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 to me.

I shut my eyes and turn to Ali whom I know is standing behind me. "Assalamualaikum." I decide to say in greeting, trying to remind him of his Islamic duty to not look so lewdly at my face. He just sidelines my salam and puts his hand on the wall behind me, I duck and get out of the perimeter of his arm.

"What do you want? I need to get back to my husband." I say husband a little louder to make him back off with his advances but he just laughs. He hasn't spoken since he called my name.

"I want you Labeebah. Only you. Just once. That's all." I laugh lightly, getting savage satisfaction from the way his confidence he pasted on his face reduces. "If I needed a one night stand, astaghfirullah, it would not be with you. Have you seen yourself? With your unconnected beards and uneven gait?" I quickly mutter another forgiveness dua for insulting his body but that's how I'll get him off my back. He crossed his arms and stares at me with amusement in his eyes, killing the satisfaction I felt earlier.

"I'll get you. Even if I die trying." I laugh his words off nervously and walk straight into the bus, when the driver slides the door open. I sit in the first row seat, behind the driver and next to the window. I lean back, feeling the comfort of the padded seat. I hear him switch on his car's ignition and drive away. Good riddance.

A few minutes later, the rest of the crew have filled the bus and we're getting ready to move. The other actresses sit in the back already mummuring. I don't dare turn or I'll be the subject of conversation, I know this from a harsh experience that happened early last year when i just became a little popular.

We had just finished a scene whwn they came to me as i was getting made up for a dancing scene. They sent out the makeup artist like secondary school groupies and shut the door to the dressing room firmly. "Whom did you sleep with to get this role!" It wasn't a question, it was a statement. I could not even say otherwise as I knew they'd beat me, so I saucily answered, "If you knew would you sleep with them too?" They stared at me shocked and I giggled. I've earned the reputation of slut ever since.

This doesn't mean that they don't send me birthday wishes or congratulate me publicly, they just do not have a good opinion of my person and boy am I glad.

Soon enough, I'm dropped off at the gate to ny house and I wave as they drive away, hopefully to drop off Basma Adi who lives two streets away from me, in a swankier part of town. I jerk out of my self imposed reverie and walk into the reception where I'm hit by a child running. I immediately crouch, not knowing what else to do to stop the child's tears.

"Sorry darling." I coo at the boy from a light distance and wait for the child's mother so that I can apologise. When I see his mother, I nearly put my head in my hands. I'm done for.

"What did you do to my child?" She asks immediately she gets to us. She does not even wait for a reply and pulls the child to herself. "Did you hit your head?" She asks the child softly, the child nods and she wiped her son's tears. All the while, I had been standing by watching.

"Madam actress. Why did you hit my son's head?" I sigh. "I'm sorry." I begin but she shushed me. "Shut up. The reason you don't have children is that stone youre carrying around called a body. I imagine how your husband just feel, no child after almost three years of marriage. I'm sure it's the acting that is causing it, especially as you ply your body around for roles. Useless woman." I blink, so shocked, unable to speak.

I take about five steps back and watch her face, twisted maliciously. "Ummu Aasim, how did I offend you or deserve those words you just said to me?" I ask as calmly as I can, even though I'm not feeling calm in any single way.

She hisses and begins to walk away, my first intent is to grab her and give her the beating of a lifetime but the words she utters stops me in my tracks.

"No wonder her husband needs a second wife. She has taken all of his luck and used it all as hers." I find a chair, right there in the lobby and sit my shaking body in it. I knew one day would come that Abdul would take a second wife, but I didn't think it would happen without a single notice to me.

I sit there, hot spicy breakfast forgotten, wondering where he will put her, where she would live. Not my house definitely. I sigh, swipe both hands down my face in trepidation and get up from the soft cushion chair i was sitting on.

It has to be only a rumour.

I tell myself several things to calm down as i climb the stairs, I could not take the elevator or I'd faint, I say to myself that I don't care, I say that it's none of my business, that he is a grown man and can do whatever he wants. I sit on landing to third floor and feel anger that i tamped on start to grow in me.

It takes two to tango doesn't it? Why then don't people blame Abdul for what is happening to us instead of putting the whole blame on me. Is it because it is convenient? For them? For Abdul?

Or do I have to shout it from the rooftops that it's none of their business?

I get out of the bathroom lethargically, sitting on the bed without any coherent thought. I wonder if my trip to Kano would not be my breaking point, so I lean over to where I left my phone charging and unhook it from the charging port. I need to inform my aunt that I'm coming to Kano, instead of foolishly pulling up to Abdul's family house.

"Hello Ma," I say immediately she picks, and tears spring to my eyes. She has been my mother for over twelve years, since I was twelve and my entire family perished in a plane crash that shut down the whole nation and put about one fifty million people in mourning.

I swallow and try to hold back tears. "Will you be home later today? Your baby needs you." She coos at me and I can't help the tears that fall rapidly at the nickname she calls me. "Labibi? Is everything okay?" I shake my head and then realise she can't see me.

"No. But it will be better when I see you." I answer with hot tears burning the back of my throat, She hums and I end the call, feeling boneless. I pull my suitcase closer and begin to carefully put the things I packed in it. Five long skirts, about eight tops, six scarves that would fit them and two atampa gowns for unexpected outings. I've learned to be proactive about my dressing the hard way.

I reach for the rose coloured accordion floor length skirt that I picked out to wear and slide it on, leaving the belt for later, I walk to my wardrobe and take out a stretchy white high neck long sleeved top to wear over it. I tuck the top into my skirt and I belt the skirt, holding the top in place. I sit on the bed again.

I need to clear myself, I am not worried about Abdul marrying a new wife, what I'm worried about is why he thinks he has to hide it from me. I pick the jersey black scarf i had chosen and wrap it around my head, letting it drape to beyond my shoulders and cover most of my top.

My phone rings as I apply Kohl to my eyes, I walk to the bed, momentarily enjoying the swish-swash of the accordion material. "Assalamualaikum." I greet.

"Walaikum Salam Labeebah. Is everything alright?" I sigh, its my uncle. The man who raised me, who drove me to my first casting call. "I'll be fine when I get home. That's for sure." He laughs, a booming laugh that makes tears prick my eyes.

"Your aunt was just worried. You know, so when should I come pick you up?" I decide not to drag my uncle all the way to the far domestic airport when I can simply use a car service. "No, Kawu, I'll take a cab. I'm a big girl now." He laughs again and prays for my safe travel, I say Amen and cut the call.

Once the plane stops, I wait for others rushing to get their belongings to finish, I don't see the point in getting my belongings when the crew haven't even opened the door, so instead, I turn on my phone and take out a business card from my purse to order a car.

About thirty minutes later, I'm pulling open the back passenger seat belt over my body while the driver pulls out of the emergency parking at the airport. "Where to ma?" I pull on the sunglasses I was holding before now.

"Abdullahi Maisoda street, it's off Daurawa Quarters road." I tell him. He pulls out his gps, using one hand to drive and pulls up the address. He nods and presses on the accelerator.

A few minutes later, more than that I have no idea, but I feel the car slowing and open my eyes to look around. "What's happening?" I ask him. He sighs and points at the front. An army checkpoint. I lean back in my seat and watch as the driver slowly drives till it's our turn.

"Park there!" I sigh. It's going to be along trip with these people. Hopefully, the driver has all his particulars complete. He stops the engine and gets out to open the boot for them. I tap on my phone, hoping to look busy so that they can let us go quickly.

"Hey! What is this bag? Where are you coming from?" The driver sighs ans says that he just picked me up from the airport. "Get her to come and open this bag." I fist my hands and hiss lightly, but unhook the seat belt to go outside.

"Good afternoon officers," They look me over before replying. "What in this bag?" I roll my eyes, shielded by my dark glasses. "Just my clothes and toiletries."

"Open it." I shake my head a bit and turn to the open boot to zip my box open. It's taped with airport paraphernalia and it takes a moment to open, I turn it their way once I open it to show them that I'm very innocent.

"I don't trust you. You're sleek." One of the officers declares emphatically. I put my hands on my face and swipe it down, having taken off my glasses bed opening the box. "But there's nothing in the box apart from my clothes," I say, deadpanned. I hate more than anything in my life being accused of what i didn't do.

"Well, you'll have to wait till I'm satisfied." Another officer says and I hear fhe driver shout. " But why? All I have in here is a box, I'm just a young woman going home to her parents." I try to appeal to them.

"That's how they all say, until we find a stash of hard drugs on you. Then, you'll understand." I sigh. "But there is nothing in this box. As it is." One of them hisses ans goes back to the hubbub of the check point, leaving us, which in checkpoint speak means taht we'll be here for a long time. I beg the remaining officer, but he refuses, so I walk back inside the car to take my phone.

In about ten minutes, I've told my aunt the entire issue and all she advices is for me not to lose my famous temper on them. I bite the inside of my cheek as I wait.

About one hour later, the driver and I go back to beg the officers again to allow us go. But they refuse, just as we turn around, a set of cars with an army flag slows down at the end of the checkpoint. I roll my eyes and walk back to sit in the opened boot, right beside my bag.

I watch with unconcealed happiness as all the soldiers come out and stand af attention due to the importance of the person passing. Then just as they're about to pass, the middle car rolls to a stop and the back door opens. The soldiers all run close and shout at attention. I giggle quietly. Both officers suddenly seem to be quiet.

"What is happening here? Why would you all let a lady sit in the scorching sun like this?" The officer who stopped us begins to explain why. I shake my head as he tries to lie against us.

"Ma'am, why did you insult the officer." The man who got down from the vehicle asks me. I'm too angry to look at him properly so i just explain how we've spent almost two hours begging to be let go.

"What?" He turns to the officer. "Is that true?" The officer hangs his head. I shake my head, he collects the car keys from the officer and hands it to the driver who runs forward to start the car.

"Thank you so much. I'm grateful." I say, having nothing else to say, I walk to the car and gently sit inside. "Alhamdulillah." The driver chuckles.

"Ah Madam, you don't know that man?" I shake my head at him, trying to draw out the seatbelt. "That is Major Sa'ad Lamido." I turned around to look at him admonishing the officers.

I shake my head, some humans are the most beautiful creatures in the world.