Married To A Brat

"Hold your head up and smile, you coward" Arfaat growled at Juwairiyyah as they walked through the steps that led to Sophie's imposing home where their wedding traditional party would take place. His hand gripped her waist so tightly and that made her gasped. She felt like jerking away and fleeing back; down the steps to their parked car.

There was a long line of cars parked outside Sophie's home, It was obvious the ton had gathered to see the grand wedding of Alhaji Abba's daughter to a poor mechanic.

If not for the cold dread in the pit of Juwairiyyah's stomach, she might enjoyed the sight of her wedding day. As it was, she felt only a shivering apprehension at Arfaat's cold rage and implacable face. They'd ridden from her father's house at GRA in stark silence. Except for a brief moment when she had balked at getting into the car, he had not spoken to her until now. "I don't advise you to try anything you may regret, my Lily."

As soon as they were in the house, Juwairiyyah began dreading the leering faces inside. Arfaat's hateful voice and snarled words gave her enough courage to pause in the doorway, where she could see the blaze of light and hear the deafening clamor of voices. They waited, and she could feel the eyes of those behind them.

Arfaat looked as handsome as always in his black and white evening clothes, his black hair reflecting the gleam from flickering gaslamps.

Juwairiyyah's red silk gown made a dramatic contrast, and that alone would have drawn stares if they had not been who they were. There was a vague whispers from behind them,

"They say, my dear, that she was fond of disgracing any poor man who shows interest in her. I wonder how she ended up getting married to a mechanic" Said woman 1 with a smirk.

"That's what I heard too. She thought because she's beautiful and her dad is rich, she has the right to trample on her suitors. I just hope the handsome man here get to teach her a lesson to remember..." Woman 2 bespoke.

"Oh yes" Arfaat said silently in Juwairiyyah's ears, tightening his hold on her waist for the second time "That's just what I'm gonna do. Trust me Juwairiyyah, you'll regret ever saying I Raped you. I'll make you regret that, I'll make you regret all those time you've trampled men who claimed they loved you. I'll make you regret everything."

Juwairiyyah shuddered, almost losing her balance when he held her tight again. That alone caught the attention of others who weren't watching as cheers and claps erupted from the large hall.

Arfaat made it look so real and romantic which made it impossible for the cameramen not to capture the tom and his jerry, holding her hand and guiding her to their table. Arfaat made sure he smiled, showing off the facade of a caring husband. And as they sat down, Juwairiyyah recalled every single thing she did before the arrival of this day, and there and then she started regretting her evil deeds.

Now, no one could save her from Arfaat's wrath and evil

Juwairiyyah was dressed in a blue silk gown with a black silky veil which complimented her fair face; caked with makeup. She was walking towards her car in the students' parking lot with the car keys dangling in her hand. Immediately she was there, she stormed into the driver's seat and ignited the engine into a quick action. She revised out of the parking lot and gently accelerated away. As she was driving towards the gate, someone appeared from nowhere and blocked her way. It was Yousuf!

She turned off the car and quickly removed the key from the ignition. "What the heck do you want from me?" She icily asked as she hopped out of the car. "I thought I made it clear to you that we are done already? Why do you have to keep disturbing me, Yousuf?".

"Juwairiyyah listen to me please. I love you, and you know I really do. What happened between us was a minor misunderstanding, so please and please lets just..."

"Can't you see I'm no more interested anymore?" She intruded vehemently, glaring at him. "Yousuf I'm no more interested, so please let me be!". She added.

Her words pierced through his heart, and that made him lowered his gaze in sadness with a huge sigh. He was thinking on what else to say to her when he heard her car engine reviving. "God!" He blurted out in astonishment.

Juwairiyyah had hopped back into her car and was igniting the engine back into action. Before he could rush to her and beg her not to go, the engine was already into action. Hence, she made a quick turn that sprawled the mud water nearby on his white and clean caftaan. That was really bad for him!

*****

She was named Juwairiyyah Abbas Ibraheem. Her father Alhaji Abbas was a wealthy merchant in Gombe State, he was a native of Kebbi State. Her mother, Hajiya Raliya was also a native of Kebbi State and was a complete house-wife.

Juwairiyyah was their one and only daughter which was why she was pampered to no end, and that made her grew up arrogantly, rudely and disrespectfully. She was 19, tall, fair, beautiful, and had ample bosoms that no sane man could resist. Fashion was one of her hobbies. She was a third year geography student of Gombe State University (GSU).

"Oh God, I'm damn tired. Uwani I need a glass of water here!" she exclaimed in a commanding tone, falling wearily into the couch before acknowledging the presence of her mother who was sitting in an armchair nearby. "Oh, hello mom. How are you?". She said in what seemed like a whisper.

"I'm fine princess, welcome back". Her mother replied with a smile on her face. "How was the school?".

"Fine mom. I am just tired, where's this useless woman with my glass of water?". She arrogantly complained.

"No princess, that woman is old and deserve some respect". Her mother calmly said to her. "And again, I guess she didn't hear you".

"Oh come on mom, she's just a house help and nothing more; what respect does she deserve when she's earning under me? And about hearing me, she ought to. As a house help, she should be alerted at all time". She disrespectfully uttered that to her mother, hence turning her head to the kitchen route. "Ke Uwani, where the heck are you!" She yelled on top of her high pitched voice.

"Yes ma!". The old woman responded as she ran to the attend the call. "Welcome ma, how may I help you?". The old woman said while going down her knees in front of Juwairiyyah.

That was something Juwairiyyah imposed on all the workers in the house. No one has the right to talk to her standing and looking straight into her eyes, one has to bend his/her head down and go on their knees. "Why are you so useless Uwani? I asked for a cup of water as soon as I returned and you chose not to bring it, huh? Who the hell do you think you are?".

"I am so sorry ma, it won't repeat again I promise". The old woman pleaded. "Let me go get the water for..."

"Get out of my sight you useless piece of garbage!". Juwairiyyah yelled at her, hence the old woman nodded her head and left in haste.

"Take it easy princess, I don't like it when you get stressed up". Her mother said to her. "And please don't worry, she won't repeat it again okay?".

"Have her take my lunch to my room. She should make sure I don't see her face when she takes it". Juwairiyyah uttered angrily as she withdrew from the couch she was sitting in.

"I will princess". Her mother nodded in acknowledgement.

Saturday dawned, bright and crisp, with rare sunshine and a brisk breeze. It was a welcome relief from the constant rain and Juwairiyyah made up her mind to go out for a drive. The past few days had been boring with no lectures to attend to, Juwairiyyah's mother limited her outings coupled with the rain that had showered Gombe for two consecutive days.

She withdrew from her bed, took a quick shower and got herself dressed. Clad in a pink Ankara with red polka dots sewed into skirt and a blouse, Juwairiyyah applied little makeup before draping a pink veil on her head. Her legs were clutched in a pink flat shoe while she held a blue Gucci bag with one hand and her phone on the other. She walked out of her room to the foyer where her mother was, hence kissing her mother on her cheeks before saying, "I'm going out mom, this house is kind of suffocating these days. Don't say 'NO' please mom, just one hour okay? I promise, one hour".

Her mother smiled, held her hand in hers and kissed them. "Just an hour right?". Her mother asked.

"Yes mom, please".

"Okay fine. You can go, but take care okay?".

"I will mom, thank you!".

Juwairiyyah left in haste to her car in the parking lot and drove off, with the car speakers blasting with a song, 'Cheap thrills', while she sang along. She took the road that would lead her to BCG quarters so she could give her friend, Sophie a surprise visit. But unfortunately, her car broke down half way. It was a very sad moment.

Juwairiyyah groaned angrily. Stepping out of the car, she looked around in hope to find someone who could help fix her car. Luckily for her, she spotted a mechanic in a garage few meters away attending to an old man.

Juwairiyyah dragged her legs to him and scrutinized the area with her eyes before finally speaking up. "Hey you!". She called out. "Come over here and check my car, I'm in a hurry."

"Wa'alaikumus Salam to you miss. As you can see, I'm very busy here attending to a customer. I will attend to you as soon as I'm done, please do stand under that shade". The mechanic pointed his finger at a wooden bench in the shade made by a mango tree.

Juwairiyyah stood there stunned. Did he just told her to wait? Who the heck did he think he is? She smiled mischievously before replying him. "Excuse me mister, I'm paying you for your job. Do I look like someone who'll wait for something?".

The mechanic stood up from where he was lying beneath the car. And that was when she saw him. A dark skinned guy with strong jaw, a sharp pointed nose with beard and sideburns. His hair, even though dirty, was dark and curly. How could a mechanic be that cute? She wondered.

"I'm sorry, if you think you're too big to wait then feel free to leave. I can't leave the work of the customer that first you just because of your work, okay?".

"No my son" the old man spoke. "She'll wait, okay? You don't have to get angry, kids of nowadays are ill-mannered, we just have to ignore them."

Juwairiyyah's eyes bulged out, did the old piece of garbage just called her ill-mannered? She swallowed a lump down her throat and approached him. "Excuse me here oldie, why don't you respect the white hair on your head and mind your damn business? How dare you call me ill-mannered? Just look at yourself, look at how dirty you are. You even stink oldie, and yet you had the right to call me ill-mannered. Do I even look like a cheap lady to you? I can bet that the cloth I'm wearing can feed your family for a whole month, yet you're here trying to disrespect me. Well excuse me oldie, I'm far beyond your thinking!".

Tears were already rolling down the old man's cheeks, while the mechanic stood there stunned to even lift a finger.

"Oops, the poor oldie is even crying. Are you hurt? Did I hurt your feelings? Oya here, take this" she threw a ward of money towards him. "You can use that to wipe your tears okay? Next time, do learn to mind your business, okay? Oh, and yeah..." She was saying when a resounding slap landed on her face.

The mechanic slapped her!

Juwairiyyah stood there so astounded of what had just happened. Her, Juwairiyyah, slapped by a common mechanic?

"It seems you lack self respect, a well respectful girl will never raise her voice to an elderly person no matter what the case maybe. Now miss, get the hell out of my garage!". The mechanic exclaimed.

Juwairiyyah stood still, she couldn't believe someone as dirty as him could have the guts to slap her pretty face.

"Arfaat please forgive her insolence, she's just a girl and you know ladies are sometimes unbearable" The old man said.

"I know baba, but this one is too much. I can't really stand and..."

"This really can't be!" Juwairiyyah outcried. "I won't let this slide so easily. You will have to pay the consequences". She added with a hiss and left.

She couldn't go to her desired destination. So she stopped a tricycle and went home angrily. She fled into her mother's room while crying and yelling her name. "Mom, mom! come and see my face, just look at my face mom. Someone had the guts to slap your beautiful daughter's face!"

"I know you princess, you must have done something for that person to slap you, tell me what happened." Her mother cooed.

"I knew it, you never loved me as much as dad does, goodbye!". Juwairiyyah snapped at her mother finding her way out of the room.

*****

Later in the night, Juwairiyyah and her parents were all seated in the living room. She looked at her dad and gave him one of her best smiles. "Dad, I need a favour".

"Sure princess, anything for you". Replied her dad.

"I saw a mechanic today on my way to visit Soffie. He is so talented but has a very small garage. Why don't you employ him to work in your company?". Juwairiyyah said sweetly.

"You think I should take him in princess?".

"Yes dad, please".

"Then it's done!"

"Wow! I love you dad, you're the best!. I'll take you to him tomorrow In Shaa Allah".