The Unexpected (Short Story) by; Zaynab Muhammad

The Unexpected

by; Zaynab Muhammad


I was done with the book I have been reading for some weeks. ‘How did it end’ he asked, his eyes still on his tab.
‘She died, I hate sad endings’
‘I don’t think it’s sad since she killed so many people’
‘Well she did it for her children and she did change towards the end’ I placed my head on his broad chest, holding his waist tight. ‘Babe’ I called out with a small and childish tone.
‘My Queen, what is it’ his eyes still on the tab.
‘When are you going to finish what you’re doing?’
‘Soon baby, soon’ he replied and kissed my forehead.
‘Babe before I forget tomorrow is Umaymas open day’ I reminded him because I know he would forget.
‘Ooow your right’ he said scratching his head.
He added ‘I will go there after work then just pick her up’
 I waited for him to finish and didn’t know when I fell asleep. The next morning, I took my bath and wore my best outfit. Used the perfume Yusuf loves and went straight to the kitchen. Immediately I was done in the kitchen, yusuf came downstairs with Umayma on his arm. They were all dressed.
‘Mommy do you know what happened’ Umayma said munching the chips in her mouth.
‘What’
‘Today our teacher is going to punish John because he broke Amina’s ruler’
‘Dan Allah [really], you should always make sure you take you writing materials to school so that you won’t be punished like John, ok’
‘Yes mommy’.
‘Mamana [My mother] if somebody try’s to beat you in school just tell me I will deal with the person, even if it is your teacher’
‘Ah even if it’s the teacher? The teacher has the right to punish law breakers’
He carried her on his laps ‘my daughter is not a law breaker, she is a good girl koh?’ We packed our stuff and went straight to the car. We dropped Umayma at school, while Yusuf drove me to work.
‘Pls don’t be late like last time, make sure your early ok’ I said before dropping from the car. He nod his head, waved and drove away. Walking down the hall with a smile on my face, remembering how lucky to have such a family in my life. Faces of envy and jealous passing from left to right. The CEO of a fashion house, one with amazing husband and daughter. All I can say is Alhamdullilah [praise be to God]. The funny thing is, it wasn’t always like this. When we first got married we both had no idea what marriage was all about, all we knew was we were in love and wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. At first it was going great until we started fighting all the time. Five times in a week. We both lacked patience, he was hot tempered, I didn’t want to be controlled wanted to be independent and strong. He wanted to be the head, he wanted control over everything.
There was this fight we had that nearly broke our marriage. A friend of mine asked me to escort, to visit our old secondary class mate. So I went without his permission thinking I will not stay long. We got lost in our conversation so I came back home late. He was waiting for me in the living room, covered with exasperation and anger. I greeted him and he ignored, I decided to go to my room. He started asking me questions, I kept quiet because I knew I was at fault. Suddenly he yelled at me ‘I’m talking’. My body was in shock because I have never been yelled at in my entire life. I ignored him and continued with what I was doing. He pushed my arms and I fell and hit the edge of my bed. You could feel the heat of his anger and could see his veins popping, he was sweating. He looked at me and left the room, the next minute I heard his car drive out of the house. The pain from my back was too much to handle, he left his finger print on my arms. I busted into tears and called my elder sister. Before you knew it she came and took me to her house, sister Maryam got so angry when I told her what happened, although I didn’t tell her the complete story. The next morning we went to our family house, Ya Maryam told Mama and Baba exactly what I told her. Mama kept on complaining, this wasn’t the first time I brought reports like this. Sometimes it's his fault and other times mine, but the way I tell them is always his fault. Baba wasn’t satisfied and wanted to hear the story from Yusuf, I told him exactly what Ya Maryam said. He still wasn’t convinced, he then said he will call Yusuf later so that they can hear his version of the story and added that we should not jump into conclusion based on one sided story.

That afternoon Yusuf came, it was myself himself, Mama and Baba in the living room. He didn’t let Ya Maryam stay with us. After Yusuf said his side of the story, Baba concluded that it was all my fault and the only thing Yusuf did wrong was pushing me, as is all happened because I provoked him. He said that I should pack my things and go back to my husband’s house, I didn’t want to go. I wanted to stay there for a while so that he can miss me and beg me to return home. I insisted on staying there for a while and Mama supported. Baba wasn’t in support but then he didn’t argue with that, he made me apologies to Yusuf and the case was closed.

I spent only a week in my father’s house and it wasn’t funny, it was as if I have never lived in that house before. I just wanted to go back to husband’s house where I have authority over everything. I packed my things and Baba took me back home. Before he left he sat us down and spoke to us, he advised us on so many things and told us to have patience, we should learn to keep our mouths shut and stop sharing with people our problems. That we should learn to solve our problems amongst ourselves, when one is high the other should be calm. Since that day things changed, we tried as much as possible to stay away from things that will piss each the other. Our love story became beautiful and when I gave birth to Umayma it even became better, and now, here we are today.

‘Good morning Ma, your mechanic just brought your car, my secretary said after entering the office,
‘Ok’ I collected the keys from her ‘What of Natasha’s order hope it’s ready’. She nods her head and left the room. At exactly 1:30 I was done with what I was doing then drove to Hajiya’s house where I was supposed to meet Yusuf and Umayma. I met Umar at the gate, Yusuf’s younger brother. He saw me looked at me from head to toe, passed me without saying a word. That wasn’t new to me because I am used to it. Umar is the only person in this family that dislikes me. He is holding a long time grudge against me. When I was in school Umar kept on hitting on me, he claimed he loved me. But he was never my type, stubborn, arrogant, characters I couldn’t stand. Hajiya was in the parlor together with Yesmin, I quickly went to her knelt down and greeted her.
‘Ah my daughter. Yakike, ya en gida [how are, how are those at home’ she said while giving me a hug
‘Muna lafiya [we are fine]’ I said and sat close to Yesmin who was with the remote. She greeted me and I kept on teasing her

I later then asked ‘Ya Yusuf and Umayma, did they come?’ I asked Yesmin. She shaked her head and added ‘we haven’t seen them yet, maybe they are on their way’
‘Ah Ah’ I grinned ‘they were supposed to come an hour before me, let me call him’ I said and brought out my phone. The phone rang at first he didn’t pick, then I called again.
‘Hello, thank God you called’ I heard a voice I wasn’t familiar with.
‘Who am I speaking with please and Why do you have my husband’s phone with you. Please I want to talk to my Husband’ I said worried.
‘Madam we were about to call you, your husband had an accident along the express way. He was hit by a bus, the bus driver is dead but you husband is still alive’. I didn’t know when I quickly got up. The stranger continued ‘We are on our way to the general hospital which is close by, please you need to come’

‘Is he the only one in the car’ I asked, with my body shaking, hajiya and Yesmin's eyes were on me. ‘Yes, he was the only one in the car’.
‘Ok thank you’ I said and ended the call. I got confused took my bag and kept on walking from left to the right. I told them all that happened. Hajiya told Yesmin and the driver to pick Umayma from school, while I, hajiya and Umar went to the hospital.