Alkyabba

2.

This is ridiculous!

I stared at the food for a while before I shook my head and ordered one of the maids to pack up everything. I was never and will never be a fan of Tuwo. Never.

"Would you like anything Ranki ya dade?(your highness)" she asked

"No. Its okay" I replied with a smile and hopped into the shower. I washed off real quick and dressed up in a loose fitting black kaftan with golden embroidery. I wrapped a golden scarf round and unpacked my drawing tools from my bag pack. Some creative designing can help relieve my stress.

Designing is my life. I love it so much its the only reason I breathe. I was glad Abba approved of my request to study Fashion Designing and Technology at ESMOD in Paris. It was a dream come true for me when I finally received my designer's license few months after my graduation. I can't wait to start my own fashion line. That's when I get back to Marseille insha Allah.

I felt something flip in my stomach as a sudden thought dawned on me. Wait...am I really going back? Well Abba never mentioned why I was here. I just have to be patient for a while. I wasn't planning on staying here forever though. My life belongs elsewhere.

I started making outlines of a dress with a blunt black pencil and then made it bolder with a sharper one. I was thinking of designing a wedding dress. A classy one! Just as I was pinning in the colors,a soft knock came through the door and before I could usher the person in,the door swung open and there stood another maid.

"Can I help you?"

"Sorry Ranki ya dade. But Hajia wants to see you right now"she says as she lowers her head.

"Did she say why?"

Who was I kidding? The woman never disloses her plans to anyone.

"No. But she wants you right now in her living room" was all the maid said.

I sighed and stood, adjusting my veil as I headed to the door.

What is this woman's problem? What does she want this very night? A leg massage? Bedtime story? What??? Urgh!!!. I was getting infuriated by the minute.

I salaamed and waited for someone to usher me into the living room. And the moment I got in,I knew this was a serious situation.

My father,the Waziri himself was seated on one of the cushions, a grim look on his face as he gently pulls at the beads of his Tasbaha(rosary). His only sister,Aunt Ralia sits beside him,her face holds an unreadable expression. Then the closest Aide of the Emir in personal matters regarding his household and most especially his wives and children,the Jakadiya herself,Hajiya Tabawa was present too. There were one or two unfamiliar faces whom I assumed where Hajiya's 'amebo' partners and followers. Wow! This is not good.

They all answered my salaam and I quickly found a spot and sat down,making sure Hajiya Babba will find it difficult to see my face from where she sat on her 'throne'.

"Ke Baturiya!" She snaps and I nearly jumped out of my skin. "Come sit in front of me" she pats the tip of her walking stick on a spot. I rolled my eyes and crawled to the spot,huffing as I crossed my legs.

"Jakadiya,its your cue to speak" She orders. Hajiya Tabawa clears her throat and adjusts her veil,nervousness etched on her face.

"As you all know we've all gathered here for no other reason than to discuss the marriage of Baturiya and Yarima" she speaks.

Okay wait....did jakadiya just said something about Marriage here? Like my marriage? With whom? Yarima?

"Hajiya I thought we weren't talking about this anymore" Abba spoke for the first time. "I thought I made my opinion clear to you two weeks ago"