Tears of Zubaida.

•••••TEARS OF ZUBAIDA••••• •••Chapter Six•••

Baraka stood by the door and watched as Ruqayyah got lost in her thoughts oblivious of her.
Baraka is Ruqayyah's and Zubaida's maternal aunt. She's a widow with only one child, Yahya, who stays with his paternal grandmother during holidays.

"Ruqayyah, what's wrong with you?" Baraka asked.

Ruqayyah closed her eyes and inhaled a deep breath.
"Nothing." She replied shaking her head.

"Nothing? That's not an answer." Baraka said shaking her head disapprovingly.

"Aunty Baraka, don't you think it's time I go back home?"

"No my dear, when it's time, your mother will call me," Baraka said.

"But, she hasn't called. Am afraid people will know sooner. Remember I told you I saw Zubaida, you said I should give her the address of this place and the phone number."

"I know, besides I'm sure she won't tell anyone except Zainaba." Replied Baraka.

"But..."

"Shh! No buts, now come and help me in the kitchen." Baraka said walking out of the room.

Zubaida picked the bucket containing some offal and walked to her paternal grandparents' house.

"Zubaida, where to?" Sule asked overtaking her.

"Where you sent me too." She replied walking away.

Sule didn't give up, rather; he snatched the bucket from her grip and said "Let me help you with this."

Zubaida fought the urge to punch his jaw as she was getting irritated with the sight of his brown dentition which was getting darker every day.

"Sule, I'm in no mood for listening to your useless talks. Now give me my bucket." She said snatching the bucket.

"Zubaida, if that's what it takes to get you to accept my love; then I shall keep following you every step you take, i will be majnoon and you will be layla or you will be Zubaida and our love will be named majnoonumul Zubaida. Isn't that cute..."

"Excellent," Zubaida said clapping her hands. "Which film industry are you planning to join? Nollywood? Kannywood? Bollywood? Or Hollywood? You know what, join either Bollywood or Kannywood, that's what will fit you most. Because, that's where all the love stuff is."

"You know, I think you should give him a chance. Ko ba komai he will be entertaining us with his love words." Mariya said taking some ayar sukari from the plate Zubaida had kept for her.

Zubaida squinted her eyes and looked at Mariya while widening her nose, evident of how angry she had become all of a sudden.

"What?.." Mariya said chewing another ayar sukari "Please keep your nose well, it looks like that of a cow about to sneeze."

Zubaida tried to suppress her laughter but couldn't so she burst into a series of laughter.

"What an insult Mariya. Anyways, ba laifinki bane." Zubaida said as she continued crocheting a bag.

"Zubaida, I want this bag when you're done," Mariya said fanning herself with a hand fan.

"Na rasa baki tunda kin ajiye ni," Zubaida said cutting the cream coloured wool and tying a brown wool before she continued crocheting.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that. But, Zubaida; you need to stop giving him attitude. You won't know what he might do to you one day. It may be a good or a bad thing Allahu a'alam." Mariya advised.