Amina's Pride

Episode 4

Amina noticed how her eyes glowed as she spoke of love. Hajiya had never been married from the rumors she heard. Perhaps, she fell in love with a man who broke her heart.

“You will take a cart to the great city of Kanem Dazau. Your husband shall collect you there.” Hajiya gave her more instructions.

Amina rubbed her chin thoughtfully. She knew quite well she would be moving to the West. This meant that her journey would take her far away from the Great Plain. A bitter sweet feeling washed over her as the thought of the little town where she had built all her life. She would miss her father. She would miss Hajiya and some of her neighbors. She would miss walking through the tall grasses and reminiscing about the good times she shared with her mother.

Yes, there was a lot to miss about Dafa. But she had already taken a decision. She would leave at the descent of dawn.

“Thank you for helping me Hajiya.” Amina rushed forward and hugged the woman.

“It’s nothing darling child. This is all I could do to help so you wouldn’t end up with Idris. The man is a monster in sheep clothing.” The woman whispered.

Amina quickly pulled her niqab back, “how did you know about that?” She didn’t remember telling anyone about her father’s plan to marry her off to his old friend.

Hajiya shrugged, “Dafa may have many dwellers, but it is a small town. The walls have ears. Nothing can be hidden from the sun.”

***

Amina had found it very difficult to sleep at night. She stayed awake thinking of what her new husband would be like. Was Mallam Hazim a good man? Was she making a mistake by running away from Dafa?

While watching the stars at night, Amina noticed that the moonlight was slowly fading, and the sun was trying to descend. Dawn had crept in like a thief. This was her only opportunity to leave the house.

Quickly, she rushed to her trunk and pulled out a pen and a dirty sheet of paper. She would write her father a letter; this would help him understand why she had to leave and quench any fear he could have about Amina being hurt.

Her hands trembled as she scribbled the first sentence. In a few hours, she would start a new life with her new husband.

Abdul couldn’t believe his mind could be preoccupied with something else, other than Fatima’s untimely departure. At first, he thought he was just drawn to the beautiful woman on the photograph. But days passed, and his admiration was becoming an obsession.

“Amina…” her name sounded sweet to his ears.

He had kept the paper Hazim brought him in the barn some weeks back in a special place. Though he was yet to set eyes on Mallam Tukur’s daughter, he had a feeling she wasn’t as treacherous as her father. Something about her sparkling eyes drew him to her. It was a like the scent of water, to a thirsty deer.

His days were no longer dark and gloomy. His spirit was no longer broken. He had found the perfect distraction, and he couldn’t wait to set eyes on her. A devious smile danced at the corners of his mouth at the kitchen table. He was having breakfast with his trusted friend, Hazim.

“What are you smiling about?” Hazim caught Abdul’s impish smile from the corner of his left eye.

“And why is the master in the kitchen? Where are Nabila and Keerna?” Hazim asked after the maidservants.

“I wasn’t smiling.” Abdul denied. He shrugged.

“I told them to take some time off for the Salah celebration.” He quickly added.

Hazim had never seen his friend this happy since the loss of his wife. Without Abdul telling him the truth, he could tell the reason for that devilish smile.

“If you are thinking of using the poor girl in your game of revenge, forget it.” Hazim pointed a finger at him.

Hazim knew that Abdul’s aversion for Mallam Tukur and Idris was deep. Well, no one on this side of Kanem Dazau really liked Tukur or Idris. They had lost five men at the Dafa cattle war. And Tukur was to be blamed for everything.

“Is it so bad if I try?” Abdul tossed a date into his mouth.

“I know Tukur hurt you. But that was many years ago. You cannot take out your anger on an innocent girl. She probably wouldn’t know you and her father had a feud, years back.” Hazim advised.

Abdul considered his words for a moment, “what if she is a betrayer like her father?”

Hazim could see Abdul had made up his mind about the revenge.

“Well, whatever you do remember I paid for Amina in my name. I could always return her to her hometown if you treat her badly. But I know you won’t.” Hazim smacked his gloved hands together and tossed his cowboy cap on the head.

Amina would be joining the ranch in a few hours and he would be the one to pick her.

“Why do you think I wouldn’t revenge?” Abdul was curious.

“Because you’re a good man,” Hazim strolled out swiftly after his response. He left Abdul to ponder on the words he’d spoken.

Abdul’s appetite fled as he thought on the words. A dark cloud rested upon him as a memory flashed. Fatima had said the same words to him on one occasion. She had confessed that his kindness and forgiving heart had won her love. Hazim’s confession had brought back more memories of his days with Fatima.

A soft ache rose from his belly and travelled to his heart. Abdul was still a broken man, and he needed someone to fix him.

Amina quickly stepped off the cart with her trunk and waited by the roadside for her new husband to pick her. The picture of Mallam Hazim was tightly clasped between her small fingers, as she searched the sea of men that stood at a shade after the roadside.

Perspiration poured in patches on her back and on the bridge of her nose as she waited for the man. Was it going to take forever to pick her up from the train station? Amina grabbed her trunk and started towards the shade. She would find a seat there and wait for the man.

A feeling of respite washed over her as she realized she had left Dafa for good. Her father would get her letter, and she planned to write him more just to let him know she was fine. But she was never going back home. She was bound to Kanem Dazau, she felt free and happy.

She liked it here. The weather was cooler, the sun was milder, and the air smelt of different flowers.

Hazim had spotted Amina right from the moment she’d gotten off the train. But he had bumped into one of Kanem Dazau’ finest farmer and they’d been discussing something really important. After the conversation, Hazim marched towards the frowning Amina.

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