Abdallah got out of his room after breakfast all dressed up, but he wasn't going to work, he decided to take a week leave after the incident that happened to Nadia two days back, and he wasn't planning on spending it in Nigeria.

He knocked on Nadia's door, she has been locked up in her room since in the morning, she wasn't present during breakfast also, the door opened slowly revealing Nadia who looked like someone that hasn't had a good sleep for 10 days,

"salam alaykum" Abdallah said trying to get a glimpse of her room which she was always enclosed in,

"walaykum salam" she muttered lazily like she wasn't interested in a conversation with him,

"I'm going on a trip" he said folding the sleeve of his plain blue long sleeves T shirt which had little stripes on the chest area,

"okay safe journey" she said attempting to close the door, but Abdallah swiftly used his hand to stop the door from closing,

"wait" he said making Nadia stare at him with a questioning look "we are going together",

"what, how?" she asked looking at the squeezed dress she was wearing, "I'm not going",

"it's not like you have a choice" he shrugged, "go change now and meet me downstairs" he said with finality in his tone,

"I haven't packed any clothes, and I can't do that just now" she tried giving an excuse to escape going on this impromptu trip but it looked like Abdallah wasn't going to take 'no' for an answer,

"don't worry about packing any clothes, I give you 10 minutes to get ready" he said, she stumped her foot on the floor before closing the door,

"he's so arrogant, how can he force me" she muttered under her breath angrily before proceeding to pick a dress from her walk in closet.

****

Nadia walked towards Abdallah wearing a black long pleated skirt with a big loose chiffon blouse and a large thick veil properly wrapped on her head and upper chest, Abdallah's jaw dropped in admiration when he saw her, but he quickly adjusted himself, so it won't be glaring that he was ogling her.

"Are you ready?" he asked,

"yes" she answered,

"Let's go" he said gesturing with his hand towards the door.

Nadia wondered why he asked a driver to drive them instead of doing so himself, she sat very close to the window to avoid staying near him.

They got to the airport after a long ride, he only told her he was going on a trip, he didn't tell her their destination. She followed his guide until they boarded the plane, that was when she knew they were going to Turkey. Immediately, her mind went towards the cooking contest she totally forgot about which was coming up in two days time.

****

After a long journey of 9 hours which she slept halfway through, they finally got to the country's capital Istanbul, stepping out of the plane to breathe in the cool air eased her mind a bit, she was now happy Abdallah forced her to come with him, it might help her overcome the trauma she was having a hard time to get over.

Abdallah's heart tugged when he saw a small smile played on Nadia's lip, he knew it will work, he knew browsing for 'how to make a person overcome trauma' wasn't a bad idea.

A black limousine approached them some few minutes after Abdallah made a short call,

"after you" Abdallah gestured with his hand for her to enter the car first, she raised her long skirt slightly before entering into the sleek exquisite interior of the limousine, Abdallah got in after her and the driver drove off after Abdallah signalled him to proceed.

Nadia felt happy looking at the beautiful scenery of the city, she didn't know the name of the places they passed through, but it was very dazzling under the scorching afternoon sun. The limo turned towards a gate which opened swiftly by itself, after properly parking the car they got out.

Abdallah stretched his body because of the long tiring journey he just had, he watched as Nadia gazed at the building standing in front of her amazed,

"where are we?" Nadia couldn't help but ask, she was eager to know more about where she unexpectedly came to,

"barkirkoy in Istanbul, it is one-" he stopped when he saw she was looking elsewhere,

"continue I'm listening" she said facing him,

"OK ma'am" he smiled, he continued telling her about the city as they both walked into the magnificent apartment.

****

Nadia got out of her room to get a better view of the house and clear off her mind a little when she finished praying, she walked into the wide compound when she spotted a little girl running around the compound, the little girl stopped playing when she spotted Nadia and ran towards her direction,

"annem gibi guzelsin (you're beautiful like my mum)" the little girl said in Turkish, Nadia scrunched her face when she heard a foreign language she couldn't understand, the little girl who won't be more than 4 years of age caressed Nadia's face with her cute little fingers, she had a light-brown skin and a long curly black hair which covered nearly her whole body,

"what is your name?" Nadia said in English, but the girl squeezed her face placing her right hand on her plumpy cheek,

"zeynep neredsin (zainab where are you)?" a woman's voice sounded behind them causing them to turn their heads in her direction, the little girl ran with her arms wide open as she went towards the woman to embrace her, the woman picked her up and poked her head like she was telling the little girl off before she walked towards Nadia direction,

"you must be Nadia, Abdallah's wife" the woman said adjusting the little girl on her body as she was almost falling,

"yes.." Nadia said shocked that she knew her name,

"I've heard a lot about you, no need to be shocked" she said smiling before extending her hands "I'm Khadijah"

"so nice to meet you Khadijah" Nadia said shaking, "but sorry are you from Nigeria" Nadia asked seeing her dark skin colour and facial look which resembled that of the fulanis,

Khadijah placed her hand on her chest feigning hurt "I can't believe Abdallah didn't tell his wife about me" she said, "I'm his maternal cousin",

"oh my Allah, I'm so sorry" Nadia said smacking her head, "I should have seen the resemblance between you and ummi",

"it's not your fault, it's that big boy's fault" she said referring to Abdallah, from the way she talked about him, it seems like they are pretty close,

"what is your beautiful daughter's name" she asked carrying her from her mother's arm,

"zainab" she replied looking at her daughter with utmost admiration, Nadia was awed by the affection, she wished she had a child she could look at in such manner also,

"wow she's so beautiful like her name" she smiled at the girl who was smiling back showing her deep dimple,

"her father is a Turkish" Khadijah said tying her scarf backwards,

"wow really" Nadia wanted to continue talking, but she stopped when zainab started shaking her legs,

"amca dayi, amca dayi (uncle, uncle)" the girl sang when she spotted Abdallah from a distance, Nadia kept her down to let her have the freedom she was wiggling to have,

"guzel kiz (pretty girl)" he said smiling as he picked her up, he poked her nose before drawing her cheek playfully, zainab giggled loudly as Abdallah tickled her, this is the first time Nadia is seeing Abdallah act in such manner, and she couldn't deny that he was cool,

"sannu Khadijah autar mama ( well done Khadija mum's last born)" he joked when he got close to them,

"you know I hate that name ko" she said squeezing her face, "big boy" she added,

"I'll stop calling you autar mama when you stop calling me big boy" he countered while still holding zainab who was smiling widely.

Nadia watched as Abdallah and Khadijah continued their banter, she didn't know why she felt somewhat jealous, the Abdallah she knew doesn't laugh, but he was here laughing and smiling,

"can we ever get along and be like a normal loving couple" she thought to herself,

"I came to take my wife out" he said bringing Nadia out of her reverie, "she must be hungry" he added, "shall we?" he stretched his hand out to her,

She stared at his outstretched hand lost,

"Why is he acting like another person entirely" she thought to herself, he nodded his head as a cue for her to place hers,

"awwn" Khadijah muttered placing her two hands on her cheeks when Nadia placed her hand on his palm,

"don't forget to bring something for me love birds" she said as she held zainab in her arms to prevent her from running off,

"I'll surely forget" he said smirking while lacing his fingers with Nadia's,

"I wasn't referring to you big boy" she said rolling her eyes at him,

"whatever" he muttered before walking hand in hand with Nadia towards the gate, Nadia looked at his side view as he tightened their hold like he doesn't want to let her go,

"who is the real Abdallah Ahmad?, is he the arrogant one she knew or the new one she was starting to see" she thought to herself.

@zinat Abdulkadir ✍️