Chapter 5 – Manal

Ever since I got discharged from the hospital, I had been hoping to see the mysterious man that had been around me when I was in the hospital. Sadly, I only knew his name and his occupation but didn't know more about him. I could ask about him from Ya Salim but what if he... My thought was intercepted by Hajiya Siyyamah's loud voice thus, I ran to her room.

"Take the car key and please drive carefully, okey?" She said handing over her car key to me. She was sending me off to the market.

She knew for sure I was a reckless driver so... she warned me lest I kill myself or damage her car. One thing I loved about speeding was the sound of the engine when I was accelerating.

"Okey Hajiya, sai na dawo" I gave her a warm hug before walking out of the flat to the car in the compound. I stormed inside, ignited the engine into action and drove off in speed. I wasn't Ya Salim who drove in a bike's pace!

It was Saturday and so the market was full to the brim. I carefully drove into the parking area and parked the car in a small corner. Thank God the car was a small body Honda, there wasn't really enough space for big cars.

I went to our customers one after the other and bought what I was asked to. Vegetables, meat, and other foodstuffs, thus returned back to the car and quickly lowered the front glasses for it was so very hot inside due to the sunlight. I inserted the key in the ignition, started the car and reversed out of the parking area as gently as I could due to population.

Ask me how I learnt how to drive and I would tell you my junior brother, Farouq taught me how to do it. I was only three years older than him but he knew a lot that I didn't. He was very good at learning new things, just tell him how to do it and he would miraculously do it.

Just as I was driving home, my phone began ringing. It was Hilwah, my course mate back then in school. She was sure to complain about her husband to me again. I reduced my speed and picked up the call. She was kindof crying.

"Hilwah please don't tell me he beat you again" I said with anger already written on my face.

"Manal, I'm leaving his house!" She cried out.

"Oh, common!" I gulped and continued. "Don't say that please, your marriage is just 8 months for Allah's sake!" I uttered sympathizing her.

"You won't understand Manal, this is arewa... and you know our men!" She said amidst sob.

Hilwah was the same age as me, she married few months before we completed our youth service. She was living in Wudil together with her husband, Sergeant Yusuf, an Army Officer. 

"I am in Kano, I think you need to spend some time here with me, what do you think?" I said.

"So, you came to Kano and you did not apprise me?" She sniffed and continued. "Why, Manal?"

"Sorry, I wanted to but I've been through a lot. Please call me when you're coming over" I said.

"Okey, Manal. In Shaa Allah I am coming over tomorrow as soon as he left for work" She said.

"Alright, Allah Ya kaimu" I prayed.

"Ameen" She said and ended the call.

The day Hilwah told me about that man, I almost told her not to marry him. Firstly, he was a soldier in our camp and he wasn't that friendly. Secondly, he was Nupe slash Igala, a somewhat rare combination. And thirdly, he loved to be respected like he was a General.

I grace their wedding though, and ever since they got married she had been complaining to me about his malevolence acts towards her. He was always throbbing the heck out of her...

Ask me why I didn't marry yet and I would tell you I was waiting for the right man to come. I didn't want to rush into any marriage, I had read in books and watched on Television how arewa marriages were crashing prematurely all because the love wasn't real at first, it was just infatuation. Oh Allah, grant me the right spouse, the one that would love me forever. 

Ameen!