CHAPTER TWO
BY ZEE ASLAM
Babe I swear to the one who made me, I can’t recal having anything to do with that girl. “He pleaded again”.
“Ohh please keep shut” before she knew it, tears began flowing freely down her chin.
What have i done to deserve this from you, is it my fault that am unable to conceive, how can you betray my trust this way, why must it be this way?????? “She asked in tears”.
For the first time, Bello felt the sharp edge of guilt…..
She stopped packing and sat on the bed. He knelt in her presence and held her hands.
Please hear me out, you can judge me afterwards. He said calmly.
‘Am all ears’ she quietly said like she was being forced to speak.
You remember when your mum was admitted in the hospital some months back and you went to spend some days there right? He asked and without raising her eyes, she nodded.
Well I was kind of lonely so I decided to visit mama but on getting there I found out she had traveled to abuja. I could vividly remember sleeping on the couch but I can’t recal being intimate with Husna. “Please you have to believe me”. He said.
You were drunk so how could you possibly remember being intimate with her or nor, isn’t that your excuse? She asked him but he just bent his head down.
“What more could he possibly say to convince her that he is really telling the truth”.
It’s fine, am going nowhere but don’t you dare lay your filthy hands on me. “She said and was quiet for awhile”.
The pain was palpable.
As it is now, you are just so unpure for me. She led out and stood up then left the room to the kitchen.
She was deliberately formal creating a distance between them.
She managed to put herself together then prepared lunch.
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“Lunch is ready, do me a favor of informing your mother and baby mama” She shrugged when she came into the room despite the fact that she met him the way she had left him.
She walked passed him to the wardrobe and arranged her things back.
Bello knew this isn’t the right time to iron things out. Indeed she has been hurt and the Farida he know won’t give a listening ear to him for now.
He just has to let her be to clear her head first. He thought if he gave her some time, she might change her mind.
He stood up and brushed off dirt from his knees then walked out.
Farida just shook her head in pity. She wants to believe him but its hard for her. Whatever transpired that morning kept ringing a bell in her head.
Her phone rang and it brought her back from her thoughts. It’s her boss calling.
“Hello good morning” she said calmly.
“Morning, am sorry to disturb you but I just can’t seem to find that file we are yet to work on so I wanted enquiring if it’s with you”. He said from the other end.
“Ohh yes, I mistakenly brought the file home but I will bring it over shortly”. She said.
“No it can wait, I just wanted to be sure it’s safe” He said but she interrupted him……..don’t worry I was planning on going your way so I wouldn’t mind to stop by”. She uttered wondering why he was being formal.
“Thank you, he said and hung up”.
That’s khaleel, the workaholic boss.
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Farida knew she just had to step out to receive the fresh air outside their four walls coupled with the fact that she also need to clear her head.
“She just wished the weekend would rather run than move slowly”.
She quickly ran a cold bath and dressed up, she picked up the file then walked out.
She met them still eating on the dinning table, she lost appetite by mere looking at them.
“Am going out, I will be back in less than an hour”. She said and Bello just nodded.
Words have failed him, he don’t even know the right words to use again. He heard the gate opened and she drove out.
“His caring and loving wife has transformed within a twinkle of an eye”.
So when are you going to shopping with Husna? “His mother’s question brought him back from his deep thoughts”
Am definitely not going out with her and please keep me out of this. You of all should know I won’t be intimated by this. ‘He said pointing a finger at Husna who hung her mouth opened’.
She is your responsibility and not mine, he added. He stamped his spoon on the plate and left.
There was too much sadness in his voice, he was fighting hard to suppress it.
His mother was taken aback. Never in a thousand years would she had thought her son would speak to her in such manner not to talk of walking out on her. He has always succumb to her requests and orders.
“Don’t mind him, he is under a spell but am here now to make sure everything is put into place”. Mama said to Husna with a smiled filled face. Husna’s face too beamed with smiles.
Farida drove straight to her boss’s place and handed the file to the security man before heading to her mum’s.
Her mum had been bedridden ever since she was delivered of a baby boy who just turned 8 a month ago.
Her mother’s health is the reason she is married to Bello. There was no way she could foot the hospital bills and still cater for her sibling other than marrying a multimillionaire, though he was the only suitor she had then.
“In her quest to save her mother, she had willingly walked into a marriage she wasn’t prepared for”.
When she stepped into the sitting room, Sufyan her kid brother ran over to hug her. The nurse maid greeted her and walked to the fridge to offer her a glass of water.
“Don’t bother, Farida said and headed straight to the room her mum was”.
She stared at her almost lifeless body for awhile and before she knew it, tears were already conceived in her eyes….
