CHAPTER 7:THE TOWN(A WEAKNESS CALLED LOVE: MEMOIRS OF AN AFRICAN HOUSEMAID)

CHAPTER 7: The Town 

Then he made his way to where I was sitting, Shatu was still not back. He casually said "hello, where is Shatu?"

For the first time in forever he looked at me. He did not just glanced or sneered, no he looked at me, like I was a human being. My heart stopped, I did not know what to feel. My throat was dry and my lips short of words. I could not bring myself to say as much as an ugff. I was under his spell. My brain was saying answer him you dimwit but my voice betrayed me. My confidence all but melted Away. What's this, this must be what love feels like. I'm sure of it. He says again  "Where is Shatu?"

Still I did not answer, he did not ask again, he stood there waiting for me to answer, but how could I, when his heavenly mesmerizing eyes were piercing into mine. After an internal battle of emotions I stammered In a faint voice " she Shatu came and she, she" before I could embarrass myself any further Shatu answered from nowhere:

'Yaya Mudi, what are you doing here?"

I just sat there smiling, looking at him.  

"There you are" he said turning to Shatu "I was just asking your friend your whereabouts." They talked for a while and he walked away. All this while my gaze was fixated on him. Then I felt a little sad because I had not gotten enough of his view.  But once I recovered an overwhelming Euphoric feeling resurfaced. I was sooooo in there. 

A soon as he left Shatu said "next time Ladi, you can use words, remember you are not mute. You are blessed with a voice for a reason. I'm sure being mute is not part of it. You looked like a dumb idiot" she hissed. 

 "Sorry" I said 

We were a step closer to our goal, he had noticed me. That night, i lay beside my sister on our bare yellow mattress as I envisage our future. Mudi and I's magical future together. Smiling I closed my eyes as I calmly let sleep over take me. 

The next morning, I woke up extremely happy. I even offered to help my mother with chores. I was singing love songs while I work. 

I had a day left before I leave for town. I had to see Mudi before I leave. I had a plan, I bathed and took out one of my best clothes. I was in the mood for make up. I have heard from Shatu that make up accentuates my beauty. Since my body is not exactly the best, I decided to enhance my face. I draw a very dark line just above my eye brow with my khol. It was perfect. Then I put on my red Lipstick. I did not bothered to wear a hijab today. I wore a veil instead. I hurried to Shatu's house. When I met Shatu I told Her I had a sudden urge of seeing Mudi . I told her we were going to take drinking water to him, since he is already in the farm. Rain had started to fall. Preparations for planting were being made. 

"That's bold" she replied. "I know, but since I'm going to town the next day I don't have much time." "See!" I said with a grin as I showed her an old soda bottle that I filled with cold water from our clay pot.

I waited for Shatu to get ready as I mentally try to compose a dialogue for me and Mudi. 

 In 20 minutes she was ready and we were on our way to his farm. 

He was shirtless, his shirt was carefully laid on  a shrub. His long trousers was folded up to his knee. He bent down ploughing the soil. His broad shoulders accentuating his well sculpted muscles that flex as he ploughs the land. 

He oozes of an effortless charm. I could not take my eyes off of him. 

His mocha black skin was glittering under the sun, he then stood up and wipes the sweat off his face. Still unaware of the eyes that were ogling him. He stood up and stretched, As he stretched his eyes met ours, I felt butterflies in my stomach and then he smirked. 

He walked Aesthetically towards us. I unconsciously tighten my grip on the water bottle I was holding. My eyes never leaving his beautiful body. 

When He came, He put his right leg on top of a stone. Both his hands were on hips. 

And He said "hi" I answered before Shatu. Sannu da aiki, well done" batting my eyelashes.

"It's a sunny day, I thought you will be thirsty. Here. I brought you water." I handed him the bottle. 

He smiled amusingly and said "Thank you Ladi."

He called my name, I could not believe it, 

Even the way my name glides through his tongue was smooth and soft. It sounded like soothing music. My name sounded perfect in his mouth.   

And then he took the bottle, his manly calloused hands grazed mine in the process. I felt chills down my spine. He uncapped the bottle and drank. I folded my hands on my chest as I rocked my body from side to side, smiling while he watched me. 

Shatu was standing there, she was impressed, and did not want to interrupt. I was finally bagging Mudi. 

"Then I said, we better go, let us let the hardworking man do his job". I turned my face away giggling" 

 Shatu said " Yaya Mudi, pls greet my sister Hafsat" 

With that she pulled me as we walked away. I looked at him one more time. Smiled and quickly turned away laughing. 

The next day was the day for our journey. 

We assembled in Halimatus house. Halimatu came out and gave us the lecture. I've heard it a thousand times. Be good girls, work hard, do as you are told, don't touch the kids, don't steal bla bla bla. I wasn't even listening to her anymore.   Then I spotted a newbie who was listening to her attentively. Halimatu had gotten a young girl of 9. It was her first time going to the town. She clumsily held  a head tie which was carefully tied to hold her clothes. I looked at her, amateur I thought. All of us had our clothes in a leather bag except for her. Let's just say we had class. When Halimatu had finished blabbing about righteousness. She said "your parents had all given me your transport fares, expect for you Shatu, where is yours?"

"Here" she said giving her the money. Halimatu put it in her paper bag. Then she said "let's go" Now we were 7 including Halimatu. 

 Our town had no marked roads and as such, it was impossible for buses to go in. We had to take motorcycles to take us out of town. The outer part of our town were mainly farms. But our car park is located there. We boarded motorcycles. Three people on a bike including the rider, except for Halimatu who was the only passenger on a bike. We made it to the Park. We all followed Halimatu with determination. 

There were buses lined up. At the sides there were men selling earrings, bread and other stuff. All were wailing on top of their voices. But there were saying different things at the same time. "Kano, Kano " one man shouted "Rano, Rano" shouted another. various towns were being called. While others were shouting "biredi, biredi"

On another corner there was a Man shouting in a loud speaker, he was selling herbal medicine. He had a cure for all ailments. He shouts praises of his cure eloquently. He even dared anyone who tries it and did not see favorable results to shave his beard.

The site was An utter chaos.

We made it to the bus for Kano. Halimatu instructed us to enter. While she talks to the bus conductor. The newbie sat beside me, while Shatu was on my other side. 

We were now waiting for other passengers. The bus had to be full before we start our journey. 

The bus became full and Our journey finally started. "Goodbye dear Mudi", I whispered to myself. 

We were on the road for about 45minutes when we finally reached the town's bus station. The town's bus station was bigger, rowdier and had a lot of people. They even dressed differently. The men had different hairstyles. While some shave part of their hair and leave the other parts unshaved, other left theirs unkempt allowing it to grow into a bushy forest. One could swear they never knew what a razor was. Some men even wear tight trousers that stopped at their ankles. They smoked cigarette freely. 

There were girls selling food also. A nostalgic smile hijacked my face.  one of the girls sat on an 8feet wall made from bricks. It was a building that was clearly abandoned. She was talking in a high pitch. She let her slippers slip off of her feet and fell to the ground. A man that was standing beside her quickly ran and got it for her. But the girl did not collect the shoe, instead, she let him put the shoe back on her feet. 

Town people were vulgar. They talk anyhow. 

But they have very pretty ladies I must say. All the ladies were fair expect for their feet and their healed burned fingers. The newbie asked me " is there a monster that burn people's hands" 

"No, I said. It's the food they eat. It makes their hands look that way."

Larai saw a worried expression on the girls face. 

She quickly interjected " don't worry, they don't give us the same food they eat. They eat canned fish and juices"

"Oh, she said" with relief. "But how is a fish canned? town people are full of wonders!" she exclaimed. 

Indeed, the town is a mysterious place. The females even wear trousers. Though I disapprove of such crude behavior. I don't understand why a woman would wear something that is the exclusive preserve of men. The worst part was they don't even look nice. Why defy the rules when you still look like a giant sack of sweet potatoes? It makes no sense to me. Nothing in town makes sense. 

We found a tricycle and all 7 boarded it. We finally reached our destination. The house of Hajiya kulu.

 Hajiya Kulu was the dealer. She was the woman who all the town folk come to for young house maids. Halimatu supplies the girls. 

Hajiya kulu's house was not big. It had three rooms and a pit latrine toilet. Hajiya Kulu occupies a room and rents the third room to a man. The man lives with his wife and 3 children. The last room was occupied by another man with his wife and 2children. All share the same toilet. The toilet had a constant queue especially during the time of prayer when all want to use it. The rooms were adjacent to one another, there was a little space by the side. Each woman cooks in front of her room. The toilet had been demarcated into two, one holds a pit latrine, the other was cemented and had a water passage that leads to a gutter outside the house, this was the bathroom, it is reserved for baths only. We all slept on a mat in hajiya Kulu's room. When it was hot we came outside the rooms and sleep there. 

Hajiya Kulu is a wealthy woman. It is said she has another house apart from the one she currently lives in. She was a maid in Saudi Arabia. But she was there illegally and had never gotten a residence permit. She eventually got caught and was deported. Illegal immigrants go about with their money tucked in a short knicker that had pockets which is worn as an undergarment, so that if there were caught they can escape with their cash. It is said that illegal immigrants were not given the opportunity to go back home and pack. Once you are caught, you get deported. Hajiya Kulu was lucky to escape with her money. So when she got back she bought two houses and leases them. 

Apart from Hajiya Kulu there was Hajiya Uwale who was an old lady of almost 70 years. She is also a dealer. But Halimatu decided we were going to Hajiya Kulu this time. 

She welcomed us, we all greeted her. Then we got out and waited outside. We met two other girls from our village Zulai and Samira. I was suprised they were still at Hajiya Kulu's residence. Maybe she had not find a house for them yet. Halimatu was conversing with her. 

I listened to them attentively. We were right outside the room. I can hear hajiya Kulu telling Halimatu about a new place they found. A place that the demand for girls was high and they pay lavishly. I heard the name of the place, but I don't know where it is. It is the first time I heard the place and from all indications the place was far. 

Halimatu called us, while Hajiya Kulu examined us. She pointed at Azeemah, Zulai and Samira and said they will do. She pointed at Shatu and said "If there is need, we can always add this one."

Hajiya Kulu went back to her room. Halimatu called us all to explain things to us. She began "there has been a slight change of plan, a new town want girls. They pay lavishly. They feed and treat girls well. According to what I've heard when you are about to marry, they give you an additional lump sum of money apart from your wages. This is a great opportunity girls. It seems it is our lucky day. But you will have to take a 12hour journey by bus in the night. It shall be worth it" she smiled

" Three girls will first go, the others will follow later" she concluded. 

"I will not go to that place, I can't even pronounce the place. It was never part of the plan. It was agreed that I will stay in Kano. I stay in Kano or I go home" I said 

Halimatu copied what I said in a mocking sarcastic voice. I'm sure that is not what I sound like. If i sounded like anything close to what she sounds like, I will be In serious need of a Devine intervention. She sounded like a retarded seal. 

She then said

"very well, some people are their own enemies of progress. You can take a sheep to the water but you cannot force it to drink. Is there anyone who does not want to go far also?" She asked 

I looked at Shatu and Hajara. I wanted them to say no as well. But they were silent, they were weighing their options. I nudged Shatu, she said " I will like to stay in Kano as well" Hajara did not speak. She looked at the ground and fiddled with the edge of her veil. She wanted to go. The traitor wanted to go!

We were interrupted by a Salam, Halimatu answered. A woman in her mid thirties came inside. Halimatu greeted her, She answered haughtily. She entered Hajiya Kulu's room. After a while, they both came out, she examined us all, then she pointed at Hajara and said "this one" 

With that she went back to the room. Hajiya Kulu then said "get ready, you are leaving with this woman." 

Halimatu gave her another long lecture about being dutiful and obedient. The woman went out and Hajara followed suit. 

When Halimatu was ready to leave, She called us and wished us well. She continued " I will come back in the next three months to check on you. If you do not like where you are taken, I will take you back home. God bless you my girls. Take care of yourselves. Be patient at all times. Remember, a patient person can make soup with stones and water and eat from it. goodbye"

It was sad watching Halimatu leave. But as twisted as that may sound her presence breathes safety. She may be a pain but she was our confidante. She may be annoying but still we like her most times. In this town, she is the closest thing we have to a relative. She reminds us of home. 

The trip to the new town was going to be tomorrow, another woman will take them there. She will also get her cut. The newbie was going to be a baby sitter for another woman. I was taken to yet another house. The house of the great Malama Ara'ayta.