On her way back home, Walida stopped by Aisha’s house to help tidy things up. But to her surprise, the gate was locked from the outside with a padlock that looked brand new. 

Confused, Walida tried asking the two gatemen in the neighboring houses. but no one knew when he had left. 

On getting home, she paused by the door and placed her ear on its smooth mahogany texture. A faint laugh erupted. They was a good sign. She let out a breath, wondering how to present herself:
surprised but happy, or surprised and teary. She wasn’t sure but she didn’t  want to overdo it. 

Taking another deep breath, she went in; her eyes first landed on her father on the sofa directly facing the door, he was facing Shamsu on the seat beside his. None of them noticed her. As she was about to announce her presence, the guest room door opened, revealing Grace, wiping her wet face with a towel. Then she saw Walida and froze. 

Walida gaped at her. “You!” She cried out. That got the men’s attention.

“Walidudu.” Her father called. 

She was too angry to pout at his nickname. Her eyes zeroed on Shamsu, who was standing.
“What is going on? Why is she here?” She pointed at Grace.

“Please calm down.” Grace said, raising her manicured hands.

Walida’s head snapped towards her. That was she noticed a gold bang on her left middle finger. Wasn’t Grace a widow? Why would she still have a ring on her? Unless...she gasped, turned to Shamsu, then her father. She was wrong after all. 

Quickly, she turned around for the door, ignoring her father and Shamsu’s call. She knew it. She knew that jewelry box was for Grace, and now he was here to announce his intentions. No wonder Grace was wearing a loose abaya, her hair wrapped with a scarf. Maybe she wanted to revert. Or she had already reverted. As she ran towards the gate, someone ran ahead of her and blocked the gate, facing her like a goalkeeper ready for the winning shot. 

Walida halted, eyes wide and nose flaring. “Get out of my way!” 

“Listen first.” Grace said. 

Walida glanced around, then noticed Grace was only blocking the main gate. As she rushed towards the small one, Grace raced her there. “I was a three time racing champion in secondary school, so don’t try me.” She said, panting, eyes wide in excitement.”

Walida frowned, turned to the gateman’s post. “He went to visit his daughter.” Grace said. 

Walida glared at her, stood straight and huffed. “What do you want?”

Grace folded her arms, “To talk, that’s why I’m here.” She eyed her, long lashes fluttering slowly,  “Your husband told me about your fight.”

Walida scoffed and folded her arms, “Oh, is gossip part of what you do at work?”

She chuckled. “Look, I’m not here to exchange petty words with you. There’s nothing going on between us. That’s it.”

“Then why has he been coming home late since he started working with you?”

Grace raised a carved eyebrow. “We’re just starting out so there’s a lot to do.”

Walida narrowed her eyes. “And the car?”

“A thank you gift!” She shook her head in disbelief. “Your husband is a very hardworking man. Do you know how stressed he had been since he lost his shop?”

“Of course I do. I’m his wife!” She poked her chest. What was Shamsu not telling her?

“Then you’d understand.” Grace spat.

Walida looked away. Why did it feel as she was being scolded? This was her fight! She glared at
Grace. “You’re a shameless woman.”

She blinked in surprise, “Excuse me?” 

“I saw you that day, laughing and touching him inappropriately. This is Kano, not Lagos. And we’re Muslims!”

Grace pursed her lips, then shook her head. “If it’s that, I’m sorry. I forget that sometimes. But the main thing is he’s. not. cheating. on. you.” She said slowly, nodding her head on each word.

Walida sighed, relieved. 

“He’s just trying to make sure you don’t lack anything from before.”

“But I wasn’t complaining.” 

“Yeah, but his parents are comparing him to his elder brother. May his soul rest in peace.”

Walida froze. When was this? “I didn’t know.” She said quietly. Just then, the once warm breeze grew cold, swiping at their faces. Walida looked at the sky: dark with clumped clouds and faint stars.

“He didn’t want to tell you, even me. I only found out after seeing his face one afternoon, right after he spoke to someone on the phone.”

“Oh.” How come she never noticed any of this? She ached to ask more questions, but Grace wasn’t the right person to ask. “Umm, I’m really sorry. I-”

She help up a hand. “It’s okay. I understand. I’m also sorry for the misconception I had caused.”

Walida shook her head. Suddenly, the breeze grew stronger, throwing sandy dust at them. “Let’s get back inside.” She told Grace.

As they closed the door behind them, the electricity went out. Walida moved slowly, till she felt the tv stand, then the torchlight underneath. Turning it on, she saw Shamsu lying on the couch, eyes closed, one arm over his head. 

“Kun shigo ne?” Her father asked in the dark. She shone the torch on him, peeking from the bedroom. 

“Ae. Su Abdul fa.” 

“Eaten and sleeping. Their dad helped out.” 

She glanced at her husband, regret washing over her. A click sounded against the tiled floor. She turned to see Grace coming into the room. “I should get home.”

Walida’s eyes widened. “In this weather?”

Grace smiled. “Yeah, so far there wont be go-slow. I don’t mind.” She unwrapped her scarf and shook out her short calabar braids, then she wrapped it again. With another smile, she waved, and “Good night. Greet your husband when he wakes. Sir,” she bowed, “thanks for having me.”

Her dad smiled and nodded in return. Walida followed her to the door. “Thank you.” 

Grace turned to her, “Thank God for the good husband you have. Not all of us are lucky.” With that, she disappeared into the rowdy night. 

Walida shut the door and pulled the thick curtains over it. Turning around, she saw her father seated on his sofa. “Baba,” she sat on the floor and rested her head on his knee. 

“Hope everything is sorted out now?” 

She nodded. “I’m a horrible person.” She said, a teardrop rolling down her cheek.

“Haba. Don’t talk like that.”

She rose her head. “Wallahi. I’ve been a very selfish wife and friend, caring only about my self, focusing only on my problems.” 

“That’s normal mana.”

She shook her head. “Mine is not, my loved ones have been suffering, and I never noticed. See Aisha, ashe she was being abused by her husband all this time and I never knew?”

“Did she tell you?” He asked. 

She shook her head, lips trembling. 

“then how would you know?”

“I should have. I’m her best friend!”

“What happened to Aisha?” Shamsu’s low voice cut through the dimly lit room. They turned to him. He coughed and sat up, eyes squinting at them, “What happened to Aisha?” He asked again, eyes trained his wife.

Walida sighed. 

“Tam, let me go and get some sleep.” Her father rose and patted his jallabiya. “Sai da safen ku–good night.” 

As soon as the door closed, she rushed towards him. “Mai gida na, Rabin raina.” She burst into tears. Shamsu held her and set her beside him. “I’m so sorry. Wallahi i-”

“Ya isa.” He shushed her. 

She settled in his embrace, his steady heartbeat soothing her raging thoughts, almost blocking out the loud patter of the rain against the ceramic roof.

After some time, she pulled away. The room was pitch black, the torch long dead. She moved to find a candle but he held her down. 

“Let’s stay like this.” 

She sighed and rested back on his chest. “I’ve been a terrible wife to you.”

“No.” 

“Ka fadi gaskiya. You’ve been trying your best to make me happy and I threw it all in your face last night.” 

She felt him move beneath her, then he sighed. “You didn’t do anything. In fact, you’re not the only one complaining. But I had no other choice. Kin san bana son aiki karkashin wani–I don’t like being dependent. But with her, I know I can make enough to get back on my own, in sha Allah.” 

“I understand. But you know I’ve never complained about our condition. It’s only a matter of time before everything comes back to normal.” Her hands moved to his face, settling on his jaw. Feeling the rough stubble against her palm, she leaned forward and kissed him. “Why didn’t you tell me about your parents?”

She felt him stiffen before removing her hands away from his face. “Its not important.”

“Ya za ka ce haka? Your problems are my problems.” He moved away from her.

“I’m a man. I should be handling my own problems.”

“Yes, alone, if you’re single, not married.” Just then, the light came on. Walida closed her eyes for some time. 

“Kije ki kwanta–Go and sleep.” Shamsu said beside her. 

“A nan zan kwanta.” She opened her eyes. He was staring straight ahead, hands clasped.

Leaning back, he closed his eyes and said, “Toh, good night.”

She frowned, “We’re not done with the discussion.”

He turned to her, “I’m tired. Sai da safe.”

She gaped at him. “So its easy for you to open up to Grace, but not me, ko?” She stood, “No problem, sai da safe.” She started to leave.

“I didn’t want to tell her. And she was a stranger, so it was easy.”

“What of me?” She whipped around. “I’ve been there for you. Why is it so hard to confide in me?” Tears sprang out again. 

He gazed up at her, eyes dim. “I don’t want to appear weak. Yaya was not like that.”  He looked down and sighed, “he never complained or told us of his problems.”

Walida felt her heart grip in guilt. She sat beside him, “Wa ya fada maka? Your brother always talked to me about his problems. In fact, it was one of the qualities I admire in him. He always sought my advice and he allowed me make decisions on our home.”

He gazed at her. “Really? But-”

“He was very open and honest.” She added. 

“I just wanted to be a better husband.”

“Did I say you weren’t a good husband?” She glared at him and held his face. “You’re an amazing man, Shamsudeen Ibrahim. And I’m proud to be your wife. don’t ever think otherwise, kaji? Dan Allah.”

He watched her, eyes warm. Nodding, he leaned forward and so did she. Limbs and breath intertwined. Together, they found peace amidst the cracking thunder. 

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