“You will marry him, that is the best thing for you. Everything we have done for you so far is for your own good.”
Her father said. The finality in his tone told her there was no contesting it. His words were law for everyone in the household and anyone bold enough to oppose them was only looking to incur his wrath but she was not just any other person, she was his blood...his favourite.
“Amma Baba, I don’t want to. I don’t even know this person. I don’t even love him."
She complained, her eyes searched that of her mother's, pleading for her to intervene but her mother wore a blank expression, it was as if she wasn’t part of the conversation.
“How would you know that, if you haven’t met him? I will arrange for you two to meet here. A first of a few meetings, before plans for the wedding commences.”
She wanted to scream that she didn’t want to meet anyone and that there would be no wedding because she was never going to marry that man or anyone else for now. She just wanted to pursue her dream of singing but she knew better than to utter that, her father would have none of it. Instead she threw herself on the lush rug in the centre of the living room and begin to cry.
My life is finished, all my dreams will die with me because none of our men here would entertain me rea...
but another thought crept in.
Maybe there is, but I will never find him if I’m married off.
Fresh tears stream down her cheeks. That’s when she felt her mother’s hands on her, seeking to comfort her but she shrugged them off.
“Haba baby, you know you father only wants the best for you.”
“What about you?”
She asked angrily amidst tears. Her father was no longer in the sitting room.
“Don’t you want the best for me?”
“I do dear, I really do.” Her mother nodded hard at her.
“That’s why I’m supporting your father. We want the best for you. We want your future secured.”
“My future secured indeed.”
She scoffed.
“Ko, I’m just another ticket for you to secure your ties with another powerful family?”
“You say it like, we are selling you off.”
“Is that not what it is? Ai, wannan auren dole ne Ummi. You both don’t care about my feelings at all.”
Her eyes ached as it released another stream of tears.
“Haba, baby. Daina fadin haka. You know we do care a lot about you.”
Her mother reached out again to hug her on the floor where she was still seated but she wriggled herself out of her arms and so instead her mother’s hands dropped on her like a sort of tap and in place of her voice, she heard that of Lisa.
“Sleepy head, wake up. It’s past nine already.”
Yasmin opened her eyes and saw that she was still on the Dadduma she had been praying on some hours ago. She must have slept off while doing her Adhkar because it had still been dark when she started it, but now it was so bright. Lisa must have moved the curtains a little so that light could flow in.
“I've been waking you for the past ten minutes but you kept shaking me off. Hope you are fine?”
She could see concern in her friend's eyes. She had put her through a lot since she arrived this City. She didn’t want to add to it anymore.
“I’m fine, I just had a dream.”
“The usual?”
She nodded her reply.
“Don’t worry everything will be fine.”
She nodded again at her friend’s reassurance.
“Thank you Lisa, for everything.”
She couldn’t think of anyone else who would have gone along with her crazy plans at sort short a notice the way Lisa did. She had only known her for a little over a year. They met at the NYSC orientation camp in Kano. It was Lisa’s first time in the North. She had seemed confused about a lot of things but Yasmin had been helpful to her. Showing her things and teaching her what she needed to know. Though Lisa redeployed after the three weeks orientation. They had kept in touch since then.
“Don’t even start!”
Lisa in an exaggerated serious tone while stifling a smile. “Just get dressed and come and eat before the food goes cold. Time has gone. Unless you don’t plan on going to Chop and drink anymore...Have you called Madam Freda to inform her that you’re coming?
“Yes, I did yesterday. She thought I was calling to tell her I would be resuming.”
Yasmin felt bad that Mrs Danladi would have to add her position to the list of vacancies that were yet to be occupied. Her boss was a nice person and treated everyone like a family. She had visited her twice when she was in the hospital with basket of fruits the first time and a flask of food on the second visit. She had checked up on her at home when she was told she had been discharged.
“She will find a replacement dear.”
Lisa assured her.
“I know. It’s just that I had only been there for four months and some days. I really hope she finds a better replacement.”
Yasmin said and sighed before asking
“What did you cook sef?”
Lisa eyes had a glint of mischief
“Koko da Kosai.”
Yasmin laughed at how Lisa had said it with an accent that sounded off. More like a Non Hausa who’s learning to say some words of the language. Lisa knew only the very basics of speaking in the language. A few she had picked at the Kano camp and the rest she learnt from Yasmin.
“Karya ki ke. Your Hausa needs a lot more practice.”
Yasmin replied, ignoring her Lisa who was sticking out a tongue at her. She always enjoyed that simple breakfast of Pap and Akara though the millet pap she usually took back home always made her drowsy. She noticed the one made from corn, common to Lagosians, never did that to her the few times she took it since she arrived Lagos.
“I got the recipe from my colleague, Badiya and trust me it taste just like the one sold in camp in Kano. Though I didn’t make the pap from scratch, she brought some to work for me yesterday. Freshly sieved! I made the kosai using her recipe.”
“Wait, for real?”
Yasmin was amazed that her friend could go the length for her. She’s done more than a simple meal. She reminded herself.
“Sha hurry before I finish everything.” Lisa said as she walked towards the door. Yasmin got up and quickly folded the prayer rug and followed suit.
“I’m eating first before taking my bath.”
Lisa laughed.
“You and akara, five and six.”
...To be continued.
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