Newfound Destination

~ 1 ~

Karimah's POV

Today was going to be a great day. I knew it from the moment I woke up this morning.

You know that feeling we all get when a weight has been lifted off our shoulders. The feeling of freedom, that's the one.

I was finally going to the University and of course, I was leaving my home.

Ya Allah forgive me, I didn't feel an ounce of regret. I was leaving my house with a heart heavy with joy.

Call me cruel but I just couldn't help myself, I finally had a reason to leave. I wanted to see places, I was always here in Kaduna.

I wouldn't lie though, I sometimes went on short trips to places such as Kano, Bauchi and so on but, the place I never visited was Abuja.

And I was going there now!

As agreed, I was going to be living with my Aunt, Aunty Raliyah.

Aunty Raliyah lived with her son, Amir and her husband which I referred to as Baba Tukur. That was their family name after all.

In all honesty, I didn't really know Amir. The boy had issues when it came to socializing so whenever they came over for a visit, he never even looked my way.

Well, I was going to have to get to know him now since I would certainly need his help in knowing my way around the city.

"Karimah, come down now! You will miss the train fah!" I heard Ummi yell from downstairs.

God, I was certainly not going to miss her loud voice.

"Toh (Okay), I'm coming!" I yelled back in frustration.

After I finished dressing, I grabbed my luggage and rushed out of the room, limping my way down the stairs with my oversized box.

"Go outside, your father is already in the car." Ummi said as I got downstairs.

I nodded and turned to my younger brother, Yusuf with a smile, "Yusufa, you don't want to hug me Koh?(Right?)"

The grumpy 7 year old simply looked away from me.

I shrugged and went to hug my mother instead.

"Toh. Allah ya tsare(May God guide you),  Karimah." She said as we pulled away. I smiled before turning to Yusuf.

"Ai I will not bring back sweet for you, you will see." I smirked and walked towards the door.

"Ya Karimah! Tsaya Mana!(Wait now!)" He yelled childishly, running after me as I went out the door.

He immediately caught up to me and hugged from behind. I lifted him off the ground and poked his nose.

"Because of sweet, Koh?" I teased him.

He pouted, "Dan Allah(Please), Ya Karimah..."

"Okay, I will bring sweet for you." I laughed as I dropped him.

He smiled, "Nagode(Thanks)."

I patted his head, "Toh shikenan, sai na dawo(Alright then, until I return)."

With that, I went to the car and put my luggage in the boot before going into the passenger's seat.

"Kinsan lokaci ya Kure de(You know time has passed), Koh?(Right?)" Baba said as I fastened my seatbelt.

"Kayi hakuri(Forgive me)." I mumbled.

Baba never really was a cheerful person. He barely smiled or laughed. Sometimes, I wonder why.

Yusuf wasn't like that and I wasn't either. Although, I could be when given a reason to be.

The car stopped and I looked up to realize that we had arrived at the train station. Dama, it wasn't too far from the house.

I came out of the car with Baba.

I took my luggage out of the boot and we went into the train station.

Baba bought me a ticket and waited it was time to get on the train before bidding me goodbye.

"Yawa(Alright), you know where to go from here. Karki manta, karatu Zaki je yi Kuma ba wasa ba(Do not forget, you're going there to study and not play). Banso in ji wai kinyi wani Abu marakyau(I don't want to hear that you did something wrong). Respect everyone, your lecturers, your school mates, your Uncle and Aunt too. Idan kinji kenan(That's if you heard). " He warned.

I nodded, "Toh, Baba(Okay Dad)."

"Toh, Allah ya bada sa'a(May God grant you luck). Adawo lafiya(Return safely). Ki dage(Stay focused), Karimah." He told me as I walked away.

I looked back and waved at him before walking through the door.

I got on the train and took my seat according to the seat number on my ticket.

Everyone settled down before the train started moving, or so I thought. I only just realized the seat next to me was empty.

A dark-skinned girl that looked about my age came over to me and put up her luggage before occupying the seat next to me.

The truth is, I've never been on a plane. At least not my own so I didn't know if I should talk to strangers.

At the same time, it seemed rude to just ignore her existence.

"Hello," She greeted me before I could.

I turned to her, "Oh hi, I'm Karimah Usman. You are?"

She smiled warmly, outstretching her hand to me before replying, "I'm Salma Waleed."

"Ah, nice to meet you, Salma." Is all I could say.

And then, I didn't know what else to say.

"You're obviously headed to Abuja, but what are you going there for?" She asked.

Alhamdullilah(Thank God), she would do the talking.

"I'm going there for University? You?"

"Same. What a coincidence!" She exclaimed.

"Yes. Are you familiar with Nile University?" I asked her.

She nodded, "Funny enough, that's where I'm going too. I'm beginning to think this is the start of a new friendship."

I chuckled, "Honestly. So um, are you Hausa?"

"Yes and I can tell you are." She said.

"You're right. I know I do look Hausa, many people have told me so." I stated.

"They're certainly not blind. Oh, it's so nice to meet someone who's going to the same University as me. This is definitely a good start." She squealed excitedly.

I liked the girl already.

"We should exchange numbers, even though we might still bump into each other at Campus." I suggested.

She quickly nodded and we did.

I yawned, "Kai, har na Fara jin bacci(Gosh, I already feel sleepy). Please do me a favor and wake me when we get there."

"Toh shikenan(Okay then)." She said.

I closed my eyes and leaned my head against the window.

A little 2-hour nap wouldn't hurt, right?