Misfortunate (Completed)

Chapter Ten: #TheAAadventure

"Why didn't you refill the gas cylinder? What kind of human being are you?"  I shift the chinese food package in my left hand to my right, while I went out to get food, Abdul and his new wife came home.

"I didn't even know it finished." He looks at me murdereously, making me smirk, I didn't even know that anything of that sort was happening.

"Well, you can call the all night service, they'll bring gas as long as you have money." The amarya comes out of her room, scratch that; mine and Abdul's former room. I click a glance in her direction, just saying the salam. She gives me a look that immediately makes me wish I had kept quiet and walked away at the same time.

"Ab darling, is this her? The Uwargida?" She wrinkles her little nose and walks to Abdul's side, putting an arm around him and I watch Abdul do the same.

"Yes my dear, that's her. She's Labeebah Sheriff." Amarya sniffs and wrinkles her lips. "Okay. But I'm hungry, the drive from Kano was so long." I smile a secret smile as I walk to the kitchen to get a bottle of water.

I know from his scent that Abdul has followed me. He stands at the doorway and when I turn to shut the fridge, he shakes his head. "I don't know this person that has taken over you. You were never like this, you just changed suddenly." I goggle at him, I changed suddenly? Dude, you taught me!

"Nothing changed, I'm just wiser." He takes of his hula hat and stops me when I get to the door. "Can you just order the gas? I'll pay back when I get some money, I'm so broke." I stand back and watch him.

"Fine." Is my only reply before I walk away to my room and order the gas to be delivered.

*****

"Those pictures are resurfacing again and you not giving a statement means that it's true. Beebah, you know how our people are. They want a scapegoat that they can pounce on to let some blood, don't let anyone use you." I sigh, look but not seeing the set in front of me. I've been here all day, the director wants the movie done in five days.

"I will type a full statement and send it to you. So you'll see." Rabiah tsks, the sound of her tongue against her teeth is very comforting. "You need to get a PR company to register your interests when bad news like this come out." I sigh, I'm really tired and do not need this unnecessary jostling.

"Is there something like that?" Rabiah tells me to hold on. "I've sent you a website, call the number there and go see them. You need a good PR person." I hum and eventually end the call.

"Labeebah, let's get you ready for your scene." I sigh, get up, dusting the skirt of the atampa I'm wearing. Today seems like a long day packed in with misfortune.

Four good hours and nine scenes later, it's a wrap for the entire movie. The director says he has reserved a private dining room at a Chinese restaurant in the city centre, I decline as respectfully as possible and pile my 5'7 body into the passenger seat of my car.

"Nafeesah can you please drive me home? I'll order you a cab to take you back home." I ask with pleading, tired eyes and she nods. I lean back in the chair, and doze off, springing awake when I remember I'm going home to meet Abdul and his wife. She's arrived for only two weeks but has taken over everywhere, my only sanctuary is my room which I've taken proper care with.

"If you see a restaurant, please stop let me buy food." Nafeesah nods and keeps driving. "I'll send you a phone number later, please call them tomorrow, I'm looking for a good PR company. This picture busniess is getting out of hand." Nafeesah turns to me abruptly.

"What are they going to do about it? Just send out law suit threats. The pictures are nothing, aren't they? It's just  phase and it will pass." Sleep clears from my eyes and I look at Nafeesah different for the first time.

"Why do I feel like you're not even concerned?" She turns down her lower lip in a sneer. "I'm concerned, just that I don't care for wasting money on all those book book people." I don't speak, I instead look out the window. 

A few minutes later after a red light stop, she leaves the car and goes to a still open eatery to get food, she comes back with a bag that smells of Jollof rice.

"You got Jollof?" She nods. "With grilled turkey. Just the way you like it." I just nod my thanks and go back to looking outside the window in the rapidly darkening night.

Soon, she drives into my street and the gateman opens the car park once he finds out it's me. I pick out my phone and begin to order a cab for Nafeesah.

"Nagode sosai. I'm grateful, the cab will be here soon." She nods and takes the cash I hand her. I trudge upstairs, thankful for the elevator that is working, I'm upstairs in seconds, since I live on the fourth floor.

When the elevator doors open, I hear sounds of laughter coming from my apartment. I roll my eyes to the heavens and curse the minute I thought getting into my hall way from the elevator would be a good idea. The way the entire complex is fashioned is this; the front elevator opens into your apartment, the back fire escape stairs open into the living room sliding door.

So when I take off my shoes at the door, sticking them into the shoe rack at the door, the laughter becomes louder. I sigh and open the door to Abdul and his Amarya, her name is Amal. Their wedding hashtag was #TheAAadventure. I laughed hard when I saw it, adventure indeed, especially with a jobless Abdul, sure it's an adventure.

"Good evening," I greet as I pass by them to go to my room. But the tiny voice of Amal that grates on my nerves Everytime I hear it stops me. "Uwargida?" I hate that name, but I turn around nonetheless. "Yes?"

She shifts, making Abdul hold her around the waist. "I made some tuwo and egusi. I thought you'd like it since Ab baby says you don't like egusi because you can't cook it." My eyes flash to the culprit who is staring at the rug that holds the coffee table.

"No thank you, I already got some food. Thank you for the effort though." I make sure I get eye contact with Abdul before shaking my head, I'm disappointed.

When I get to my room, I'm reminded of the meeting that happened last week. Abdul had the effontery to call his mother over to set the ground rules. She came and began spouting rubbish. Things like, because Amal is new I shouldn't let her work so much, since she doesn't have any family in Abuja I should be nice to her, I should take lessons from various women in the Holy Quran to be a good wife and sister.

What sister? I don't have a sister. I'm all my parents have birth to. I say it to myself all the time, I'm not worried Abdul married Amal, I'm just annoyed that he used almost a million of my own money to fund the wedding. It's beyond preposterous.

*****

See y'all later. Love you all.