Amina's pride 11

AMINA'S PRIDE

Episode 11

Idris’s laugher reechoed in the empty house as the man that had been his friend once, was carried away. He couldn’t wait to set eyes on Amina again. He would teach her a great lesson of submission. He would make her beg for mercy. Until then, his new focus was the next town to attack.
Already his bandits had attacked Kanem Dazau, the richest city in all of the cattle lands.
“Speaking of Abdul…” Idris laughed softly as he thought about the range war that had taken many years back. He decided to call off his bandits from Kanem. He would ravage other cities and keep their women for himself. The last place he would attack before conquering the cattle lands would be Kanem Dazau. Abdul and Hazim would feel the wrath of his anger and the fire of his vengeance.

She’d slept like a baby, until a crow cried next to her window. The sound of the ugly bird was scary, and its presence was ominous. An impending doom hung in the air, but she couldn’t point a finger at it. Amina awoke with a heavy heart, she didn’t know what was wrong, but she felt unhappy within.
Slowly, she peeled herself from the bed and moved towards the adjacent room, which was meant for washing her body and dressing up. Amina noticed that her door was slightly open. Someone had come into the room, while she had been sleeping.
The first person that she thought about was him! She thought about her husband, Abdul. A slow smile started on her lips, and spread to the rest of her face. Wasn’t it strange, that she had just seen the man, yet her heart was with him already?
Amina sucked in the freshness of the morning breeze that twirled through her slightly parted window. When the breeze had faded, she stepped into the room and noticed that a golden basin, large enough to fit her small body had been kept. Besides the large bowl, were three water pots, filled to their brim.
As a little girl, Amina had dreams of marrying a wealthy merchant or farmer, who would give her the life of a princess. She suddenly realized, that her dreams had come through. Although, they didn’t follow the course she expected, yet she was married to the wealthiest rancher in Kanem Dazau, and he had promised his love to her.
The bathroom had a lovely smell. She began to undress, piece after piece; until she was left in nothing. Steadily, she stared into her reflection. Though the feeling of loom hung over her shoulders, her eyes seemed content with her new life. She pulled off the ribbon that held her hair in place, and tossed it on the ground, along with her clothes.
Amina began to hum a song, as she stepped into the bathing bowl. It was a song of sweet sorrow; of a woman who went to the farm and lost all her children. She rarely sang the song; her mother had taught her when she was just ten years old. She shut her present world out, as she closed her eyes. Amina drifted back to the past, while the music poured from her lips.

Abdul had found it difficult to sleep at night. He wasn’t troubled. He only missed his new wife. Her name was the last word his lips her whispered. During his morning worship, he had thanked Allah for bringing Amina Tukur his way. Hazim had advised him to love her, and he would do just that. He would treat her like a man should treat his wife, and nothing would come in between them.
After washing his face, Abdul grabbed a black Jalabir and put it on. He moved towards the trunk that contained some of Fatma’s things. He had bought them for her while travelling to Ismahika; a little Hausa land, to the south. He had bought expensive fabrics, scrubbing stones and herbs for his Fatma. But death and disease had not let her touch any of them.
Now that he was healed, his heart was open and ready. The only one that deserved these gifts was his new wife; his pretty one. Abdul pulled out some things Amina would like. Then he moved towards his own box, where he kept his valuables.
He loved Amina already, and he would make her the queen of his household. Without hesitation, Abdul pulled out a golden necklace from the trunk. He had purchased it from one of the miners that came to town. He had paid in seventeen horses and five cows. It was very costly. He would give it to his darling wife.
Satisfied with his choices, he gathered the gifts together and called out to one of his maidservants.
“Nabila!”
“Nabila!” The second call was more urgent and needy.
In a split of seconds, Nabila reached the master’s bedroom. Her golden eyes flicked with the flame of affection, but Abdul could never notice it.
“Good morning Master,” she bowed her head.
“Morning Nabila, gather these gifts and take them to my wife’s room. Tell her that I will visit her shortly.”
Nabila felt a sharp ache in her chest, as she stared at the gifts that Abdul would give to that vermin. All her life, she had served him. She had fed his household. She had nursed Fatma, until her death. Yet, the master hadn’t paid any attention to any of her deeds. He had never given her something expensive.
She swallowed the bitter lump that clogged her throat. It seemed her unfortunate friend, Keerna, was right. Only a man in love, would display this sort of generosity.
“What are you waiting for? Get on with it…and return with my breakfast. I am famished.” Abdul wondered why the maid hesitated in carrying out his orders.
Nabila nodded, “I am sorry Master. I shall obey your bidding.”
Tears stung Nabila’s eyes as she gathered the gifts in a little basket. Abdul was oblivious of her love. How blind could a man be? He had made her servant over that fool.
She rushed out of his room, so he wouldn’t see her tears. Her mind was made up, Amina had to be taken out. She had no place in this house.
“Why do you look sober my friend? What happened?” Keerna, who’d been sweeping the house bumped into Nabila.
She’d noticed Nabila had been acting strangely, since her secret return from last night.
“Get out of my way, you cursed fool! When I finally become mistress of this ranch, I will lock you up with the cows.” Nabila snapped at Keerna.
Keerna’s eyes fell on the little basket that Nabila carried and she followed the direction where Nabila was headed. It was obvious, that the master had sent her on an errand to Amina.
“I’d rather plunge a knife into my own belly, than live to see you rule this house.” Keerna kissed her teeth, and went on her way.
“We’ll see about that.” Nabila gritted her teeth and continued. After her chores, she would travel back to her parent’s. She would revive the magic of the serpent in her. That was the only way to take back what rightfully belonged to her.
As she neared Amina’s room, her chest tightened as she heard the sweet melody that flowed out from the room. The witch was singing. It was with her demonic voice, that she had charmed the master.
“Foolish woman, you’ll go back to where you came from soon.” Nabila murmured before strolling into the room.
Jealousy overpowered her as she noticed how finely decorated Amina’s room was. Fatma’s room hadn’t been half as beautiful as this. Abdul was totally smitten by this Shuwa woman! He had lost his senses!
Nabila dropped the basket gently at the feet of the bed. She noticed the furniture was carved from expensive wood, acacia. It was enormous and soft, compared to the one she slept in.