I Am Able - S01 E40

Story 3 years ago

I Am Able - S01 E40

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 40

Fatimah.

…

“Congratulations, dear!” Qudrah said just as I told her I was done with my NYSC program. It had been two years since we graduated from school but she had spilled over so she wasn’t able to register for her Youth Service with us.

“Thank you” I huffed through the phone.

“Hey, is everything okey?” She said sounding concerned. “Don’t tell me you’re still sad with what happened to me, after all I had already reseated for the courses – remaining prayer”

“In Shaa Allah you will pass them all” I said.

“Ameen o!” She said and continued. “So now, are you gonna work in your dad’s company?”

“I am still thinking” I said while smiling.

“Well, you have all the time you need on this earth to keep on thinking but I just pray you make the right decision. After all, your dad’s company is yours too. Working in there will pave your way to the CEO level” She uttered.

“Well, thanks for the advice!” I said.

“You are welcome, dear” She said and then bade me goodnight before ending the call.

Ya Rahman… I yawned covering myself with blanket. It was already 10:26pm as said my phone and I ought to sleep. Hence, I prayed. And just as I began battling with slumber, I heard a vigorous knock by my door. No one would do that except my mother, thus I did not bother asking whom it was. “Ohh Mum, you’ve ruined my sleep!” I complained and thence withdrew from the bed to the door.

“Sorry to disturb you” She said the moment I opened the door. “Munir’s wife is in labour, and both me and your dad are going there…”

“Where?” I bewilderedly cut in.

“M.I.D Specialist, are you also going there?” She wrinkled a brow. Well, I nodded at her. I really should be there, just like in the first labour. I loved taking babies before anyone.

“Lemme change” I said.

“Toh hurry up, zamu jira ki a mota” She said.

“Okey, mum” I nodded.

“Good” She said and left.

Thus, after changing into a skirt and blouse, I wore hijab and then grabbed my phone from unto my bedside drawer. Can’t believe I was going to miss my sleep. Anyways, I would be saying a big HI to my new niece or nephew. I preferred a girl though, after all the first one was a boy. So handsome like our grandfather.

After getting myself prepared, I went out of the mansion to my father’s new generation Benz that was already waiting for me in the compound. Both my parents sat in the back, hence I sat in the front with our driver. One thing that always used to impress me about my parents was how they used to hold one another and talk to each other like a newly wedded couple. They don’t get tired at all. I mean, unlike couples of nowadays. PDMM!

Be romantic please, dear married couples…

Immediately we arrived at the hospital, we were ushered straight to where Munir was, winch was the waiting room. “Munir, kai ne nan? What is happening?” My father asked. Actually, we were all surprised because we met Munir weeping. “Kai, what’s going on?”

Hmm, it wasn’t really funny but the sight of Munir weeping made me to smile a little bit against the laughter that nearly escaped my mouth. Actually, I thought men were strong!

“Alhaji, sannunku da zuwa” He welcomed us as he wiped off his tears. “Wallahi Alhaji my wife has been taken to the theatre, they said she cannot deliver directly this time around”

“Subhanallah!” My mother chanted.

“Wallahi Hajiya, and… my mind has been telling me different things” Munir sniffed.

“Sorry fa” My father sympathised and then continued. “But truth be told, both you and your wife are reckless. Was it not two years ago you both gave birth to Ayub? Why then did you guys opt in for another child? Don’t you know some women are so very fragile?”

“This isn’t about women being fragile, Alhaji” My mother chimed in. “Lets just pray for her”

“Alright then keep supporting them to be giving birth anyhow, ok?” My father said.

Well, my mother did not say anything more to him again. After all, she already knew he was only jealous that was why. Thus, she turned to Munir. “Hey, Khadija is going to be okey kaji?”

“In Shaa Allah, Hajiya” Munir said with a sigh. “Ku zauna please, Fatimah you too sit please”

“Okey…” I said sitting close to my mother on a Naldo 4 Seater. My father however sat on the other side of the Seater, while Munir settled down on another Seater — the one facing us.

“I heard you rounded up your NYSC program” Munir said, trying to initiate a conversation. I didn’t want to embarrass him so I responded.

“Yes, na gama” I said looking away from him.

“Success, dear” He said sounding concerned.

“Thank you” I muttered.

Thus, my mother asked him about his son. “Wato kun ma Ayub wayo ko?” She teased.

“Hmm” He smiled. “Ayub is with his Nanny, although he slept before we even left home”

“Eyyah, and tomorrow he’s going to meet his cute younger sibling In Shaa Allah” She said.

“Na’am Hajiya, bi’izinillah” He smiled again.

That was how they kept talking, and while I listened to them I ended up falling asleep on my mother’s lap. Yes, I placed my head there and slept like a baby… until the sound of the real baby woke me up. In bewilderment, I quickly rose my head and found Khadijah’s mother holding a very cute neonate. It was really a great sight to behold, but what hurt me was the fact that I wasn’t the first to hold the baby. “Har kin tashi?” My mother asked.

“Au, tambaya kike?” Khadijah’s mother said while smiling. “I already knew this your one and only pikin would wake up upon hearing my grandchild’s voice. I was right, Raliyah!”

Everyone around laughed out loud, including my father and Khadijah’s father whom sat on the same Seater. Was what she said so funny?

“Why wouldn’t my… baby girl wake up?” My mother said cherishing my back as I rubbed my puffy eyes. “If not because she slept, she would’ve first you in carrying the baby self

“Like she did in the past, koh?” Khadijah’s mother giggled. “Now is my own turn too”

Hmm! Actually, I didn’t know what to say so I kept quiet and watched the woman as she teased me… while my mother defended me. They were used to that, it wasn’t really new. She wanted my mother to give birth again, very funny. Well, I didn’t want any sibling anymore. After all, I was now twenty four!

“Kuku retire Fatimah, she’s now an old woman. Give us new faces” She teased.

“Hmm, what new faces do you want again apart from Khadijah’s two cute kids? Also, your grandkids are now 5” My mother said.

“The one we want from you is ‘kids’ not grandkids” My father chimed in smiling.

“Thank you!” Khadijah’s mother laughed.

“Hmm, toh ai sai ku tayi” My mother huffed, leaving them to keep on wishfully thinking.

*****

And at long last, I was able to get my hands on the new born baby. It was a girl, and she really was adorable. I held her until we were finally granted access to Khadijah. Everything was so fine with her… and Munir was very happy, more happier than everyone. We stayed there with them till morning, thus we returned back home to shop for them. The baby lacked a lot!

And why wouldn’t the baby lack alot? When all its father knew was how to spend money on girls! Truth be told, Munir liked hanging around with girls despite having a wife. And that was where his money used to diminish.

Back to our main discussion, both my mother and I prepared for the shopping while my father preoccupied himself with informing our relatives, his friends etc about the good news. As soon as we were done, my mother asked Nanny Luba to follow us since we were going to buy a lot of things in the market. The list of what and what to buy was with my mother…

And by the time we arrived at the market, we didn’t waste much time as we quickly began buying all the necessary things for the baby. Starting from diapers, socks, wipes, feeders, potty, to dungarees, sweaters, caps, stroller, and so on. We literally had shopped a lot.

Thus, we hired some loadcarriers to convey our goods to our car in the parking lot. And just as my mother paid them off, she smiled and told both Nanny Luba and I that she had forgotten to buy some things for Khadijah…

“Mum, is it necessary?” I muttered.

“If it isn’t, I wouldn’t be going back” She said.

“Oh mum, I am tired!” I whined.

“Did I said you should follow me?” She said.

“Hmm, I know now… I just want to go home” I muttered because I was practically exhausted.

“Toh, ai sai ki tayi” She hissed, and went back to the main market together with Nanny Luba.

*****

While waiting for them to come back in the parking lot, my eyes landed on a professor I would never forget. Yes, Professor Marwan Musa. He was approaching the parking lot while holding a big nylon bag in his hand. I didn’t need anybody to tell me to rush and help him, and when he saw me he was very surprised. “Fatimah, is this you?” He asked.

“Yes sir” I said collecting the nylon from him.

“Ma Shaa Allah, this is great” He huffed and continued. “How have you been, Fatimah?”

“Fine, sir. How about you?” I said.

“Alhamdulillah, but I am not happy” He said.

“Why?” I asked.

“Most of your set spilled over” He said.

“Hmm, that’s true. But I hope they did well this time around, sir?” I ironically queried.

“Let’s just say, ‘few’ my dear” He said.

“Hmm!” I shook my head hoping that Qudrah was also among those that would be passed.

“Yes, Fatimah” He nodded his head and then asked about Yusuf as soon as we reached his car. “It had been long I heard from that boy”

“Yusuf is… fine” I falsely stuttered.

Actually, it had been three years since we talked to each other. He tried to settle our relationship but I had shunned him away knowing fully that my parents would not approve our relationship, not after all the things he selfishly did. He really failed us.

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