WHISPERS OF ENCHANTÉ

63: velvet reverie

Kaduna State, Nigeria.

Suraj stared at the papers in his hands with a sigh of relief, then turned to his son-in-law, who was sitting beside him on the mat outside the house. Abdullah looked down at his toes, a small crease forming between his brows, signaling how much he wanted to say but didn't know how to begin. 

Having forgotten about the tests that were supposed to be done before the wedding, Suraj was eager to rectify the mistake three days after Yasmin's marriage to Abdullah. It was never too late, especially since she was still at home with them, getting ready to move to her new life. 

It wasn't that he didn't trust the men he allowed his daughters to marry but sometimes trust wasn't enough to prevent irreversible mistakes. Medical tests were one of those things that trust alone couldn't undo. It didn't matter how good someone was, diseases didn't discriminate. 

The only reason his daughters had let this oversight slide was because they were both AA like their parents. As Yasmin liked to joke, that made them hotcakes which means they could marry anyone without worrying about genetic compatibility.

But there were still other health concerns to consider. 

Suraj had contacted both his sons-in-law to explain his concerns. Abdullah brought his results promptly and Mahmud promised to send his results later that day. The list of tests was thorough: genotype, blood group, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B&C, STD panel, fertility tests, genetic disorders, mental health assessments and family medical history. 

His daughters had undergone the same tests. Just because he trusted his daughters didn't mean disease would spare them because of that. If he expected their husbands to do the tests, it was only fair his daughters did the same to reassure them. 

The results were good for both Abdullah and Yasmin. Mahmud, however, confessed to being AS which was a fact he had already discussed with Siyama when they first met. With the genotype issue resolved, the focus shifted to the remaining tests. 

"You want to talk to me about something else, Abdullah?" Suraj asked, sealing the test results and handing them back to Abdullah, who pocketed them. 

Abdullah continued to stare at the ground, unsure of how to begin. He had planned the entire conversation in his head before leaving home, confident it would go smoothly. But now, he wasn't so sure how to broach the topic.

"Yes." He cleared his throat and raised his head to meet the gaze of the man who had raised the woman who had turned his life upside down in the best way possible. 

"You can talk to me about anything, you know. I don't bite. Especially not Yasmin's whisperwind cause she'd probably bite me back before I got the chance." Suraj chuckled and Abdullah joined in, relaxing slightly. 

"Baba, it's about the furniture and interior of the house I'm building for Yasmin and me." He began, pausing to gauge his father-in-law's reaction. Suraj's expression remained calm, encouraging him to continue. 

"I decided to change tradition a little, and I want it to continue with my generation, In Shaa Allah." Abdullah said, confidence returning as he spoke about something so deeply tied to his love for Yasmin.

He cannot help but notice the changes happening in his life ever since he decided to confess his feelings. There was something magical about what they have that has changed him in ways he cannot begin to describe with words.

How just a text from her could make the hardest day feel manageable. She brought something into his life he hadn't known he was missing, and now he couldn't imagine going back to how things were before her.