Nature seem to be oblivious to her current dilemma as it kept pressing for its demands to be met.

It can't get any worse. she said to herself, besides, she could recall the different types of toilets she learnt in primary school; water closet, bucket, and pit. "time to say hi to the next category of toilets" she sighed as she approached the door. Her hand lingered on the knob before she twisted it and a gasp escaped her as the realisation hit her, School was a hoax!

She stared wide eyed at the urbane multifunction rail shower with the over head. The moroccan fish scale tile glistened more than any jewellery she had ever possessed, her eyes drifted to the teal blue bubbles deluxe plastic resin toilet seat, her only relief was the fact that it is still shaped like the ordinary ones she had seen in her health education textbook. kinda anyways.

Without much ado, she set about the business of relieving herself, at the same time ignoring the coldness of the toilet seat against her skin. Her eyes scanned the toilet for a plastic kettle, or since they are rich, a silver one like the one Bademmo bought from town. To her dismay, there was non.

She face palmed and wondered how she will get water. Just then, it hit her to look for a tap. Yes, there may be one in here, she thought.

she walked awkwardly around the bathroom (as her steps was restricted by the panties that entwined her legs and didn't allow for swift movement), touching and twisting anything she could lay her hands on in other to get water. she was relived when she saw the wash hand basin with what she prayed was a tap, but unfortunately, it wouldn't turn on no matter how she tried. It was then she spotted the hand shower. As she held it, she saw a button on its handle. Common sense instructed her to press it, as she did, powerful jets of water sprayed all over her, momentarily blinding her, and in the process, causing her to lose her balance and slip on the wet floor.

She couldn't fetch the water so she washed right there and made her way back. Now that her clothes was wet and she didn't have a change of clothes, as 'they' had specifically insisted that she comes with nothing, because she will have all that she needed here. She felt the chill of the air conditioning more than ever as it blasted on her wet clothes.

She was too terrified to lie on the bed, hence she grabbed the duvet and lay on the cold tiles which sent shivers in her body. She pulled the blanket tightly and closed her eyes. Random images from years back to more recent ones kept flashing before eyes. Slowly, she drifted off to a dreamless sleep.

Her sixth sense was on high alert, as a weird feeling that someone is watching her was so overwhelming. She tried to recall where she was, and then it dawned on her. She was filled with so much dread as to who was in her room. Could it be a woman? She tried to reason with her eyes closed. The floral scent that had filled the room unmistakingly belonged to the intruder.

She opened her eye to be greeted by the early morning rays that filled up the room. She had over slept. The figure in the chair swerved and she came face to face with Hajja.

She sat upright rubbing the rest of the sleep off her eyes.

"good morning. " her voice was a bit hoarse.

"might be to you, but definitely not for me. It appears you have skipped the morning prayers, am I right?"

"I didn't hear the adhan, I think its because of..."

"spare me the details, will you? I am here for more important issues, but first, go clean up and pray." she said in her slow and equally menacing voice.

"I...there is no kettle or bucket in the toilet, and it makes it hard for me to use."

"why am I not surprised? Hanny." she muttered under her breath as she stood up and went towards the toilet.

"I can't believe am doing this." She muttered.

"Come with me."

She showed her how to use the toilet properly and instructed her to take a take a bath and do her ablution.

Ten minutes later, she emerged from the bathroom all washed up. The robe felt so soft against her skin that she felt she would have no qualms wearing it all day.

Hajja was standing next to the huge wardrobe apparently looking for something.

She directed her to the dressing mirror, and when she was done, she handed her some new clothes and underwears. Biba walked back into the toilet and changed.

They are a perfect fit if she chose to ignore the tightness on her bosom, which she gladly did.

She took a hijab and was shown a praying corner where the carpet was facing the qiblah. She prayed and came back to Hajja who was growing impatient by the minute. She scrutinised her from head to toe.

"I see that I have quite underestimated some parts...of you" her eyes lingered momentarily on Biba's chest.

"anyway, they will do for now. Sit down,"

She squatted on the soft carpet ignoring the spare chair. Hajja opened her mouth to say something, but then decide against it. When she was sure she had her attention, she began,

"well, I am going to say but a few words, and I hope you stick to them, because that will make things easier for the both of us."

The slight pause made Biba nod her head.

"you and Anwar...this whole marriage thing? As much as its all fun and glee for you, is something he will need time to adjust to. So, he is keeping his old room which is on this floor on the east wing for now. Second, I won't tolerate any form of embarrassment. when I have guest around, you stay up here until they leave, and if when I demand your presence, I do not want to see you in the garish make up such as the one you were wearing yesterday. Lastly, I hate slow learners. so, whatever you learn around here, make sure you stick it up in your head, understand?"

Biba nodded. This time, a bit more vigorous than the previous.

"thats all...for now." she stood up.

"breakfast will be ready in a two hours. I want you downstairs by then." She said on her way out.

Solitutude tends to always take Biba on a ride to memory lane.

she sat sulking by the river bank were the children were playing; mostly swimming and racing each other. At the far end, the the grown ups were doing the laundry and dishes. Nini saw her and hastily squeezed the wrapper she was washing and laid it carefully on a nearby rock along with other piles of washed clothes.

She asked her what was wrong.

"you cant help me."

"how will you know if you didn't tell me?"

"it is actually not something you can do...it is a children's thing."

"trust me, I was one too."

Biba looked at her closely, as if doubting it.

"I don't know how to float on water and nobody wants to teach me how to." she sulked

Nini laughed. "how about I teach you? but just don't get your hopes up, its been long since I did, but I think I still know how."

She taught her how to take deep breathes, relax her body and shoulders, and let her body float on the water. She sank several times and came up coughing up water, but she was determined. Nini had to step in waist deep and stretch her hands beneath Biba's back and instructed her to lie on it same way she does on the bed , after which she told her to take deep breathes until she felt it in her abdomen.

It took her a while before she realised Nini had gone back to doing the laundries and she was floating on her own. She jumped out and ran towards her grandma and hugged her, earning them some curious looks and a few smiles from the other women.

"thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"its alright, why did you want to float all of a sudden anyway?"

"I didn't tell you about this, but I had been wanting to fly for a while now. But I knew it was not possible so, I decided to float because its like flying...but on water." she smiled

"any reason in particular why you wanted to fly?" Nini smiled back.

"I want to be free, I want to fly away with all the troubles I brought you, and you will be trouble free and because they are my troubles, I don't think they will bother me as much." Biba said looking at her bare toes.

The smile vanished from Nini's face and she gently shoo-ed her back to the kids. That night, she cried herself to sleep.

************************************

In the face of adversity, different people react differently. Anwar did what he did best when faced with such situations. In this case, he is knee deep in the situation. Yesterday has been a day he had dreaded ever since he found out his dad has made a pact with a dead old friend of his to join their children in holy matrimony.

He had laughed because he knew there was no way in hell he was going to agree to it. He had a girlfriend then that he had promised marriage to, and he definitely is not one to go back on his word. Then came the second shocking revelation. Between the two, he wasn't sure which was the lesser evil, but it shook him to the very core of his being, it angered him, and he became more dependent on his 'stuff.'

There had to be a limit to the hold parents have on their children, some kind of boundary where you take charge and for once, they take a back seat. But where would that be found in our society? A society that held steadfast to a hundred century old tradition. Hasn't it been long enough?

He finished dressing in a beige caftan and fastened the gold cuffs as he made for his laptop which was still open by the side table. A movement caught his eye downstairs. A groan escaped him as he saw the last person he wished to see on earth. She had her back to him, but the lack of bodily movement from her suggested captivation towards the fishes on the wall aquarium. Then the unexpected happened, she inched closer and pressed her face to the glass. Was she kissing the fishes or just feeling the temperature of the aquarium with her lips? he scoffed, he closed the curtain and walked away from the annoying sight.

He was going to allow nothing, not even her to ruin his day. He had a perfect plan and when he is done, everything will be as it should. The wheels of his plan are going to be in motion starting today.

He was busy devising all his plots and didn't realise when he walked smack into someone.

"hey! watch where you..." he trailed off

"oh am so sorry." she apologised.

"you did this deliberately didn't you? You think this will get you the attention you seek? You think I care if you are here or not?"

"thats a lot of questions." she sighed.

"what?" he asked

"let me answer them one at a time please. I didn't see you coming, I wasn't seeking your attention, and yes, I know you don't care if I was here." she said, making a counting gesture with her fingers.

She started to walk away, but he grabbed her arm and pulled her closer. His voice was icy,

"listen, and listen good. I don't know what games you are trying to play here, and I honestly don't give a rat's ass finding out about them, but don't you ever come in my fucking way again." he said between gritted teeth.

She furrowed her bushy brows, a bit confused as to why he was upset. All she did was answer his questions in the most polite way possible.

A clapping sounds interrupted them

Hanny approached wearing a purple floral maxi dress. "isn't this a sight to die for? I smell love in the air." she made a sniffing gesture.

Anwar turned and glared at her, Biba stared back, but only wondering how someone could say something so stupid.

"you are wrong. Love is a feeling, hence it lacks smell. The only thing you can smell in here is burning incense." Biba smilingly replied, wondering why Hanny had to lie.

"I will be damned." He looked disbelievingly at her smiling face.

************************************
who is Hanny?
why is she hostile towards Biba?
follow me as I unravel the story of the fulani girl.

there are still some few characters we are yet to meet before the story starts taking shape. until then, keep reading.
xoxo

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