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Forty Nine
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Misfortunate Fifty
"He's still resting. Your phone has been ringing continuously, maybe your appointment is important." I watched as Hamieydat Al Hassan pursed her lips in frustration, she acquiesced to Falmata's suggestion and told her to call immediately Baaba woke up. We both nodded and waved her goodbye as she left in a flurry of flowery Abaya and wide sweeping sleeves."I think she likes Baaba." I turned to Falmata and watched her face, the animosity I expected was not there. Just neutral excitement of the fact that someone liked Baaba, I chuckled but my chuckles died when I remembered Baaba had not yet woken since he fell asleep after waking from his surgery last night."Do you think she's good for him?" I asked, leaning back in the comfortable sofa I had sat on once we came into the room. I slept fitfully last night and this morning we rushed down here without breakfast."It's more like is Baaba going to be good for her. He's so busy with work already, would he have time for her? Would she not fe
Misfortunate Fifty One
"…Married?" I asked with a stutter that came due to a lack of words to say. Marriage? Am I ready? Are we ready?"If you're not ready, it's fine. You can take all the time you need." I nodded and found a seat, he sat two seats away. I didn't think us getting married would come into the picture so early, or even at all. Especially with the way people troll you when pictures of us on a date surfaces." He shut his eyes and leaned back into the chair."I've told you, Labeebah. I don't care. I've never been one to care about what people say to me, how they react to me taking a decision is none of my business. If I didn't know you deeply, I'd be worried about stumbling on the way. But with you in my corner and Allah? They can say all they want, they'll never have the gem I have."My nose suddenly turned sour with the weight of unshed tears and I muttered a quiet Alhamdulillah for Allah's grace. I couldn't have searched through the world for someone like this and found him all by myself, Alla
Misfortunate Fifty Two
"What would you say defined you this year, seeing as you've accomplished so much in one year." I looked in the direction of the huge lights set up in a corner for this interview, trying to get my thoughts together."I spent last year in recovery. Literally all of last year was spent reinventing the brand that is myself, just basically dealing with the emotions that came out of being in one of the worst things anyone could ever be in. I think it defined me, it pushed me to be a better person, what gave me my best push though, was knowing that my family is on my side." She nodded and I exhaled. I'd been talking in one breath without stopping."Is being Labeebah Bakura in any way detrimental to you?" She asked with a smile. This host is one of those people who know how to draw out information from her guests by asking too much. In a bid to want to explain yourself, you give the whole thing or yourself away, so I paced myself for a few seconds before replying her."No. Asides the fact tha
Misfortunate Fifty Three
Song of the chapter; Halo by Beyonce."Why did you do that? You really shouldn't have. Honestly you shouldn't." I said to Bashir the moment I found him in the house after my interview. I've moved partly to stay with Baaba only going home to get important documents and food from Iyamé that I miss.He didn't reply, only walking slowly in his hoodie, shorts, socks and slides ensemble to a sofa placed for random talks like this one. I used to think there were far too many sofas in this house until now, this pastel green sofa in this white room, is as important as our discussion."Yaya?" Bashir called and watched my face till I replied with a Na'am. He nodded and yawned, trying to get his concentration going."You need to understand one thing. You are my sister, my eldest sibling, my older sister and an example for us all. If I let some gutter urchin speak to you anyhow because he is a scholar, then even my friends can tomorrow say rubbish about you and I'll not be able to caution them." I
Misfortunate One
"Action!"I turn to face Ali, and started with my index finger in his face, speaking Hausa. "You're being so unfair to ask me to move in with your mother so that you can move your other wife in. You're being unfair." He eyes me and gives me a signal to get out of the way, not touching me. I sigh for the camera and then observe the director's face. He doesn't look happy, so I am not surprised when he shouts "Cut!""Labeebah" He begins using my own name, not Amina which I bear in the movie. "You should say that to Ali as softly as possible. Don't be aggressive. That's not how a Hausa woman behaves, not even any woman anywhere. We'll take this again, don't shout at him, sound as pleading as possible." I blink at him, wanting to ask if I read the script wrong. I clearly read that the statement was supposed to be said aggr
Misfortunate Two
"So, when is she giving you the money?" Abdul's question stops me in my tracks. I was pulling off my hijab just after praying Zuhr prayers. I let the orange stretchy material drop back unto my body before slow"What money?" He sighs and looks everywhere but at me. "The recommendation money fa. You're supposed to have collected it by now." I make a face at him and he points at me, shaking his index finger from his seat. "And don't give me that face. You're too slow." I shake my head.It's been two days since Ali's insistent pushing and Abdul told me of his trip to Kano and a single moment of peace has not been my own since then. He talks about money at any available time. Money! Money all the time.
Misfortunate Three
"That's all for today's shoot people." I internally do a jig when the director says we're done for the day. I intentionally helped rush the shoot because I have to travel to Kano. Need to go visit Abdul who left for Kano a week ago, I miss him.I step out into the cool morning air, we'd been shooting since four am. I left my house at an ungodly three am to get here early, the only downside is that I have to follow the minivan that brought the rest of the cast. So I lean against a pillar and wait for the rest of the cast to finish, right there I imagine myself frying eggs and plantains with hot spicy noodles for breakfast. The thought keeps me company and helps be less angry at the stalling actors."Labeebah." I sigh. I can't even fault him for calling my name right. There's no Nafeesah here to save me today. The worst thing is, I didn't hear him walk so close
Misfortunate Chapter Four
The door opens as I pull off the old threadbare navy blue hijab I used to pray Isha¹ and wear my scarf. My aunt comes in holding my favorite large mug with my face on it, I giggle as I climb the bed, leaving space for my aunt to climb in. She hands me the mug and the scent of Lipton tea, Milo and three crowns milk and a little sugar tickles my senses. I lift the cover and stir it with the spoon in it to take a dainty sip. I smile at my aunt thankfully, safely keep the mug on my bedside table and lean on the wooden headboard. "Labibi? How are you?" I shut my eyes and exhale. "Nothing Ma. I'm fine." I call her Ma and she calls me Labibi because when my parents just died, many things reminded me off them, I tried not to let myself forget their memories, so I made new
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