BFFs: Match Made in Heaven

5. Family

Dr. Aliyu Usman Kwami sighs as he fixes his glasses. The hazy picture that was gazing back at him as he stands in front of the mirror looks clear now, and he doesn't need a rocket scientist to tell him that he looks miserable.

Since the day before when he met Afnan, he has been restless. He called her, more than he can ever count, and he keeps count of everything. He has sent her a lot of messages, the last one being what he needs her to read.

The words he wrote the previous night in the message come back to him.

I don't mind waiting for you Farida, I don't mind at all. I'm just scared that someone might take you away from me. You have my heart, but I don't think I have yours. And even if I do, I may lose it at any time. The matters of the heart are seldom comprehensible my love. I just hope you understand. I'll be coming soon with my elders to talk to Abba. I love you, forever and always yours, Dr Aliyu Usman Kwami.

He just hopes it's enough explanation for her. He doesn't want to lose her, even if he is promised the whole of planet earth and its contents.

He looks at his braces and picks them up. He looks at his clothe, a porcelain kaftan, so he decides to pick the silver braces and fits them into his mouth.

It has been almost a month since he last visited his uncle. The last time he was there was when the man remarried.

He picks his car keys and walks out of his bungalow, locking the door to the house and slipping the keys into his trouser pocket.

He enters his car and starts driving, thinking of how he would explain to his uncle the situation at hand.

Unfortunately for him, his uncle isn't the very understanding one, and he feared the problems he might encounter. And his uncle's wife? She was a whole different story entirely. It's safe to say they are birds of the same feather, so they flock together.

He stops by a junction and rolls his passenger seat window down. The fruit seller who noticed him rushes over to the window.

"Alhaji meye za'a baka? {what should I give you}?" Dr. Kwami thinks for two seconds.

"Kankana kwallo biyu da lemu kwando daya {two watermelons and a basket of oranges}." the man nods and in a matter of minutes, he's slowly dropping the yellow striped with black polythene bag that holds the fruits.

Dr. Kwami pays the man and drives off, his thoughts coming back to him.

What is the will he do if supposedly his uncle refuses to understand? Afnan's father is already being a hindrance to their relationship, they can't afford more than what they already have. There's only so much a person can take.

He parks in front of his uncle's moderate duplex and kicks off the ignition. He removes the key and slips it into his pocket and picks the three polythene bags effortlessly. Eating healthy food does pay off.

He stands in front of the door.

"Allahumma innaa nas'aluka khayraha, wa na'udhubika min sharraha. Rabbee innee lima anzalta ilayya min khayrin faqeer. Bismillah {Oh Allah, bless us with the goodness that this entails, and protect us against the harm it entails. Oh Lord, I am in need of any goodness You may send my way. In the name of Allah}." and then he steps into the house with his right leg, muttering a loud salaam.

"Ameen wa alaikumus-salam. Wayene {and peace be unto you too. Who is it}?" Dr. Kwami shakes his head at the woman.

"It's Aliyu." a head covered with a scrunchie peeps out before its body followed. A woman of about thirty five years walks, her blue straight rubber skirt making a cacophony with every step she takes. Her red rubber top hugs her upper body, accentuating the gifts God has bestowed upon her - something she's supposed to hide away from prying eyes.

"Shine zaka wani shigo kana mana turanci? Ance maka jahilai ne a gidan? Ih {Is that why you came inside speaking English? Do you think it's illiterates that dwell here}? I'm a degree holder." she squares her shoulder, proud of the piece of paper her husband has refused to let her use.

Dr. Kwami smiles. He just doesn't feel comfortable speaking Hausa, His Katsina accent always seems to make a difference. And he has learned the hard way to rather speak English.

"Ina wuni? Tunda kafi karfin gaisheni {Good evening. Since you're too old to greet me}." he sighs.

"Good evening Aunty Walida." She grimaces.

"Since you want us to speak English, that is what we will speak then. Apparently you don't appreciate your mother language." She scoffs and mutters something under her breath.

"I brought this. Is Kawu around?" Dr. Kwami says as he gestures to the polythene bags which are on the floor.

"He's not around. It's not like you have anything to tell him. You have refused to get married toh. He has traveled to Cotonou, and about your marriage, nasan meye zanyi {i know what to do}." and she takes two of the polythene bags and leaves. A young girl of about twelve comes out and takes the last polythene bag.

"Tace idan ka fita ka rufe mata kofa {she said you should close the door when you're leaving}." Dr. Kwami sighs and decides to wait for five minutes. When he sees that she really isn't coming out, he stands up and leave.

***

Afnan bites her nail as her fingers hover over her pink glittery keyboard for the nth time this morning. She starts to type but realizes how ridiculous it sounds so she clears it again. She finally gets an idea of what to type.

Why don't we get to know each other more? But let's keep it on a low key. Don't talk to your elders yet. Love might be necessary but understanding is mandatory if marriage is sought.

She hits send and drops her phone.

A/N
It's tomorrow💃❤️

I can't wait for you guys to see the new covers i made for the completed books from the BFFs series. The books are coming back better and hotter. Edited chapters and double daily updates 😍who's excited?

So how was this chapter?

We've met aunty Walida 🤣what do you think of her?

What do you think will happen now?

Comment, vote and share please.

Ciao!