20 If you will not love me, give me somebody to love
Later that night Jamal returned home to find Nabila asleep on the blue couch in the living room. He didn't even mind the argument she was ready to start. Nabila could throw anything his way and he would take it; he just wanted to go to sleep while he could still taste Rabi on his tongue. Sex had snaked its way through Jamal's sinewy muscles like an opiate. He proceeded upstairs as Nabila awoke and greeted him. As always Jamal was struck by her courtesy until he remembered the 'good wife' path she had been treading for a while now. Not going up to bed till he returned no matter how late the hour, not starting fights. It was too late he wanted to tell her, but it seemed easier to handle her this way than return to the anarchy of before. Jamal replied and Nabila followed him to their bedroom turning the lights off behind her. To her surprise Jamal did not jump in the shower but lay on the bed dozing off. Wearing only his white pyjama bottoms his chest rose and fell steadily. He looked peaceful and relaxed; this was her chance
"Mu yi magana"- (can we talk)
"Can't this wait" Jamal said with his eyes closed; images of Rabi riding him
"It has already waited for too long" Nabila's voice sounded close so Jamal opened his eyes. She was sitting by his side in a see through nightgown. She could barely meet his gaze; he did not like where this was headed
"We should have a baby" she said shyly
Jamal's eyes nearly popped out of his head. All indulgent images of Rabi fled from his conscious and he stared at his wife as if she was mentally disturbed
"A baby?"
"Yes" she repeated excited. Her hand reached to stroke his chest. Jamal stopped her palm. Nabila looked like she did not understand
"Why?"
"Because we are married and it is long overdue"
"Oh! Is that why you have been the doting wife these past few days" Jamal sat up
"No!" she shook her head
"So none of that was leading up to this" he pointed at her night gown
"We have been married for almost five years. I want a baby"
"Did you ask if I wanted one?"
"You are my husband. Don't you want to start a family?"
"We are barely a family now Nabila. Do you really want to bring a baby into this mess?"
"What do you want from me Jamal? Allow me to be a mother if you won't let me be a wife."
"Let you? You need my permission to function in your role"
"When you do not speak to me. At all! And run out of the house the minute you return from work." She took a deep breath. "It is difficult...knowing that you would rather be anywhere else than with me." Nabila's voice shook. "Do not think that because I do not cry in front of you; it does not hurt. If you will not love me, give me somebody to love. You owe me that much"
"I owe you nothing" Jamal looked down on her
"I WANT A CHILD" she grabbed on to his elastic waist band
"I am not a sperm donor" Jamal warned
"You don't act like a husband either" Nabila spat
"You have the bed all to yourself" Jamal grabbed a blanket and stormed off to the guest room.
Three weeks later the final decision regarding the Beckenbauer deal was made. The company would build in Morocco. Jamal and his colleagues swallowed their loss and licked their wounds. Each sat in their office mourning missed opportunities. As Zainab placed some files on his desk Jamal remembered his promise long enough to put aside his ego and call in a favour. "I owe you big time" the HR manager agreed "The job is Jamal if his CV is up to scratch"
"It is" Jamal reassured him "You know I don't waste my time with unserious people"
"Just tell your boy to show up for an informal interview then. We have to appear to be doing through proper channels you know"
"We are not savages after all" Jamal added with humour. With that he called Abu to inform him of his new role as a Civil Engineer in the Engineering and Technology Directorate of the NNPC.
On Saturday Jamal called Amaka to invite her to lunch "for being a good sport." Just because the deal fell through did not mean Jamal had forgotten what Amaka was willing to do for him .
