But His command, when He intendeth a thing, is only that He saith unto it: Be! and it is.
Baba didn't let the matter be that day, he called Baba Shehu over to discuss it with him because he's kind of the root of everything. He came immediately after Isha prayer.
"Haka yace kuma kuka biye mai (that's what he said and you agreed with him)" Baba Shehu's voice roared around the house.
We call him Baba Shehu or Uncle Shehu anyone that comes out at the moment.
"Wallahi kun bata yaran nan (I swear you have spoilt this boy)" he roared again
"Abinda nake gaya mata kenan(that's what I've been telling her)" Baba said and I know he meant it for mama
"Toh what do you want me to do? He's my only son" Mama's voice was very calm
"Koh ma mene ne (whatever), you know it was very difficult for me to convince mama (that's innar mage) to accept this proposal. What does he want me to say to Hamza, that my stupid nephew wants his second daughter and not the one we agreed on. Where is he ma?Abdulrahim" he shouted my name, I came out of my room quietly and head to the parlor
"Ina wunin ku (good evening to you all)" I greeted
"Kai(You)" he pointed me with a finger fuming
Chai this man is really angry
"Wa ya kaika zabar Ahlam (who told you to choose Ahlam)?" He questioned I looked down not uttering a word
"Don't you know that your parents and I and Hamza agreed on Ikram, and as I've already told you, you don't have a say in this. We chose Ikram and you're marrying her" he said firmly
"Baba Shehu please don't do this to me, I will do whatever you want but please let me marry Ahlam" I begged
I know I was already out of options, he's furious because he went to them for the proposal and he assured Ahlam's dad that the wedding will happen with Ikram and he shouldn't worry and now he doesn't have the guts to tell him it's not happening with Ikram but Ahlam, it must be very hard for him and I know it.
"Ban San jin komai (I don't want to hear anything)" he shouts
The last time I saw him this upset was when Safi and Mimi had gone out and didn't come back home till 11pm, he made sure he beaten the hell out of them after baba finished his. And still after that they were grounded for 2 weeks and they weren't allowed to see each other.
"Amma (but) Baba Shehu, when you brought the proposal you didn't tell me the name of the girl or specified in the picture and neither did Mama or Baba, so ni Na dauka zaba zanyi (so I thought I was going to choose)" I said thinking maybe he'll reconsider his decision
"A tunda zabe akeyi a nan bah, kaga hotun mata sai wanda ta maka kyau koh (yes since it's election you choose who you want right?, you've seen beautiful ladies so you'll choose the one you think is the most stunning right?)"
A/N: my translations are bad bare with me, if anyone can translate it better please leave the correct translation in the comments section.
"No wallahi it's not like that" I protest
"Yimin Shiru (shut up)" he shouted pacing the room
"Shehu calm down" Baba said to him
Baba and baba Shehu are a year apart, so they're much more like twins.
"Yayi ba dai dai ba a yafe mishi ( he has wronged you, please for forgive him)" mama pleaded on my behalf
"Stop supporting him, ya bude baki and apologize (he should open his mouth)" Baba said
"Baba Shehu kayi min hakuri (please forgive me)" I pleaded
"Yaran nan (this boy), I went to his office and was talking to him about the proposal and he said no, he even had the Guts to tell me ni Na girma (I'm a grown up) and I have my rights, da kai da rights in kunci gidan ku (you and the rights the rest is an insult in hausa and I can't translate it)"
That's the problem with African parents bringing up things that have passed and the problem with People from katsina insult. I just kept quiet because there was nothing to say or do.
"I'm sorry about that" I apologized again
"Now what are we going to do?" Baba asked
"I know what to do, I'll teach him a lesson" Baba Shehu said, that doesn't sound good at all
"We'll tell Innar mage all that happened I'm sure she has a solution" Baba Shehu said
I'm dead
That woman she fit punish person well well
I immediately looked at my parents with a pleading look to help me
"No Shehu, abu be kai da ya kawo ba ai ba sai an sa innar mage a cikin maganar nan ba (this issue we can resolve it, we don't have to involve Innar Mage in it)" baba said
I'm so grateful to him
"Even if we don't tell her now she'll eventually find out because she knows it's Ikram not Ahlam. And it's better she finds out now rather than later because she'll throw a tantrum" Baba Shehu spoke
I wish the ground could just open so that I can jump inside
"Mama please" I whispered to her
She's the only person that can help me now, she knows how to convince Baba Shehu but I don't think he'll listen now because he's upset at both of us.
She shook her head, there's nothing she can do
Finally They all sat down on the couches and I sat on the floor as Baba Shehu brought his phone out.
"I want this matter resolved today, let me call Innar mage" he said my heart was thumping in fright
It rang but there was no answer
On the second ringing she answered and he put it on speaker
"Assalama alaikum(peace be upon you)" her hoarse voice came on the line
"Wa alaikumus salam mama(peace be upon you too mama)" Baba Shehu said
"How are you my son?" She asked in hausa
"I'm very good, praises due to the almighty. How are you?" He asked back in hausa
Innar mage barely understands English although she tries to pick some words up.
"I'm good too my son, ko mi lafiya?(is everything okay?)" she asked
Here comes the bomb
"No, we have an issue with the proposal"
"What did baba na do kuma?(what did my father do again?)" she asked referring to me
I have her fathers name so Iam literally her favorite not even my dad who has her husbands name was a match for me in her eyes.
"He wants Ahlam not Ikram" And he dropped the bomb
"Then get him married to Ahlam, what's the difference? Me I've already told you my decision regarding this issue" I love this woman but what's her decision?
"Mama but we agreed with the father of the girls that it's Ikram not Ahlam. And we all chose Ikram for him, you even agreed on Ikram because she's the oldest" Baba Shehu said glancing at me
"Aikam (yes), oh now I understand, he doesn't like the girl we chose, he doesn't want us to choose the girl he'll marry bah(right), he rather chooses by himself or keep wandering around that birni (city) of his. Toh bai isa ba kuma ban yarda ba (I do not agree), he'll marry the girl we all chose and agreed on and that's final" she said in hausa firmly
"Yes, that's what I told Umar and Aisha" Baba Shehu said looking between my parents
"Amma(but) innar mage, he prefers Ahlam and he likes her" Mama spoke
I was very glad that she did but Innar Mage must talk, and I know mama will bear anything just for my happiness
"Who is talking?" She asked in hausa
"Aisha ce(it's Aisha), Ina wuni Inna (good evening)" mama greeted
"Ahh ai Na sani (ahh me I know), you've spoilt my grandson. I don't care who he likes, the one we choose is the one he'll marry" Innar Mage said
We kept on talking about that for almost an hour till mama and I finally convinced her with a little help from baba but uncle Shehu wasn't even on my side.
"The condition is the decision I've been talking about" Innar Mage said
She agreed but there's a condition
"If you marry a girl of your chosen after a year and a half of your marriage you'll marry another girl of my chosen" she said
And I strongly opposed that.
What the hell?
"Well whether you marry Ikram or Ahlam my dear grand child you're still going to marry a girl of my chosen" she said in hausa
Is this a joke?
I can't believe the words coming out from this old lady's mouth.
She must be cray cray Astagfirullah (may Allah forgive me)
"One wife is enough for me" I said to her
"Then allow me to choose that wife for you" she said as if it were that easy for me
I whined and wailed but the old lady was still adamant on her decision/condition but I told them I don't want them to tell Ahlam about it, I will tell her myself when the time is right.
"What's the need for you to do that? You're already entitled to 4 wives and she knows it" Innar Mage said
This woman is heartless
I felt like smashing the the phone to the wall.
Ya Allah help me get through this
Baba Shehu decided to call Ahlam's father that same night
Beep beep it rang the first time but no one answered
Beep beep the second time
Please pick up I prayed silently
Beep
"Salama alaikum brother shehu" Ahlam's Dad said
"Wa alaikumussalam brother hamza" uncle shehu said "How's the family and Ikram?" he asked
I'm glad that he put the phone on speaker so that everything will be clarified
"She's fine Alhamdulillah" Uncle Hamza said (that's Ahlam's dad)
"Abdulrahim has agreed to marry your daughter but he wants to marry Ahlam, I am very sorry for the inconvenience and I thought of telling you early before we set a date and move forward about the wedding plans. He chose Ahlam not Ikram. Can you hear me Hamza? It's Ahlam" Baba Shehu spoke but it seems like the line was skipping and they couldn't hear everything clearly, I just pray they heard everything loud and clear because this is a serious issue.
A very serious one
"brother hamza can you hear me?" Baba Shehu asked to confirm if he heard everything
"Yes" Uncle Hamza replied
I finally breathed out
Alhamdulillah
I never thought it'll be this simple.
"Abdulrahim's family are coming in the next two weeks, okay?" Uncle shehu said
They continued talking for a while before he hung up
"I am very grateful to all of you" I thanked them
Baba Shehu hasn't forgiven me yet and I get it, I'll give him time.
Mama smiled and congratulated me, baba said I should just keep praying that things go well and I nodded at him when he informed me.
Alhamdulillah
She'll finally be mine
10/11/17 My birthday, I was suppose to update but I was so busy that I didn't get time till now, thank you very much for being patient with me.
I literally slept the whole day then woke up around 3 in the afternoon because I had to get ready for my party which was litt by the way, it was so awesome, I literally loved everything about it especially the gifts.
so I hope you guys like this chapter, don't forget to comment, vote and share please.
Thank you
Khadijah