CHAPTER 7

As I was eating pancakes, I heard a knock on the door and I got up to answer the door. As I reached for the doorknob, I called out, " Who is there? "

" It’s me, Folu "

I opened the door and saw her standing there in a cotton night-gown.

" What’s wrong? You look like you are down in the dumps " Folu asked.

I walked back to the chair and sat down then I sipped a hot cup of coffee.

" Kikiola! "

" My mom and dad got into a vicious argument and he hit her really hard. She was admitted to the hospital yesterday "

" What? He promised not to lay a finger on her again "

" I told my mom not to rebuild her relationship with my dad but she didn’t heed to my advice, " I replied, " To fan the flame, my friend is now dating my ex-boyfriend "

" Woah, that’s bad of her. You don’t do that to a friend, " Folu commented, " Is she in the US? "

" Yeah, Alison was my next-door neighbor. We were close enough that we spend the holidays together, " I replied, " Watching my ex date my friend hurt me more than the breakup "

" You’ll fall in love again and all of this will just be a distant memory, " Folu assured, " I heard freshers are going on a school trip to Ghana "

" Yeah, I saw the news on the class group chat "

" Are you going? " Folu asked.

" Yeah, I’m going. I wish you could come along "

" C'mon, don’t you — " Folu’s voice was cut off as her phone rang, then she answered the call.

“ Hi Rahama, how are you doing? “

“ I’m fine also “

" Yeah, I’m in her room "

" All right, I would ask her if she is interested in going out “ She said and hung up the call.

" Rahama is waiting at the gate, " Folu stated, " She asked me to ask whether you would like to accompany her to the store to get items for the trip "

" Isn’t it too early for shopping? the trip is after our exams, " I replied, " By the way, why didn’t she go with her friends? "

" Her friends went yesterday, but she couldn’t go with them because she had tutorials " Folu explained.

" I’m not inclined to go shopping, maybe some other time, " I declined, " I would make do with what I have for the trip "

" You don't have to buy anything, you can just go window shopping, " Folu asserted, " This is a chance to get familiar with her so you won’t be bored while on the trip "

" All right, I would give it a shot "

" I would let her know that you’ve agreed to go with her, " Folu stated, turning around to leave, " See you later "

" Okay, see you later! "

I relished what was left of the pancakes on my plate in a hurry and gulped down my coffee. It slipped down my throat like a perfect summer day, warm and pleasant. What a lovely way to start the day.

I went ahead and got dressed, choosing a red t-shirt with blue chinos. I pulled down my hair, put on my black sneakers and took my phone, and then I bolted from the room.

I dashed down the stairs and headed towards the gate. As I stepped out of the gate, I saw a black BMW parked outside. The car glistened like the dews of morn. It had alloy wheels and was set low to the ground.

" Ah! " I shrieked, as a lizard was about to run across my feet.

Rahama wound down her car window. " Hello, Kiki "

" Uh, hi, Rahama " I replied, walked over to her car and got in on the passenger side.

" How have you been? " Rahama asked with a smile, and drove off.

" I’ve been good and you? "

" Very well, thanks, " Rahama replied, " I hope you are preparing for the upcoming exams? "

" Yeah, I am. How about you? "

" Yeah, " Rahama replied, " So tell me, Are you feeling settled and acclimated to life in Zaria? "

" Oh hey, How could I have missed this song?! " I said when I noticed that I love your smile by Shanice was playing on the car stereo.

" You love oldies music too?! " Rahama asked.

" Oh yeah, of course I do "

" Ohh, wow, we have the same taste in music " Rahama acknowledged.

" That I can be a better girl, With love you give, you rock my world " I sang along to the song.

“ Du du du du duuuh, Du du du du duuuh " We both sang along to the song then laughed out loud.

The car pulled into a crowded parking area in front of Maimuna BG Mall which was a cluster of large retail outlets in a single large building.

We stepped out of the car and walked into the mall. The layout of the mall is very impressive, it is spacious and well lit. There were different outlets in the shopping plaza and every outlet had its crowd of customers. There were many food outlets selling various delicacies. Near to it were electronic shops selling television sets and music systems.

The escalator took us from the lobby up to the top floor, where we were met with cool air. The store was filled with beautiful clothes including accessories. On the left were two female store attendants waiting to attend to the customers. There was also a security officer positioned at the corner of the entrance door.

" Welcome to Shahadah store " The attendant welcomed us with a smile.

" Thank you " We replied in chorus.

" Wow, look at this! " Rahama said, pointing at an elegant kimono wrap, then walked towards it.

I shuffled around from one clothing rack to the other with no intention of purchasing the items on display, until an elegant Agbaya caught my eye. It is a brown open Agbaya encrusted with gold stones.

I looked at the price tag on the Agbaya, and it was Forty-thousand Naira.

" What? " I mumbled, jerking my hand back as though it had been burnt. The price tag on the Agbaya is my allowance for a month.

" Did you manage to find anything you fancy? " Rahama asked from behind me.

" No, I haven’t " I replied.

" You don’t say!. They sell quality clothes here "

" I saw an appealing Agbaya that I fancied but the price was exorbitant "

" Well, don’t worry, I would pay for the Agbaya "

" No, thank you " I refused, with a smile on my face.

" Please, I insist. It’s on me " Rahama insisted.

" Okay, thanks. I appreciate it " I agreed.

" Come along with me, " Rahama grabbed my arm and pulled me along behind her, " I don’t know which of these dresses is lovelier? "

As I followed her, I observed that she held a lot of clothes in her hand and still has not finished shopping despite how expensive it is to buy an item.

The store attendant walked up to us. " Please, you would have to leave now. Kindly, take your items to the counterman for payment "

" Why? " Rahama asked, raising her eyebrow.

" Little ma’am, wants to shop alone "

" This is nonsense, am I buying the clothes for free?, " Rahama criticized, " Do you know who you are talking to? "

" I know exactly who you are but 'Little ma’am' said she wants to shop alone "

Rahama was silent for a while and then said, " Pick up the Agbaya, we are leaving "

I headed back to the clothing rack and picked up the Agbaya then I took it to the counter. On Getting to the counter, we placed the items we wished to purchase on the countertop and the counterman computed the amount we were to pay.

" Three Hundred and Sixty Thousand Naira " The counterman stated.

Rahama paid the bills with her debit card then the attendant placed the items we bought in a paper bag. We then headed towards the door.

I saw a lady standing by the door dressed in a black dress paired with a hijab. She folded her arms and shot a stern gaze.

" Hello " Rahama said as we walked out of the door.

" Hello " The lady replied with an evil smirk on her face.

We headed down the escalator to the bustling lobby, shouldered our way through the crowds of shoppers and found the exit to the car park.

" What she did was very wrong, " I said, " Why did you let it pass? "

" This is one of the several malls owned by her mom " Rahama replied as we headed towards her car.

" But they pay to rent a store at the mall "

" Of course, they do but she must have paid a great deal to do that "

I noticed that the car parked next to Rahama’s was a brown Range Rover whose number plate read 'Mahira BG'.

" Was that lady the Mahira which you and your friends talked about? "

" Yeah "

" What does 'BG' mean? "

" Bashir Garba, " Rahama replied, " So, please let’s stop talking about her "

I said, " All right, " and we got into the car then she zoomed off.