Chapter 33: Chapter 33

The parlor was pin-drop silent. Some people were ready to unleash their anger while some were confused as to what was happening. To gather everyone’s attention, Goggo, the eldest and the head of the family cleared her throat, “assalamu alaikum warahmatullahi wa barakatuh. Yau Allah ya hada mu a nan domin mu tattauna kan abun da yar mu da take zaune anan, Aneesah yar Abdullahi Sulayman, taje a tabo mana. {may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon you all. We are gathered here to talk about what our daughter here, Aneesah, the daughter of Abdullahi Sulayman, has done}.

“she has dragged our reputation in the mud. But that’s not what matters now, what matters now is that she’s pregnant with someone’s child and her wedding has been set with Muhammad to next five months. What do we do about this?”, Goggo concluded turning to look at Aneesah whose head was ducked low in fear of what her dad, Uncle Baba would do to her.

“ so now, Aneesah what do you have to say?”, Uncle Baba said sending deadly glares Aneesah’s way.” Wallahi baba sharrin shaidan ne {I swear by Allah it was the devil’s doing}. And I didn’t want to do it, but you were forcing me to marry Muhammad. I don’t love him and I told you but you said no, I have to get married to a man of your choice”, Aneesah completed breaking into sobs.

Paw!!! Uncle Baba slapped Aneesah. “kina hauka ne? {are you mad?}. No matter what you do if Allah wills you’ll marry Muhammad you’ll marry him. Why destroy your honor?”.

Goggo signalled for Aunty Maryam, Aneesah’s mother to try and calm her raging husband down and once she had placed her arm on his shoulder he pushed it and said,” this is all your fault. Why do you always teach our children nonsense? I don’t regret marrying Asma’u because she’s been a good influence on Afrah” .

After he had managed to calm down he looked at Salisu, the father of Aneesah’s unborn child. “kai kuma {as for you} did you plan on getting married to her? No! Why ruin her life if you won’t marry her? Anyways it’s her fault for giving her body to you. Now we’re going to plan a wedding which will happen in the next one week In Shaa Allah. I was planning a lavish wedding for you but unfortunately you have destroyed my trust in you so it will have only four events including the walimah. I expect the groom’s family to bring the kayan lefe by next week Monday In Shaa Allah. I leave you with your aunts and grandmother to talk to you. As for Afrah, I expect you to tell whomsoever is your boyfriend to send his elders here and we’ll talk things out before you become a mirror of your sister. Ma’assalam”.

With that he stood up and left completely disappointed in his first daughter whom he had showered with love but glad that his second daughter didn’t follow his shameless wife’s advices talkless of following in on her sister’s footsteps.

Goggo also stood up and left followed by the other men including the groom’s family. The groom’s mother looked at her and said, “da kunji Tsoron Allah da zai fi muku. Amma haka Allah ya tsara. Allah ya bada zaman lafiya. Sai kiyi magana da kawayen ki akan events din da za’a yi. Idan kun gama sai kimin magan koh? {it would’ve been better for the both of you if you had feared Allah. But that’s how Allah has planned it. May you live in utter peace and harmony. Talk to your friends about the events and when you’ve decided you contact me okay?}”.

Aneesah replied with a curt nod and the groom’s mum left. Aunty Nana, being the blunt and inconsiderate human being she was said,” ai daman duk yaya da jikokin matar nan sai a hankali. Allah ya kyauta. Allah ya kara. Nan gaba zaku tsaya kuyi tunani kafun ku kuma wani shashancin. Mtcheeeww”. And then she also left.

Slowly everyone left leaving Afrah and Aneesah alone in the room. Afrah glared at Aneesah and stood up to leave the room but was held back by her elder sister, Aneesah.

“Afrah”, Aneesah voiced trying to get her sister’s attention but Afrah wasn’t having any of it. To her Aneesah had just ruined her life, their lives. If she had just waited like Salisu’s mother said. But who can question the choice of the Creator, Khaliqul-Khaliqeen. Verily, He knows what’s best for them.

Afrah pried her sister’s hand off her and walked away only for Aneesah to fall on her knees and break into series of sobs and if onlys.

Afrah entered her room and laid on the large bed covered with a bed sheet designed by her and Aneesah. She peeled the bed sheets of the bed, tearing it in the process. She hated her sister but what could she do, the decision had been made and she knew better than to even try going against her father, uncle Baba.

She picked her infinix smart three and made a phone call “hello. Wallahi akwai matsala {I swear by Allah there is a problem}”, she sniffed and let out a sob.

“meya faru? Kuma {what happened? And..} why are you crying?”, Affaan replied worried about the lady who saved him from a lecturer a few years back who is presently his potential wife.

She sniffed again then said, “kawai kazo {just come} . It’s Aneesah”. He sighed then replied with an okay before cutting the call. Affaan knew about Aneesah and Afrah’s constant rifts on the issue of Aneesah’s boyfriend, Salisu.

Afrah managed to compose herself and stop crying. She washed her face and draped a hijab on her shoulder. She applied powder and kohl remembering her mother’s words, “whenever you go to see a man never go with a plain face, always wow him. Make him feel like you’re the one for him”.

Her mother was such a shameless woman but Afrah couldn’t even show her the right way. Even if she did would she listen to her? Of course she wouldn’t.

Afrah said Alhamdulillah remembering that no matter how hard things got she still had someone to turn to, her step mom, Umma Asma’u. But sadly she wasn’t there to console her and advice her when she really needed it.

Umma Asma’u is the best stepmother one can ever ask for. She had been the only shoulder Afrah cries on since she was married seven years back whike Afrah was in Jss2. Too bad the nice people are always tested. Umma Asma’u happens to be barren. So bad for a nice woman.

Afrah wore her black floor length hijab and sauntered out with her infinix smart three connected to an earpiece as she listened to Mallam Pantami’s Khudba {sermon}.

She reached the gate then sight Affaan coming fown from his Camry smiling. When he saw that she wasn’t returning the smile he sighed and they exchanged pleasantries.

Going straight to the point, Afrah said “Aneesah tayi ciki {Aneesah has gotten pregnant}”. Affaan’s eyes were as wide as saucers as he gasped. She continued “wannan Salisun shiya mata ciki {it was that Salisu that impregnated her}. Now Abba has decided that we’ll be getting married in the next one week. I have to tell my boyfriend…” she air quoted the boyfriend.. “to send his elders to talk about our marriage. Affaan if you’re not ready it’s okay I’ll beg Goggo to talk to him since she likes Umma Asma’u…”.

He shut her up by saying “I was going to surprise you when you see the kayan lefe tomorrow. But I guess my surprise has been bummed. I got a promotion at work last week but it got finalised day before yesterday so we rushed to buy everything and everything is being placed in their various suitcases as we speak. So I’m very ready. I’d already bought a land and it’s just the furniture that’s remaining and Kawu Sule said they’re coming in from Dubai tomorrow In Shaa Allah. Wallahi I wanted to surprise you”.

Afrah was spellbound. All she wanted to do was to jump on him and tell him how much she loves him.

After some more chatters here and there and talking about how the wedding would be tiring an excited Afrah ran to the room set aside for her and Aneesah for when they come to Gombe.

She plopped down on their bed and let out an excited squeal. She remembered Umma Asma’u’s advice “when ever you’re happy make sure you pray a two unit voluntary prayer to thank your Creator for showing you such immense joy. No matter how little joy you feel”.

She entered the bathroom and performed ablution then spread a green praying mat which was a souvenir from Aunty Fareeda’s wedding. She prayed elongating her Sujood {prostration} and thanking Allah.

After praying she decided to share the news with her bestie, advisor and favorite person, her step mother, Umma Asma’u. Umma Asma’u picked the call at the second ring, “hello Umma Asma’u na {hello my Umma Hadiza}”. Afrah said laying on her stomach on her and Aneesah’s bed tracing the thread that served as some sort of design on the bed with her fingers.

“Na’am Apuya yadai naji kina ta wani jin dadi me aka sama mana ne. Ai ni na zata yanzu zakiyita kuka ne akan maganar aurenki {Yes Apuya what happened, why are you so excited? I thought you’d be crying because of your wedding}”.

“banace ki daina kirana Apuya bah. Amma tunda ina jin dadi zan barki kiyitayi. Kinsan meya faru? Hmm… {I thought I told you to stop calling me Apuya. But I’ll let it slide today since am happy. Do you know what Hmmm..} “. She told her all what Affaan told her and Umma Asma’u couldn’t be happier for her. Afrah really deserves happiness and happiness was what she got.

After a lot if teasing from Umma Asma’u about her being an Amarya {newly wed} they decided to go pray Asr.

After the prayer Afrah met her father, Uncle Baba, on a call in his room while their mother, Aunty Maryam, was nowhere to be found. She must be in one of the guest rooms with Aneesah advising her about the wedding and whatnot, Afrah thought.

Her father finished with the call and he asked her what she wanted. She told him about what Affaan said and he replied “zasu iya zuwa bayan Isha. Sai ki fada wa mamanki ta shirya musu wani dan abun motsa baki, koh dan small chops haka {tell them to come after Isha prayer. Tell your mother to prepare something for them to munch on, even if it’s small chops}.

She nodded and stood up then left the room. Once she was three feet away from the room she called Affaan to tell him what her father said and he said that anytime would be convenient for them. She cut the call and went over to tell her mother.

After some insults Aunty Maryam wrote a list of what was needed then gave it to three house maids to get it for her from the market. She then gathered all the girls ranging from twelve years upwards and they proceeded to work.

After two hours of kneading, frying, cooking, chopping, baking, washing and dishing they had prepared Fried rice, coleslaw, watermelon and ginger juice, samosa and chocolate chip cookies.

They all proceeded to get ready for the night. After Isha prayer Aneesah quickly made up Afrah’s face in nude makeup and pink lips. Albeit Afrah was angry with her sister she was kind of not happy because if not for her Afrah’s wedding wouldn’t be moved closer.

After sometime the wedding was finalized. In the midst of the celebration, Affaan’s Uncle asked “but why do you want the wedding to be so close? Is there any problem?”.

“well her older sister gave her body and is presently a waiting mother so to avoid something like that repeating itself albeit this one is quite different from her sister  but you know prevention is better than cure”, Uncle Baba said and the rest nodded in agreement.

“you’re right. Afterall they’ve known each other for a while now and Alhamdulillah he has a job of his own, a house and the kayan lefe are ready so what else are we waiting for? Allah ya bada zaman lafiya”, Affaan’s father added in agreement.

They chatted a bit and once it was 9:30pm, they all dispersed and left the couple to be to spend some time together. After ten minutes, the groom to be’s family left and then preparations for the wedding started.

Afrah together with Aneesah and their friends decided over FaceTime that they’d have the Kamu, dinner, Walima and bridal shower.

They all finally retired to bed happy and tired. Halima’s happiness was the most as one could sense it from miles away. The reason for her happiness was that her parents flight was landing in Gombe Airport at exactly 2:00pm the next day.