All that matters

Meeting you

'Am bored come online.' He sent the text and kept his phone on his laps. Waiting for a reply. He kept staring at his phone expecting the receiver to holler him if she is online or send a text if she can't be available at that time. This has been a routine for the past few weeks. Mahmud kept watching him from beneath his lashes. He was playing candy crush but his attention has been on Abdulhameed from when he picked up his phone. Something is going on with his best friend but since he is not telling him he wouldn't be asking because when the time is right he would know. That is also why their friendship is like no other. Mahmud is jovial, an extrovert when you are looking for one. Whereas Abdulhameed is his exact opposite. Don't think this is a friendship that was built when they are old, no their friendship started when they were ten. When they were younger Abdulhameed was a trouble maker. Wherever he went trouble followed him. He loved picking fights with children older than him. In a day if only five parents were to come to report him at home,then that day would be a good record for him. Sometimes he beats up kids at Islamic school and goes to school to hide so when they go home to report him he wouldn't be at home. By the time he came back his father wouldn't be very angry. Sometimes his father would send his older brother Abdullah on a wild goose chase looking for him all over Shuware. A street in Mubi North Adamawa State. That's where it all began. After beating his Islamic teacher's son he ran to the river. At Shuware there was a river that connected to the main kogin lokuwa under the bridge. At that river under a tree was where he got his solace. Upon arrival he met three boys ganging up on a frail looking boy. It wasn't that he was chubby or anything or he was bigger than the boy. Nor was he bigger than the other boys beating the guy, no but he had a reputation like no other. No one stayed in Shuware or Sabon layi in Mubi that has not heard of Abdulhameed Dan Alaji Manu. When he got closer to them he realized it was the village head's son Samaila and his cronies. He had always been praying for an opportunity for them to fall into his trap and today it has happened! He removed his shirt as he was approaching them. He started fighting them. They tried restraining him but they couldn't. He started with Samaila and the others ran away. He beat him to a pulp and asked the boy they were beating why they were beating him. He said they always bullied him and took his break money everyday. He put his hands in Samaila 's pockets and took out all the money he found in it and gave to the boy. What class are you in he asked the boy? He knows they are in the same school but he doesn't know his class. I'm Abdulhameed. The boy shook his hand and said his name is Mahmud. Will you be my friend, I will protect you from the bullies. Yes I will the boy replied. Show me your house and I will show you mine. You don't need to because I know where you live. He held his hands and they walked around the narrow river path a new friendship has been formed.
When they got to Mahmud's house, he stopped at the beginning of their street and pointed to their house. Gidan Inna mai katse ? Abdulhameed asked and he nodded. Why don't you want to go to the house with me.? My brother wouldn't want me to associate with you he replied looking down at his toes. I will go and buy katse (a local groundnut delicacy). I'm sure he wouldn't send me away. He pulled Mahmud's hand and entered the house. At the entrance of the house there was a small door to the right he pointed towards it and said that's my room and the one on the left is my brother Muhammad's room. There is an empty plot in the middle of the house then at the extreme end was Inna's room. At the empty plot we met Hamma Muhammad, chopping and cleaning his sugarcane. He sells sugarcane after school to help out with our school fees Inna alone can't handle it. Is Inna your mother he asked. No she is our grandmother. We lost our parents that's why we were brought back here three years ago to live with Inna. We were from Gombe. My uncles took everything our parents left and sent us to sokoto to become the almajiri child. When Inna heard she came and took us. Inna is my mom's mother. He replied. His brother stopped what he was doing and stood up. Mahmud who are you moving around with? I came closer to him and stretched my hands towards him to shake but he refused to bring up his hands. At that young age I knew it was wrong. At Islamiya we were taught to be good to everyone and not judge people but here I am being judged by someone just from what he has heard about me from people. Inna came out from her room and met us at the middle of the house. Muhammad asked me to leave and I told him I wasn't going anywhere. Mahmud stood by my side but was looking at the ground. Muhammad who are you asking to leave she asked. Abdulhameed Dan Alaji Manu he replied. I told you never send a guest away it is wrong. You should have asked him why he came not send him away. She reprimanded. I'm sorry Inna he replied. He is bad news that's why I'm sending him away. He helped me beat up Samaila and his cronies. He collected all the money Samaila has been taking from me and he told Samaila never to touch me again Mahmud said beside me.
I'm leaving I told Inna. She thanked me and Muhammad apologized to me and shook my hands but please don't pull my brother in to your fights. Hamma Muhammad let me see him off. Mahmud said. We walked down to my street. Mahmud was silently walking beside me. Your brother doesn't like me I said. Don't worry you are my friend not my brother's friend. No one can break us apart. You would be my brother from another mother. I wouldn't let anyone separate us. He said. We held our hands like there was no problems in the world. As we approached my home I could see two dogarai (those in charge of the chambers) and my Islamic teacher sitting on the mat with my father and Elder brother. Hmm their children cant fight there battles they have to push their fathers to fight for them. I pointed to them and told Mahmud I had to take the second route home. We went back to the back of my house. On the wall at the extreme end there were nails that I put specifically for that. I told Mahmud to go home and climbed the wall and jumped over. Oh my God! How many times do I tell you to stop jumping the fence Dan Albarka Goggo said. She is my step mom but I always see her as my mother. She is the only person that does not abuse me or beat me. She always prays for me. Sometimes when I break people's things outside, Ammi never pays it's always Goggo that pays,when my father locks me up she always makes sure I'm been fed. She loves me more than her own children.
I stood up and dusted myself. Dan Albarka waya koro min kai? (Blessed Child who pursued you) No one Goggo but if any one asks you if I'm back tell them you haven't seen me I said and went to her section. Goggo I'm going to your room because nobody will enter your room to bring me out I said and laughed. Make sure you say your magrib prayers she said. I ran to her room. Narrow escape! Immediately I got in I heard my father shouting, where is Abdulhameed? This boy will not kill me before my time. What happened Alhaji? Ammi came out from her section with my older sister Rashida. I'm sure they heard me with Goggo outside but no one will say they have seen me or else they both know Goggo will say they are lying. Abdulhameed beat up the Islamic teacher's son and broke the hand of Mai Gari's son. What did they do to him to do what he did to them Goggo asked. My son only fights back but he doesn't pick fights. He is not yet back. They are both outside waiting for his arrival. Su jira lafiya ( let them wait well). she said and went to her section. Is he back he asked Ammi, no I haven't seen him she replied and went to her section. Allah ya shirya shi. (May God put him on the straight path). He said and went back outside to wait for Abdulhameed's return.
Maza your phone has been ringing. Mahmud hit his friend with a pillow. That brought Abdulhameed out of his riverie. I'm online she replied to the message he sent. You are not online Abdulhameed. She sent. Oh my God I've been in my own world for about thirty minutes. I checked but she was offline. I can't ask her to come back online again that would be asking too much from her. She also has her life to live.
I would be going home Mahmud said standing up from the bed and picking his cap that he kept on the bedside table. Why do you keep carrying a cap when you know you are not going to wear it. I asked. Atleast I put it on when I go outside. Unlike some people. The only time I see you with a cap on your head it's when you are in your uniform. Bari in tashi in raka ka(let me see you off) I need to go into the house and check on Goggo. We came out and immediately the soldiers at my doorstep stood up at attention thinking I needed something. I told them I didn't need anything I was just going into the house. I asked them if they were comfortable but I could see they were. One thing I love about my home is anyone I come with, my parents always treat the person with utmost respect. Mahmud followed me into our house. This has been our tradition when ever I'm coming home to mubi we always come together. He is a contractor so he answers to no one but himself. That is part of the reason we are inseparable. I met Abbi my father coming out of his section. We both went and greeted him. My boys all stood up to greet him. Behold the father of the youngest brigadier general of the Nigerian Army. Abdulhameed on yotti jam? ( Abdulhameed hope you have arrived safely). He asked. Alhamdulillah I replied. Let's go in. He shook hands with Mahmud. We went into the main section, that is my mothers sections. My boys are not permitted in this area. This is not an area where I come in as Brigadier General but where I come in as Dan Albarka. From the entrance I said Goggo am mi warti ( My mom am back) . I met Ammi and Goggo at the intersection to their sections. Mahmud was trying to hold my hand I pulled my hand away and ran to my Goggo and hugged her. Dan Albarka am warti ( my Blessed Child is back) she held me in her arms and I felt like the little boy I used to be. Everyone was smiling they are all used to the way Goggo welcomes her son. I then knelt down beside Goggo and greeted Ammi. Yau dai autan Goggo ya iso. (Goggo's last born has arrived) she said. I smiled at her. She is my biological mother but I am closer to Goggo than anyone. We all went to Goggo's section.
As we sat my personal phone rang. It was Humaira's number. Assalamu alaikum I said. Please the owner of the phone just had an accident and you are her last dialed number. .....