BISMILLAHIR RAHMANIR RAHEEM
She is a nine-year-old girl, dressed in Western attire, wearing a gown, and her head adorned with a beautiful baby pink ribbon. Despite her young age, she radiates kindness and affection, and her dimples grace her cheeks, appearing each time she smiles or laughs, enhancing her already lovely face.
“Aunty Aina!!!! Aunty Aina, please don’t give me the chocolates that Uncle Datt bought for me,” she exclaimed excitedly as she prepared to leave for the store with her favorite aunt. Khadija’s love for chocolates was well-known, and she often visited Uncle Datti to ask him to buy them for her.
“Ah, Khadija, I cannot give you any. Haven’t I forbidden you from consuming sweets? Are you disregarding my advice?” Aunt Aina replied, her voice tinged with a hint of sadness.
“Eeeyyaaaa aunty, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Just give me one more chance. I promise I won’t eat more after today,” Khadija pleaded earnestly.
“Hmmmmm, you’re still a young girl, and you might not fully grasp the harm of consuming sweets for a girl. But since you’ve made a promise, hand me my glasses, and I’ll put them on to go buy them for you,” Aina agreed. Rana had a chronic eye condition and needed prescription glasses to see clearly. Without them, her vision would blur, and even her palms would lose their color if she found herself in a brightly lit area.
As if she had been waiting, Khadija fetched Aina’s glasses from the glass table and handed them to her. Aina accepted them and rose from her seat. She then held her sister’s hand, and the two entered the room, instructing Khadija to stand by the window to keep watch for any onlookers.
One by one, Aina removed the chocolates from their hiding place and passed them to her niece. However, instead of accepting them, Khadija opened her mouth and burst into tears, refusing to take them. She cried louder when Aina tried to persuade her, demanding more explanation.
Uncle Datti, overhearing Khadija’s cries, felt a deep sense of anguish. He was torn and didn’t know how to respond. His heart ached until he could fulfill her wishes.
Later, as he danced with Nana, Aina couldn’t help but wonder if they were secretly married. Why did he treat Nana differently? Did Uncle Datti harbor feelings for Nana? These thoughts raced through her mind without answers.
When Khadija saw him, she rushed over to him, but upon seeing Nana, she froze, her words failing her. Uncle Datti attempted to console her, urging, “Hush now, my dear. Tell me what’s wrong. Who are you?”
Aina watched with astonishment as Khadija opened her mouth, her eyes wide in shock. What had just transpired had taken her by surprise, too. Nana broke into tears and cried herself to sleep, perhaps upset with Uncle Datti. He was left bewildered, not knowing where to turn, and feeling somewhat relieved.
Khadija sniffled and said, “Uncle, I want chocolates, Aunty Aina, please give them to me,” tears streaming down her face as she shook her head.
“Alright then, calm down. Let’s go buy them for you,” Uncle Datti relented. They left the house, leaving Aina standing there, her thoughts consumed by Datti’s actions.
As they left, Aina headed to the kitchen, where she prepared a pot of jollof rice, its aroma wafting through the house. She then went to her room and changed into a gray lace blouse and jacket. One glance at her would reveal the truth, for her beauty emanated not only from her appearance but also from her character.
Returning to the living room, she sat in silence. Time passed, and there was no sign of their return until the call to the Maghrib prayer sounded. Aina noticed the chocolates placed beside her and the questioning gaze in Datti’s eyes.
“Hey, ma’am, what’s with that look?” Datti asked, gently tapping her.
She looked at him with a smile and said, “Oh, my dear, how many times have I asked you to stop buying sweets for this girl? You know it yourself. I shouldn’t need to remind you. It’s because you know that we have a family member with diabetes, and it’s said to be hereditary. Have you forgotten?”