On The Wings Of Dream

Chapter 4: first look.

   On a sunny Friday, Yusrah was sitting under the mango tree on a mat, cutting her mother's nails while they chatted away happily.

   "Ummi my friend Ameena is getting married in the next two weeks".

  "Ohhh that beautiful fair girl?".

  Ummi asked, brushing away the ant that climbed her arms.

"Yes ummi...and I need some money for the ashobe".

Yusrah said, carefully cutting the last fingernail.

"I don't have any money with me, ask your father, maybe he have some".

After she was done, she plaited her mum's hair, which was already loosened, in nice tiny braids.

"Kai Yusrah! Who will loose them for me? The braids are too tiny!".

Ummi complained, looking at her hair through a small handheld mirror.

"Ohhh my Ummi don't worry I will do that".

  Yusrah said, patting her mom's back.

She stood up and went into the room. She dressed into a simple green Ankara gown and went to the tailor, who was just a street accross, to give him the clothes.

"How much will you make the dress for me?".

   She asked, after they finished exchanging pleasantries.

"Five thousand naira".

  Abdul replied, keeping away the piece of clothes he was sowing.

"Haba Abdul the price is too costly. I will pay three thousand".

  She said with a tempting pout. And hopefully, she got him.

"You know you are beautiful, anything for you, sarauniyar kyau".

She smiled mischievously, she always get her ways with her charming beauty. 🌹

She paid him and went back home.

                    ☁☁☁

Later in the evening, she went over to her father's room. She took along with her his dinner.

She said salam and entered. He was writing on a wooden slate, dipping a quill into a small pot of ink before perfectly scribbling on the slate.

"Mama na, come in and sit down".

He said, looking up with a slight smile.

She sat down beside him and took the slate from him to help him. He washed his hands and started eating the tuwon masara and miyan zogale (corn flour balls and moringa soup) while she wrote on and rambled while he listened to her.

After he was done, he said his gratitude prayer and they continued chatting with his favourite child.

"Ehmmm.....Abbu emmm..".

    And she started scratching her head.

He smiled, knowingly. He know she wanted something from him.

"What is it mama nah?".

"Abbu my friend is getting married next week. And I need some money for the clothes".

"Mama I don't have money right now".

She looked down, disappointed, fiddling with the hem of her hijab.

He shook his head, sighed and fumbled through his pocket and brought out a crippled one thousand naira note.

He knows well if he doesn't give her the money she will surely collect from men which he wouldn't want. But that didn't make it not happen, that he didn't know!