CHAPTER FOUR

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I was not a huge fan of attending weddings and similar events but, in all my years of attending weddings, I had never attended a much more boring wedding.

I slept most of the event, in addition, I knew no one and was therefore snubbed when I tried at first to mingle with the bride's friends or whoever they were. But sha, they didn't answer my greeting and kept talking about their last trip to Ghana or was it Cameroon?

I doubted they were the bride's friends for they looked much younger than the bride, who looked like she was in her mid thirties. She even looked older than her husband and at the end of the wedding, the cameraman didn't show up infuriating almost everyone. I didn't care, I just wanted to go home and I finally got my wish when the event came to an end past 4pm my father cleared his throat adjusted his cap then stood up and re did his baba riga.

"Fatima, let's greet the bank director and then we can go home."

"Ok." I stood up and straightened imaginary wrinkles from my black, off-shoulder gown. I had applied just powder, kohl and pink lipstick for my makeup. I wasn't a huge fan of make up too.

We walked towards the end of the hall where a man dressed in big white baba riga smiling as he greeted some people he was fair and elderly probably in his early 50's maybe my father's mate or a bit older but one thing was obvious about him 'his agility', the way he walked and even spoke was alluring and he emitted the aura of wealth and power.

"Assalamu alaikum." I bent down a bit as a sign of respect to him.

"Walaykum salaam." He smiled at me.

"Alhaji." my father said to him and they shook hands.

"Aaah, I see you came."

"Of course I did, especially as you invited me yourself."

"Who is this Amarya ne?-your wife?" He asked referring to me and my eyes almost popped out... Old man say what?

"Aaaah haba, this is my eldest daughter Fatima."

"Fatima right? I am Alhaji Ibrahim Lawal Gambo." He introduced himself and smiled at me, I smiled back.

"You have a beautiful daughter mana." He complimented, his eyes feasted on me shamelessly.

"Mashallah- Allah has willed." My father said smiling at me proudly.

I felt my head grew twice it's normal size, my father was proud of me.

"Fatima are you still in school?"

"Yes sir." I was itching to leave this man's presence.

"What are you studying?"

"I'm a final year student of pharmacy sir."

"Aaaah toh, you have even finished." He laughed, "so if I'm sick I can come to you now, hope you know all the drugs that will cure me?"

"By God's grace." I gave a short and fake laugh, alongside in response to the eye twitch my dad sent to me which was probably meant go be a sign. Not one I liked though.

"Mashallah, I like that."

"We'd like to be on our way now." my father informed Alhaji Lawal

"Toh Alhaji Yakub, I'd like to have a talk with you so when will you be free?"

"Anytime is fine by me even now, Fatima can just wait in the car and we'd look for somewhere to talk " My father suggested and I frowned, I just wanted to go home now.

"No, no, that won't be fair on her and besides, its an important issue and it can't be discussed just anywhere."

"Toh what do you suggest?"

"How about you come to my house tomorrow for dinner."

"Ok sir, I'd be looking forward to meeting the family."

"Fatima, take care of yourself ok?"

"Ok sir."

We bade him bye and got in the car while the driver drove us back home, yes! finally I couldn't even hide the smile that found its way to my face as soon as I saw the familiar black gate.

"I'm sure the wedding wasn't that bad" My dad said giving me a curious look

"Yes it wasn't" I lied.

•••• •••• ••••

"I think he actually likes me or something." I heard Zuwee's voice as I stood in front of the slightly ajar door to our room.

"Please someone let me choke on a basketful of dates than to sit here and listen to this Buffoon" Safiya said and I chuckled.

"Assalamu alaykum." I said entering the room, Zuwee and Zubaida were sitting on the floor while Safiya was lying on her bed looking bored.

"Walaykumsalam." Zubaida said giving me a smile.

"Finally! Now off to your room, the both of you."

"Don't lie you weren't enjoying our presence." Zuwee said.

"Who was the guy you guys were talking about before I came in?" I asked falling on top my bed as exhaustion seeped in.

"One ugly guy ooo that Zuwee is crushing on." Zubaida said scrunching up her nose in mock disgust.

"And he doesn't even know her name, how can you be crushing on someone who doesn't know of your existence?" Safiya asked. Safiya was the prettiest amongst us, she had taken after dad's fair complexion.

"Please no more boys talk, I want to go and pray." I stood up from the bed and headed to the bathroom, after performing ablution by the time I came out Zuwee and Zubaida had left.

I prayed both zuhr- after midday prayer and asr-late afternoon prayer then decided to take a nap. I was awoken by the noise ongoing downstairs, I rubbed my eyes sleepily, covered up my hair and then headed downstairs to find the source of the commotion. It was a woman I vaguely recall to be my aunt, my father's younger sister.

"You must kill me before I leave this house today." She was screaming at the top of her lungs and beating her chest crazily, a toddler was at her feet also crying loudly. Their noise was enough to block someone's ear.

"Saudah what's wrong with you? stop shouting this instant!" My dad yelled.

"So you remember my name eh? When you totally forgot my existence because of this nonsense you call a family, do you know how long I've been trying to reach you?" She removed her head tie and tied it on her waist as she began to walk hurriedly to where mom was in the process kicking her child who in turn fell and hit his head on the floor. I covered my ears to block out his cries.

"What do you think you're doing?"Zubaidah asked coming in between her and mom.

"Ooho isn't it because of the juju- black magic your mother did that's why your father forgot his real family? She'll have to release my brother today." She was still trying to get past Zubaidah and Zuwee who were blocking her from getting close to mom.

"Brother Yakub, are you even sure this ones are your real children? Look at that one." She pointed at me, "she doesn't even look like you see how fat and dark she is, does she look anything like you?"

Oh God! What right does she have in calling me fat, has she looked at herself? Looking like she'd be bursting anytime soon.

"This one you call a wife doesn't even work, she stays at home while you work all day." The woman said and then clapped her hands together mockingly.

"Saudah, come with me!" Dad ordered her, she eyed my mom before mumbling some things in Ebira, she roughly picked up her son from the floor and went outside with dad.

"Better make sure you're liked by your future in laws before getting married" That was the only thing mom said before heading back upstairs.