CHAPTER TWO: MUDI MY BELOVED ( A WEAKNESS CALLED LOVE: MEMOIRS OF AN AFRICAN HOUSEMAID)❤💋
I have to catch his attention somehow even though all my previous invitation to treat had gone unnoticed.
Perhaps if I sang for him or fake a fall like in all those folk tale I might gain his attention, at least I know I have a gift for singing.
At this point I'm not even going as far as wanting him to talk to me. All I want is a mere glance my way, a proof that my excessive invitation to treat hadn't gone unnoticed.
I look down at my body, sure I was in my best clothes but I couldn't help but wish they could have been a little tighter to show some womanly curves, then again mine are non-existent.
Perhaps it's better that the blouse flow freely hiding my humiliating under developed cleavage. Just then Shatu spoke, interrupting my thoughts. I could not get what she said, I simply said, Uhum, waiting for her to repeat herself, ' look', she said, pointing to a baobab tree. The tree that scares me to death. For it is said to be the home of many evil spirits. Damn, I hate that tree, not that I will ever say it loud, I do not want to anger any resentful spirit. ' it is said that Larai's mother got possessed by a demon (evil spirit) from this tree' she said. ' the last time she had a seizure, the spirits asked for an offering of 3 calabashes of Organic yoghurt, 30 pieces of white kolanut and a full black chicken, God, it cost her a fortune, she had to sell her bed to come up with the money. As it is, their room has nothing but a mattress. And the fulani yoghurt seller did not even reduce a dine, she has no compassion at all.' she continued. 'sucks for her' i said. 'You know it is said that there are good spirits among them, ones that guide you, protect you and help you even with money.' I added.
We had already reached the village square. The square is a plane land. With no building structures on it. On the right side was a stand for Mai shayi( tea seller, who also sells bread and eggs) there were guys seated on a bench right next to him, they had rubber cups filled with tea in their hands. There were others standing by just talking. By the left side was a sugar cane seller, people were buying also. There were a group of guys standing in another corner talking and laughing. We kept on walking to where the girls were standing, some of the girls were hawking different type of goods: peanuts, tiger nuts etc. But my eyes were searching for mudi. Suddenly, I felt someone pulled me into a hug, I quickly looked and saw Larai with a grin plastered on her face. Welcome she said. I simply smiled. This girl has been trying to be my friend since forever. She does my every bidding so I can approve of her. But I can't find it in myself to accept her. Lets make a circle she quickly says, let the games begin. Wait said Hadiza, the village good girl. She is well mannered, disciplined and respects everyone or in my opinion lets everyone steps on her. She was going to be married in the next six months. She wasn't beautiful per se, but her character made her stand out. She also has a sweet smile on her face, which made her adorable. Everybody likes her. Mother's especially, they kept saying she was going to be a good wife. She got about four marriage proposals from different parents. Zubairu's parents had chosen her for him and had sent a marriage proposal to hadiza's parents, which they gladly accept. "halimatu is here, she came to my house this morning, I will be leaving for the city in a week. She says. " she had found a very nice house for me to work as a maid, they are kind and they pay handsomely. In the next six months I will be able to raise enough money for my marriage'. She said happily. Halimatu is one of the women that collects girls from the village's and take them to the city to work as maids. She collects 1000 Naira ( equivalent to 3 dollars) per girl for her trouble, depending on the size and age of the girl. Each year she brings them back home. The money they make will be paid in a lump amount each year or when a girl is getting married. Hadiza had been working since she was 7years. Each year she gets her money, they buy things for the marriage. Since it is customary for a girl's family to furnish the house she will be living in, and all the kitchen stuff they will use. In the next six months her working days will be over. She will be happily married. I envy that girl. I had been working since I was eight. I had never been paid for the work I had done, not once. Lets just say we never part in peace. To punish me, the town folk refuse to pay me. That was why I swore I was not going to work again for as long as I live. I bitterly remembered the shrew I once worked for. I am certain she will burn in hell. She was a mean woman. She even keeps a whip. A whip she constantly use on me. It came to a point where the husband pitied me and you can see the guilt in his face. She wakes me up as early as five a.m. . I worked tirelessly. Cleaned, washed plates, put up with her brats. One time I was too tired and dozed off, I had forgotten to refill the flask with hot water which I prepared for her youngest daughter. What woke me was a splash of cold water all over my face. Her raging face looking straight in my eyes, she did not bothered using her whip, her hands hurt as much. She hit me every where, not even my face was spared. I cried. That day I had had enough, I packed my things and told her I was going home. She was flabbergasted. The husband tried to calm her down. They then called Halimatu. Halimatu asked me to apologize to which i refused. The woman said she does not want to see my repulsive face in her house, Ever again. And that was how I lost a year's worth of wages.
Everyone started talking, to my surprise Halimatu had been to almost everyone's house. We made a circle and started singing in chorus. Every one knew the songs. When it's your turn, you go inside the circle and dance your heart out, while all the other girls clapped. The boy's watch with keen interest, While children were running around. We had finished about two rounds of games when a boy approached us. He came straight to Larai ' that guy over there wants to talk to you' he said, pointing a guy who was grinning. For some mysterious reason, i felt angry, how could he be interested in Larai, ugly Larai. I will not let Larai marry before me. Before she could answer I spoke. ' go and tell him she is busy'. Her smile falls immediately, Shatu looked pleased. I Looked at Larai and said ' I am doing you a favour, he is ugly and repulsive, if you marry him only God knows what type of off springs you will have together. Besides you are a lady, do not act too eager, he will loose interest quickly' 'ok' She says.
I finally spotted Mudi, with his signature boyishly handsome smile. My heart beats a little faster. Show time I thought. He was standing near the sugar cane seller. He hand a sugar cane on one hand, the other was rested on his waist. He is dark skinned, has a round face slightly built and is short. Today he is wearing one of those sophisticated ready made wears. It was a white long sleeve shirt which reached just below his knee. It was loose, and the neckline was wide. It shows a bit of his manly chest hair. His trousers were faded blue, a bit lose, they stop just by his ankle, exposing his properly oiled shiny feet in a Brown rubber sandals. He was breath-taking.
Finally I had a plan in motion. Shatu I called. Today I want to buy sugar cane. 'You are penniless, unless the seller is your boyfriend, you will be wasting my time' she shouted. ' Come over stupid head, and shut your mouth'. She was laughing at me now. I started walking, i can hear footsteps behind, sure enough It was Shatu. I walked confidently towards the sugar cane seller. "Malam" I said, "i want a sugarcane". I looked at the sugar cane, put a finger on my cheek, so it looks like I am thinking. I turn to shatu and said "I'm confused", knowing how clueless she is, she will start talking. So I looked directly at Mudi, smiled and in my most cool and flirtatious voice, said 'sir, please which part of this sugar cane do think is the sweetest?' He was vigorously chewing on his sugar cane. He looked at me, still chewing his sugar cane and said ' I don't know, ask the seller' with that he turned away. To say I was disappointed was an understatement . I was lost, i did not know what to do next, that was not how the script was suppose to go. That night I slept with a heavy dejected heart my mind filled with thoughts oF THE MAN WHO REAKS OF MASCUILINITY. I came to a conclusion not even the hottest eligible young man in this village can bring my confidence down. I may not be most womanly girl in the village but I have the looks and that has to count for something all I have to do is strive harder and he'll notice me, a girl with looks like mine isn't hard to notice. I just have to hold on and be patient, the time will come. With that thought, I dozed off.
Thanks for reading.
Chapter 3 to be uploaded on Monday
This story is also available on Wattpad
Thanks for all the feedback and comments .
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