As usual, they were seated on the bench in front of Eskaley’s shop at the entrance of the street. That was their routine hangout after the late afternoon prayer. Beside him, Haruna was smoking a cigarette.
Haruna handed him one almost burnt out. He accepted it and was about to take a puff when their eyes met with someone he always felt shy of. Quickly, he shoved the cigarette butt into the long sleeve of his shirt and turned his face away as if nothing happened.
The young man reached the shop and greeted them. Only Haruna replied, along with Eskaley. As for him, he simply avoided looking at him. He brought out a hundred naira note from his pocket and said to Eskaley, “Good evening! Give me Star Maggi and White Maggi.”
Eskaley collected the money, prepared the items, and returned twelve naira change. He told him to add “Ashana” (snuff) with the balance. After exchanging farewells, he went into the street heading home.
Haruna noticed the sweat on his friend’s face, nudged him and asked, “What’s wrong, Mankas?” Hastily, Mankas pulled the cigarette butt from his sleeve, threw it to the ground, and crushed it with his foot before rolling his sleeve back down. Haruna, shocked, said:
“Mankas? Are you even thinking straight? A burning cigarette inside your sleeve? Tss! See, it even touched your skin.”
Mankas avoided looking at the reddened burn mark on his fair skin. Eskaley threw some powder to Haruna saying, “Dab it on with water.” Haruna tore the sachet, dipped it into water, and tried to rub Mankas’ hand. Reluctantly, Mankas said, “Leave it, it’s nothing.”
But Haruna insisted until Mankas gave him his hand, and he carefully applied the powder to the burn.
Soon, more of their “bench friends” gathered. The noisy banter of Eskaley’s boys filled the street, mostly arguments and loud chatter.
Family Moments at Home
Entering his home, his children Ameera and Sabit rushed to greet him:
“Baba, welcome back!” They clung to him happily. He patted their heads and asked, “How was school?” They replied cheerfully. His younger sister Labeeba also greeted him with, “Welcome, brother.” He smiled back warmly, “How was school, Labeeba?” She replied with gratitude.
She spread a mat for him while he removed his shoes and sat. Sabit sat on his father’s leg, Ameera leaned against him, answering his gentle questions.
Then Aunty Asiya came out of the bathroom carrying a water jug, greeting him with a soft smile:
“Welcome back, Baban Amira.” They exchanged warm glances, restrained only by the presence of the children.
She asked about the market, and he replied with joy, handing her a bag of Maggi cubes he had bought. She laughed, explaining she had texted him because she needed it for cooking.
Labeeba helped her in the kitchen, preparing cool water and arranging food. Even though the children had eaten, they joined their father while he ate. He asked, “Didn’t you attend Islamic school today?” Ameera reminded him it was Thursday. He chuckled, realizing his mistake, then told them to bring out their homework before night fell. Labeeba later helped Ameera and Sabit with their assignments.
Though Labeeba missed her parents and childhood home, she enjoyed living here with her brother’s family. His wife had no issues with her, and the children adored her, filling the gap of loneliness in her heart.
The Call to Prayer
At 6:35pm, Baban Amira made ablution and called Sabit, “Let’s go to the mosque, Mallam Sabit.” The boy eagerly followed, though his ablution was clumsy. Passing through the kitchen, he told Asiya, “We are heading to the mosque, see you after ‘Isha, InshaAllah.” She wished him well as he left holding Sabit’s hand.
Back at the shop, when the call for Maghrib prayer echoed, none of the boys made a move towards the mosque. As Baban Amira passed, he stopped and scolded them:
“You hear the call to prayer yet still sit here? Fear Allah!”
Disappointed, he warned them about delaying prayer and the importance of congregation. Master snapped back, “That’s your business, not ours.”
Dan Makaho stood reluctantly, saying, “We’re going now.”
Baban Amira shook his head, “I’m not leading your prayer, this is just a reminder. May Allah guide you.” He left with Sabit, crossing the road to the mosque.
Mocking him, Master sneered: “Why do you respect this man so much, Mankas? He looks at us like we’re worthless.” Dan Makaho dismissed the remark, asking Eskaley for water to perform ablution. Haruna defended, “Master, you spoke harshly. I see nothing wrong with him.”
Eventually, Haruna and Dan Makaho joined in ablution while Master and Tero stayed behind, still smoking. Eskaley locked up his shop. Then, the three—Haruna, Mankas, and Dan Makaho—headed to their neighborhood mosque, popularly nicknamed “Sharp-Sharp.”
Description
At Eskaley’s Shop
As usual, they were seated on the bench in front of Eskaley’s shop at the entrance of the street. That was their routine hangout after the late afternoon prayer. Beside him, Haruna was smoking a cigarette.
Haruna handed him one almost burnt out. He accepted it and was about to take a puff when their eyes met with someone he always felt shy of. Quickly, he shoved the cigarette butt into the long sleeve of his shirt and turned his face away as if nothing happened.
The young man reached the shop and greeted them. Only Haruna replied, along with Eskaley. As for him, he simply avoided looking at him. He brought out a hundred naira note from his pocket and said to Eskaley, “Good evening! Give me Star Maggi and White Maggi.”
Eskaley collected the money, prepared the items, and returned twelve naira change. He told him to add “Ashana” (snuff) with the balance. After exchanging farewells, he went into the street heading home.
Haruna noticed the sweat on his friend’s face, nudged him and asked, “What’s wrong, Mankas?” Hastily, Mankas pulled the cigarette butt from his sleeve, threw it to the ground, and crushed it with his foot before rolling his sleeve back down. Haruna, shocked, said:
“Mankas? Are you even thinking straight? A burning cigarette inside your sleeve? Tss! See, it even touched your skin.”
Mankas avoided looking at the reddened burn mark on his fair skin. Eskaley threw some powder to Haruna saying, “Dab it on with water.” Haruna tore the sachet, dipped it into water, and tried to rub Mankas’ hand. Reluctantly, Mankas said, “Leave it, it’s nothing.”
But Haruna insisted until Mankas gave him his hand, and he carefully applied the powder to the burn.
Soon, more of their “bench friends” gathered. The noisy banter of Eskaley’s boys filled the street, mostly arguments and loud chatter.
Family Moments at Home
Entering his home, his children Ameera and Sabit rushed to greet him:
“Baba, welcome back!” They clung to him happily. He patted their heads and asked, “How was school?” They replied cheerfully. His younger sister Labeeba also greeted him with, “Welcome, brother.” He smiled back warmly, “How was school, Labeeba?” She replied with gratitude.
She spread a mat for him while he removed his shoes and sat. Sabit sat on his father’s leg, Ameera leaned against him, answering his gentle questions.
Then Aunty Asiya came out of the bathroom carrying a water jug, greeting him with a soft smile:
“Welcome back, Baban Amira.” They exchanged warm glances, restrained only by the presence of the children.
She asked about the market, and he replied with joy, handing her a bag of Maggi cubes he had bought. She laughed, explaining she had texted him because she needed it for cooking.
Labeeba helped her in the kitchen, preparing cool water and arranging food. Even though the children had eaten, they joined their father while he ate. He asked, “Didn’t you attend Islamic school today?” Ameera reminded him it was Thursday. He chuckled, realizing his mistake, then told them to bring out their homework before night fell. Labeeba later helped Ameera and Sabit with their assignments.
Though Labeeba missed her parents and childhood home, she enjoyed living here with her brother’s family. His wife had no issues with her, and the children adored her, filling the gap of loneliness in her heart.
The Call to Prayer
At 6:35pm, Baban Amira made ablution and called Sabit, “Let’s go to the mosque, Mallam Sabit.” The boy eagerly followed, though his ablution was clumsy. Passing through the kitchen, he told Asiya, “We are heading to the mosque, see you after ‘Isha, InshaAllah.” She wished him well as he left holding Sabit’s hand.
Back at the shop, when the call for Maghrib prayer echoed, none of the boys made a move towards the mosque. As Baban Amira passed, he stopped and scolded them:
“You hear the call to prayer yet still sit here? Fear Allah!”
Tero muttered, “We’ll pray later.” Haruna added, “Yes, later.”
Disappointed, he warned them about delaying prayer and the importance of congregation. Master snapped back, “That’s your business, not ours.”
Dan Makaho stood reluctantly, saying, “We’re going now.”
Baban Amira shook his head, “I’m not leading your prayer, this is just a reminder. May Allah guide you.” He left with Sabit, crossing the road to the mosque.
Mocking him, Master sneered: “Why do you respect this man so much, Mankas? He looks at us like we’re worthless.” Dan Makaho dismissed the remark, asking Eskaley for water to perform ablution. Haruna defended, “Master, you spoke harshly. I see nothing wrong with him.”
Eventually, Haruna and Dan Makaho joined in ablution while Master and Tero stayed behind, still smoking. Eskaley locked up his shop. Then, the three—Haruna, Mankas, and Dan Makaho—headed to their neighborhood mosque, popularly nicknamed “Sharp-Sharp.”