"What is meant for you will be yours even if it is across two continents and what isn't meant for you will never be yours even if it is between your lips"

•••••

"Nooriy, I can't believe you're still sulking over a bracelet, it just jewelry" Sa'ad spoke with a teasing tone. We had left for school after I had a small mental breakdown when I found my bracelet missing. I turned the house upside down looking for it until mama stopped me and assured me she'll find it before I get back from school. Well, I hope she does.

It isn't just jewelry, it has become a part of me now. It was a birthday gift from mama. I can remember when she put it across my wrist on my sixth birthday and told me never to take it off.

"Noor, keep it with you at all times, and you'll feel like your mama is with you always" she had said with  a smile on her face.

I keep it with me at all times since then,  removing it only when necessary.

I had blanked out staring at the window, watching the cars moving not realizing we'd reached school. One thing about school in the morning, it has this amazing vibe, with students moving in and out, chatting and laughing.

I rubbed my hands together as I stepped out of the car, feeling the very harsh harmattan breeze.

"Nooriy, I'll get you another bracelet okay, now stop looking sad" he spoke as I hugged my backpack closely. I forgot my sweater at home and the dress I wore wasn't helping at all.

Sa'ad moved closer, staring at my face. I unconsciously touched my face, trying to feel anything different.

"What? What's on my face?"

"The dimple's missing" he chimed.

I smiled widely.

He placed his sweater on my shoulders. "I..I don't need this, it's not even windy today" I explained.

"Lies"

"Come, you're already late for geography, Mr Hamisu wouldn't want that" he said with a grin. Mr Hamisu, or mallam Hamisu, is a thin and dark skinned old man. He talks very slowly and walks with the aid of a long stick. He is one of the oldest teachers here.

"Wait, I think I have mathematics first" I stated biting my nails.

"No...you have double periods of geography first and then mathematics"

I rummaged through my purple bag and brought out the timetable for art class. He was right

How does he remember such little things about me.

•••••

The bell rang for break and I handed my test paper to the maths teacher before I stormed out of the class. Phew, the test wasn't so hard but everyone, including Mrs Faith, the lanky maths teacher, kept giving me weird looks when I asked for an extra sheet.

I found Affiyah eating alone in the cafeteria. "Hi Noor, your dress looks lovely" she said looking up from her plate.

"You look lovely too" She wore a blue voile lace and a matching blue veil drapes around her head. It was the first time I'm seeing her in a traditional wear. She has lived abroad for almost half her life, so adapting here is something really hard, and I can see she's trying her level best.

"Nagode sosai" she replied with a bow. I giggled and sat next to her. Couple of people passed by and said hi to her, totally ignoring me.

Sometimes, people would make fun of her Hausa, and so many are jealous of her natural British accent. She's well known in this school. What I meant by well known is she's the queen bee. She joined in our second year. Teachers compliment her excellence in everything. Science, sports, art.

I can remember the first day we met . A very sunny Thursday afternoon, in the school field. I sat very uncomfortably on a bench and watched the boys vs girls badminton match. She had walked in graciously , with no sign of fear or nervousness like everyone on their first day. She sat beside me and smiled.

"My name is Affiyah Aliyu. I'm new here" she spoke with a smile, her golden tooth twinkled.

"I'm Noor Abubakar" I replied back hesitantly. I looked down at my bandaged arm and found her staring at it too.

"I'm sorry to ask, but how..."

"I fell off a tall building" I said

We clicked since then. I, the shy one, while she, the talkative. I love dark and dull colors while she wore bright ones. She's in science class and I'm in arts and commercial. But we still clicked anyways.

Friendship sees no boundaries.

"Aren't you hungry?" She asked noticing I didn't buy anything from the cafeteria. I shook my head at her. I have no appetite for food.

Someone had placed a book and a red apple in front of me and I looked up to meet Sa'ad's friend, Abdullahi. He stared at me without shame. "Sa'ad said I...I should give you this" he stuttered.

I looked around until I found Sa'ad, sitting with his friends, or minions as I like to call them. He was engaged in a deep conversation.

Sa'ad Alee. The school's most popular.  With looks like that of Salman Khan and football tricks like Christiano Ronaldo. Girls could die for his attention and most boys envy him. He is, no doubt the teachers favorite when it comes to assessment.

I cleared my voice at Abdullahi, before he looked away.

"Umm..can I sit over here?" He asked politely and Affiyah nodded, while I concentrated on my apple. Oh! How I love this fruit.

I passed the book to Affiyah. "This is yours"

"Oh that's right, I gave your annoying cousin yesterday" she said and picked it up examining it for any faults.

Okay, when I said Sa'ad is everyone's favorite, I forgot to add my best friend hates him. Like, they literally hate each other.

The bell rang and everyone rushed back to class. Friday was a short day, school ended by noon, before  Jumma'at salat, which is mandatory for all Muslim students to observe in the school big masjid before everyone retires home for the weekend.

The bell rang again, this time signaling the end of lessons for the day. The hectic literature class had ended finally. I copied the assignment given hastily into my notebook. I didn't like literature. Listening to the fast-talking Mr David, the literature teacher, was something I hate. I also hate writing essays, and reading Othello, the popular novel by Shakespeare, which is a must in our syllables, is something I totally dislike.

But what to do? A girl has to pass. She has to write whatever is dictated by the yellow teeth Mr David.

Jumma'at Salat was over. I stayed back in the masjid until everyone dispersed. I fixed my hijab and wore my shoes. I hung my backpack over my left shoulder and immediately switched to my right shoulder because of the stinging sensation I felt. It's been a year but I still feel pain when I lift something heavy

I reached the gate which was really far from the masjid. The driver Malam Adamu, a middle aged young man who worked for us for as long as I could remember, was sitting on a bench, probably waiting for me. The car was parked under a sun shade while Sa'ad leaned on it, making a phone call

Phone's were prohibited but my cousin is stubborn.

Very stubborn. Breaking rules was his second name.

The car ride wasn't exactly silent. I listened quietly to two men talk about their favorite game-football

"No way man, Manchester United is sure gonna beat Chelsea as always. Have you forgotten the last defeat" Sa'ad marveled.

I zoned out completely, watching the street boys running from one window to another, begging people to buy their commodities.

My ran my fingertips around my wrist. It felt foreign without my bracelet. My right hand didn't seem like mine anymore.

The car came to a halt. I grabbed my shoes and backpack and entered the house through the back door.

"Noor! You're back?" Khadija asked while sautéing some onions in a pan.

No, it's some creepy ghost, standing in front of you, coincidentally wearing the same clothes as Noor and looks exactly like her.

I really felt like scolding her, but remembered she had no fault in my bad mood. "Learn to control your anger" a cold voice ran through my head.

I walked upstairs to mama's room, dropping my bag and shoes along the corridor leading to the staircase.

Mama sat on her bed, entirely engrossed, scribbling on a book with her long hair damp, falling down her shoulders reaching her waist. One thing I didn't inherit from mama was her very long and straight hair. I had short afro curls like Mamie, baba's mother.

Without looking up, she spoke. "Noor, how was school today?"

I guess that's how mother's are. They can sense their children's presence within ten miles.

Mama quickly pushed the book under her pillows and looked up. I sat at the edge of the bed and looked at her, my eyes saying everything.

"I'm sorry Noor, I looked everywhere but couldn't find it. I'll get you a new one okay" she said sadly.

I just nodded and left for my room.

Somethings are just irreplaceable because the original is so different and unique

•••

Hello 👋

I'm sorry for the slow updates. I've been really busy lately.

Okay, so please tap that little star by your left, yeah that's it.

Thanks😉

This chapter is for my beautiful friend, my namesake, Nana Asma'u husnaab

Please do check out this awesome book by my twin sister, 'their worst dreams' by khameeelarh

Lots of love, Husnah_Hussain🌼