I sat down on the couch munching on Pringles covered in onion dip and then licking it off my hands. I look back at my phone on the desk facing me with my friend's angry faces
"What do you guys want? I asked pestered
"We want you to get your ass back to business" Intisaar shouted as I rolled my eyes
"You really need help" Juwairiyya added glaring at me
"Seriously Maimai what happened to you? When you left you were pretty much excited for this and now? Yusrah questioned eyeing me as I heaved a sigh.
It's been two weeks since I came back to Yola and my products have been rejected simply because people around here don't like "home made" drinks. Hafeez suggested we take them to local shops and even made me flyers to paste around. The local shops accepted and some people around the area bought it but sadly there is no profit. It is not making any profit from the shop and people who come to buy at home gets them as a loan. There has only being five orders from social media.
Hafeez has also left a week ago and there's no one else to uplift me or give new ideas. Daadi and Maami try every day but it never gets to me. How can I produce without market and even the little people buying or shall I say collecting from me aren't in anyway promoting me. If anything, I'm going down and encountering loss
IS THIS HOW I WILL BUILD AN EMPIRE?
"Seriously, I have tried my best . I have tried and tried. There's nothing more I can do" I said shrugging and munching on another Pringle
"So that's it? Zahra asked and I shrugged again
"You have to try again, there is no limit to trials. Sit up, advertise them, anyway, everywhere. Your main goal is for it to be known so that people try out it's amazing taste. It is literally the best drink and all it lacks is exposure" Yusrah said and Juwairiyya nodded
"You can advertise them on your own social media. You have a high internet profile" Zahra added as they all nod
"Humaira, Humaira" Maami called out as I look up the stairs
"I have to go guys. I'll see you around" I said standing up
"Stop sulking and give the idea a thought" Intisaar warned as I rolled my eyes
"Fine" I muttered ending the call
"Humaira" Maami called again
"I'm coming" I replied hurrying up the stairs.
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"Yes Maami" I said sitting down on her couch as I watch her put on her jewelleries
"You look beautiful" I said getting a closer look to the coffee brown abaya on her. It was calm yet beautiful. She matched it up with a silver Aldo bag and a silver shoe.
"Thank you. I chose a colour that's not shout-y. Is it? She asked looking at me
"No it isn't. It is calm and beautiful" I replied as she nodded grabbing her watch
"I want you to escort me" She said
"Where?
"A wedding" She replied turning to face me
"Wedding! Maami you know I don't go to weddings" I whined pouting as she glared at me
"It's been long since your aunties saw you and now everybody will be here. Your uncles, aunties and cousins too. It's a wedding of your cousin who is your mate" She said emphasising on the mate
"Maami, I don't want to meet them at a wedding. I'll go to each of their houses then" I said trying to dodge going to a crowded place
"Humaira. First we talked to you about this business, you refused and now I'm talking to you about the wedding and you're refusing too? She asked raising a brow
"No Maami I'm just saying"
"You'll get ready and get going with us. Daadi, Zainab and Na'eemah are coming too so hush and up you go. It's walimah, so dress up in an abaya. " She said raising me up from the bed
"Okay then I'm leaving" I said raising my hands as I walked out of her room.
I went to our room and saw Na'eemah dressed up in a maroon abaya which completely compliments her fair skin Masha Allah. Unlike me, who is actually tan. Over the past days, we have grown from formal to comfortable stage with each other. She even comes to me for advices and sometimes joins in my video calls with the girls
"Humaira, are you going? She asked raising her head to look at me with a lipstick in her hand
"Yes Maami forced me to" I sighed heading to my wardrobe and bringing out an Ash abaya with black designs on the hands and down the neck.
"Well I'm sure you will enjoy it. I'll be there with you all along" She said smiling
"Sure" I smiled back and heading to the bathroom to change.
After a few minutes, I am dressed up with my regular hijab roll, applied mascara, dust off power and dabbed on a deep rose lipstick, grabbed my wrist watch, my shoes and took my barrel bag. When I was done, I headed downstairs to meet Daadi dressed in a golden Abaya with Zainab who was dressed in a cream one by her side.
They look beautiful. But is it a most to put on Abaya to walimah? I mentally asked myself then brushed it off and gave them a compliment.
"You look beautiful Daadi. Zainab you too" I said coming down
"You too darling. You look amazing" Daadi replied smiling
"Yes you do Addah" Zainab replied
"Are we all ready to go? Maami asked and we nodded. Daadi led the way as we all moved to the car and zoomed off to the wedding venue
Wherever that place is!
_______________________________________
"Humaira you have grown Masha Allah"
"When are you getting married"
"It's been years we last saw you"
"Where have you been hiding her?
"Why aren't you yet married
"I am sorry about your dad"
"How old is she?
Since I walked in here, these are the only things I kept hearing and I resisted the urge to run back home. Maami understood my dilemma and stepped in for me answering all their questions
"She just turned 20" Maami replied as I also realised I really did. My birthday came up days after Abba's death that I didn't even realise the day.
*Sigh* things did happen in the past months
After the pleasantries which wasn't at all pleasant even when I tried to understand the normalcy of it. It was okay for the aunties of a Fulani girl to try asking her if she's ready for marriage. Fulani girls marry pretty much around 20-ish.
But nah, I'm not Fulani. I'm hausa so.
"You're half Fulani and can't change your Fulani relatives" A voice in my head whispered as I tried to ignore it. Heading over to the canopies, Na'eemah and I found a seat while Maami and Daadi sat with the mothers. Minutes later, all our cousins who are friends with Na'eemah started trooping in. We greeted politely and focused on the teaching the woman brought for the walimah was giving.
I gave it my undivided attention listening to her every do-s and don't-s ignoring every other person around me.
Well maybe this event was going to get interesting...
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YOU ARE READING
HEELS ✅
General FictionCOPY RIGHT 2020 { 1 on #Heels 1 on #wattpadbanters 3 on #nigerian 1 on #fulani 5 on #bosslady} Under estimated or rather just not seen fit to be successful as an Arewa young lady. And here is the irony, I was okay with the simple life I had until...
