BIBA (The fulani girl)

Chapter five

Biba stared at the whitewashed hand that was almost in her face. She knows what a handshake is, but has never engaged in one herself.

The lady with the weired Long name  and extremely fair skin is no doubt a foreigner. She spoke with a funny accent whose origin was unknown to her. It is the first time she was meeting a non-black. A gorgeous one at that.

The hand disappeared as quick as it had appeared, going back to clutch the swarovsky crystals bedecked Chanel clutch it was holding.

"Sorry about that habibty. She's Biba, my..."

"Yes I know. The wife."  she snapped and smiled at the same time.

"Sorry, I am... just Habiba Bayero."

Both ladies smiled, Biba's was a nervous one. Alaa on the other hand, was relieved that there was hardly any competition. Anwar's hug and smiles was reassuring too.

The only ones at the table who seem to have appetite for the light brunch were Alaa and Anwar. She kept demanding to be spoon fed by him, at times, picking an olive from her plate and popping it in his mouth.

"So, Biba how do you like Abuja?" Jabir asked from lack of a better thing to say.

"It is beautiful...very beautiful." She answered trying hard not to stare them.

"Wait till you see the rest of it, you will love it more."

"You know, now that I think of it, Anwar didn't choose a good place to take you. He should have taken you to millennium park. Am sure you will feel more at home." Alaa interrupted in her sing-song voice.

"What do you mean?" Jabir narrowed his eyes.

"You mean they have huts and cows over there?" Biba asked.

"No, of course not honey. But you might get lucky and spot some of your kind there. They love the place, especially during the festive seasons." Alaa replied.

"Oh, I don't need to go there to see them then, because I can see one right here."

"Where" Jabir and Alaa asked in unison.

Even Anwar who chose to play mute turned to looked behind him towards the direction of Biba's eyes.

"Right here." She smiled, pointing at Anwar.

"Anwar of course. You said my kind right? Well..." she added to their bewildered expression.

Jabir busted out laughing while the two frowned, failing to see the humor in it.

"You know, I felt we were gonna be friends earlier? Well, you just sealed the deal. It's official, Hahahah..." Jabir continued to laugh.

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Today, she was told to start learning how to use some kitchen gadgets and utensils, and then gradually move up to techniques, basically cooking.

She met the two starry eyed house girls. Atika who takes pain in trying to keep her buck tooth within the confines of her mouth by stretching her upper lip an inch longer, is the cook, and Uwani does the dishes and cleaning.

Uwani is a native of dundubus in jigawa state. The only dent on her otherwise pleasant looking features is the tribal marks that rivals that of a cat's whiskers.

They are a chirpy duo. Biba thought as they went about the business of showing her how to use some things. Halfway through showing her how to use the microwave, Atika toned down her high pitched voice and whispered.

"When you are done with this, we are going to let you in on a secret."

"What secret?" Biba asked.