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REPLACEMENT GIRL 👧
CHAPTER 15
*HUMAIRAH POV*
People like Sarah, Mubarak, and Faisal thought Ahmad was in love with me but they were so badly wrong. When Naziha disappeared from the house few weeks back I was always around Ahmad – ma-king him feel safe, cracking jokes, telling him stories, watching films with him, dining outside with him and even going out to search for Naziha, but he never talked about love with me. He never tried to t©uçh me, he never looked at me affectionately, he was always talking about Naziha and he never st©pped until she literarily returned back.
Ahmad was so happy to see Naziha when she c@m£ back, he boldly hvgged and k!$$£d her in our pres£nce. He didn’t even ask her where she went to and why, he was so happy to see her back. Like seriously? My own Ahmad? The Ahmad I was always around him? Well, that was enough for me. Do you even know what? There was a time he told me he was the hor-nytype and so he couldn’t stay long without S-x. I wanted telling him I was also a hor-nytype too and could not stay a whole week without masturbating myself but then I changed my mind.
When Ahmad told me about his condition, I had wanted ma-king myself available to him but then something told me not to and it was my conscience. So I dropped the evil idea and focused on ma-king him feel like someone really cared. Yesterday, he went out early and I thought he would come back and take me home like he used to do but unfortunately he didn’t. It was Faisal that volunteered. I didn’t have a good sleep, I had rolled from one side of the be-d to another with his thoughts lingering in my mind.
I loved Ahmad, I should have made myself available for him while I had the chance and maybe the child I would conceive for him would have united us both but I was too scared to do that. What if he dump me later like other men used to do after getting what they want? What if all he had for me was infatuation? What if he was only using me to bar his loneliness? What if Naziha would always be his? What if…? My mind wasn’t at rest at all, I couldn’t st©p asking myself questions that I knew I had no answers to. I really loved Ahmad and I nee-ded him!
Today, Sarah called me as early as possible and told me she had been trying Ahmad’s number to tell him she wouldn’t be able to make it to work due to her troublesome pregnancy that had been taking its toll on her but then his phone wasn’t reachable. “plea-se as soon as you reach Oga (boss’) house, endeavor to tell him everything” She had implored and I told her not to worry. Ahmad was the kind of boss that never reduce salary or scold just because you are sick or took a day off. He was very kind.
While waiting for Faisal to come and pick me up, I held my earpieces to my ears and began listening to “Right Now” by Seyi Shay . It wasn’t cold today so I wasn’t wearing my sweater. I was wearing the ankara I c@m£ to the city with. It was my best in the village but here, you know what to call it. Nothing in the village can be compared to that of the city, everything was perfect here. Water was always in your house, electricity was stable, sto-rey buildings everywhere, fancy cars, medical facilities, etc!
🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶
When i close my eyes
And i think of the memory
Me and you, you and me
You used to looove me
You used to looove me
And baby i will ride for you
Flow wine for you
I will t©uçh my ti-ppy toes
I will bounce it for you
Oh, ohhh… all the things you used to dooo!
I still remember back in December
Was the h0test winter
From the sunrise to midnight
The love dey enter
That is why I surrender
There is no contender
From the midnight to sunrise
The love dey enter!
t©uçh me now now
Right now now now now!
Do you remember the rhyme
Cus I remember the rhyme
I wanna feel it right now now now now!
Tou ou ou ch me me me now now now
Right now now now now!
Do you remember the rhyme
I wanna join in the ryhme
Me want me feel it right now now now now
Right now now now
Now now now now!
🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶
As soon as Faisal arrived with the car, I paused the song and quic-kly hopped into the car. He was so late today, 7 O’clock but I didn’t complain because what was in my mind was heavier than anything at that moment. I greeted him and just as I was about pla-ying the song he said something that baffled me.
“Something happened between Oga (boss) and his wife yesterday, he drove out of the house in extreme anger” He said as he began driving.
“What do you mean?” I puzzled.
“Well, I was in our lodge when I heard him yelling at Mubarak to open the gate for him. The way he spoke told me something was wrong. I quic-kly rushed out and saw madam begging him in the parking lot not to go but he was furious. He reversed back and drove out like a maniac. Maybe something happened between him and madam or maybe he divorced her because throu-ghout the night Mubarak and I were helping her pack her things out of the house. She summoned a trailer early this morning and off she went with all her things” Faisal elaborated everything bit by bit to me.
“What?!” I dropped my jaw. “And where is Ahmad?” I queried hoping that nothing bad happened to him. He was the only one I cared about, nothing was my business with Naziha. Her leaving would even pave a way for me into Ahmad’s heart, so why should I even worry about her? I certainly disliked her!
“Wallahi we’ve been trying his number but we couldn’t reach him…” He said in a sad tone.
“Take me to Brimstone!” I ordered.
“What?” He turned and gave me a baffled gaze. “What on earth are you going to do there?”
“Just take me there!” I gulped and continued. “If there is any place Ahmad would likely be at this moment then it has to be there” I added.
“That place is a very bad place, don’t tell me you’ve been there with him before” He jealously said.
“That’s none of your business, just take me there. By the way not every bad place is dominated by bad people and a h0tel is a h0tel, it only depends on what took you there or what you did there” I said.
“Okay” He said and huffed.
“Whatever you have in your mind, just say it!” I squealed.
“Nothing, is just that…” He paused.
“I am listening, Faisal” I said.
“Well, the thing is… uhmm, I will tell you some other time, I promise” He changed his mind.
“It better not be what I’m thinking” I said.
“What’s that?” He asked.
“Love!” I said.
“Oh my God, Humairah! Why do you expect everyb©dy to love you? Just because Mubarak once used to call you my girlfriend doesn’t mean I have feelings for you” He sm-irked.
“Right?” I giggled and continued. “The more you deny it the more you hurt yourself, Mr Man”
“Okay… okay, I love you!” He cleared his throat and continued. “Are you now satisfied? Crazy teenager!” He said laughing at himself, yes… not me!
“Sadly, I will never be yours” I giggled.
“Whatever!” He said.
Brimstone was Ahmad’s favourite dining place, it was a remarkable h0tel located just after the State Government house. I never knew there was such a place in this pres£nt life until he took me there to quench his loneliness. We’ve been there more than 5 times, just to dine and have some fun. He wanted to feel cared and I was the perfect soulmate.
As soon as Faisal pu-ll-ed over in front of the h0tel’s gate, I told him to wait for me to go and check inside. There was a place Ahmad loved staying in, it was the elegant bar. If I didn’t see him there then that means he lodged a room.
“Don’t stay long, I haven’t eaten breakfast” Faisal complained wearing a pathetic face.
“And why should I stay long?” I hissed at him.
“It’s a big place, you know” He said.
“Oh, now I get it! I will be right back” I said and left him.
Just as I was in the h0tel, the first place I checked was the parking lots – none of which housed Ahmad’s car. So I proceeded to the bar but he wasn’t there too, hence I went to the receptionist with a smile. “plea-se I am looking for someone by the name Ahmad Jaafar Zaki, do you…”
“What are you doing here, Humairah?” A husky voice from my back intercepted me, I didn’t even know when I turned to the person. It was Ahmad and he was obviously drun!k.
“What the hell?!” I quic-kly collected the beer he was holding and dropped it onto a table, I was heartbroken because I never knew he was a drun!kard. “We have to go home sir!” I said getting hold of him.
“Oh come on, Humairah!” He gently pushed me away and took his beer. “This is just life and, it’s gonna end soon so let’s enjoy while we can!”
“No!” I collected the beer from him again and returned it to the table. “plea-se let’s just go, sir”
“Okay… okay, but let me get my ATM card. It’s… It’s in the room I lodged, number 34” He belched.
“Okay, stay right here sir. Let me go and get it for you” I said and quic-kly ran to the elevator.
Immediately I was in the room the first place I checked was the be-dside drawers, it wasn’t there so I took off the blanket and just then the ATM card fell on the floor. I smiled about picking it up when Ahmad stormed in. I had told him to wait for me outside but he was the stubborn type. I took the ATM card and walked over to him. “Here, let’s go” I said about walking him out when he held my arm firmly.
“She cheated on me” He said.
“Who?” I puzzled.
“Naziha, she sle-pt with someone” He said.
“What?” My heart began beating so very fast, was that what her wandering all about? How dared she do that to him? Was she insane? “But why?” I asked him.
“It’s a long story Humairah, but now I am going to cheat on her too” He said in tears.
“What do you mean?” I puzzled.
“I am sorry Humairah, but I have to sleep with you” He said and before I knew it he lifted me up and took me to the be-d. I didn’t say anything, if that was what he wanted then he had gotten it. But I was scared, I was a masturbator not a fornicator.
CHAPTER 16
*HUMAIRAH POV*
“Wait Ahmad, plea-se just wait!” I squealed.
“What?” He said as he st©pped unbuckling his belt. “You promised to be there for me”
“Yes, but this isn’t good sir!” I said.
“But I have to, I really nee-d to!” He said.
“Okay, but not with me” I said feeling the paces of my tears down to my ears. I was so scared.
“Humairah, look…” He said as I cut in.
“plea-se sir, let’s just go home” I pleaded.
Just then, he huffed and withdrew from me. “I am sorry” He said while adjusting his belt.
“You don’t nee-d to be sorry” I managed to say as I withdrew from the be-d and held his hand with a bitter smile. “Let’s go home, sir”
“Okay” He said
We walked out of the h0tel together, I thought he had parked his car somewhere around but he told me his car was hijacked by some thvgs when he angrily left the house in the night. I really felt sorry for him, everything happened because of Naziha. He loved her so very much but she broke his heart and soul.
I had wanted allowing him to have me but I changed my mind the moment I saw him about to do it. I was so scared and wasn’t re-ady for it. I knew he wasn’t in his full s-en-ses and I knew he would eventually regret ever doing it.
He never said he loved me, he only wanted me to be around him and to help him out of every difficulty. If he had said that he loved me, maybe because of that love I would have let him have me. But what if he had me at that moment? Perhaps he might end up dumping me and my dream of becoming his wife would have ended prematurely.
We both went out to Faisal who was waiting for us in the car and thus we hopped into the back seat. It was a silent ride home, Ahmad vomited almost all the bad stuffs he took in the h0tel. After that I cooked breakfast and he ate and sle-pt.
While cleaning the mess he threw up, I imagined how perfect it would be for me to be his wife. Like, he un-derstood me and I also un-derstood him but why wasn’t he thinking about marriage? Why couldn’t he just make me his second wife?
_____________
*Six days later*
*AHMAD POV*
Few days ago , I caught Naziha ma-king a weird call. I eavesdropped throu-gh her door and found out she had been cheating on me. I barged into her room and she was shocked on seeing me. Thus, I drove out of the house in high speed with tears blurring my vision.
No destination, I just kept driving like a maniac. The car was hijacked when I reached the empty highway of Maikunkele. The robbers took my ATM card too but I called the bank and got it blocked as soon as they left.
It was in the middle of the night, I had to trek to the junction of Police Secondary School, Minna before I got a cab. “Take me to Galaxy Bank!” I had said to the cabman, and after driving me there I told him to wait for me.
Galaxy Bank was the only bank that operated even in the night in Minna but only the affluents could open an account there, it was highly secured. I walked into the bank and got another ATM card. There was no sufficient money with me so I withdrew some money from my account and went back to the cab. “Take me to Brimstone, I will pay you all your money” I had said to the cabman.
“Okay sir” He had replied and gently drove me there.
After paying him off, I walked into the h0tel. It was one of the biggest h0tels in the city, don’t even think about spending money there if you are not rich. I had been there countless time with Naziha before we got married, but ever since we married each other she forbade us from going there.
Let me break it down for you, it was a very bad place and Naziha and I had committed Zina (fornication) not once in that place before we got married. Maybe that was why we couldn’t even conceive, perhaps God was punishing us for our sins.
I lodged into a room, ordered some polar beer and quenched my worries. The following day in the morning, I was on my way to the bar when I saw Humairah looking for me. Of course she knew I would be there because when Naziha disappeared for almost a month, Humairah and I had been in the h0tel but don’t panic because she was a wise teenager.
She told me to follow her home but I hesitated before finally suc¢v-mbing to her wish. I told her my ATM card was in the room I lodged hence she asked me to wait for her while she get it for me. I didn’t wait for her because I was thinking she might not know where I kept it but that girl, she was something else – she found the card.
That moment, something got into my head and I almost violated her but God saved her because she was wise and also, I respected her decision. Why was I even so bad? I was 26 and she was ba-rely 17 years old yet I wanted to make love with her. I really shouldn’t try that nons-en-se again because it’s a bad idea.
We left the h0tel and my driver drove us home. I vomited the beer I took in the sitting room and Humairah cleaned it. I was so ashamed of myself, why was I always putting such a small girl into difficulties that even my wife could not take? Whoever married Humairah would be lucky!
A letter in Naziha’s room baffled me. It re-ads;
” Dear, Ahmad. I’m so sorry for everything that I’ve done to you. I know I’ve not been good to you ever since I realized life without the fruit of the wo-mb is worthless. I nee-ded a child, for us against all odds. I thought I could get it, I thought I could deceive Allah but I was so wrong. I love you, Ahmad and I will always love you but we can’t live together anymore. I have to go faraway, away from the people I love which include my siblings too. This is my punishment, the one I imposed on myself. I don’t know if Allah will forgive me but I will keep praying for His forgiveness and mercy. I also want you to forgive me, Ahmad. And plea-se don’t search for me because you will never find me. I love you, Ahmad, and will always love you!”
The letter really brou-ght tears to my eyes.
Well, that was few days ago… and today marked the 6th day since Naziha left me for good. I had tried reaching her on phone almost every single hour but to no avail. And like a clock’s hands at twelve O’clock, all her relatives refused to give me reliable information about her walkabout. I was left with no other option but to do what my parents were now asking me to do…
“Ahmad you really nee-d to divorce her, she’s gone forever!” My mother said. “If you have someone in mind, bring the person out. Life is too short to waste a second, my dear!”
“Okay, but plea-se give me a day or two to think about it” I pleaded with her. I really didn’t want to do something I would later regret. I loved Naziha and I hoped to have her back as soon as possible.
“You should st©p wasting your time on him, I’ve forgiven him but if he did not divorce that girl I will make sure I curse him!” My father squealed angrily as he couched so ha-rd .
“Calm down Alhaji, bai kai nan ba (it hasn’t reach that stage). Let’s just give him the time he asked for” My mother intercepted and sighed.
“Ke wallahi kike bata shi (you’re the one spoiling him)” He muttered.
“A’a (no) Alhaji, it’s just that he’s the only child we have and I love him. You can WhatsApp Ishmael on+233544142683 to be added to story headquarters room for more. It wasn’t easy getting him, you know that too” She paused and continued. “We are giving him the two days he asked for, there won’t be a room for another day”
“Kaji kenan (you’ve heard her) Ahmad, there won’t be a room for another day. If you come back here asking for another favour I will crush you” He said.
“Yes, crushing is better than cursing. I will even help you in crushing him!” She glared at me.
As soon as they were done talking I bade them goodbye and drove back home. Both Sarah and Humairah greeted me the moment I bounced into the sitting room. They were watching film but quic-kly turned off the TV about to leave, they were really funny.
“Hmm, you guys should come and continue watching your film” I said as I walked upstairs to take a siesta.
“Thank you, sir!” They both chorused.
I went to my room, took shower and hopped on the be-d. Just as I was about getting carried away by sleep my phone beeped. It was a text message. “The fv¢k!” I muttered a curse as I picked the phone. It took me almost forever to get that slumber into my way but someone managed to ruin everything for me, how perfect! I hissed as I quic-kly viewed the text message.
“Hello Ahmad, the son of Uncle Jaafar Zaki. It’s me, Rania, the daughter of Bappah Zaki. I just c@m£ back from the States, we had an emergency landing at Minna Airport. My dad says you’re very close, can you come and get me before my dep@rture time? They promised to find a plane that will take us to Abuja next tomorrow!”
I gulped immediately I finished re-ading the text. That was my cousin sister, Rania. She was among the 11 children of uncle Bappah. She was 23 years old and was my first love. She had been in the U.S for a very long time. She did both her first and second Degree there.
“Lost bird, I’ll s£nd my driver to pick you up”
“Don’t even try it. Just come by yourself!”
“Gosh, Rania you are wicked”
“Mtsww! (Hisses)”
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The story don divert right?
Your comments will determine the next episode tonight.
Tbc