CHAPTER EIGHT
Allahu Akbar!
Allahu Akbar!
Deji sighed at the shrill voice of the muezzin from the minaret disrupting the morning's silence with calls to prayer. He rolled over his bed, arm stretched expecting to hold Catherine in the dark. He jolted at the absence of her presence. He reached for her again but she wasn't there. It took him a moment to realize Catherine was put in another room. His parents had thought she was a guest and had her settled into a separate room from his. He had deliberately refrained from disclosing his marriage to Catherine from his parents to avoid the friction that would likely occur. He was positive Catherine understood, otherwise why else was she so calm?
I bear witness that there is none worthy of praise except Allah.
I bear witness that there is none worthy of praise except Allah
I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.
I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah
Hasten to the prayers
Hasten to the prayers
Hasten to real success
Hasten to real success
Catherine stirred in bed, submerged in the melody of the Muezzin's chant. The sun was still far from raising. The morning was still merged in the darkness, engulfed in the dew.
Catherine groaned, her head hurt from the night before. How can a drink so sweet and presumably natural cause such a hangover? She asked, stretching out on the bed. She recalled Abike warning against taking too much palm wine but she hadn't taken caution, rather she let herself drink to its sweetness.
She reminisced her encounter with the local folks at the seaport, the night before, the party, and her acquaintances with everyone at the party. Contrary to her initial thought, she wasn't treated like a stranger instead for a brief moment she felt like she had been there all along.
The reception Deji's family gave her delighted her even more. They were all kind to her. Though they had a brief conversation which seem to Catherine like it was an interview, unexpectedly ended in compliments. Deji's mother showed a special interest in her family and her life, and for every question she answered received an approving nod from his father. Was she being interviewed by Deji's parents? Did I do well? Have I been accepted? She asked herself. Abike immediately took notice of Catherine's discomfort and pulled her away from the chaos to a safer space.
"Thank you"
Catherine whispered when she could finally recover from the intensity.
Catherine rolled out of bed and strolled over to the windows to watch the sunrise. Acceptance. The word felt heavy in her mouth. Amidst the joy in her heart, she was also anxious. She had been treated nicely because they are yet to figure out who she really was to Deji. Yes. It was pretty easy to guess Deji didn't inform his parents of their marriage. There was no claim to her. He didn't place a claim on her as his wife, he only introduced her as Miss Catherine, not Mrs. And it bothered her, there were more questions on her mind than answers. What will change when Deji inform his parents of their union? Will the nice treatment end? She was puzzled. She shook her head to cast away her fears, to prevent them from manifesting. She wasn't going to spend her days wondering what it will be like leaving here, rather she was going to experience the life she'd always dreamed of with her husband. 'She was an optimist so she will act like one, she declared.
The darkness didn't do the compound any justice. Beautiful flowers of various colors and species spread out on the porch, giving the compound a sweet fragrance. The compound was unexpectedly large and surrendered by a tall fence made of bricks.
Everything was new and fascinating to Catherine. She was pleased she came. Wished her sisters were with her, to witness Nigeria for themselves. To witness the fascinating events, and the culture of the Yoruba people, to witness their love and kindness. Everything proved they were wrong, her father was wrong, and so were her friends. Although she admit the country was a little behind other countries, she was nonetheless convinced it will do great at its own pace. No rush.
The scenery reminded her of home. Her father and sisters. Her heart broke, her eyes teary. She was homesick and for a moment she felt completely alone in the world. She looked into the distance, the dew had cleared away and the sun was hidden behind the clouds.
"I told you, you would like it here"
Deji sneaked up behind her.
Catherine startled at the sound of his voice, she'd been carried away with the thought of home and the morning glow so much that she hadn't noticed his presence till he spoke.
"oh my, you startled"
She wiped the tears that had settled in her eyes and blinked more back.
"my apology, I didn't intend to"
Deji moved closer, eradicating the space between them on the balcony.
"Also, about last night"
Deji began but got cut off by Catherine.
"yes, about last night"
"I had no control over the events nor the sleeping arrangement"
"I suppose"
She mumbled.
Deji was lost for words, there was no excuse he could give to get out of the situation. He had to make things right, and inform his parents of his marriage to Catherine, especially when Helen had been all over him the night and had offered to sleep in his room. He was grateful to Abike for being his hero, she had saved him from Helen and had taken care of Catherine making sure she was comfortable. Just then he realized, he hadn't told Catherine anything about Abike. He couldn't say anything to Abike either but suspected she already knew. Abike was smart enough to figure things out by herself.
"you've met Abike"
"I like her, she's an interesting lady"
"she's my kid sister"
"I know. She sort of told me. She is very pretty"
A smile spread across Catherine's face. A real smile since he met her on the balcony. This is my cue, he thought.
"It runs in the family"
Catherine couldn't help but chuckle at the self-acclaim recognition. Then her laughter turned into a blush when Deji pulled her against his hard muscling frame.
"you are even more beautiful Ifemi"
He whispered parting her hair from her face and planting a deep lustful kiss on her full pink lips.
"c'mon let's go. It's time everyone knows who's wife you are"
He announced leading the way out of the balcony to his room.
"You never told me your parents are wealthy"
"you never asked"