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Fifty Three
Huling Na-update:
2022-09-29 21:31:05Kaugnay na kabanata
Misfortunate One
"Action!"I turn to face Ali, and started with my index finger in his face, speaking Hausa. "You're being so unfair to ask me to move in with your mother so that you can move your other wife in. You're being unfair." He eyes me and gives me a signal to get out of the way, not touching me. I sigh for the camera and then observe the director's face. He doesn't look happy, so I am not surprised when he shouts "Cut!""Labeebah" He begins using my own name, not Amina which I bear in the movie. "You should say that to Ali as softly as possible. Don't be aggressive. That's not how a Hausa woman behaves, not even any woman anywhere. We'll take this again, don't shout at him, sound as pleading as possible." I blink at him, wanting to ask if I read the script wrong. I clearly read that the statement was supposed to be said aggr
Huling Na-update : 2021-07-05Misfortunate Two
"So, when is she giving you the money?" Abdul's question stops me in my tracks. I was pulling off my hijab just after praying Zuhr prayers. I let the orange stretchy material drop back unto my body before slow"What money?" He sighs and looks everywhere but at me. "The recommendation money fa. You're supposed to have collected it by now." I make a face at him and he points at me, shaking his index finger from his seat. "And don't give me that face. You're too slow." I shake my head.It's been two days since Ali's insistent pushing and Abdul told me of his trip to Kano and a single moment of peace has not been my own since then. He talks about money at any available time. Money! Money all the time.
Huling Na-update : 2021-07-05Misfortunate Three
"That's all for today's shoot people." I internally do a jig when the director says we're done for the day. I intentionally helped rush the shoot because I have to travel to Kano. Need to go visit Abdul who left for Kano a week ago, I miss him.I step out into the cool morning air, we'd been shooting since four am. I left my house at an ungodly three am to get here early, the only downside is that I have to follow the minivan that brought the rest of the cast. So I lean against a pillar and wait for the rest of the cast to finish, right there I imagine myself frying eggs and plantains with hot spicy noodles for breakfast. The thought keeps me company and helps be less angry at the stalling actors."Labeebah." I sigh. I can't even fault him for calling my name right. There's no Nafeesah here to save me today. The worst thing is, I didn't hear him walk so close
Huling Na-update : 2021-07-05Misfortunate 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
Huling Na-update : 2021-09-02Misfortunate Five
6:50 pm,The Lamido house, Life Camp, Abuja.I responded to greetings as I shut the door of the Uber I ordered and watched it drive out of the gates that Baba Sarah opened. I waited to greet the gateman who i knew was itching to talk to me.He quickly shut the gate and ran to me. "Oga soldier." He greeted, mimicking the attention stance my battalion soldiers gave when they saw me. I just nodded and waited for him to stop trembling enough to speak."My daughter had the baby yesterday. She is still at the hospital because there is no money to use for discharge." He said in Hausa, tear clouded his eyes and I sighed. His daughter had been raped by some boys in their area who thought she was playing hard to get, I personally reported to the assistant inspector general who sent the police there to get all three boys arrested.I tapped Baba Sarah's back as I
Huling Na-update : 2021-12-09Misfortunate Six
"I have some free time between ten and twelve later, so please get ready to go to the bank." As I spoke, a ping came on both our phones, I know because I saw him walk to his and open his message. I took a leisurely stroll to where my phone was and tapped on it, heart literally falling into my stomach when I saw it was from the bank. "Abdul? Another five hundred thousand? Why?" He just hisses and walks to the room we once shared, my whole self is trembling as i follow him at a more sedate pace. "Why would you withdraw another five hundred thousand naira? Zuwaiya isn't getting married ba? It's you? You're using my money to fund your marriage. How cruel can you be? That you'll take an orphan's money to fund a frivolous thing. I didn't say don't get married, I didn't ask you a single question. Why then are you punishing me?" I furiously wipe tears that gathered on my lower lids. "What your money? Last time I checked, i
Huling Na-update : 2021-12-11Misfortunate Chapter Seven
I keep swallowing the expensive Ben's and Jerry's ice cream we were given as souvenir at the Kamu I attended yesterday. I don't even look Abdul's way, I instead stick my short spoon for another scoop of ice cream."Can't you hear me?" I finally raise my eyes to look at him. "What did you say?" I ask stupidly. I pat myself on the back, the acting was superb."Don't sit there acting stupid Labeebah. You transferred all that money, even cancelled the account. Why kind of human does that? Ehn? Tell me. How am I supposed to pay for the wedding when you take all the money." I don't say a word, I just keep scooping the chocolatey goodness into the spoon and into my mouth next."Aren't you going to answer me?" I lean against the sofa, smiling like I didn't hear a word. He throws his hands up and leaves the room, my face changes immediately he leaves. If he were full of fake apologies, I might have listened, but slapping me over
Huling Na-update : 2022-01-01Misfortunate Eight
"Was that all he said?"I hummed to my aunt as I prepared my own mixed cocktail using a fizzy non alcoholic drink. I pick the two cups and a beautiful wooden tray I use for my advertisement pictures and do the difficult to my room with my phone balanced on my ear."What do you suggest Ma?" My aunt sighs. "I'm short of words. If your uncle heard this, he'd ask you to move back home, I can condone anything but fetish things. That one is too much." I set down the tray on my filming table and sit in the brown leather chair."I do not know what to do Ma. Tired is an understatement for how I feel. He keeps showing me sides to him everyday, I'm scared for my own life." I sigh. Putting down the cocktail cup cover I was holding."Just be careful. Since you said you use camera in your room, keep using it till you find another apartment." I shut my eyes in tiredness. "But Ma, I paid for this house, with my mone
Huling Na-update : 2022-01-02
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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
