53: Hair Revelation

He was asleep but he couldn’t hide his smile. He had never felt this in his whole life. He graced his hand to make sure all that happened yesterday wasn’t a dream. And right beside him, was Jalilah. He slowly squinted his eyes to get a better view of her sleeping figure. She was clutched onto him like she had told him, maybe even tighter than she had ever held a teddy bear. She looked peaceful, happy and all shades of calmness. Did he deserve her? He doubted.

While asleep, Jalilah’s innocence could be seen from the way she pouted, and the baby gleam she adorned on her face. It was a beautiful sight to behold. Was this how she slept? He thanked Allah to have never seen that because there was no way he could be able not to wake her up with a kiss every day. It was just the early hours of the day, and he knew she was tired not to wake up.

But for him, having Jalilah slept into his arms was enough rest, enough relief he had ever gotten in his life. He couldn’t thank Allah enough; he didn’t even know where to start from if he wanted to thank Allah. Maybe by being steadfast in his deen or giving out in charity constantly for the rest of his life, something religious that could truly show his appreciation.

The sky was just beginning to bring back its blue shade, darkness eluded out of it. That gave him the chance to stare at her face. Had she always been this beautiful? Maybe it was the pure light of the auroras, but then he was sure it wasn’t. She was beautiful, there was no way he could deny that and today she looked even more beautiful than he had ever imagined she would look.

She squirmed on the bed and the way she acted; he knew she wanted to sure of her fantasy-filled dreams. Just that she wasn’t dreaming yesterday. They were the ones, married and their hearts bursting in love. She began to smile even before she opened her eyes and that was a magnificent sight to behold! Yazeed wished he had a camera fixed on his eyes so he could be able to snap all these amazing moments with Jalilah.

Her eyes were still closed when he leaned close to her stomach and whispered, “Good morning, Ballerina,” his voice so husky with the remains of his sleep that it instantly calmed her down, she relaxed more onto his body and brought him closer.

“Wasn’t a dream, huh?” She asked tiredly, sleepily but then she was happy too.

Yazeed smiled and caressed her cheeks, “It wasn’t, Ballerina. It was a reality, but it felt like heaven.” He whispered into her ear yet again and Jalilah groggily pulled her eyelids apart from each other. And the sight she had seen was something she had never seen in her life. Yazeed holding onto her like a treasure he was afraid to be snatched from him, he had loved dripping from his eyes while he stared softly at her, her chest against his.

She smiled and palmed her face, no, she couldn’t be able to look into Yazeed’s eyes for the rest of today. Maybe she could do that tomorrow, but for today? There was no way she could. He chuckled and pinched her cheeks, “What? Are you shy?” He questioned, and Jalilah nodded her head at him.

“Yes, you should stop staring at me. I need to get my hair brushed.” She whined and pulled herself out of his body. It was something she had grown up doing, brushing her hair the first thing after she woke up, and it didn’t matter that even if she was certain that she would go back to sleep at any time.

She sat upright on the bed while undoing her turban, trying so hard to hide her blush and also not to look into his eyes. “Will you please help me pass my hairbrush? I kept it in the bedside drawer your side.” She asked, not looking into his eyes, resting her back on the bed head and he softly nodded. He loved it when she was shy, she had never been this shy all their lives.

He handed her the brush and waited in utter anticipation. How did it look? He could finally see her hair now, right? There was nothing left but the hair, which he hadn’t seen and explored in her. He intently watched as she pulled the turban down and placed it on the duvet, trying so hard to set cover her naked chest with the duvet and also work with her hands.

“Yazeed! You’re staring too much!” She whined and pinned the duvet firmly on her chest, he chuckled.

“If I want to do what’s on my mind, it will be something more than just staring at the morning goddess you are. Go on unless you don’t want to brush your hair either.” She pouted her lips and fixed her eyes on the design adorning the duvet, it was easier to watch. It didn’t cause her heart palpitations, nor did it make her feel she wanted to hug it to her chest forever.

She slipped her hair out of the bun she always made of it, and Yazeed gasped. Pulling out the ribbon she made the ponytail with, Yazeed knew he couldn’t take it any longer. If this was truly what she was hiding all her life, then he would spend his entire life thanking Allah for bestowing her on him. First, it was unbelievably long. He knew some women with hair; Ummi had one herself, but he had never imagined Jalilah’s was this long. And it was black, fully taken care of in all its healthy measure. He used his hand and brushed through the locks of her hair, he smiled. It was slippery, silky and all shades of beauty and exquisite.

“Jalilah, this is what you’ve been hiding?” He couldn’t help but ask. He was awe-stricken that he couldn’t hide his astonishment and from the laughter dancing in her eyes, he knew she was waiting for his reaction.

His hand moved back and forth into her hair and she just stayed still, smiling and letting him be. Yes, he knew he had her until forever but then he couldn’t take his eyes off her. His hands off her. And right now, her hair wasn’t the only thing he wanted to explore in her, but he had to restrain himself and let her be for a while.

“Yazeed, you’re prolonging it for me. I can’t brush it the way I want if your hands are there.” She pointed at her hair and he smiled, mischievously if she could add.

“I’ll help keep the duvet firm for you then. Go on, brush your hair.” She smiled and watched him held onto the duvet for her. But she should have known better. Why would she even let his hands there knowing...! She had to scream softly at the way his hands were moving on her chest despite the duvet being a barrier between them.

She was about to speak when he pulled her down on the bed and she was looking up at him, cherishing the way he hovered over her, protecting and loving her whole. Her hair got splattered onto the pillow and he smiled when she pouted at him. “At least, I made you look into my eyes, Jalilah.”

She closed her eyes whining at the look on his face, he laughed. He was no more touching her above the duvet, she felt the fire his hands were arising in her body, but she acted as if she didn’t know. When it got here to the point that she couldn’t take it anymore, she pulled him to her and merged their lips. If she was going to have it, then why not in its wholeness?

“Addah we missed you at home, when are you coming back?” Fareed and Fareeda asked, whining but they were all lovingly smiling at her. They brought their breakfast this morning, and they couldn’t leave yet, happy to see that Yazeed had woken up.

“Don’t you know you can’t have her in your home forever now? She’s mine now, right Ballerina?” Yazeed asked while he pulled her to his side and she smiled, he was intent on making her shy for the rest of their lives. How did he manage to have this version of himself hidden for such a long time?

They kept conversing with the twins while all she said was smiled and laughed when they did something funny. And a few minutes after they left, he turned to look at her, “I need to call Sulaiman, what do you think?”

She nodded her head reasonably at him, “You should, Wafiyya too. I’m sure they’re probably there thinking that oh poor Yazeed, how is he coping? Wishing for your good health and speedy recovery...” he stretched to have a hold of her, but she immediately stood up the whole laughing at the way he looked. “I just pointed out the truth! Even the doctors thought you’re a patient.”

He sat back at the edge of the bed and she gave him his phone. He pulled her to sit next to him, but she stood up. “The doctor asked me to meet him in his office, I’ll go there before you’re done.” She informed while smiling at him, he nodded his head before he released her hand.

“Will you be fine out there?” He asked, suddenly not wanting to have her out of his sight. Was this how it always felt?

She smiled and roughly kissed his cheeks, “I’ll be back before you even know I’m gone.” She smiled and walked out of the room. Even though it was true that the doctor asked to meet her, she wanted to give him some time and also, she wanted to call Farha. No, she needed to call Farha. No, she MUST call Farha!

She held everything in and walked to the doctor’s office, she was relieved to hear that there were no complications, and they would discharge him in two days, depending on how fast he was responding to treatment. She found a hut a few feet away from the doctor’s office and sat down. She knew Farha was at work right now, but then she didn’t care, because she couldn’t hold it in for long.

Her voice was long, hell-bent on pranking her best friend. “Hey, Babe.” She called out with a sad voice and she could sense the way Farha’s alarm began to ring.

“What is it, Jalilah? Did something go wrong? Did he wake up? What did the doctors say? Oh, my chest, I hope he’s fine, right?” She asked in one breath and Jalilah tried so hard to hide her laughter.

“What? I thought you hated him?” She couldn’t help but ask. Because she was sure of all the people that loved her, no one hated Yazeed so much for what he did for her but Farha. Always angry whenever she brought something up about it.

Farha hissed, “You’re an idiot, that’s your problem. How could I hate him when you love him this much? I’m just angry about what he did to you and it’s even in the past now. How can I hate your husband, the father of your kids, Babe?”

The laughter that erupted out of Jalilah’s chest was what made Farha realized that all she did was a prank. She wasn’t even sad to start with. And right there she knew she had to kill this girl the next time she saw her. “Don’t joke with me, Jalilah, has he woken up already?”

It wasn’t until she asked the question that she sensed the urge in Jalilah’s voice. It was either she was hiding something from her, or she wanted to tell her something so bad, or maybe it was both. She giggled and placed her hands on her lips to avoid her squeal from being heard. “Oh my god! Tell me, how was it? My chest! I should have realized this the moment you called me.”

And then she was shy now, she threw her head back and laughed. She couldn’t believe she was having this conversation with Farha, something she had never imagined would happen. “Girl, I don’t even know what to say. But a quick question, do they naturally turn soft and vulnerable, so loving or it’s only him?”

This time, Farha couldn’t hide her scream! She was so excited not to let it out. I mean, her best friend got married to the love of her life and it was evident he was treating her better. “My chest, I wish I could call you right now and ask you, ‘Turn the damn camera, Jalilah!’ But then, a girl is married now to the love of her life and I’m just...” she giggled excitedly before she whined, “I want to get married!!!”

Jalilah had to laugh at that, she laughed so hard until she noticed that some people were flashing her weird looks and she got a hold of herself. “Wait, I don’t understand you again, Farha. Yesterday it wasn’t you want to get married, and today this?” She giggled, happy and excited too.

“Come on, I don’t want to get married to Nura, but then every other man is welcome. I don’t mean all those men, you know? My category of men.” She informed, smiling and so happy for Jalilah.

“Would Sulaiman do? I can arrange everything in an hour or more, you’ve got nothing to worry about, baby girl!” She threw her head back and laughed at the groan Farha made while she began to rain insults on her.

“I told you that man should get out of your lips, didn’t I? He has a wife, and a son, Jalilah. Maybe she’s even pregnant with their second child, maybe not. Please let me enjoy my life in peace.”

“But I could tell that you both like each other.” Urg! Did Jalilah ever hear a word?

“Liking each other is different from ending up with each other, Babe. Look, that’s not the kind of conversation I want to have right now. Tell me, was it amazing? Like all those books, out of the world, soul gripping...yen yen yen...” she added while laughing so hard and Jalilah knew the day she would lose Farha would be the day she would stop having any kind of conversation in her life.

She sighed and a dreamy smile flashed on her lips, she still couldn’t believe it. “I still can’t believe it, Farha. But I could say, it’s much more than all those books have ever written. I don’t even know the right words to describe it, on god.” Farha kept giggling, asking questions and simply just being so happy for her best friend.

After they were done with the conversation, she walked back to the room with a smile on her lips. And when she turned the doorknob, she smiled and looked up at the bed. “Yazeed? What’s wrong?” She rushed into the room and sat beside him on the bed.

“Yazeed, talk to me!” She shook his hand softly and he turned to look at her. “What happened? A loss or something back home?” She added, and he shook his head.

“I called Alhaji...” he began and let his words trailed off.

“And? What did he say?” She urged, he palmed his face and sighed.

“He was furious at first, that I got married without telling him. Then for a moment, I couldn’t hear what was going on around him, probably Hajia speaking to him. And do you know what that woman wants?” He asked, and she sighed softly before she shook her head. She didn’t know how Yazeed was so afraid of this woman, she wondered how.

“What? She probably can’t ask you to divorce the wife, would she?”

He chuckled and shook his head, “I’d rather cut all my ties with them than do that. She said I should take the wife to Kebbi, she should live with them while I work in Abuja. How is that, Jalilah? I can’t let you in the safety of that woman. Look at what she did to you, even though I took a part in it, I’m sure they would have gotten into the house for you if they haven’t met you outside already. I can’t risk that.”

She looked at him with a stupefied expression, “Is that what you’re worried about? Come on, I don’t think it’s a big deal. What’s there if I stay in Kebbi while you’re in Abuja? And it wouldn’t be for long that she would beg you to come and take your wife home, I’d make sure she regrets having me there.”

He was still skeptical; he shook his head at her. “Jalilah, that woman is far more dangerous than you could ever imagine. I’ve told him that I have to think about it first even though I’m certain he would be firm on his words. I can’t risk that.”

She held both hands and smiled, calming him through her eyes and her tender touch. “Come on, Yazeed, why? I told you not to let this woman use your weakness against you, didn’t I? So, what if she wants me to live in Kebbi? That’s your home, I wouldn’t mind staying there forever. Please don’t stress yourself, you know you’re a patient, right?” She giggled when he glared at her before he pulled her in for a hug.

She loved this man and so much loved how he made her feel. “Or better, tell me the truth, are you afraid of what Hajia would do to me or you don’t want to miss your dear wife?” She asked, looking up from his chest and he smiled before he pinched her cheeks.

“Well, maybe that too. But seriously, Jalilah, she thinks maybe you’re dead or something, seeing you as my wife, I don’t know how much it will trigger her.”

She shook her head and tightened her hold on him, “You have to trust me, Yazeed, nothing will happen. And like I said, she will call you and ask you to take your wife home.” She chuckled kissed her forehead softly before he stared into her eyes.

“What if you’re pregnant? Is that how I’ll be leaving you alone on weekdays? I can’t take that, Jalilah.”

“When I get pregnant, even if she doesn’t beg you to, I’ll leave her because our baby needs its Abbi, so I’ll have to leave Hajia no matter how much she’s going to miss me. Do you know? Family first.” He had to laugh, he had never seen someone as crazy and carefree as Jalilah was. And having her in his life made it a lot easier. Somehow, he could stay calm knowing as much as Hajia wanted, she couldn’t harm his wife.