......Being in the final year of my junior high school was a very great achievement for mom and I,,no female had reached that level in both my paternal and maternal sides,this didn't go down well with uncle Suleiman,,,when ever he came visiting and heard me talk in simple and correct English,it was as if I was pouring hot coal on him,he would start complaining and shouting at me that I am trying to act and speak like a white lady,that my father is allowing me grow wings in his house,rather than making me a house wife,,,father would always finds a way to change the topic...
Life in school was as usual,the other girls were making my life a living hell,but thank God for Aminat,I just ignored them and did my best ...
Everything was fine and I was done with my final exams,I was very happy, next resumption I would be in senior secondary school 1, that's another step closer to my destiny...
During the holidays,things became very rough for baba,,we were finding it difficult to eat a good meal even once a day, no one seems to be in need of Papa's services anymore,,we were surviving with the very little servings baba had,but certainly that won't sustain us for long...
To make matter worse,my younger brother became very sick,he grew worse by the day,and our health center was nothing to write home about,all the herbal drugs mama gave him,did little or no help,we were all worried,my brother Akeeem was dying and we needed to take him to the hospital in the big cities,,I had never been there,,but baba has,take Akeeem to the big city ,there they would take care of him I had said,,,
You are right ZAINAB,but they won't commerce treated in the big city without money,and I don't have any,Oh Ahalla serve my son,mama had cried,,wait a minute,maji na,(my husband),why not ask for loan from Alhaji Usman the money lender for help,,oh matata (my wife),why didn't I think of this earlier,I shall surely do at immediately....
Baba went to Alhaji Usman to ask for some loans,,he was back hours later,but he wasn't smiling as we had expected him to since he has the money,,,maji na,you don't look happy,what is it,,,he agreed to give me the money and that I shouldn't pay back,,aha, isn't that supposed to be a thing of joy, that's good news,so why are you not happy,,,the price he's asking is too much,what are you talking about, nothing can be too much for our son's life,mama had said,,,
He's asking for ZAINAB's hand in marriage,Allah ya kiyaye,God forbide,mama shouted,a Man in his 60's,with five wives wants my only daughter ZAINAB as his sixth wife,I say God forbide,,,,calm down Fatima,you know I love our daughter too,but there is nothing we can do,,he has promised us so much,,our lives will change for good having Alhaji Usman as our son in law,son in-law,a man old enough to be our father,and my daughter's grandfather son-in-law,,, he's our father in law not son, because we can't birth such a man,,,I was speechless,,I watched my parents argued for such a long time,which has never happened,with me being the center of discussion,they argued and talked as though I wasn't there,,I was shocked to know my dad even considered such an offer,,I didn't know what to do or how to feel.
My brother's illnesses was getting intensed,I was beginning to get scared for him,the peace in my home had disappeared with the wind,father and mother were not in talking terms,I know it was because of my situation,,,my siblings and I were dying of hunger and starvation there was nothing to eat,,,I wished I could help my brother,but sacrificing my education and dream was one thing I wasn't sure of,,let alone living the rest of my life with a man twice my father's age as his sisxt wife,this man already has children old enough to be my father,,I couldn't think of anything else and that was really breaking my heart,I wanted my family to be as it was,neither baba nor mama was willing to compromise...
Days on,I saw uncle suleman and some of my paternal relations, came to the house,and their faces spelt DOOM....
Written by Rejoice Igbinovia Aluyi ♥️
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