Hearts On Fire

Seven: The Trip

Ever since Ammi told her that Al-mustapha would be the one that'll take her to Tambuwal, she felt as if she could choke on her intestines and die at that minute. But whatever she was going to do with him, endure about him, she would do it for Ammi, nothing more or less. Ammi had already bade her a safe trip and gave her all that she knew she might need and also things to take to Hajjo, she was left alone in the house now. The maid usually don't come on Friday, because Fatima Zarah hardly went to school or court on Friday.

She pulled her legs down from her bed and wished the scream she wanted to do so bad could be heard from Mabera to the Palace, so Mama Fulani or whatever it is her name could know the kind of damage she had caused upon her life. She grimaced her face and completely stood on her two feets, she needed to act fast. Ammi told her he would be here after Friday prayer and they would leave by then. It was already 12pm, and she knew the latest it took for prayer was 2:30pm. Two hours thirty mintues left of her freedom and peace of mind, because she knew the moment she set her eyes on Al-mustapha, what she called as happiness in her dictionary would surely vanish.

She had to clean the whole house, make some food for herself and Ammi then she'll take her bath, pack her things and wait for him. That annoying person she wished not to see again forever in her life. Whatever happened to her, would be thanks to Mama Fulani. She stretched her body and groaned softly before she set to work, starting with her own room. She finished packing her clothes, then cleaned the room before she walked to the living room.

She was exhausted by the time she was done with everything she knew she had to do. She had her bath and picked one of her ankara, styled into skirt and a peplum blouse. She knew Hajjo loved it when she wore Ankara, and she couldn't miss the chance to get into Hajjo good book this visit, because she needed some flattering, pampering and good food for the rest of her stay. She was done and she had a little makeup on her face. Just because Mama Fulani was hell bent on destroying the little happiness she spent her whole life nurturing, that doesn't mean she would let her, right?

She ate her lunch and sat in the living room watching television while in reality, it was as if she was watching the movie the wall clock was making as it tick and tock. Out of the blue moon, she heard a knock on the main door and she felt a rush of cold all over. She prayed she could be able to tame down her anger and annoyance for the rest of their trip to Tambuwal.

She wrapped her veil around her body before she opened the door, her face was the true definition of what was going in her mind. She unlocked the door, pulled it open but instead of her to see Al-mustapha, she saw their gateman. She smiled a little and asked, "What do you want, Malam Rabe?"

He ducked his head down with a smile, "Fatima Zarah, there's someone waiting for you at the gate, he said that you need to hurry up he has somewhere else to be today." She nearly shoot a dagger at Malam Rabe but she restrained herself. She smiled a bit and asked Malam Rabe to come and help her with her luggage, he did and she unlocked the house, make sure the key was in her bag because Ammi had hers.

She walked to the gate and there he sat, royally in his car not even glancing her a look. She didn't want any of his looks either, she bade Malam Rabe goodbye and entered the car with a faint salam on her lips. He didn't answer, but she saw his lips moving slowly, she shrugged off her shoulders, that's for him to worry about.

They drove in silence, utter silence until Fatima Zarah got tired of te silence and she pulled her earpiece out of her bag and she put on a soft music into her ear. She had closed her eyes and leaned on the chair, not glancing him a look, like he didn't glance her one. Out of the blue, she felt him as he pulled the brake harshly and she opened her eyes, what did he mean? What came to her mind at first was, he wanted to discard her in this forest that it won't take up to an hour before she died.