C1 Manal

It was precisely 25 minutes past 6pm and I knew this how? Well, because I had been glancing at my wristwatch every damn minute I had spent by the roadside waiting for my cousin to come pick me up. This wasn't my first time visiting Kano but every time I visited the prominent city, I'd have to call my mother's younger sister, Hajiya Siyyamah to send someone to pick me up and that someone was in the person of Ya Salim, the non-nonsense cousin.

I hissed as I unhesitatingly pulled out my phone from my bag. I was with a backpack and a Rockland draggable box. "Hello Hajiya Siyyamah, hasn't Ya Salim left home already?" I asked through the phone as soon as I called her.

"He left here since, hasn't he arrived there?" She said.

"Yes he hasn't" I huffed.

"Oh, I guess it's traffic. Let me call and hear from him" She said.

"Alright, thank you ma" I muttered and ended the call. I had pretended like I wasn't that worried but I was so damn worried because soon it would be dark if he didn't come in time.

I was glancing at my wristwatch again when a black 'Corolla S' parked in front of me, it was him. Yes, that was his car! He had been using it for quite some time now, he was very good at using things – even his gadgets used to last much longer than ours.

"Evening, Ya Salim" I greeted him as soon as he stepped out of the car. "What took you so long?" I absentmindedly asked letting out a little portion of my anger.

"Are you asking me?" He glared at me.

"Sorry" I gulped.

"Just get in the car, I don't have time to waste here" He uttered returning back to the car.

Oops, whatever! I sighed loading my luggage into the back passenger seat of the car. After that, I hopped into the front passenger seat and gently fastened my seatbelt. Thus, he started the car and accelerated into the fast lane. He wasn't really a fast driver but he loved driving in the fast lane.

It was a silent drive to the Emir Estate, with a stopover at NNPC filling station. I was warmly welcomed by Hajiya Siyyamah and Ya Salim's heavily pregnant wife, Hauwa Qulu Ibrahim. They were so happy to see me, they must have missed me so badly!

"Let me go and get the dinner ready!" Hajiya said heading towards the direction of the kitchen in a snail's pace, she was chubby you know.

"Okay, Hajiya" I uttered turning to Ya Hauwa. "You know what? I really missed Hajiya's food so badly"

"Really? And she missed your shenanigans!" Ya Hauwa said teasingly, she was good at teasing people.

"Worevaa (whatever)!" I pouted as we gently began walking towards one of the guest rooms, the one very close to Salim's late sister's room who died of cancer years back. Her name was Abidah, she was loved by almost everyone. Allah took her at the age of 12 and she died with a broad smile on her face despite the pains she had been complaining about. Since then, Salim had not been himself. He neither talk much nor smile at people. But after marrying Ya Hauwa, things started getting back to normal but not everything. He could be cold and aloof at times.

"I thought you said you are not coming back to Kano again?" Ya Hauwa said as soon as we walked into the guest room. It was dark, so she swiftly headed towards the window – pushed it open and slid the curtain.

"I said that because I had a very bad NYSC experience here" I huffed recalling all the bad days I had during my Youth Service in Kano. Verily, it wasn't easy for me plus the fact that the place I did it in was a very busy place.

"Ohh, so now that you're jobless you came back to seek for a job here right? Busted!" She teased me as she threw me a hand fan, there was no light so I had to manage the portable fan.

"I am only here to spend the summer but if Allah bring a job, I will humbly accept it" I said as I hopped onto the bed wearing a smile on my face. "Hmm, can't believe this unique blanket still house this pleasant scent!"

"Be sure to wash it when going" She said.

"I sure will, as usual, Mummy Twins!" I teased her.

"Stop calling me that, you know I hate twins. By the way, what I am carrying in my tommy ain't twins!" She rolled her eyes.

"We shall see!" I smirked at her.

"You are no fun!" She muttered and left the room.

"Hmm" I heaved a sigh as I rose to a sitting position. I really ought to contact my parents and tell them I had arrived safely at Hajiya Siyyamah's house so that they shouldn't be worried.

"Hello, Mama" I said immediately I dialed my mother's number. "I arrived at the house already" I apprised her.

"Good, hope you met them safe and sound?" She said.

"Yes, mama" I huffed.

"Alright my regards to them, and make sure you rest, okay?" She said.

"Okay mama, bye!" I bade her goodbye.

"Bye, Manal!" She ended the call.

It had been a very hectic day, the journey had took its toll on me hence all I needed now was a very hot dinner, warm bath, and uninterruptible sleep. No prayers because I wasn't, you know, pure. I was on my period.

"Bismillah (in the Name of Allah)" I uttered as I dropped my phone on the bed and stood to my feet.

Just as I was walking towards the door about going out for dinner, I felt a piercing headache which made me lose my balance and fall wearily on the floor. It was strange and before I knew it, darkness had already enveloped me. What was wrong with me? I swooned.