The Crown And Her Shadows

chapter 13

Iman awoke around 8:00 a.m., took a bath, and dressed in a sky-blue and white Atampa with a white kelly bag, a white veil, and Aldo flats. She descended to the dining room for breakfast.

"Good morning, Ma," the maid greeted her.

"Morning," Iman replied.

She was served a tortilla wrap with freshly squeezed orange and lime juice. She ate slowly, glancing occasionally at the TV where Friends played. The calm of the morning was abruptly interrupted when Hanif barged in, looking disheveled and frantic.

"Why are you just en—" he began.

"Hamma is calling you," he said abruptly before leaving the room.

"Yes," Iman replied, rising to follow him to the parlor.

There, she found her siblings gathered, along with her grandmother and her father’s brother, Uncle Aminu. Umar’s stern voice broke the tense silence.

"Sit," he commanded.

Iman stammered slightly.

"Why are you stammering? Are you afraid of her?" her grandmother shouted. Iman had never shared a close relationship with her grandmother, and it was evident.

"Iman, you will be staying with Uncle Aminu and attending school in Kano," Umar announced, scratching the nape of his neck nervously.

"What? Why?" she asked, though she had anticipated this day.

"Because I said so," her grandmother interjected sharply.

Iman’s heart sank. "So I am not going back to Qatar?"

"Yes," Umar confirmed, lowering his head.

"Go and pack your bags. You leave tomorrow," he added.

Silently, Iman retreated to her room, murmuring, "If Maams and Baba were here, this would not happen. Why me?" She began packing her Louis Vuitton and Fendi boxes. By Asr prayer, around 5:00 p.m., she had finished, exhausted, and quickly fell asleep.

Two hours later, Hamma appeared at her door.

"Iman," he called gently.

She ran into his arms, sobbing freely. "Do I have to go?" she asked, her voice breaking.

"Yes, I’m afraid so," he replied, rubbing circles on her back.

"Why? You know I don’t like Baba’s family."

"I know, but you also know Grandma… I couldn’t refuse her," he said softly.

"Which school will I be attending?" she asked, dabbing her tears.

"Bayero University," he answered.

Iman froze. "What? That’s a public university. Baba said no child of his would attend a public school!"

"I’m sorry, I can’t do anything about it," Hamma replied gently.

"Okay… no problem," she said coldly, retreating to the bathroom to prepare for departure.

Before leaving, she hugged her siblings tightly. "I will miss you so much."

"Don’t worry, we’ll come very soon," they assured her, waving with tears in their eyes.

"Are we going to the airport?" Iman asked.

"No, we’ll be going by road," her uncle answered, which dampened her mood further. She connected her ear pods and played music, trying to drown out her disappointment.

Five hours later, they arrived in Kano, Sharada, around 7:00 p.m. The house was impressive: a duplex with a pool and a basketball court. As she entered, five pairs of eyes observed her cautiously.