Chapter 16 — Home

"Balqis you need to be strong, now that you're back to Dad's house. You really need to move on, little sister" Said sister Barirah, cherishing my hand.

"I really tried to be strong sister Barirah but I just couldn't, the fact that I'm carrying Abdullah's child" I said, tears already gathering in my eyes. "This is three months since he divorced me, but I am feeling like it's yesterday..."

"And why wouldn't you feel like it's yesterday when you selfishly refused to follow my advice?" She glared at me for a second before moving more closer to me in the couch. "Look Balqis, you really need to get rid of this thing if really you want to move on" She said, pointing her index finger at my belly.

"Ahh, sister Barirah!" I shifted a little from her. "How do you expect me to kill this poor thing dan Allah? Ni gaskiya I already told you I can't do it, I really can't!" I angrily folded my arms around my chest, looking far away.

"Alright then, that's left for you" She withdrew from the couch in disappointment. "Lord knows I tried my best, and whatever I'm doing is technically for your own good"

"I know sister Barirah, but I can't do it" I said, withdrawing from the couch too. "And anyways, I have something to tell you"

"Okey then" She folded her arms around her chest. "I'm all ears, Balqis"

"It's about my hus... I mean, ex husband's friend" I gulped, imagining how I finally decided to share the story with someone. "That Basheer that I used to call Mr truth, remember him?"

"Yes, that Nupe guy?" She said.

"Exactly! He asked me out few weeks ago, but I told him I can't do it. I was very angry with him. It's like he was waiting for me to get divorced so he could propose to me" I narrated.

She heaved a sigh with a crooked smile, and just as she was about to say something her husband salaamed and bounced into the living room with a man that appeared to be his friend.

"Welcome back my one and only" Sister Barirah walked over to him and gave him a hug. She wasn't even coy to do that in front of me and the other person behind. Wasn't that weird?

"Thank you my love" Her husband said with a smile as they averted, and just as I was about greeting him – he first me "Balqis, how are you?"

"Fine sir, was even about leaving" I said cheerfully taking my bag.

"Really?" He settled in an armchair with sister Barirah sitting on his lap. "But it's late, will you get a cab?"

"Yes she will" Sister Barirah chimed in before turning to the man standing behind. "Adnan, or should I say soldier man" She giggled. "I hope you're also going back to your house? Because we don't want any disturbance today" She jokingly said.

The man smiled. "After watching a horror film in the afternoon today, you expect me to go back and sleep alone? Nay, I'm sleeping here" He said teasingly, still standing.

"Toh wallahi karyan ka, you're going back to your house o!" She said laughing at him. "If you're scared, then get yourself a partner..."

"Partner, as in wife?" He asked walking to a nearby armchair.

"Yes" Sister Barirah replied.

"Well," He settled down and continued. "I don't think so Barirah. I'd rather stay like this for the rest of my life than to marry again".

"We shall see" Sister Barirah said.

As the conversation was about to continue, I chimed in. "I need to go home, it's getting late already"

"Alright then Balqis, lets escort you" Said sister Barirah's husband.

"No sir" I objected. "You guys don't need to do that, not today please" I said forcing a smile on my face. Actually, I would love to be escorted but, why would I spoil their fun?

"You sure?" He asked.

"Yes" I replied.

"Be safe" Sister Barirah chimed in.

"In Shaa Allah I will, sister Barirah" I smiled as I unhesitatingly walked to the door. "Goodnight everyone!"

"Goodnight" They chorused.

Immediately I was outside the house, I took a cab back home. Although it took me forever to get the cab. Mum and dad were in the parlor discussing when I arrived, and the moment they saw me they warmly welcomed me.

"Balqis, I want us to talk about something. Mind sitting down please?". Dad said, gesturing towards an armchair.

"Sure, dad". I sat in the armchair.

"Alright," he cleared his throat and continued. "It's about the new job I got you in our oil cooperation. You don't really seem to like it at all".  

"No dad, it's not like that..."

"Then what?". He asked, staring at me.

"When I sold my grocery store, I thought you would help me purchase that filling station I told you about. But, you... you instead..."

"Yes Balqis, I instead got you a job in our oil cooperation as the Managing Director. You know why?". He said.

"Why dad?".

"Because it's not as simple as you think it is — what you are asking. I am an oil businessman, and I know what it takes to manage a filling station. I solitarily tried it once and failed, thus I decided to create a cooperation together with Alhaji Ibrahim Bere, Ken Rosenberg, Lee Quan and Faisal Abadi. And look how successful we are today, with an oil well in Niger Delta. People are even rushing to buy shares from us".

"I know dad, but I just want to have my own filling station. I will try managing it. I won't let it fall like my grocery store, I promise". I implored.

"Okey, but you need to learn alot about oil first. And the only way to do that is by working with our cooperation. I promise you, after 5 years of working with us I will get you your own filling station to manage".  He said, smiling.

"Five years is long dad!". I whined. "But it's okey, Allah Ya kaimu lafiya".

"Ameen". Mum and Dad chorused.

That was how our conversation ended. Thus, I walked upstairs to my room and took a warm shower before retiring for the night. And as soon as I shut my eyes off, my phone beeped. Verily, it was a text from Safiyah and it reads; "The moon has been sighted, here in Gombe".  I was so happy, Ramadan is finally back again! Alhamdulillah.