Thorns and Roses

7

Sameera tossed one last time in her bed. It's been two days since she arrived here and she will be leaving to Yola tomorrow together with Hajiya's children, Mariam and Khalil and also her brother, Hamma Muhsin.

At 3am, she wonders how her eyes are this open, wide and dry. She took the advantage to pray two Nafil Raka'ats where she poured her heart out to Allah, The owner of hearts to turn the hearts of her father from a very strict person to a more subtle one. Almost immediately after that, her eyes gave up to the darkness and heaviness that enveloped them.

The rays of Sunshine coming through the window met the softness of her face, clearly pronouncing her perfect futures of a Fulani woman. She winced due to the intensity of light , squinting her eyes to accommodate it in its fullest.

"Subhanallahi." She muttered softly realizing it's an hour or even more past Fajr so she quickly walked to the bathroom, performed her ablution and walked back to the prayer mat.

After prayer, she did her morning supplications and stepped out to meet Mariam.

"Hello, please is Mariam in her room?" She asked a maid just before she placed her foot on the staircase.

"Good morning ma, Miss Mariam is in the kitchen."

Sameera nodded and turned the direction of her walk to the kitchen.

"Pancakes?" She asked placing her fingers on the fridge door handle.

"Yup! Banana pancakes." Mariam confirmed.

They chatted for a while, eating the pancakes and taking warm cow milk to complement it.

"I am already exhausted. I hate traveling by road." Mariam complained stretching her legs on the island.

"Daughter of the second citizen of Nigeria ." Sameera joked. They laughed it all and continued planning for the day.

Their conversation was cut short when Sameera's phone rang. It was her mom.

"Hello Ammi, jambanduna." She said through the server.

"Jam, Noi lawol (how was your journey)?" Her mother's voice came through.

"Jam Alhamdulillah."

"When are you guys coming?"

"Tomorrow in sha Allah. We leave in the morning."

"Okay Allah Yakare hanya. Jabbi nam lenal am Hasobajo am mana.(help me collect something from my friend.)"

"Anty Hadiza?" Sameera asked for confirmation.

"Yes, Anty Hadiza." Her mother confirmed. She noted that in her head before they said their goodbyes.

"Please I need to go to Anty Hadiza's house. She is a friend to Ammi." Sameera said turning to Mariam who is already washing the dishes.

"Okay then. Let's finish and tell Hajiya." She pats her hands dry on the apron. "Before she throws unnecessary questions." She continued as they walked out.

Luckily, Hajiya agreed handing over her car keys and also added her own errands.

They got ready with Sameera choosing a two piece Egyptian Boubou and Mariam wearing a simple ankara gown.

Sameera made herself comfortable on the passenger's seat as Mariam drove them to Anty Hadiza's house. Given the direction she gave them, they reached in a shorter period of time than they thought.