CHAPTER 1: ICECREAM FREEZE

[New Book Alert.]

And now..

FORGOTTEN LOVE.

■■

♤♤

She laughed even harder when khadeejah tried to lift up my cap that i threw towards her. I threw it because she complained that it smelt like a goat. In which i completely disagree.

"C'mon Nana bring it to me." Nana walked towards her mother and gave her the cap, She immediately brought the cap to her nose to take in the smell one more time. I got on my feet immediately before she could realize what was going on and pressed the cap further on her face.

She squealed "ahhh.....Zawj STOP!." she squeled angrily trying to push my hands from her face and trust me her strength was no match, Even Khadijah kept giggling coming towards us helping me hold the cap above her mother's nose.

I stopped before she ran out of breath, She punched my hand when I let go with a frown. "Now i have to go brush my teeth." She rolled her eyes before picking her self up. "And as for you Nana no hide and seek for a week." Khadijah immediately pouted and fell into my hands "Mommy hates me." she cried, As her mother left for the stairs I tried to make her smile again.

"Dont worry we can play hide and seek if i come home from work. Okay?" She smiled and this time it reach her eyes. "C'mon go and wear your shoes let's go for icecream."

"Yey!" She squealed coming down from my arms she ran up the stairs and came back down within seconds with her shoes in her hands, Hauwa was behind her collected her shoes helping her with it. she finally sprinted towards me. "Hauwa, Please tell MamanNana that we are waiting for her." She nodded turning around for the stairs.

(MamanNana = Nana's mother)

"I'm here I'm here...Where are we going?" She asked with a bored expression on her face.

"Icecreamm!!" Khadijah squealed. And Ihsan immediately frowned. She doesn't like Nana taking icecream. But i still go out for icecream once in a while i mean i want my Nana to get the best and fun childhood experience.

"It's too late for icecream." She started her round of complaning, She's always overprotective towards her. When its my job to be over protective but the tables are turned here.

"It's 8.32pm and Nana is suppose to be in bed right now." She walked across the foyer checking her face.

Khadijah turned to me with glassy eyes and her lower lip portuding forming another pout this evening, oh God.

Then she turned to her mother with the same face before she hopped onto my chest "Don't worry we are still going" I whisperyelled in her ear, She wrapped her tiny hands around my neck and her head on my chest i stood up and held her with my hands so she wouldn't fall.

Ihsan shook her head, I knew she was going to do that, Still standing facing the mirror she fixed her veil properly around her face.

"Hauwa are you coming?." Hauwa shook her head with a smile spreading accross her face. "I have social studies to learn." Okay then." I walked pass her to the door and went straight to the car, i see one of my security open the door for Ihsan and she hops in.

Did i mention my wife is bossy, well to everyone except me. I believe she might still be mad at me for placing that cap over her nose.

I opened the back seat door for Nana and i got back to my drivers seat, By the time i started the car Ihsan was wearing her belt.

"Daddy Cold Stone ice cream please." Khadijah suggested jumping in her seat.

"Cold stone it is" I replied her. "Nana don't forget to put on your seat belt." Ihsan informed her turning and looking at her as she did.

We got to the icecream place which was connected to dominos pizza downstairs in wuse an area within Abuja metropolis. "I would buy pizza for my self so you guys can go, But please No, You know the surgary one's I don't want her to take thoes. Oh and I almost forgot the smallest cup for her, please" Every time she tells what not to get for Nana and every time i get Nana what she wants. Sometimes we argue afterwards but it doesn't last. Her weakness is that she can't stay mad at me. And she's mad that i know that.

I chuckled at her speech. "Icecream is icecream she will get whatever she sees and likes. And since when did icecream stop been surgary" I informed her looking at Nana "Icecream is icecream right." She nodded shyly still holding my hand.

"Okay, Next time she gets a tooth ache you will be the one to leave work and take her to the dentist." I made a smug "Anything for my Nana" I replied and she immediately rolled her eyes. "oho dei go!" I notified the security guard with us to stay with Ihsan whilst i went with Nana alone.

We got upstairs and before i knew it Khadijah had slipped out from my hold and joined the queue. Four minutes later It was our turn.

"Good evening. Welcome to Cold stone cremery, What flavours would you want?" The woman behind the icecream counter asked.

"Daddy daddy." She jumped asking for a lift as usual." I would like chocolate stawberry and...oh oh,bubble gum, my friend laila in school told me that there is gum in it." She told the woman. Ihsan is not going to like this.

I turned to the woman waiting for my order." two cups both medium. In one i would like chocolate, white chocolate and the bubble gum." I rephased what she told her.



"Okay sir, toppings?"

"Rainbow sprinkle."

"Take away?" She asked while mixing the icecream. And i simply shook my head. She was done with the mixing and she passed it to Khadijah who quickly reached for it. "The other cup chocolate and cheesecake. Caramel toppings liquid fudge and liquid caramel with the waffles chopped. That one is takeaway. " Exactly how ihsan wants it. I took the bag and after making payments we began walking downstairs.

We walked back to Dominoes i looked all over the place for ihsam but then i finally catch a glimpse of her seating on a stool with a poker face and a guy infront of her was obviously trying to have a conversation with her.

with my wife!

I caught a glimpse at my sercuity guy in a black cap trying to blend in with the crowd also staring at her. I always wanted them to do there job anonymously around Ihsan because she hated been watched and says she didn't want ptotection. But what she doesn't know is that if something happens to her i would never remain the same again.

I took Khadijah hands and walked towards her, I wasn't furious because this wasn't the first time it is happening and he could be a friend from work or highschool. She looked over to the cashier who called for her while she stood up the stranger said somethings but she ignored him.

"Hey, Is it ready?"

"Yess. i got the one with pineapples. Should we eat here or at home?" She smiled making her cheeks raise while asking me. while Nana stood there licking her icecream looking from me to her mother.

I looked at the strange guy. "Home would be best. Khadijah hasn't finished her icecream, Was that guy over there disturbing you?" I mean Ihsan is very beautiful.

Hell. Her frown is alluring, Her pout is cute her laugh is dazzling her gloomy face is bewitching. She's the most beautiful woman i have met and i married. I could go on and on about her that's just her looks and not her body or her personality, the day i got married to her i was shocked that she even agreed to marry someone like me.

I fall in love with her everyday like it was the first day i saw her five years ago at her brother's wedding.

"Oh you saw. Forget him He was just asking for my number." I turned to look at him my brows still knotted he immediately shifted his gaze to his phone. He probably now knows who her husband was.

"Here's my card." She took it from my fingers mumbling a soft 'Thank you'.

I picked the pizza she insisted to take it but i shook my head.

"Ihsan." I called and she turned "i have something to tell you." I informed with a serious look on my face. "Mei ya faru." Her hausa accent was getting better coming from a woman who didn't even know how to speak hausa when we got married.

(Mei ya faru; what happened)

"I'm glad I married you" she grimace. Rolling her eyes." You'll always have my heart." I added again. "Your heart is safe with me." She ran her hands down her face. "Oh please don't start with your poems." She glared at me "God knew exactly what I needed in a woman." She blushed and gave me a hug. "Now please shut up you're embarrssing us." She smiled.

"To be honest i have something to tell you." She let out a sigh and gave me her attention. "We are going on a trip. Vacation call it what you want." Her brows rose. "Are you pulling my legs?" She asked me moving in closer to me. "I'm serious."

"To where?" She asked abruptly. Ever since we got married Ihsan only saw her mom thrice and that was the day she gave birth to Nana, Her mother stayed for a week before going back. Our wedding and one time i made her come to surprise Ihsan on her birthday.

She grew up without her that's why she doesn't complain but I know deep down she really wants to see her again. "Egypt?" She squealed closing her mouth with both hands. "I think it's time you go visit your mother." She stood there starshocked she froze staring at me in disbelief. "Abdullah. I don't believe. Stop pulling my legs!." She smacked my arm.

"Let's go home I will show you the tickets."

"Are we going with Nana." She asked me pulling khadijah towards her. she would not even agree to have Nana not come with us.

"Of course."

The tom and jerry tales was showing and it was by far Nana's favourite program. Ihsan sat behind her laptop on the floor whilst Nana was sleeping on one of the sofas.

Ihsan looked up and she caught my eyes on her. "So we're leaving on monday. Why haven't you packed should I get your things ready for you, I know what you would like." I laughed at her anxiousness. "I packed already it's in that pink box. That you hate the pattern on it."

She rolled her eyes with a grin on her face.

"Words can't explain how happy I am wallah. When I told Mama, Even from her tone you can tell she was excited, zawj." I heard my phone ring from my pockets. I quickly reached for it not taking my eyes off her as she stood up to my side. Little did i know that phone call would change my life for good.