WHISPERS OF ENCHANTÉ

11: creepy frost

Kaduna State, Nigeria.

Siyama saw her sister puckering her tongue in her cheek and a smile took over her face though she had been crying from all the cooking she did without getting proper appreciation as usual.

She walked faster towards her sister before anyone could stop her with an errand and that person being Janan since hse has been on her neck since the whole wedding started. She wants a little time off her rants.

As soon as she found out the person coming to decorate the mansion, she knew she had to see her sister. She probably had no idea they were coming here today after the night she had the day before.

Siyama loves to hear stories about the weddings Yasmin goes to and they spend their whole day talking about it before they shower and each go to their workplace. She missed the time when they dont use to work.

She took a step then winced at the pain in her knee from bending down to blow on the fire she cooked earlier with all because the gas they used outside blew up and they are not allowed to cook in the kitchen inside.

"As if it wasn't their sons I cooked for," Siyama grumbled beneath her breath, still bitter at the whole thing.

Her eyes still hurt from everything she has done earlier. She cannot remember the last time she cooked using murhu because they don't use that in her house.

Why would they? They have a stove.

One would question why a rich house like the Wambais would use murhu for goodness sake. Just because the gas outside blew over, don't they have money to replace it in a few minutes? Why make her suffer?

Oh, they are the maids they are meant to do with their lives.

And that other son had the audacity to say that is how she used to cook in the village? The motherfucking arrogant son of wicked people.

She heard him talking to his brother because after she left the quarters, she had to kneel down outside to adjust her bandage (one she made with her head tie) since one of her knees really hurt.

She heard one brother sympathising and the other being arrogant while stuffing his face with food she made with literal tears (from the smoke) and blood (from kneeling down on the gravel at the back of the house).

Siyama wanted to go back in there and give him a little piece of her mind but she wasn;t ready to lose her job when she had this huge project coming for her national diploma. She cannot afford that.

Her father might help, maybe even Yasmin with her little monthly salary but Siyama tasted financial freedom and never wanted to go back from being able to afford her stuff. Their father is trying with meals, there is that.

She also knew Yasmin was pushing herself so she could join the polytechnic in the coming month. She doesn't want to be the reason why she had to stay back for another year. The state university is expensive as it is which means their option is polytechnic.

They also don't want to leave their parents all alone. The fact that they heard living alone in a university costs an arm and a leg, they don't want to risk allowing things to be harder for their parents that it already is.

So yes, Siyama has to keep her job no matter what.

And she will cook using murhu, local firewood stove twenty times a day if that is what it takes for her to do so.

She doesn't even know the one that sympathised with her and the one that didn't. She knew both of them play football abroad and the older one is Mahmud followed by Ahmad and their last born, Janan.

What you don't know wont hurt you.

"Baby!" she called in her most loudest voice and everyone around turned to look at her.

Siyama flushed at that but that is what they call Yasmin at home. Humph.

Yasmin turned with a wide grin then waved to her coworkers that that is her sister and they should continue before she comes back. Siyama watched as they teased her  sister about it, making Yasmin giggle as she walked towards her.

Yasmin burst towards her sister, her eyes wide with excitement and a hint of disbelief. "Seema!" she exclaimed, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm. "The mansion is even prettier than you said!"

Siyama grinned at her sister's excitement. "Really? Tell me more."

"It's absolutely stunning! The white walls shine so brightly, and the gardens are like something out of a fairytale. The flowers, the fountain, everything is just so perfect," Yasmin gushed, her hands gesturing animatedly. "But...," she paused, her voice dropping slightly, "it's also a bit creepy."

"Creepy? How so?" Siyama asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, it's so big and empty in some parts. The hallways echo, and there are these old paintings that seem to watch you. I also feel like at night, with all the shadows, it feels like the mansion will have a life of its own," Yasmin explained, a shiver running down her spine. "But it's still the most beautiful place I've ever seen!"

Siyama laughed softly. "I told you it was grand. You can retell mama and baba about it in your own words.'

"Definitely," Yasmin agreed, her excitement undiminished. "I can't wait for the wedding. It's going to be magical!"

"I will be going home as soon as the wedding starts," Siyama said looking around the decorated field with longing. It is truly going to be magical.

"What? Why?" Yasmin all but screeched beneath her breath.

"Because I am not allowed to stay. I'm also too tired to stay anyway so yeah, more free time for me?" Siyama gave a dainty shrug.

"What the hell? Are they cruel to not let you stay at the wedding? The more the merrier? They don't know about that?" Yasmin is finding it hard to clear the disgust from her voice.

"Stop shouting. And yes, it is a part of the job protocol since we are not going to be helping with anything. Even the workers that live here have to retire to their quarters."

"Wow. Creepy and cruel." Yasmin let out a disgusted huff of breath then brightened and said, "You can always say you are waiting for me."

Siyama was shaking her head before her sister could close her mouth. "I don't want to risk it, Baby."

"Please. For me? Your favourite baby sister?"

"My only baby sister, not my favourite. If mama decides to be born again, I will probably love the newborn more and that means they are my favourite." she chuckled at Yasmin's scowl.

"So you can turn me into a middle child? Never. We are staying like this forever."

"I'm still not waiting for you." Siyama sobered the atmosphere.

"Come on! If anything happens I will convince Madam Gloria to answer in your place."

"You think they wait for answers? They will fire my ass,"

"They won't. You can hide somewhere then. You know where people don't go during events. Just please wait for me and I will get us lots of food to last for days."

"Okay,"

"You are the best sister in the world!"

"I know, duh."