Must Read: Behind The Veil

7 years ago

Must Read: Behind The Veil

“What is so important that can’t wait till after dinner? Just because you don’t eat much doesn’t mean you should stop others from eating. I mean its dinner for God’s sake and……….” she ranted on.

Sadiq just stood there speechlessly staring at her in awe. She didn’t have slightest idea how beautiful she looked when she was pissed, and those eyes, they were one of her greatest asset. They could pierce a man’s heart. And those are the kind of things that attract Sadiq; he liked a girl with beautiful eyes, or really nice voice and the weirdest part; a girl’s hair.

There is this attractiveness of a girl having her two hands above her head and plaiting or losing her hair. It just looked s*xy** to him. It was like his weak point, his kryptonite.

“Are you done?” he asked.

She folded her arms like a little girl. “No!” and remained silent.

Sadiq smiled. “You should get angry more often, it makes you look hot.”

He meant to say attractive.

“Says the blind boy” she shot back, a little embarrassed by his compliment.

“Boy. Come on, you know i’m not a boy anymore”
“Who cares? Now tell me why you interrupted my dinner. What’s so urgent?” she asked.

He pulled out the paper from his pocket and handed it to her. “Can you help me deliver this to Zeenat tomorrow?”
She sighed disappointedly. “Of course it’s about Zeenat. I think i’ve lost my appetite, thanks to you.” Collecting the folded paper from him.

“I am sorry” he apologized sincerely. “I just couldn’t wait till tomorrow. Moreover I would be travelling to Lagos tomorrow. ”

She looked at him, surprised. “If this is one of those your jokes just quit it.”

“It’s not” they climbed the stairs that led to half of the house that was uncompleted.

“And you couldn’t tell me you were travelling” Humaira raising her blouse up as they climbed.

“But I just did” he replied confused.

“No. You didn’t care to tell me till you needed me to deliver this note to Zeenat.”
“When you say it that way it sounds like you are right but you aren’t. I did plan to tell you before going to bed.”

Their hands were resting on the balcony barrier, staring down at the street. There were few movements down there with a car or two passing through at long intervals.

“It’s okay. So when will you be back?”
“It’s hard to say, maybe three weeks from now or more.”

She looked up at the sky. “It’s a beautiful night isn’t it?”
“Yes it is.” He thought about telling her about the fireflies Janelle showed him, but he realized that that would be just selfish of him. First he gave her a note to deliver to Zeenat then next he starts a conversation about another girl. “If i may ask, what are the things about you that I don’t know?”
“What things?”
“You know. That night Kazim won his first horse race and you said there are a lot of things that I don’t know about you.”
“Oh. So you didn’t forget, what a memory you have. You really want to know?” she asked.

“Yes”
“Fine. When you come back from Lagos remind me to tell you. ”

He tried to persuade her to tell him but she didn’t budge. They talked at length till they decided to retire to their rooms.

Early the next morning he informed Alhaji Najib and Anty about his plan to travel back home later in the afternoon. He could have left early in the morning but he wanted to see if Zeenat would reply his note, but as expected she didn’t. It didn’t surprise him, he kind of expected that.

‘Welcome home and happy birthday in arrears’ his mother and Asmau welcomed him.

‘Good afternoon sir’ he greeted his dad. His dad drew him to himself, hugging him and giving him a tap on his back. ‘You’re now a man now.’

Sadiq smiled, and Humaira called him a boy.

Little Asmau ran into the room and returned seconds later with what appeared to be a gift.

She quickly handed it to Sadiq.

‘You didn’t even allow him to rest before giving him his birthday gift’ their mom.

“Its okay. Its just an hour flight.” Sadiq unwrapped it slowly, and before he could completely remove the gift wrap, Asmau with no more patience to wait spoke up.

“Its a phone watch. You can put a sim card and make a call with it.”

“Assssmauuuuuu!” Mrs Animashaun surprised at Asmaus impatience.

“Sorry mom. I’m just excited!” she jumped around. Climbing the closest chair to Sadiq inorder to get a good view of the watch.

Their dad adjusted his eye glass as he read the morning newspaper.

“It’s so sleek. Thanks. I love you all.” Sadiq handling it.

“Its from me and Asmau. Your dad wasn’t part of it” Mrs Animashaun as though she didn’t want her husband to get credit for what he had no hand in.

Mr Animashaun lowered the newspaper. “He knows what i have for him.” He faced Sadiq. “I trust your first year will end with a first class?”
Sadiq nodded.

Their deal was if Sadiq obtain first class in his first year, the car his dad bought for him would be released to him. He started well in his first semester…..hopefully his just concluded exam will be as good as his first semester’s result.

He unpacked and straggled on his bed, busy fidgeting with his phone.

“Where’s our dairy” Asmau asked, standing by the door.

Sadiq roused up, pulling a little journal out of his jean back pocket. “I always take it everywhere i go. That way i write down every detail of event that takes place. I’m sure you will like the part about the fireflies.” he said.

She grabbed it from him, waltzing away.