Chapter 5: Chapter 5

Friendship is love without his wings!

-Lord Byron

I woke up very early, took my bath and fixed my makeup before I remembered I haven’t observed salat. “If I perform ablution my makeup would go to waste” I thought. Fajr was the only prayer I was accustomed to because my family offered it in congregation every morning, I felt incomplete not to have observed it. I consoled myself that I would remember the next day. Sholape and Rahamat woke up later; when Sholape saw that I was ready she looked amazed. “Do you think you are resuming office work?” She asked. “I mean check the time it’s 25 minutes after 6, the earliest lecture is by 8a.m. which is rare on the timetable.” “Leave Aisha alone, you know laziness is in your bone, no dey compare everyone to yourself” Ramat cautioned her. She stood up and went to get a bucket of water, few minutes later Sholape also got out of bed. For someone as beautiful as Sholape, I was surprised at the ridiculous amount of time she used in front of a mirror. I told her to hurry up or we would be late to class and she simply said in her cocky way of talking, “Babe, beauty is a serious business. We are no longer in secondary school nobody cares if we go to class late”. “I care just hurry up” I told her and turned to face Rahamat “I guess you are ready?” I asked and she answered with a resounding yeah. “Good, we will leave Miss World behind if she delays us for another minute.” Sholape turned to flash me a grin that meant you wouldn’t dare.

We reached the class area and it occurred to me that Sholape and Rahamat were in the same department. After they had gone I was rooted to a spot for some minutes. I asked some students for description but they didn’t know where I was supposed to go, I guess they were freshers like me. At last I approached a guy; he is tall with broad shoulders like basketball players, well bearded and dark in complexion. He wore a football club jersey but I didn’t know which club because I’m not a fan of football. I only knew Ronaldo and Messi courtesy of Yusuf and Ibrahim’s argument on who is the better player. “Excuse me sir! Please I’m going to Faculty of Management Science, can you show me the way”. He looked at me and smiled “Asalamualeikum” he greeted. “Wahalaykumsalam” I replied impatiently. “I would have love to take you there myself but let me describe the way to you” he checked his wristwatch “I have a lecture by 8:00 and it’s almost 8:00” he said. He described the way but I wasn’t good at taking description so he volunteered to escort me. We got to my destination and I thanked him. I was about to leave when he said, “I didn’t get your name?” I smiled my crook smile at him. “I didn’t remember you asking for it” I told him. He looked at me pleasingly. “What is your name Hajia?” “Aisha” I replied. He waited for me to ask for his name, when I didn’t he introduced himself as Abdullah. Can I ask you for a favour?” I looked at him with the most innocent face I could come up with. “Yeah! I owe you one. You are already late to class because of me.” I checked the time on my phone and it was past 8am. “Can you give me your contact; I will like to see you again” he requested. I smiled mischievously, collected his phone and punched in my digit. He dialed the number instantly probably to confirm that I didn’t give him a wrong contact. My phone rang and I saved his number. He thanked me, took a couple of steps backward with his eyes strained on me before turning and hurried away. I watched him for some seconds longer than necessary, his sure gait, strong arms, broad shoulders-- his appearance was brimming with confidence. At last I turned and enter the faculty smiling to myself.

Time flies and Abdullah gradually became a regular presence in my life. I got to know that his parents were secondary school teachers, he was a final year students of Industrial Chemistry, a braniac, star player in the school basketball team and the darling of the ladies in his department. We spent most of our free time together. Ibrahim was fun to be with; he seemed to know the right thing to say in every situation, and he had a unique perspective about life that you hardly see in people. He would say, “I have the present, tomorrow is beyond my grasp, why use tomorrow’s uncertainties to snuff out today’s happiness”. He was unlike me always thinking of where I would be, what I would do and what ifs. I remembered my first test made me very nervous, he said Aisha It is just a test and many will come after it, you are prepared for it what can possibly go wrong?” His words calmed my nerves and when the result was out I got the highest mark in my level.

We are at the middle of the semester and I just finished attending a lecture. My last class for the day was couple of hours away. I sat under one of the pavilion chilling out when my phone rang and it was Abdullah calling. I picked up. “Asalamualekium! “Wahaleikumsalam! He replied. “Will you be free later today?” “Yes are you taking me out Mr starboy?” I asked jokingly. “And why would I want to take you out Mrs stargirl?” he retorted. “Let me think” I paused, “Hmmm despite all the ladies on campus practically begging for your attention, I’m the only girl I know that can tolerate your weird life; perhaps you finally think I deserve a treat.” He laughed. “Can I finally come to your hostel then?” he asked. “That depend on if you are treating me to chicken and chips” I replied. I never allow Abdullah to come to my hostel for some reasons. Firstly, I don’t want to give people the wrong impression that we are in a romantic relationship. And secondly I’m afraid of giving Abdullah the wrong signals, we are just friends and that’s it. Thirdly, Sholape! She had nasty mouth and I don’t want her to make me the highlight of her day. “So what to appease the gods is chicken and chips, no wahala, you will kuku take care of me when I’m broke” Abdullah said. “Really? Big boy like you no kukushi. Abeg press control shift”. He laughed so hard at my comment and when he finally stopped he said I should expect him by 5 in the evening.

When I got to the hostel Sholape and Rahamat were back. Rahamat cooked eba and okra and left mine on the gas cooker. I was so happy that I nearly somersaulted, as if she knew I was famished. I hugged and thanked her. Sholape was looking at me oddly from where she sat on her mattress. “Foodie! Do you want to bring this building down because of eba and okra? She asked. I stuck my tongue out at her, “remind me if you have done something for me worth appreciating apart from making sure I go to class late?” I said tauntingly. “Ehen! Maybe I should just keep the message I have for you” she replied. I looked at her incredulously, “you have a message for me?” “Be asking me o, shebi the only thing I ever did was to make sure you go to class late” she said quoting my words. “Sorry, you will tell me later let me eat this food first” I changed my dress and drag the bowl of eba to do justice to it. Rahamat was not interested in our banter; she was pressing her phone and smiling at the screen. Sholape smirked at her. “It’s like you have seen someone that is lying to you” she asked, “the lord is your muscle. Sha bring him home let’s know him.” Rahamat didn’t reply her; she was used to Sholape mother hen attitude unlike me.

I totally forgot that I promised to go out with Abdullah until he arrived at my hostel. I was lying on my bed coming to reality gradually from a slumber when Sholape came in. “My Hajia! Hmmm.” Whenever Sholape did not call me by my name, something was definitely up. “Sholape what is it this time” I asked weakly. “Ah! You better stand up; one handsome bobo is waiting for you outside o.” I half jumped from bed, “Abdullah! Oh no, I totally forgot”. She raised an eyebrow at me. “Is that his name? When are you planning to introduce him to us?” she asked. “He is just my friend” I told her putting much emphasis on the word friend. “Whatever! He is cute sha”. I ignored Sholape, grabbed my kettle and went to wash my face. When I returned I tried to change the subject. “You haven’t delivered the message you have for me?” I asked. “Hmm! don’t mind for now, we will talk when you get back” she said. I wore the first outfit I laid my hand on and was ready in few minutes. Sholape was examining me, “are you seriously going out with a guy in that?” she asked. I scowled at her. “He is friend, a friend” I repeated as if she didn’t know the meaning of the word, turned on my heels and hurried outside the room before she find her voice. When Ibrahim saw me he started smiling weirdly. “Do you have issues with picking your outfit, I like your fashion taste” he said. “Perhaps I should go back to bed if you don’t like my dress” I retorted. His expression suddenly turned innocent. “Aisha common did someone offend you? I’m serious about your dress okay, I like it”. I smiled at him. “Shall we?” I asked tilting my head slightly to the side and he smiled mischievously. “We shall” he replied. I widen my eyes playfully at him, “is that supposed to be an expression in English? Please remind me never to take English lessons from you” I said. Abdullah grinned flashing his sparkling teeth and I couldn’t help admiring the contrast it had with his dark skin.

He took me to a really fancy eatery. We ordered food and I wondered how much it cost him, I know Abdullah didn’t have much I’ve raised him on two occasions already, why did he go through all this trouble to entertain me. I was half way through my food when he said Aisha I have something important to tell you. Without looking up I asked if I should stop eating to listen to him or continue eating while listening. He was silent like he didn’t hear me. I looked up, what I saw on his face made me drop my spoon automatically. “Aisha, I have fallen in love with you” he said. Everywhere was suddenly silent except the beating of my heart that was thudding loudly, drowning every other sound around me. “I said I love you” he repeated. I don’t know what to say, I can’t seem to comprehend him, it is like knowing something but lacking it applications. He shouldn’t love me, not like that; it would ruin everything we had, our friendship. I can’t make my mouth move to alter any word. He looked intently into my eyes. “I love you from the first time I set my eyes on you. The feeling kept building with every minute I spend with you I can’t deny it anymore it’s killing me”. I dropped my eyes to the table. “Aisha please say something” he begged. “I don’t know what to say” I replied. “I love you too but not like that. You are the first boyfriend I have. I mean a boy that is a friend and I enjoyed your presence so much I missed you when you are not around. But you are my friend nothing more”. He looked downcast like a secondary school Headboy who just realize his duty all along was an errand boy, and I felt sorry for him. “I hope you understand?” I asked. He nodded, “yeah”. He didn’t say anything else until we reached my hostel and bided me goodnight. I wanted to call him back and tell him that I was sorry but I couldn’t. That night I was unable to sleep, I kept tossing on my bed thinking about Abdullah until day break. I guess the line between friendship and relationship is thinner than I realized. I didn’t set my eyes on him the next day and for the rest of the week. I felt he was avoiding me, I wanted to call him but I discouraged myself. I didn’t want to do more damage than I already did. Sholape delivered the message she had for me, it was from a guy in her department who admired me and needed an audience. I was not in the mood so I waved his request. I realized it had been months since I left home and decided to go by the weekend.