•Hamza

By the time I got back, they'd already gone far in their celebration. I saw money being thrown from different angles as the bride and groom danced together. It was a moment I'd love to find myself in if me and Aaliyah ever worked things out to the point of nikah (Marriage).

I found my way to the table I sat with Bilal when we first arrived and sat down to enjoy the finger food that was kept on the table consisting of; money bags, samosas, chicken nuggets and spring rolls. A plate of heaven...

"How did it go?" Bilal asked without looking up from his phone.

"It went well surprisingly. She gave me her number. So gobe zan kira ta (I'll call her tomorrow)."

"Toh masha Allah. I'll support you all the way." He put his phone in his pocket and threw a puff puff in his mouth as he got up from his seat, "Are you ready?"

"Yeah sure. Let's go."

On our way out I saw Aaliyah again but this time she was crying and I saw an older woman shouting at her. I wanted to go and find out what was going on but changed my mind since it was none of my business.

It didn't take too long to reach my car as it was in proximity to the gruesome scene. It took a lot of self control to not go back to question that woman who was making Aaliyah cry in my presence. After taking a second glance at where they were, I got into the car and shut the door then drove away before I'll think of running back to destroy the woman's night,

Twenty minutes later we were at Bilal's house. Which was close to mine so we got down and headed inside where his mother sat in the living room reading a book and sipping a brown liquid—which looked like coffee—from her cup. We both sat beside the three-seater she was seated on—on the floor—as she engaged us in a small conversation.

"Kai Hamza kana gudu na tun da mace zan baka Kamila ko? (You've been running away from me since I said I'd give you Kamila, right?) She laughed along with her son.

"Ba haka bane Hajiya (It's not like that Hajiya). Ayuka be suka min yawa (Work has been too much for me). I bent my head awkwardly to avoid her eyes.

"Wani irin aiki? (Which kind of work?) No problem just say you don't like Kamila and I'll find another good girl for you."

"Hajiya kiyi hakuri (I'm sorry). I'll make my visits more often." I smiled.

"Even if you don't come, you'll see me in your house with your new bride."

"Mama it's ok. He's tired. His internship starts tomorrow. Let him go. He'll come back tomorrow Insha Allah." Bilal chipped in.

He gave me a knowing look and I mouthed a thank you to him and we both got up then he escorted me outside.

"Sai da safe Hajiya (Goodnight Hajiya). I'll make sure to come tomorrow."

She acknowledges my words with a nod and digs her nose back into her book.

"Tomorrow you have to help me. I need to do some investigation."

He nodded, "About what?"

"Aaliyah mana (now). Who else?"

"She's my cousin you fool." He shook his head and laughed at me.

"And you didn't tell me earlier." I playfully glared at him.

"Take it easy. Gobe (tomorrow) I'll show you her house on our way to the suya spot then when you're ready we can go to the house to see her. Goodnight. Go to your house and sleep." He said jokingly.

"Shut up! Sai da safe (goodnight)."

After our small banter, I exited his house and left to mine which was a few blocks away.

I've grown impatient despite just spending five minutes outside the gate. I wondered where malam Musa went that he couldn't open the gate for me. Without a thought, I started to push the horn of the car producing a series of incessant noises that forced him to finally open the gates to me.

"Yi hakuri dana (I'm sorry my son). Ina bacci ne (I was sleeping)."

I didn't bother replying his apology as I rushed in and parked the car then headed inside to find the entire house dark. Surprisingly, I saw the lights of the kitchen were turned on so I went in to find my mother crying on the grey-ish blue marble floors, her eyes bloodshot and her nose leaking with slime.

"Umma!" I rushed to her side to console her.

"He's going to do it." She said in between sniffs.

"I don't understand Umma. Who's going to do what?"

"Baban ku (your father). Wai (that) he wants another wife." Umma said as her already swollen eyes release more tears just as she made the revelation.

"It's ok mama. I'll talk to kawu Hafeez (uncle Hafeez) to speak to him. Don't worry Insha Allah he'll not go through with it. Please stop crying and sleep mama. Your blood pressure will go high."

I guided her upstairs and dragged her towards her room. Without uttering a single word, she shook her head and walked towards the guest room that was beside the room she shared with my father and walked inside then she gestured for me to come inside. Once we were both inside, she pointed to the couch opposite the bed and I sat there waiting to hear what she wanted to say.

"If he marries her toh wallahi sai na kore ta (I swear I'll chase her away) even if I have to drag her by her head. How stupid can she be to marry a man twice her father's age? It's his wealth she's after. I know! Kuma (and) she won't marry him if I'm still alive and in this house. Now go! I just told you so that if I end up taking drastic measures at least you'd understand why I did it."

I obliged without argument, leaving the room and shutting the door behind me. She was hurting real bad and I could see she would t extreme lengths to protect her home. I'm sure she thought I'd gone because not long after I let go of the handle, I heard her twist the lock and she cried against the door.

I didn't want to leave her there but I knew if I didn't listen she'd react badly so I walked quietly to my room and changed my clothes then immediately drifted to the land of make believe; la la land where I dreamt of Aaliyah as my wife.
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~Aisha Safiyanu 🥀