Tears of Zubaida.

•••••TEARS OF ZUBAIDA••••• •••Chapter two•••

Placing the last few pieces of beans cake inside the steel colander, Zainaba packaged some for her daughter whom was getting ready to school.
She quenched the fire from the burning woods and placed the remaining beans cake in a maroon food flask.

"Salamu'alaikum. Ina kwana inna zainaba." Mariya greeted.

"How are you and your mother?" Replied Zainaba.

"We are all fine, is she ready?" Mariya asked.

"Yes, I am ready." Zubaida said as she came out of her room adjusting her sandal.
She walked to the kitchen and carried the flask which had the beans cakes Zainaba had packaged for her since she was late already.

"Sai mun dawo." They both chorused.

"Adawo lafiya." Zainaba said to them.

"Zubaida!.. Zubaida!.." He said as he ran towards them.

Turning their faces to see whom was calling Zubaida's name, they saw that it was none but Sule.
Sulaimanu, popularly known as Sule is none but the famous jobless bloke of the area.
He jogged towards them panting heavily exposing his teeth which were brown due to the gadagi he takes at the majalisa where he is known to be the head.

"Haba Zubaida, I've been calling you since, but you refused to answer me." He said as he wiped some beads of sweats from his forehead and the bridge of his nose.

He turned and looked at Mariya whom was scrunching her nose, due to the odour coming from the sweaty Sule.

"Mariya, ba magana. You should help me talk to your friend to listen to me even if its once."

Zubaida hissed in annoyance and dragged Mariya away from him, walking as fast as their legs could go.
They stopped walking when they reached the neem tree that was few feets away from Zubaida's home, they placed their school bags under the shade of the tree and sat down both catching their breathes.

"Zubaida, that was rude." Said Mariya as she removed her socks and shoved it inside the pocket of her school uniform. "You should have listened to what he has to say, even if you wouldn't give him a reply." Mariya continued as she turned to face Zubaida whom was drawing on the sand with her index finger.

"Why didn't you talked to him then?" Zubaida spoke.

"Because, he wasn't talking to me and unless you didn't drag me, I would have talked to him." Mariya said and walked to buy two sachet water from the kiosk that was opposite the neem tree.

"You can still go and talk to him, I'm sure he's still there. Or even, kije gidansu." Zubaida said to Mariya when she came back from the kiosk.

"God forbid bad thing. Upon everyone, why should I go and talk to him." Mariya said snapping her fingers.

She gave a sachet of water to Zubaida and she drank the other one. They both remained silent until Mariya broke the silence.

"I forgot to tell you that Jamilah has put to bed, yesterday night."

"Which of the Jamilah?" Zubaida asked albeit she knew which Jamilah she was talking about.

"Jamilah kazar gidanmu." Mariya said sarcastically. "Which Jamilah will I talk of apart from my sister."

"Ohh, we were together yesterday, yet is now you're telling me. I don't blame you." Zubaida said feigning annoyed.

"It was after you left that we received the call from her husband telling us of the news."

"Okay, what did she gave birth to?

"A boy." Mariya said closing her eyes while resting her back on the bark of the tree.