Over and Over

Thrift

EL-BAAZ MANSOR,
KANO,
NIGERIA.

NARRATOR'S POV

The scent of jasmine incense clung to the corridors as the women went to pray maghrib.

They all scattered some for a quiet moment with their thoughts, others to freshen up before the next ceremony that would begin at 9 p.m.

Layla sat comfortably in her room, surrounded by her cousins and siblings, immersed in the warmth of their chatter.

The gentle knock on the door interrupted their gisting.

Farhan and Sasha, who had just returned from a course, peeked in.

"Ammi is asking for you," Farhan announced, with Sasha adding a soft nod of encouragement.

Her heart gave a small leap.

It wasn’t uncommon for Ammi to summon her.

Still, each call felt like an unexpected ripple in the calm surface of her life, especially on a night as important as this.

Without a word, she rose, gathering her composure, and followed them to Ammi's chamber.

The chamber was dim, illuminated only by the glow of the television, which casted long shadows that danced across the walls.

She hesitated for a moment before pushing deeper into the bedroom.

Inside, the soft clinking of jewellery greeted her ears.

Ammi and Dada were perched on the bed, surrounded by sparkling treasures of gold and silver, laid out like a treasure trove from a tale of old.

"Layla, come quickly," Dada called, her voice bright with excitement.

"We need to choose your jewellery for tonight!" "Yes, Layla," Ammi chimed in, waving her hand over a set of silver bangles.

"I told your mother you should try something different.

You’ve been wearing gold all this while. It’s time for silver."

LAYLA'S POV

I couldn’t help but smile as the two women playfully bickered over what would suit me best. Their love for me was evident in every word, every suggestion.

Ammi reached into a velvet bag and pulled out a stunning blue beaded lafaya, the material shimmering under the light.

"Hakeem picked this out for you when he was still a boy," she said, her voice tinged with emotion.

"Ruqayyatu wanted to buy him something, and he said, 'Ammi, this will look beautiful on my Jasmine when I bring her home one day."

The memory made Ammi's eyes glisten with tears, and for a brief moment, I felt a pang in my chest.

Jasmine. It was Hakeem's pet name for his future wife—one that wasn’t meant for me.

But there was no room for sentimentality tonight.

I smiled and pushed the thoughts aside.

"Fine," I said, my voice light, falling back onto the bed with a mock sigh.

"Dress me how you want."With that, the women bustled around me and pulled me into the bathroom for a quick bath.

The scent of rose water filled the air as I emerged, feeling the cool silk of the lafaya drape over my skin.

My hair was meticulously styled, tied into a bun, with a few tendrils falling softly against my forehead.

NARRATOR'S POV