₦airaland Forum

DAMAGED BUTTERFLY
CHAPTER FOUR

Obinna leaned patiently on the fence that sorrounded Alhaji Abubakar's house.Aisha had asked him to wait outside and look out for her father.He was due to leave home for work and Aisha would be left alone,affording them the perfect oppourtunity to sneak away.
Obinna spent close to one hour humming his favourite Fela songs as he rested his back on the fence.The old man was due to show up anytime soon and he finally did.Alhaji Abubakar stroded out of the compound with a suitcase,it was obvious he wasn't headed to his butcher business at the market.He must be travelling....oh goodie!
The coast was crystal clear and Obinna scaled the fence and landed on the other side.He knocked on the door and Aisha ,clad in a wrapper,opened the door.
"I thought you'd never show up,you dont give up,do you? Aisha asked.
"I dont give up if it has something to do with you? Obinna smiled.
Aisha blushed,went into the bedroom and emerged in a blue gown.
"You look beautiful" Obinna said."Now let me show you what freedom tastes like"
-----------------------------------
Their first point of call was the amusement park.Aisha was muted and kept on gaping at infracstuctures.Obinna was suprised.
"There are amazing places in Kano and you grew up here but never been to those places?" he asked with bewilderment creeping into his eyes.
"Yes,this is my first time of being here" Aisha replied.
Obinna scoffed.His life was the opposite of Aisha's.When he was a child,his mother occassionally took him to amusement park in Onitcha.They would ride in the merry-go-round and eat ice cream.Those were sweet memories he cherished and he would want Aisha to expirience the thrill.He sighted an ice cream truck nearby and pulled Aisha along with him.He could bet his life Aisha had never tasted ice cream before,the girl grew up in a big city like Kano and yet so many things eluded her.He couldn't blame her though.
"Come on..let me buy you an ice cream" he said.
The ice cream man was kind and jovial,he mistook them as love birds.
"Happy new month customer" he greeted.
"New month?" Obinna asked.
"Yes,its December 1st 1983" he replied.
"Oh..I wish you the same.Please give me a bowl of ice cream" Obinna said as he fumbled in his pockets and fished out his 50 kobo for the ice cream.
"What's that?"Aisha asked.
"It's called an ice cream.It is very delicious,i bet you'll like it" Obinna said."Open your mouth"
Aisha did as Obinna scooped a spoonful of ice cream into her mouth.Aisha took time to taste it very well before swallowing it.Her face brightened and her eyes lit up.
"It's tasty" she said.
"Dont worry i can always buy you more" Obinna smiled,he was glad Aisha liked the ice cream.
"Come on...there's something else i want to show you.Its called a roller coaster.
They hurried to the coaster,paid the attendant and sat in one the first pews along with other passengers.
"Prepare yourself Aisha,the roller coaster can be very frightening for first timers" Obinna chuckled.
He remembered the first day he rode with his mother on a roller coaster,he ended up crying.
Obinna helped Aisha fasten her seat belt.The attendant pulled a lever and the roller coaster set off.
Aisha was silent as the cart climbed the elavated rail track,it was not until it started descending that Aisha began to scream in excitement.Other passengers were excited too.They manuvered through the turns and raced down the slopes.It was a thrilling and scary expirience for Aisha but Obinna held her hand and together they rode it.
At the end of the roller coaster journey,Aisha was laughing with Obinna.They sure had fun and on their way he bought more ice cream for her.
They boarded one the molule buses that toured Kano.They sat at the seat of the 14-seater bus and ate the remaining ice cream.They gisted and laughed,at a glance one would think they were lovebirds.
When they finally arrived back at Aisha's house no one was home.
"This is where i say goodbye Aisha,i have to go home" Obinna said.
They were alone now.The weather was hot and busy street had its song of hustles and bustles of the day.But at that moment,nothing mattered to them anymore.It felt like nothing else existed except Aisha and Obinna.
They drew close together,Obinna's eyes were full of love.Aisha's hazel eyes held an attraction that rooted him to the spot.There was an awkward silence as Obinna drew closer and claimed her lips.To his utmost suprise,Aisha responded by kissing him back.
"I love you,Aisha"
"I love you too Obinna"
Obinna left for his house with happy heart.
------------------------------------------

Alhaji Abubakar came back home that night with a desperate look on his face.He had summoned Aisha who stood in front of him with her hands behind her back and face bowed in respect.
She was scared and wondered if he had found out about Obinna.
But then her father stood up and announced..."Aisha my daughter...you're getting married...soon."

DAMAGED BUTTERFLY
CHAPTER THREE

"Oh no...not again!"Obinna exclaimed.His shorts were drenched with semen,he had a wet dream.He removed the shorts and put on a pair of trousers.
His uncle walked into the room.
"Obi,i'll be heading to work now and on my way home,i'll pick up your mother's letter"
"Letter?" Obinna asked.
"Yes your mother promised to write you a letter once you get to Kano and she did.She would love to see your reply" his uncle said as he hurriedly dressed for work.
Obinna understood his mother's feelings,being the firstborn it was okay for his mother to be anxious.He didn't expect a letter so soon.
Obinna did his morning ablutions and scamppered off to the well with his gallon.He wanted to be there on time,not just to fetch early but to see Aisha.He had thought about her all night and he had a good dream.It must have triggered the wet dream somehow.It didn't matter to him anymore,he had to see Aisha.

At the well,Obinna met a long line of gallons and buckets waiting to be filled.He dropped his own and searched desperately for Aisha.He inhaled deeply and exhaled.He wore a black singlet and the harmattan cold was burning him,he rubbed his hands together and breathed deeply.His prying eyes searching for his girl.
Obinna finally caught sight of Aisha,she was sitting at a small corner.Like the quiet mouse,he sneaked up on her and touched her gently.
"Obinna dont ever sneak up on me like that" Aisha said teasingly.
Obinna smiled and they gazes locked.The air was tense and there was an awkward silence between them.Their heartbeats could be heard in the interlude.
"I knew i would find you here ,Aisha" Obinna said."You can always visit me,i live a few blocks away.My uncle is a very kind man and you would feel at my home"
"I'm sorry but i cant visit you" Aisha replied with a crestfallen expression on her face."I'm not allowed to leave the house without permition"
Obinna was suprised.
"You're old enough Aisha,your father must be the over protective type"
"Yes,something like that.I'm the lastborn and the only girl in the family"
Obinna heaved a sigh.He knew some fathers can be strict especially towards their daughters.He understood Aisha's situation.Staying under her father's watch must have made her so naive.She needed some freedom,she cant be stuck in a shell because she's an only daughter.
"Aisha you need to come out more,you cant continue being a daddy's girl.You need exposure" he said.
"So what do you suggest?" she asked.
"We can hang out,spend sometime together and have fun"

Aisha was confused.She liked Obinna but she had only known him for a few days.She didn't want to rush things and she wouldn't want to attract her father's attention.Alhaji Abubakar was a strict man who hardly smiled,he wouldn't approve of his daughter being in a relationship with an Igbo boy.If he found out,it would only spell trouble for her.Her relationship with Obinna must be kept secret at all cost.

"Obinna i would like to spend some time with you but my father is an angry man,if he finds out about us,i would be in big trouble" Aisha said.
Obinna smiled and held her hands.
"Dont worry,i'll figure something out.Nothing wrong will happen and your father will never find out"Obinna said with a reassured look in his eyes.
"Promise me" Aisha asked.
"I promise"
She hugged him.His body felt warm and steady.She could feel the energy buzzing within her.It was romantic.It happened so fast and she didn't understand it but she knew she was in love with Obinna.
Obinna's feelings for Aisha could only get stronger and despite their ethnic differences,he was determined to make the best out of a promising relationship.

------------------------------------------

Obinna's uncle returned home with a letter from his mother.It was the last thing Obinna needed but he would read it anyway and send a quick reply.
At night he stared at the envelope under the candle light.He slowly opened it and fished out the letter....reading it slowly with rapt attention.

Dear Obinna

I hope you made it to Kano in one peice.I and your siblings are very anxious for your safety.I hope your uncle is in good health.
I just want to remind the objective of your stay in Kano.Remember you are there to become an apprentice,to learn the trade and be a master.You are going to make us proud,you will be successful and when you return to Onitcha,you will tear down our mud house and build a nice house with corrugated iron sheets.
Remember who you are Obinna,dont join bad gang and avoid evil.I will keep on praying for you.
Send my regards to your uncle.He did a nice job by taking you under his wing.Dont dissapoint him.
May God richly reward him for his kindness and make you successful...amen.
Your Mother
Obiageli



Obinna was teary eyed after reading the letter.He lay on the mat and thought about his mother.

DAMAGED BUTTERFLY
CHAPTER 2

The market was a beehive of activities and if one was not careful,he/she could get lost in the crowd.Traders beckoned on customers to buy their goods,some of them would call you and say "customer come,i have that thing you're looking for".It was just a bid to get customers and if a trader didn't try to sell fast,he would go home empty handed.
At one corner in the market,Aisha carefully stacked her meats for sale.The meats attracted flies and she would wave her arm over it to ward off the insects.
Aisha's father,Alhaji Abubakar worked in an abattoir at far end of the market.Aisha would go there to collect the daily supplies.Customers were not so hard to find as meat was one of the fastest selling products in the market.
Aisha worked tirelessly chopping the meat with her sharp knife and wrapping it for her customers.The day was really promising and she had made some money.
A customer walked over to her shop and smilled,revealing his perfect set of teeth.
"How much meat do you want to buy?" Aisha asked.
"So you work here,that's nice" the customer replied.
Aisha glanced at the customer,her face brightened and a smile played on her face.
"Oh!...you're that boy at the well"
"yes i am"he chuckled.
"what's your name again...erm...."
"Obinna,that's my name"
"Yes i remember now.How much meat do you want to buy?"she asked.
"Uh..come on..the meat can wait.I'm just exploring the market,i'm new in Kano and i just want to know some places"

"Um,okay"

Aisha wished Obinna would just buy meat and go.She had a long day ahead of her and she had no time for discussions.

"Maybe you can show me some interesting places in Kano"
Aisha chuckled,she didn't expect the offer.She could tell Obinna was trying to woo her.Many boys in her street had tried it but she had no interest in any of them.
But Obinna?...Obinna felt different.Maybe it's because he's from another tribe or was it his attitude or outspokeness that made him feel so different.Aisha could have snubed him until he gives up but she couldn't.Their conversation continued.

"I can show you some places but not today" she said.
"Aww..it doesn't have to be today.Maybe tomorrow or next week.I'm always around,you see i came to Kano to help my uncle in his business.I'll be staying in Kano for months" Obinna sounded indifferent,he wasn't giving up on Aisha anytime soon.

Aisha blushed."Okay,i'll think about it"
"Please think fast,i'll be there whenever you're ready.We're neighbours now you know"

"Neighbours?"

"Yes,neighbours.We live on the same street a few blocks apart,that makes us neighbours"

"Hmmm...okay,we shall see"

"I just want to be your friend Aisha,just friends...erm...we can get to know each other more"

Aisha didn't see that statement coming.Obinna has just proposed his friendship to her,the boy wasn't taking things slow.

"Friends..erm..."she stammered and averted her gaze.

"Yes i want to be your friend,i'm new in Kano and i need friends" Obinna eyes sparkled with delight,he was overflowing with confidence and there's no turning back."So what do you say,friends?"

"Okay,we can be friends" Aisha replied and a smile claimed her lips.

Obinna shrieked with delight and chuckled.His plan was in motion,he knew that Aisha wouldn't be much of a challenge.He had met girls like her before.Naive girls who were really shy and innocent.Aisha was just the first Hausa girl in the list of girls he loved.

Obinna bought meat and bid her farewell.As he left the market his heart beat rythmically.His head swayed and he cracked a smile.

Obinna arrived home that day feeling happy.He was the first son in a family of eight,his father died in the Nigeria civil war and he grew up in an extended family under the watchful eyes of his relatives.All his relatives were traders and his mother ran a small business in Onitcha,he helped his mother and took care of his siblings until he turned 18 and his uncle came to take him under his wing.
That was the norm in some Igbo families.A boy becomes an apprentice and learns a trade and later his master would release him and set up his own business for him and then the cycle continues.Obinna tried to imagine what Kano held in store for him.He's an apprentice now and very soon he would be a master.

At night Obinna lay on the mat thinking about Aisha.He had dated many girls but Aisha was different.The feelings he had for her was very strong and genuine.He had not felt that way for a girl in a long time.
He closed his eyes and tried to picture Aisha in his arms.Her hazel eyes,her curvacious body,her lips...oh how he would love to kiss her.He thought about her succulent breast and waist.Her sweet voice were like that of a nightingale.Her face was flawless and her skin radiated in the sun.
Obinna chuckled in his sleep,Aisha was like an angel in human form.
Obinna dreamt of her.In his dream Aisha lay nude with him in bed as they joked and laughed.

PROLOUGE

She crawled on the snow until she reached the door,her half unclad body was cold.She was freezing.She felt weak and could barely open her eyes.Snow fell from the sky in Alaska.Aisha was bleeding,the knife wound was deep and painful.
"help me,somebody help me" she screamed with last ounce of strenghth she had.she closed her eyes.

She saw no more,she heard no more.


DAMAGED BUTTERFLY
chapter one


In one of the small rooms of a bungalow located at Tafawa street,Sabon gari,Kano a young teenage girl opened her eyes.She sighed and lay still on the mat.She wished the night was longer.She sighed again and closed her eyes but she couldn't sleep again.She could hear the hustles and bustles on Tafawa street,she tried to picture it in her mind.
Suddenly the bedroom door gave way and a tall dark man barged in.
"Aisha,what are you doing?" the man said "cant you see the day has broken?"
The teenage girl Aisha stood up immediately.
"Alhaji,i'm so sorry...erm...i didn't know" she stammerd.
"Sorry for yourself,your mates are out on the streets already.You know what to do,i dont have to remind you"
Aisha heaved a sigh of relief as her father left the room,she opened her drawer and took out a mirror.She examined herself carefully.Aisha was beautiful and her body curved gracefully in her pink gown.She was fair in complexion and her flawless oval face glittered in the sun.Her succulent breast stood out perfectly.Her father nicknamed her 'Omalicha'.....Aisha didn't know the meaning and she didn't bother to ask.

Aisha dashed to the bathroom,performed the morning ablution,picked up her bucket and left the house.She was heading to the Mr Yusuf's well at the end of the street to fetch water.Her mind drifted from the hustle on the busy Tafawa street into the memory lane.
Her full name was Aisha Raquayatu Abubakar,she was born into an average hausa family.She was the last born among the 13 children her father has.It was a polygamous family as her father had 4 wives.The last wife passed away while giving birth to Aisha.She didn't know much about her mother,her father Alhaji Abubakar kept the information away from her.Aisha was the only child of her late mother,the other wives lived together with their kids.The grown-ups among them were into cattle rearing.
Alhaji Abubakar was well known on Tafawa street,he was a butcher by trade.An occupation passed down from his grandfather.Aisha was the only girl in the family,the other 12 boys were sent to school while Aisha was home-schooled and sold meat with her father at the market.Her father was popularly known as 'Alhaji',it was his nickname and even his children called him that.He was a grumpy man who talked less and spent his leisure listening to radio and reading newspaper.He was somewhat withdrawn into his own shell and seldom socialises with his own family.Rumor has it that Alhaji Abubakar was once a jovial man until he lost the love of his life,Aisha mother.The story was tragic but the details were hidden and Alhaji never talked about it.

Aisha had been reminiscing until she got to the well.She noticed the long line of buckets and gallons waiting to be filled,she was late.Aisha dropped her gallon and sat at a corner waiting for her turn.Many people were at the well,children,teens,adults name it.
She recognized their face,it was the same everyday.
A boy winked at her and smiled.
'He must be new' she thought.The boy was about her age,he looked robust and muscular.He was shirtless and his six packs ab stood out perfectly like concrete.He was handsome and he smiled most of the time,grinning from ear to ear.He kept on staring at Aisha,it was obvious he liked her.
When it was Aisha's turn to fetch water,she stood up and heaved a sigh of relief.She filled her gallon and attempted lifting it.It was really heavy.The new boy stood up and aproached her.
"hey,let me help you"
Aisha looked up and averted her gaze.
"I can carry it"she said. "No,let me help" the new boy insisted.
He lifted the gallon with ease and placed it carefully on his head.
"Dont worry,i'll carry it for you"
"okay"
Aisha shrugged her shoulders and led the way as the new boy followed her.He started talking to her.
"My name is Obinna,me and my family just moved into the neighbourhood yesterday.We live in small house a few blocks away from here.Me and my family are traders from the east"
Aisha simply nodded,she had heard about the Igbos of the east.Their love for money,spirit of industrialism and commerce.She had met some of them at the market.People say they are the most traveled tribe in Nigeria...they have numbers in many states of the federation.
Obinna kept rambling about how much he loved Kano and the people and his willingness to explore.
He dropped the gallon near Aisha's house and smiled.Aisha thanked him.
"hey i didn't catch your name"he said.
"My name is Aisha Raquayatu Abubabakar......call me Aisha"
They shook hands.