By Maryam Altine Baba
Chapter Twenty five
Zainab walked in to the court house with a sense of dejavu. She had been there once for Ali’s sake. Now she was there for his sake as well. Both were for different reasons. Hauwa’u trailed her sister silently.
The court clerk desk was occupied by an unfamiliar young man. He was clean shaven with rugged features and contrastingly appeared calm. When he spoke, his deep voice rumbled like the thunder.
“Can I help you?” He looked beside her, “Assalamu alaiki Hauwa.”
“Wa alaikas salam Malam Yahuza.” She’d answered with a shy smile.
He had a matching smile on his face too, “How is Malam? Did he send you to me?”
Hauwa shook her head slowly and began to say, “Amm, no, he….”
“We are here to lodge a complaint against Aliyu Hamza.” Zainab had interrupted. She didn’t know the man behind the desk, not interested in knowing. It was clear that Hauwa knew him. Too well.
“Okay.” He began to open the book that was laid on his desk, “Who is Aliyu Hamza, and what is the matter?”
For an amateur, he completely sucked at the job. She didn’t falter, however, and decided to be blunt. “He is my husband, and I am suing him for a divorce!”
Yahuza looked up to look at her. Not that he’d never heard anything like the statement she’d just made. He was a court clerk for Allah’s sake, or a sit-in one. He sat temporarily in for Malam Haruna, who had learned to use him to do his bid for him at his own convenience.
Today, he had called in sick. Knowing he was probably lying, Yahuza hadn’t mind sitting in at all. It gave him opportunity to serve the people more. Every day brought in new experiences.
That day, he had written in a few complaints, but he was particularly enthralled by the young women in front of him. It was because he knew Hauwa, and being the Imam’s daughter, it didn’t augur well for her to be seen in a court house, helping someone to seek divorce from her husband.
The villagers usually settled their differences at home, especially those involving marriages. Courts were considered last resort. He wanted to make sure it is a measure of last resort.
“Ammm, I am sorry. Hauwa, can I see you privately?”
Zainab was getting a little bit irritated, “Only after you have lodged my case.”
He looked at Hauwa. She was equally as dazed as he was. Could it be possible she was just a companion without an inkling as to what the other was up to? But she couldn’t have not known.
“It’s just that, we refrain from lodging such cases, unless it is the only option. I will suggest you use the family medium to settle all squabbles. If that fails, then we use this medium.” He pleaded logically.
Zainab lost her supply of patience, which had worn thin by the way, “When I set out to this place, the last thing I expected was to get a lecture from some geek who thinks he knows my situation better than me.”
Hauwa looked at her sister with trepidation, “Oh, come on Zee, that wasn’t what he meant.”
“Isn’t it?” she gave Hauwa a pointed look and continued, “Then tell me why he is telling me what I should or shouldn’t do, when he has no idea as to who I am or what I have been through!” the bitterness and frustration in her voice more pronounced.
Hauwa was tempted to walk away, had she not remembered her promise to stick by Zee at all times. True, if she had known she was accompanying her here with her intent she would have protested or tried to reason with her. But it is now a bit late. She had no choice than to stand by her. She just had to stand without watching Zee insult or hurt anyone, especially Yahuza.
She respected him a lot, and it was mutual. Yahuza respected even the chicken in their household. She’d heard the girls at the stream or when they went on errands talked non-stop about his laudable, spotless character. Sometimes they made him sound like he was a dreamy character.
Not that she had taken a liking to him. But most of the girls tried to get his attention. He was however, the gentleman. He was hardly seen flirting with any girl or engaged in any fruitless courtships. Some began to doubt his sanity or thought he wasn’t attracted to girls, point blank. Or maybe he liked matured girls or even married women.
The list of speculations went on, but still, Yahuza remained unscathed. He kept to himself and remained a mystery to all.
Just like he had remained at that moment. He simply smiled and took up his pen, “I am sorry if you feel that way. So, Aliyu Hamza vs who?”
“Zainab Tijjani.”
It took all his will not to look up and continued writing. He now remembered the renegade daughter who had sued his mentor to court, not that he had really paid any attention to the details. But he knew that her actions had hurt Malam’s reputations.
Now he hoped she wasn’t out here again to hurt Malam. Not that it was any of his business, but he had grown fond of Malam Tijjani. hurting him would affect him, somehow.