My wife’s cooking is so delicious, it’s like a culinary masterpiece.– Unknown

The Manuel's house was a few minutes away from the resort. Amazement filled Zainab as she gazed at the structure that housed their friends. 

She expected to see a cozy little cottage, not a sprawling villa.  The exterior was a mixture of glass and stone. The walls were coated with paints of white and grey.  A spacious porch provided ample space for outdoor lounging.  

They journeyed through the driveway surrounded by well-manicured lawns and they climbed the porch steps and stopped in front of the front door crafted from rich mahogany wood.  

Danladi rang the bell and moments later the door swung open. Bola's smiling face greeted them.  

"Welcome. Please come in." She moved to the side to let them in.  Zainab and Danladi crossed the threshold and she closed the door. 

Zainab's eyes roamed around and her astonishment increased. The interior design emphasized an open layout, big airy areas that seamlessly flowed into each other.  

The aesthetics were made up of high-end finishes, hardwood floors, and top-of-the-art fixtures.  

"Let's go to the living room. Hadiza and Mustafa have arrived already."

Happiness filled Zainab as she thought of the discussion she planned to have with Hadiza.  

Bola led them to the living room. Hadiza and Mustafa were seated on a large sectional sofa. Zainab observed Hadiza and noticed she sat with a rigid back.   

Dele welcomed them with a huge grin.  "It's great to have you guys over. "

"Please, have your seat." Bola gestured to the two empty armchairs placed beside each other.  Zainab and Danladi took their seats.  

"You have such a beautiful home," Zainab remarked with a soft smile. 

Bola grinned. "Thank you very much. We put in a lot of effort to set everything up."

"You did a wonderful job." 

"I agree." Mustafa chimed in. "The decor is excellent."

"All thanks to Dele's artistic skills," Bola said with an unwavering smile. 

Something stirred in Zainab's heart as she spied Bola and Dele share an affectionate look.  Pain seized her as she remembered that she wouldn't be privileged to have such an experience with her husband. 

"I think we have complimented each other enough. Now,  let's move to the fun part which is lunch." Dele said with a wide smile. 

"You are right, hon." Bola jumped to her feet.  "To fill our bellies is the reason we are gathered here." 

Zainab stifled a laugh as Danladi's stomach rumbled. She sent him an amused look and he glowered at her.  

The group followed Bola and Dele to the dining room adjacent to the living room. At the center of the room was an elegant glass dining table surrounded by dining chairs with upholstered seats. 

Fresh dishes were laid out on the dining table, beaconing everyone with their tantalizing aromas. 

Zainab struggled to suppress a moan. From her observation, everyone else seemed to be in similar positions. 

"While the men enjoy the arrays of appetizers, Zainab and Hadiza, please, I need your help in the kitchen."

Zainab's expression brightened and she moved in Bola's direction with Hadiza following behind her.  

As Zainab expected, the kitchen was grand like the rest of the house. The kitchen was made up of state-of-the-art equipment. 

"So what do you need help with?" Zainab asked.  

"Well, I decided that the main meal should be a Hausa dish. So I decided on Tuwo Shinkafa and Miyar Kuka. However, unfortunately, I don't have any idea how to make it." 

Tuwo Shinkafa is a type of Nigerian and Nigerien rice swallow from Niger and the northern part of Nigeria. It is a thick pudding prepared from local rice that is soft and sticky, and is usually served with different types of soups like Miyar Kuka, Miyar Kubewa, and Miyar Taushe. 

Miyar Kuka or Miyan Kuka, also known as Luru soup, is a type of soup popular among West Africa’s ethnic groups. The soup is made from powdered baobab leaves. It is usually served with Tuwo or Fufu.

(Picture from Google)

Zainab's smile widened. "That's not a problem. I know how to make a decent  Miyan kuka." 

"And my mother-in-law made me an expert in preparing Tuwo shinkafa," Hadiza said. 

Bola beamed. "That's great! I have laid out all the ingredients," she pointed to the marble countertop covered with different bowls of spices and foodstuff. "I am here to assist you in any way I can." 

Hadiza and Zainab acknowledged her with a smile and a nod.  Zainab moved to the pepper placed in a mortar and she began to pound them with a pestle. 

 Hadiza carried the bowl of rice and mashed it with a wooden ladle. 

Minutes passed with the women working together to make the meal.  Zainab's legs bounced in agitation as she wasn't getting the opportunity to talk to Hadiza. 

Suddenly the ringing of a phone broke the silence. Bola snatched her phone and sent Zainab and Hadiza an apologetic look. "Duty calls," she said and rushed out of the kitchen. 

Zainab smiled to herself. Bola's departure brought the opportunity to speak with Hadiza. "So…do you enjoy cooking?" she asked Hadiza after a few seconds. 

"Not really." Hadiza shrugged. "It's something I do as part of my wifely duties."

"Hmm, that's understandable. So what do you like to do?"

Hadiza's shoulders dropped and she sighed. "To tell you the truth, I didn't have the opportunity  to find out the things I am passionate about." Sorrow marred her face.  "I have been a wife for as long as I can remember."

A sad smile grazed Zainab's lips. "I'm sorry to hear that. Also, sorry that I asked," she added as she watched tears shimmer in Hadiza's eyes. 

She shook her head. "No need to apologize. I have a feeling you can relate to my plight.

Zainab nodded. "You can say that.  There are many Hausa girls like us that early marriage has ruined their lives."

"That's true. My younger sister is getting married next month and she is barely thirteen years old."

Zainab's breath hitched and an image of Amina flashed before her.  A frightful shiver coursed through her. She hoped that Amina wouldn't face a similar plight.  

Sounds of approaching footsteps bounced against the walls and drew the women out of their despair.  Bola was a friend but they weren't emotionally ready to tell their painful story to anyone.  

Bola returned and they continued the preparation of the meal. Several minutes later,  armed with bowls of steaming food, they ambled to the dining room where the men were discussing over a plate of Suya and glasses of beer. 

They welcomed the women with a smile. Although Mustafa's smile seemed forced.  

To Zainab's surprise, Danladi's smile was quite bright. 

The women placed the dishes on the table and took their seats. After a short prayer by Dele, they dug in.  

Zainab glanced at Danladi as he took a morsel of food. Her heart raced as he chewed with an unreadable expression. 

"The soup is delicious," he remarked with a slight smile. 

Bola chuckled. "All the praises should go to your darling wife. She did the cooking." 

Zainab's face warmed and she ducked her head. 

"Nice one, Zainab," he said and her head shot up.  

Her mouth parted open in surprise and something fluttered in her heart. 

Don't forget it's only an act, said a small voice.  

Her happiness immediately decreased and she tore her eyes from his face after whispering a thank you.  

Amazement filled her as he took another plate of food.  The meal ended with light conversations.  Although Zainab and Hadiza were mostly quiet. After the table was cleared, they retired to the living room where they enjoyed slices of carrot cake as dessert. 

After sharing a heartfelt goodbye, Danladi and Zainab took their leave. On the drive back to the resort,  Zainab replayed the events of the day and she couldn't stop the smile that played on her lips.  

She was successful in having a short interview with Hadiza and she got to practice her cooking skills after so long.  

At that moment, she felt hopeful that everything would turn out fine. 

                     ★★★★★★

Hmm, I'm sure we all want to have a bite of that meal 😋😂

Don't worry, you can have some. It's all part of the festive celebration 😁

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

This would be the last update for this year. 

Next year, we will continue with Zainab and Danladi's journey with more twists and turns. XD

Until next year, stay blessed! ❤️