ABOUT THIS BOOK
Description
Her heart had been in turmoil since yesterday, when Umma told her that Abul Khairi was coming back from Ghana for the end-of-year holiday. A deep sadness came over her, because she had been at peace, and now that he was returning, it meant she would go back to worrying. He had chased away all her boyfriends during the last holiday when he came. She did not know what exactly he wanted from her, and she could not understand why he was so fixated on her. A young boy had made her the target of all sorts of shameless behavior. The way he did certain things in front of her was like a man standing before his girlfriend. All these thoughts were running through her mind by the time they reached their neighborhood, because she was in a tricycle, returning from work.
As soon as they got to the front of her house, she saw him sitting on his friend’s car, the same friend with whom he always behaved shamelessly.
The tricycle driver stopped, and when it arrived she got down and handed him his money, but the lack of change caused them a problem.
From where he was, his friend nudged him.
“Hey Abul Khairi, look, your mummy’s sugar has come back...”
“Ameer, really? Where is she?”
“There, can’t you see her? She’s at the front of her house, looking for change...”
He got down from the car, and just by seeing him walk, anyone could tell he had become a complete man. He was a young man of about twenty-four, a privileged son whom his parents were proud of, blessed with both Islamic and Western education.
With a proud swagger, he came over to them.
“Assalamu alaikum.”
The tricycle driver replied,
“Wa alaikum salam.”
“Malam, go on with your money, I’ll pay her.”
The tricycle driver looked at her in surprise.
“Hajiya, did you hear what your elder brother said? He said I should go with your money.”
Annoyed, she looked at the driver.
“Well, he is not the one who gave you the money, so give me my change.”
Abul Khairi smiled, because that was exactly why he had said it — just to tease her — and he had succeeded. He brought out one thousand naira.
“Malam, don’t mind her. Here it is. God has brought you luck.”
Her anger was so much that she could not even collect the money. He collected it from the driver, and the man left. Inside the second corridor, he caught up with her and stood in front of her.
“What exactly have I done that makes you hate me so much? I just came back today. You should forget everything since it has all passed. Keeping what happened long ago in your heart is not good; it makes a person grow old.”
She gave him a dismissive look. Instead of getting angry, he slowly narrowed his beautiful, large eyes, then drew air through his mouth in a naughty way before starting to suck his lips.
When she saw that, she shook her head.
“Move out of my way so I can pass, or I’ll slap you.”
He stepped closer, looking her up and down.
The dress she was wearing was the body-hugging kind, and it clung tightly to her figure. Her Coca-Cola-shaped curves stood out clearly, along with her full breasts. He smiled at the way they looked, then began to speak like that:
“Big sister Rukaiyya, I thought I would come back and find that someone had already taken you away from me. But no problem — this time, I have come with all my strength...”
After saying that, he stepped aside and let her pass. He followed her with his eyes as she walked away, until the hairs on his body stood on end. Even the tiny hairs all over him rose upright.
“That’s my Didi — you are fire, and I’m chasing you with love.”
As he was leaving, he met Ameer waiting for him.
“You see me? I’m going to lie down and rest now, so I’ll see you later.”
“No problem, groom of the old woman.”
And with that, each of them went their separate way.
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