Bound ✅

Big Day

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Summayah barred the door of Halima's room before carefully dropping  the shopping bags she was carrying. It was Halima's big day and she was there to make her sparkle.

"Shush. Wakey wakey." She carefully roused Halima. She watched as Halima woke with childlike patience and she wondered if Jamal would see her like this all the days of his life, he would be blessed.

Halima finally took notice of the presence of Summayah and she carefully sat up, rubbing her eyes as she leaned on her headboard.

"Who let you in? And why are you chewing puff-puff this early morning?" Summayah put one more ball of the fried delicacy in her mouth and chewed it before replying Halima.

"Well, it's not only my mom that knows how to spoil you. Your mom handed me this plate of puff-puff before I came in. Have a problem?" Halima huffed and the stepped out of bed in her white  flowing night wear. She stepped into her slippers at the foot of the bed and walked to the bathroom.

"Lee, you prayed Fajr yet?" Halima nodded as she pressed toothpaste unto her toothbrush.

"I prayed, prayed some more and fell asleep afterwards." Summayah nodded and ate another ball of puff-puff.

"Congratulations on your shop opening. May Allah shower His blessings on you and it forever; Allah ya sanya alkhairi." Halima said a loud Ameen as she tucked her toothbrush into the holder and walked back into the room.

"May I be successful enough to pay you back. For believing in my little dream and helping me achieve it." Summayah nodded, and continued to chew the puff-puff in her mouth furiously to keep tears at Bay.

"So, I know you're supposed to go to work this morning. Tell me why you're here?" Summayah got up and wiped her hands with a paper towel Halima's mother had put in her hand after handing her the snack.

"I brought you a dress." Halima's hands flew to her mouth as Summayah unzipped the dress.

"Its so beautiful." It was. It was a dress
that swirled from neck to toe. The colors, green ans black swished and swirled till they perfected themselves at the full hem. The sleeves were made in a bell manner. But what pulled Halima's attention the most was that Summayah had just unzipped a Hudayya custom made dress for her. She just sat there mute.

"I've shocked you again. Haven't I?" Halima nodded. Still mute.

"Its just a dress. You know, something you wear on your body?" Halima shook her head.

"Summy. You do the most thoughtful things. You know, people do not know that a good dress just boosts your confidence in a way that you do not know, it keeps your head high." Summayah nodded with a smile. The story of the dress she just unzipped was for another day.

"So, do you have any black scarves to go with it?" Halima thought and went to a ghana-must-go-bag she stored her scarves in and poured it all out on her bed.

"We need one in a perfect shade of black." Summayah nodded, she couldn't agree more. Soon Halima found the shade she wanted and Summayah took it from her.

"Go and bathe. I'll iron tbe scarf and you can get ready for your big day baby." Halima nodded and padded gingerly to the bathroom outside her room, she used to share it with her sisters till they moved out.

*********

They say that life treats us the way we least expect it and that no matter how hard we try, we can only add good karma for ourselves, we have no idea what life has planned for us. Halima knew she was opening 'Sadiyya's Place' that morning, but, she had no idea it was going to be that packed.

And the receptionist was still busy. Halima dazedly watched Summayah instruct the Bida born woman to stop taking orders for now. And to instruct everyone that called that they were filled.

It was true, they were filled. People put in for appointments as far as the middle of the next month. She had no inkling that going that party with Jamal's mother would do this. Perhaps, she'd have respected it more.

At twelve-ten, her mother and Jamal's mother walked in. Halima rolled back her sleeves in preparation of the work she was going to do. All day, other people plaited, polished the hands and feet of other people. She could only watch and direct as much as she could.

"Welcome Mummy." Jamal's mother looked around with a fond smile and greeted those seated at the dryer or in the mani-pedi area.

"It's amazing for a first day isn't it?" Halima nodded furiously. It's all seemed too good to be true.

"Well, let's get started." As she washed her mother's hair, Halima watched as Summayah discussed with her mother.

"Mummyy." She whined. "See how full your hair is. You have to tell me the secret. I'm not even thirty yet and my hair is falling out." Halima's mother laughed and said as Halima tied a towel around her head. 

"I dont use heat on my hair like you young people do. Always impatient to do everything. I air-dry my hair. That's all." Halima put out her tongue at Summayah as she stood behind Jamal's mom to wash her hair.

One hour thirty minutes later, Halima was done with decorative hairstyles on both her mother and Jamal's mother.

"It looks so beautiful. Thank you dear." Halima nodded. She hugged her mother who looked at the mirror continuously.

*****

Halima paid the Uber driver and walked into her father's compound wearily. It had been a good day but good days tired people out and all she wanted to do was rest.

At the door, she gently opened it and walked in, she was sure her father would be fast asleep. But something made her stop. Her father whom she hoped would be asleep was wide awake and watched Television as he laid in wait for his youngest daughter.

"Welcome. You're back from your circus?" Halima wanted to say something biting but she watched her mother shake her left arm opening and closing it at the armpit. It was their sign for 'be quiet'

Halima instead squatted and greeted her father.

"How many years ago did Salisu die?" Halima at first startled by the question had to think again before replying.

"And I've left you to stay in this house since then koh?" Halima nodded. She could not speak.

"Salisu's mother came today, I have told her to return after Jumaah prayers tomorrow. Make yourself available." Halima made her way to her bedroom. All the pleasure from the day was depleted and what was left was a shell of it.

She noticed her mother entered behind her. Her face still shone from the oils Halima applied to her hair.

"Mummy. Why me? Can I not just be Happy for once?" Her mother sighed and sat on the bed in deep thought. Troubled by the turn of events.

No one knew what Salisu's mother had done.

******

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