Burnt Embers

Chapter Twenty One

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"Yau dambu nake kwadayi (am craving for a Hausa  traditional  food today ) " said zee after she dropped her bag on the floor.

" You know the way to the kitchen and how to  make it " replied Khadijah who is loosing Ilham's braids.

" why are you like this aunty D?  Please make it for  me, you're  a better cook  than me " Zee pleaded.

" let me finish this then,  I know that Baba  will be glad if he comes home to see dambu."

" No,!  I got this,  just go I will even plait her hair,  is it calabar,  two hands or ebira style you wanna do? "Zee asked coming towards where khadijah  and Ilham sat. Knowing  that trying to argue will be a futile attempt,  D passed her the cutting comb  and with one final glare at her Besty headed to the kitchen.

" Sorry to burst your bubble your highness,  we don't have tsaki and I don't know where to get it around here " D called out from the kitchen .

" Subhanallah,  this is bad news,  why can't I get what I want and when I wanted especially now that  am done with exams just why " Zee pouted.

" Madam am waiting for  another suggestion not your complaints.  Thankfully I will soon start going to school  and see for myself the things you always complain  of,  I just hope you are not over exaggerating "

" Ahhh see this woman oo,  abeggi don't make me loose my temper  and call my dearie to bring me dambu "

" Fine then,  call him. Tell him to bring 6 take outs for the whole  household,  jazakillah for saving me the trouble of cooking lunch " D said  coming  out of the kitchen to be met with a slacked mouthed Zee.

" Why am I best friends with a devil like  you D? " Zee asked over dramatically  squeezing her face as if she's going to  cry.

" it's  you who rubbed  off on me sweet heart,  now finish  what you started then I will make danwake since there is no tsaki to make the dambu  " D stated with  a smile heading back to the kitchen  cat walking .

" Ohh girl!  Did I tell you that you're the sweetest,  the prettiest and the most amazing best friend  today? " Zee said batting  her lashes for  some effects.

" Nah you didn't and I don't  wanna hear it ".

Khadijah  started  making the paste for the Dan wake after putting  water in pot to boil.She started by sieving flour in a bowl,  then baobab powder before mixing them together . she then poured diluted potash in the mixed flour to make a paste. By the time she's done mixing the ingredients , the water is already boiling.  She then started  fetching  the paste from the bowl in a small circular quantity  and putting it in the boiling water.

After that,  she chopped some cabbage on the chopping  board  and sliced some cucumber  and onions.  By the time she's done, the Dan wake had already cooked to the desirable ball  like shapes. She then put in a another bowl with small water in it and put some oil in a frying pan slicing  some onions to fry it.

She arranged everything  in a flask.  Serving the fried oil in a cute bowl,  grounded pepper and grounded maggi. She then beautifully decorate the chopped cabbage ,  the sliced onions and cucumber on a tray and took them to the table.

Just then she heard Ihsan crying  and she hurriedly  walk  to the room,  the poor girl has been  sick for two days now.

" subhanallah,  I hope your temperature is not high again  " D mused out loud.

Her fear was confirmed  because the poor child's body is so hot.

" Mamie " she squeaked  out, holding out her arms for her mother to carry her. 
With a heart filled with pity for her dear child,  Khadijah  carried her out and went Into Ummie 's room.