Chapter 28

They stepped out of the building and started walking towards a different car. "My file is in your car," she mouthed. He unlocked the car and opened it. "You're done with registration?" He inquired and she slowly nodded. "Then that will not be a problem. The car will be taken to my house and I will bring the file for you whenever I get the chance to." He entered the car and started the ignition. She wanted to scream out of annoyance but she restrained herself. She opened the front door and hopped in before they left the entire building. She was still drowsy off on their way to the restaurant. He looked at her and fixed his eyes back on the road. Few minutes later, the car came to a halt and she slowly opened her eyes. BluCabana Restaurant & Cafe, she mused to herself. She had been there before with him. That was the restaurant he took her to her first day in abuja. He stepped out of the car same time she did and they headed into the restaurant. A waiter welcomed them and asked for their orders the moment they settled down. When muhsin was done taking his order, the waiter averted his gaze to Dalia. "She will have the same as mine," muhsin briskly muttered.  The waiter answered before he excused himself to go take their orders to the kitchen. He noticed how off and uncomfortable she was. "We will leave this place the moment we're done eating," he reminded her. She raised her head up, "I don't want mommy to get worried about my whereabouts." He smiled a little and nodded. "You know there's no way I would be roaming around this city with you without them knowing, especially daddy, so calm down, they know we're together."  She slightly nodded and ducked her head, not that she was at ease. For some awkward reason her heart kept racing especially when she remembers the looks mommy sends her way whenever she was with Muhsin. His phone vibrated from his hand and without any second thought, he picked the call. "Aunty en nyalli jam. Adon jam (Aunty, good evening. Hope you're doing okay.)" He spoke gently. Dalia raised her head to looked at him and their eyes locked but she ended the staring contest too soon. He was speaking the language again. She ducked her head and smiled as she listened to him even though she couldn't understand a word he was saying. "Muhsin anandi bangal derdi ko ma lutti asawere. Miyida mi nana a hokki am uziri fere. A Wada alkawal a yahan. Daga dai a wairi Yola? Kon dai a do waddin na am dalila fere. Junta ka mi host dalila fere. Dikka a taski asawere metande a va'a jirgi be debbo ma. (Muhsin, you're aware that your cousin's wedding is next week. I don't want to hear any excuses. You promised to go. When last did you visit your family in Yola? You keep giving me excuses all the time, this time, no amount of excuses will save you. Better get ready next week Thursday and board the next flight to Yola with your wife.)" Aunty kept ranting nonstop. She hardly ranted but when she does, she wouldn't stop till your ears started bleeding. He bit his lips and pushed back the laughter. "Toh, toh aunty, mi yahan to Allah yardi jabi, mi wa wata yahugo be amira, o semtin tam on tan. (Okay, okay aunty I will be there in sha Allah but I can't come with amira, she will just embarrass me like she always does.)" "Muhsin ta'a mettin na'am bernde. Esiko ma yahan bangal man toh mi larai hujja ko'a viya ta debboma yahata. (Muhsin don't get on my nerves. Even your mother in law is coming to this wedding so I do not see any reason why your wife will not be there too. Better inform her early.)" When she ended the call, he knew there was no way out of it. He scratched the back of his head and kept the phone on the table. The last thing he would want to do is travel to Yola with amira. She had embarrassed him quite too many times. His family accepted her despite her being the worst in law. All his cousins are after her husband, she thinks. That's why they were never on the same page with his female cousins or any of his aunts. The thought of going to the wedding with her infuriated him. He slightly hissed and sighed. The waiter arranged their order and left. "You have to eat. I left you all alone and tired for hours." He smiled to her again. That was the third time he was smiling to her today. He had never even smiled to her that way before. His face was always straight. Or maybe it was because of what he had done to her, keeping her waiting in his office for hours. She tried smiling but failed. All she wanted was to be home and rest. He started eating his meal as he scrolled through his phone. He was already half way his food before she started eating. He dropped his spoon and took few sips of his water. He stared at her till she noticed his hot gaze on her. "Are you always this quiet, Dalia?" He dared to ask. Her eyes widened, unable to think of an answer that would suit his ridiculous question. He chuckled softly and shook his head. "Finish eating, then I will take you home." As if that was what she was waiting to hear, she continued eating. She never realized she was hungry till she had almost eaten everything on her plate. She wiped her mouth with a tissue, waiting to hear him announce they were leaving. He called the waiter and paid the bill. "Shall we?" He stood up gently and she did the same. Together they walked from the brightly lit, calm restaurant out into the moonlight street.