CHAPTER 9: HEART OF A SNAKE

His eyes alone were a fire with passion. If my step mother catches me here with such a guy I would be grounded for months. "I'm fine. Thanks for ..that." I replied him with a tight lip smile before turning on my heels. I swear my step mother is going to have my head. I have been gone for like 30 minutes.

"Well can I at least get to know your name?." I overheard him from behind with his deep voice. But instead i increased my pace back to the entrance. And the beauty of the hall took my eyes away again.

But Immediately my stepmother's eyes met mine it immediately turned dark. "What took you soo long. I should have gone to get it my self. I don't know what is wrong with you Ihsan I told you I wanted something.." She paused before hissing and turned to her friend who gave me a sympathetic look. I rushed back to my table. Firdausi Still on her phone taking pictures. "Firdausi you wouldn't believe what just happened."

The wedding was finally over and the bride and groom showed off there dancing moves, I took my phone out and took some pictures and recorded my brother's funny dancing moves. The bride was a better dancer. But all in all i love them together.

It was time to go home and Can you imagine my family all left me alone with Firdausi I asked them and they said the car was full and I should use a taxi. Moments like this Yahya would always come to my rescue but now I had no one but taxi to call. I would have called him and told him. But he just got married.

Telling him this and getting him angry is the last thing I want to do now. My phone buzzed in my clutch I looked up to the caller ID and to be honest i was in shock. It was my step brother.

"Oyinbo." He laughs from the other side.

"Baki" i joked back.

(Oyinbo white person in this case. White woman. Baki black.))

"Have you gone home." Just what I hoped he wouldn't ask.

"Yeah i will. Soon."

"Mama didn't take you home? What sort of nonsense is this. Just hang in there I will get you some one to take you home. Don't worry." I persuaded for him not to worry but he insisted on having someone take me.

Not five minutes later someone approached me I turned away just in case it was another man trying to kidnapped or stab me. "You must be Ihsan?" I looked at him from head to toe and it was the same man. My saviour. It was Abdullah " Yes i am." I replied but it almost came out like a whisper. "I was told to take you home." He smiled and his smile was contagious. If I was in a good mood I would have started drooling from how handsome he was. But right now i just wanted to see my self on my bed. And this dress off me.

My phone rang and it was Yahya again. "Hello." I turned around backing the guy. To answer the call. As if it was going to shield him from hearing what I was saying.

"Have you seen the guy his name is Abdullah." My step brother spoke almost out of breath. I turned back facing the guy. "What's your name please?." I asked whilst Yahya waited on the other line. Even though i knew his name. "Abdullah." I nodded. "Yeah I have seen him." My first night in the house with out Yahya. I am not even looking forward to it all the hatred coming towards me. They already showed me the first sign by leaving me in the reception dinner.

We sat in the car whilst Firdausi was at the back dosing already. If only i could be in her shoes right now. The only sound in the car were the sounds from the speakers playing. Oleku by Ice Prince.

"Soo..are you Ahmad's sister." The Abdullah decided to start up something.

"Yes." I answered blankly starring at the window. Just incase he had any funny ideas of taking me somewhere else. News flash i don't trust easily

Yes i have trust issues. Surprisingly though a part of me trusted him. "What's your name?"

"Ihsan."

"Uhmm..that's nice. You're the first Ihsan I think I know." I didn't know what to say to this so I decide to thank him. "Thanks for saving me from that drunkard earlier" I turned this time and the smile on his face was breath-taking i had to look away because the smile was intimidating I turned immediately I finished my sentence. What is he doing to me. I have to find a way not to fall for him. Because he is wayy over my league please.

And again If my step mother finds out I like someone I am dead meat.

Literally.

"Its okay." We finally got home going through the gates he dropped me inside Parking in front of the front door. "Thank you so much." I mumbled scared he might notice that I maybe like him. From the way I have been smiling.

"I really hope we see each other again." He replied. And I smiled. He waved at sleepy Firdausi and we both walked into the house.

I parked the car, I noticed Abdullah's audi was not parked were it was when i left home this morning. "Mummy Mrs Evans gave us an assignment. Will you please help me pleaseeee?"

"I am busy tonight ask daddy. Kinji."

(Kinji you understand or you hear.)

She jumped down from the back seat holding her snow white back pack on her right shoulder. I picked my bag from the passengers seat and came down as well. I have never had a hectic day like today. No wonder workers hate Mondays, i had over 35 patients today.

I might as well take Coco pops with Nana

"Asslamualaikum." I greeted as I entered. I noticed Umma and Basma seated watching zee world. Basma looked at me before turning her gaze back to the television whilst her mother didn't even look my way.

I didn't care at all. They will be leaving in a weeks time. According to what Abdullah told me last night.

I checked the kitchen and I see Hauwa stirring something in the pot. "Hauwa sannu."

(Sannu how are you. Or whats up. Its a Homograph word actually it has so many meaning depending on the way and manner you say it.)

"Sannu dazuwa." Hauwa mumbled. Closing the pot after stirring. "Thank you dear. Are you making lunch?." I asked putting on my apron. She shook her head. "I made some macaroni. But it has finished. I'm now fitting dinner."

(Sannu dazuwa welcome back.)

"Wow. A whole pac of marcoroni how so." I strolled to her side and checked what she was stirring and it was some spaghetti soaked in shrimp's. "Basma had visitors." She whisper yelled. "Tace kar ingaya miki." I furrow my brows. I didn't completely understood what she said. B

It's annoying because I have literally stayed all my live in Nigeria but still cant speak any language after from English and my mother's tongue. Literally my own mother's tongue. 'Arabic' and 'fulfude'

"She said I shouldn't tell you." She Rephrased The door swung open. And an Angry Basma walked in with her arms folded. "Who said what?" I had never seen Hauwa this frightened. "So that's what you do here. Gossiping around with you maid.?" Excuse me?

"Excuse me..Are you talking to me like that?" She eyed me before giving Hauwa a dirty look. "I'm talking to you Basma." I said louder than the first time. This girl is just 18 years old.

"I think we both know I heard you." Unfolding her hands she walked to the gas cooker and checked what was cooking. She has pushed me too far "Basma what makes you think you can come into my house and talk to me, Are you out of your mind?" I took bullshit like that from my step siblings I wont be taking it with her.

This time Hauwa walked out leaving just Basma and I She clapped her hands giving a disgust look. "You have the liver to call me mad? Is it because you are insta famous or because you're in my brother's house. No wonder your father divorced your mother. And trust me, Abdullah would be doing same to you. Since all you can do is just to eat and sleep. getting fat like a pig. Just like your mother." My hands flew and met her face resulting to a loud smack on her cheek she immediately placed her hand over it.

I didn't know when my hand flew again and slapped her again. It was the anger controlling me. "The next time you talk to me or mention my mothers name from your stupid mouth again. I would give you the beating of your life now get out of my kitchen." I spoke to her through grinted teeth. She looked back with her hands still on her cheeks "You will regret this. Mark my words." She turned around and walked out of the kitchen.

Before leaving the kitchen I reduced the heat for the pasta before it becomes over cooked when the water dries out.

The door slams as it hits the wall of the kitchen. "Ihsan!" I turned to Abdullah's Mother who had rage in her eyes. With her finger pointed at me. "Kin duka yarinyata. How dare you, Who do you think you are. You even have the effrontery to call her mad." She paused looking at me from my head to my toe before making a mischievous laugh. I stayed quiet because trying to explain my self To her is like talking to the wall. And I don't have time for time wasting.

"No wonder you behave like a mad woman. Just like that useless mother of yours. You're lazy just like her no wonder she got divorced she deserves it and if you think you can come in here and do what she thought you then you are here to play with fire." Her words felt like a cut in my heart not paper cut that hurts for a second then leaves in a few hours. No not this one. This one felt like I had my head chopped off or my arms ripped out.

(Kin duka yarinya ta you hit my daughter?)

It hurts but you can't scream Only try and hold the pain within. It hurts more when you know that the more you reply the worst the condition becomes. "If you want a happy marriage with my son. Oya go and apologise to Basma." She snaped her Finger and pointed at the direction of the door. Motioning me to move. She raised her brows at me when i didn't even flitch. My arms still folded looking at her.

"I see how it is, if you don't apology to Basma. Consider your self a divorcée." Abdullah listens to mum so it could be possible. But i know and I trust that he wouldn't. Nana ran in giggling. "Ummaa." She called smiling happily I picked her up in my arms before her grand mom even answered her. I swear I don't want her any where near my daughter anymore.

Because she is a snake.