THE SPARKS WITHIN: CHAPTER 3

Waking up in the cloud filtered sunlight, I thought about all the things I needed to do today. With a sigh, I arose from my bed and walked into the bathroom and brushed my teeth.

I managed to get out of bed early today because it’s a Saturday and I wanted to accompany Talatu to the market so that I can get some stuff for myself. I also wanted to get some fresh air because ever since the Alhaji Tanko incident, I haven’t been out.

I quickly had my breakfast, took a shower and got ready. Knowing how Talatu is, I know she wouldn’t let me accompany her because she doesn’t want anything bad to happen to me. But I’m not a baby anymore, so to hell with that. I saw Talatu patiently waiting for my mother to give her the money and the list of things she needs to get. My mom has a visitor that’s why it is taking too long. 

Her friend Hajia Marka is here, I’m sure she brought some juicy gossip. Everyone in this town knows Hajia Marka, she’s an expert at spreading rumors and gossip, it’s her area of expertise. But My mom tolerates her. Ever since her husband died, all she does is dress up, wear expensive clothes and jewelry which she can easily afford now because she has inherited a large sum of money and assets. 

More than half of the people in this town think she killed her husband, some even say they’ve got proof she poisoned him. but it seems she doesn’t care because she never proves them wrong or try to defend herself. She jumps from one house to another in her desperate attempt to capture any piece of information she could get so that she can start spreading it. When her husband was alive, he only let her out of her house on rare occasions.

I moved closer to where they were seated so that I could hear what she was saying. I heard her telling my mom how angry Alhaji Tanko is, and that he’s running around town spreading rumors about me. not that I care. it is a small town where everybody knows everybody though. I heard her say he’s also seeking assistance from a voodoo man. He wants a spell that is going to lure me back to his son, Not in a million years, I said to myself. he’s determined to win me over through whatever means, be it sorcery or black magic, he doesn’t care, as long as I will end up with his son Tanko.

When she was finally done talking, my mother said “Don’t worry about that foolish man, he’s just a wounded lion trying to protect his ego. He thinks he is a deadly black flame from a deadly fire, well I am the deadly fire that casts those flames and no charm or spell is going to work on my daughter. She managed to say That’s why I like you Hajia in between laughs, You know exactly how to deal with people like Dogo. 

They talked about a few things that I didn’t find interesting, so I stoped listening. After a while, she said she was leaving, then my mother said she’ll walk her to the door. As they walked side by side, Hajia Marka cleared her throat like she’s going to make an important announcement and said to my mom, Hajia if you don’t mind, I have a proposal for you. it’s about your daughter Zulai. Since Her wedding with dogos son is off, please I want you to give my brother a chance,  he’s a good person, god fearing, humble, compassionate and well mannered. He really likes her and I think they would be perfect for each other. Ever since he once saw her on her way to Lamis house, he couldn’t stop thinking and talking about her. What do you think? 

My mom accepted her proposal, she said we’ll give it a try to see if it works out. But if it doesn’t, I hope you won’t barge in here and start shouting and threatening my family like Alhaji dogo had done. She quickly said no and they laughed a little. My mom told her not to worry, she’ll talk to me about it. They bid their goodbyes and then she left.

Talatu set out for the market, I slipped out of the house and quietly leapt and crept behind her, I followed her to the market. As soon as we arrived, I noticed that the market crowd was thick today. 

My steps faltered as I spotted the unmistakable silhouette of a lady leaning against the filthy table of the vegetable seller. It was Lami, I quickly ducked under the tomato sellers table because I didn’t want her to see me. But I wasn’t fast enough, she already saw me. She spun around and strode towards me shouting and cursing like a raging beast. I inhaled deeply to ease my nerves for her words buried their way under my skin, latching on and cutting the single thread of control I had left. 

She said you witch, I’ll skin you alive with my bare hands if I ever see you in my house. I will gouge your eyes out and feed it to the dogs. I will rip your throat out traitor. I’ll kill you and feed your flesh to the hungry vultures.

I understand why she was angry, but she doesn’t have to take it out on me because I’m not at fault here, and I made a promise to her which I had kept. 

Lami is angry because her father asked for my hand in marriage which I had declined, we used to be good friends so I promised her I wasn’t going to accept the proposal. I wouldn’t do that because I value our friendship.