₦airaland Forum

FOUR

“ I developed love for knowledge at a very early stage.” He said. “ I used to be a dan gwangwan (scavenger). We go about, pick things from rubbish and sell. When I do this and get money to buy food, I would go and hide behind a school class and be watching them. I used to vault over the fence, like I was going to steal, which of course was stealing of knowledge.

I would be listening from outside. I was caught one day ad beaten to pulp. I was accused of coming to steal. So I stopped. I could read and write. I developed a habit of collection of books. I never cared about topics. I just read anything that came my way.
Then I left Abuja for Zaria. I started as an errand boy, carry loads when students resume and get paid. So I got customers. Girls were more compassionate. When I worked, I would demand to be taught something in return. The guys would teach me. The girls would teach me and give me something, feeling sorry for me.

I learnt the basic foundation in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology. I used to lack money for food because I was paid by teaching while the security men began to stop me from going to girls hostels because I was growing.
I became a science freak then crossed to computer. My love for computer knowledge led me to learn roadside computer engineering. I realized that my boss only knew much about hardware. I was very interested in software.
I learnt it and found a knowledge that would get me into trouble. Something very deep.”
“ What is that?’
“You better not know about it.” He said. “ I guess you can see lots of computers here. ICT is my life.”
“ Then why are you not practicing. You should have enough to take you off waylaying girls for food.”
“ Have you forgotten that we live in a country where they only consider paper qualification? I had to write common entrance to get a primary school certificate. Then I wrote GCE. I am a proud owner of secondary school certificate. But that is where it ends.
But my work as a PIDSA and my job at the bakery is enough to give me a decent meal but I do not collect salaries. I collect all these books on credit and my salary is used to pay for them. I am still paying for the new computers I bought. Those ones are old versioned. Their configurations cannot handle my projects now. But they were very useful for what I used to do back then before I quit.”
“ What was that?”
“ You better not know. Part of the trouble I got into.” He looked at the wall clock. “ Do you know what it feels like not knowing your parents? As in, not that they died but you don’t even know who there are?”

She said nothing.

“ That is my greatest pain in the world. Who am I? What happened to my parents?”

She did not want to suggest an unwanted pregnancy.

“ Who are the people that adopted you?"

He had not expected that question.

“ They are around. They are still in Abuja.”
“ You are still in contact with them?”
“ No. I haven’t met them for ten years. The kids are all grown.”
“ How sure are you?’
“I saw one a couple of days ago. He did not recognize me.”
“What do you need all these books for?”
“ I need the knowledge. I am onto something. Don’t ask me what.” He smiled. “ And don’t ask me about what got me into trouble. The world is not what you think it is. It is deeper. We see some things in movies and call it fiction…..they exist. They slam some facts onto our faces, we laugh, get entertained without knowing the quiddity.”
“ Now you are going deeper. I don’t know what you are talking about.”
“ Better. Now I have talked. You cajoled me…..”
“ I did not. You have never opened up and I am sure you feel better sharing.”
“ I hope I shared with the right person.”
“ Do you think I have a big mouth like you?”
“ And that reminds me, I told you my history and how I got respect for food. Tell me about yours, how did you get it?”
“ Me? Get what?”
“ Your rudeness. I want a history.”

She grimaced.

“ You just gave me a touching story about yourself. Can’t you spare me at least ten minutes to sympathise with you before you resume being a gut-wrenching bloke?”
“ Sympathise? Did you have the privilege of living my kind of life?”
“ Privilege?”
“ Just kidding. Thank you for planning to sympathise before I ruined it.”
“ Yes, you ruined it because I feel nothing for you.”
“ But I love you.”
“ What do you know about love?”
“Love means love and by saying love, I mean love like love.”
“ Adnan, you are crazy, do you know that?”
“ You just broke the good news.” He smiled. “ Talking about love, I know you are in love with me but I don’t like gold diggers. I hope you are not after my money ,right?”
“What? What money?” She said with a crinkled face.

He laughed.
Why did she always fell for his babbles. She had responded before she realised it was one of his blathers.

“ You will be the last person I will ever fall in love it.”
“ I know. Who would you tell them that I am? I don’t even have parents, no roots, don’t even know my state of origin ……”
“ I did not go there. It is not about that.”
“ Do not feel guilty. I have always thought about it. Who would give his daughter to me? If the family who had adopted me had been nice, I would have been better.”

She wondered how someone could give birth to a child and dump him.

“ I would do all I can to find them. Even if it their graves.”
“ How do you intend to do that? There is no record. You said you were found on a rubbish site.”



Adnan remembered what Bash had said a few days ago. A new discovery which he had never dreamt of finding.

“ You are acting all stubborn.” Bash had said. “ We know you. We will give you ten million naira.”
Adnan had smirked. “ Do not think such an amount can make me change my mind.” He had said. “ I have over one billion naira in my account, two houses in Victoria Garden City, two in Asokoro and a country house in Miami. So fuc* your ten mil.”
“ Where do you have all of these?” Bash had asked.
“ In my day dream.”

Bash had laughed.

“ They told me you were crazy, but you are crazier.”
“ I have to leave. I have got bread outside. Won’t you guys buy some? Our bread is delicious.”
“ We have another offer.” Bash had said. “ If you oblige, we would not reveal the micro-cheap era and you will have the chance of knowing who you are.”

Adnan had paused and turned.

“ What do you mean?”
“ You will have to tell us what we want, and do what we want and you will know what you need most in your life. We know all about you Adnan.”
“What do you know?”
“ You were not picked up from a dump site as claimed.”
“What are you talking about?”
“ You were brought there to be pictured.”
“Why would they do that? And who?”
“You can’t get that for free. There is a price for it. He said. “ Your life is more complicated that you can imagine. You were brought for a purpose and something happened. Let me tell you this, there is someone living your life out there. A life that was meant to be yours. There is another Adnan Abbas. I guess you don’t know why they gave you the surname, Abbas. We got your cradle. Recognise this?”

He showed him a white fluffy cradle. Adnan saw it to be similar to the one in the picture.

“We were expecting your reaction.” Bash had said “ And we were ready for you. You were not dumped. You were brought from somewhere. Now, I guess you would love to know where you came from, ICT Boy. And when you do, you will be shocked. The mistake they made was leaving a tag on your cradle with the name, Adnan Abbas”

“ This sounds ridiculous. Who are you? What are you? How do you know these? You are about my age mate.”
“ I am twenty three, Adnan. But you don’t know shit about me. We know things because we look for things. I give you three days to think about it. Have you heard that Nigerian prisons are so congested and yet they would still accommodate more inmates…..like the micro-chip guy? Then think about the freedom, money and a chance to know who you are.”


Adnan looked at Naairah.

“ I think I might have a clue. But it is very complicated. It is coming with a high price.”
“ Like money?”

He shook his head.

“Something very big. Something very dangerous but I really want to find out.”
“ You are never explicit. You are so cagey and obfuscating. What is it?”

He shook his head.

“ Please do not ask me. You better not know about it.” He said and looked at the wall clock. “ Time for breakfast.”

As he went to get the flask, he made a decision.








“ I saw a guy today.” He said. “And he looked like Adnan. ”The elderly man looked at the young man with a smile.
“ That is impossible.” The elderly man said. “ Besides, you cannot recognise him. You were both young then.”
“ I need an explanation.” Said the young man. “ You said he is your biological son and I am the adopted son. Why do you prefer me to him? I remember how he was treated as a child.”
“It is a long story, Adnan.” He said. “ With lots of complications.”

The young man sat down.

“ I think I have all the time to listen. I feel some things are so strange.”
“ You cannot get all of it today.” He replied. “ But I had to sacrifice my son for you. You may not understand this now. It is bigger than me. You are a world figure. You were born for this. You are the real Adnan Abbas. We named him Adnan Abbas as a charade. You were born just three days apart. He is older.”
“ Born for what? Who is my real father? What am I born to do? “
“Calm down. The elders will tell you when you are ready.”
“ I am ready. It's just too spooky.”
“ You are not ready. You are just in the second phase.”
“Of what? I have been undergoing strange training and learning, yet I don’t know what for.”
“ I said calm down. Your father died a long time ago. He was called Dr Abbas. You were the only survivor of a plane crash. So we took you in and promised to fulfill your father’s dream. I cannot reveal anything to you now. I have done enough. My real son ran away ten years ago and we are sure he is dead.”

It did not make sense to the young man. Too many mysteries. But he was going to tag along.

“ I advise you to keep enjoying your position. You are a billionaire, and have a power that is beyond your knowledge. Think about that and calm down.”

But something kept telling him that the young man he saw was Adnan.

“What if he is alive?”
“ He is not.” Said the man. “ But if at all he is, then that will be very bad…..for you and me.”


tbc

“ Wake up, Miss Sunshine.” His voice brought her out of a deep sleep. She was curled up under the fluffy thick blanket. He was right when he said it was severely cold there. And for seconds, she wondered where she was until the bitter truth dawned on her. Why did she allow herself sleep? What got into her? She was meant to be on guard, with a bottle of soft drink close to her. What time was it? She felt like yawning but pressed the urge.

“ Good dawn.” He said. “ Prayer time.”

He said and it seemed he had already performed ablution.

“I hope you have not forgotten where the restroom is.”

She said nothing. She uncovered herself, making sure her body was well covered, then walked towards the restroom.

“ I have a new toothbrush for you. I was wise enough to have three. I only used that one like twenty times, when I had a mouth disease.”
“What?” She paused, alarmed.

He giggled.

“ So she talks at dawn.” He said, spreading the praying mat on the floor. “ I was just kidding. I have two extra and you will be the one to tear off the pack. It is new.”

She sighed then went in. As she brushed her teeth, she heard him praying.
She performed ablution and came out. She waited for him to finish. He left the praying mat for her and set aside for azkar (meditation). She prayed silently while he supplicated. After the prayers, she sat on the mattress and covered her body with the blanket.

“ How was your night, Miss Sunshine?”
“ Alhamdulillah.” She replied curtly. “ Do you have an update on the curfew?”
“ It is just a few minutes after six o’clock. The minister has not called me yet.”
“ Can’t you be serious for once?”
“ I am serious. Who could be more serious than someone who is asking about the update of a curfew that was imposed yesterday, early in the morning?”
“ I am just so uncomfortable here.”
“ I know. I am too.” He said and looked at the empty park of rice. She quickly took off her eyes. She thought he was going to make fun of her.
“ So you pray, and must have Islamic knowledge, yet you do the things you do.”
“ Yes. I am not perfect so I am prone to goofs. I have my weaknesses though I try to avoid al-kaba’r (major sins). I am not justifying my actions but the essence of prayers is to take you away from them. Zikr ( remembrance of Allah) cleans the heart. I would not say because I have my faults. I would not pray. What would I have been doing if I didn’t pray?

Sometimes you are plunged into a sin, a route that will lead you to a major sin and your prayers will bring a way that will bring you to senses. What matters most is recognizing your goofs, accepting and never going back to it.
We all goof. I don’t know about you. But I do but I try never to go back. There was a time I never used to perform salat. A dark era of my life.”

“ I am not perfect too.”
“ I have bread and tea.’ He said. “ For breakfast.”
“ Talking about food so early.”
“ You don’t know the value of food because you have never been without it.” He said. “ It has always been just an inch from you. All you needed was to need it and it was there. And you always had options, choosing what you want to eat.”

Did he have a history?

“ Did you fall into a situation?”
“I am sorry, I don’t talk about myself.”
“ Yet you claim you love me. You have been saying that.”
“ I was just blabbering.”

Why did she feel bad when he said it? It was not like she liked him but telling her it was a joke hurt her.

“ Why such a joke?”
“I am sorry but I thought you knew because you always chased me away. Besides, I don’t know what love feels like.”
“What do you mean?”
“ I don’t know what love feels like. I have never been loved, and I don’t think I know love. How can I know love when I was forced onto the street since I was nine years old? No parental guidance of love. ”
“Oh my God! You must have had a hard time, What about your parents?”

The question seemed to have erupted a wave of pain in him. She saw an expression on his face, a type she had never seen on him. There was a glint of sparkle that flashed from his eyes, like he was accumulating tears which he quickly submerged.

“ I am sorry. I don’t want us to go into this.”
“ It seems you have never shared with any one. And that makes the pains more excruciating.”
“Share? I have been alone all my life and I don’t trust anyone. Nobody loves me and I don’t think I have love for anyone. I told you, I don’t know love. I know how my friends treated me because I wanted food from their houses. I was like their dog. They would send me on errands because I wanted food. I would be chased like a dog.
They would say they were not around when I visited because I was seen as a food monger. I had no home and no one took me in. Nothing was given to me pro bono. Who can I trust? Who can I love? What is love?”

She was silent. There was a lot going on in his mind. There was a lot encapsulated in his heart. How could ever guess this carefree, loud mouthed guy had a sad side?

“ Maybe the love has been on its way. Maybe it had always been there but you were too paranoid to give it a chance. You can’t be independent. You have to share. I am not saying with me. But with someone.”

He was sitting and resting his back on the wall. He had not revealed anything about himself to anyone before. She was making him talk too much.

“ Don’t talk about parents…….I never had parents.” He bowed his head.

She was now touched.

“ I saw your picture.” She said calmly, wondering when she learnt to sound so caring and calm.
“ What?”

She nodded.
It was the picture of a man carrying an infant in front of a wasteland.

“ I was found on a waste land.” He said with a heavy heart. “ And taken to the police station. I was later adopted by a family. And I was given to a maid for nursing. But immediately I was four, I realized there was no love for me. Can you believe I still have vague memories of those days? When the wife of the man who adopted me would not let me come close to them?
When the children were playing and I tried to join them, they would start shouting, like an alien just appeared and the mother would come out, spank me and chase me away.
I would watch them play with toys, go for family outings, eat snacks and I would go and pick the empty packs to get crumbs. I would lick the chocolate wraps. I did not understand it then. I just knew I lacked something. When I was five, I realized what I lacked was parents.
She told me I was picked from the bin. She called me Adnan Bin. The children called me Trash boy and made a cartoon of me, a super hero who carried trash and my super power was gotten from rotten bread.

The maid hated me so much. I was meant to be under her care and she saw me as a source of pain. She would beat me while bathing me. I dared not say I want to pooh. She would curse; beat me and complaining that I was stressing her. I was put in a cheap primary school unlike their children. I was never given money for break. And my journey to hunger land began. I was always hungry and would do anything to get food. I would wake up at night, just at the age of seven, sneak to kitchen, steal food and eat.

In school, I would go round during break begging for food. I would see you eating and then spread my palm. Some would give while some would chase me. I never knew this was gradually implanting a negative impact on me that begging and stealing were means of getting something.
One day, I was caught stealing food at home. The woman tied me up for two days without food or water. I fainted and was rushed to hospital. She said, I had a fever and had refused to eat. She threatened me that if I ever told anyone, she was going to kill me.

When I went back home, I took my picture which they gave to me to always remind myself that I was picked from the bin, my cradle, and then hid it in my sack. My school bag was made of sack. I made it.
The next day, I left and went on the street. I was nine. And I started living on my own. I used to sleep inside abandoned cars, door mouths, uncompleted buildings and I saw a lot in my life.

My worse periods were rainy and cold seasons. Sometimes I would be sleeping in the open and it would start raining. And I would wake up, having nowhere to hide. I would sit down and let the rain pour on me, feeling cold and having no clothes to change.
I used to go to the stream to wash my clothes every day. I hated dirty clothes. So when my clothes became three pairs, I was very happy.” He paused. “My only problem was food. I did not bother much about other things like food.”

She now understood why he had so much value for food.

“ And I have been like that ever since.” He said.
“ But you got a very sound education.”

He smiled. She could see pain in that smile.

“ Remember when I said I attended Miracle University?”
“ Yes.”
“ I meant the miracle aspect of it. I stopped attending school in primary three.”
“ What? Look at these books, the science you have been talking about. I can’t believe that!”
“ That is a miracle. I never attended a class after primary three.”

She looked at him, at his books, his speech, the enigmatic epistemology he displayed.

“ How did you do it?”

SIX


Assalamu alaikum,” a young good looking man greeted with a friendly smile, extending his hand for a handshake.
“ Ameen wa alaikum salam.” Ameer answered wondering if he had ever met him. He doubted if he had.
They were on the ambulatory side of the road that led into the school premises.

“ I guess we have never met,” Said the man, “ you must be Ameer Adamu.”
“ I am.”
“ My name is Ameer Ahmadu.”
“ A namesake. My pleasure.”
“ Yes, Fateemah’s cousin and fiancé”
“Oh, I just got it.” Ameer was now astonished. “ She told me a lot about you.”
“ Yeah. We have been part of each other since we were kids…before the days you used to bully her.” He faked a laughter.
“ Back then when we were kids.”
“ I came all the way from Abuja to talk to you.” Ameer Ahmadu said.
“I thought you were based in Jigawa.”
“ Yes, but I am in my FINAL year in University of Abuja.”

Ameer did not miss the emphasis on the word final.

“ Congratulations! We just got into our third year.”
“ I know.”
“ So you said you wanted to talk to me. I can spare some time before going to the library.”
“ I am aware that you sent your people to my father during the break.”
“ Yep.”
“ And you were told that she had been betrothed.”
“ Can you please go straight to the point? I was on my way to library.”
“ I hear you still see her even when you were told she has been betrothed. That is wrong and I guess you are a Muslim.”
“ Did you discuss this with her?”
“ Not yet.”
“ Why did you not make your intention known to her all these years but chose to hide under the umbrella of cousin stuff? She took you as a brother. I never forced myself on her. We fell in love and I proposed. I went to her parents because I wanted it done before we graduate.
Her parents were not aware of your intentions so they sent us to your father. I could have stopped seeing her if …..she was in love with you….”

“ How do you know she is not in love with me?
“ Because we are very close and you know that yourself. I mean, why can’t you read between the lines? The last thing I will do is force myself on a girl who clearly loves me not and does not hide it. I still see her because we are still in love and I am not given up on her.
If you want me to stop seeing her, then make her fall in love with. I only need to see the signs and I am off.”
“ Do you think your gadfly tactics will stand the test of time? I know what you are doing. you have been poisoning her mind….”
“ Then poison her mind against me then treat the poison I put in. Only love can do that. It is not poison, it is the power of love.”
“ A’a it is Luther Vandross, dan Shegiya (son of a bastard).” He was now angry. “ I came to talk sense into your head but you seem to be more foolish than I guessed.”
“ Has it come down to insults and childishness?”
“ Call it whatever you want. I am warning you, stay away from her. I swear I can go to any length to stop you. If you think you will have her, then be rest assured that it will only be over my dead body or ……. “he gave a dangerous smile, “ her’s”
“ What? What did you just say?”
“ We better lose her both. If you love her, then stay away from her.”
“ Hey, what do you plan to do? Kill her?”
“ I just told you.”

Ameer Ahmadu tried to move but Ameer blocked him.

“ Where do you think you are going? You just threatened her life…”
“This is your school compound and don’t make a scene. It is your word against mine. This is our little secret. The call is yours. Leave her for me or….we both lose her.”
“You are a coward! You are a swine! If anything happens to her…..”
“ She is my cousin so I care more. I can’t let someone else marry Teemah. I can’t leave to witness that. I got eyes here.”
Ameer watched him walk away as he found himself sweating.


tbc

Uthman Salis was a tall man with sturdy ,athletic body. He could be mistaken for a twenty five year old athlete but he was forty seven years old. A senior DSS Officer, he was known to be strict, tough and diligent.
He was sitting on a mat with his elder brother after lunch.

" I know you are going back today so I better not waste your time." Said Alhaji Ahmadu. " I told you what transpired between me and the visitors the other day."

Uthman nodded.

" I told them the truth. I never told you but I noticed the relationship between Ameer and Nana since they were kids. And Ameer would never stop talking about her. So, I started thinking about their relationship so I decided to get them married after Ameer graduates.
I told him not to bother about getting a job first. I will fix him up with two stalls before he gets a job.
What matters most is been able to fend for your family. I doubt if he would get a job that will fetch him more money than the business. I am getting older and travelling to China frequently is becoming worrisome for me. You know his elder brothers are not as responsible as him.
The first time I sent Ashiru, he used my money to import a car. So, I want to tell you that they would be getting married next year insha Allah, before he goes for worship."

" Worship?"
"Bautan kasa mana (NYSC)."
" Oh." Uthman said. Alhaji Ahmadu was not very educated, having been engaged in business all his life but he was relatively wealthy.
" What is it called?"
" Service."
" Yes. Thank you. So, that is what I want to tell you. You don't have to bother about her kayan daki ( furniture, utensils and gadgets) both of them are mine so I would handle it."

Kayan daki! Uthman had always wondered why they made it a tradition to buy furniture, electronics, utensils and almost everything needed in a home for a girl. That tradition made no sense to him. It was the man's responsibility to provide for the woman.
A man pays fifty thousand Naira for dowry and the girl's family is left to furnish the house. This has led to many parents getting indebted, or unnecessarily postponing the wedding date, or forcing some girls to go out of their way, swindle other men to acquire these things.
In a more local setting, the men find marriage so cheap they change wives like they change clothes. All he needed was to pay dowry and rent a fifty-thousand-Naira-room-and-parlour and he folds his hands.

She comes to the house with everything; bed, sofa, kitchen utensils, electronics, and even food. Why? And sometimes they came home to find the sofa missing, and when he asks where they were, she pouts and says she felt like changing them so she sold it, and gives him that look of it-belongs-to-me-after-all.
Unfortunately, the tradition had become like an obligation. When a girl was married off without such things, it caused gossips and condescending remarks.

" I appreciate all you have said Yaya (elder bro) and like you rightly said, they are both yours and both mine. I would be happy if they fall in love with each other and get married."

" Allah Ya ma albarka. (God bless you)"
" Ameen."
" I think she must be told so she won't make the mistake of sending someone else again. You know she is just a little girl and men would be making lots of advances now."
" Yes, sir but if you don't mind, I want to ask a question."
" I don't mind .Go on."
" Was her consent sought for?"

The question seemed to shock Alhaji Ahmadu.

" Why? This western education has eating your sense of judgement. Do we need to sought for her consent? Oh Ya Allah. Wannan wani irin zamani ne (what kind of generation is this)? Did Baba not tell you how he married Umma? His father just called him and told him he would be getting married the next Friday. And he said toh. When he asked who the girl was, he received a slap. Good upbringing is a thing of the past) . And Umma said she never met Baba until after the wedding.
Do you expect me to call Nana and start asking her if she agrees or not? Usumanu, I am old and may soon go. With this western education mentality of yours, how would you handle the family? Between you and I are six women but they are all women and only two are alive. Adhere to our tradition. They are getting married, shikenan (that's all)".

Uthman was silent.

" But you know they love each other. They are close."
" Yes, but closeness does not mean love. Not the brotherly love but the love of marriage. If she was in love with him, she could not have sent that boy. I sought her consent and she told me she was in love with the boy. She said she had never had any one before him. That means she has always looked upon Ameer as a brother not fiancé."
" She will learn later."
" She has been in a serious state of melancholy since that decision was taken. I am not questioning your judgement or saying this because it concerns Nana. It is a misconception to think this is because of western education. There is an hadith where a lady was married off without her consent and the Holy Prophet SAW pronounced the marriage invalid. Even though she later remained in the marriage, she wanted to prove a point.
If Nana or any girl is married off against her wish, it is tantamount to forceful marriage and it is Islamically unlawful. Religion supersedes tradition. Religion is used to check tradition. When a tradition does not conflict with religion, then it's okay but if it does, then the tradition should be kept aside."

Alhaji Ahadu could not believe his ears. Did Usumanu just say all these? He thought the western education was the only thing affecting him, but it seemed the Islamiya system was worse. How could one understand religion when he sat on a desk with table and learnt? They never used slate and have the chance of washing and drinking verses written with ink.
Why would they not gabble, when they don't go to farms to work for the mallams, not even the blessing of begging for food, to know the value of education? He was always against this Islamiya system and advocated for al-majiri system.

Not even his children would opt for it. They want to be reciting the Qur'an with their throats and tongues, twisting and rolling , calling it tajweed. He could recite the whole of Qur'an in a single day, with speed and fluency but they, they will say not less than three days.
This was the effect now. Usumanu has gone insane and decided to ridicule him.

"Usumanu, thank you for showing me that I have no authority over your children. You should not have sent them to me in the first place since my opinion is valueless. You have shown me that I am nothing before you. You can go with your daughter and I think everybody should keep to his lane. Hold on to your children and I will hold on to mine.
You have five children and I have thirty-six having lost six.....'

"Yaya...."

" Shut up and let me speak. Who is your Yaya? If you like come and arrest me, I won't be deterred. I will tell Ameeru to back-out and forget about your daughter. And please, when you want to give her out, never cometo my house, or ask me to her waliy. You can leave my house."

Ameer Ahmadu who was eavesdropping clenched bit his lips. No! He was not giving up on her. He was so much in love with her. Something had to be done. Who was this Ameer? What was he? His eyes turned red, and watery as he glared at the wall opposite him. The fight has just begun.

Chumzypinky:
Good story

Thank you

izaray:
Tanks op

Thank you

rayvelez:
Totally on point the story is just too aww.

Don't even know what to write.

Thank you

tijehi:
I totally agree.

Still awed by the plot.

Well done sokodobo.

Thank you

bigbauer:
SkodoDobo This story is in a class of its own. Not just any class, but on the upper echelon. Your plot is on point, your diction is intact, the story line is unique. In a nutshell, you are doing a great job. I've been following for a while now, and at this point i can't help but say "This is an AMAZING story"

Thank you

MrsEvakinqz:
This is beautiful, I don sign in oo...

More data to your fone

Thank you

.

.

Fateemah sat in her mother's living-room, her face resting on her palms ,her legs folded on the sofa while she just stared vacuously at the rug.

" Why did you do that to me?" Ameer asked, sitting on the sofa next to her. " I thought you loved me, we were good, why did you decide to give another person your heart, why darling?"

Fateemah did not look at him, or seem to hear him.

" Where did I go wrong?"" You did not go wrong." She said at last. " But now you have all gone wrong. Did I ever tell you that your name reminds me of someone?" She went on.
"Yes. The boy you said used to bully you and I asked why you did not tell me back then."
" Yes. We met and fell in love. He is the one.”
"What!"
" I was never in love with you. You are my cousin, and I love you as a brother. I never liked this abokanan wasa of a thing. I had never fallen in love before now. I love Ameer, my Ameer. How could Baba chose a husband for me without my consent or that of my parents."

"He is also your father and he feels he has the right to do so."
" Nobody has the right to choose a husband for me and this is not the old days, knowledge is prevalent and the earlier you know that forced marriage is prohibited in Islam,the better ."
"Nobody is going to force you. You are only been naive."
"Naive at eighteen? Just finished my first year."

" I just finished three hundred level remember? And I would graduate this year. Don't talk like I know nothing about school."
" Do you think I care if you just got a PhD?"
" Fateema! You have never talked to me this way."
" I wish you know what I intend to say to you, what I feel for you at this very moment. I used to like you, one of my favourite cousins, and had a lot of respect for you. I never knew you were serious when you kept talking about marrying me. I never knew you and your father were in cahoots about forcing me on you.
You shattered my dreams, broke my heart, and embarrassed me. How else do you think I will talk to you? I see you as a barrier between me and my happiness. You are a cause to my greatest travail in my life. I was crying before you came, when I was told you are around, the tears vanished because crying could be a relief but your appearance is a curse, something beyond tears.
You are still my cousin and as a cousin, I am okay with you but you are not here as a cousin, but as a...." She paused, " please ,Ya Ameer. Let me go. I love Ameer with all my heart. Help me, tell your father you don't want me. Tell him you will get married to another girl...."

" You know I can't lie to him. I love you and I know you will love me too. It is first year adventure disturbing you. I know that feeling. In my first year....."
Her phone rang. She picked it.
"Teetee."
" My noor (light)."
"I hope you are not crying."
"No. What I feel now is worse than crying."
" I told you not to worry. Let Allah be in control. Let us commit it to prayers."
"I have been doing that. I just find it hard My-noor."
" What matters most is what we feel for each other. No one can stop our love for each other."
"Definitely."
" How is mom?"
"She is fine. I really miss you."
" I miss you more, Teetee."
" Where are you?"
" KD.'
" Where exactly?"
" Home. Just lying and thinking about you."
" I was doing the same before I got interrupted but you know no matter what I do, your thought is always by me, in me, on me, with me. As constant as K"

Ameer laughed.

" So, how is my rival and namesake?"
" He is here. Do you want to say hello to him?'
" What? What do you mean by here?"
" He is sitting right here."
" Damn! Do you mean you have been saying all these in his presence?"
" Why should I hide my feelings? Ba munafirci, ba cuta, ba cutarwa(no hypocrisy, no cheating, no getting cheated) . "
" Goodnight, Fateemah....'
"It is Teetee My noor and if you don't say the things I want, I will choose fight today."
Ameer chuckled.
" No, you are a Muslim and ........."
"Islam means peace." They said in unison then laughed.
" I love you Teetee."
" I love you My-noor."
" Goodnight."

She sighed.

" I hate to say this but...."she made a voice and face like one about to cry, "goodnight, My-noor."

Ameer Ahmadu clenched his hands, his heart thumbing harder while his legs shook in anger. He heard what Ameer said. He had always thought she was in love with him. All those times she would call him, saying she missed him, asking when he was coming, staying together for long, so it was not love. It was just a favourite-cousin-thing.

But talking to him in his presence was tormenting. She had openly brought him to his place, a direct message that he meant nothing to her. Jeez! This was an insult to his personality. But Baba Uthman had his share in this set-up. Was he too blind to see that he was in love with his daughter? How could he permit Ameer's people to go seek for permission?
Definitely Aunty Sa'a was behind it. She had never been too kin on their relationship but hid it. Maybe this Ameer was rich, a business mogul with millions of naira.

" I am feeling sleepy." Fateemah said. This was one way of brush-off men hated. When a girl started telling you she was feeling sleepy immediately after Isha, then know that you are unwelcome.

" But I just came."
" The time you come does not affect my sleep."
"But we used to stay up late before, remember?"
" Really? I can't remember."

God!
He sat quiet for some minutes then she got up.

" Thank you Ya Ameer. I will be resuming school next week and want to start reading hard so I will appreciate it If you give me some space to read. You always told me to face my studies."
" Reading hard for a new session? Where are the materials?"
" Pro activity. Goodnight."

And she left him in the living-room. Immediately she left, he got up and walked out of the house without a word to anyone.
Her mother followed her into her room.

" What did you just do? How could you treat a man like that?"
"Wallahi mom, I did not intend to be rude. I just could not help it. Seeing him alone triggered repulsiveness and impatience."
"You are a small girl but you must learn how to control your feelings. That is a very bad way of brush-off. Namiji abin tsorone(men could be scary). Some men could be vindictive. You do it with caution. You were talking to another man in his presence!"
" I am sorry."
"It's not about me, Zinariya. It is about caution. The world is not as rosy as it looks. I just need you to be more careful and such a bloop must not repeat itself. Just find a way to play it cool with him, be more diplomatic and pray about it. He left without a word to anyone. He looked like an explosive about to burst."

Fateemah nodded.

" Lesson learnt."
" That is my girl. Has Abba said anything to you?"

She shook her head.

"No."
" Did he ask you to stop seeing Ameer Adam?"

"He never mentioned anything. He acts like he knows nothing about the whole thing. You know how it is with SS."
" Your mouth." Hajiya Sa'a giggled. " Have you eaten?'
" No."
" Let us go and eat, kawata."
"I am not famished."
" Haba ta Ameer (Ameer's girl) ..."
Fateemah wrinkled her face .
" Ameer Adam."
Fateemah blushed, smiled then covered her face with her hands.
" Now , I am hungry."

After the examinations, they all went home. Fateemah went to Abuja while Ameer returned to Kaduna. They communicated through phone everyday and the rate at which they missed each other was alarming.
When it became unbearable, Ameer went to Abuja. He stayed at his uncle’s house at Zone 4 while he traced Fateemah’s house which was at Area 6.

It was the first time her mother saw him after they left Kaduna. She saw that he had grown, with beards and very handsome. She liked him at once. When she saw the intensity of their love for each other, and the fact that they were both in the same school, it was not difficult to convince her to allow them get married ASAP.

But it was very difficult to convince her husband. He wanted her to graduate, and feared that the boy was a student himself. But she made him understood that he had a source of income which was most important.

And marriage would not stop her from completing her education. Besides, they were both students. He obliged after weeks of pleading, sermons, and explanations but he insisted on sponsoring her even when she got married.

He said they should meet Alhaji Ahmadu, his elder brother who was the eldest in the family. The decision lay with him.
When Ameer told Hajiya about his decision, she had been skeptical. She also wanted Ameer and Amaar to get married on the same day. Amaar reminded her that they were twins but everyone has his destiny. He was not ready to get married then and his decision should not affect his brother’s. They convinced her.

Arrangements were made to meet Alhaji Ahmadu, who was residing in Dutse. Alhaji Magaji, Ameer’s late father’s close friend and two of his uncles went for the formal seeking for permission and introduction.
Alhaji Ahmadu gave them a grand reception and they were overwhelmed and anticipated a rosy relationship ahead. Fattemah was so happy that day, finding it had that the process had begun. A process to make her Ameer’s.

After the formalities , Alhaji Ahmadu said, “on behalf of the family, I must say we appreciate your coming all the way from Kaduna. And anyone one sees good in your daughter, the family, and wishes to get married to her has honoured you. May Allah reward you bountifully.
I am aware that you are here to seek for formal permission, to allow your son, or our son, to seek the hands of our daughter in marriage. We are very happy about this and this step is very important.I know you are from a very far place and you plan to go back today, Insha Allah, so I would go straight to the point.

I never told Uthman this but I have chosen a husband for Nana. I don’t call her by her name because she was named after our mother. We all know that two people cannot seek for the same girl's hand in marriage. But only Allah knows what lies ahead. I am very sorry to say this but telling the truth is the best for us all.”

This was the beginning of the saga …………

tijehi:
Over dope is worrying this story.

Well done Solo, you are one fantastic writer.

Thank you

excelmerry:
This story is dope!!

Thank you

rayvelez:
I really enjoy reading this story, Thump up.

Thank you

nastynic:
Dope Bruh...



All Your Stories are Classics
But please do me A Favor,
*
*
*
Don't abandon any of Em Else I'll Commit Suicide

Haaa!!! Suicide!!! Abeg ooo. No go dia.

Thanks for the complement.

.

.

.

THREE

She stood still, her heart beating rapidly, her teeth chattering with fear and regret. What on earth got into her head? What kind of curiosity prompted her to this dastardly move? And it was obvious she was in a mess.
It was on that day she came of the bank, about to get into her car when she saw Adnan standing outside. She had been so pissed off. She was tired of bumping into him and his rudeness. He had given her that smile of his while she had frowned.

“ I don’t like the idea of you following about. You are becoming a security threat. I would have to report you to the police.”
He smirked.
“ So I do not have the constitutional and civil prerogative to be here?” He said. “ I am not stalking you, Miss Sunshine. Our hearts are merged right from above so we keep crossing parts. I am doing my job diligently.”
“ Your job is in the bakery.”
“ Did you not read it on the daily’s? Did you not hear Cyril Stober announce it ?”
“Announce what?”
“ I have been promoted.” He said proudly. “ Look at this.” He pointed at his T-shirt and face cap. They had the bakery logo. “ I have been promoted from Production Technical officer to a Marketing Strategist and Distribution Officer. I am in charge of Zone A. And from a daily single bread allowance, I am now elevated to double bread allowance. That means if you agree to get married to me, you will eat bread daily and have one extra.”
“What are you distributing?”
He pointed at a bike that was parked with a box fixed behind with loafs of bread in it.
“ That is the distribution mobile motor.”
“ You have a sophisticated name for everything.” She said. “ But you sound educated. I have heard you mention some things to do with advanced science. What is your discipline?”
“ I attend a private university like you.”
“ Which university?”
“ Miracle learning University.”
She crinkled her face.
“ What? Where?”
“ Sambisa Forest.”
“What?”
“Just kidding.” He chuckled. “ Forget the things I mention. They just come and go. I will submit my CV to you. I guess your family members will demand for it.”
“What for?”
“ New marital requisite factors. Submit marriage proposal along with CVs.”
“ You are crazy. And what is this marriage stuff you keep talking about? Would you believe me if I said I would go out with you?”
“ It does not matter. I love forced marriages. They help shatter the couple’s lives. It makes the home more adventurous . Nothing is boring.”
“ And who is forcing who?”
“ I am going to talk to your father if you don’t agree to marry me. I have a job. You can testify that yourself. I just got promoted.”
“ You got a job but you go to parties with polythene bags for extra food and go after girls for food and money.”
“I was doing it all for you. I am saving for our wedding.”
“Now I know you are sick. You started doing this long ago, after you graduated from going to your friends’ houses for food.”
“ So you know the school I graduated from and you were asking me.” He bowed slightly . “ I have to go. I am on duty.”
Without waiting for another word from her, he left. Was that not rude of him? He took a loaf of bread, came back and put it on her dashboard.
“ What ?’
“ A gift from me.”
“Who said I wanted your bread?”
“ Nobody. That is just a tip of the iceberg. Next time, I will add kosai and zobo drink.”
“ Who said I eat such things?”
“ What is the difference with the burgers you eat? Put kosai in between the bread, you have burgers. See you Miss Sunshine.”
He climbed the bike, winked at her, smiled and then rode away, posing proudly on the bike. It was after he had gone she made a phone call. She had been planning this.
“ He just left. Wait for him at the bakery. He has gone to hawk. He would definitely go back to the bakery. Then follow him. Do whatever it takes to know where he lives. I will reward you handsomely.”

And it was done. It took two weeks to discover where he lived.
Now she was standing in his room. She was told he had gone to distribute bread. She had been too curious.
He lived in an uncompleted estate. She guessed this was what he meant when he said he lived in an estate. He occupied one of the duplexes where some building materials where hidden. She had pulled up her a car in a public parking space and boarded a bike to bring her here.
She had gone round the building before she found his room. The walls were not plastered so he used white used flex advert material to cover the walls. He turned the printed parts inside and showed the white plane part, giving the room a white wall.
There was a small mattress by the wall, neatly dressed with white immaculate bed sheet. The floor was covered with rubber carpet which looked like tiles from afar. His few clothes were neatly hung on a simple homemade hanger which he made by simply nailing a thin wood at a corner of two walls then used clothe hangers to hold his clothes.

On a small stool were his body jell, toothpaste, toothbrush, nail clipper, hair cream, shoe polish and unused soap.
On a building block which he covered with a sheet of paper were two loafs of bread, can sardine, a bottle of coke and a small flask. A small container of sugar, a tin containing garri, three sachets of milk. There were two varieties of kuli-kuli( peanut-cake) there: the Nupe-kuli which was flat and sugary and the conventional one which looked like bullets.

This guy had a proactive potential for his stomach. Did he have chronic ulcer? Was he a gourmand and so voracious ?
Then the part that got her astonished: his library. She was shocked to see the piles of books he had and the titles got her head ringing. Advanced Further Mathematics, Advanced Dynamics, Principles of Complex Calculus, Algorithm, Software Engineering, Engineering Mathematics, Fluid Mechnanics, etc.
He also had religious books, sociology, novels, inspirational books. What was this guy? Who was he? Why was he so puzzling and befuddling?
Then she saw piles of computer laptops. They numbered over ten. There were two laptops by his bed which looked like the ones he was using currently.

This was sticky, bogey and mind boggling.
She had gone into the room and searched. She knew what she was doing was wrong, but she was too curious and the fact that he was always showing up and talking to her got her more nervous. She found nothing substantial except some pictures she saw.
She had not gotten the chance to go through all of them when she heard the sound of a bike downstairs.
She had been so shocked and scared she just returned the pack of pictures and tried to run but it was too late.
She saw him standing before the door and his expression scared her. This was one of the stupidest things she had ever done. She had come alone, not telling anyone, left her car somewhere far and snuck here, a lonely uncompleted estate and alone with a criminal.
The worst part was she had brought herself to him. Oh no!

Adnan stood in his uniform, holding a polythene bag. The room was now getting dark as she had put off her flashlight. All she could see was his silhouette.

“ What are you doing here?”

She was now shivering. She wanted to appologise, beg him to let her go but she did not want to let him see her fears.

“ Trying to know who has been stalking me.”
“How did you find this place?”
“ My secret. Now you know you are not as cagey as you think. You can’t just keep hiding in a hole, come out and fuc* with the world and go back. You keep appearing from nowhere, but knowing about people, and think nobody will try to find you.
You came to me and not the vice versa. And you kept appearing even when you know I don’t like you. So I got skeptical and suspicious. How come you don’t want anybody to know anything about you? What are you? Who are you? Where did you drop from? Who are your family members? And look at where you live. Is this not creepy? Look at the piles of computer laptops you have, is this normal? Look at the piles of books you have. How can someone who cannot feed afford these?
And if you have the knowledge to assimilate all these brain scattering scary books, what the hell are you doing as a labourer who just got promoted to a bread distributor?
You can’t have these books if you are not well learned. What do you want with me? They said you don’t get attached to ladies, your mummies, then why are you sticking by me? You had what you wanted and if there is anyone of your victims you should run away from, it is me because I caught you but no, you chose to keep coming. What an effrontery!”

She could not see his eyes but she was sure he was staring at her.

“ Now you are in trouble.” He said in a low tone. “You are now going to know the real me!”

Damn!

Her heart dropped." Don't even try to hurt me!" She said in a voice which she felt was threatening but the quivering gave her away.

" You will regret it!"
" Regret comes after," he said, "after I have done what I want to do. Hope you know that you are not leaving here today?"
" You can't stop me! I am leaving here now!"
" I am not stopping you. There is a curfew in town."
"That is a lie!"
"Okay. Why do I have to lie? If I wanted to harm you, what would stop me? You can use a loud speaker to shout, no one would hear you. I have locked the exit. There is no way of escape for you. So better stay or get shot by the military men."

She studied him. He moved in, pressed a switch and there was light. There was no visible power supply. Where did the power come from?
He dropped his polythene bag, removed the contents and placed them. He had three loafs of bread as usual, fried fish, a pack of rice and four bottles of soft drinks.

" Don't stare at me like that. I was in in the city when the curfew was announced. Don't know when it would be lifted. I would not want to starve to death here."
" Are you serious about the curfew?"
" Do you want me to open the door for you? There is a twenty four hour curfew. The governor just made a speech."
Her phone began to ring.
She picked it.
" Hello?"
" Where are you?" Hajiya Fatima said worriedly. " Did you not hear what is happening?"
She could not tell them where she was. How could she say she was with a stranger, a man, in an uncompleted estate?
" I was in Nadia's house when I heard." She lied.
" Good. Just stay there. It is very serious."
" Toh (Okay)."
" And behave yourself. Don't go about bossing their workers."
Naairah grimaced. Only if she knew where she was.
" Toh (okay)."
" May Allah protect us."
" Ameen."

The call was ended. She called Nadia.

" I just told mum that I am in your house."
"What? Where are you? The town is red!"
"I know. I went to ...."she looked at Adnan, " I found Adnan's house and he caught me there. Now I am stuck there."
" What? You mean you are in his house right now?"
" Yes."
" What did his parents say?"
" No one else."
" What do you mean? Just the two of you? Like alone in a house, trapped in a curfew?"
" I'm in a katzenjammer!"
" Keep me updated, dear. I will pray for you."
" Toh (okay)."

Adnan looked at her.

" I heard that. You are in trouble, huh?"

Naairah said nothing. She hesitated then asked," What happened? Why was the curfew imposed?"

" Political brouhaha turned into a violent protest and a serious destruction of lives and properties started. The government was proactive. But we will settle it."
" What do you mean by 'we'?"
" Big political figures."
" Are you part of them?"
" I am too big to be there myself. I sent some people?"
"Liar."
"What do you mean liar? Who is Senator Garba Dabo representing? Who is Jalo Gambo of the House of Representatives representing? They are there for me. My constituency."
She pouted." You have ways of expressing your idiosyncratic ideas." She said. " You made it sound like you sent them personally."
"Idiosyncratic? I want you to remember that I am your host now and you are under my care."
" May Allah forbid it."
" What did you say?"
" I said God forbid it."
" I think God just answered your prayer." He said and got up. " Okay."
"Okay? What is okay?"
" I am seeing you off. Anyone or anything in this estate is under my care. Maybe you don't know, I am a Private Intelligence, Defensive and Security Agent: PIDSA. You can see some building materials here. I am in charge of making sure they are well secured..."
" I get it. You are a maigadi ( security man)."
" I am a PIDSA, point of correction."
" So you work in a bakery during the day, then as a maigadi at night and a scoundrel within the interval. What a guy!"
" No prevarication. You said God forbid you from being under my care and I said your prayer has been answered. Come on. You are leaving my estate. I will see you off."
" Wait! Are you asking me to leave?"
" No. It is an answered prayer."
" I can't believe you are chasing me out of this hole. I, Naairah Mukhtar, being chased out of an uncompleted building."
" You will know the value of an uncompleted building today. Come on, let's go, pronto."
"Alright then. Walk me out!" She said angrily.

She carried her bag angrily and followed him. They went down the stairs, passed through the big living room with building materials before he opened the door. She realised that she met the door opened. Why didn't he lock it when all these materials were there?
They got outside the building. It was now a few minutes after 7:00pm. The place was as quiet as a grave yard. The stillness was spooky and she felt a skittish sensation crawling up her spine.

" Okay, Miss sunshine. I will walk you to the gate and you leave. I guess you know your way out because you found your way in. Now you will not be under my care."

She said nothing. The anger on her face was gradually transforming into fear.

" You are a heartless man." She said. " You want to send me out this night!"
" Oh my God! You prayed for it. If you leave, it means God has forbade it."
"But you know what I meant."
" That is what I did."
"No."
"Yes."
"I said no!"
" Then what?" He said. " I said in retrospect that anyone or anything in this estate is under my care. I am the PIDSA and that includes you."

She looked towards the gate which was now a bugaboo. She did not know what lay out there. Times like this was when hoodlums stuck at lonely places or get shot by a trigger happy soldier.

" Yes, you said so."
" If you are going to stay.....no, let me rephrase it, if I , Adnan Abbas , the PIDSA is going to allow you stay in this uncompleted building which will keep you safe, then it means you are under my care, yes or no?"

She felt as if her mouth was zipped or padlocked.

" Yes."
" I want your answer in a sentence."
" I hate you."
"Is that the answer?"

She paused.

" Yes. I am under your care."

He smiled.

" And I will take good care of you." He said sarcastically. " Come on, let's go back."

She followed him back. He locked the front door then went upstairs. She followed him. She still wondered how he got electric power.
He pulled off his shoes, and carefully paced them near his other shoes. She noticed that he was careful of the position he placed them. He meticulously arranged them, making sure they were not out of place. Then she realised that the whole room was like that.
He was very organised and neat. He made sure everything was placed at the right place, taking note of every detail.

" I think it's dinner time." He said as he plugged his phone to a charger. He brought out the pack of rice. " You can take half and leave half for me."
" No thank you."
" Baby this is curfew time. We don't know what lies ahead."
"I said thank you."

He shrugged.
He carried the pack, sat down and munched. He left half, eating neatly from one side. He covered it and then placed it on a stool. He drank a bottle of soft drink then performed ablution to pray.

" So You pray?" She observed. " I thought rogues don't. I would like to pray too."
"They do. I also thought uncultured people don't pray." He said before he started.

After the prayers, he said, " There is a toilet there. There is water. They can't build a house like this without a borehole. You can go there when you want to pee, or fart...."

"Must you go into details?"
" I have to, cos I hate munafikin tusa ( hypocritical farting)"
" What is hypocritical farting?"
" The silent ones. The type that happens in class and everyone is grimacing, grumbling, squeezing nose and you begin to wonder who did it. When you see a student raising up his head like he can't see the board well, he is actually raising a part of his butt, to give some gap between it and the chair, to avoid a sound, and he releases the virulent gas, and would be among the first to squeeze nose, hmmmmmm, who farted? Who messed up the air? Who polluted the air and my brothers in the down part of the city would be like. Yeahhhh, na who mess (Who farted)? E no go better for him mama and papa ( It will not be well for his parents)."

She shook her head. She was going to share a night with a whimsical bloke. She said nothing, got up and went into the restroom. The neatness marvelled her. She performed ablution then prayed.

He threw a thick blanket to her.

" It gets very cold here. We will need this."

Her eyes enlarged in fear.

"We?"

He laughed.

"Just kidding." He said. " You can use the bed. Something for a change, huh? Not your usual royal king-sized bed in a fully air-conditioned room. One day, we are all going to be in a tight hole, no tiles, roof, furniture....just firewood, leaves and mud. Pride is a bastard."

She said nothing. She wondered if she could sleep with him in the same room. Ya Allah! She had never been with a man like this. What if this crazy guy decided to....no, no,no.....

She watched him spread some clothes on the floor, he muttered some prayers and closed his eyes without talking to her. She was shocked to realise that he fell asleep at once. Did this guy ever have any worries? Did he ever get angry?

He was difficult to understand. He seemed very bad, and sometimes harmless. She did not know what to think of him. But as she watched him sleeping now, she knew she had a lot of questions she had for him.
She was now feeling very hungry. She had been feeling it for a while but let her ego took control. There was an Hausa aphorism which said 'yunwa bata da hankali (hunger is senseless)' which she learnt from the almajiris .
She silently drew the food closer and ate silently. She gulped a bottle of soft drink and felt okay. She saw Nadia's call. Her phone was in silent mode. She hesitated. She did not want to wake him up. The devil could creep into his mind.
She ignored the call. She sent her a text: He is sleeping. We would talk tomorrow. Our guy is a mystery. But he did not try to rape me. I need your prayers. May the devil not come into his crazy mind.

She felt so sleepy. She tried to fight it, stay awake till morning but she capitulated and lay on the bed. The last thought on her mind before she fell asleep was the picture she saw.


Who was this guy?

FIVE

The love affair between Ameer and Fateemah became profoundly sizzling, genuine and esoteric. They were best of friends, and never missed the opportunity of been together. The only reason they were not campus husband and wife (live-in lovers) was religion.
They went to library together, or found a quiet class as they tried to avoid Ameers room as much as possible after the incidence. Incidence? It happened when they would close from school, go to his room and read, or watch movies, eat or just hang out.
They had been in the room watching movies, and Amaar was away with his friends. When Ameer decided to make noodles and omelette, she offered to help. While she was doing that, and they were alone in the room, Shaytan (satan) began to whisper, making him imagine her as his wife, and his eyes traveled round her feminine features.

After the meal, it began to rain, and electric power was seized. So, they put on the rechargeable lantern-cum-radio. The sound of the rain, the quiet and her beauty got him ideas and he touched her hand.
She had reclined but he held it and drew his mouth close to her ears.
I love you, Teetee. You are irresistible and I am helplessly mesmerized and prone to bloop.

His deep voice had sent a sensational wave through her body, and his breath did something to her nervous system. She had never been this close to him or any man. When she felt his hand on hers again, with light movement that sent fire into her, her eyes closed and she melted.
By the time they came to their senses, breathing hard while he kept muttering the dua (prayer) of refuge from the devil, he thanked God he did not go far. It stopped at dalliance but the event scared them. It was extremely dangerous for a man and woman to be in seclusion, no matter how pious they were, because Shaytan (satan) will always be with them.
That incidence made them stop going to his room except when Amaar was around or her friends. It was their second semester and she was almost done with one hundred level.

As they sat on a pew in the coldness of Jos, he felt the need to draw her close and give her warmth. She also needed it but that line was just there. They both resorted to the comfort of their sweaters.

Teetee. He called her softly.

Naam.

Will you marry me?

That was totally unexpected and straight. The question had sent her into an instant reverie, fantasy and dreamland. She covered her face with her palms and felt so ashamed of him. Why? They had been talking love and so used to each other for almost a year.

Yes, my noor, I will marry you.

....A few seconds of silence.

I dont mean after we graduate.

What? You are just at the end of your second year.

I know but I am crazily in love. Got like three more years if ASUU permits, and if strikes come in, maybe five or four, God forbid. I want to break the barrier between us, and make it halal (lawful). I want to wake up in the morning with you by my side, your head on my chest, and we pray, have bath and go to school together.
You are my greatest exigency, the one thing I need to make me complete. I want to have you in my life for ever. You will only go home for visit and when you go, they will be like, when did you come? and not when did you come back.

That is my home, dude.

That is your temporary home. Your real home lies with me, insha Allah. Graduation is a life-time from now. I want it as soon as possible.

I dont now if Abba (dad) will agree to that. She said thoughtfully, but you dont have a job. Dont you think they will use that against us?

“I know. When we lost our dad, our inheritance was shared. We are five, I, Amaar, and three girls. I inherited three houses and rented them out. That is part of what I use to fund my education. Same with Amaar and my siblings. The amount can take care of our primary needs and that includes your education.

My dad takes care of my education.

Have you ever witnessed the solemnisation of a marriage?

She shook her head.

Yeah, most women have not especially in our tradition. Its either in the mosque or in front of the house and women are usually not there. What I am trying to say is most responsibilities are transferred from your dad to me. Feeding, shelter, health, education, clothing, morality, all rest on my big head. If your dad decides to do that, he is doing it for me but I think I can handle that except if he insists.

I pray he agrees. That is most important.

Agree in what terms? Agree to let me get married to you or do it before graduation?

Before graduation.

Do you like the idea?

She turned her face from him, looking away.

That question is an insult to our love.

I am sorry then.

I will talk to mom first. She said, aware of a new sensation building up inside her. Marriage! She prayed Abba will agree. Ya Allah! Getting married to Ameer would be the best thing to happen to her. She loved him and wanted to spend her entire life with him.
That evening, she called her mother and as they spoke, she found it difficult to tell her.

Tell me what you want and save my Credit. Her mom said.

How did you know there is something on my mind?

When you carried someone for nine months, with such a connection, and raise him up, there would be little you dont know.

Awwwwn mom, I love you. And I appreciate you.

I love you too. Now speak up. Dont tell me you need money, Abba said said he sent you money just of recent and it is end of semester already.

It is not about money.

What?

I - I have, I mean I have or let me say I found, no, I have someone.

The mom chuckled, making the air more conducive, giving that avuncular mood to make her relax and spill whatever it was.

Tell me more about it kawata (my friend).

Fateemah giggled.

Kawa kuma (your friend) ?

E mana (yes of course). You are my only daughter, the one who shares hijab (veil) and shoes with me. Bani labari nasha (tell me the story) .
Now she felt more at ease.

I found someone who wants to marry me and..

The boy who has been helping you?

Yes but there is something I never told you.

Tell me now then.

It is Ameer.

I saw the sign.

It is not that Ameer.

Toh, which Ameer kuma?

Hajiyas son. The twin .

Subahanallah! The boy that you used to fight with?

Yes.

It has been him all these while?

Yes, ma.

Zurfin ciki gun yar nan (this girl can keep secrets). So your enemy has turned into your lover.

I dont have a lover. She said ashamed of the use of the word.

Does that mean you dont love him?

Naam?

Do you love him?

She did not reply directly but chuckled.

Remember when I used to tease you about him and you would cry?

Again she chuckled.

My daughter is in love. You said he is one year ahead of you, right?

Yes.

Allah zaba mana mafi alkhairi (May Allah choose what is best for us). The way time flies, before you know it, you will all graduate.

(Not on phone. Telling her Ameer wanted it now? No!)

Insha Allah.

Never do anything outside the teachings of Islam.

(The incidence! Thank God it did not happen.)

Insha Allah.

When are you coming back?

In a fortnight insha Allah.

Ya (how is) exams?

Alhamdulillah (Praise be to God).

Hey, I have to go. My credit balance is gone.


Ameer had told Hajiya about Fateemah before then. She had also mocked Ameer for falling in love with a girl he used to bully. But he never told her about getting married.
.
.
.
tbc

The next day, Ameer assisted her through her registration processes, making a lot easier and faster for her. They had lunch together and in the evening, he went to see her.
A chemistry was synthesising. And they could feel it. They had not said anything about it, but it was the first time Ameer was having this kind of feeling.

As they strolled slowly along Ring Road in the evening, Ameer felt so sure he was in need of this girl.

Did you know that after you guys left, I spent months passing through your house just to see if I would see you?

Hmm..hmm.

I used to deceive myself that I wanted to fight you but. I kept hoping I would see you again.

Awwwnn. Irony. She giggled. I never forgot you myself. I have a cousin called Ameer. I always remembered you and sometimes I would wonder what you looked like, where you were and just things in my head.

I always knew you were beautiful and was going to grow into a beautiful woman.

Even when you glared at me? I did not know love then but I knew you were cool.

And what if your girlfriend starts getting suspicious? We kind of spend a lot of time together and ..

And who told you that I have not been subconsciously waiting for you?

You dont have a girlfriend?

I hope I am about to have now if she would accept me. I had a thing with one or two girls but it's just.. do I say not a serious relationship?

Trying to see you with a girl and all that child stuff but talking about the real deal, like thinking of having her as a wife in just two hundred level, no.

Did you just say marry?

Why else would I have a girlfriend?

I hope this girl you are talking about is not me.

What if it happens to be you?

You are flirting with me.

I am in love with you.

That was heavy.

I am sure Teetee. I just need you in my life right now, later and forever.

Has it crossed your mind that I have a boyfriend?

It has and it comes with pain and fear but I am willing to fight for you. I lost you once, I would not like to lose you again. Take my heart, Teetee, it is in your care, do whatever you wish with it.

You know I wont hurt you. But I dont know if I can keep your heart safe.

Just the few days we have been together has given my life a new dimension. Your effect on me has that je ne sais quoi that distinguishes pure love from infatuation. From a scalar quantity to vector quantity, now I got specific direction.
You accentuate my fecundity potentials. Like a filter to the air I breath, you make me pure. You are that dream that I want to realise, you are that prize that is priceless and I want to win. I dont deserve you but I beg for privilege.
But if I dont ignite that sputtering love sparks in you, if you dont find me attached to your ruminative mood, or feel abhorrent when my image display, then pray for me because only divine help can make me stop loving you, Teetee.

I am helpless and scared. I hope you will not leave me in the middle of the ocean, where all water is salt and no land is seen. I hope you will have this fragile poor girl close to your heart .

I will not have you close to my heart I will have you deep inside my heart.

I will tell mom about you. She needs to know that I have found love. I want to tell the whole world about you and hand a placard over my neck: not available.

She chuckled.

I am happy.

He clenched his hands.

Peace or fight?

You know I am a Muslim. Islam means peace.

She pointed at the right fist.
.
.
.

In a black Mercedes Benz 190 sat a lady under the wheel. She chewed bubble gum, making blasting sound as she inflated and burst the gum. She raised her Siemens phone and dialed a number.

He has a twin brother. She said, and he is getting more intimate with the girl. Yahanas is cast and the mould fits in. Its a green. It is a go.

Hmmm A thick voice said from the other end. He will do it, you think?

With the plans on ground, he will have no choice. Trust your babe, its Jezebel.

I trust you. I want results.

You will have results.

The call ended, she lit a cigarette and blew smoke inside the car while she stared at Ameer and his new found young love. They looked so happy. She loved it that way. Destroying it at happy time. It is called schadenfreude.
She put on the car engine and set the car on the road, driving past them while they were completely oblivious of the devil in the car.

Sensitivity1254:
You have wonderful stories going on here.

Thank you

.

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you
happy birthday dear Naairah, happy birthday to you
Hip ! Hip! Hip! Hurray!
Hip! Hip Hip! Huray!

Naairah's face beamed with a smile. She was standing before a jumbo cake, beautifully decorated. Her dressing was elegant, portraying the cock of the walk. Her dress glittered and she looked like a celebrity on red carpet. There was a lot of her friends and relatives there, mostly young boys and girls.

The long table was stashed and cramped with varieties of food. Fried rice, chicken, salad, fish pepper soup, turkey soup, slopey joe, tex-mex, baked potato and lots more. It was a humdinger of a celebration. The place was a cauldron of mirth, persiflage, swaggers,and youthfulness.

It was time for 'item 7': food.

Serve yourself.

Nadia tapped Naairah. " Look who we have got there."

Naairah looked up and saw him.

She was just seeing him and it was obvious he had been around. He wore a clean white T-shirt. It was not expensive, but clean, immaculate and fitted his slim and well built body. His vantablack Gorgio Armani jeans was slim and straight. Sitting comfortably over a white, clean sneakers. The sneakers was not expensive but it looked so simple and chic.

He wore a simple wristwatch with black strap and white case band. His Afro hair was well oiled, combed and dark ending with short, thin side burns. His black eyes hidden behind plane white glasses that gave him a sparking façade.

He was sitting at a corner, sequestered and eating. Unlike the rest of the invitees, he had a large quantity of food in front of him with almost all the varieties.

Naairah could not believe her eyes. Was he the one? How did he get in? She watched him for a while. It seemed all that mattered to him then was the food. He was almost done with it. It seemed nobody was really paying attention to him.

Then she saw something that got her astonished. He removed from his pocket a nylon bag, then poured food inside, making sure he was not watched, he went and hid it behind a big trash can . Naairah guessed he would pick it up when he was leaving.

What? Who was this mysterious guy? What was he? He was esoteric, paradoxical, obfuscatory and bizarre. What did he want with her?

She excused herself and walked up to him.

" What are you doing here?" She asked as he moved away from the can.

He gave a cosmic smile." Happy birthday Miss Sunshine." He said. " It is a day when an exquisite cynosure, in elation with proliferated measure, and pleasure becomes to me a treasure."

" I asked what you were doing here? You were not invited."

" You don't get the quiddity. How can you celebrate your birthday without a national representative? I am representing the nation. The Minister of Youths and Sport to be precised. And I must make an official report. So, I am a national assignment."

" And a minister's representative coming to hide food behind a trash can?"

He raised his eyebrow.

" She saw me! Ohhhh. I am not that smart after all. Okay, let's say my cousin's cousin's cousin's nephew's brother-in-law's wife's second cousin is a laboratory technician. We are going to give the food sample a lab analysis." He smirked. " Okay, let me just say, I am making use of an opportunity. Listen...." He made a serious face, " life is like a computer game. There are hidden treasures as you play along. Some times and most times they are hidden. When you take them, you get more life, or a weapon, or something to add to your value.

That is what I just did. That food would be of great importance to me later. Food is life, take that with you."

" Can you see how low you could get?"

" I can see. We all got talents. Can you see how rude you are? You just turned eighteen. I was once as young as you were. Things have changed. My era of being eighteen is different from yours. Those days....."

" When did you turn eighteen?" She cut in.

" One year ago."

" And you talk as if you were eighteen at the same time as my mum."

" One year, babe. I mean one billion, eight hundred and ninety-two million, one hundred and sixty thousand seconds. That is an era. Listen to me. I am an old man with wisdom."

" Now I am not interested. How did you get in? Do you want me to get you arrested?"

" Okay, I saw a girl coming in so I met her and started talking and......"

"Happy birthday,darling." A voice interrupted. " Officially an adult today."

It was Zayyad. He was looking so good in his designer outfits.

"Thank you Zayyad."

" Please, close your eyes." He said.

She closed it. And a crazy thought came into Adnan's crazy mind. What if he told a girl to close her eyes and when she did, he gave a nice, hot and sound slap?

"Open it." Zayyad said.

She opened her eyes to see him holding a ring box.

" Whoa! Diamond ring!" She exclaimed. " Thank you Zayyad."

Zayyad smiled proudly. " You deserve more."

It was only at that time Zayyad looked at Adnan.

" Hello. I am Zayyad Ibrahim Tofa."

" Alhaji Ibrahim Tofa's son." Naairah added.

" I am Adnan Abbas. I am Alhaji Abbas' son."

They shook hands.

" Your face looks familiar." Zayyad said.

" I was about saying the same thing." Adnan said. " Melberyy High school, California, right? We were part of the few Nigerians in Rosetales chalet. I am Adnan, the little boy to use to get bullied by Nathan Myers before I got me and shawn to give him a black eye...."

"No..I guess you get it wrong. I had my high school here."

" What a resemblance. You just look like Zayyad ab...oh, he was Zayyad Abdul not Ibrahim. Anyway, nice to meet you."

Naairah knew it was a lie but she did not talk.

" I was just trying to see him off." Naairah said. " Excuse me Zayyad."

Zayyad nodded and left them.

" If I give a girl a diamond ring and she dismisses me like that, I will bite her ears. You are so rude."

Nobody ever talked to her like that. Nobody!

" Now you will leave." She said.

" But I have not proposed yet. I came to propose to you."

" May Allah forbid it. Will you leave or till I get you out?"

He saw the seriousness in her eyes.

" Okay. I will leave." He said, began to walk out then paused.

" What?"

He smiled.

" My treasure."

He went behind the trash can and picked up his nylon bag stashed with food. She marvelled. This time, he was seen and some girls stared at him.

He smiled at them.

" There was a prostitute who was forgiven and granted Aljanna (paradise) by Allah for giving a dog water." He said to the curious girls. " I got a big dog to feed." He said and in his mind, he said. " and that is me."He held the bag and she walked him out. "Okay Miss Sunshine, thank you for your hospitality." He said as he got to the exit. "when is our next rendezvous?"

" With who? I don't want to see you again."

" Listen, Miss sunshine. Find time to come out in the night, when the weather is pacific and the sky is Naairah. Take your time to look up, you will see a star shinning so bright and distinct from the rest. That was the first place our hearts met.
They sat on the star to rest, and they were unaware of each because the rhythm were the same. Same wavelength, amplitude and trough. Then they saw each other and fused.

When you look closely again, you will realise that you are a light, and I lost mine, and you led me into brightness. I was lonely on the star and you gave me company, and we formed a new world: Our world.

There was no water but you gave me out of your cell water and I became stronger. I asked who you were, and a voice whispered to me that you have come to be my soul's companion. You came when I was stranded in the sky, in a vacuum, and lost all link with my crew.
A panacea from heaven. A blueprint from above to be materialized on earth.

Look up in the sky Miss Sunshine, what you hear is the song of love sang from above in dedication to us,
and what you feel is the wind of love, that smoothens the soul. No astronaut has gone to the sun where your heart came from Miss Sunshine, so no one can change this heart of yours that is fused with mine except when he goes into the sun.

My heart is bright because it reflects yours. What happens when you take the sunshine away? I will be left in a murky world. Freezing with no sunshine to warm me up. Do that Miss Sunshine and tell me what you see.
Each question carries 200 marks. Happy birthday. Keep the gift I brought for you. It might just be a reminder of me if I am no more."

" Please leave now." She said firmly. " I have got important things to do."

" You just did the most important." He said. " Meeting your future husband."

" Ya Allah! Get out!"

" I love you too."

Before she could utter another word, he was gone. This guy!

Adnan held his polythene bag dearly. He had a lot of chicken meat, fish soup, fried rice and drinks there. The night was going to be a memorable one.

Then he saw the car. Oh God!

He quickly swerved and hid against the wall. He had to change his route .

" I left the car there. " She said from behind him. " And came to wait for you. We have an appointment, right? It seems you have forgotten the micro-chip era. Don't you think this is your last chance?"


tbc

niffyluv:
hmmm... interesting

Thank you