MY SISTER -IN -LAW AND I
CHAPTER 7
They hurriedly left their parents home and headed back to muhammad’s house. They drove as if the bats of hell were after them. They honked loudly to the utter dismay of the gateman because he just let them out of the house a while ago.
He opened the gate for them and they drove in. They alighted from their car and headed straight into the building. They walked in and the look on their faces suggested that it wasn’t a friendly visit.
Halima wanted serving and attending to them, the way they looked at her made her turn on her heel and flee. They marched to Muhammad’s bedroom where he had retired for the night and bundled him out. They beat the leaving daylight out of him.
They didn’t stop to listen to his plea, they made sure the dealt him mean blows. Halima and the gateman tried to interfere but they didn’t listen. They continued beating him till they were satisfied. They picked him up like a limp ragdoll and tossed him in the car they came with. He was pleading all through because he didn’t know his fault.
When they were sure they had cooled off they told him why they beat him and why they will still beat him if he fails to man up and take charge of his family affairs. They told him right now they were headed to Salamatu’s house, the woman he abndoned the mother of his twin kidss and the home maker he let down.
Muhammad was ashamed and thanked them for beating some sense into him. He told them it was jealousy, that he couldn’t bear to see her near any man and him seeing her hugging a random guy was what broke him and he lost his sense of reasoning.
He told them he was sorry and ready to make amends if only salamatu will forgive him and take him back. His brother’s told him that there was only one way to find out and that was where they were headed. He begged them to stay with him as he promise to lay down flat if that was what it will take for her father to forgive him before he seeks for his daughter’s forgiveness . He knew he had wronged the man and his wife by repeatedly refusing to honour their invitation, turning down an avenue to fix the broken marriage.
They assured him of their undivided support while they drove into Salamatu’s compound. He was literally shaking because he was unsure of what fate awaited him. His brother’s tapped him on the back and urged him to be a man.
When they drove him, Salamatu’s Dad was seated on a mat outside relaxing. He stood up to welcome his in-laws. He offered them water and dinner, they couldn’t say no. They ate in silence, everyone to his thought. Muhammad couldn’t even eat a morsel he was just thinking about how to start the appology because he messed up a great deal.
The father sensing his unease urged him to eat the food. He thanked him and ate a little. When the dishes were taken away. He knelt down and appologise to his father-in-law for his wrong doings. The man smiled a and told him to get up and sit down. He forgave him and urged him to be patient in his dealings with his wife or any other person. Because all that glitters is not gold, he further begged him to never take a decision when he was angry because he may regret it afterwards.
He thanked his father-in-law and promised to adhere to his advices. He further asked if there was any chance he could see his wife. The old man laughed and said of course you can, I just hope she would be willing to see you . The old man called his younger son and told him to inform salamatu that her in-laws were here for her.
My brother came in to inform me that my in-laws were here. I wore my veil and headed to the sitting room after handing my babies to be my mom. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would come face to face with the only man I truly loved, the only man whom cared for me unconditionally only to kick me out of his home with pregnancy and abandoned me afterwards.
I turned around and wanted heading back to my room when he held me tight and didn’t let me leave his presence. He hugged me to himself and kept on appologising, he kept on saying sorry it was now sounding like a broken record. I knew he was remorseful, I decided to accept his appology so I could breath. Because he was almost squashing me to death.
He thanked me for accepting his appology. He now went head to ask me of the wherabout of his twins and how they were doing. I told him I had no kids for him as they were mine. He almost lay down on the floor full of regrets. I softened and told him it was ok i went in to get the twins, my sister brought them and the striking resemblance of the babies to him knocked the breath out of him.
He was simply starting at them without uttering anyword. Having stayed for a while like that, I pointed out Abdur-rahman and then Abdur-rahim to him. He was pleased and asked who named the kids on his behalf, I told him it was his father and he silently thanked God for his mercies and goodness upon his life.
He appologised for all that had transpired between us and promised it would never happen again. He asked me to pack my things as it was time the kids grew up in their father’s home.
He asked my father if he could take me home and he was granted permission. My family all gathered around me to bade me farewell and wish me well. They promised to visit only if Halima would let them in this time.
We arrived home and halima opened the door for us on seeing me she jumped up ready to run her mouth as usual,When she saw her older brother’s coming. She instantly shut her mouth and didn’t utter a word.
They politely asked her to pack her things and that they were waiting for her by the gate. Will she pack or will she wait to be frustrated out of the home??? find out in the next chapter.
