<p>“You’re not in pain, right? Don’t be jumping around too much, Amna,” Nawra said, finishing her statement with a hand gesture as if asking, “What’s wrong?”</p><p>Amna opened her small mouth and softly whispered, "Yafendo." But before she could close her mouth, Yafendo entered the room, leaning on her walking stick.</p><p>“Oh, Yafendo…” Nawra said, pressing down on the edge of the mattress and putting her book aside to sit.</p><p>“Amna said you’re not feeling well, is that true?”</p><p>Nawra forced a smile and shook her head. “I’m better now, but…”</p><p>“I’ve been asking where you’ve been. Everyone, including Layla, is here, but you’re nowhere to be found. Lately, I don’t understand you anymore. I even asked your mother to talk to you. It was Amna who told Adam to call you, and she said you’re unwell.”</p><p>Nawra kept her head down, twisting her fingers nervously. “Uhm… I’m better now. Thank you very much.”</p><p>“Take care, Nawra. May Allah grant you health. Lie down and rest.”</p><p>“Okay, Yafendo…” Nawra climbed onto the mattress fully and lay down, blinking her eyes.</p><p>Yafendo struggled to her feet, holding onto the wall for support, and left the room.</p><p>As soon as she left, Nawra exhaled deeply in relief. Quickly, she lifted the mattress and pulled out her notebook, hiding it in the box beneath her bed.</p><p>Amna stood nearby, watching her. Nawra grabbed her younger sister’s hand and said, “Thank you so much, Amna. If Yafendo had seen me writing just now, it would’ve been the end for me!” She shook her head in frustration.</p><p>Amna just smiled, fiddling with the thread on her dress.</p><p>“Here, take this five naira. Go buy something,” Nawra said, handing her some money.</p><p>“Thanks!” Amna replied happily, running out of the room.</p><p>Nawra lay back down on her mattress, closing her eyes. Her face lit up with a smile as her mind replayed the words and drawings she had been writing. Her lips moved gently, silently reading them.</p><p>“Nawra… Nawra… Nawra!” Layla called out, entering the room.</p><p>Nawra sat up quickly, looking at her. “You just interrupted me, I swear!”</p><p>“Stop that! We’ve been sent on an errand,” Layla replied.</p><p>“What errand?”</p><p>“We’re to go to Uncle Auwalu’s house.”</p><p>“Okay, let me wear my hijab.”</p><p>“Forget the hijab. Let’s just go like this. We’re not going anywhere fancy,” Layla said, pointing at her own head.</p><p>Nawra shook her head. “I’ll wear it. Ammi said it’s a habit we should develop from a young age.”</p><p>“Alright then, suit yourself.”</p><p>Nawra went to their wardrobe, took out her hijab, and put it on. She checked herself in their small dressing mirror and adjusted it neatly.</p><p>Looking mature and composed, she turned to Layla, who was playing with the hem of her sleeve, and said, “Let’s go.”</p><p>“Finally!” Layla replied.</p><p>The two of them left the room together, heading out of the house. From her corner, Yafendo spotted them and called out, “Nawra, are you feeling better? Layla, didn’t they send you alone? Why did you drag her along?”</p><p>“Well…” Layla started to respond, but Nawra quickly covered her mouth with her hand and said, “I’m fine now, Yafendo. We’ll be back soon.”</p><p>“Alright, MashaAllah. Hurry back!”</p><p>“Yes,” they replied in unison before leaving the house.</p><p>Walking side by side, Layla turned to Nawra and said, “I’m scared of the day Uncle Auwalu catches you…”</p><p>“He won’t catch me, InshaAllah.”</p><p>“Let’s hope so. Honestly, I’m just happy we don’t have to do it. That writing stuff seems so dull, you know,” Layla said, smiling mischievously.</p><p>“Well, I like it,” Nawra replied.</p><p>“Good for you…” Layla muttered as they continued chatting and playing along the way.</p><p>They soon arrived at Uncle Auwalu’s house. It wasn’t too far, so their journey didn’t take long.</p><p>As they entered the house, they greeted loudly, “Assalamu alaikum!”</p><p>In the courtyard, they met him walking with some kola nuts in his hand.</p><p>“Ahh…” he said, looking at them.</p><p>“Uncle, good morning!”</p><p>“Uncle, good morning!”</p><p>They both greeted him again. He responded warmly, looking at them with a questioning expression.</p><p>“Uncle, they’re waiting for you,” Layla explained, looking at him.</p><p>“Well, I was about to head there anyway. Let’s go,” he said, pointing to the door. The girls stepped aside for him to pass, and they followed him out.</p><p>“Let’s stop by Dangaki on the way,” he said.</p><p>(Dangaki is the name of the largest farm in Bunza, covering half the town. It’s a vast piece of land divided among young men as part of their pre-marriage preparation. Each man is assigned a section to cultivate. Meanwhile, his fiancée is tasked with fetching water from the Rafinrau River ten times daily, a dangerous task as the river is said to claim over a hundred lives yearly. This tradition, upheld for generations, culminates in marriage after these duties are completed.)</p><p>“Today, Farisu is finishing his farm work for his wedding to Fiddau. Let’s go and see, okay?”</p><p>Nawra shook her head. “You can go alone.”</p><p>“You know I’ll get scolded if I go without you. If we’re together, they’ll probably let it slide,” Layla replied.</p><p>Reluctantly, Nawra followed Layla toward Dangaki to witness Farisu’s final task before his wedding.</p><p> </p><p> </p>
