C3 Aliya

Just when I was hoping I would get a job and finally start taking care of my own self, the devil smiled at me and poured sand on my face. Like seriously? Just because I could not tell my story to those guys they refused to give me a job? Well, their company is not the only place in this world to seek a job from - they should know that. And if not because Samira, my best friend recommended it for me I would not have even apply for a job there talk more of being humiliated by them. I mulled over as I left the building and headed towards the gate.

"Madam, how was the interview?" The kind and friendly security man asked as soon as I approached him by the gate. "Was it good?"

"Let me just say, Alhamdulillah..." I faked a smile and then bade him goodbye. Actually, some things are better left untold, you know!

While searching for a taxi back home by the roadside, a car pulled over in front of me and the next thing I saw was a man coming out of the car. "Hi, young lady. Can I give you a ride?" He asked smiling at me. He was an aged man.

"No, thank you" I said, not wanting to sound rude to him. I disliked being rude to people.

"Haba, beautiful angel. Someone like you isn't supposed to be wasting time looking for taxi, I can practically drive you to anywhere you want to go in this entire world, baby" He said.

Actually, that was the story everyday. There had been no single day that I would go out without men disturbing me, maybe I should just start wearing Niqab but how about my cubby body? My hips could easily lure men directly to me, so I guess I should just learn how to start ignoring them whenever they approach me. After all, I wasn't ready for marriage yet. Talking about marriage, had I ever fall in love? Hmm, not really. I used to view relationships as chain around the neck.

"Baby, I am talking to you" The man added.

"Hmm, I appreciate your kindness, sir. But I would prefer a taxi or..." I was saying when a keke napep (tricycle) pulled over by our side and dropped 2 passengers. "Tsaya, mallam" I said to the cyclist and then stormed inside. "Mu je, mallam... da sauri!" I said, hence the cyclist unhesitatingly accelerated me away.

Ma Shaa Allah, I sighed in relief.

There was no passenger left in the tricycle, therefore I told the cyclist where he should convey me to and then bargained with him while he drive. "Mallama, e be like say that man e dey pollow us por back pa!" He said.

Wait a minute, which man? I asked myself.

The one I ran away from? I gulped so hard.

"Ya Salam" I uttered as I looked outside the tricycle. Verily he was right, so I decided to change my destination to Samira's house. I didn't want the man to know where I lived.

*******

Samira lived in the same area with me, but their house wasn't close to ours. Just as we arrived at the house, I paid the cyclist and quickly ran towards the gate of the house. I was so lucky it wasn't locked, so I stormed inside and locked it while panting so hard.

"Aliya?" Someone bellowed, making me to tremble. Actually it was Mansur, Samira's brother - he was busy washing their car.

"Yes, it's me. Is Samira around?" I asked.

"Yes" He nodded his head. "Are you okay?"

"Of course, I am!" I faked a smile as I went straight into their flat. Samira was puzzled seeing me in their house unexpected, I had never visited her without phoning her first.

After greeting her parents, we went to her room. "How was the interview?" She asked.

"It didn't go well" I said as I took off my veil and then sat on her bed. "They annoyed me"

"Annoyed you? How?" She wrinkled a brow.

And just as I was about to reply her, Mansur Salaamed into the room. "Someone outside said I should call you" He said looking at me. Thence, my heart began beating fast again.

"Who?" Samira asked the boy.

"Aliya" He responded.

"Wow" She expressed as she turned to me.

"Don't say anything please, Samira. I don't know him, he just kept chasing me kawai"

"Is that why you are here?" She asked.

"Hmm, yeah" I gently nodded my head.

"Don't worry, I know what to do!" She said turning to Mansur. "Tell him she's coming"

"No, don't!" I squealed.

"Do as I said, Mansur!" She said to the boy.

"Okay, Ya Samira" He said and left.

"Ma Shaa Allah" She huffed picking my veil.

"What do you think you're doing?" I asked.

"Going out to send the man away" She said.

"Is that so? You should have just asked your brother to tell him to go kawai!" I muttered.

"And you think he will go?" She queried.

"Hmm, well if the man can follow me here I guess he can stay there till tomorrow" I said.

"Yes, so let me go and talk to him" She said.

"Okay, but with my veil?" I wrinkled a brow.

"Is it a sin?" She rolled her eyes and left the room while putting on the veil. It fitted her, even though she was as slim as Cinderella!

*******

While waiting for Samira to hopefully come back with good news, I decided to switch on my mobile data to surf net for job vacancies within Zaria. There were many results on Google and most of them were outdated, so I kept searching - ignoring my social media notifications - till later on an Email caught my attention. I swiped to it and guess what? It was a congratulation message from BLD Construction Company, they had given me the job I applied for but instead of me to be happy I became upset - recalling how they had treated me earlier today, thus I trashed the Email. I didn't like humiliation in my life, In Shaa Allah I would get the job that pass it.

Few minutes later, Samira came back with a broad smile on her face. "The man is gone!" She uttered as she dropped my veil for me. I didn't argue with her, but how did she do it?

"What did you said to him?" I queried.

"That's between me, him, and God" She said.

"Haba mana, tell me now!" I whined.

"Don't worry, you will know someday!" She said and continued. "Let me go cook lunch"

"I'm not helping you!" I squeezed my mouth.

"Hhhhh" She laughed hard. "Mum is around, tare da ita zan girka abincin (I am cooking it together with her), so don't even brag at me"

"Whatever!" I rolled my eyes at her.

Thus, she left the room while giggling at me. How I wish she could just tell me what had transpired between her and the aged man, I would like to know but how on this earth could I even make her talk? She was a year older than me and was more wise, I should perhaps pressurise her. Yes, while we cook!

Bismillah, I stood and left the room as well. Luckily, I was able to catch up with her. "Is like someone has finally changed her mind" She said making me to playfully punch her. "Aww! You are wicked, Aliya... soo wicked!"

"You can say that again" I hissed at her.

"Okay!" She punched me back and ran away.

"Laa! Ni ko? (Oh, me right?)" I said and thus pursued her until we arrived at the kitchen.

"Subhanallah!" Her mother muttered. "Ahh, what are grownups like you doing like this?"

That moment I felt like burying myself.

Actually, I was so shy of the woman.

"Mum, we are still kids fa!" Samira pouted.

"Kids for where?!" The woman glanced at us. "Your age mates are out there giving birth to their own children already fa, or am I lying?"

"You are not lying mum, but I can't come and kill myself because my suitors aren't serious" Samirah said as she heaved a sigh. "But don't worry, mum. I am about to be taken already!"

"Taken?" Her mother giggled. "By who?"

"Someone new to my heart!" Samira said.

"Toh (okay), we are waiting" Her mother said before turning to me. "How about you, Aliya?"

"Hmm" I sighed thinking about what to say to her when Samira cut in while laughing at me.

"Aliya is scared of marriage, mum!" She said.

"Is that so?" Her mother wrinkled her brows. And before I protest, she continued. "I don't think there is anything scary in marriage, it can be complex to some people though but if you are committed to..." - she kept talking while I glare at Samira, why would she lie to her mother that I was scared? And could you imagine she was laughing at me while her mother was explaining things to me? I would deal with her, let her mother finish! - "...so I don't expect you to be scared, Aliya but you should know that it has its ups and downs. You may work all day long and your husband may not let you sleep well in the night, and things would be more complex if you start having kids. But trust me Aliya, it's worth it"

"Thank you, ma" I said faking a smile.

"You're welcome" The woman smiled back at me before turning to Samira. "Babanki fa yau tuwo yake bukata, so... ruwan tuwo zaki aza (your father wants tuwo today, hence tuwo is what you should cook). I will be right back!"

"Okay, mum" Samira said in dissatisfaction. "But seriously whoever invented tuwo is..."

"May Allah bless that person" Her mother cut in. "I really don't know why children of these days don't like tuwo, as if it is not a food too?"

"It is mum, but not sweet!" Samira whined.

"Toh, ai sai kutayi (well, that's left for you)!" Her mother said heading out of the kitchen.

Hence, I rushed towards Samira and pinned her down. "Why did you lied to your mother about me?" I glared at her and continued. "I have been waiting for this moment, Samira!"

"Uhhh, sorry... I was only... joking!" She said.

"Joking, right?" I widened my eyes. She knew she was no match for me because I was more taller, and was chubby while she was so slim.

"Sorry o!" She chuckled. "But why didn't you give that man a chance? He's stable, rich..."

"And aged!" I cut in and continued. "Even if I am ready for marriage I will not marry him"

"Hmm, nice" She beamed. "Well, lets start cooking before my mother returns back!"

"Whatever, slim girl!" I uttered.

"Thank you, chubby girl!" She giggled.

And that was how I helped them with their lunch preparation even though my cooking skill was little compared to theirs. You know, Hajiya had never forced me to learn how to cook in our own house - it was my idea to learn some recipes from Balaraba, our cook. Verily, I am glad since I could literally now participate in cooking wherever I went to.

After returning back home, I met Hajiya in the living room watching a movie in Arewa 24. I greeted her, hence she asked about my interview with BLD Construction Company. I disliked lying to her so I told her what had happened and how I trashed the email they later sent to me. "I am still angry with them, Hajiya. I don't like the company again" I said.

"Uhmmm" She heaved a sigh with a smile. "I respect your decision, Aliya. After all, they'd showed you their true colour. But why don't you like my store? You once said you dislike jewelry and gold businesses but that's not an excuse for you not to work in my shop, after all it's not permanent unless if you want it to be. We can even run the store together, Aliya"