BEFORE THIRTY Episode 21

 BEFORE THIRTY

Episode 21:

Author’s POV.

 Hafsah was a tuwo vendor in Ijora some years back. Her delicacy was sumptuous and second to none such that the old and young looked forward to buying from her. However, she was widowed in her prime and also doubled up as an orphan. She lost her husband to an accident few years into her marriage and stick with celibacy when no responsible man was coming forth except those who wined and dined in promiscuity. 

She resigned to her fate, relishing in raising her daughter. She resided at a room apartment in Ketu where her husband rented before moving to Ijora. Her interest in establishing tuwo business spurred up when after she had garnered some savings from some menial jobs she engaged in the past. 

To start off with, she began in front of the house she rented in Ijora under a shade. When her business was growing at fast pace with customers squabbling for her meals, she resorted to a shop which was available at Alhaji Lawal’s house.

 The day he set his eyes on her daughter Baseerah, he became dotting and nicer to her. Oblivious of what could have made him changed overnight, she became curious and nerve-wrecked. When her first rent became due, she handed him the rent for another year since he was known for his rigidity and meanness to debtors. But to her utmost surprise, he told her to keep it. Hafsah marveled, parting her lips in dismay. Her curiosity had risen above chart. She needed no one to tell her something was amiss. 

The sudden philanthropist swiftly satisfied her curiosity by filling her ears with what she had never imagined nor dreamt of. He wanted her daughter to be his fourth and last wife. Hafsah’s voice seized. She was utterly shocked. Her daughter who was just 17? Even if she couldn’t afford to send her to her higher institution, she believed she would excel in any  vocational skill she enrolled in. She kept this within herself. No doubt she wanted a comfortable life for her but not at the expense of her happiness. Will Baseerah accept this or not? She thought, shrugging off.  Wouldn’t it have been batter if he’d sought for her instead of her daughter? Six months when after he didn’t get any feedback from her, he approached her again, promising heaven and earth. Sometimes, he doled out cash to her in guise of leaving change after digging wraps of tuwo and even invited his friends to something akin to a feast at her shop. 

No sooner had Hafsah fallen for this. She began to map out a luxurious life for her daughter in the house of Alhaji. After all, he was capable and a man enough to control his home. She answered without hesitation whenever he called her inlaw. 

Nonetheless, there are two sides to a coin as people would say. What faces someone, back face another. Hafsah was dreaming of all enjoyment that come with her daughter’s marriage with Alhaji while Baseerah on the other hand was crushing on Hamzah; an handsome and such a hardworking man living with his elder brother as tenant in Alhaji’s house. 

Realizing she was the least of Hamzah’s worry, she came our clear to him that she loved him. Hamzah swiftly covered her mouth, asking if she hadn’t told anyone. 

“You love me? I hope you haven’t informed anyone? You are still young for all these. And besides, I want you become a graduate okay?”

“Will you marry me after graduating from the university?” she added innocently.

“Become it first, I don’t want to promise anything. I might not live to see that time. ”

“You should stop talking about death okay? If you promise to marry me, I will study hard to become your wife. Brother Hamzah, I love you.. Will you marry me?” she stated firmly without holding back.

Hamzah only smiled, watching her with amusement.

“Baseerah, you are a beautiful girl. You don’t deserve an hustler like me.. You see all these shirts I wear, they are the ones I made from the fabric my boss asks me and colleagues to trash. They are nothing but waste. I sew the pieces together to make them look like latest styles. I have a lot of aspirations. I want to get a good job so that I can take care of my parents and and the rest of my family. This is why brother Tahir brought me to Lagos. You see, it’s not like I don’t like you or who wouldn’t want a damsel as a wife but I am not ready for this. Once I am and you are still available, I will come for you, in sha Allah.” he giggled.

She couldn’t think of any other thing to say than nodding her head. 

Now that the only ticket to be Hamzah’s wife is to become a graduate, she politely begged her mother to sponsor her university education. Hafsah smiled and told her, her dream would be achievable if she would marry Alhaji. Baseerah burst into laughter wondering if her mother was in her right senses. When it dawned on her that Hafsah wasn’t bantering, she rushed to Hamzah to inform her. She was surprised he neither flinch nor raised an eye brow, hearing her talk. 

“Why are you acting as if It’s cool? You are the one I want oooo,” she dragged her ears, showing how serious she was.

“I wouldn’t want to make a rash decision this moment. Moreover, the man you just mentioned is my landlord. I wouldn’t want a situation whereby my brother would be asked to vacate the room in his possession. Let’s be patient, alright?” he calmly said.

Even if Baseerah was the one who initiated the proposal, Hamzah couldn’t stop himself from seeing her as his future wife. He had started growing affection for her too but then, he needed to be careful like the one walking on egg shell.

At the long run, Alhaji wasn’t relenting. He engaged her to discuss marriage proposal with her but without hesitation, she disagreed bluntly leaving the man embarrassed. Her mother begged but when her response still remained no, she screamed and threatened to disown her.

All efforts to persuade her mother was in vain. She almost cried her eyes out. Yet, Hamzah acted cool. Baseerah became tensed since he would only marry her when she had completed her education. But what if Alhaji won, what would happen to the love she had for Hamzah? Hafsah had changed completely towards her. Her sweet mother had turned to a monster overnight, feeding her with dreadful words everyday. These were having a toll on her and if her mother continued like this, she would be left with no choice than to succumb.

The confused young woman thought of giving her pride to the man of her dreams. She loved her mother so much and wouldn’t want her sad but then, she loved another man who wanted her become better in life before marrying her. 

She’d planned everything. She heard Hamzah telling a neighbor that his brother traveled to see their parents that evening. That would be the perfect time for carrying out her plans. She wouldn’t give her pride to a man old enough to father her. Seeing Hamzah returned from work, she started monitoring him. Immediately he left for the bathroom at the backyard, she sneaked in. When he  entered, she seduced him, striping herself. He tried his best to control himself but then, the atteactive figure in front of him and the quench to satisfy his needs got the better part of him and it happened. 

This shouldn’t have happened. What would everyone say? His brother? Landlord? Hafsah? No. Hot tears fell but nothing could be done to change the situation. Baseerah wasn’t remorseful though. She felt it was the right thing to do. Even if she eventually settled for the old man, Hamzah would never forget her. She viewed the deed as a way of committing herself to the relationship between them. 

Hamzah managed to summon courage to plead with her to keep it a secret from anyone. He’d heard a scholar said if someone sinned and repented, Allah would forgive the person. 

“What we committed this evening must not be repeated. Else, I won’t consider marrying you anymore. You shouldn’t have done this. I tried my best to put my emotions in check but you used your womanly prowess to make me fall. How I wish this nuptial activity is legal. How I wish we were married. If we are meant to be, no one can separate us. I pray Allah forgives our sin and pardon us.”

“I’m sorry. But what I did was out of love. I want a commitment.. I am afraid something against my wish might happened. I want you to be my first man that’s why I did this. But brother Hamzah why don’t you tell my mother you want to marry me and let’s get this over and done with.”

“And you think I can afford marriage now? I am a final year student in LASU sponsoring my part time studies with whatever I raise from tailoring skill. I should have secured a shop and personal sewing equipments by now but I am handicapped financially. Hence, still working for my boss. I am hopeful I will get a good job once I graduated in sha Allah. Few months to this time, I will be done already.”

“But you said you won’t marry me except I ....” she was saying when he interrupted.

“I mentioned that so that you can be serious with your education. I don’t want to take advantage of your vulnerability but now that the whole thing is taking a new dimension, I will try to save money to get an apartment. Very soon, my brother’s wife and his son will be joining him soon. I am planning on leaving here for mine.

All she did was listening to him and accepted his decision. The following week, Alhaji died in his sleep. Everyone was surprised and caught unaware. He went to bed the previous night and didn’t wake up. That same week, Hafsah received a call from the north that her only surviving uncle was dead. She couldn’t leave without her daughter and they both set out for the journey.

Unfortunately, the bus that conveyed them collided with a truck leading to an accident when they were almost at home. Hafsah died on spot while her daughter survived, though unconscious. She recuperated two weeks later with loss of memory; amnesia. She couldn’t remember all that happened in the past. It was this time the doctor found out she was pregnant. If she couldn’t remember anything, how would she know the father of the child? 

A philanthropist and a wealthy business man, Muktar Ahmad who usually visited hospitals to donate fund and relief materias, seeking after the welfare of patients met with her one day, crying uncontrollably during a ward round session.  He introduced himself to her, inquiring what her problems were. She confided in him with tears that got him speechless. There he was living with sterility. Three women had left him due to fertility issues. He felt bad for the young woman, promising to help her situation.

Surviving such an accident without internal injury and yet, with an intact pregnancy worth giving thanks for. He took it upon himself to see her through till she had her son who was named Luqman. The affections between them grew and they decided to get married. 

When Luqman turned five, Baseerah became pregnant for her husband. His joy knew no bounds as he leaped in joy. Who would have thought he would eventually become a father through her? Allah Surely Has a way of doing His things. After spending what seemed like a fortune on drugs and supplements. To cut it short, the journey of nine months ended with having two babies. A boy and a girl. The journey was tough on her such that she was close to death in the process of birthing her children. Surviving this one too, all the memory she had lost came back. She remembered everything including Hamzah. Narrating her experiences to her husband, he couldn’t help but feel sad for her. 

She felt the best thing ti do was to let Luqman know everything about his father. Ahmad was sceptical about it at first. He feared the young boy might not take it lightly. He has also become part of his life but wouldn’t it be unfair for denying him the knowledge of his paternity? As expected, he felt bad and lonely for sometime but with assurance and support everything went back to normal. 

Baseerah decided to let her son met with his biological father. She traveled to Lagos in search of him but lost all hopes when she found out the house has been 

demolished and a new building had been erected. She made enquiry about Hamzah and his brother around but no one seemed to have heard or know about them.

End of Author’s POV.

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Aunt Muinah walks in with a dull aura. I don’t know why she looks disturbed. She entwine our hands, sitting beside me. 

“Fareedah, you mentioned something yesterday about chastity and I commended you for that. Beyond doubt, it’s obvious you love Luqman and he does too but I will urge you to accept whatever happens today as what has been destined.”

“Aunt, I am not getting your parables. What’s actually going on?”

“Dress up and let’s go join others.”

This is a day I have been looking forward to see. I hope everything is fine. I quickly dress up and trail her behind. 

Getting outside, the beautiful smiles that had been on every faces seem to have faded and replaced with worried lines. Luqman was also not left out. My heart start skipping intermittently. All gazes are on Luqman’s mother whose eyes have become red. My legs begin to tremble while my palms is turning cold. Why does it seems we are mourning rather than celebrating? I look towards my mum whose face is deadpanned with her cheeks resting on her palm.

“Now that Fareedah is here, kindly free us from this suspense,” Aunt Muinah says.

“Mom, I beg you for Allah’s sake what are you sorry for,” Luqman pleaded.

Baseerah looked her husband’s way. He gave her an assuring nod. 

“Luqman, I’m sorry. While I know how much Fareedah means to you. I can’t help the situation I have put you in.”

“Mummy, speak up, please. I beg of you. My heart is skipping. What are you insinuating?” he is sweating profusely. 

I am still confused. What’s real going on? Why is the atmosphere in a such a tense situation? What is it that Luqman’s mother wants to say?

She walks to her son, sitting beside him. 

“You and Fareedah are from the same loins. You are siblings. I am sorrrrryyyy.... It’s all my fault. I caused it because of the love I had for him. Hamzah was a good man but I made him... ,” she is saying when her husband patted her shoulder.

“It’s okay my dear. All happened at the time of ignorance,” he patted her, explaining how he met her, took care of her in pregnancy, her memory loss and how she search for my father of which was in vain..

“Fareedah, we can’t be siblings right?” He asks with a cracky voice. I look at my mom’s way. She is equally in tears. That means we are truly siblings if she isn’t saying a word. Probably dad mentioned her to him. Now, I know Rahmah was right when she mentioned my brother Ismail shared some semblance with Luqman. Though, I didn’t give meaning to it since people look alike without sharing a bond.

 I stare at him again, searching for my father’s face and I couldn’t help confirm it. Oh! This is the reason why he loves me so much. It was just a brother-sister love. Everyone centres their attention on us. As much as I want to scream and cry, no tears were coming forth. My eyes are as dry like a withered leaf while my heart thud against my chest at intervals. I am just speechless, gazing into the space. The only man who has ever loved me like a woman turns out to be my brother. Fareedah isn’t destined to be happy. I turn my back to leave for my room when I see Luqman lying helplessly on the floor, holding his chest. What! He just fainted. I just realized my mind isn’t here at all. My ears have been deafed all along to all the noises of the commotions going on at the background.