The market was stifling
and filled to the brim with people eager to buy wares from traders before
sunset. I pushed my way through the crowd as I headed to the shop of my regular
seller to purchase spaghetti and smoked fish for dinner.
The day was undoubtedly
hectic. I had spent hours staring at the screen and calculating figures I wish
I understood. Sometimes, I wonder how I’d been able to work at this
establishment for more than a year without getting a query or sack letter.
Then, when I head for work every morning, I wonder how I’d be able to tackle
the day’s task.
My stomach flipped in
excitement as I remembered Munir and how we had spent lunch analysing foreign
celebrities and their net worth. Munir was the delight at my workplace. Now, I
looked forward to rocking new outfits and going to work because of him. My face
broke into a grin as I remembered how he made it possible to fix a date with his
brother.
Munir ticked all boxes.
He was handsome, tall, intelligent, religious, and willing to assist me in
growing my career. He had a radiant face that lit up whenever he was excited
about something. His eyes were charming and…
“How you dey, customer?” Mama Kunle asked, drifting me back to
reality.
I cleaned my
sweat-filled face with my handkerchief and smiled at Mama Kunle, a petite woman
with bright eyes and sparkling teeth. “Good evening, ma. How was market today?”
I asked as I settled on the seat in front of the shop and sighed deeply.
Mama Kunle sold
different kinds of goods- ranging from rice to beans and spaghetti. She had
once told me that she was a widow who used the proceeds from the shop to fund
her children’s school fees. It was surprising how she always looked contented
and happy despite her situation.
Mama Kunle smiled at
me. “Good evening, my sister. How work?”
“Ah, boring as always.
I cannot wait to leave,” I said as I got up and picked a pack of spaghetti from
the table.
After such a busy day,
the best way to end the day would be to prepare a delicious plate of spicy
spaghetti laced with fish.
Mama Kunle chuckled. “You don dey talk this one for more than one
year. Work tire you, but you no wan leave,” she laughed hard, and I joined.
I paid for the
spaghetti and smoked fish, and five minutes later, I was in front of the pepper
seller, waiting for her to attend to the buyers that had arrived before me.
As I glanced through
the market impatiently, I caught sight of a long-limbed man walking towards
where I was standing. He held a baby to his chest as he stared at me. He was
dressed in a green shirt and pair of trousers and looking at him, I was confident
that I knew him from somewhere…but I couldn’t place it.
“Asalamu ‘alaykum warahmatuLlaah wabarakahtuhu,” he greeted with a
thick Yoruba accent.
I replied to the tesleem and cleared my throat, eager to
hear him introduce himself. It was evident that he had approached me because he
knew me from somewhere.
“Do you remember me?”
he asked.
“No,” I responded.
“I was in the Department
of Banking and Finance. We took some courses together. Do you remember me now?”
he said with a laugh.
I chuckled as I realised
that I had finally placed a name on the face. “Lukman, right? You were a friend
to the class prefect.”
“Correct!” he grinned
at me.
“How have you been?
It’s been…years!” I laughed.
“AlhamduliLlaah. I
currently worked at JAIZ Bank and am married. This is my child here. His name
is Al-Ameen.”
“Masha ALlaah,” I
caressed the cheeks of the cute-looking baby. “He looks so lovely.”
“Yes, thanks. So, what
about you? Are you married?” he asked.
“No. I haven’t gotten
married.”
“Why?” he asked, and I
was taken aback by his question.
“Well, I haven’t found
a suitable man to get married to.”
He laughed skeptically.
“How is that possible? There are lots of suitable men looking for women to get
married to. That can’t be the reason, Rafiah. Or…are you doing ako? You will always find one if you’re
truly ready.”
I rolled my eyes in disgust.
“That means I’ll try harder. Thanks for your advice. My regards to your wife,”
I forced a smile and walked away, looking for another shop to purchase pepper
and tomatoes from.
My face scrunched up in
a frown as I remembered how he had been so inconsiderate and judging. Well, all
these would be over when I get married to Munir!
***
Hours later, I had
arrived home with exhilaration seeping inside of me. The thought of Munir
distracted me from Lukman’s negative comments.
As I was dressing up
after a cold shower, my phone chimed on the bed. My heart raced faster as I
hurried to check the Caller ID. It was just who I was expecting; Munir.
“Asalamu ‘alaykum, Munir,” I greeted as I clicked the answer button.
“Wa’alaykumu salam. Arrived home?” he asked
My heart leapt in excitement
as I heard his voice. “Yes yes!
Currently preparing to make dinner.”
“You should become a
chef so that this talent will not go to waste,” he laughed.
“Indeed. Stop
flattering me,” I chuckled.
“I’m not! The breakfast
you brought to work two days ago was a bomb. The aroma filled the whole room.
Lest I forget, what was that?”
“Boiled yam and scrambled
eggs.”
“Wow wow wow! You’re living the life, Rafiah. Though, I don’t like
boiled yam.”
“You wouldn’t believe
what happened this evening,” I stated as I settled on the bed.
“Tell me about it.”
I narrated how I had
met Lukman and the insensitive words he had said. Munir sounded angry and
disappointed over the phone.
“I’m sorry about that.
Some people derive joy in poking their nose into people’s affairs. What would
he lose by exchanging pleasantries and going on with his business? People sha!” Munir stated.
“Thank you, Munir.”
“My brother is eager to
meet you. I’ve said so many nice things about you to him,” he laughed, and I
imagined his eyes twinkling in delight.
“I’m nervous, though.
It’s rare to have the opportunity to sit with one of the famous writers in
Nigeria,” I smiled.
“Farouk keeps getting
the accolades! Well, I’m off to read the biography of the world’s richest
basketballer, Michael Jordan. I don’t want fame. I want money,” he chuckled.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, in sha ALlaah. Good night.”
“Good night, Munir,” I
replied and hung up, lowering my head and wondering when Munir would pop the
question…if he would ever pop the question.
I remembered what I had
said when Asmau asked if I could propose to Munir. “He’s got all the chance to
propose if he is truly interested.”
“My sweet sister!”
Rasheedah sang as she stormed into the room, dressed in a red gown and black
veil. She was holding a big bag, and her face was filled with an over-do of
makeup.
I rolled my eyes and
wore my baggy shorts. “You went out with Khalid?”
She sat beside me and
placed a finger across her lips. “Reduce your voice, na. You don’t want to imagine what will happen if Dad finds out
that I’m still seeing Khalid.”
“Why are you still
seeing him?”
“His parents will
arrive soon, and we’ll get married,” she said and brought out goodies from the
bag. “Khalid bought this for you,” she handed me a bowl of ice cream.
“Compensation for
keeping my mouth shut?”
She laughed. “Stop
that. He just decided to buy it for you.”
I opened the bowl.
“Just be careful. Dad will be unhappy if he learns about this.”
“I know. It’s just a
matter of time. His parents arrive in five days.”
“Okay, oo!” I replied as I took a scoop.
***
“Rafiah,” Dad called as
I was heading to the kitchen with the bag of foodstuff.
I placed it on the
dining table and walked towards his favourite sofa, where he buried his face in
a newspaper.
“I’m here, Dad.”
“Sit down,” he said as he
folded the newspaper and looked at me. “How was work?”
“It was fine, Dad,” I
replied, settling on a seat beside him.
Dad was putting on his
gray shirt and faded denim trousers. He stared at the rug and looked up at me
again. “We left off a discussion some weeks ago before Rasheedah’s dilemma came
up. So let’s discuss it now,” he said. “There is no career in writing. So why
do you want to let go of a reputable career like accounting?”
“I don’t have a passion
for accounting. However, writing is also a viable profession. We have
successful professional writers like Khaled Hosseini, Stephen King, and
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.”
“That’s not the point,
Rafiah. You studied accounting in the higher institution. You spent four years
studying this course, and you are currently working in a reputable company. Why
would you let go of this because of writing?”
“Writing brings me
fulfillment. I can only envision myself as a writer,” I said, wondering how I
got the courage to say all of these. When I arrive at work tomorrow, I would tell
Munir about all of it.
“Why are you making
this decision now?”
“I wasn’t bold enough
to make them years ago. I think this is the time to choose my happiness. I want
to explore writing…” I was saying when Mom appeared in front of us.
Her hands were
trembling, and her face was filled with tears. Our faces blanched in shock as
we caught sight of the piece of paper she was holding. She handed the note to
Dad, and he grabbed it instantly.
“SubhanaLlaah! SubhanaLlaah!
SubhanaLlaah!” Dad screamed in shock.
Perplexed, I took note
to see what was written. I let out a loud gasp as I read the content.
‘You’ve been warned!’ was written in red and the tip of the paper was soaked with blood.
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