Woman Of Color ( on hold)

7: A Stroke of sadness.

Simone leaned on the door unconsciously and mistakenly hit her head on the frame yeh!! She screamed. It then came to her notice that she was asleep. Omg she recalled what had happened last night how she knocked the door but Susan refused to open and she insisted that she returned back to Alhajis place.Suddenly someone tapped her from behind, Simone screamed out of fear. Shaki why did you scare me? said Simone. Shaki said omg! am sorry. Simone was kind of surprised the Shaki she know was not a friendly type. She must have something under her sleeve Simone thought.

" What are you thinking about lucky girl exclaimed Shaki. the news is all over, the girl that got gifted with a RANGE". Simone stared at her pretending to be ignorant of what she's saying. Shakira pointed at the car, look over there so don't think you can lie to me, she giggles.

Shaki saw that Simone was not paying attention to her, all what Simone did was to continuously knock the door. Shaki said why did Susan lock you outside, no my mum must hear this. " Don't worry I am here already said Mum Shaki, she remove the spare key and opened the door and they entered. She and Shaki chorused "where is Susan" as they walk her into the house. Susan on the other hand confronted them what is all this and you Simone get out of this place after all I rented the apartment. " Excuse me who owns the house said Mum Shaki if you refuse to allow her stay. then be ready to pack out.

FLASHBACK

At the party, Maryam and Alhaji were discussing at the aisle of the entrance to the mansion. Susan passed by and at the sight of them she stood behind the pillar to eavesdrop at their conversation. I have a surprise for my baby girl, I have started to like her. Alhaji am so happy to hear that, they chuckled. Simone passed by and Alhaji stared at her in amazement. I like her Alhaji said. Maryam mumbled. Susan did not bother to listen to their full conversation. She ran away with tears in her eyes.

An hour later : Susan was walking by then she bumped into Alhaji, Susan I have been looking for you all day said Alhaji, he held her by the arm I have a gift for you. She eyed him then push him away from her, She then walked out on him. I can't be embarrassed like this Alhaji said.

Alhaji please don't take such decision she was just acting like a child, a child at 27. He said to Maryam, I have a plan that will seriously hurt her I will give it to that 18 years old of a girl, first let me use the bathroom, and make sure you look for her for me.***********

Susan could not help it she was depressed all day, Simone had even walk up to her earlier asking her if she will eat the food she had just made but she kept mute.
"If I say I don't understand I lie to you Sis, but things can be better, if it's because of what happened, I can always return the car back to Alhaji. So no matter what don't allow this to break our bond, Simone said to her in a low voice. Susan burst into more tears. She apologized to Simone and helplessly fell into her arms. Simone cuddled her and told her that things will be fine.

2 weeks later

Things had been going well and fine, for both Susan and Simone until when Simone received a call.

On the phone
Hello, is this Simoney, yes she replied, ok its Amira, "nnakwana" Simone greeted her as if she was present.
Something just happened last night and your presence is highly needed, what are you saying Simone asked inquisitively. " Talk to me aunt" Simone said in her dialect. But it's too late Amira had already cut off the phone. Simone stared everywhere anxiously, she hopes its not what she is thinking. Susan and Nashiru came down from the car and ran to meet her, we hope you are okay, She was just mumbling and she didn't know when she fell into Nashirus arm he then carried her into the car. As they began going back home.

I hope you all saw what happened, the foolish girl lost that gift just because of assumption and envy. Well that's her own cup of tea well for Simone am just tired of the negativity around her.

**

The gloom of the atmosphere was enough to make Simone cry she saw the way people wailed especially the woman in the octogenarian class. Young men were constantly nodding their heads, young ladies were rolling on the floor weeping, children were running helter skelter, ..as in children will always be children.
It's was so obvious that someone had just died, and the way the scenario was you could tell that the person meant so much to the people of Tana.
Simone was so anxious and the same time nervous she kept on praying in her heart that it should not be what she was thinking.

SIMONE'S POV
Oh God, please I pray to you, I hope what am thinking should not be what has happened, because I wouldn't help it if I lost him, I will be in agony, loneliness and pain. She kept saying to herself.*****

"Simone, are you okay, I tapped you three times and you didn't answer me. Sorry Aunt Amira I was kind of thinking what happened here. Simone looked straight into her eyes and held her by the hem of her dress tell me that it's not because of dad all this Is happening she said. Amira tried in consoling her as possible as she can. " You have to take heart Simoney.
Simone could not even remember all she had said, she ran like someone bitten by an animal into the mud house her father was been layed.
"Baba", Simone called him in her dialect she saw Hamza laying lifeless on the floor, she lifted his head up to her chest and she wiggled him back and forth and said Kar ka yi haka( don't do this to me) she cried in a way she has never done before. She staggered up and down, you could feel the rage in eyes and the painful feeling of loosing a loved one.

Some of the Chief elders walked into the house in unison chanting a dirge. One of the chiefs called Hisa ( next in command after Hamza) said to Simone there is nothing you can do he is already dead. Simone gaze at him sternly. Don't say that my Ubana yana da rai( my father is alive) she consistently said. One of the Chiefs looked at her and nod his head faintly
,

"Gaburu is already waiting, for us outside we have to take his body to the shrine. Simone screamed she said Ubana ba ya zuwa k'oina ( my father is going nowhere). Amira and some other women came into the house they forcefully held Simone by the arm . Simone forcefully forcefully tried to release herself from their grip but they were too strong for her. She helplessly watched as her father was taken away, she cried, whimpered " you can't take him away" one could feel the loneliness, agony and pain in her voice.

Some days later.

The whole village was quiet, no single thing moved, down to the creeping things. It seemed the animals were aware of what happened. But this didn't last for long soon an uproar of people were heard, so many people came out of their huts and houses to see to the scenario.

In sight Alhaji stepped down and everyone hailed him but that was not the main reason for the noise, it was when the people sighted Nashiru some tried to stone him while the rest protected him an aged man from the crowd stepped out and said "listen everyone, whatever has happened has happened we have to forgive Nashiru because he is next in line to be the head chief since Tajide cannot be found and Yakubu is castrated and a castrated man can never be head chief". After he said this he stood aside and everyone kept mute and returned to their various homes.

Simone came out and immediately ran to hug Alhaji her tears soaked his neck collar. Sorry my baby he held her in his arms get into the car. Simone said to Alhaji, I want my aunt to follow me. No problem Alhaji said.
Amira hurriedly carried a basket full of her traditional attires and ran to enter the car. Alhaji looked at her and smiled "Woman drop this we don't wear this in the city, he then put his hand in his pocket and brought out 4 bundles of 500 naira notes and handed it over to Simone. "Take this and shop for her when we arrive Abuja. "Nagode sir Amira continuously said to him. Enter the front seat Alhaji ordered her, let me spend time with my wife. They all enter the car and Alhaji zoomed off.