BROKEN

02

02: Sworn Stubbornness.

1997,
Zaria, Kaduna.

Ayesha Hussein Imam

School days blurred into one another, a welcome distraction from the impending reality. Living a world away from my fate, I reveled in the simple joys of student life.

Two months had flown by, and the school buzzed with excitement as students eagerly awaited their families’ arrival. The contrast between their joy and my silent dread was stark, yet I managed to conceal my melancholy beneath a mask of normalcy. After all, wasn’t that what I’d always done?

Smiling, I waved at my friends as they approached, lost in their own world of chatter. "Hi Ishou, what are you doing out here alone? We've been waiting for you in the garden," Asma'u questioned, nudging me gently.

"Yes, what are you doing out here? Don't tell me you suddenly mind not being visited?" Ama teased, her voice filled with playful accusation.

"Was trying to cook up a juicy trouble for the school administration, what ya say?" I retorted with a grin, earning a playful smack from Aaliyah as they all erupted in laughter.

"Can't agree more," I chuckled, gazing at my childhood sweethearts. We've been an inseparable quartet since our junior year, a mischievous bunch always up to something. They knew me better than anyone, my strengths, weaknesses, and the mischievous glint in my eye. Together, we were a force to be reckoned with, a formidable team of troublemakers.

Lost in our happy bubble, a junior kid burst onto the scene, panting heavily as if she'd just run a marathon. We exchanged curious glances, wondering what could possibly warrant such urgency.

"Senior Ayesha, the principal is looking for you," she finally gasped out, her voice barely a whisper.

"That was the reason you ran all the way here?" I asked, amused by the absurdity of the situation.

Asma'u echoed my sentiment, "Come on, there has to be more. Spill it."

The girl hesitated, her eyes darting nervously. "Y-yes, he said someone is here for you.""Someone is here for her?" Amah, the less perceptive of the group, asked, perplexed.

The junior nodded wearily, confirming the news.

We exchanged puzzled glances, wondering who could possibly be visiting me. I shrugged, a silent admission of my own confusion. The identity of the visitor was a mystery, one I wasn't ready to unravel just yet. With a silent farewell, I headed towards the administrative block, leaving my friends to ponder the enigma.

As I approached, I couldn't help but overhear his question to the principal: "Where did she find a rich husband?" The audacity! I couldn't believe he'd stoop so low.

We exchanged a brief, polite greeting with the principal, a man whose yellowed teeth and forced smile sent shivers down my spine. Impatient, I cut to the chase. "Where's the visitor?" I demanded, tapping my foot impatiently.

"Oh, uhm, he's in the visiting garden," he stammered, licking his lips nervously. Ignoring his awkward attempt at conversation, I stormed off towards the garden, my mind racing.

I stormed towards the visiting gardens full of rage. As I approached, I couldn't help but overhear the secretary's question to the principal: "Where did she find a rich husband?" The audacity! I couldn't believe he'd stoop so low to brag about something filthy like this.

The garden was a picture of neglect. The once vibrant shrubs had grown wild and overgrown, their leaves a dull, sickly green. Dead flowers littered the ground, their petals withered and brown. The air hung heavy with the scent of decay and the  benches which were, once a place for rest and contemplation, were now empty and broken with parents and students managing to sit by the sides. The paint was chipped and peeling, and the wood was splintered and cracked the noise of parents and offsprings polluting the atmosphere.

The garden was a place of sadness and despair - a place where hope went to die as I like to call it on nights when the reality becomes overwhelming and threatens to drown me whole, I slip away from the confines of  my hostel room to this vg to seek solace when the  only sound was the occasional rustle of leaves or the distant cry of a bird or the incessant cries of crickets.

"What are you doing here?" I demanded, my voice sharp.

He jumped, startled. "Subhaanallah, you scared me, Ayesha," he stammered, his face flushed. I rolled my eyes, impatient for answers.

"Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuh. Let's do this properly," he began, his voice strained. I fought the urge to roll my eyes and sighed, "Why are you here?"

He sighed, his gaze softening. "I heard from Aunty that today is your visiting day. I thought I'd come by."

I was taken aback. They'd never been particularly interested in visiting, even with the limited supplies they sent. You'd have think they wouldn't be aware when the visiting date is due. Regaining my composure, I opened my mouth to retort, but he quickly cut me off.

"I'm sorry I came unannounced, Ayesha, but I traveled a hundred miles to see you. Don't be mean"

I stared at him, dumbfounded. "You've seen me now, so...?" I muttered, turning to leave. I couldn't face the curious gazes of my friends, desperate for explanations back at the hostel rooms so I sauntered off deep into the vg and with a final, dismissive glance, I walked away, leaving him alone with his thoughts.

I guess the angels would understand if I didn't spend the next ten years as a submissive wife to a man fourteen years my senior. No way, not in a million years. No way in Earth!!!

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So, how was the chapter. I had to rewrite the chapter because it kept deleting itself. I just have to publish it hakanan, so do mange before I edit. Hope you enjoyed reading it and are looking forward to the next chapter? And oh, you might like to reread the first chapter - it's mildly edited😁.

Don't forget to vote, comment, like, and share with your reader friends biko🙏. Help out a new writer with more audience and reads.

A milli love and du'a,
Sals💕.