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Eighteen
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2024-10-29 19:42:56"Ask them how much it costs to bump you up to first class. Take the cost out of this credit card immediately." Zainab sighs and takes the black and gold embossed card I put money in for my needs. I frown at her in mock annoyance and she turns to go back to the counter. They will soon call the flight and somehow, my assistant put herself in economy when she's with a huge hand luggage.
"I've boosted it." I sigh and take back the card, motioning for her to take a seat beside me. She complies and goes pulls out her phone to use it, I look away from her and look around the buzzing airport. Today, I am flying to Kaduna where we'll be driven to a small village just after Zazzau to do most of the shooting.
Zainab packed three boxes for just me, filled with trackwear, casual wear and outing wear, mosquito repellent, and just totally useful stuff. When it was weighed, I gasped and paid the overcharge with my hands on my eyes. Thankfully, the filming c
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Misfortunate Seventeen
"So they want you. For the lead role." I lean back in my filming chair and say a quiet Alhamdulillah. I've nagged Allah for the past one week every single time I got down on my knees to pray. "Thank you Ms Opeyemi. I don't even know what to say to you. You're a blessing." She chuckles and asks me to get ready. "Filming begins in six weeks?!" I exclaim and wonder how Abdul would allow me go that far and for so long. My thoughts get cut short when she speaks. "Would you repeat what you said?" I asked politely. "I said, I've asked Zainab to get a full list of all the things you both would need, and how you'd need them. She'll get to you tomorrow so you both can plan. How's that?" I nodded and ended the call carefully. The task now would be getting Abdul to agree to me going to Kaduna. I looked outside my window and watched the rainy sun rise after the huge thunderstorm that lashed everywhere last night and early this morning, luckily all I have to do I rest in, make spicy noodles an
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Misfortunate Nineteen
"BeebahShe, put more energy in your eyes! You're supposed to be talking with your whole face, stop letting your facial muscles twitch and let youe eyes do the fucking talking!" I nod erratically and get up from where I'm kneeling in front of the camera. We just had a scene where my beloved grandfather dies and we're having reaction shots, I'm supposed to be crying and letting my emotions do the talking.I shake my head as they powder under my eyes and apply light balm to my lips to shine it and wonder how I got this role. All the other actors do their very best and quickly too, filming gets accomplished in one quick take. I sigh and turn to see Onimisi arrive behind Teniola, the director who was screaming at me earlier.The technician, comes and adjusts the miniscule Microphone hanging to my scarf and says very quietly before I can apologise. "Onimisi says to think of a bad memory to bring forth tears far quickly and take it from there." I n
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Misfortunate Twenty
"I forgot my incense burner at home. It would be so useful now that I have this amazing turaren." I picked up some of the incense flakes and put them near my nose in appreciation after speaking."They truly smell nice. I didn't know they had such good incense in this area." I slid Zainab a look at the sceptical look she gave the incense I was appreciating. She, like other people believes that the best incense comes only from Chad or Maiduguri."I'll have opportunity to burn it before we leave. The way I am with new things is so crazy, I'll have a bad itch to use it and until I make use of it, I won't rest." She laughed, she had noticed it and indulged me all the time."Now that shooting is over, what are you doing this weekend before the dinner at the emir's palace?" I covered the bucket of sandalwood incense before turning to answer her question. We had finally wrapped up Amina of Zazzau yesterday and I could not be hap
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Misfortunate Twenty One
"... Thank you for flying with us, we have a bus waiting for you on the runway to take you to the main airport terminal." I happily danced in my seat and adjusted the black scarf that had come loose while I danced. I hugged the other ladies whom I'd acted with these past few weeks, most of them all returning to Lagos, only a few of us like Onimisi and three other of the minor cast were returning to Abuja.I went to Teniola Adebowale whose expertise and hardwork had turned this movie into the best I've ever acted since my career began. I took hold of her hands and shook my head, I had no words. She got up and hugged me hard, kissed both of my cheeks, seemingly understanding that I could not talk."We'll see during the premiere, once post production is finished in New York. Okay?" I nodded and let her hug me one more time. Zainab who had finished pulling all our hand luggage prompted me and we got off the plane. At the foot of the stairs, I breathed in large gulps of air, I'm back in my
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Misfortunate Twenty Two
"Madam, we're done." I got up. Holding the bag that houses my camera, ring light, laptop and nearly everything I hold valuable, I follow the woman back into elevator, struggling to hold the bag next to myself before letting the lift door slid shut."I'm so sorry I called on short notice. I hope you and your partner are not angry?" The lady, a far older woman than my Ma, she wringed the rag in her hand helplessly and I sensed she wanted to say something."The kitchen was very bad. Why did you let it be like that?" I shook my head as I watched the counter reach four and the elevator pinged. " I've not been around. That's what leaving a man all by himself causes." I laughed nervously and she laughed with me. I opened the door and she followed after me, my mouth dropped as I got in.The whole place w
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Misfortunate Twenty Three
"Opeyemi."I said her name to alert her as I walked further into her office, the door had been left open. She raised her head to smile at me from the sheaf of papers that she was signing."BeebahShe!" She called out happily, "How are you? Missed the bustle of Abuja?" I smiled and sat down in front of her, crossing my legs. She put her pen down and smiled widely at me, looking me over in appreciation. I chuckled, my agent is amazing."You had fun?" I nod in satisfaction. Goron Dutse was beautiful in it's own quaint way, quiet, cold evenings, warm mornings, food cooked over open fire, smokey Jollof rice and i tell her so."You look it, see your glow na. You just lost weight," She waves her hands. "But that's fine, no pain no gain. The gain here is more than the pain." I laughed out loud at her words. I was supposed to lose some weight to get fit, so she liked the fact that she killed two birds with one
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Misfortunate Twenty Four
"Ah baby please, find your way here. Please it's just seven now and you can shoot from eight till ten or twelve. Please, I won't rest until the poster pictures are totally done." I sigh and add salt to the oatmeal cooking in the pressure pot and ask Teni for the address.I put my phone down with a sigh and stir the oatmeal even further so that it doesn't curdle. Today seems like a tight, long day for me and I'd have to eventually have to call Zainab inspite of my promise to give her an off day.I take my phone up again and call Zainab. She enthusiastically replies and my mood lifts after ending the call, I put down my phone again and wear a pair of mittens to take the oatmeal pot off the hot stove."So early? What are you cooking?" I chuckle at Ma's face and spoon her a bowl of oatmeal and add some evaporated milk over it, she shakes some sugar unto it after taking it from me and I chuckle again. Ma's sweet tooth has never lessened."I have to be somewhere at eight and then come back
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Misfortunate Twenty Five
"I hope you enjoyed yourself?" I sent him a nod and a smile as I sidestepped a puddle that came from a light drizzle that rained while we cut Layla's cake. Sa'ad, Layla, Ma'mun, Kamil all children of Abdullah Lamido. I heard that much from Layla.Ma'mun is the first, Kamil the second, Sa'ad the third, and Layla the forth and only child of her mother. The rest were from Alhaji Abdullah's late chadian wife who died when Sa'ad was six which explains his exotic looks and hair. Layla who apparently likes me a lot, found a way to whisper to me details of their family that even Google could never have given me."Ya Ma'mun is a neurosurgeon. Ya Kamil is a Lawyer and busniessman while Ya Sa'ad is the family's protector. They are all unmarried and a source of headache for Baba and Maama." We had giggled together like teenagers when she said that, before her friend called for the cake to be cut.When I got to the car, he opened the
Last Updated : 2024-10-29
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Misfortunate Fifty Three
Song of the chapter; Halo by Beyonce."Why did you do that? You really shouldn't have. Honestly you shouldn't." I said to Bashir the moment I found him in the house after my interview. I've moved partly to stay with Baaba only going home to get important documents and food from Iyamé that I miss.He didn't reply, only walking slowly in his hoodie, shorts, socks and slides ensemble to a sofa placed for random talks like this one. I used to think there were far too many sofas in this house until now, this pastel green sofa in this white room, is as important as our discussion."Yaya?" Bashir called and watched my face till I replied with a Na'am. He nodded and yawned, trying to get his concentration going."You need to understand one thing. You are my sister, my eldest sibling, my older sister and an example for us all. If I let some gutter urchin speak to you anyhow because he is a scholar, then even my friends can tomorrow say rubbish about you and I'll not be able to caution them." I
Misfortunate Fifty Two
"What would you say defined you this year, seeing as you've accomplished so much in one year." I looked in the direction of the huge lights set up in a corner for this interview, trying to get my thoughts together."I spent last year in recovery. Literally all of last year was spent reinventing the brand that is myself, just basically dealing with the emotions that came out of being in one of the worst things anyone could ever be in. I think it defined me, it pushed me to be a better person, what gave me my best push though, was knowing that my family is on my side." She nodded and I exhaled. I'd been talking in one breath without stopping."Is being Labeebah Bakura in any way detrimental to you?" She asked with a smile. This host is one of those people who know how to draw out information from her guests by asking too much. In a bid to want to explain yourself, you give the whole thing or yourself away, so I paced myself for a few seconds before replying her."No. Asides the fact tha
Misfortunate Fifty One
"…Married?" I asked with a stutter that came due to a lack of words to say. Marriage? Am I ready? Are we ready?"If you're not ready, it's fine. You can take all the time you need." I nodded and found a seat, he sat two seats away. I didn't think us getting married would come into the picture so early, or even at all. Especially with the way people troll you when pictures of us on a date surfaces." He shut his eyes and leaned back into the chair."I've told you, Labeebah. I don't care. I've never been one to care about what people say to me, how they react to me taking a decision is none of my business. If I didn't know you deeply, I'd be worried about stumbling on the way. But with you in my corner and Allah? They can say all they want, they'll never have the gem I have."My nose suddenly turned sour with the weight of unshed tears and I muttered a quiet Alhamdulillah for Allah's grace. I couldn't have searched through the world for someone like this and found him all by myself, Alla
Misfortunate Fifty
"He's still resting. Your phone has been ringing continuously, maybe your appointment is important." I watched as Hamieydat Al Hassan pursed her lips in frustration, she acquiesced to Falmata's suggestion and told her to call immediately Baaba woke up. We both nodded and waved her goodbye as she left in a flurry of flowery Abaya and wide sweeping sleeves."I think she likes Baaba." I turned to Falmata and watched her face, the animosity I expected was not there. Just neutral excitement of the fact that someone liked Baaba, I chuckled but my chuckles died when I remembered Baaba had not yet woken since he fell asleep after waking from his surgery last night."Do you think she's good for him?" I asked, leaning back in the comfortable sofa I had sat on once we came into the room. I slept fitfully last night and this morning we rushed down here without breakfast."It's more like is Baaba going to be good for her. He's so busy with work already, would he have time for her? Would she not fe
Misfortunate Forty Nine
A month later"Where's she now?"I put my phone to my ear and asked Iyamé as the phone placed against my ear rang, calling the other end. The call was not picked and I sighed, Baaba must be busy. So I put my phone down and bent down to fasten the black boots I had worn earlier."Call her and ask her to come out now. If she doesn't, I'll leave her. I hate to be late." Iyamé nodded and motioned for the maid cleaning the dining table to tell Falmata to hasten up.Today is the premiere of the superhero movie I acted in some months ago and it's about to come out in the cinemas all over the world in four days. For me, I'm still in shock. I used to think my greatest achievement would be maybe a Cameo in a Hollywood movie set in Los Angeles and that would be all. But, a Hollywood set had come right to my doorstep here in Abuja and I'd acted in the lead role.If I had to choose, if i had to guess, I would plan to have this happen to me in about five years. Now that it's happening to me, I'm be
Misfortunate Forty Eight
"Did they really fight?"I stopped in the motions of laying out another skirt, adjusting my phone so Rabiah can hear me. "Wallah, they nearly fought. Falmata eventually told me they've been that way for nearly twenty years. Even before she was born, my uncle told my aunt not to marry her husband, she, being strong headed went ahead and married him, I don't see a problem in what has happened but my uncle has never forgiven her for not doing what he wanted."Rabiah laughed long and hard, making me chuckle too. I really don't see the problem in marrying who she married, she made good on her life goals from what I heard. I stan women who make their life dreams come true."Sha, when are the pictures coming out? Are you going to post them?" She asked me and i moved from the wardrobe where I was picking clothes to pick my iPad where Falmata sent the photos to."The pictures are beautiful, but I'm wondering, would it be somehow insensitive to post the pictures before my siblings?" I asked her
Misfortunate Forty Seven
"Check on the rice, ask them to serve it if it's ready." Bashir nodded, got up from where he was working on his laptop. He set it down on the dining table and I spied the drawing of a set of detached duplexes, I shook my head. Baba and Bilal are the same in the terms of work, they work until the very last minute. I've noticed the short time I've been here that Bashir's forms of entertainment are only designing houses and designing more houses."I've asked them to do as you said." He informed and picked up his MacBook that he had perched on the table beside me. He leaned into my side and dropped his laptop to pick up the Happy Birthday sticker I was cutting out the excess paper from. Munir, my second brother-its still a little confusing referring to him as that- designed it with paint, glitter and sticker paper.I looked at him, an exact copy of Baaba, complete with the straight as pin nose, dark skin and moderate sized forehead. He helped me cut carefully into a huge 'B' and laid it o
Misfortunate Forty Six
Sa'ad Lamido"Major major!" I laughed at Adnan who was saluting me and found my seat on the black mesh chair they had left for me."Major major!" Adnan hailed again and I felt a smidgen of irritation started to form in my lower belly, so I waved him off and picked up the menu. Putting it down a second later when I remembered with a jolt that I'm going out with Labeebah later and I can't be too full for it."Major? You're not eating?" I raised a brow at Muslim who had been watching me steadily since I came, not greeting nor saying a word. He and I haven't been seeing on the same wavelength since he beat his wife and I like it that way, if not for Adnan, I'd not be speaking to him ever again."I'm not. I'm going out with Labeebah later. I'm keeping my stomach empty so I'll be hungry later." I explained with a smile as the waiter left the drinks they'd ordered. Adnan was having something like a banana and strawberry smoothie, while Muslim was nursing a malt."Wow, you guys are serious?"
Misfortunate Forty Five
"You get it completely. They don't know these clerics sometimes welcome people knowing they're moneybags. They twist out several types of information out if you to the point where you think they're telling you the absolute truth, when your only truth should be the Qur'an and your total and unequivocal trust in Almighty Allah." She shrugged and shook her head, putting her attention back on driving.She turned on her blinkers, wound the steering and faced the road. Rabiah and I have video called several times but we haven't met in the past two weeks, she's been busy with her shop opening, while I've been trying to sort out my schedule."So what did your husband say?" I brought back the discussion to her, she turned to me with a smile that brightened her entire face."Baby just smiled and said that if my succeeding means I'm suing his glory or whatever? Then I better keep using it because he's not due for promotion at work until next year." I burst into loud spluttering laughter. Huda's
