By Miryamah AQ
miryamah230@gmail.com
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I pushed my things inside the reasonable sized closet and got into the shower. I had a quick scrub and performed wudu. After my Zuhr prayer and some Nafil(voluntary salah),I dressed up in traditional attire. A simple black and white embossed atamfa gown. I wrapped an off white veil round and sprayed some perfume. I slipped into my white Vinci flats and headed out.
The four main chambers are located in a squarish landscape,two of which are facing the other two and are separated by a slim gate. I started with the one nearest to Hajiya Babba's. That is where the eldest Wife,Umma resides. She has four kids,all boys whom are all older than I am. Three are married and have kids while the fourth one is unmarried after his wife died years ago. They go by the names Abdullah,AbdulRahman,AbdulRaheem, and AbdulMalik. Umma was out of town and I was more than glad. I met her house helps and some other girls whom I know to be her nieces. We exchanged pleasantries and after some chit chat,I decided to leave because I was really uncomfortable. They weren't very welcoming. Mama,the second wife is the one with the five Heroes. Two of which are in the army and the rest are either in university or secondary school.
AbdulSalam is now a Lieutenant and AbdulMu'umin is a Colonel. Both are happily married and living with their families in Lagos.
AbdulMuhaimin is yet to graduate from the Nigerian Defence Academy and AbdulAzeez is just starting the same school. AbdulJabbar is in his last year in Air force secondary school. A family of Armed forces yeah? Well they're kinda the coolest brothers I have. At least I have a back up when I look for trouble. Her chamber is always the rowdiest one because she comes from a very big family of the Maiduguri Emirate council. She has a lot of visitors coming in and going out 24/7 not to talk of her board of directors from the Orphanage she runs from home.
I was welcomed with open arms. She was so happy to see me, even though she was in a middle of a meeting. She hugged me affectionately and awwwed at how I've grown into my mum. She was always the nicer one and the loving one. I could remember, they got along really well with Ma. They were like best friends. Mama had very good educational background and lived most of her life in the United States before she got married to Abba and so she was the civilized one amongst the three of them.
She was the one that welcomed Ma with open arms when she came. And she was the one that took care of me when Ma left me behind. I am so much indebted to her.
"We Skyped with Dahlia a few weeks ago but she never mentioned you were coming" she said as she sits me down on the royal couch in her living room.
"The trip was so sudden,uncalled for. It happened at the last minute." I replied honestly. "Well am glad you're back. We missed you" she hugged me again. "I missed you too" I smiled as tears marred my eyes.
I've missed her warm hugs and affectionate smile. Really. I spent a little more time there. We had to catch up. She called Ya AbdulS and AbdulMu'umin on the phone and we talked. They will be coming home for the Eid El Adha. They were so happy I was back. Muhaimin and Azeez were still in school so I couldn't reach them since electronic gadgets were prohibited. AJ was the one home but he left to play polo with the Emir's kids and will be back before Maghreb. I couldn't wait to see my little Air Marshal. It was after Asr I decided to go and Say Hi to Mamee,the last wife and the youngest. She came after Ma. She was always Hajiya's Fave. Her niece.
The woman she wanted Abba to marry ever since he was 18. After almost 25 years of pestering and pushing,he finally agreed to marry her. I was eleven then. It was a grand celebration. Hajiya Babba spent her all in that wedding. She had to shove it in everyone's faces that this was the marriage she was happy about and that Mamee is the only daughter in-law she appreciates. Mamee is the introvert. She is quite and reserved and well behaved. She is the mother to AbdulMusawwir and the twins,Fadeel and Fawwad.
AbdulMusawwir is AJ's age mate, just a few months apart and they go to the same school. Fadeel and Fawwad are the 'last borns' and are still in elementary school. I left for France when the twins were just three years and now when I saw them playing PES on their Xbox and fighting each other,I couldn't believe it was really them. They were so tall and well,a bit chubby. Way taller than their age. I bet they didn't even recognize me. They smiled ever so politely when their mum tried to remind them of their long lost Adda Miriam. But all in vain. So basically am the only girl in the midst of twelve Boys. Ain't I the luckiest of all,having twelve Knights in shining Armor protecting me from all angles? Heck yeah. After my long tour round the house,I finally decided to come back to my dungeon immediately after Maghreb. I headed straight to my room where I found my dinner already waiting for me. I gently removed the stainless steel lid that covered the plate and I was met with a whitish mound and some greenish sort of soup.
Tuwo and Miyan Kuka? Ya salaam.
This is ridiculous!
I stared at the food for a while before I shook my head and ordered one of the maids to pack up everything. I was never and will never be a fan of Tuwo. Never.
"Would you like anything Ranki ya dade?(your highness)" she asked
"No. Its okay" i replied and hopped into the shower. I washed off real quick and dressed up in a loose fitting black kaftan with golden embroidery. I wrapped a golden scarf round and unpacked my drawing tools from my bag pack. Some creative designing can help relieve my stress.
Designing is my life. I love it so much its the only reason I breathe. I was glad Abba approved of my request to study Fashion Designing and Technology at ESMOD in Paris.
It was a dream come true for me when I finally received my designer's license few months after my graduation. I can't wait to start my own fashion line. That's when I get back to Marseille insha Allah.
Wait...am I really going back? Well Abba never mentioned why I was here. I just have to be patient for a while. I wasn't planning on staying here forever though. My life belongs elsewhere.
I started making outlines of a dress with a blunt black pencil and then made it bolder with a sharper one. I was thinking of designing a wedding dress. How classy! Just as I was pinning in the colors,a soft knock came through the door and before I could usher the person in,the door swung open and there stood another maid.
"I think I didn't give you permission to come in" I said stiffly.
"Sorry Ranki ya dade. But Hajia wants to see you ASAP"she says as she lowers her head.
" Next time don't barge into people's room like that!" I ignored her statement and stood up. She muttered an apology and waited for me to exit the room before she follows suit.
What is this woman's problem? What does she want this very night? A leg massage? Bedtime story?
What??? Urgh!!!.
I salaamed and waited for someone to usher me into the living room. The moment I got in,I knew this was a serious situation.
My father,the Waziri himself was seated on one of the cushions, a grim look on his face as he gently pulls at the beads of his Tasbaha(rosary). His only sister,Aunt Ralia sits beside him,her face holds an unreadable expression. Then the closest Aide of the Emir in personal matters,the Jakadiya herself,Hajiya Tabawa was present too. And some few other unfamiliar faces were also there. Wow! This is not good.
They all answered my salaam and I quickly found a spot and sat down,making sure Hajiya Babba will find it difficult to see my face from where she sat on her 'throne'.
"Ke Baturiya!" She snaps and I nearly jumped out of my skin. "Come sit in front of me" she pats the tip of her walking stick on a spot. I rolled my eyes and crawled to the spot,huffing as I crossed my legs.
"Jakadiya,is your cue to speak" She orders. Hajiya Tabawa clears her throat and adjusts her veil,nervousness etched on her face.
"As you all know we've all gathered here for no other reason than to discuss the marriage of Baturiya and Yarima" she speaks.
Okay wait....did jakadiya just said something about Marriage here? Like my marriage? With who?
Yarima?
"Hajiya I thought we weren't talking about this anymore" Abba spoke for the first time. "I thought I made my opinion clear to you two weeks ago"
"Sule, the only reason you're here is because you're the girl's father,not because I'm asking for your opinion. Its best you keep quite" Hajiya Babba snaps.
"But I'm her father! I have every right to choose a husband for her. And I don't want her to marry Yarima. "
Abba replied angrily. "I want her to live a normal life like her mother. Not this godforsaken life you're pushing her into"
To be continue tomorrow
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