Zarah

Not long after I sat down a wealthy lady came to get millet and corn from Abbu, beaming ear to ear. She was wearing an expensive material and had gold rings beautifying her fingers. I glance at her neck to know if she was dumb or not. She wasn't dumb after all; she wasn't wearing such a necklace. In a crowded area like this, some thief would simply bump into her and she will literally lose all her accessories

I stared at the woman; she looked young, too young. She possibly can not come to Runji alone to buy grains; she must have a husband around somewhere, or even a guardian. The distance from the big city to Runji is very long. My thoughts were caught short when an older version of her came into view. She dressed as extensively as the younger one whom I concluded to be her daughter. She greeted Abbu as though they've known each other for ages; they might know each other though.

She looked towards me and I greeted her shyly. Surprisingly she answered cheerfully; I thought all rich people are snubs, that's what Ayyah has told me, she told me to make sure I provide a husband who is in my class, because apparently she will not be able to deal with snobbish relatives. I held on to her advice, yet she chases anyone who even dares to smile at me.

"Who is this beautiful girl, Abbu? And why did you bring her here?" She had asked, staring at me, while the younger one was busy counting money for Abbu. I looked away shyly. She called me beautiful, my cheeks became hot.

"She's my niece; she's a very hard working girl. She came to help her poor old uncle" he said smiling. I almost scoffed, he had simply maneuvered my way here, I was not here willingly.

"Masha Allah, she's so pretty. Abbu won't you give her to me, so she'll help me around my house?" she asked pleadingly, and a frown settled on my face. I wasn't going to leave Ayyah, never.

"I doubt her mother will allow that. She's my sister's life" he argued reasonably, with a smile.

"Abbu, I'll send her to school. Please talk to your sister" she said again. Hello! I'm standing right here. I'm not deaf or blind, I'm not going anywhere without my Mama. Ask me right away and I'll give a befitting reply, I thought in my head.

"You will not understand Asiya," he said sadly. I immediately told him I was leaving. He understood and nodded his head. I've always hated staying in uncomfortable places. I know we are not rich, I know we use our millets to cook almost everything; I know we don't eat vegetables, we do grow them. The little plant gets shipped off to the big city. But I've always been content with what I had, my mama taught me to always appreciate what I have. Being asked to go work for someone in the city offended me a lot. I felt disrespected, and little. How could she conclude I am some house girl? I have successfully memorized the whole Qur'an. Mama was surprised to see me back early, she asked if everything was fine and I replied affirmatively. Telling her would break her heart and the last thing I needed is a heartbroken Mama, she becomes meaner when she is sad.

Later at night, I had rested my head on mama's thighs listening to her tell me about her first husband and about how loving and caring he was when we heard movement of a car outside. We stopped talking to know if the person would come in or go to the neighbors. They mostly go to the neighbors because a daughter of theirs married a man from the big city.

"Assalamu alaikum" a feminine voice greeted.

"Wa'alaikum salam" Mama and I answered in unison.

"Come in," Mama said, standing up. Just then, the woman from the market and her daughter came in followed by Abbu. I felt my heart drop in the pit of my stomach. Were they here for the discussion from this afternoon? I would rather have them leave.

"Good evening Malama" Both women greeted each other in unison. Mama had not answered immediately because she was wondering why such expensive looking women would come looking for her. If Abbu was nort with them, she would have directed them to the next house. I had quickly gone inside to get the kerosene lantern which we don't use often because Mama had a small torchlight and we knew the outline of our house very well. I put it on then, ushered them to the big mat I and mama were sitting on. I got a thatched chair a friend bought for mama when she traveled to the south for Abbu to sit on. I went to get the clean small calabash and served them water. They thanked me as I went to snuggle my mama. Abbu cleared his throat.

"Ayyah, I want you to know that whatever God plans for a person, no man can stop it" he had said, making Ayyah frown. When he noticed her furrowed brows, he continued "It's about our little Yasmin.." he stopped talking when Mama sat up and interrupted him.

"What has she done? You know she's just a kid please have mercy......" Mama pleaded even before she knew what was going on.

"Ayyah stop it. She hasn't done anything. That's my problem with you. You think the worst of everything. Why can't you just listen first" he said, clearly annoyed by her attempt to turn the whole place upside down.

"Abbu it's okay please, let me talk to her myself" the older woman said trying to appease my uncle and mommy who were both frowning. "I came to the grand market today to get grains for my family. Then I saw your daughter Yasmin, she looked humble and I would love to take her to my house so she'd help around and in return I promise I'll take her to school, for the western education. Abbu here informed me that she goes to islamiyya only......."

"No" Mama cut her off. "I don't agree with this. I can take care of my daughter and we don't need any favors. I am capable of taking care of my daughter. She's okay with her islamiyya. We don't want your western education" Mama added.

"Ayyah, they are trying to help us" Abbu seethed angrily.

"I don't need their help. We've been managing perfectly fine. Haidar feeds us, besides she would have been married by now if not because you kept rejecting her suitors" Mama fired back glaring at Abbu. The whole compound remained quiet because of the tension. Then the daughter cleared her throat, after she thought the tension had dispersed.

"We are not saying you should give her to us right away. We want you to think. The world is developing rapidly, it's no longer the time of farmers and nomads, and this is the era of doctors, lawyers, nurses. Your daughter Yasmin should not be left at home to wash and cook for a grown man. She should study and help treat us when we are sick or when we..."

"Who are you?" Mama asked the poor lady annoyingly, as if the lady had no importance at all.

"I am her younger sister," she said cheekily. Oh well, I almost got it right. She could easily pass as the woman's daughter. "She was 19 when our mum conceived me. That's why we look like this" she explained further.

"Okay, I'm listening" Mama said without interest, I felt a little embarrassed that she spoke to the Lady in that manner.

"Ayyah, wallahy you will thank us if you give us the opportunity to take her with us. You can come along with us if you want or you can visit each other...."

"Don't you have female children that will help you with your chores? Why must you take mine from me" Mama started crying. "Just because I don't have money, you want to separate me from my daughter. She's all I have, ''she added. Mama is quite dramatic if you ask me. She could simply say no and we'll let it die down. But no! She's decided to cry her way out of this one. Unknown to her Abbu is hell bent on allowing me to go.

"My daughters are all in boarding school. My sons are in University. I will send her to school also. I just need someone to keep me company. I'll pay you every month. And I'll send her to school. School is very important. Remember, I'll help her do the chores too. She won't be working alone...."

"That's slavery. And I do not consent to it" Mama said, turning away.

1 Month Later.

Hajiya and her sister's visit created a rift between Ayyah and Abbu. Unfortunately he wasn't able to convince her, all efforts to explain the importance of western education went in vain because Mama did not want to get separated from me, she would go ahead and destroy each point brought forth with her little or no knowledge about the life of people in the Big city.

The family got divided; Yaya Haidar was supporting Abbu, which made mama angrier. I was torn between their quarrels; Abbu would call and explain why he wants me to go to the big city, which involves studying and a better life plus a better future. Ayyah would sit me down and tell me all the reasons why she doesn't want me to go to the big city; she said they might introduce me to prostitution. Of all the things Mama had to use to strengthen her argument, she chose prostitution. Ha! Of course those women are not prostitutes. Yaya Haidar will quarrel with mama everyday trying to make her see his reason. She would angrily tell him to leave her house. I became tired, I could not eat well. Mama wasn't fun anymore because she was always moping around the house.

One Tuesday afternoon, I sat at the back of Mama's Hut, crying my eyes out. We've turned to the center of gossip in Runji, everyone kept updating each other about what level the quarrel between Mama, her son and Abbu was at. I always receive funny looks when I'm running an errand, some of them would outrightly ask me just to spite me. I was crying hard when Abbu came in, he heard sniffs and he followed the sound to where I was. The older man went ahead to call my mama, she wasn't pleased when I explained to her why I was crying. She apologized, and then she had a long talk with Abbu and Haidar. They took more than 3 hours to have the discussion. At times Abbu would raise his voice, then Mama; I didn't hear Yaya Haidar's voice. I had no idea what they were talking about. I knew it was about me and the city.

Later, Mama came out with swollen eyes indicating she's been crying. I kept my distance, scared she'll pounce on me. To my greatest surprise she hugged me tightly. Mama must be very sad to hug me with her red eyes. Red eyes indicated anger as far as I know. We stayed late in the night, she was advising me. I became scared thinking they were getting me married. On the contrary, I was going to the big city, two weeks were all the preparation I needed. I washed all my clothes; Mama got me a Ghana must-go bag, where I folded all my clothes into. She bought me a pair of bathroom slippers, and she bought a new hijab for me. I refused to cry, knowing I would only make mama sad. That was the last thing I needed. By 5:00pm, Hajiya came in her big car and parked in front of our house. She greeted Mama respectively, Abbu and she had a talk about the government. I am very sure Abbu knows little or nothing about the government or maybe he does from that lousy radio of his where he listens to news. I don't know why she's talking to him. Mama hugged me tightly; I promised I would visit her often. Hajiya gave her a phone and gave me one; she showed mama how to operate it which mama could not understand. In the end, they decided to teach her how to call and how to pick a call.

They practiced multiple times so she'd get it. Then she gave Mama some money, which she refused saying she feels as if she was selling her daughter. Abbu collected it for her though. Mama told Hajiya to take care of me, and any single complaints she might get, she would go to that city and bring me back home.

I got in the car, then suddenly I felt my heart constricting, I couldn't breathe. I felt as if I was being choked. I started sweating. I ran out of the car and hugged my Mama, wailing. She started crying also. She made Hajiya promise not to maltreat me. She made her promise to treat me well. She made her promise to always be there for me. She made her promise; she'll call her first if anything happens. After my tantrums, Abbu persuaded me and I got in, then he closed the door. I hugged my Ghana must-go (a kind of wretched duffle bag).The journey to the city wasn't exciting, at first it was dark and I couldn't really make out the images. At first it was just dry land, and then I saw a few trees. Unlike Runji, there were a lot of trees everywhere. We made sure to plant trees yearly. After an hour or so, I started seeing buildings, long buildings, and electricity everywhere. I couldn't help but place my nose on the window as if to touch it.

This took my breath away. I never thought a big city was like this, I never thought a big city would be so attractive. I was so carried away with the amount of light I saw everywhere that I can't remember how we got to the house. Unlike Runji, where we see light once a month or nothing at all, this place is paradise. Hajiya blasted the car horn bringing my attention back to the environment. A few minutes later, I saw a man opening the gate, as though his head was on fire. She drove in and parked the car.

"Come down Yasmin, welcome to your new home" She said grinning at me. I fumbled with the car door, the darn thing refused to open. Hajiya had to open it for me. I shyly cane down, quite embarrassed.

"Hajiya Sannu da zuwa, ya hanya, Sannu sannu" the gateman said, grabbing my Ghana must-go. I clutched it tightly, refusing to let go. Ignoring my panic mode, he continued dragging it; soon we were fighting for my own bag of clothes. Hajiya had to intervene.

"Tanimu leave her bag now.... Haba" Hajiya shouted at him, making him giggle annoyingly. I scrunch my face then walked over to where she was standing. She had started going into the house before noticing I wasn't behind her. "Yasmin, that's his work. He helps people carry their bags into the house" she explained.

"I can carry it. '' I mumbled, trailing behind Hajiya Asiya. When she pushed open the door, I almost lost a footing and fell face flat. The house is nothing like the ones in Runji. I've never seen so much brightness, unless in the afternoon, everywhere looked as if it's 2:00pm. There was a very big black thing and chairs in front of it. These chairs were nothing like I've seen before. As soft as bread, you could chew it. The fragrance of the house is so pure, no stench of millet and corn. I kept getting carried away as Hajiya toured me around the house. Everything felt so foreign and my head felt as if it would fall.

I was quite stressed but I very much enjoyed seeing everything. Then she took me to my supposed room. A milk and coffee paint, a little bed and a stand. I saw the Quran placed on the side drawer, and there's a prayer mat on the stool in front of the drawer. This prayer mat is prettier than that of Abbu and do trust me, when I tell you, his was the fanciest. This one had flowery designs and it looked soft. I ransacked my bag and brought out my new hijab then placed it on the prayer mat.

She explained how there's a bathroom down the corridor so I could take my bath and then she brought me pajamas which she explained I needed to wear while going to bed. She explained how to use the toilet, which I did not understand much but I am a determined person and was going to do it myself. I carried my wrapper which serves as a towel and then went to the exact place that Hajiya had described. I got in, switched on the bathroom switch to illuminate it. I went straight to the tap, I touched different parts of it until the water started dropping, and God it was fascinating.

I had my bath and then performed an ablution immediately. I wrapped my wrapper around me then came out. The water is so cold, exactly what I needed in this Sokoto heat. As I closed the bathroom door, a very fair tall person looked down at me, His gray eyes peering into my soul; no eyes could match the intensity of his. I noticed he was angry; his eyes were red and red meant anger. I clutched my wrapper tightly as I stepped back, he was scaring me.

I felt so naked; I have never allowed anyone to see me this naked, so I placed my hand on my shoulders trying to shield myself from his gaze. He was staring at me; it felt like I was being undressed. He took a step closer to me and I closed my eyes, scared he might do something to me. I peaked when I didn't feel anything. He was still standing there, with his hands akimbo with a cocked brow.

"Why did you bathe here?" He asked. Surprisingly his voice is so deep it made my heart skip a bit. I wanted to explain but Hajiya came to my aid.

"Farooq, she's the girl I told you about, stop scaring her. She didn't mean to use your bathroom" Hajiya said, persuading him. He frowned again but didn't say anything. He started walking away but turned back and said

"M..... make her clean it" I released a long breath I didn't know I was holding. Hajiya smiled at me reassuringly before pointing to the bathroom I should use next time.