I was sitting on a mat in the veranda as the breeze gently shook the mango tree in the middle of our compound. Its leaves were falling beautifully to the ground. In front of me was dambu in a small bowl. I was eating slowly, licking my fingers because the dambu tasted so good and I didn’t want it to finish.
My friend Ladiyo entered our house, holding her forehead, blood dripping from it. When I raised my head and looked at her, I said nothing. I lowered my head again and continued eating my dambu. I finished it completely and drank water afterward. I opened my mouth wide and let out a very loud, rude burp—the kind that if my brother Sadeeq were around, he would slap my mouth for.
I looked at Ladiyo, smacked my lips and said, “Ladiyo, what’s wrong? Why are you standing over me like this? Were you sent here or what?”
Ladiyo had been waiting for me to ask because she knew that if I didn’t, she might accuse me of embarrassing her. Crying, she told me what happened. She said, “You know the boy we insulted yesterday at the market? Earlier today, Umma sent me to Zulai’s house to collect money for her hair. On my way back, I met that boy. I didn’t know his house was on that street. He started throwing stones at me, and even his friends joined him. May God save me—Baban Ramma was passing by and saw what was happening. He scolded them and they left me, but honestly, I could have died from the stones they threw at me. I didn’t even go home; I came straight here because he sent a message.”
She added, “He said I should tell you that he will also smash your forehead.”
I said angrily, “So now, is there someone in this village who dares to threaten me like that? I swear, in the whole of Dande village, I have never seen anyone who can smash my forehead. But since he said so, let him wait—I’ll go to his house first and smash his father’s forehead before he tries mine.”
Just then, Inna came out holding a bucket, clearly coming from the bathroom. She said, “You and your stubbornness! Why are you talking rubbish like someone who doesn’t attend Islamiyya?”
I replied, “Inna, can’t you see Ladiyo?”
Only then did Inna notice Ladiyo standing by the well, holding her head. Inna said, “I see her—so what happened?”
Annoyed by Inna’s question, I said, “Inna, can’t you see her forehead is broken and bleeding?”
Inna replied, “I see it. Since she refuses to stay away from you, she’s always in trouble. She’s useless, can’t do anything, only knows how to provoke people—and she’s stubborn too.”
I said, “Inna, the one who broke her forehead is also threatening me. He says he’ll beat me whenever we meet. That’s why I’m angry. Even if the whole village belongs to him, I swear I’ll deal with him. He doesn’t know who Inna’s Siddiqa is—that’s why. Even children know my name; once they hear it, their bodies start shaking.”
Sadeeq’s Intervention and Ladiyo’s Dismissal
Before I could finish, I felt a slap land on my mouth. Angry, I raised my head to see who dared slap me.
It was my brother Sadeeq. I pouted slightly while he winked at me with one eye.
He said, “You’d better behave before someone else does. Today I’m not going to work, so you’re not going anywhere either. No Islamiyya, no Western education—just roaming the streets. Among all the women in this village, you stand out for foolishness and stubbornness. Inna has been too lenient with you. You think she’s pampering you, but know that she has already lived her life; you’re just starting. You don’t know anything about life yet. How old are you—are you even fourteen? Yet you keep causing trouble, and people are always reporting you to me.”
He then asked, pointing at Ladiyo, “What’s your name?”
She replied softly, “My name is Ladiyo.”
Sadeeq said, “I don’t care what your name is. Get out of this house now,” pointing toward the exit.
He added, “If I ever see you even at the gate again, you’ll regret it. I don’t want to see those useless legs of yours in this house. I hope you understand what I’m saying.”
He shouted, “Go now, before we become too familiar!”
Ladiyo quickly left our house, trembling.
Sadeeq looked at me angrily. I glared back at him and muttered under my breath, “If it’s staring, I won’t lose. Let’s see who backs down first.”
He snapped, “What are you saying?”
Inna quickly said, “She’s not talking to you. Leave her.”
Sadeeq then said, “Inna, tell her to bring me my food.”
Inna sighed deeply and said, “Garba, why are you so harsh on this girl? I’ve warned you many times, but you don’t listen because I’m your grandmother. But your father is coming soon—if you don’t listen to me, you’ll listen to him.”
Sadeeq replied mockingly, “Hajjaju, may you live long. You can scold all you want. Even though I married you, you still give orders. But as you wish—I’ll stop bothering her from today.”
Inna smiled and said, “That’s fine. She’s still a child. I’ll ask her to bring your food now.”
Description
A Quiet Afternoon and Ladiyo’s Arrival
I was sitting on a mat in the veranda as the breeze gently shook the mango tree in the middle of our compound. Its leaves were falling beautifully to the ground. In front of me was dambu in a small bowl. I was eating slowly, licking my fingers because the dambu tasted so good and I didn’t want it to finish.
My friend Ladiyo entered our house, holding her forehead, blood dripping from it. When I raised my head and looked at her, I said nothing. I lowered my head again and continued eating my dambu. I finished it completely and drank water afterward. I opened my mouth wide and let out a very loud, rude burp—the kind that if my brother Sadeeq were around, he would slap my mouth for.
I looked at Ladiyo, smacked my lips and said, “Ladiyo, what’s wrong? Why are you standing over me like this? Were you sent here or what?”
Ladiyo had been waiting for me to ask because she knew that if I didn’t, she might accuse me of embarrassing her. Crying, she told me what happened. She said, “You know the boy we insulted yesterday at the market? Earlier today, Umma sent me to Zulai’s house to collect money for her hair. On my way back, I met that boy. I didn’t know his house was on that street. He started throwing stones at me, and even his friends joined him. May God save me—Baban Ramma was passing by and saw what was happening. He scolded them and they left me, but honestly, I could have died from the stones they threw at me. I didn’t even go home; I came straight here because he sent a message.”
She added, “He said I should tell you that he will also smash your forehead.”
I said angrily, “So now, is there someone in this village who dares to threaten me like that? I swear, in the whole of Dande village, I have never seen anyone who can smash my forehead. But since he said so, let him wait—I’ll go to his house first and smash his father’s forehead before he tries mine.”
Just then, Inna came out holding a bucket, clearly coming from the bathroom. She said, “You and your stubbornness! Why are you talking rubbish like someone who doesn’t attend Islamiyya?”
I replied, “Inna, can’t you see Ladiyo?”
Only then did Inna notice Ladiyo standing by the well, holding her head. Inna said, “I see her—so what happened?”
Annoyed by Inna’s question, I said, “Inna, can’t you see her forehead is broken and bleeding?”
Inna replied, “I see it. Since she refuses to stay away from you, she’s always in trouble. She’s useless, can’t do anything, only knows how to provoke people—and she’s stubborn too.”
I said, “Inna, the one who broke her forehead is also threatening me. He says he’ll beat me whenever we meet. That’s why I’m angry. Even if the whole village belongs to him, I swear I’ll deal with him. He doesn’t know who Inna’s Siddiqa is—that’s why. Even children know my name; once they hear it, their bodies start shaking.”
Sadeeq’s Intervention and Ladiyo’s Dismissal
Before I could finish, I felt a slap land on my mouth. Angry, I raised my head to see who dared slap me.
It was my brother Sadeeq. I pouted slightly while he winked at me with one eye.
He said, “You’d better behave before someone else does. Today I’m not going to work, so you’re not going anywhere either. No Islamiyya, no Western education—just roaming the streets. Among all the women in this village, you stand out for foolishness and stubbornness. Inna has been too lenient with you. You think she’s pampering you, but know that she has already lived her life; you’re just starting. You don’t know anything about life yet. How old are you—are you even fourteen? Yet you keep causing trouble, and people are always reporting you to me.”
He then asked, pointing at Ladiyo, “What’s your name?”
She replied softly, “My name is Ladiyo.”
Sadeeq said, “I don’t care what your name is. Get out of this house now,” pointing toward the exit.
He added, “If I ever see you even at the gate again, you’ll regret it. I don’t want to see those useless legs of yours in this house. I hope you understand what I’m saying.”
He shouted, “Go now, before we become too familiar!”
Ladiyo quickly left our house, trembling.
Sadeeq looked at me angrily. I glared back at him and muttered under my breath, “If it’s staring, I won’t lose. Let’s see who backs down first.”
He snapped, “What are you saying?”
Inna quickly said, “She’s not talking to you. Leave her.”
Sadeeq then said, “Inna, tell her to bring me my food.”
Inna sighed deeply and said, “Garba, why are you so harsh on this girl? I’ve warned you many times, but you don’t listen because I’m your grandmother. But your father is coming soon—if you don’t listen to me, you’ll listen to him.”
Sadeeq replied mockingly, “Hajjaju, may you live long. You can scold all you want. Even though I married you, you still give orders. But as you wish—I’ll stop bothering her from today.”
Inna smiled and said, “That’s fine. She’s still a child. I’ll ask her to bring your food now.”