Down Hearted

Three

They were both sitted in their room, the room was filled up as all of them were around and doing one thing or the other; some were laughing, some were gisting, some sleeping, many were just shouting at the top of their lungs.

"Yan mate! Malam Abu Mukhtar said we should all go and collect our exams slips," Muntasra shouted, being the known garrulous person she is.

Some hissed, groaned, while others kepts yelling "Muntas, are you sure? We don't want to go out now, we know how you can be a good liar."

As usual, Muntasra's reply wouldn't be something close to nice "To dan ubanku (an insult directed to father) kar kuzo (sit there, don't come)," she hissed and stomped back from where she came.

Had it been she just laughed and kept saying 'wallahi' 'wallahi', they wouldn't have believed her. But what she did was the assurance that she wasn't lying. They all wore their hijabs, some that weren't fully dressed wore their clothes__before they seperately walked to his office.

"You all should stay outside, I'll be calling your names___and you'll come and collect," Malam Abu Mukhtar ordered from his office. They both groggily slumped on the veranda along his office.

Ummi was quiet all the time, she was thinking about Mama would be doing by this time? Is Baba back from the office? Has Sulele left for Islamiyya? Is Ya Husna at school or hostel? Is Ya Yusuf is back from office?

Roaming her eyes around the school premises; her doe-like orbs that were glinting with tiredness fell on his brown hazel nut orbs. He was intensely staring at her he didn't even know she was looking at him too. Upon realization; his chapped purplish lips curved into a smile___she couldn't help but reciprocate with her heart beating harder than usual.

She yawed her gaze from his sight, but deep down__she felt something drawing her to him. She couldn't help but think about him, curiosity filling her soul. She knew he's her class mate, but she hasn't for once seen him, not even in the school premises.

They collected their exam slips and headed back to their hostels. She could still feel his gaze on her, she couldn't help but smile. She didn't know why, but she somehow admires him, despite the promise she made to herself.

They came back to their room and sat down, talking about how their GCE exam would be. The room became less boisterous; it was only her and Meeno left.

"Meenoo, I have something to tell you, but don't get me wrong,"she smacked Meeno's laps, chuckling at Meeno's yelp.

"What is it? I won't; I promise, unless it's something y'know?" She winked cockily at her, earning another smack on her shoulder.

"Aysha! You're bullying me. Stop it and tell me what it is, I've noticed how you've smiling like a maniac, so just spill!" Meeno exclaimed and dodged the smack that came her way.

They laughed and sobered up. Ummi looked at her with all sort of seriousness before she smiled a little, this sudden wave of heat raving through her; as she reminisced how his intense gaze set her ablaze.

"I saw someone at the field today, when we went to collect our exam slips." She let it out, not that she knows her reason behind telling Meeno about the guy, she was sure he isn't even thinking about her. It might be a coincidence.

Meeno gushed. She palmed her mouth and broke into a series of laughter. This is getting intriguing. "The love story of Aysha Mashi starts when she is few weeks away from her GCE exams, how eccentric?" Meena sang in her melodic and ecstatic voice, she knew where this was going.

"Meeno! So I can't tell you something in peace without getting annoyed? You're stupid!" Ummi smacked Meeno's shoulder and stood up, as she made her way to the door.

"Wait, we're not done talking!" Meeno exclaimed, standing up too.

"What do you want to hear?"

"What's his name?"

"How would I know?"

"Okay how does he look?"

"He's tall and... Handsome!" Ummi shouted and ran out of the room with a hearty laugh.

***

They were seated at the long spacious veranda of the mosque, Ummi had a pen in her hand and a book sprawled before her. Meeno had her eyes fixed on her book, while she looked up and tried cramming what she read.

"I'm hungry and tired! Meeno this is bullying, we can finish this by tomorrow morning please," Ummi whined and closed her book.

"I'm tired too. Let's make a deal then, we won't go back to sleep after Subh. Agreed?" She asked, piling their books together.

"Yeah sure." Before Meeno could answer her, Rabi Karaye came to them with raspy breaths, emanating she ran some miles before reaching them.

"Aysha Mashi, I've been looking for you all over the school!" She exclaimed and stood before Ummi, whom had her eyes fixed on her face with a questioning look.

"I hope I'm safe?" Ummi asked and stood up.

"Yes. Meeno, please I'll take her for some minutes. Hope you wouldn't mind?" Karaye directed her question towards Meeno that was staring at them with an amused look. She hoped it was what she was thinking.

"No, I wouldn't. Aisha, I'll be in Khadija Nura's room, but if you don't see them there; I'll be in our room." Meeno acknowledged and stood up with their books in her hand.

Before Ummi could reply her, Karaye dragged her hand and guided them to Ss3 classes, it was empty as they'd all graduated three weeks ago.

"What is it, Karaye?" Ummi asked, sitting on one of the abandoned chairs.

"Okay so it's nothing serious. Just that someone wants to talk to you. I know how you can get Aysha, so please be nice; Sholynah huh." Karaye persuaded giving her a sweet smile before handing her the phone she'd been holding. Right then and there she knew something was up. She only called her 'Sholynah' when she wanted something from her, and she knew she meant business now.

"Okay so who is it? I can't remember having any friend or some sort from the male section." She crossed her hands on her chest and her expression was unfathomable. She just knew it was someone from the male section. It had to be! Even though she didn't didn't want to believe what her heart was whispering, she couldn't help but hope it was what she was thinking!

Karaye opened her mouth to talk but her phone ringing halted her. She picked the call, spoke with her boyfriend before it was given to whom was looking for Aysha Abbakar Mashi; Ummi.

Ummi collected the phone with halting hands, she looked at Karaye that made a pleading gesture with her hand before a soft smile graced her lips and she uttered "Hello," With a soft serene voice.

"Hello, Aysha. I'm Al-amin Isma'il Bugaje." Her heartbeat accelerated and was pounding so hard upon hearing his voice.

"And how may I help you?" she asked, despite her pounding heart.

"I'm the guy you saw at Malam Abu Mukhtar's. I hope you wouldn't mind us being friends." Her mouth made an 'O'gesture. She immediately suppressed a swoon and composed herself.

"Oh, yeah. It would be my pleasure."

"Thank you so much. If only I can know your full name please."

"The name is Aysha Abbakar Mashi. I think I'll have to call it a day, being a bit knackered today." She was doing all it takes to end this conversation, it was making her feel uneasy_and she shivered at his voice.

"Thank you for that. Good night then, and thanks for your time." She ended the call without replying him and handed Karaye her phone back.

"Raye, I'm sleepy, we'll talk about this tomorrow!" She yelled and walked out of the classroom.

She went to Khadija Nura's room and they told her Meeno had left for their room minutes ago. With a blushing face, she entered their room and met Meeno already on her bed.

"Meeno?" She called, but only got a sleepy groan as a response. "It's okay then, I'll gist you tomorrow. Goodnight." Meeno mummered another incoherent word. Ummi said her sleeping supplication and drifted off into a slumber_but somehow, a certain husky voice she was stuck in her head and that was all she could hear even while unconscious.

Let's start the trip