My Sister My Enemy

Chapter Eight

It was Saturday morning and Maryam was up very early. She made her bed and swept the room. Wearing a hijab long enough to cover her short night gown, she left the room to her mother's. She entered her mother's room just to find her awake but pressing her phone on the bed. Maryam squatted down at the edge of the bed and greeted her mother.

"Mama ina kwana (good morning mama)."

"A'ah su Maryama har an tashi (oh Maryam you are already awake)."

"Yes mama i have to, you know i am expecting a visitor today, right?"

"Oh yes remind me of that please but truth be told i never forget about it and i know the very reason you are up this early Saturday morning the moment you stepped into this room." Haj.Binta said laughing.

"Oh mama stop it please." Maryam said covering her face with her palms.

"Its okay dear, i am just saying the truth. Now what is the plan?"

"Which plan kuma?"

"See this girl oo, okay i mean what are you making for your guest?"

"Oh! About that Fatima has already told me his likes so i want to make him one of those. It's going to be some snacks, food and refreshment.

"Hhmmnnn.... I see, well in that case you need a helping hand."

"Yes i do but i don't want people to know that it is something serious, you know how people in this house can talk and before you know it the whole of Katsina will know that i am having a guest." Maryam said sarcastically and her mother laughed.

"No nothing as such will happen. I will give you a helping hand."

"No mama you don't have to besides i can manage alone."

"No you can't and don't worry about me, today is my turn to cook your father's food so you see we will just say we are making it for your father and meanwhile your guest will also get his share, right?"

"You are the best mom in the world." Maryam squezzed her mother into a hug.

"Maryam let me go if you have no intentions of strangling me." And Maryam quickly let go of her mother.

"Sorry." she pouteđ and her mother smiled.

"It's okay. So now let's get to work, what are we starting with?"

"Ammm... okay here is the menu. We are making samosas for a snack, white rice with salad and kunun aya for refreshment "Haj.Binta's eyes were as big as a saucer when Maryam finished reading out the menu.

"Maryam you are not serious... How can we just do all that in a short period of time that we have because believe me he is soon going to be on his way."

"No mama it is too early for him to start coming even though he is already in town."

"Hmmnn see here is what we will do, we will skip making the samosas i will send someone to get them from somewhere, we can even get some springrolls and stick meat too. So we will just focus on making the rice and kunun aya, what do you say?"

"Wow!! Mama that is an excellent idea and i must say you are a good planner."

"I know right, that i am." Haj.Binta said and they both laughed.

"So i will start with preparing the tigernut for the kunu while you get the kayan miya (vegetables) ready."

"Okay Mama." And together they left the room to the kitchen and fastforwardly they were neck deep inside there work while enjoying each other's company and help.

****

While on the other hand Muhammad has arrived Katsina a day before, that is on Friday. He left Kaduna late so that he will reach Katsina in the night and then he will just go to bed and get ready to see the girl of his dreams the next day as early as reasonable.