"The Diary of A Broken Heart " Episode 3

Continuation of "The Diary of A Broken Heart " 3

To read the previous episodes click HERE

So after mukayi ban kwana. Ammi said "sai da safe uncle sani" with one of those wondrous smiles she used to give me. That smile i have missed since that very unfortunate day. I forgot to even reply and then she walked away to bed leaving me looking very stupid. It's funny how I must have looked.  That night I never slept. I carefully planned how i would do everything.  The more I planned the more confident I became. I planned so well that I was able to think of sleeping.  Until I remembered my very wonderful sister Aisha. I prayed above all prayers she won't follow us to the garage. I had to stay fully awake to think of ways to avoid her taunts. 

Fast forwarding....... after Asuba. I never slept ofcourse. I could hear them getting prepared. I was clearly hearing them struggling to keep Ammi's little sister awake. She was almost crying cause of lack of sleep. And then it was decided. Abdul my younger brother and Aisha were driving with Ammi and her mum and then me and Baa Kura and Ammi's little sister were driving together to the Jabi Car Park. Ammi's little sister Hajjah Fanna kept yawning all the way. I played jokes on her just to calm my nerves. Hajiya Kalthum was staying to seal small business deals before she goes back.
We left in a hurry thinking we would be late for the Borno express. We bought tickets for them the previous night. And they warned us the bus will hit the road 7am. We got there a few minutes to 7 with plenty kaya. But luckily a lot of passengers haven't even turned up. So we sat on benches gisting about the journey and remembering all the happiness there is awaiting us when we go to Maiduguri.
  I noticed Ammi was very cheerful. Extremely cheerful.  I wanted to avoid her but she caught up with me at home. "Ina kwana" she said in that her wonderful smile that always takes me to amusement park and back. I smiled back dryly trying to explain what she meant by this sudden bright mood. "Bazaka amsa ba uncle sani" she continued smiling in mockery. She was looking very bright. And again I had forgotten how it is to talk. "Lafia" was all I could manage.  I didn't want to smile back at her at all. Why the hell would I forgive this kind of mood swings? Why should I forgive her for putting me through all the dust smoke and nightmares? But I cautioned myself to behave if I really want to make my point. I had a wonderful plan up my sleeve before she goes into the Borno express. I was smiling profusely. cause the plan factored in Aisha and all the horrible taunts she can throw my way. We were talking animatedly when one of the drivers called in for tickets. And I quickly had an inspiration. I called out to Ammi. "Ammi Dan Allah come and help me sort out all these your receipts for the driver".... it wasn't a bad idea I thought.
  Until the driver said "ah ah babu komai. Kawai muga ticket number din naku" if the ground should have opened that instant I surely would have jumped in. I handed the tickets to the driver. Da dogon qeyanshi a wurin. And his horrible teeth that goro ya gamar dasu. Aisha was laughing out loud. Typical of her. I flashed her one deadly look and then looked away. Ammi's mum was smiling kawai. I hated my lack of liver. I had failed yet again. I have always failed when it comes to this matter. But I refused to give up. All my night plan will not go to the drains and gutters. 

I thought even if everything went bad today. I will recover after 1 day max. I trust myself. I never let bitter experiences cloud my entire day no matter how horrible. The humour in me was more than the moody and sad part of me. The smile that was coming from Ammi's mum seemed to be giving me a lot of positive energy. Like she was saying "common chichi you can do it." (She calls me chi chi from our family name chiroma.) I took her smiles as a good omen.  I squared my shoulder for another try. This one was one of the ones I planned at night. This one came out a bit louder than I intended. "Ammi, Dan Allah can I have a word with you kafin ku tafi?"  The driver had heard. I thought he would say something like mun kusa tafiya mallam. I would have broken somebody's nose. But only Aisha and Ammi's little sister were laughing and chuckling. I didn't bother to look at them. My eyes were only on Ammi. It was her response I was eagerly awaiting. She was smiling that same crooked smile that puts me in jangulova and turns me round and round. The type that comes as she tries to hide the dent on her two front teeth. I chuckled nervously. And then she said ok. I gestured towards a private and quiet corner a good number of steps away from Aisha and Ammi's little sister. She hesitated for a moment but she went in front. Before I left, I took a quick look at her mum. Hmmmm. She was still smiling even more. As if to say weldone my son. I hurriedly followed behind Ammi. I could have sworn I saw Ammi's mum give me a wink and a nod. As if to say. She's all yours. Maybe I imagined it.
Ammi walked gracefully and I was behind admiring her pace and perfect gait. Until she turned quickly and I almost bumped into her. I swerved quickly just in time and leaned against the wall and turned to look at her.....

To be continue insha Allah on Monday 4th July.

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Special thanks to Muhammad Sani