Chapter Four

The door opens as I pull off the old threadbare navy blue hijab I used to pray Isha¹ and wear my scarf. My aunt comes in holding my favorite large mug with my face on it, I giggle as I climb the bed, leaving space for my aunt to climb in. 

She hands me the mug and the scent of Lipton tea, Milo and three crowns milk and a little sugar tickles my senses. I lift the cover and stir it with the spoon in it to take a dainty sip. I smile at my aunt thankfully, safely keep the mug on my bedside table and lean on the wooden headboard. 

"Labibi? How are you?" I shut my eyes and exhale. "Nothing Ma. I'm fine." I call her Ma and she calls me Labibi because when my parents just died, many things reminded me off them, I tried not to let myself forget their memories, so I made new ones with my maternal aunt and her husband. 

"Nasan bakya kano saboda jin dadi², if you were here for comfort, you'd have stayed over at Abdul-Mumin's parents house which is where you should be anyways, but I know, like a mother knows her daughter that something is wrong, so pray tell me." I laugh at her English connotation and cover my face  with my hands. 

"Well, I'm here for comfort since I don't get to work myself to the bone at Abdul's parents house all because I want to be the perfect daughter in law." She nods, waiting. "I just wanted to come here and be pampered by you both." 

She nods again but pats my crossed legs before speaking. "I've heard the rumours. Your uncle thought you knew and you were too hurt to call, so we left you. Now we know what had happened. 

Abdul is getting married in a few weeks. Today, they took the lefe to the bride's house. Her family lives about four streets away from us." I shrug. As I had said to myself, I do not care. 

"I don't care Ma, whatever he does is his business. You know? As long as he doesn't bring her to my house. Even if he does, I'll just have to bear it. I cannot be unmarried, people just see it as a type of grave sin. It just confirms all they have said and will say about my job as an actress." She inhales deeply and shakes her head, I see tears shimmering in her eyes. 

"Oh Ma, don't cry please." I beg as I uncross my legs to put my arms around her. "I really don't feel pain. Okay?" She nods in my arms and pats her eyes dry, making me calm. I go back to my original position. 

"If he brings her to your house, don't throw a fit please. I beg you. They'll just single-handedly drag your good name in the mud, which is what we must avoid at all costs." I nod. She swallows and continues. 

"If he brings her, allow him, welcome them, ask for a roaster and quietly get yourself an apartment. For you to have some peace and quiet. Because the only reason this is happening is because your joy and peace is about to be tested." I nod. I don't even have a better idea, so I'll just do as she says. 

"I'm just disappointed in how cowardly he is behaving, one would think that he would have come to your Kawu by now. This is reprehensible behavior whichever you look at it." I smile sadly at her unconcealed vehement irritation with Abdul. 

"How's the new Amarya³?" I laugh and pick my phone from where it's been charging before saying. "Rabiah is enjoying honeymoon in KSA⁴ and Oman before coming home. After they toured Europe. I'm so happy for her." She laughs with so much mirth and joy that it lights up her entire face. 

"I only know that because of your warm and pure heart, you'll be able to do same. In Sha Allah⁵." I nod, completely unbelieving of the very idea, unless some windfall came from heaven. 

My aunt leaves the room, after forcing me to finish my beverage in one go so she can go with the cup, I followed her to the door to shut it firmly and while shutting, I remember how in this room I rejoiced over winning roles, over getting nominated for a minor award, over marrying Abdul-Mumin. 

I slid down the wall to sit on the bedside table I deep thought when my phone rings. I look at it and see that it's from Rabiah, who has been touring the world since her wedding in Abuja  four months ago. Her husband promised to show her the world and he was making good on his promise. 

"Bibi na." I call immediately i pick the phone. She screams my nickname, at me too before we fall into an awkward silence. 

"Did Abdul really do that?" I squint in surprise. "Where did you hear that?" She hisses in what sounds like surprise. 

"Their pre-wedding pictures are all over I*******m, even Northern Blog is there praising him and if you see the comment section ehn, I just want to flog people." I laugh, bellying the pain I feel. Abdul the coward.

"Bibi, you know he didn't tell me, it was 'Worse than devil' downstairs who told me. He slept next to me to he came to Kano last week oo." My voice breaks at the thought of how i sent him hundred thousand to fund a trip to Kano or how he must have used my money to buy Lefe⁶ things go his new wife. I take off my cap and run my hand through the braids on my head. 

"I wish you'd just leave him. You deserve better than him. Wallah. I just know your thoughts on being divorce, so I'll let it be." I make a sound of agreement.  "Do you sis, just do you sis. That's all I ask. Okay?" 

I sigh before replying. "I will do my best. Okay?" She makes a sound of assent before sighing deeply in ecstasy, so I wipe my tears and let excitement show in my next words. 

"I hope you're buying you and I matching abayas in KSA, that's why you're there apart from prayers oo. You know." She laughs and tells me she bought us two sparkly ones she knows I'll love completely. 

"May Allah bless you. Where's Hakeem?" She answers that he went out with a business partner of his and she declined to talk to me. 

"I love you too Rabiatu." She scoffs at my use of her name, she hates it with passion. I laugh, all the events of the day forgotten. 

******

When I wake up the next morning, its past ten, so all I just do is get a bucket of water to bathe as apparently the power supply company has refused to do their most important job, forcing my aunt and Uncle to shell out money to fuel their generator every night. 

"Good Morning aunty Zeerah." I greet my aunt's maid who is cutting vegetables for what looks like for a stir-fry noodles. "Baby Beebah." I laugh at the way she says it. Patting her arm as I take a sachet of water to brush my teeth with, since the water cannot be trusted. 

"I'll see you later. I'll be late if I don't bathe now." I rush my bath and a few minutes later, I'm towelling off in my room, setting out a floor length chiffon gown I left here when I came last. It's dark blue with light blue flowers designed on it with a large scarf to wear with. 

Soon, its on, and I'm swiping Kohl over my eyes, mascara dash over my lashes and a swipe of lip gloss over lips. I pick the bag I had the sense to pack last night before sleeping and ambulate quickly out of the house. 

I stop the first cab I see on Daurawa road and tell the driver I'm going to the ancient part of town, in Hausa. We haggle the price and when he recognizes me, he refuses to back down and asks me to get in. 

Those who say Nigeria has nothing to offer have not yet seen Kano or this beautiful place I'm in, I look around imagining myself as princess in this sort of place. Then someone stops me from moving further. 

"Labeebah Sheriff? Oh my Allah." The lady's hijab is flapping in the breeze that is blowing through what feels like a royal conservatory. "Hello," I greet shyly. 

"Can I take a photo? Please. My friends won't believe I met you if I can't show a photo." I nod graciously, keeping my smile simple, knowing my dimple pops when I smile. She clicks on her phone and I take her to a particular part of the place, facing the sun and we take a beautiful picture.  

"Tag me when you post it, so I'll repost. Okay?" She nods as though she cannot believe her eyes. I just giggle and walk out of the room, abandoning the rest of the tour to go home, my aim achieved, I'm happy. 

Glossary;

Isha- Night prayer for Muslims. Mostly between 8 to 8:30pm. 

Nasan bakya kano saboda jin dadi - 

Amarya - New bride 

KSA- Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

In Sha Allah- God willing.