Eventually, she managed to get home, honked the horn, and the gate man opened it for her. She parked in a space, got out carrying a bag, and pushed the door to the parlour open. Her heart sank when she saw her uncle sitting there with his two wives, Hajiya and Mama. She looked around in disbelief, and as she tried to pass through, she heard Hajiya's voice shouting at her, "You disrespectful girl, where have you been? Your uncle Nasir has been looking for you all day!"
In a sulky tone, she replied, "I went to check on Hajiyan Maryam, and that’s why...." She fell silent as Mama gave her a stern look and said, "You’re lying. You didn’t go there. I told Nasir where you were; he went there and was told you weren’t there." Just then, Nasir walked into the parlour. He was a young man, no more than 21 years old, very handsome with a chocolate complexion and a well-built body. He was tall but not overly so, and though his stature was moderate, he had a commanding presence.
He crossed his arms over his chest and gave her a warm smile that showed his dimples and a hint of his charming demeanor. He lowered his gaze and said, "I’m sorry, Mummy. I couldn't bear your absence. You told me to come home and find you, so I came. When I arrived, Hajiya told me you went to check on Hajiyan Maryam, so I went there too, and they told me you weren't there..."
She waved him off angrily, saying, "So what? You should follow me around like a bodyguard? Why are you being so disrespectful, Nasir? Whether I'm your wife or just a friend, I don't like being treated with disrespect. I don’t have the freedom to go out and enjoy myself without you trailing me. How dare you?" She clicked her tongue in frustration and stormed off upstairs. Nasir and even her uncle were astonished by the outburst. Normally, she would express her frustrations to her own son, but today, she had openly berated Nasir.
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