ENSHROUDED

Chapter Eleven

She sat down on her bed with a small smile playing on her lips. She was curious and anxious about that paper. What could possibly be in it? May be her admission letter from Katsina? She quickly dismissed the thought, because she could clearly remember how Nasir's face looked like when Baba dropped the bombshell, he knew it too then. But then what? She asked herself and folded her legs and sat into yoga style in the middle of the bed.

Slowly, she began unfolding the paper until she came across his carefully written words. Not the kind of meshed handwriting Doctor's are accused of. She smiled and took a deep breath. What could he have possibly written in here? Silently, with only her lips moving, Aisha began to read.

Hello there young lady!

Yes, I know. You're pouting your lips because I called you young. While if I were to say old woman, you will definitely be knocking on my door now, seething in rage. Writing letter in this era is clearly old fashioned, but what other way do I have? You have no phone and want no one as well. This can be the only way I can reach out to you, and write out the things I can never voice out.

I know your little head has already predicted what's written in here, about your school right? You're right Aisha. That was a huge blow Baba released on me. It meant that I have only two weeks to see you walking around the living room. Only two weeks to help you cook around in the kitchen. Yeah I know I don't help much but taste almost all of the times.

You should take a very good care of yourself, Aisha. A very very good care of yourself. If not, I won't be able to forgive you, really. You have to know that I'd miss you terribly here while you're away, but it's for a mean time I know. I might come now and take a peak at your face, you're smile, I know. Pardon my manners, but open your window please.

Stay Beautiful, 

Dr. Nasir.

Before she was able to take control of her smile, she heard a soft knock on her window and she got startled. “It's me, Aisha.” He whispered, and she rushed to her window. 

She took the ends of her curtains in her hands and spread them apart. She held onto the window and slung it open, then his face was revealed, clearly as though he was being lightened up by the moon. She felt the sudden urge to put her hands on his cleavages, but the thought ran away as swiftly as it came.

“Are you done?” he asked, and she nodded with a smile.

She walked to her mirror and took her vanity stool. She placed it opposite him and wished there wasn't the wall between them. Looking at him with a cool smile, the paper still in her hands, Aisha smiled. The Billion Dollar smile as he called it.

“Thank you for this, it really means alot. I'll write mine and place it here. Get it before you left to work.” She said and placed her hands on the wall between them, and Nasir let his eyes admired the beauty of her hands.

They were fair, slender and beautiful fingers. He bet the softness of her palms will put that of a feather to shame. She had naturally polished nails and a clear and clean skin.

“I need the name of the product you use, Aisha.” He said, his eyes still on her hand that was between them.

She followed his gaze and chuckled, taking her hand back in a swift. “What? I don't use any product. You bought me the cream I use, after all.”

He looked into her eyes now, “But your skin is so fair and fresh, as if you just got out of shower. And your nails are naturally polished. Clean cuts and slender fingers. Can there be such beauty in just a hand?” He asked and Aisha threw her head back in laughter.

“Don't be ridiculous, Dr. Mommy used to say My Dad was fulani, I think that's where I got the fresh and fair skin. Justifiable, right?” She asked and watched in awe, as he stretched his hand on the wall between them.

“Look, Mama used to say I'm the fairest among ny siblings. But I'm nothing compared to you, really.” She placed her hand beside his, careful not to brush even their hand hairs. And they contrasted.

“Yes, I'm more fair than you, but you have agood skin, really. And I love your ring.” He had a cute ring on his small finger, it was his right hand. At some point it looked girlish, but had a touch of masculinity as well.

“Oh, this...”He let his words trailed off as he began turning his hand around, looking at the finger, but particularly, the ring.

She took her hand away, looking at him. She didn't missed the sad look he had on his eyes when she spoke about that ring, and it bothered her. “You look sad, don't sulk, Dr. I won't say I want it, I promise.” 

And he was quick at masking up his emotions, the real Nasir was back. The one she was used to and got attached to. He looked at her and smiled. “Even if you want it, I can't give it to you. But I'd buy you a diamond ring, the one that looks exactly like your Billion Dollar smile. Justifiable, right?” He laughed when she pouted her lips.

“Using my own word against me? That's not so like the Dr I knew. But it's fine, you should go and sleep.” She tried pulling back the curtains when he nearly screamed.

“Come on, Aisha. It's still me, I feel like a teenager standing here at the window just to speak to you, to look at you. I might get caught, and what do you think Mama would say?” She laughed, this time, so hard and so free that it lifted up Nasir's soul. And instantly, he wished he could have her wrapped into his hands.

“That would have been a great scene to watch, and I'd play the innocent princess part.” He laughed along with her too, his eyes intensely staring at her that she felt he might see through her lies and all that she perfectly covered.

She covered her face with her palms, shyly. “Stop looking at me that way! It makes me feel the butterflies in my stomach flipped their wings up to my cheeks. You know that feeling?” She peaked at his face between the hole of her fingers, and this time, Nasir swooned internally.

He loved her innocence, so much more than he loved her beauty. She looked so innocent and pure that even with a single glance, one could tell she had a good heart and deserved a good life. She looked nothing like the girl that had been through what she did. But still, she walked out stronger and could even smile at the world. He admired her strength now that he thought about it.

“You said butterflies? Aisha, do you have butterflies in your stomach? Should we go to the hospital?” He seemed panicked, but this time she laughed carefree. 

“Those are the lines of poets, Dr. Not real butterflies, but emotional butterflies.”

“Oh, the kind of butterflies that tingles at your skin right? You feel their wings flipping at every corner of your soul before they fly up to your cheeks and you'll give me that Billion Dollar smile?”

“Oh oh! Stop it, Dr. Stop making me smile like a happy teenager!” She whined and palmed her face, yet again.

“And what are you? A sad adult?” 

She flipped her imaginary hair on her shoulders and sat up straight, looking at him ostentatiously. “I'm young, beautiful and smart. I can't say I'm wholeheartedly happy, but a moment with you makes me. So, for this moment, your answer is: Aisha Umar Faruk is a happy teenager.”

Dramatically, Nasir clutched onto his heart and whined. “Oh god, the girl wants to kill me with just a smile. Imagine, a simple smile. Tell me, Aisha. What do you feel about leaving to Katsina? Happy or sad?”

Aisha laughed and shook her head at his dramatic side. What she liked more about Nasir was his humour and charms. She liked him so much, that she can proudly agree to. 

She looked gloomy for a second, “I'm not happy to say the least, but I know living with Ya Firdausi will make me. I don't want to miss Mama, Baba...” she let her words trailed off as silently as she could. “And to live there without seeing you, I admit that would hurt, Dr.” Barely, she uttered, much more like a whisper.

“It it shouldn't hurt, it's for a time and the kind of thing you need right now, a change of environment, Aisha. But I want you to have this in mind, no matter how little you miss home, come back as early as you can. I'll stop by there every chance I get, so it won't hurt. That would be fine, right?”

She nodded her head as though a little girl answering innocently at a question her mother threw at her. “Yes, it would. I'd survive, Dr.”

“And so would I.”

They were silent for a moment before he looked at her and smiled. She looked up too, and their eyes met. She felt as the wind slowly swirled into her room and the glow of the moon added more sophistication to his face. And oh, the colour of the sky, it looked much like navy blue than black. In her heart, she wished the stars would arrange themselves to write Nasir's name, so the whole world would know; she had the best saviour in her life.

“You've been looking at me for too long, Aisha. What is it? Am I safe?”

She nodded her head and smiled, “Yes, you are, Dr. But, aren't you afraid? You're out there all by yourself.”

He wanted to say 'Things love do to us' but he knew he couldn't. He only smiled and shook his head, “I'm not, I was born and bred in this very house, how can I be afraid of it?”

“Yeah, you're right. You have work to do tomorrow, and I'll be having one of the stressful days of my life tomorrow. Should we go to bed now?” 

“I think we should. But what are you up to, tomorrow?”

“Mama said I have to wake up early because she's taking me to a saloon to have my hair washed and plaited. Then I'll have my hands and feet beautified with henna, makeup for the dinner. And I'll have to attend the dinner until it's over. Quite stressful and you've already feel sorry for me right?” She asked, judging by the way he was looking at her.

“It's not stressful, but as the Aisha I know, it would be for her. But I'm just imagining how you'll look with all that on you. I won't say a word, I'll patiently wait until it happens.”

“Will you be there?” She asked and relief washed over her when he nodded. She had been thinking of the way to survive that dinner without knowing anyone. The chaos, the new faces, the music, even the couple-she knew it would all annoy her. At this phase of her life, she wanted nothing but to hide away completely from the way. But now, she wanted to hide away together with Nasir, in a place no one could reach them.

“Try not to miss me much, I'll be a few inches away from you. Goodnight, Aisha.”

She smiled brightly at him, “Thank you for the chat, and Goodnight, Dr.” She watched as he turned away before she pulled back the curtains and closed the window.

Putting back the vanity stool in its position, Aisha slumped on it and watched her face through the mirror. She was afraid of what she was feeling in her life. She was afraid if it was even real or temporary. Was it there to stay? What was it and how do people refer to it as? She wanted to know, everything. Whatever it was, she loved the feeling already.

She smiled at herself in the mirror and walked to the bed. Snuggling her face into her pillow, Aisha thought about nothing but Nasir, the radiance that was produced by his face as he stood there under the moon as though it was the fourth of july. Oh Allah, how she so much liked him.

Slowly, sleep overpowered her thoughtful mind and she drifted into a slumber. Even in her sleep, she thought about nothing but him...her saviour, the only man she could call a doctor in her life.

***

Mama entered her room and watched her as she slept peacefully in her quilt. She had a small smile on her face, which made Mama smiled as well. She loved Aisha the first time Nasir told her about her, and she had even loved her more now that she took her as a daughter.

She slowly walked over to the bed and sat beside Aisha. Patting her shoulders slowly, Aisha groaned silently and turned to the other side. She hadn't slept early yesterday, and she was paying the price of it. It was only some minutes after eight in the morning. Reminiscing about the night before, she smiled and felt it was all worth the sleeplessness. 

She squinted her eyes and looked at Mama, she was still laying down. A smile creeping its way to her lips, Aisha sat upright and greeted Mama. “Good Morning, Mama.”

“Good morning, Aisha. I thought you were already awake. You didn't sleep yesterday so much? Anyways, you have to wake up, we need to leave to the saloon before it's nine.”

“Okay, Mama. I'll be out in a bit.” She assured, and Mama walked out of the room with a smile.

Aisha walked to the bathroom and had her bathe before she sat on her vanity stool, applying her cream as she remembered the letter she placed on her window after she prayed her subh salah.

She rushed to the window and parted it open, the paper wasn't there, she was sure he had taken it and might have even read it now. The tingles came, giving life to the butterflies peacefully living in her stomach before they rose and made her blushed. 

“Oh my god!” She palmed her mouth as she remembered what she had written in that paper.

Rise and shine, Dr!

Yeah, I know it's a cliche line but that's what teenager's often use, right? Yes you're all grownup, I know. I'm not rolling my eyes, I promise.

Do you know what? I dreamt about you today, but don't even ask me to tell you what I dreamt of, because I won't. I'm so sleepy, but you have me sitting on my vanity stool, staring at my roughed face at the mirror while I write to you. It's a promise I want to keep, and also I'll write to you all the things I can never voice out.

Dr, thank you. Thank you for coming into my life. You're literally the best thing that has ever happened to me. Before, I had this feeling that I want to hide away from the world, away from anyone. But now, if this wish of mine were to come true, I'd love to hide away from this world with no one but you. It's simply amazing how you make me laugh when I think I can't even smile. And oh, the Billion Dollar smile, I'd love to know how you paint that.

Have a stressless day at work, be at your best. Be compassionate and kind, like the Dr I know. Smile to everyone you see, it might make their day. Stay safe, and take care of yourself.

Be healthy,

Aisha.