I was listening to all the chatter in the bus; the vehicle was filled with noise. Some were excited about seeing their parents, others spoke about their weddings. Most were talking about the schools they would continue in—some said Polytechnic, some University, and some Nursing school.
Sa’adatu, sitting close to me, said, “Hafsy, please come to A.B.U. Zaria so we can meet there.”
I gave a slight, bittersweet smile. “Getting into A.B.U. isn’t like going to Bakori. Even if I get admitted, I’m not sure they’ll let me go.”
She widened her eyes. “Don’t tell me you’re among those who will be stopped and sent to a husband’s house?”
I sighed. “Sa’a, just pray for me. May Allah give me the chance, because I really want to finish school.”
Jamila looked at me. “Hafsy, you always surprise me when you say you want to finish school. I think it’s school that will finish you. Do you think time is waiting for you?”
I replied, “Madam, I didn’t ask for your opinion. Aren’t you the one talking about marriage?”
Jamila said, “Yes, but marriage won’t stop me from studying. I’ll get married and continue my education.”
Sa’a shook her head. “It’s difficult to do both. Once you get pregnant, you’ll drop out.”
I laughed. “How much money are we even talking about? We just started this schooling thing.”
She said, “Alright then. May Allah help everyone with their good intentions.”
I replied, “That’s all you need to say—Amin.”
Eventually, the bus became quiet. I was more worried about my father, knowing that without Allah’s help, it would be difficult for me to attend another school.
Return Home and Family Tensions
We dropped off the Zaria students first, then continued to Kaduna. From there, the school bus from Bakori, Katsina, took us to our homes after our graduation.
Our house was noisy with excitement; the children shouted, “Hafsat is here!” My mother rushed out and hugged me as I laughed. The boys who carried my luggage set them down, and I told my mother, “They’re asking for fifty naira.” She untied her wrapper and gave it to them.
The children helped me take my things inside. Everyone in the family greeted me warmly. My mother set a bowl of alala (a local delicacy) for me, saying, “The alala is still fresh.” She poured me a cup of water. I asked, “It’s still not finished?” She replied, “It finished days ago. Your uncle Bako came and told me you’d be done soon, so I made more for the children in the evenings.”
I asked about my elder brother, and she explained he hadn’t returned since morning because he was dealing with a motorcycle they bought from the inheritance money, to keep him busy with commercial riding since electricity repair work was inconsistent. I praised her idea.
We chatted until my father arrived. I greeted him nervously, expecting a stern reaction, but to my surprise, he smiled and asked, “You came back safely?” My mother told him I’d finished secondary school.
His expression changed. “Now that she’s finished, I’ll find her a suitor so she can marry, maybe even to Sakina’s husband’s relative, so I can rest.” My mother tried to suggest continuing my education, but he silenced her with a look and angrily declared he didn’t want me in school anymore.
Tears welled in my eyes. I decided right then to talk to Munnir, my suitor, to send his elders for my hand in marriage—at least then I could still study in his house.
Meeting with Munnir
Later, a boy from the house came to say someone was calling me outside. I knew it was Munnir because I had written to tell him I was back. I sprayed my perfume, fixed my scarf, and went out.
He was sitting on his black Toyota Camry, wearing black jeans and a white shirt. He greeted me warmly and invited me into his car, but I refused, preferring to sit outside. He teased me about being afraid of my father seeing him in casual clothes.
Eventually, I agreed to get in. He told me he loved me deeply, but I reminded him to avoid touching me because it was forbidden before marriage. He brushed it off, saying he was going to marry me anyway.
When I told him we should marry soon because my father might stop my studies, he dismissed it, saying he had planned a big graduation party for me first. He promised I would take the JAMB exam soon and become a media professional, but I pressed again about marriage. He explained his family wanted him to finish his master’s degree before marriage.
The next day, he came again to take me shopping for the party. In the boutique, I didn’t like the revealing clothes he chose, which made him upset. We left, and he suggested ice cream, but I asked him to take me home, worried my mother would scold me. He laughed, calling me scared, and drove me back.
Description
Conversations on the Journey Home
I was listening to all the chatter in the bus; the vehicle was filled with noise. Some were excited about seeing their parents, others spoke about their weddings. Most were talking about the schools they would continue in—some said Polytechnic, some University, and some Nursing school.
Sa’adatu, sitting close to me, said, “Hafsy, please come to A.B.U. Zaria so we can meet there.”
I gave a slight, bittersweet smile. “Getting into A.B.U. isn’t like going to Bakori. Even if I get admitted, I’m not sure they’ll let me go.”
She widened her eyes. “Don’t tell me you’re among those who will be stopped and sent to a husband’s house?”
I sighed. “Sa’a, just pray for me. May Allah give me the chance, because I really want to finish school.”
Jamila looked at me. “Hafsy, you always surprise me when you say you want to finish school. I think it’s school that will finish you. Do you think time is waiting for you?”
I replied, “Madam, I didn’t ask for your opinion. Aren’t you the one talking about marriage?”
Jamila said, “Yes, but marriage won’t stop me from studying. I’ll get married and continue my education.”
Sa’a shook her head. “It’s difficult to do both. Once you get pregnant, you’ll drop out.”
I laughed. “How much money are we even talking about? We just started this schooling thing.”
She said, “Alright then. May Allah help everyone with their good intentions.”
I replied, “That’s all you need to say—Amin.”
Eventually, the bus became quiet. I was more worried about my father, knowing that without Allah’s help, it would be difficult for me to attend another school.
Return Home and Family Tensions
We dropped off the Zaria students first, then continued to Kaduna. From there, the school bus from Bakori, Katsina, took us to our homes after our graduation.
Our house was noisy with excitement; the children shouted, “Hafsat is here!” My mother rushed out and hugged me as I laughed. The boys who carried my luggage set them down, and I told my mother, “They’re asking for fifty naira.” She untied her wrapper and gave it to them.
The children helped me take my things inside. Everyone in the family greeted me warmly. My mother set a bowl of alala (a local delicacy) for me, saying, “The alala is still fresh.” She poured me a cup of water. I asked, “It’s still not finished?” She replied, “It finished days ago. Your uncle Bako came and told me you’d be done soon, so I made more for the children in the evenings.”
I asked about my elder brother, and she explained he hadn’t returned since morning because he was dealing with a motorcycle they bought from the inheritance money, to keep him busy with commercial riding since electricity repair work was inconsistent. I praised her idea.
We chatted until my father arrived. I greeted him nervously, expecting a stern reaction, but to my surprise, he smiled and asked, “You came back safely?” My mother told him I’d finished secondary school.
His expression changed. “Now that she’s finished, I’ll find her a suitor so she can marry, maybe even to Sakina’s husband’s relative, so I can rest.” My mother tried to suggest continuing my education, but he silenced her with a look and angrily declared he didn’t want me in school anymore.
Tears welled in my eyes. I decided right then to talk to Munnir, my suitor, to send his elders for my hand in marriage—at least then I could still study in his house.
Meeting with Munnir
Later, a boy from the house came to say someone was calling me outside. I knew it was Munnir because I had written to tell him I was back. I sprayed my perfume, fixed my scarf, and went out.
He was sitting on his black Toyota Camry, wearing black jeans and a white shirt. He greeted me warmly and invited me into his car, but I refused, preferring to sit outside. He teased me about being afraid of my father seeing him in casual clothes.
Eventually, I agreed to get in. He told me he loved me deeply, but I reminded him to avoid touching me because it was forbidden before marriage. He brushed it off, saying he was going to marry me anyway.
When I told him we should marry soon because my father might stop my studies, he dismissed it, saying he had planned a big graduation party for me first. He promised I would take the JAMB exam soon and become a media professional, but I pressed again about marriage. He explained his family wanted him to finish his master’s degree before marriage.
The next day, he came again to take me shopping for the party. In the boutique, I didn’t like the revealing clothes he chose, which made him upset. We left, and he suggested ice cream, but I asked him to take me home, worried my mother would scold me. He laughed, calling me scared, and drove me back.