Fatima’s POV
After our laughter session Ya Sa’eed drove us to Ajobis kitchen. We bought drumsticks, shawarma and ice-cream.
From there we drove to millennium park and we had a mini picnic with just the two of us. The place was almost empty and I wasn’t surprised because it was a weekday.
The sun was setting at that time and it was a little windy. It was so soothing, peaceful and serene until Ya Sa’eed decided to drop a bomb
“Fatima.”
“uhmm.” I replied not really paying attention to him but to the serene view and feeling.
“I love your friend, Halima.” “he said putting his head low and I just chuckled.
“of course you love her. She’s my bestie. Ai if you don’t love her sef we’ll fight.”
He shook his head left then right before saying “no you don’t understand. I love her. Like ina sonta asin soyayya {like I love her as in love her}. You get. Asin love love not brother and sister love, or…”
Now I removed my eyes from the setting sun and turned to him, “you’re joking right. Are you serious? OMG!!! I hope you haven’t told her. Ya Allah she’s crushing on Amir and she….”
He cut me off with a scowl on his face, “she loves Amir? Amir as in Amir Aliyu? You’ve got to be kidding me. Why does he always have to make his way into my life. What is his problem ughhhhh!!! I hate that guy. I fucking hate him!”
Ya Sa’eed was angry and I’m sure if he had long hair like mine, he’d have pulled them out in frustration.
He looked at me then said, “Fatima wallahi that boy is bad news. He’s a player. He…. Even if I try explaining you won’t understand so you should just stay away from him.”
“but Ya Sa’eed I want to say something. Don’t interrupt me please. So Halli has ever told Amir that she loves him and he rejected her almost immediately. But now we’re together….”
“you’re together? You mean you guys are dating? Fatima gaskiya you better break up with him cause I can promise you he’ll break your heart. Do that…” he kept quiet as if he was weighing his words.
“never mind. I just hope he takes care of you for me. But just know. No matter what, I won’t tolerate him and I’m against this relationship.” He said with a stern voice and a stoic face.
I just nodded and he stood up to go to the car. I packed all what we brought and disposed the empty wrappers of shawarma with the used tissues then met him in the car.
The drive home was akward as Ya Sa’eed kept glancing my way as if to check if I was okay.
I decided to break the silence as it was too unbearable for me “so Ya Sa’eed, what happened between you and Bella. I heard some art students from your class saying something about you almost killing Bella.”
He mumbled something around the lines of, “useless idiots” before talking “she said that she’d do anything to get rid of you so that she could get Hamza for herself. Then one of her friends told her to leave Hamza since it was obvious you guys were together. Then she came to my class and sat on my table. Ta wani fara tataba ni nikuma {she started touching me and} I vexed and slapped her. Kawai she kicked me…. You know where. Bansan sanda na fara dima wa shegiya duka bah {I didn’t know when I started beating the hell out of her}. Ai I even gave her bruises and her lips were swollen.”
I laughed my heart out and that was how the silence disappeared. We continued insulting Bella in Hausa then we’d laugh.
After dropping me at home he said he needed to go somewhere and that he’d come back before 9pm. I nodded and went inside.
Halima’s POV
I laid on my bed trying to sleep but I couldn’t sleep. When I was finally falling asleep mummy came inside “you kuma wake up. Is this the right time to sleep? Kinsan dai bah kyau baccin yamma koh? {you do know it’s not good to sleep in the evening right?}. You better wake up. Since that you came back from school you didn’t remember to sleep is after Asr when you know that you’re not meant to sleep that’s when you want to sleep koh? Tohm before I open and close my eyes stand up and start saying your evening Adhkar. Kai infact Lauratu! Lauratu!! Ke Lauratu kina ina ne? {hey Lauratu where are you?}.”
Our house maid, Lauratu came rushing and yawning “oh waton kema bacci kike koh {oh, so you are also sleeping}. Oh children of nowadays it’s when they say you shouldn’t do something that’s when you want to do it. A hana ki sata ki koma sane {you’re stopped from stealing and you start pickpocketing}. Kai nikam I don’t even know what to do with you. Oya Lauratu zauna {sit down}. If Halima sleeps slap her for me.” Mummy said.
I glared at our house maid. She wouldn’t dare to slap me. “if you don’t slap her wallahi ni I’ll slap you double.” Mummy said noticing the evident surprise and fear in Lauratu’s eyes.
She walked out and I eyed Lauratu before starting my evening Adhkar. Once I was done, I laid down and started playing with my phone and before I knew it I fell asleep.
Paa!! I woke up to a hard tight slap on my face. It was very painful it brought tears to my eyes. I opened my eyes to a scared Lauratu.
I rose my hand to slap her back and I received another one but this time it was from mummy, “baki da hankali koh? {you don’t have sense ahbi}. I asked her to do something and you want to slap her for doing it? Okay why don’t you slap me? Ai I was the one that asked her to slap you koh? Yara banda rashin kunya bah abunda suka iya. Waton ke rasa kunya beran danga koh? {the only thing children nowadays know how to do is disrespect}.Is she not your senior? A aihuwar akuya bata haifeki bane? Wallahi be careful with me. Tohm. Oya kneel down and apologize to her.”
I opened my eyes wide cause I was surprised, “haba mummy. How do you expect me to apologize to this house help. Me aiki ce fah daga kauye…{she’s just a house help and it was from the village…}”.
Pa!!! Another slap. That time I couldn’t hold it in. I fell to my knees and started crying. Normally when I insulted house maids mummy would just say “halima be careful” But it had reached the extent that the slapped me, TWICE!!!.
“wallahi if you don’t apologize to her I’m not giving you food kuma you’re not stepping a foot out of this room.”, Mummy said looking down at me with rage written all over her face.
“hajiya Dan Allah leave her. Halima tashi {get up} it’s okay. Take water. Sorry it’s all my fault.” Came Lauratu’s voice.
Even though I couldn’t see her I could hear it in her voice that she was scared and about to cry. I pushed the water away and stood up then plopped on my bed.
“Don’t think of coming outside till you are ready to apologize to her. Lauratu let’s go.” Mummy said turning her back to leave.
“Hajiya Dan Allah forgive her she’s just a small girl please” Lauratu said trying to reason with mummy but mummy wasn’t having any of it.
“nace muje koh {I thought I said let’s go}. Bring her laptop with and don’t you dare give her food if not you loose your job.” Mummy said exiting the room.
“a’ah bakai haka bah hajiya {it has not reached that point Hajiya} I’m sorry.” Lauratu said as she tailed behind my mum with my apple laptop in hand.
I locked the door to my room and cried my heart out. After about 30 minutes I heard my phone ring. I put it on total silence mode and threw it on the bed. After another set of sobs I stood up and washed my face in the bathroom and came out.
I opened my bedside drawer and took out the remaining five samosas and three spring rolls with small chivita and munched on them.
After an hour of reading the second of the trilogy titled BFFs by an upcoming writer named meemxy on Wattpad, I felt hungry again.
I searched my room and realized that I had only few things to eat, 7 bars of chocolate, a bottle of Pepsi, a take away of mango harbanero chicken wings and a pack of popcorn.
I finished eating everything and I was still hungry. Why is it that it’s only the slim people that don’t get full easily?
I plopped down on my bed and suddenly remembered that someone called me. I checked it and called the person back.