Hearts In Tune

Chapter 3

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Hearts In Tune 3

The first time Aminu heard a rumor that nearly ruined his life, he was just twenty, just bursting out of his teenage self, filling up his kaftans because he went to classes during the day and worked at the school’s bakery in the nights and early mornings. It was that he had stolen bread from the bakery where he worked at.

So, when he heard the newest rumour, that he had somehow used his wife and four year old daughter who both died in a car accident years before for rituals to become governor, he stopped laughing at rumors and started taking them seriously. He knew first hand how they ruined his life before.

“This doesn’t seem like a random playout, someone somewhere is feeding the fire and I want to know who that is.” His lawyer sat in one seat, while his PR officer, his personal one, not the state assigned one, sat in another.

“Alhaji, you must nip these rumours in the bud immediately. They’re spreading on social media, especially TikTok and they’re saying it’s the reason you have stayed unmarried all these years. If you were not seeking reelection, I would not be concerned but we go to the polls in September, Alhaji, you have to do something.” Aminu raised his head and eyed the PR officer with his dark brown eyes that made you feel like the center of his world when he looked at you.

“Hei, am I supposed to pluck a wife off the guava tree in the yard? Or simply mold one?” His anger wanted to burst through but he reigned his mouth in and swallowed whatever else he was going to say.

He was getting antsier these days, angry about the forced Chinese contracts, angry about the hunger children on the streets faced, he could not even get angry about the children out of school without seeming like a little man because the schools simply weren’t enough! Everywhere he turned, they needed funds that didn’t come just as quickly because they were currently servicing loans left by the previous administration.

“Sir, you just think of it that way, many prominent Kano families are just waiting for the sign, they’re willing to marry their daughters to you.” His anger flowed upward and gave him a momentary blinding headache. He nearly took off his cap but decided against it.

He got up instead and paced up and down his office, but as he returned to his desk, he noticed his lawyer motion for him and he gently dismissed the PR officer, reclining on his chair behind his handcrafted mahogany desk, he waited for his lawyer and friend to speak.

“You know he’s right? And if you care about your policies, even a bit, you’d start looking for a wife. The sooner you can burst out with one, the better for your political career. You’re the one who needs people to re-elect you in September.” Aminu no longer hid his anger and frustration, turning to face the wall, not his friend.

“They elected me as an unmarried man the last time, what changed now?” He heard his friend get up from his seat, walk to one of the windows and look for a moment before turning back to Aminu.

“You have to know that they thought they were grieving with you then. Now, however, they need to be aware that you listen to them, you have millions of supporters who you won this election on a landslide with, you cannot hand them on a platter to your opponents.” Aminu scrubbed at his desk, a picture of his late wife smiling at their daughter framed on his desk smiled back at him. He wanted his wife back, his daughter as well, he wanted both of them back but it had been six years since he last saw them and it was surely going to stay that way for a long time.

“But who? I lost all that loving gene with Amina, there’s nothing any woman can do to make me love her like I did Amina.” His friend, Ibrahim Waziri, scoffed. Aminu’s head snapped up from the photograph.

“Have anything to say? Just spit it out,” Aminu said. His friend walked back to the desk and sat in his previously occupied chair.

“My friend, you and I know, just how well you care for the people in your life. Even if you don’t love her as much, you’ll still give it your all. I know you, so get to work.” Aminu nodded but his eyes caught the photograph again as he spoke.

“Make sure she’s over the age of twenty seven, no children here please.” Ibrahim burst out laughing so hard the room echoed his laughter.

“Twenty one and above is enough-“ Aminu cut him short with a raised hand,

“What would I ever have in common with a twenty one year old? Please let’s use our senses, I’d like a more mature woman, so, she and I can discuss mutually mature things. She will even understand I don’t want love.” Ibrahim shook his head and then took his suitcase.

“I’m leaving, I have to catch up with work. My advice, I’ll get my Tech lawyers to draft a proper cease and desist to those political jobbers masquerading as influencers and get back to you.” Aminu nodded but his mind was far away.

Amina was his life, how world, his everything until it came crashing down one Thursday afternoon six years before. He went from being hailed as daddy once he walked into the house to the sound of haunting silence, the very moment it sunk in that he had lost his beloved Hanan and Amina, life was never the same again. He moved on autopilot, only focusing on work and his business.

Then he became governor and only breathed politics for the masses, he was always touring around Kano on a bike with secret service scared out of their minds every time they had to go with him. He lived and breathed, Kano.

He went to the only mirror like situation in his office and stood there, watching himself slowly as he scrubbed through his well trimmed beard and contact lensed eyes, his face that was pasted on nearly every single street in Kano seeking re-election for governor.

He took a deep breath and steadied himself, it was for the best, he would marry, maybe one or two children that he surely would not give his entire world to so that it would not come crashing down if they died.

“What kind of thoughts are these, Ya Allah.” He stalked back to his desk and continued with work until the Maghrib prayer was called. He immediately left his desk and began the slightly lengthy journey to the mosque at the secretariat where he worked. Sometimes, he left work at four, but the day had turned into night and he had to pray before leaving.

As he performed his ablution alongside the guard at the mosque who knew that he was here most times, someone appeared. Aminu watched as his secret service interrogated the person before he was let in, he chuckled when he saw his commissioner of environment.

“Are you not supposed to be home? You’re the one with a new baby?” The older man eyed him as he performed his ablution and they prayed Maghrib side by side.

“I have something to tell you. But I didn’t want to come say it at the office earlier, we have no idea how many ears are there.” Aminu nodded and they stepped outside the mosque together.

“Today, I found that the special task force team you created last year has been collecting bribes from companies they’re supposed to be checking. One of them came to me once he found that I’d been informed and told me Danjuma started collecting Bribes as early on as January.” Aminu gave his commissioner a look that made him stop talking.

“I appointed him in January?” The other man nodded and Aminu smiled. He had finally found a loophole to bring down a thorn in his flesh. Danjuma was the brother to the former governor and had been so highly placed in his administration, with no way to expose his corruption.

“Don’t let this slide. Somehow, find one of those bloggers on the other side, not our side and give them this information. If they can play chess, we can play checkers.” Aminu watched as the other man walked away with a smirk on his face. He rearranged his face and walked back to his office to go home for the day.

All was well with his world, he thought as he walked back. Until his shoulders slumped as he thought of his impending marriage with no bride in sight.

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What do we think? What do we think of him? Let me know your thoughts.