Aaliyah to the World

13 | Money For Evil

•Raliya

It's been three days since me and Alhaji Tanimu flew to Agadez.

I want to go out with Hajiya Mairo to visit the malam that came all the way from Zindar to see us but he's too clingy. At first he wasn't so obsessed with my presence and now I have no idea why.

The other day he said I love you. He knows I can't love anybody so why is he telling me that? This relationship was based on his wealth and he clearly knows it so his change in character is slightly amusing but definitely irritating me to the point of leaving him but I'll stay to gather all that I can get from his deep pockets.

"Masoyi na (My love)!" I sat on the bed beside him, folding my legs not to push his feet.

"One and only, what is it?" He dusted his trousers covered in biscuit crumbs and sat up straight.

"Toh ka san aminiyata Hajiya Mairo ta shigo gari kuma (You know my friend Hajiya Mairo is in town and) we planned to visit some of our friends we did FGGC Yola with."

He frowned but smiled again, exposing his slightly discoloured teeth "Ba matsala (No problem). Go but don't make me miss you for too long."

I thanked him and stepped out of the room to call Hajiya Mairo to come and pick me up.

She takes at least an hour before she appears at the reception of the hotel, looking slightly distraught.

Once we're sitted in the car I inquire about her abnormal countenance.

"What happened? You look like you just saw a ghost."

She hits her chest repeatedly while coughing "You won't believe it. Alhaji Habib tried to choke me because I told him I wanted to go out with you today." She coughs again then uses a white hankerchief to wipe off the sweat streaming down her face "After the argument I packed my things and changed hotels. This is even stupid! I'm not his wife so why is he acting this way? I'll just call Safwan to send me some money later."

The trip to our destination wasn't long. We arrived at a mud house covered with wooden barricades. She parked the car and we made our way to a narrow path that led directly into the house revealing several children rolling in sand and throwing stones at each other from different directions.

Three women who I guessed were his wives threw disgusting looks our way and without speaking walked into their rooms respectively then a young, light-skinned woman who looked not less than nineteen made her way towards us with a smile.

"Good Afternoon madam." I greeted her with a smile but all she did was return the smile without uttering a word.

She probably didn't understand English so we switched to Hausa.

"Sannun ku da zuwa (You're welcome). Kuna niman waye? (Who are you looking for)? Ko kunyi batan hanya ne? (Or you lost your way?)."

"Muna niman Malam Mahamadou (We are looking for Malam Mahamadou). A ka ce wai nan ne gidan sa (We were told this was his house)."

"Haka ne (That's right). Sunana Maryam (I'm Maryam). Ni matarsa ce (I'm his wife). Ku bi ni na kaiku dakin sa (Follow me so that I can take you to his room)."

"Toh mungode (Thank you) Maryam." I said, handing her a few notes which she collected happily never failing to show her appreciation before she proceeded to show us his room which was opposite the entrance.

We took our shoes off, said the sallama before entering into the empty room and sitting on the large bamboo made mats covering the floor then exchanged pleasantries with the old man sitting adjacent to us.