kids"she said and ended the call

I called mom, Tayiba and Dad but none pick my call and I felt rejected,I decided to go back home and sleep over it and have a nice talk with Haqam later maybe that will be better

I stepped out of the car with my head heavy and opened the door,everywhere was dark and I wondered when the NEPA took the light,I groan removing my shoe when the light suddenly came up

I stood up only to hear a loud shout of

HAAAAAPPPPPYYYYY  BIIIIRRRTTHHHDAAAAYYYY

I look around and was shocked,there stood thesame person I was crying over wearing a dark blue pant and a white shirt,then Tayiba wearing a pink short printed gown,mom and dad on their usual native wear,then Tiana I was shocked to see her too she was in the office just now showing me the picture of my husband with another woman

"What's happening?"I asked because I felt like I'm hallucinating I didn't understand anything going on

"Happy birthday sweetheart!"Haqam said and came over wrapping his hands around me

"Don't! I said pulling away from his embrace when a tear escaped my eyes "you were cheating on me!"I said and everyone laughed

The lady I saw on the picture suddenly make an appearance and my anger flared

"He wasn't cheating on you dear it was something we decided to do to take you away from the house for awhile so that we can get the house designed,I'm an event planner my name is Folabi Tosi"she said shaking me

I look at Tiana who laughed and raise up her hands

"It was Haqam plan and I thought it was funny"she defended laughing and I glared at her

"It's not funny at all"I said and everyone laughed

They sang me happy birthday and I smiled happily,I was so happy Haqam wasn't cheating on me we cut the cake and he kissed me while everyone clapped and came to congratulate me

"Your gift!"Haqam said winking at me and I nodded I knew what he can give me,either a trip to any of my favourite countries or an ornament

Tayiba came closer with a blindfold smirking at me while I only shook my head,I was blindfolded,Haqam took my hand and we started walking,I wonder were he was taking me to and I thought maybe he got me a new car

We finally stopped and slowly the blindfold was taking away,I was confused initially,we were in a room and one side of the room was painted blue and the other painted pink,I look at Haqam with a raise eyebrow and he gestured me to go further inside

I stepped more into the rooms and I saw toys around,my heart clenched feeling that maybe Haqam wants me to have a baby and turn over to see him with tears in my eyes while he rolls his eyes

"Step in already!"Tayiba said loosing her patients and I chuckled going further into the room

The world freezes and my heart stop working for awhile when my eyes landed on the gift Haqam bought for me,there laid three new born babies and I look around to see everybody who gave me a look of love and I couldn't be thankful enough

"Haqam!"I cried on his arms while he chuckled

"I heard you were mama twins before and I thought about it while not make my sweetheart mama triplet"he said and I laughed and others followed too

"I know I have been acting weird for sometimes now but I wasn't cheating on you neither did I got tired of you,I was only planning with mom to make this birthday a wonderful one for you,so you see our family is complete now and we have three babies,a daughter and two sons"he said and I nodded frankly smiling and crying at thesame time

I went closer to the newborn babies and they couldn't be more than three days old

"How did you get them?"I asked

"It was tough but we succeeded successfully with the help of mom"he said and I went to hug mom

"Thank you so much mummy,thank you for accepting me the way I am"I said and she smiled nodding her head wiping a tear away with her handkerchief

"Babe I'm giving you the privilege to name them"Haqam said and I smiled

"My baby girl name will be Mutmainat,my boy on blue will be Mumeen and my boy on red will be Mu'in"I said and everyone clapped

I can't lie I felt so happy and blessed and I can't be grateful enough my family is finally complete and I'm now a mother of three,like Mrs Bolanle taught me it's not only the children you gave birth to alone that's your child but the child waiting for an acceptance that you accepted

My phone suddenly start ringing and I took it

"Congratulations darling,how was the surprise?"Fareedah asked and I chuckled

"So you knew?"I asked feeling betrayed

"Everyone knew including Qadirah that's not in Nigeria"she said and I laughed "congratulations mama triplet"

"Thanks so much sweetie

"I will be there for their namings"Fareedah said and I roll my eyes

"Of course you will"I said and she chuckled,the call came to an end

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

My life have being great and I can't lie I'm happy with Haqam and the way he treated our children,he gave me life he gave me hope and from this day onward I call him my angel my guarding angel

Our relationship is not all the time lovey dovey but I'm grateful we could solve our problems and always be there for our children,mom and dad have been there taking care of their grandchildren and I know I'm blessed and I'm grateful for that

This is my life and this is the life of a naive Aishah who made her way out through all her challenges

Be like Khaleesi a lady who walks through fire and never got burnt

And I'm happy I walk out of the fire stronger and healthier

The end.....