46: Hidden Mystery

‘Hey beloved, I don’t know what to say to you or where to start from, but all I know is, I'm so happy and excited to have you in my life, Fareeda. There were days I ask myself this question, what would I have done without you in my life? Would I have loved my life this much? You enlighten my life, Fareeda. Thank you for being my wife. There was once a phase in our lives when you wanted to run away from me, but one thing was constant then, I knew I couldn't lose you after I've just gotten you. I didn’t know what was my reason then, but now it’s as clear as the morning sky, It’s because I love you, Fareeda. I love you so much.

And our baby, Muhaseen, you gave me a gift that’s priceless. Seeing her by our side is my utmost blessing in life, Fareeda. Thank you for having my child, for giving her your pretty face, but most importantly, thank you for giving her your eyes without the glasses attached. (Don't shoot me a hard look, I love my wife more with her glasses on.) Muhaseen is three months old today, it’s cheesy how we can’t even wait to celebrate her first birthday, but I feel like every day of her life counts to us and should be celebrated.

Thank you for being my father and the mother of my kids. I love you, Fareeda Kamal Sardauna.

Your beloved husband, Mujaheed.’

It had been a week since Muhaseen clocked three months but there was never a day when Fareeda didn’t ready this letter whenever she woke up and it always arose the butterfly in her stomach. She smiled and folded it as she pulled her bedside drawer to put it back. Because it was the second thing she looked for whenever she woke up after her glass.

Something caught her eyes, a card. Not just a normal bank card, but it was a gold card. She pulled it out of the drawer and kept flipping it, she didn't want to know what this meant, she was afraid of what it was making her feel, but she wouldn't act up just now. She could remember taking all that Mujaheed had in him into the drawer yesterday night, maybe he forgot to take it with him before he left for his mysterious ‘I have to deal with something’ meeting.

She had always found that bizarre, but now after she saw this gold card, Fareeda knew she had to do something. She would be overly hurt if she found out the Mujaheed was dealing into an illegal business. Not that she looked down onto him because of his financial state, but she knew being a gateman would never give you a gold card in Nigeria. Unless he was paid thousands of dollars per month, which she was sure he wasn’t.

On instinct, she picked up her phone and dialed his number. She had never called him whenever he left and told her he was going to take care of something in town, but today she knew she had to call him. With the card still in her palms, she heard as he picked the call. “Hello, Mujaheed?” She called out, but later realized what would she tell him? What would be her excuse of calling him? If she had missed him, she could send him a text because he always replied.

“Hello, Fareeda. Are you awake already?” She heard him smile, which she was certain he wasn't bothered with the fact that she had called him. That eased her and she knew she wouldn’t have any difficulties anymore.

“I'm awake and you’re out already. I know you might be busy, but please will you bring some diapers for me? I’ve just checked it and realized Muhaseen’s diapers have finished. I'm sorry I’m telling you this at the dire minute because I have to bathe her, and we don’t have anyone left to change it for her.”

She heard his sighed softly and from the sounds coming from him, he was already on his feet, walking out from wherever he was. “I'm sorry, something came up at home, I'll have to leave now. If something comes up, call me immediately.” She heard him uttered, probably to whoever it was he was together with. “Hey, Fareeda, I'll be home right now, I'll come with the diaper, okay?”

She smiled even though her heart was thumping rapidly with the possibility of the occurrence of what she was afraid of happening. She knew so well that Mujaheed wasn’t into any business, then what was this business he was dealing with? “Okay, I'll be waiting for you. Be safe.”

“I will, take care of yourself also. I love you.” She could only smile before she ended the call, sometimes she still got flustered whenever he told her he loved her and Fareeda had never said she loved him back. Not that she loved him and didn't want to confirm it to him. She knew she loved being with him, she got all the best feelings whenever she was around him, but the moment she thought about being in love with him, the idea vanished as fast as it came to her. It felt as if her heart had been hardened to the point that she wasn’t able to love anymore.

She took Muhaseen from her crib and smiled widely, feeling relaxed and relieved just by staring into her eyes. She planted a warm motherly kiss on her forehead, “I love you so much, Muhaseen. Thank you for being my daughter, darling. Let’s all pray that Baaba isn't into any illegal business, okay?” Muhaseen gave out a baby chuckle and that made Fareeda laughed.

She carefully placed her down on the bed and rushed to the wardrobe. She knew she had to do something about the pile of diapers she had in the wardrobe before he came back and realized she had lied to him. She immediately called Kamila and when she came, Fareeda gave her the diapers and told her to take it to her chamber in the mansion.

She was making a quick brunch for herself when he came into the kitchen and planted a soft kiss on her cheeks. With a warm yet tensed smile on her lips, she turned to look at him. “I've missed you,” she managed to utter with a pout on her lips. She wanted to ask him about that gold her and suspicious activities lately but Fareeda knew she couldn’t do that. There was something about his aura that made it nearly impossible for her to confront him about that matter.

“I’m sorry I had to leave. What are you cooking?” He moved deeper into the kitchen and took the spatula from her hands with ease because she didn't have enough energy in her to do that. “I'll finish cooking it for you,” he turned to look at how she was staring at him, “The diaper is in the living room, I know you want to be bathe her soon that’s why I rushed here.”

Not to show any sign of her worry, she slightly hugged him and smiled. “Thank you so much, Baaba. I'll go and check it now; we’ll be in the room when you need something.” She immediately walked out of the kitchen before he stopped her and became stupefied when she saw a whole carton of diapers. What the hell was wrong with Mujaheed? Where did he get the money to do all these things? Who bought a carton of diaper? Where did he even get it?

“I bought the carton so it can last longer, it has all sizes in it, so she wouldn’t outsize them.” She heard his voice from the kitchen and barely nodded her head. Who was this man? That was the first question she asked herself but then it stroke her hard, she didn't even know his surname. What was his real occupation? Who was his? What did he do for a living apart from being a gateman? Something was definitely not okay, and she had it upon herself to find what was wrong without him knowing she was looking into it. Because if he knew, it would be bad. And if she asked, he would never answer her.

She dragged the carton into the room and smiled softly when Muhaseen’s innocent eyes stared back into hers. She went over to the bed and sat down, taking Muhaseen into her arms. “Should we get our bathe done, baby? Baaba is here, you haven't seen him since yesterday, right?” Sometimes it was all funny to her how she spoke with Muhaseen as if she was grown enough to comprehend what she was saying. But what filed her heart every time was the laughter she always did whenever she spoke to her as if she knew what she was saying.

While bathing Muhaseen, all Fareeda could think of were Mujaheed’s suspicious behaviors since when she was pregnant. His extravagant shopping before and after Muhaseen was born. At first she thought it was all because he was so excited to be a father, but later she realized it wasn't the case when his activities kept getting even more suspicious. How he always came back with a gift for her or Muhaseen or someday the both of them. She appreciated the gesture, but it was so unnecessarily and also above his level, as a gateman.

And now it was getting out of hand. She could remember the day he saw her roaming through an online page when she saw a gold necklace and she had to beg him not to buy it for her, because she didn’t know he was standing behind her and was seeing her activities on her phone. He was so persistent about buying that necklace that he nearly got angry when she tried to make him understand that even though she can buy it for herself, it was so expensive. He shouldn't buy it for her, she wouldn’t buy it either because they have to be responsible when it came to spending because they had a family to build and take care of.

And now the gold card, which had confirmed all the doubts she had. When she was done getting Muhaseen ready, she went to the living room and found him bringing the brunch out of the kitchen, and she smiled. She knew not all girls are lucky to have someone like Mujaheed in their lives, and from the button of her heart, Fareeda wished all her assumptions not to be true.

“Hey! Muhaseeen!” He said excitedly when he spotted them standing by the sofa. He immediately walked to Fareeda and collected Muhaseen from her with a wide grin, he loved his baby more than he had ever loved something in his life.

Fareeda watched him play with Muhaseen with a lovely smile on her face, she had a perfect and happy home, if only all these things didn't start happening. “I'll go and take my bathe, don’t eat, okay? Wait for me until I'm done.”

He didn’t look up at her when he pinched Muhaseen’s cheeks playfully, “Take your time, we won’t even miss you, right Muhaseen?” The little girl gurgled happily as though answering his question and both parents happily laughed.

Fareeda walked back into the room with her cold and weak feet. She didn't know what was wrong with Mujaheed, but she would have to find out soon. She went and had her bathe, and after she was done getting ready, Fareeda wondered which clothes she had to wear. She was surfing through her wardrobe when she noticed a box in the drawer.

Her hands were shaking when she picked it up and went back to sit on the bed. After she opened the box, there was a note on top of it and it read. ‘For my beautiful wife, I love you. I wanted this to be a birthday gift but then I realized I should celebrate you every day. You might not get this the day I've kept it but eventually, you’ll see it. This necklace deserves to be worn by you.’ Her whole body was shaking when she lifted the gold necklace in her hands, it was that necklace they nearly had a fight with! Who was Mujaheed?

Then she noticed something apart from the earrings and ring, an anklet. A gold anklet which was specially made for her, she didn't have to check to see it was made for her. Because there was an inscription carefully written on the anklet, ‘Let your soul grow.’ She noticed a paper too, her whole body trembled while her heart trumped as she began to read it. ‘You hold onto the anklets Mama gave to you, which one way or the other stopped your soul from growing. You shouldn’t do it now, but whenever you’re ready, let your soul grow, Fareeda. You deserve to be happy in both worlds. I love you.’

She quickly put everything back in the box and kept it back where he left it. While fighting back her tears, she found a gown and wore it before she stood by the door to calm herself down. She knew it wasn’t the right time to speak to him about him, she wasn’t going to. Maybe at night when everything was calm and peaceful within him. The problem she would have before night was how to control herself. How not to keep on venting questions on him about how he was getting this money from. Everything was choked up for her and she didn’t even know how she was supposed to act.

“We’re famished, Maama!” She heard his whining voice from the living room and somehow, it calmed her down. She tried painting a smile on her lips before she walked out of the room.

“I'm sorry, I stayed there for long. How’s my baby, I hope she hasn’t troubled you?”

He looked up at her and with just one glance noticed something was wrong with her, but she was trying all she could to act as if she was fine. “What’s wrong with you?” He asked, placing Muhaseen’s face on his shoulder.

“Nothing, what did you see? I think I'm just not feeling well, nothing serious to go to the hospital for, I promise!” She laughed at him, knowing so well that he can easily push her to the hospital.

She served them on one plate like they always ate their food before she sat down on the carpet. Most of the time she loved it when they ate on the carpet and Mujaheed slipped down as well, carefully holding Muhaseen in his arm. “Give her back to me so you can eat comfortably, Mujaheed.” She tried to stretch out her hands to him, but he smiled before he shook his head.

“Why will I do that? You’re the one that deserves all the comfortability and rest. Now, let’s eat.” She smiled genuinely at him, she loved the way he loved her and took care of her She flipped her imaginary hair and smiled at him, “You love me so much, I must've been the lucky girl, aren’t I?” She was doing all she could to show him she was fine.

He smiled and nodded his head at her but before he replied her there was a soft knock on the door and Fareeda immediately stood up. “You have a baby on you, I'll check who it is.”

“Cover your body first.” He immediately chirped.

She chuckled and unrolled her veil and draped it over her body. “It’s not like I'm naked, Mujaheed, and I doubt if it’s a man.” It always gave her chills whenever he acted jealous of her.

“Still, I’m the only one allowed to see your beauty.” She shook her head with a smile and opened the door for.

“Oh, Kamila? What's wrong?” She asked, hoping she wouldn't mention anything about the diapers because she knew his attention was on them and if he heard this, nothing could stop them from fighting.

“I need to talk to you for a minute please, Aunty Fareeda.” Fareeda excused herself from Mujaheed and stepped out for a bit. They spoke with Kamila for a few minutes before she came back with a furious yet amused look in her eyes and Mujaheed waited until she sat down before he asked her what was wrong.

“She came to confess to me, about a crime she had covered more than a year ago.”

He immediately jerked upright, “Which among the crimes? The ones that nearly killed you? You know I'm still checking up on those people?” She had never told him that she knew who was behind it, she even heard their voices.

“No, do you remember that sexual arousal I suffered from?” He immediately nodded his head. “She told me that it was Ummah’s doing. That day after Nana was done with the food she asked her to look over it for her before she went to take her bathe, so Ummah came in ad put it inside, threatening her to be fired if she spoke about it.” She chuckled softly, even though pained, she wondered why it didn’t make her angry as she expected it would when she found out who was behind it. “She thought the pill Ummah put for me was the reason I nearly died, so she was guilty of hiding the truth from everyone. And she felt that she couldn’t hide anymore so she came and told me everything.”

“That woman...” He began through gritted teeth but Fareeda chuckled while shaking her head at him.

“What? Yes I agree to have been pained at the time but now that I've seen it, it’s actually a blessing to us. Because if she hadn’t done that, I doubt if we will ever have rekindled our relationship that way. She wanted to make me suffer, I did, but I should even be thankful to her...” Her words became guttural when his phone rang, and he immediately picked it up without saying anything. He picked the call and in a second, he placed Muhaseen on her laps and aimed at the door.