“I tell you Aunty, Madam Bose really likes me. She even allows me do her makeup for her. No other girl has that privilege.”

Meena listened as Shukra prattled on about her boss. She stirred the thick palm oil stew, shook off the oil from the ladle and closed the pot. She turned away, backing the gas cooker.

"So does that mean we can get free makeup from the shop too?" 

Shukra rinsed a plastic spoon under the tap and turned to her. "Only at home o."

Meena folded her arms, “Why na? We are family o."

“But this is business na. You suppose know that more than me.”

Meena turned back to the stew, opened the pot to release its peppery fresh fish aroma, stirred once more, then turned off the gas. 

" You will not taste it?" Shukra asked. 

"No need, does that aroma smell like something is missing?"

Shukra laughed, "No, boss." She laughed again as Bush ran into the kitchen, carrying a tray of two round bowls, one containing a small mound of amala, the other, a spoonful of ewedu soup and fish bone. 

Shukra collected the tray with a frown, "Ah ah, finish it na."

"No, I don't like amala." She said, scrunching her face. 

"But last time you said yellow garri." Meena said. 

Bushra scratched one of the braids on her head. "Ehen, that's what I feel like eating today."

Shukra hissed loudly, shooting her twin an annoyed look." Don't even try it. Who is going to finish that big flask of amala?"

"I've already told ummi and she said yes." Bushra folded her arms in defiance. 

"You're on your own o, because I'm not making any amala for you."

"Ah na!" Bushra stamped her feet on the floor while her sisters resumed their works. 

There was a knock on the door, but nobody moved. Then there was another, followed by Fadilah's voice, "Go and check who is at the door na."

Shukra wiped her hands with a towel hanging on the window's burglary-proof gate. She turned to Bushra who was leaning against the standing fridge." Won't you go and check?"

"Shebi you have finished, go na." Bushra replied. 

Meena pretended not to hear them. She busied herself with the leftover ewedu soup in the pot. 

"Aunty Meena, see o."

She sighed. These girls would never grow up. "Bushra, if you allow me face you, or if Ummi should call again. Hmm..."

The knock sounded again." Is there nobody in that kitchen?!" 

Meena turned to Bushra. Bushra eyed Shukra, then stamped her way to the door.

Shukra let out a loud and soow hiss, "Stupid girl."

"Hey." Meena narrowed her eyes. 
"Sorry Aunty."

Then a loud "Juicy Hussy!" came from the sitting room. Meena and Bushra went out to see their mother's head under a taller woman's double chin, her veiled head almost grazing the ceiling, her skin as brown as dry dates. The three sisters exchanged awed looks. 

When they finally pulled away, Meena cleared her throat, "Emm, welcome ma." She pinched Shukra who was still gaping beside her. 

"Thank you my dears," Hussy smiled, revealing a huge gap teeth. She turned to Fadilah, "your children are all grown ups." 

Fadilah beamed, "This is Amina, my first child. Bushra and Shukra–" 
"Twins!" Hussy quickly pinched Bushra's thin cheeks, making her yelp. To Shukra, she opened her thin arms, "come my dear." 

Shukra gave Meena a pleading look. But Meena laughed, knowing how much Shukra hated hugs from complete strangers. 

"Girls, this is Husna, my best friend from secondary school." 

Husna wiggled her fingers, "Hello dearies." Her smile was as wide as her face. Her head, small for her wide shoulders. Meena marveled at her height. Was she a basketball player? 

"Let's get settled then." Fadilah said, directing Hussy to the nearest sofa. 

As she sat down, Shukra blurted out, "Please what's your height?" Everyone gasped.

"Go and get her water to drink."

Fadilah said, glaring at Shukra while Bushra smirked. 

Hussy laughed, eyes closed, mouth open wide, "It's nothing dear. I love telling people about my height."
Meena hated it. She hated the looks people gave her because of how tall she was. Although she didn't reach the ceiling, but her wide shoulders made her appear intimidating, especially to men. How many had rejected her because of height? She had lost count. Except Nur, he never minded that she was a bit taller than him. In fact, he liked it, more than she did. 

She didn't realize that her mother was talking to her till she felt a pillow hit her face. She blinked. 

"Madam, welcome back." Fadilah glared her. 

Hussy smiled, "Leave her alone. She's a lady, let her dream."

Meena smiled shyly and stood up." I should get back to work." As she strolled towards her bedroom, she could feel Hussy's eyes on her back. Perhaps she was wondering how a large body could be tucked into a small waist. 

Later that night, as Meena prepared for bed, a knock sounded on the door.

"Yes, come in." She said as she turned to tuck the ends of the bedsheets into the bed holder. 

She turned and saw her mother, "Ah, ummi. I thought it was one of the twins."

Fadilah smiled," ready for bed?" Meena nodded. 

Fadilah sat at the edge of the bed, the same way she had taught them whenever she made the bed.
"How are you?" 

Meena's brows furrowed, but she smiled. "I'm fine. I was home throughout."

" I know, I was around." Fadilah winked at her and they shared a quiet laugh. After a few seconds of silence, she continued, "How did you see my friend?" 

"She seems nice."

"She is."

"Omo she's slim o, and tall too. Is she a model?"

Fadilah chuckled and shook her head. "No, she runs her own pharmacy store."

"Oh. Wow."

"But that's not why I'm here."

"Okay?"

"She actually likes you."

Meena smiled," I like her too."

"She liked you enough to collect your picture for her brother-in-law. 

Meena's eyes widened. "For what?"

Fadilah narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean by for what? Marriage na."

"Ah ummi!" Meena gaped at her mother. Was she for real? 

"Calm down," She tapped Meena's hand. "It hasn't gotten to that yet. At least till you two meet."

Meena pouted and folded her arms." I don't think so o." She shook her head. 

“Why? What is there?”

“I haven't even finished recovering from losing Nur o.”

“Ehe, you can still recover while considering other prospects na.” Fadilah frowned. 

"Ah no, it will be too much. I'll be distracted.”

"By what?"

“I can't be trying to heal while being forced to open up to someone else.”

Fadilah gaped at her, hurt flashing in her eyes. "Me, force you?" She taped her chest. "Amina Morenike Lawal, have I ever forced you into anything before? Was it not you that was crying that you didn't want to be single again. Now there's someone interested and you're saying I'm forcing you. Eh?" 

“Ummi, I didn't mean it like that." Meena reached for her mother's hand, but Fadilah moved away from the bed.

"It’s okay. You have said your mind." She turned to leave, but Meena quickly blocked the door and went on her knees. 
The
"Maami, ema binu." She only called her Maami whenever she committed a serious offense. Although this one wasn't intentional. 

Fadilah folded both hands on her bosom, "Do you think I'm happy about your state? Do you think you're the only one suffering here? Every time your aunties call, it's to ask, 'when is Morenike' s day o? We haven’t heard anything.' and I try to wave them off, saying when time comes, they will know."

Meena bowed her head and listened. 

"Have you forgotten what we told you about us that day? The moment we heard of my husband-to-be’s death, my world crumbled in an instant. I was hospitalized for over a week, refusing to eat or drink because I was sure there was no one that could ever replace him."

Meena looked up at her mother whose eyes were trained on the door, the door of her memories. 

She sighed, "When your father offered to take his place, I screamed and cursed, almost bringing the roof down, and ruining the relationship we had just built with my husband-to-be's family. 

"But my father sat me down and put some sense into me. He begged me to accept my fate for what it is, to trust God's plans that all these were built for a bigger purpose. He also threatened that if I dare refuse, he won't represent me ever again." She looked down at Meena. "And that's not even the worst part. Can you imagine staying with a man whom you barely knew while trying to forget the one you planned your the rest of your life with?”

Meena shook her head, eyes glistening.

"Tell me, when Nur came here, did I reject him? Despite my reluctance, didn't I support you?" Her eyes glistened. Meena nodded. "So why are you–" 

"Maami, please I'm really sorry. What I said was wrong. I didn't mean to offend you. I'll do whatever you want, I promise." Meena held her mother's hands. 

"Stand up." 

Meena obeyed. 

"Know this, I would never mislead you. Or force you to do anything. 
Meena nodded frantically, "Yes I know. And I agree."

" Calm down. If you meet him and he doesn't do it for you, you can say no. I won't hold you."

"Yes ma."

"Although, based on Hussy's praise, I doubt if you won't like him.” She smiled, prompting Meena to smile too. "His name is Badr, he's an architect based here in Lagos. And he just got back University of Madina, where he studied Islamic studies. 

Meena's eyes widened. She had always fancied a man that studied where her father studied. “Masha Allah."

"So you can be sure that he'd be a perfect Muslim."

Meena almost wanted to argue the notion. Instead, she nodded and smiled. "I will see him then."

Fadilah smiled and patted her checks. “God bless you for me." 

"Amin." 

"I will talk to your father." She moved to leave again. 

"Shouldn't that be after the meeting?" Meena asked. 

"Yes, but we can still talk so he can start his investigation. Although I trust Hussy. And I have a good feeling about this." She tapped her chest for emphasis and smiled widely. "Sleep well, ore mi."

" You too." As the door closed, Meena let out a loud sigh. What had she gotten herself into? 

Meanwhile, Fadilah celebrated her success in the living room. She raised her hands to the sky: “God I thank you for answering my call, for listening to the pleas of a grieving mother, for I am not ready to lose my daughter just like I had lost my elder sister. Had my family heard of Nur, they'd never accept  him." She sighed loudly

"It's for the best. I'm sure this new guy is the one for her. He's perfect."

Perfect indeed. 

...
Wow, Meena. That was fast!

Do you think things will work out between them?

Also, Fadilah sounds sneaky, no?

Do vote, comment, and share.