By Maryam Abdullahi
My feelings are troubled, for every time I recall my fate is still undecided, I feel like a dry leaf about to fall off the tree, more worrisome is Nda’s silence over my case, Although, to a point, it has only done good to have helped cook my mind, all ready to sleep and awake in an unknown man’s hole some day. Only that, like kaka, I despise to submit to his want without putting up a fight, but then, am I to fight with my own father? a small rat that I am. Not just any father, a stern father like Nda, although I don’t want to be exactly defiant towards him, save he is going to strip away my voice and leave me without choice, honestly, I don’t know what I may do.
Kaka’s bitter tears I witnessed can’t be erases too quick from my memory, though to some extent she’s responsible for her worries, her exasperating silence at that time dumped her into her current acrimonious life with an uncouth tribal man, whose gripe she carries home five times a week, along with puffy eyes.
It was ridiculous, how she had flaunted herself as Nda’s favourite then and pathetic how amidst tears I offered her my infallible advice, I pleaded consciously that she should oppose Nda’s choice, for being the first daughter her decision would determine my forthcoming fate, gripped by fuss, I watched her pose into a deficient emotional bond. Notwithstanding, I worked on influencing my plans for without doubt, I will cut the grounds under Nda’s feet.
It is evening, under the giant baobab tree in the compound sheshi and I sat, plotting a solution, to ensure our lives together. Unfortunately, Nda came out of the house, heading to God knows where, he gazed at us with his eyes half closed, whether dazzled or irked, I could tell not, quickly he walked closer to us, before a blink he began to question sheshi whose state could be compared to that of a homeless man drenched in the rain, after a session of series of questioning, Nda whispered inaudible words that no human ears would hear; and gradually, he disappeared from the compound.
Sheshi began to sweat, totally drenched, and distraught he became attentively distracted, I pushed him to tell what Nda had told him, with a truly fake grin, he told me, “nothing to worry about” perhaps he thinks me inane to believe that. I watched Sheshi drove out of the compound with uttermost perplexity, and unable to answer where, tears rolled down my cheeks.
To be continued…..