BEFORE THIRTY Episode 14

 BEFORE THIRTY

Episode 14:

I am in my mum’s shop when a secondary school mate shows up. On beholding my sight, she rushes to me for a hug. 

“Fareedah! Ooohhh! It’s really you ooi! Oh my God! Longest time. Awwnnn..... This one you are home, my mind is telling me something good is about to happen. I have missed you so much, you know. Eh! Faree, Faree, tell me, when is it happening?” she taps my arm slightly.

“What? But it’s nice meeting you too.” 

“Your wedding date, of course!”

“Why are you here? To buy something or run mouth as usual?” I narrow my eyes at her.

“Ahn ahn! Fareedah, calm down. It’s been a while since we last saw each other now. I know what I’m saying ooo. I won’t hide the fact I got impregnated while in SS2 but what matters most is that I am happily married. Ehn ehn, you remember my first son Umar, he is now 11. He’s so plumpy and matured than his age. If he sees you now, he will address you as anti Fareedah instead of mommy. Do you also remember Kehinde, our classmate, the beans seller son? he got married last month. I heard that you have a car and work in one big company in Ibadan; wall have ears you know. Trust me now, my second name is CNN.... Hahaha..My sister, as I was saying,  you see, most African men have ego ooo. Not all of them can settle down for boss ladies like you. They believe they won’t be respected. So, I will advise you to sell your car or give it your mum. There is husband scarcity ooo and once you grab one, hold onto him tightly. Before I forget.., ” she continues to prattle before I stop her.

“Azeezah! I thought you’ve changed. Even after having four boys you haven’t stop being nosy. Tell me something, does your husband beat you because you own a car too? And don’t make me remind you of how your family had to go on knees before he accepted you alongside the first pregnancy between you both. Everyone is getting married doesn’t mean I won’t find mine. And to your opinion about boss ladies, any man who finds a woman’s success a threat and intimidating is sure battling with inferiority complex and such an enemy of progress. As I was saying, what do you want to buy?”

“Haba! Fareedah, I didn’t mean it that way. Must you spell it out like that? Anyway, no matter what a woman achieve in life, if she isn’t married, she is a looser,” she retorts rolling her eyes.

“You must be saying this out pain or envy, I think. But you forgot to add, that being single is better off than being married to an irresponsible spouse. Azeezy, my friend. What do you want now?”

“It’s better you call mama out. I don’t think you still remember how to operate milling machine. It’s beans I want to grind,” she frowns, averting from me.

“What do you expect from a boss lady like me? Huh? I will grind it to your satisfaction. Is it akara or moin-moin? Iya Umaru, don’t forget I used to do this before leaving home,” I smirk at her, laughing hard while she shakes her head, rolling her eyes.

“With these tiny bones of yours?” she mockingly says.

“Talk jooorrr,” I tickle her cheek.

“It’s akara,” she burst out laughing.

Azeezah has been like that since our secondary school days. She never stopped amazing me. I wonder when she will drop this nosy and mouth- blabbing parts of her. This meddlesome of hers had one time cost her, her so called perfect marriage. I remember her badmouthing her mother inlaw in the presence of her step mother inlaw; oblivious of the fact they were like inseparable twins. When her mother in-law found out, she was sent back to her parents house to receive some sense and the home training she lacks. Funnily enough, her in-laws house was a stone throw from that of her parent’s. When the news got to us in school through her younger sister in-law, my peers made a mountain out of a molehill on the matter such that she couldn’t walk freely on the street. Such a funny incident. And I can’t blame her for the kind of impression she has on working class spinsters, as there are many others who share in her opinions too. Why will having a car send men away from a woman if not lack of self esteem? Owning a car isn’t born out of spendthriftiness for most people but out of necessity. 

When I am done rendering the service, she pays while I give her, her balance. “Fareedah, I may sound somehow but my intention is pure. May Allah provide a good man for you.”

“Aameen. Thanks for your concern and my regards to your plumpy son and his siblings,” I respond while she leaves.

I have learnt to grow thick skin against toxic people and how to put them in their places for a long time except I don’t wish too. You can’t come from nowhere and taunt me because I don’t have a husband. Do you expect me place advert on my forehead or jump at every Jack and Jill that comes my way? That is even the last thing on my mind. I return inside the shop, awaiting my mum who went to the market.

Last night, I didn’t respond to the brother in my inbox. What does he mean by something beautiful? After the drama that ensued between me and Yunus, I don’t wish to put mind in stuff like this anymore. What if he wants something else? Someone I don’t know. I won’t bite more than I can chew. The last thing I can bear at the moment is another heart break. The moment I switch on the data mode, I see another notification from the same brother.

“Assalam Alaykum, sis. I am waiting for your reply. Or are you married?”

“Why do want to know more about me?”I reply.

“Because I want someone like you to be my wife. Is that too much to ask for?”

“Brother, you don’t know me and don’t tell me you are short of Muslim sisters in your community. Why not go for one of them?”

“Funny sister. You are right though. But what interest us differs. The comment you made on that thread was breathtaking and that was what amplified my attraction towards you. Though, I may not have seen or met you physically but your choice of words swept me off my feet. I scanned through your profile yesterday before coming to your DM. I can see you lived in Lagos before relocating to Ibadan. You studied Accountancy at the University Of Lagos, work in Ibadan. You are a Muslim and still single. Am I right?” 

What does he think of himself? Since he knows so much about me why asking questions again? I decide to reply him not because I fell for his words, though.

“Going through my profile should suffice or what else do you want to know?”

“I love tough ladies. Most especially when they bear Fareedah. I know what you must be thinking. Should I go on to say it?”

I hiss loudly, shaking my head.

“What is it?”

“Thanks for asking. You must be thinking; what is wrong with this guy? Can’t he find a good sister around him? Why is he disturbing me? I will tell you the answers to these if you ask me to go ahead.”

“Okay, go ahead.”

“Oops. I need to attend to something urgent. I will chat you later, in sha Allah. I’m so sorry about this but don’t forget to think about me okay? Hahaha!”

Nonsense! He even added laughing emojis. Who will think about him? He is so full of himself. Does he think I am one of those random girls he can win over with cheap chats like these? I hiss.

Just then, my sister arrives exuding a fresh aura around her. She drops her bag, rushing to me for a hug. She seeks after mum while I tell her she’s away.

“Anti mi! I have missed you so much. How have you been?”

“I’ve missed you too my cute little doll. But I thought you were to return tomorrow.”

“I couldn’t hold my horses anymore since you told me you are home already. Nothing matters anymore except to see you,” she is grinning from ear to ear before her ringing phone jolts us back.

She brings out her phone blushing.

“Walaykum Salam. Oh! You have arrived safely.

 BarakaLlahu feekum.” she shoves it back inside her bag.

I clear my throat, giving her a knowing look.

“What? Ahhn.. Mum has met him joor... I am not doing anything wrong. Okay? I will tell you everything. This is one of the reasons why I have been dying to see you.

“Why didn’t you tell me the last time you came to Ibadan?”

“Nothing has happened that time. Okay, it happens that we met at my Jamb centre. He accompanied his younger sister there. So, I heard him scolding her for leaving her mathematical set at home. And you  know your sister now; I had two with me. Then, I gave her one. Both of them were happy was an understatement. After exams, we exchanged contacts and then we became friends. I was marveled when she called me on phone she would be visiting with her brother who offered to be her chauffeur. That was how mum met him. So, I reciprocated her kind gesture too; I went to check on her. That was the day she told me about her brother’s feelings for me,” she facepalms herself with her beating chest.

“My little doll of yesterday is now a grown up woman. Perhaps, mum didn’t know how to tell me because she doesn’t want me feel bad. And why would I? But Rahmah, do you like him?” I ask beaming while she nods slowly.

“BarakaLlahu feekum.”

“Aamen... Big sis, you are the best. How I wish you are the one having this feeling. You are right. Mum didn’t know how to Inform you. I was sceptical at first but I trust the kind of sister I have and I have trust in Allah that He Has better plans for you, ” she buries her head in my laps while I draw circles on her back.

“But Darling, have you prayed about him?”

“Yes, I have and I have requested the imam of our masjid to run a background check on him. Dad should be the one to do this. May Allah illuminate his grave.”

“Aamen while I am happy about that. I think the men of the house should interrogate him too. Whenever they are back from school, invite him to come. What does he do for a living?”

“He is still in school. Law school to be precised and about to round up his program.”

“And you are just starting. How do you balance that?”

“He said he’s ready to wait till I get to Year Three, in sha Allah. So, we agreed on no texting, chatting except phone calls and that will be once a week because the heart isn’t made of bones.”

“That’s good to hear. And don’t stop praying. Allah’s blessings on it. May you be happy always, my cute doll.”

“Aameen, big sis. You are the best!”

We resume to our sisterly talks about life, my work, her studies and everything in general. Mum arrives an hour later. She is happy to know Rahmah has informed about me everything. She looks at me with a sorry face while I entwine my fingers in hers, smiling.

“Maami, I understand everything. You are just being a mother projecting a fear on how your older daughter would handle the news of her younger sister finding a suitor when she is yet to get none. But mum, have you forgotten how you instill the love for one another in our hearts? You do say that in as much as we unite, we can conquer all battles of life. You wait and see how your sweet dreams on your children gets manifested. I love you ma,” I snuggle against her while my sister also joins. Mum couldn’t hide her tears nor utter a word. She allows her tears flow patting our backs.

Going through my Facebook news feeds, I see his message pops up again.

“I’m so sorry for replying late. I didn’t realize when I slept off. You won’t believe I had to wake up because I saw you in my dreams. Oh, my God! You are so beautiful. You keep calling my name; Luqman!!! Opening my eyes, I rush to my phone and to my utmost surprise, you are truly calling for me. Prove me wrong oo. You have every right to do so.” he sent with laughing emoticons.

I didn’t realize when I start laughing. His stupid dreams must have gotten to his head. What kind of a human being is this? I am still laughing when he sent another message.

“Don’t tell me I just made you laugh. You know what? My friends call me doctor of boredom. You didn’t even ask how I knew you were calling unto me. Do you care?”

“Yes.”

“Allahu Akbar! This is a sign of goodness. Okay, I got to know you needed my attention because you are online. I made a promise to reply every questions bothering your mind right?”

“Yes.”

“And you want to know?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s meet whenever I come to Ibadan. Hopefully by nextweek, in sha Allah. I reside in Iyana Ipaja, Lagos.”

“I am also in Lagos at the moment.”

“Why? Is everything okay?”

“Sure. I came to spend my leave with my family.”

“AlhamduliLlah...  That’s good to hear. Alright then.

 For the sake of Allah, where do you reside?”

“Ikotun area. ”

“Maa shaAllah! Can’t believe yout lloation isn’t far from mine. let’s meet at PanDelight restaurant, please. It’s in Ikotun and I’m sure locating there won’t be hard.”

“Meet? Not so soon. ”

“I am not in a hurry.  You can have all time. I just want us define this before going beyond borders. Let’s keep it halal, sis. I will be waiting for your response. ”

I can’t believe the more I resist the urge to reply the harder it is for me. I hope I am doing the right thing? What if he isn’t genuine? I have to tread with caution. A meeting with him? No! I don’t think I’m ready for this. People can’t be trusted these days. Someone I have never met before. How do I face him? What are we discussing? I heave a long sigh.  

 

The following day, I see his tesleem to which I respond without hesitation this time around. I expect him to send another message but he didn’t. Well, I care less. I am not ready to meet him and that’s all. I find myself going back to our chats and I start laughing like a lovestruck fool. Oh my God! I shouldn’t be doing this, I pinch the back of my hands, letting out a soft ouch. I drop my phone in the bed, striding to the living room. 

Entering the living room, my mum is done loosing her hair. 

“Adunni, I am through. This is one out of the reasons why I missed you. Come help me with my hair, my dear,” she grins.

Walking up to her, I collect the comb from her when Rahmah comes in.

“It’s good that you are here. I have something to say but I don’t know how. Rahmah, I request you to sit because I can see you are more experience than me in this; it’s certainly not by age...... Maami, I just met a man on Facebook,” I bury my face in my palm while my sister burst out laughing.

“Maami, why is your daughter acting like a teenager? That’s not a new thing now. ”

“Let my daughter talk joorrr...  So, what happened?” she pays attention to me.

“Ermmm... Actually, I haven’t accepted b-but he wants...”I fondle a strand of my hair. Then, my sister cuts in.

“He wants to meet you right?” she asks smirking at me while I nod shyly.

“Anti mi, I am shy on your behalf. That’s the new trend joorrr.. I know lots of couples that met on social media. Even my ustazah once shared how she met her husband. It was via Facebook. Now, their marriage has produced three beautiful kids. I am not disputing the fact that there are gory stories to tell too but the most important thing is to keep one’s eyes on the ball and pray about it. 

“Ehh! Children of these days... You mean, people gets life partners on this thing? So, are you suggesting it’s safe for your sister to meet this man?”

“Ahh.... Yes! But she isn’t going alone. I will tag along. No one dares to harm my sister, when I’m there. You get it? But mum, it’s not this thing, it is called social media,” she leaves mum side, hiding behind me.

 

“Say that to you father's family. Your face like that of a clown...... But can’t we invite him here?”

“Invite him here? Someone we know nothing about. What if he has bad intentions? Don’t worry Maami, that place is a open one with security personnel manning the entrance. To top it all, we will arm ourselves with adhkaar. This is just a trial, we never can tell,” Rahmah says.

I alongside maami reason with her. I was right by involving her too. Resuming to my mum’s hair, my phone starts ringing. Rahmah goes to my bedroom to fetch it. She returns smiling, giving me a knowing smile.

“Who is Fawzaan?” she grins while I snatch my phone from her.