“Ikon Allah, she said that?” Kauthar said from the phone tucked between Waleeda’s ear and shoulder.

“Hmm, kedai bari kawai.” Walida said, using a rubber plate to wipe off the tuwo from the wooden spatula. “But why do you sound so surprised?”

“Hmm, I thought she had learned her lesson from the incident with me na.”

“Chab,” Walida dipped both packer and spatula into a bowl of water and turned down the fire to its lowest level. “Aunty mamy maybe, but not Hajja. She still holds some kind of aversion towards the male species.”
“But she’s happy with Baba na, abi is that all for show?”

Waleeda strolled out of the kitchen and settled on the dining table littered with drawing papers and crayons.

“Not at all,” she paused, wondering if she should  tell Kauthar about her discussion with Baba. But then, it was more about Hajja's past. So she stayed silent, hoping Kauthar wouldn’t prod further. 

“Hmm, toh, Allah ya kyauta.” Kauthar said.

Walida sighed in relief. But then,  Kauthar never bothered about what she didn’t know.

“She should try leaving her past in the past sha, at least for our sakes.” 

Walida nodded, folding edge of a paper with a half-coloured dinosaur drawing on it. She shook her head as a chuckle escaped her lips. 

“Sorry o, I left you hanging, I’m trying to finish hanging these clothes.” Kauthar said.

“No problem, how are my girls na?”

“They are fine, their mid-term is coming up soon sef.”

“That’s true o. Yawwa, they’ll be coming here for the break abi, even Aunty mamy wants Dawud and Sakina to come. In fact, Hajja demanded that she let them.”

Kauthar laughed. “I don’t know o, you know Barakah is preparing for a debate competition coming right after the break, so I don’t know if her dad will allow her, gaskiya.

“ Toh convince him na.” Walida moaned, lightly stamping her feet on the floor.” Kauthar laughed again.

“When last did we all stay in one place together? since after Hoor’s naming fa.”

“I know.” Kauthar said.

“Toh, better do something about it.”

“Tam, na ji, and how are my little soldiers? especially Alhaji Abdul.”

She smiled widely, “they are fine, they should be on their way home from the mosque,” she glanced at clock hanging on the off-white wall across her: 01:00 p.m.

“Oh hakane, I keep forgetting that Jumu’ah prayers are done earlier over there. Nan kam sai 02:00 p.m. Okay o, send my greetings. but before that, send me their latest selfies.”

Walida laughed and rose from her seat, “ke ma kin san Uthman ba ya son daukan hoto.”

“Toh, convince him. Else I wont send you the latest pics of the girls.”

“Haba!” she went into the bedroom, dropped the phone on the bed, picked her thick white veil, and stood before the full length mirror to wrap it around her body. Once done, she waited for Kauthar to finish talking to whoever she was talking to.

“Why are you disturbing us like this?” She heard Kauthar say.

Picking her phone, she turned off the speaker and placed it on her ear. “Yaya, lafiya?”

Kauthar hissed loudly. “No it’s just,” she sighed. “it’s nothing.”

“Nothing kuma?” Walida frowned and turned away from the mirror. “You sounded angry fa.”

Kauthar sighed again.

“Yaya, have you forgotten Baba’s warning about keeping things to yourself? She entered the living room and perched on the nearest armchair. Especially in ya shafi familinmu. And by that, I mean our in-laws too.”

Kauthar hissed, “it’s just...Salsabil.” She said in a low voice.

Waleeda’s arch shaped eyebrows rose as she sat up. “Salsabil fa kikace.

“Yes, no, I mean, her mother’s in-law showed up.”

“Whoa, okay. When?”

“It’s been thee weeks now.”

“Three weeks fa kikace! Did you tell Baba?”

Kauthar groaned, “No mana, this doesn’t concern him. Besides-’ Walida heard a loud metallic groan, like a gate opening. 

“I have to go, Hidaya is here. Greet your husband for me.”

“Amm-’ Walida started to say, but a low beep replied her. She rolled her eyes and shook her head, staring at the phone. She wondered if she should tell Baba. But then that would be meddling. Moreover, she didn’t even know  the full details, and she was very sure Kauthar won’t tell her the rest.

“Yaya.” she said loudly and shook her head again. What good ever comes out from keeping things to oneself?

•••

It was already 10:30 p.m., and Shamsu still wasn’t back home. Walida had waited off in the boys’ room, where she dozed off, and for some reason, dreamt of the Kwari fire. So she quickly ran to the living room and turned on the Tv, checking all the news channels. There was no news of a fire incident in kano. Sighing, she plopped on the sofa across the tv and tried to focus on the rest of the news. But it was hard, as the only thing she could see was the time, ticking slowly, one number higher than the former. Still, Shamsu wasn’t back. 

When he finally arrived, she was already half asleep, eyes on the tv, though she couldn’t tell which program was airing, but she could tell the time: 11:45 p.m.

“I am so sorry my dear,” Shamsu said as he walked past her, his cover shoes in one hand, a black poly bag in another.

Walida replied with a loud hiss. He chuckled.

After freshening up, he plopped beside her, smiling cheekily, smelling faintly of honey and mint.

“Wifey,” he cried and grabbed her in a tight one sided-hug.

A

fter three quick slaps on his chest, he released her, but continued smiling.

Abu Uthman ba na jin dadin abun da kake yi, gaskiya–I don’t like what you’re doing, honestly.”

“I know dear, but yau was very hectic, wallahi. Do you know how many markets we visited today?” He stretched out his hand to count, but she cut him off. 

“I don’t care!” she shook her head, getting more annoyed. “That’s not the main thing here. If you know you wont be coming home on time, why not call to inform me?”

Shmasu sighed and glanced at the  tv, then to her. “You’re right. He clasped both hands together. Afwan. I didn’t even know time had gone. Grace was just dragging me from–“

'Wait wait wait," she held out a palm like a policeman in a checking point. Did you just say Grace? as in Grace, your new boss who is supposed to be in Lagos.

Yes Uwargida, the same one. Ko ni ma I didn’t know  she would be coming today. She said she wanted to surprise me.” 

“Surprise you?!” Waleeda leaned forward, eyes bulged out, making Shmasu burst into laughter, legs kicking the air.

“Toh, surprise us. But I’m the one who’s in charge so…” he shrugged.
She narrowed her eyes at him. So, because you’re the one in charge, that makes it okay to be gallivanting with you all over town. Here is not Lagos o, kuma you're a married man.”

He sighed again and gave her a look, as if to say, Thank-you-for -reminding-me.

She ignored his look and continued, “Ni ban ce you shouldn’t do your business ba, but please, when next you want to stay late, let me know so I wont kill myself with worry.”

He bobbed his head. Yes, I'm sorry, it wont happen again, hmm?He drew her closer and rubbed her arms until she relaxed against him.

They stayed silent, leaving the low hum from the tv and a  Qur’anic recitation slithering from the window to keep them company. 

Then Walida raised her head and said, “If you do it again, how will I punish you? 

Shamsu gaped at her, waiting to see if she was joking. But she didn’t crack a smile. So he said, “you can lock me outside.”

Now it was her turn to gape. “Are you serious?

He furrowed his brows and lowered his voice, “Are you?

She looked away, Yes, it’s becoming a habit, a very bad one. She faced him, “You need to learn your lesson.” A smile tugged at one corner of her lips.

“Okay, deal. You can lock me outside so I can learn my lesson. But,” He raised his finger. “I can promise one thing,”

“Which is?”

I wont allow you lock me outside. 

Walida smiled widely. “We’ll see. 

A/N

Walida is on a roll.

Do you support her reaction?