•Aaliyah

I smiled sheepishly at myself as I read my chat with Hamza this morning. I had just performed my Fajr (morning) salat (prayer) when I heard my phone vibrate beside me. I picked it up and saw it was a message from Hamza who greeted me with a good morning and went as far as using endearments.

Hamza: Ina kwana gimbiyata (good morning my princess). Hope you slept well? Ya mutanen gidan? (How is everyone at home?)

Aaliyah: Good morning to you too. I slept well Lafiyansu kalau (They're all fine)

I lied through my teeth when I told him I was fine when in reality I'd been battling with a headache I'd gotten from crying the whole night and sleeping for only—at most—four hours. I fought back the tears as I remembered the entire scene of Aunty Raliya venting out her anger and frustration at me over something I had no knowledge of .

She claimed to have told me to tell the caterer to make dumplings and Turkish delights which I failed to deliver and caused her to waste more money on making extra pieces of what was already provided for because it wasn't enough for her guests but she didn't even let me come close to even distributing the invitation cards for the wedding. She labeled me as her trusted bad gem or the unlucky one. And spat in my face to ridicule me even more. If only my parents were alive...

Hamza: Masha Allah☺️

Aaliyah: So are you from the groom or brides family?

Hamza: None. I came for the bride though.

Aaliyah: I'm from the brides family. But how do I not know you?

Hamza: I'm a man of mystery 😌 you wouldn't know me.

Aaliyah: I find it hard to trust people who walk around a fog of mystery.

Hamza: A girl with trust issues😮 don't worry I'm harmless so you can trust me. Actually I'm Bilal's friend; your cousin.

Aaliyah: Everyone says that but actions speak louder than words so prove it😌 and as you're trying to do that I'll get back to my azkar. I'll talk to you later😊

Hamza: Toh sai anjima (Ok, later). I'll be waiting for your return my queen😊

And with that our conversation ended then I went back to saying my azkar. After I was done I hopped back on the bed and couldn't help it to think about this enigmatic man who has come into my life when I least expected it. A fallen angel I'd named him because he speaks in such a subtle manner and doesn't persist when I resist. Masha Allah he was handsome with great features at that and he was tall with a slightly lean build but he was more on the chubby side which was ok since he didn't have a protruding belly.

I envied the way his eye lashes were long compared to my curly ones which were short and his light complexion looking better than a tan any white individual could have.

I doubt if he was any tribe but Fulani because his hair looked a bit different. It was curly and full to an extent with a glow even I couldn't match with the mall of hair products in my wardrobe. Definitely an envy for the men!

My thoughts were ended abruptly when I felt a huge bag being thrown on me. I looked to the side to see Aunty Raliya glaring at me from where she stood at the door.

"Baza ki tashi ba sai na mare ki? (Won't you stand up before I slap you?) You're seeing visitors and yet you're still sitting down.

Before I could push the heavy bag and get off the bed she held me down with it and slapped me twice on each cheek before letting me go.

"I'm sorry."

"So you still have the mouth to talk ko (right)?" She grimaced.

I stared at her, my vision blurred with tears cascading down my face, creating a fountain of despair as they flowed profusely like a broken tap. They say when someone slaps your right cheek you turn the left cheek but this time I wanted to get up and beat her to pulp because I'd already gotten tired of her constant nagging and unreasonable assault. Not that I'm saying there should be a reason for physical assault or any type of assault at all...

"Kina ji? (Are you listening?), from today you'll be sleeping on the floor while Safiya sleeps on the bed. If you like join her when she insists you stay in the bed. *Idan kunne yaji toh jiki ya tsira (A word is enough for the wise)." She walked away with a satisfied smile on her face once she knew she had passed the message across.

I moved from the bed and plopped down on the carpet which would be my new bed henceforth as I wept continuously till I fell asleep.

"Tashi kiyi sallah Aaliyah (Wake up and pray Aaliyah)."

I literally got scared thinking it was Aunty Raliya waking me up but I realized it was Safiya.

"Ok." I said and got up quickly to perform my wudu (ablution) and prayed the Asr salat.

"So, my dear friend how have you been? Ya hakuri? (How are you holding up?). Ina makaranta lokacin da na samu labarin rasuwan su (I was in school when I heard about their deaths). May Al-Jannatul Firdaus be their final abode."

I couldn't find words to answer as she kept talking only for me to start crying all over again as fragments of the memories I have kept coming back, forming a big picture that was the Germans of my indispensable life of pain and anguish.

"A-a-ameen. Nagode (Thank you)."

She smiled, "so yanzu (now) how do you cope with this woman and bakin hali (bad character)?"

"Alhamdulillah ina managing din ta (I'm just managing her. Matsalan yau danan da na gobe (today's problem is different from tomorrow's problem) . Sai a hanakali da wanna matan (I just have to take things slowly)."

"Hmmm...so ya makaranta (How is school?"). Ku ne ake ji da ku 'yan kasan waje (it's the students schooling abroad that are accorded higher respect."

"Ai yanzu nayi shekara daya a gida van tafi makaranta ba (I've been at home for a year now without going to school)." I fiddled with my fingers to distract me.

"Subhanallah! Why?"

"How will I go when she has refused to pay my tuition?"

****

"Salamu Alaykum Cinderella." Hamza cooed.

"Wa Alaykumusalam. To what do I owe this special call?"

"You have to pay before I tell you." He chuckled.

"Shikenan (alright) since you won't tell me I'll just hang up."

"I'll tell you. Haba mana chill. Sama zafi, kasa zafi (Up, hot. Down, hot) He laughed, "How will I tell you?) He laughed again, "Where do I start from?"

"I'm listening, spill."

"If I tell you, promise you won't run."

"Ok fine."

"I can see you. Can I come over so we could talk?"

I wanted to run and hide somewhere even if it was in a bush. I searched for the nearest shrub to hide while I searched the perimeter for any cars it was gifted with a huge tree that was big enough for me to hide behind.

"I can still see you but it's cool if you aren't ready to see me." He said disappointedly.

"I'm sorry. I'll tell you when I'm ready."

"Ba komai (no problem). Take your time. I'll be waiting. Sai anjima (later) Cinderella, I'm going somewhere now."

I felt so stupid knowing that he had witnessed my failed attempt at espionage. But how did he know it was me?

Bilal.

Aaaaaaaaaaargh I literally want to rip his head off his body.
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~Aisha Safiyanu🥀