Fauziat -A true story (Part six and seven)

As I said it, I felt a relief in my chest but I was also scared of what would come next. He held my hands and stood with me looking at me as if he just heard something he never believed he would hear.

His smiles which later turned to laughter and praise to God that he had succeeded sold him out.

I am sure he didn’t know whether to kiss me or just keep on holding my hands there because it was becoming like an eternity. He was still trying to gather himself together when I said, “Okay, goodnight, can I go and sleep now?”

I got the reply I hoped to hear because he said, “no there, we are a couple now, so you will sleep in my room tonight.”

I hesitated a bit, then remembered what Deborah said about sleeping with him and another woman taking him from me if I refuse him. So I said, “Okay but on one condition. Promise me you will behave yourself and keep to yourself while we are on the bed.”

He said, “Your wish is my command” and pulled me to him. He held me so close, I felt I would break.

It was night and we were on his king-sized bed together in his well furnished room. The room was painted lemon green and pink and well carpeted.

It was cold from the air conditioner present in the room. On one side was a three-door wardrobe with a mirror that shows your reflection as you lie on the bed.

On another side were reading table with books and a table light on it. I looked at the room severally until night drew near but sleep didn’t come.

 I couldn’t sleep because I felt his presence in the room and was scared that he wouldn’t keep to his promise of staying away but I made sure I stayed as far as possible. At this time, we had separated from the hug and I was on one end of the bed while he was on another.

Around 1.00 am, he moved close to me and touched me; I shivered but pretended as if I was asleep. I moved a bit away from him but he came close again and this time whispered in my ears. “My love,” but I didn’t reply. I began to pray to God that he gets tired and leaves me alone, but he didn’t.

He shook me to find out if I was asleep but I had made up my mind. I turned to look at him and said, “I thought you promised to behave yourself tonight.” He looked away and said “I did” then he looked at me and added “but I can’t sleep knowing you are right here with me on this bed.” I insisted we kept to his promise and sleep. When he saw I was adamant, he looked away, backed me and slept off.

It was Sunday morning; I woke up very late because I didn’t sleep well at night. It was the aroma coming from within the room that actually woke me. I opened my eyes to find breakfast in front of me in the room.

I stretched and was about coming down the bed when Umar walked in with a fruit juice in his hand saying, “hey princess, don’t dare put your legs on the floor; I will carry you to the bathroom, brush your mouth, bring you back here and feed you this morning.”

I smiled shyly and stayed back as he walked close to me, carried me to the bathroom just like he said and brought me back to the bed to eat. After breakfast, we cleaned together and sat to see a movie.

Umar couldn’t get his eyes or hands off me throughout the duration of the movie. After the movie, I was feeling sleepy again so I went into my room to sleep. He came in, sat on the bed and said: “Fauziat, na wa for you o, you didn’t even behave as if someone was with you on the bed at night, you just kept to yourself. I felt I was on the bed with only my pillow as usual.”

I smiled and said: “Umar don’t worry, when we get married, you will have me as much as you want.”

He lay on the bed with me and we both slept off. We woke up to make lunch and saw more movies, ate dinner and watch the news on television. We spent most of the Sunday indoors until night when I decided it was time to go home.

He walked me to my car holding my hand. When I got to the car I opened the door to get in but he said, “Don’t tell me you are leaving just like that.” I stopped, turned to look at him and asked what he expected. He asked if I wouldn’t give him a hug, I smiled and hugged him. He held me very tight and whispered in my ears, “When are we getting married.” I laughed out loud and said today.

He held my hand again and walked me away from the car, then said, “I am very serious Fauziat, when are we getting married?”

“Look Umar, it is already 8.30, if we start discussing our marriage here, I will end up sleeping in your house and wear your clothes to the office tomorrow, with a smile.”

He said, “Okay, we will discuss it in detail next weekend when you come to spend the weekend with me.”

“Do you expect me to spend another weekend with you?” I asked. He said “yes”. I said, “Okay no problem, can I go now?” making an attempt to enter the car.

He held me back again and said “kiss me.” “Kiss you?” I asked, “Why should I kiss you? I can’t kiss you, please let me go.” “Please kiss me, I am dying to get a kiss from you, I will not sleep well tonight without the kiss, please, I beg you, please, please, please,” he said putting his hands together towards his face.

I looked at him, thought of how I have also been dying to kiss him but not after my heart pounded 50 beats did I look at his face and said, “Okay, I will kiss you.” As he was about smiling I added, “I hope you are a good kisser because I don’t know how to kiss; so you will have to kiss for both of us.”

“Okay,” he said and held my hand. Before I could think about it for a second, he pulled me to himself in a swift pull and made me face him looking directly into his eyes. I swallowed a lump of spit that had gathered in my throat, my heart beating but my lips calling.

He brought his head down to mine, I shivered in expectation then he touched my lips with his. It was soft, and sweet. He was gentle. He kissed me, I closed my eyes wrapped my hands around his neck and kissed him back. It was the best; “this is it” I thought to myself.

We kissed for about 5 minutes then I moved back and said, “Umar, you are home already, please let me go.” He said “okay” and opened the door to my car, said goodnight and walked away.

I entered, locked my door, put on my air conditioner on and played “falling into you” by Celine Dion. Before I started the ignition, I looked towards the entrance of his house, he was gone. Then I said aloud, “I thought you are romantic, you couldn’t even wait for me to move the car before you leave. Oh, it is because you have gotten the kiss you have always wanted. Let me see how easily you will get another kiss from me again.”

I placed my leg on the pedal and zoomed off. As I was driving, I noticed a car behind me. I was still within his street but I ignored it saying it could be one of his neighbours. I sang along with Celine Dion as I changed the songs to the ones I wanted to listen to, but after about 10 minutes, I noticed the same car was still following me. I became scared and increased my speed.

It was almost 9.00pm and everywhere was dark except for the street and car lights, the weather was a perfect one for the night and I wished tomorrow was Sunday so I could see Umar again. My phone soon rang; I jumped out of my thoughts and picked the call without looking at the caller as I slowed down. It was Mukhtar, he wanted to know why I wasn’t home and surprisingly whether I would be home that night.

I was happy about that; it means he had begun to see me as a grown woman. “He didn’t ask too many questions or get angry, maybe I should introduce Umar to the men” I thought.

As I was speaking with Mukhtar, I noticed the car also slowed down. I told him I was on my way after apologising and put down the phone.

I immediately increased my speed, as I guessed the car behind me also did trying to keep up with me but carefully trying not to pass me too. I saw many uniform men on the way and thought of stopping to report the car following me but I changed my mind.

“How am I sure the policemen are real uniform men? They might be armed robbers and may rob me off my stuff if I wait to report,” I thought and moved on leaving my life in the hands of God.

I soon got to my street, drove in but the car behind me stopped just in the entrance of the street. I began to horn, I horned many times for the gateman to open the gate, it was already 9.20pm. He opened at last and apologised explaining that he slept off. He thought I wasn’t coming home that night.

I heaved a sigh of relief and drove into the compound, then I heard a knock on the gate, Mukhtar and Abdullateef were already outside. I scared them with the way I horned.

The knock was heard again in the silent night and they ordered the gateman to ask who was there. He was scared as me but asked anyway. Then I began to tell them how a car followed me from where I was coming from to our street. I was still explaining when I heard the voice saying, “It is me Umar, I just want to be sure you got home well.”

“Umar!” I exclaimed covering my mouth with my hands. “Umar followed me home. God I am in trouble,” I thought to myself.

They asked if I knew him. I answered with a nod and the gateman was asked to let him in. “I was scared to my bones. I almost peed in my underwear.”

When he came in, I was glad to see him but I didn’t say a word. Mukhtar brought his hand forward for a shake and introduced himself as my big brother. Abdullateef also shook his hand and asked him inside.

Fauziat- A true story (Part 7)

Umar refused the invite saying it was late and he just wanted to be sure I got home safely but they refused, almost forcing him in.

It was 9.35pm Umar was in our house, he was offered a seat and then a glass of water which he refused but was again made to take.

Mukhtar spoke first, “Fauziat, come here. I have not met this young man before, who is he and why did he come all the way to make sure you are fine?”

I wanted to speak when he asked again, “Were you the one following her from where she is coming from?” I shook my head looking at Umar so he would say ‘no’ but he said “yes, I followed her to be sure that she got home safely.”

Mukhtar thanked him and said he was welcome always. Abdullateef also thanked him and invited him to his wedding which was to take place the next month.

Umar left the house and they both faced me. “Fauziat, come here,” Mukhtar shouted, “Where did you meet that young man and how did he manage to follow you from where you are coming from?”

I told him how I met Umar trying to avoid the part where I spent the weekend with him. “Fauziat, where did you spend the weekend, I want to know that place that he met you?” he asked again.

I tried to avoid the question saying it was already late and I needed to go to bed but Mukhtar insisted. Abdullateef cut in our discussion and pleaded that Mukhtar let me be.

He said, “Okay you can go to bed, but this isn’t the end.” I dropped my cell phone on the chair and went into the kitchen to take a cup of water, then the phone rang. I walked into the living room to take the call but the phone was already with Abdullateef, he handed it to me. It was Umar. “Pick your call I am waiting here, we need to talk before you go to bed,” he said.

I didn’t answer the call. I instead switched off the phone, then I went to sit in a chair close to Abdullateef.

“Fauziat, you are a grown woman now, nobody doubts that but you are still under us and we must take responsibility for whatever happens to you,” he started. “Mukhtar was scared today when you had not returned and it was getting late. You didn’t even call us throughout the weekend as you used to. We called you this evening but it wasn’t connecting so we called your parents. They told us you didn’t come to them this weekend so we called your sister and everyone we knew you could be with but they all said you weren’t with them.”

I became sorry, I must have caused them heartache, no wonder Mukhtar didn’t sound angry on the phone. He was pleased I was okay. “I am sorry,” I said.

I couldn’t lie that I was with anyone because they had called everybody to find out if I was with them.

“I am sorry,” I said again. “Fauziat, it is okay if you spent the weekend with him. He looks cool, and gentle. He loves you; that is why he made sure you got home before he left you. He looks responsible too and Mukhtar seems to approve of him.”

“Are you sure he approves.” “He sent me to talk to you. You know he is not good with such discussions.”

I said thank you, gave him a hug and went to Mukhtar’s room. I knocked on his door and entered when he asked me to.

His room was the largest in the house; it was very different from Umar. It was painted cream with a wall television. The bed was not as big as Umar’s but big enough for two people.

He always preferred using pink bedspread because according to him, it attracts women. He also had a water dispenser and wall bar. There was the presence of a double seat chair and one-door wardrobe. The floor was tiled.

He sat up when I got in while I stood. I began by apologising but he asked me to sit. I sat on the chair and wanted to continue talking when he cut-in asking if I love Umar.

“Fauziat, do you love him?” I was surprised, I didn’t know if it was a trap set for me so I didn’t reply. “Do you love him Fauziat because you have never done what you did today before?”

I said, “Yes I love him but I am sorry I didn’t intend to stay out late, it just happened.” “It is okay,” he said. “He is a responsible man, I like him and I approve of your relationship, just be careful.”

“Thank you bros,” I said and ran out of his room.

I felt elated, I was free, no more lying to see him or looking for an excuse to meet him. He was now a part of the family and was even invited to Abdullateef’s wedding.

I went in to sleep and trust I slept like a baby. My alarm sounded by 5.00 am on Monday morning but I was too tired to get up so I slept until 6.30 am.

I got to office and waited for Umar to call. When he finally called, I hesitated for a while before I picked the call. “Hello,” he spoke. I answered with a “hi” but in a very low tone.

“What is the problem, why are you sounding this low?” he asked. “Umar, I don’t know what to do, my brothers were angry after you left; they even said they don’t want to see us together and when I insisted, Abdullateef hit me on the face. My face is swollen now and one of my eyes is aching,” I said.

“You were beaten because of me? I am sorry my love. I will make it up to you. I am on my way right now to your office. I have to take you to the hospital to get your eye checked,” Umar said.

I thanked him and told him I will be waiting. Umar came to the office five minutes before the close of the day and waited for me outside. He called to inform me he was around and I began to clear my table for the day.

I went downstairs to meet him in his car covering my face with a piece of cloth. Umar saw me, came out of the car and walked towards me. “Sweetheart, let me see your face, you are leaving that house this week. I can’t let you continue to live there with them, how could they beat you up like this,” Umar said angrily.

I removed the cloth with a smile on my face. He was shocked to see there was nothing wrong with me. “Fauziat, why did you tell me your face was swollen?” he asked.

I looked at his eyes and said, “I missed you and wanted to see you. I didn’t know how to make you come; that was why I said I was hurt.”

“Okay, I forgive you, in fact I am happy I am here. Tell me how it went yesterday,” he said.

I told him everything that happened and how our relationship has been approved. He was happy and didn’t hide it as he smiled.

“But wait,” I brought him out of the mood. “You tell me what happened yesterday. I saw you leave, why didn’t you call me to wait for you when you wanted to go with me, why did you follow me home, why did you scare me the way you did?”

“Fauziat, please, one question at a time,” he requested nicely.

I kept quiet to let him answer me before I ask other questions I had lined up for him. We were still outside my office and by this time almost all my colleagues had left the office and saw us standing there, talking. They greeted Umar and winked at me as they said good night distracting us.

He explained that he went back to get his keys and didn’t want to let me know he was following me so I will not stop and get him into a discussion. He apologised for making me feel I was trailed and for following me to the house.

I smiled and we decided we should celebrate our endorsed relationship at his place during the weekend.