The next day, at the appointed time, Zakiyya was relaxed, it was as if she had forgotten the appointment. I said to her 'Ke(meaning you) you are forgetting something. Shouldn't we be somewhere?
'No, I don't think it is a good idea. What if Hajiya finds out! I don't think I will be going. Besides he may be lying about liking me, why will he just like me?'
"We are going, even if I have to drag you by the neck. Think about it. Let's just go and see what he is up to. As for Hajiya she still calls you Halima or Maryam, I don't think she would notice. Don't know how to break it to you but you are the least of her interests"
"I still don't think it is a bright idea" she murmured
She was used to being bullied and pushed around all her life.
"Get ready" my pushy self said.
I manage to sufficiently bully her into going. She wore her veil and followed behind me as we crept out.
We were at the agreed meeting point, but He was not there.
Zakiyya started with her rambling,
"I told you it was a bad idea, he would never show up, I was nothing but a joke. Let's just leave already"
"Leave to where empress?"
We heard the sufficiently familiar husky manly voice say from behind us.
We turned swiftly, showing little respect for our necks, because the force with which we turned may break our necks
"You are late" I said
"No, I'm on time, you girls are early, I don't blame you, you were too eager to see this handsome face"he replies
"How is my Empress doing?" He asked
Zakiyya started giggling her head moving in sync like a pigeon. I stared at her while He smiles at her affectionately.
"My God! You are beautiful" he exclaimed
Bringing her back from the land of her endless giggles.
"You know, it will be nice if you will actually talk to me, I know I'm handsome and all. But work with me here. Try and actually talk. It's actually easy if you could at least try" He said
" I can talk, I'm not a mute and you are not even handsome" she said angrily
He was amused. He came closer, closer than necessary if you ask me and said
" oh yeah, are you sure, say it again"
she suddenly lost her bravado and started looking at all his facial features. He did not talk again, he only smirked
Then in a weak tone, she said "you are not handsome"
"You hesitated, I win" he said, laughing uncontrollably.
He now puts his hands in his pocket and brought out a small phone. He said to her "this is yours, I will call you when I want us to meet" he gave her a charger and explained to her how it works.
"Thank you" she finally says
"Anything for my Empress, and my name is Ja'far, I know you've been wondering" he replies
We went back home. Throughout the next day Zakiyya was extremely happy. I was seeing a new version of her that I never thought existed.
He kept calling her and they kept meeting.
Jafar was the son of an immigrant Touareg from Niger, that explains his exceptional beauty. His mother was a Hausa woman He met after he moved to Nigeria. His father was a security guard for all the rich hausa men before he married his mother. After he married his mother, he quit the security guard job and established a small shop which he sells provisions. His mother came from a humble background.Her father was a local tailor while her mother sells pap. Jafar's father died when he was 15. But his father believed in Education. He made sure Jafar attended school. When the father died his mother could not keep up with the fees, he struggled to finish secondary school. After that he worked and helped take care of his mother and two sisters. He is now the proud owner of his very own tricycle.
I had started becoming unhappy. What bothers me is how much she was loved. I hated it. she did not deserves it. Whenever we went to him, I felt like a third wheel.
I was always the Centre of attention, be it positive or negative. I had grown accustomed to the spot light. Being the only female child for a long while definitely did the trick. Everyone in my village knew me. Now that Zakiyya was noticed more than I, it felt wrong. Many times I make her do my chores on the threat that I will tell Hajiya about her relationship. Whenever I try to do anything to sabotage her relationship, I always have a change of heart. She was too kind to me, too nice and looks up to me with immense gratitude. Although I bully her often, she still appreciates me and considers me her friend. I don't blame her. She is not gifted with friends only bullies.
Jafar is generous at least to zakiyya. Most days he brought things to her. She had learned to confide in him. Now they don't discuss everything in my presence, we greet each other and he and zakiyya walk away from me so they can have privacy but I was not to be bullied so I always follow them after a minute or so and complain about being tired. They were too ungrateful. Today Jafar bought chicken for Zakiyya. As we were about to leave, he said to me
"Ladi, you know rest is good for the body. You are a hard worker you don't have to follow Empress everyday. You are too nice to her. Let her stand on her two feet. Let her come by herself "
I controlled my temper and ignored him while I simply walk away. The ungrateful Chimpanzee had the audacity to laugh as I walked. I will teach him a lesson.
After we went back home. We ate our roasted chicken. Zakiyya said
"Ladi, I'm sorry about Jafar. You know how he is."
"I'm not angry at all" I cut her off
"there is nothing to apologize for. In truth I only follow you for your own protection. I have heard and seen many things in town. How girls are raped, how men use them. I've been seeing some signs from him. He is not a good man. He is bad news" I said
She was shocked and angry at the same time. She said "enough Ladi, let me be"
It was the first time she talked back at me. Such an ungrateful Gorilla. Now I wanted to hurt her. No one gets away with disrespecting me.
I cleared my throat and establish eye contact.
Then I said in a slow clear voice
"I was wrong to care, I had forgotten prostitution was your thing, it run in your veins. No matter how much you try to turn a lemon into an orange it will always be a lemon. It is nothing new to you. Go and have fun in your whore ways . besides Jafar Is an upgrade compared to Malam Dogo. You had always knew what he wanted, to get unlimited access to your womanhood and nothing more. Look in the mirror how can Jafar ever love you?"
When I saw how hurt she was, my lips formed into a smile. I had gotten my desired result.
Her eyes welled up. She turned her face away, but I could see her shoulders rise and fall as she sobbed.
We did not talk afterwords. Even the next day she was still in a bad mood. Night came and she shamelessly crept out to go and meet Jafar. I followed the stupid girl, and hid myself behind a tree to watch them in pain. I prayed God protects me from all the evil spirits that may be lurking on that tree.
I saw her walked up to him unenthusiastically. She said something to him. Then he kept talking to her, probably asking what was wrong because her eyes were swollen from all the crying she had done. The Weak hearted garbage bag doesn't know when to stop. She turned to leave he grabbed her hands gently to make her stay. She yanked her hands away and yelled. Now I could hear what she was saying.
"I knew it. Ladi was right. I was too naive. You always wanted something from me. Let me chase the easy girl. The shamed. She will be a quick conquest right! That was what you thought. Well,news flash: I'm not that Kind of girl, go fish elsewhere " she said bitterly.
"You have a problem, why do you always construe a person's words and actions in the most negative way? Why do you think I'm a monster while all I ever do is love you against all odds? It's like you have made up your mind I'm just some sort of user who will hurt you. You know what, suit yourself. I will let you be"
He spat
That was the first time she saw him angry.
It bothered her, it bothered her more than she will like to admit.
She began crying uncontrollably. He had already turn to leave when he heard her sobs. He turned Around and signed.
" I'm sorry" He said
"I did not mean it" he added.
"I love you, believe me I do. I love you more than you can imagine. I wish you could understand" he said defeated.
But her problem was not with him at all. She loves him, but her zero self esteem was ruining her relationship. she had been put down several times, she finally gave up and accepted she was a worthless piece of trash.
Because of what happened to her she was unable to accept love. Although she has made peace with her destiny and had embraced the status of the shamed.
she had been put down several times, she finally gave up and accepted she was a worthless piece of trash. In her own twisted way she never understood how someone could ever love her. She has never been loved by anyone besides her grandfather.
She was blamed, guilted yet she was not allowed the privilege of feeling like a victim. It was weird the man before her thought her worthy of sacrifices and was even reckless to love her. Alas! she could not hold it anymore. She looked him in the eyes, with tears rolling down her checks and asked him the must logical question she could,"why me?"
In her world she did not understand how he could do that to himself, and out of love and respect for him she will rather have him love another. A person who deserved to be loved not her. For his kind heart deserves better. It did not matter what she felt, she cannot let herself fall in love, there was too much at stake, too much fear. It cannot be risked. Love will make her vulnerable, in her world vulnerability is not an option. She had at a time been vulnerable which made her understand she is a worthless, waste of breathing air. She would rather have him have a memory of her as a special girl than disappoint him. She had swore to always keep her guard up. To pretend not to feel while she feels everything ever so deeply.
He cleared his throat bringing her back to reality and said " you make me happy, be mine and I will be true to you"
Now more than ever she wanted to save him from herself, but she cannot bring herself to say the words. but why can't she say it. She wanted to save him, yet she wanted him badly. He deserves better. What if he finds out her history and left. Perhaps that will be the easiest way to loose him. She was certain he will abandon her after he finds out bout her past.
"There is something about me that you need to know. It will change our entire relationship but you should know"
He looked at her expectantly
"Something happened to me as young girl" she continues
I couldn't hear her much but I heard her mention Malam Dogo. She was telling him about her disgraceful past. The girl is more daft that I thought.
She kept talking while she cries.
What was shocking was that he was unmoved. He came closer to her and pats her shoulder. This time she did not protest. Then he drew her into an embrace. She calmed down and he let her go. they began coming my way. I retreated as discreetly as possible.
Even after all that, he loved her. He loved her although she was broken. She was his Japanese work of art, meant to mended with gold and let the world see her beautiful scars, not a broken calabash that looses its value once broken, mended with Croaked stitches. And He did, he mended all her wound with gold. To him, everything about her is beautiful. Every feeling he has for her defies logic. It was easier not to love her. But ease is the last thing on his mind when it comes to her. Seems like sharing her disgraceful past made them even closer.
AUTHORS NOTE
Sorry for the late update. I had a problem with my PC. I made it lengthy to make up for the late update. I appreciate comments. Feel free to comment I will reply as soon as possible. Don't forget vote. Happy Reading!!!