AMAL: hope

CHAPTER FOUR ⚡⚡

  

       * You are amazing as you are.*

AMAL.

  " Amal." Abu called my name. I just came back from school and was losing my head tie.

  " Na'am." I answered as I took a small blue hijab from the bed and wore it over my head and rushed to the palour. I met Abu, Ina, Mama and aunty Basma sitting in the palour.

  Ina had this scowl on her face, while Aunty Basma had this I don't care expression on her face. Mama's head was faced down so I couldn't see her facial expression, while Abu faced up with utmost seriousness on his face. I sat on the floor beside mama's left leg, her red painted henna had began to fade, if hadn't look closer I won't see it, mama that loved henna and called it beauty of a northern woman.

   " Talatu." Abu called, I raised my head and look at him.

" Na'am." I answered. The whole palour was silent, only the whirling of the fan was heard as the fan blades rotate around its axis.

  " Which class are you now." He asked as he joined his palm together. Wow bravo, a father don't know which class his daughter is, such qualities of a good father.

  " I am done my common entrance exam yesterday so it remains just my primary school graduation." I explained cause I don't know which class exactly to qualify myself.

  " They just asked you which class you are and you have started stories." Aunty Basma said with a hiss. Abeg what is this woman's problem.

  " No she was just explain..." Mama was interrupted by Ina as she tried defending me.

  " Shut up. Who asked you? who knows if she is really going to school, or she is just wasting my brother's money?" Ina spat. This woman can be so dramatic and annoying at times.

  " Am sorry." Mama apologized and inclined back on her chair. I mentally rolled my eyes.

" When you finish your junior secondary school 2, you will get  marry Mallam Audu. He already sent his people." Abu said, I was expecting this. Since Ina said she will marry me off at the age of ten, it seems like Abu postponed it.

  " But I thought we agreed that it will be after she graduates from primary school." Ina said,I secretly eyed her up and down.

  " Yes my husband. Let's marry her before she gets into secondary school. You know once she enters secondary school she will spoil." Aunty Basma said. See me see wahala who have spoilt between both of us.

  " Even though I don't want my daughter to marry at this tender age and I have no choice but please let's wait if she wants to enter senior secondary school 1 then she will marry." Mama pleaded. Which I didn't want her to cause after all no matter what she says they aren't going to listen to her.

  " Keep quiet you this woman, what is your own." Aunty Basma said such a nerve.

" I won't cause it's my daughter's life you are discussing about and you don't expect me to stay and keep quiet." Mama retorted, finally she is talking.

  " Shut up, who asked for your opinion. She is my brother's daughter and you have to shut up while we make the decision." Ina said. I had to look up and looked at her right in the eye to be sure she is mentally alright.

  " She's also my daughter and infact you and Basma are the ones that are supposed to shut up while..."  Abu decided this was the time to intervene.