I made it💃💃💃

Assalamu alaikum.

Abeg vote and comment.

Clad in an abaya was Mimi in all her glory. Her skin was glowing in contrast with the black clothes. She wasn't on the fair side nor on the dark side.

Mimi lined her eyes with Kohl and sprayed her perfume. She looked at herself in the mirror one more time before she exited the room.

"Wait, Zuhaib will arrive soon. So, you're going with him." Her mother's voice stopped her. She hissed in her mind because if uncle Zuhaib was to follow her, then it meant he would be bossing her all around and she hated that.

"Mother, please not uncle Zuhaib." She whined, pursing her lips and fluttering her lashes as though pepper entered her eyes.

"Where's Maleekah then? She's the only one I trust because she's more sensible than you." On any other circumstance, Mimi would complain about her mother calling her a mad girl by comparing her with Maleekah. Thank goodness she doesn't have any sibling, if not she can't predict how many times would her mother compare her with her sibling. Still, she hasn't escaped it because her mother compares her with either Maleekah or her friend's children.

"She's travel," she answered and zoomed out within the speed of air travel. Hajiya Maryam shook her head in regret. She wished she can turn back the hands of time. She wished she didn't allow Mimi to grow up like that. Few years ago she thought this would be the right age to mould Mimi into a good woman, the right time to let her know that life wasn't a crown of goodness. She knew a pot is moulded when the clay is still dry, same way a stick is bent before it hardened.

★

"I'm catching the next flight to London. Break is over," Sadiqu was sitting on a long bench under the shade of tea seller's roof. He was casually throwing fried peanuts in his mouth while he gisted his friends.

"All the best, I wish I got your opportunity to school too." Saminu lamented. If there was anything he hated about his life was lack of education. His grandfather was a farmer, his father was a farmer and they had to train him to be a farmer too. He enrolled himself in school but only stopped when they refused to sponsor his education so he had to drop out.

"Thank you." Sadiqu smiled. He could mirror what was going on in Saminu's heart. He extended his hand and placed it on Saminu's shoulder.

"Saminu, one thing you have to understand is, this life is already designed all we have to do is to follow the art. Whatever that happened to a soul had been ordained and it's for the best. Allah does not oppress a soul- everything that happens turned out to be the best. You might not understand now but by God's grace, you will understand in the nearest future. Be patience so that you will reap the fruits of your patience." Sadiqu finished with a smile.

Saminu stared at Sadiqu for a moment before he slowly nodded.

"Thank you, *aboki na*." They shook hands before they depart ways.

*

When Mimi came out, none of the chauffeurs were available except Samson who said he wasn't moving an inch without Zuhaib. Mimi knew it was her mother's doing so she gave up about going out. She hated being boss around and Zuhaib was an expert on that.

"You mean you've cancel your outing?" Her mother asked. Mimi didn't answer her. She hummed and left for the kitchen.

"Chef Sim, Prepare an omelette for me." She ordered and stomped out of the kitchen fuming in rage. The head of chefs which she referred to as Sim looked at the path she followed and hissed. He hated her so much; even her excellency doesn't talk to him the way Mimi does.

When he was done, he called head of the maids and gave her to deliver Mimi's food. The maid who was in charge of sweeping and cleaning Mimi's room collected. She was a woman in her early thirties with two kids. She had never talked to Mimi neither did Mimi ever talked to her over the years. The only maid Mimi was acquainted with was... Whom had been her nanny since infancy.

"Your food is ready," The maid pushed the door and entered. She had knocked for some minutes but Mimi didn't respond.

"What the hell? Who permitted you to come inside my room?" She thundered, pointing her finger at the maid. The maid wondered how a little girl could be this restless.

"I'm sorry." She uttered not because she meant it but because she didn't want to loose her job.

"I don't know why all of you penniless people are so mannerless."

*look who was talking about manners.* the maid silently went out. She tolerate no nonsense but for her job's sake, she would suck up whatever maltreatment.

Mimi puffed an air out and dived into her omelette.

****

"Nazeer, make sure you read okay? Now I will persuade your father to send more cash to your account." Hajiya Sadiya parked the car at the international airport.

"Mammy please do so. I will miss you mammy," Hajiya Sadiya's eyes were full with tears. Alhaji Omar has made it clear that Nazeer would not step his leg in Nigeria until he bag his degree and brought forth good result. He said he doesn't have a lot of money as government has started inquiring about the way money was spent in the company. So, he had to stop taking the additional cash.

"I will try my best and whenever I get something from him, I will transfer it to you." She finished with her voice cracking. Hajiya Sadiya looked at Nazeer hoping that someday he would make her proud, that's four years away from now.

"I will make you proud Mammy." He reassured her. They bonded for some minutes before he went out of the car while waving at her. He marched to where they appointed to meet to his mates. Sadiqu was the first person he saw.

****

"That's the farm Leek." Mimi pointed at the farm before the car was brought to a halt. Both Mimi and Leek walked out with the driver tailing behind them.

"Let me ask around for the house." Mimi turned her gaze to Maleekah who was holding her head and shaking it.

"I'm having a heavy headache Mimi. Let me go back to the car." Maleekah said in a low voice. She came out so hale and hearty but now... Headache came from no where.

"Eyya sorry. Have some rest in the car." Mimi patted her shoulder. Leek got back to the car. It was if her eyes were waiting for her to reach there, tears began to drip down. No one needed to tell her Mimi liked Sadiqu, she could read it from her eyes.

Mimi and the driver kept asking around until they found the house but unfortunately, Sadiqu has left and his mother wasn't around. Mimi was disappointed and all hope flew away into the thin air.

She was about to reach the car when a man stopped her.

"Please, are you Sadiqu's friend from the city?" The guy asked her and she nodded. She also wore a face cover that day as a way of surprising Sadiqu.

"Yes I am." She smiled.

"He said I should ask of your name before I give you. Your name is something like Mi...Mi...Mi...Lee... Ouch I can't remember." The man slapped his forehead trying to remember her name.

"Mimi." She stared at him.

"Exactly. And your real name is A'ishah or Aminah... I have forgotten." Mimi was surprised. Could it be Sadiqu had been thinking of her the same way she thought of him? What a coincidence.

"Aminah is the name." She smiled again but the man couldn't see her smile.

"Obviously it's you. He asked me to give you this." He gave her a card with a little letter attached to it. Mimi thanked him and shoved it into her bag. She walked to the car and they drove back home without showing Maleekah or talking about the letter.

Okay goodnight.