The Precious Pearls

Story 3:

The weather was so cool as the breeze blew slowly. It was obvious that the sky was pregnant and might burst out anytime soon.

Hafeezah was having hard time fighting her feelings for Ridwan and she decided to change her environment for a while. She left for her sister's room and sat her down for a smooth discussion.

"Ummie Ayman, I'm thinking of going to Aishah's house to spend some time with her. I really need to leave this space to clear my mind." She expressed.

"That's a very good suggestion but I'll surely miss you and I'm pretty sure she will be very happy to see you; now that her baby will be arriving soon."

"Well said ma.. It will be like killing two birds with a stone. I'll fulfill my promise of paying her a visit and also download my problems to the wind."

Hameedah didn't bother to discuss her sister's affair with her husband thinking she would get over it soon while her kid sister set out for her journey to Maitama from Nyanya in Abuja. 

Aishah who had been anticipating the arrival of her cousin, welcomed her warmly with pleasantries that lasted ages. Her baby bump was round in shape and was evident it was heavy with the way she carried it resting on her back with her shoulders. It looked like she would birth her baby that day. They walked in and she served her a cup of chilled juice. Both of them look alike since their mothers were identical twins but unfortunately, one out of their mothers was gone. 

Aishah couldn't curtail her happiness but she needed to let her rest. She showed her to her room while she had her shower and changed to a light outfit since Aishah's husband was on night call as he was a medical doctor.

Her dinner was set by the house maid to which she enjoyed as she had her fill. Aishah as a fashion freak was glued to the telly watching a fashion show with utmost attention. And after devouring her meal, she joined her cousin but when she felt the program doesn't worth her time, she left for the bedroom tired and inclined to drowse.

The following day, Aishah implored Hafeezah to go out with her to shop for some household items at Old Maitama shopping complex. When they arrived there, it was a beautiful sight to behold. Hafeezah expressed her likeness for it that it is easily accessible, not rowdy and even if it has competing plazas around, it still stand out for it's basics.

Directly after shopping, they bumped into A'ishah's younger brother in law who also showed up to get some outfits. On sighting Hafeezah, he summoned the former for a private discussion leaning his back on his car.

"You look alike. Is she your sister?" He said with his girlish looks, stretching his hands and waving them into an empty space.

"Yes.. She is but a close cousin."

"I think I like her. Can you please talk to her on my behalf?"

"I will try.." A'ishah promised.

"I'll give a call to my brother to know when he will be around as I would love to come visiting because of her."

"Alright then..." She replied and they parted ways. 

She coated her face in smiles as she sat beside Hafeezah who maneuvered the car out of the packing lot. The later asked for the reason for her smiles but she promised to feed her when they get home.

"Who is that man?"

"Do you like him?"

"Of course not.. He's not my type at all. He doesn't look matured to me. Moreover, I have someone I li..." She let out her incomplete statement.

"You what?"

"Never mind, it's just an hallucination. I'll get over it soon. That's why I'm here anyway." She mumbled on the steering wheel fixing her cousin in utmost cliffhanging. The latter knows the former well enough and didn't push further. She knew Hafeezah wouldn't pronounce her mind until she was ready to. Even if they are cousins she can describe her from head to toe. 

The deep silence in the car was akin to that of a graveyard and the breeze slowly ruffled thier hijabs. The two arrived home and made their ways inside while Aishah's house maid, Jumai, rushed out to receive their bags.

Hafeezah realized she'd spilled the beans against her wish as she'd promised herself never to relate it to anyone save Hameedah who already had an idea. But she knew her cousin had heap of questions to ask as she was yet to decode her half statement but she feign ignorance and waived it off.

Nonetheless, Aishah's husband, Idrees returned home the following day and Hafeezah couldn't stop admiring the affections the young couple displayed to each other. She didn't realize she was famished for a companion until she resumed to her imagination about Ridwan again.

"It seems you're in love" Aishah put an abrupt to her imaginations.

"Me? What's the matter and why did you say that?"

"Yes, it's written all over you. When a single woman sits alone smiling to herself, she's definitely planning about her future partner.... Do you like him too?"

"Who?"

"My brother in law; the one we met at the mall."

"Didn't I tell you I'm not interested in him..

"But he likes you..... Idrees told me now that he received a call from him that he will be here tomorrow for you and I'm sure no one is hanging around yet right?"

She stood up and her cousin followed her to the bedroom. She sat quietly on the bed with her eyes swelled up with tears of which she tried her best to fight while Aishah moved closer to her to wipe them off.

"Are you okay now." She said after the tears fell comfortably.

"Yes and no... Aa'ish, I'm not mentally stable. You're right about me fantasizing about my future with someone but I don't think it worth it."

"Why? Is it a sided love?"

"He's married and Hamee has outrightly waded it off. And to your second question, I don't know if he feels the same way.

"If it comes to your awareness that he loves you will you go for him?"

"Yes I will."

"Even against Hamee's wish?"

"Yes!"

"So sorry dear... If you truly love him and he does love you too, count me as your number one supporter............... Come here to receive a hug."

Aishah was curious to know more about Ridwan and she cringed her sister till she spilled out everything about him.

She decided to tell husband everything and implored him to find the best way to dissuade his brother from thinking about being a tango with her cousin since her heart had been occupied with someone else 's love. Idrees wasn't happy and he showed his disappointment as he'd already mapped out a beautiful and endearing life ahead for his brother and Hafeezah in his mind but was left with no choice.

Aishah went into labour in the midnight and was taken to the hospital. Her labour lasted four hours and she welcomed her baby boy. The joy of the couple knew no bound and they couldn't stop adoring the face of the little, innocent boy. Idress named him Muhammad as they've both planned whilst in pregnancy.

Hafeezah couldn't hide her happiness and her tears of joy trickled down. She was known to be a cry cry girl right from her tender age. It started when she would cry for her late mother's absence as a kid and ever since then it became part of her but this time it was tears of joy. She felt the need to go home to freshen up and to bring her cousin a nice meal. 

Idress decided to accompany her to the entrance gate since he wanted to fetch something from his car and then they stumbled upon Ridwan. Her heart ran faster and she froze beneath her breath. Her surprise doubled up when Idress and Ridwan hugged each other with tesleem.

"You know each other?" She dismayingly asked.

"Yes! He's my childhood friend." Idress chuckled releasing him from his hug.

"Do you know her too?" Idrees inquired in awe.

"Well enough to tell the kind of person she is!" Ridwan grinned trying to catch a glimpse of her.

To be cont'd

Olafiku Maryam Umm Muslimah.

The Nigeria Union of Teachers on Thursday cautioned the Federal Government against the January 18 resumption date for schools across the country.

The NUT Secretary-General, Dr Mike Ike-Ene, who stated this in an interview with one of our correspondents, said there was no need to hurriedly resume,  if the rate of COVID-19 infection kept increasing

Ike-Ene stated that if coronavirus infection was increasing,  teachers would stay at home.

Recalled that the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 had on December 17 said the country had entered COVID-19 second wave.

On December 21, the PTF, at its press briefing,  said the Federal Government had ordered all schools to remain shut until January 18 as part of the efforts to battle COVID-19 second wave.

Ike-Ene in the interview with news correspondents, explained that it was important to critically study the infection rate as schools awaited the January 18th resumption date given by the Federal Government.

He stated, “I am someone who believes in life and it is when there is life that you can have a proposal. The number we are having shows that this (second wave) is more horrible. If the PTF and the NCDC (Nigeria Centre for Disease Control) are able to tell us about the new discoveries, then we can decide if we should stay at home or resume.

“As for all the COVID-19 protocols, our teachers have been practising them in our schools. That was why  WASSCE (West African Senior School Certificate Examination) was held. If they feel this one is more rapid in terms of new infections,  it means that teachers will stay at home.

“The Federal Government has said resumption is January 18. Let’s watch

out, if by 18th (of January),   it keeps increasing,  then one will advise that the students should tarry. Let them remain at home. There is no point rushing and risking lives.

“There is no point rushing,  although our students have wasted time, I think our students; especially the undergraduates, are in a hurry to go back to school. If the number keeps increasing the way it is, it means we may take some few weeks to look at it properly.”

He also advised that teachers and students should be the first set of people to be considered for the coronavirus vaccines when they arrive in the country.

Ike-Ene said these people were vulnerable and it was important to protect them as they constituted the present and future of Nigeria.