CHAPTER 7: THE SPARKS WITHIN

Alhaji Dogos POV:

I have been living in shame for the past four weeks, but not anymore. I am Finally getting my revenge, Zulai is going to pay for what she had done soon. All I need to do is to figure out a way to bury this charm and the rest of the things that I’ve gotten from the voodoo man at her house. I can’t do it myself because right now we are not on good terms with them, It’d look suspicious. I have to find someone they trust, someone who has complete access to the house, someone they wouldn’t suspect. I think I know exactly who that person is, Marka her mother’s friend. I need to hurry and get this over with, I have a wedding to plan. Alhaji Tanko my son will soon marry Zulai.

I quickly left my house and went straight to Markas house, we met at the door because she was on her way out when I arrived. She was surprised to see me because ever since her husband died, I seldom pay her a visit. After saying our hellos I asked her where she was heading to. To my surprise , she said she was going to zulais house. I put on my serious face and  said “ Marka I seriously need a favor from you, I’m desperate and you’re the only person That can help me. Besides, you owe me a favor.” I want you to take this thing and bury it at zulais house,I brought out the tiny knot which is wrapped and sealed in animals skin. It contains a powdered substance in it then I handed it to her. pour this in her food or drink and make sure she eats it I said as I gave her a small piece of wrapped paper that contains a white powdered substance. And give her this perfume and make sure she uses it, I then handed her the small bottle of perfume I was holding. It shouldn’t be difficult for you, I know you are a very good friend of her mothers. Do this little favor for me and we are even”.

Marka was speechless for a while with a puzzled look on her face, she was so surprised. But she recovered quickly and asked me what it’s meant for, I simply said I was paying back a favor I have received from zulai. Marka opened her mouth again, but before she could say anything, I said “No further questions”. Marka gave it a little thought and then agreed, she assured me that she would do it. We had a deal and I was so relieved. We said our goodbyes and I left Marka still wondering why all this was happening. I don’t really care what she thinks of me, who is she to judge? She has done worse. as long as She’ll get things done, we’ll be okey.



Tanimus POV:

I arrived home so tired and thirsty after a long morning walk. on entering the house, I came face to face with the devil himself. Yakubu my mother’s husband, the man I hate the most. We’ve always hated each other. He shot me a hostile glare which I responded with one. With his voice full of venum He said “ your mother needs to talk to you, she’s been looking for you for hours now”. I was out doing something useful with my life, I can’t just sit around waiting for a woman to cater for my everyday needs. It’s called having some dignity, I know it’s not in your dictionary, Don’t bother checking it I said. The force of my seething reply caught him off guard, and then quick anger lit in his eyes. My eyes held his disparagingly before I turned away not waiting for his reply. He yelled, shooting me a murderous look “you stupid coward, say whatever you want to say. Your mother is my little puppet always dancing to my tunes, I always get what I want, unlike you”. His words buried their way under my skin, latching on and cutting the single thread of control I had left. I clenched my fist several times to control the rage that was building up inside me. I was glad when I heard My mother yelled out my name, I could use a distraction right now or else I’ll scatter his face. I went straight to where my mother was.

As soon as My mother saw me, she began “We need to talk about your marriage with Yakubus cousin, it’s been ten months since the day you did that horrible thing to her. it’s about time to make amends, it’s not too late to make things right even though you’ve already hurt her and every member of the family. Our in laws are asking questions, I’m under pressure. please do something, make a bold move. Save my marriage, my husband is threatening to divorce me if this marriage between you and his cousin doesn’t happen and you know that I cannot live without him”. Tears were already rolling down her cheeks.

As soon as I heard that, My emotions rumbled and tumbled on the ground, I don’t know what I felt anymore. My mind is in turmoil and I felt a stabbing pain in my chest. Grief and despair tore in my heart. I growled like a wounded animal, “Do whatever it is that needs to be done. seeing you like this makes me sad, but knowing that I have to give up on finding true love, the kind of love that I deserve breaks my heart into tiny little pieces. I’ll marry Raliyat, yakubus cousin if you think it’s the only thing that could save your precious marriage. I hope it makes you feel happy, and I hope your useless husband keeps his word. With that said, I stormed out of the house.

I kept walking without knowing where I was going to. I wanted to go into the wilderness so that a wild animal can hunt me down and eat me, I’m sure  it will hurt less than marrying someone I don’t like talkless of love out of obligation. Raliyat is yakubus (my mother’s husband) cousin, she’s been living with us for the past eight months waiting for me to come back to my senses and reschedule our wedding. They are all waiting for me to redeem my unworthiness. We were suppose to be wed ten months ago but I ran away on the day of the wedding. Everybody was at the venue, all our friends and relatives were there waiting for me to come, but I had a sudden change of heart. So I took the dowry/bride price, the money we were suppose to present to the brides family in order to finalize the wedding and ran away. They waited for me for about an hour, then my uncle suspected that there was a problem because he made sure that I was on my way before he left. He wanted to proceed without me being present, but the dowry was nowhere to be found, that was when he was certain that I have changed my mind. so he called off the wedding and apologized to everyone for wasting their time. My uncle was so disappointed in me. He scolded me for running away afterwards, he said it’s an issue that could have been resolved in a more civilized way. He doesn’t know how stubborn my mother is, and how desperate she is to keep that useless man in our lives. He gave her an ultimatum, it’s either my marriage with his cousin or hers.


After walking for a while, I caught a glimpse of a very beautiful peaceful shade at the back of a building with long dark mango trees planted neatly in a nice pattern. I went straight to the shade. when I got there, I couldn’t believe what my eyes just saw. I saw zulai, my mystery girl. She looked so peaceful, lost in her thoughts gazing at something up on the tree. I followed her gaze and I saw what she was looking at, it was a very ripe mango up on the tree beyond her reach. I guess today is my lucky day I thought as I approached her.


I called out her name in a soft voice, she turned and looked at me immediately, she was surprised to see me. Without wasting any time she answered “yes” looking straight into my eyes. I was mesmerized by the way her lips moved. Her lips were thin and soft, colored a very hot light pink. Her face was striking, eye catching. With long dark brows above her catlike eyes that were filled with secrets. Her voice was soft and low not more than a whisper. I stood there like an idiot, a stupid lovesick teenage boy waiting for nothing with my mouth open. The way she looked at me sent the pit of my stomach into a wild swirl and my whole body aflame. She quickly looked away, looking down at her fingers  and Her face reddened as if a bomb exploded in front of her. I fell silent for a while admiring her beauty, wishing that this moment could last forever.

What are you doing here I said, she didn’t reply. Then I said I’m here to pluck some mangoes, that one in particular pointing at the same mango she was looking at earlier. A swift shadow of anger swept across her face which I found so adorable, She quickly said “it’s mine”. I almost bursted out laughing but I managed to control myself. She quickly stood up and started walking away. I said it’s all yours if you can remember my name, I’ll pluck it and give it to you. She froze in her tracks and slowly turned around looking down at her feet, then she shyly said “Tanimu” in her sweet soft, low, gentle voice. I couldn’t believe it, she remembered my name. I was short of words, the way she said my name sent a shiver down my spine. At the moment, I felt like the gates of heaven have opened and I heard legions of angels welcoming me. I swiftly climbed the tree, plucked the mango and gave it to her. Her face immediately lit up like a bright shining star, she gave me a dashing smile. It was a priceless moment. She thanked me and fled without warning.