Memories

Nabila missed her sister then and began to regret scheduling her visit when she knew Rabi would be at the hospital, fulfilling recommended hours for her Residency. She knew if Rabi saw her now she would be unable to hide her unhappiness, she did not want to disappoint her little sister by being a divorcee at only 26years of age. She was not the smart one, or the pretty one, or even the friendly one. The least she could do was make a marriage work. Oda called her name then and Nabila turned to see their beloved housekeeper at the bottom of the stairs, she beckoned and Nabila followed to give her a big hug. She could tell what was for lunch because Oda smelled of daddawa. Her grey apron was stained with the green leaves of spinach and she tried to keep Nabila at arm's length to prevent soiling her outfit as well. They walked hand in hand down the long corridor to the kitchen

"Menene ka ke so?(what do you want?)" Oda inquired as she opened the fridge. Nabila smiled at her Hausa which after nearly 20years of living with Northerners still bore an Igala accent. Nabila remembered the first time she saw Oda, the family was driving in through those black iron gates for the first time and a plump woman with wild hair ran in front of the car offering her services as a maid. She explained she had come down from Kogi State looking for work and saw the sign outside this house that it had been bought. She would work for any amount offered as long as accommodation was provided.

This was not new to the Bello family; the streets of Kano were littered with people continuously offering their services in return for next to nothing pay. It was a walking, breathing Job Centre. They approached luxury cars and flashy house estates, optimistic with the assumption that rich families would always need more staff. Citing local Imams as references and pledging prayers for the kindness prospective employees will display. Apart from cattle owners herding their flock across the desert, this was the first recognisable image of home they had witnessed on the 4 hour drive from Kano to Abuja.

The driver tried to shoo her away but Mama in her usual display of charity beckoned Oda forward

"What is your name?"

"My children back home call me Oda"

"Oda, this is Rabi" Mama handed Oda a crying 6year old girl and pointed to Nabila who stared bored, "her older sister Nabila". "This is your Oga," she pointed to Baba who merely nodded. Oda, cradling a restless Rabi genuflected to all three and walked in through the gates, beside the car. She never left.

"Kokaka" Nabila replied. "However"

Oda merely smiled and unearthed a jug of Zobo with large chunks of pineapple in it. She served it in a glass containing 6 ice cubes and handed it to Nabila. "Extra honey" she said. Nabila sipped the delicious beverage with a smile on her face, she missed this.

"Jamal is missing" she said cheekily

"You could make it for your husband" Oda said slicing onions

"If he wants, he should come and get his own" Nabila smiled

"You would be surprised at how men feel when their wife prepares a meal" Oda gave Nabila a side-glance

"Like I said. He should come and get his own" Nabila left the kitchen then walked out into the grounds. She didn't mind the heat and strolled through the compound till she got to the sunken swimming pool. Taking of her fake snake skin sandals, Nabila hiked up her dress and dipped her toes into the cold water staring at nothing. She heard the bark of dogs, the trainer Mama hired tried to house break the new puppies she had acquired, she heard the whish of the garden hose as Babayaro, their gardener watered the red hibiscus, she saw the mai-guard gearing up to the mosque to begin the call to prayers for Asr. She missed home.