The Queens Vengance

Chapter 7

The next day I saw my soldier crush and for the first time, we had a conversation. He was walking towards the gate when he saw me sitting alone under the mango tree and approached me. I was so lost in thought that I didn't hear him approach me." Hello" he said with a smile and I blushed. " how are you? I haven't seen you around for a while" he asked my heart warmed at the possibility that he was looking for me. " well I have been here haven't gone anywhere" I say and he nods his head. Giving me a glance over. At that moment I felt conscious of what I was wearing. A blue shirt and a  skirt I had gotten from the clothes donated to us. The shirt was a bit tight and the button was missing my cleavage was exposed and he stared at my chest longer than he should have. He asked me for my name I told him and he finally told me his name in return Danlami. There was a brief moment of silence between us and I could swear that my heart was threatening to explode at that point he left before I could embarrass myself and I was grateful for that.

 I looked around the sun had not fully come out meaning it was still morning, from a distance I saw Mariam surrounded by some children she was bending and talking to one of them. I walked towards them curious as to what stories Mariam was telling those poor children. I passed the mango tree where some men with balding hair and grey heads had gathered playing ludo and staring at women as they passed by. It was these sort of men that infuriated me,  head held high I greeted them and walked pass none of them seemed to pay any attention to me but of course there's always a bad egg in the basket. Papa Nnamdi my father's friend was the one to speak" Zainab" he called me I reluctantly turned to answer him" yes?" I answered impatiently he was wasting my time. I knew he had anything but good intentions. I remember how he would drink to stupor with papa and chase girls around the village I was usually embarrassed by their actions when they were drunk especially, papa. He looked me over his gaze seemed to linger on my half-exposed cleavage and he licked his lips with a sly smile I felt disgusted this is the man papa called a friend." ahan Zainab you have grown up quite well" he continued licking his lips which only disgusted me some more," ehn can you come over to my tent later I want to tell you something eh" he added his voice in a hushed tone while adjusting his pants a bit if he was trying to be sexy he was going about it the wrong way because I was irritated by it." excuse me Papa Nnamdi" I say snapping my fingers that seemed to get all the other men's attention." my eyes are up here and please if you don't respect yourself at least respect my father and your daughter Ejima my age mate may her soul rest in peace, " I answered pointing a finger at him with a rage I never knew I had " Tufiakwa! (abomination) he exclaimed " chai the gods of our lands, our ancestors are rolling in their graves see this small girl talking to me like this"he said  making dramatic expressions threatening to discipline me .

I walked away and could hear them talking" that girl has no manners"," stupid girl" " she is as stubborn as goat I heard her stories in the village," another said. I knew I had infuriated them in my culture you never point a finger at an elder it was viewed as disrespect.

I looked up Mariam had disappeared I decided to go back to my tent. Instead of following the shorter route, I chose the longer path which meant I had to pass by the mango tree I checked to see if Papa Nnamdi and his friends were there. They were, I felt adrenaline surge and I sashayed past, when I got closer to them they stopped whatever it was they were talking about and there was silence I smiled at that making sure to smile at Papa Nnamdi as I walked past, he glared back at me and I laughed like a madwoman.

Walking back to the tent I saw Fatima from a distance, one of the girls from my village her light skin still as radiant as ever I was both surprised and pleased to see her here a familiar face even though we are not exactly best of friends we were not even friends, to begin with. Someone was talking to her and she seemed apprehensive it was the same women who had spoken to me earlier. Only God knows what nonsense they were filling her head with. Whatever it was she seemed to be buying what they were saying she shook her head when nodding with so much force it was clear she was trying to let them know she was really listening to them I shook my head and decided to take a nap.

The sun was so bright but strangely I could still stare at it. Mama was seated on a small stool while stirring the soup in the pot she was making ontop firewood. My brothers Yusuf and Usman were pounding the yam we ll boiled yam and potatoes. I turned the water I  had fetched into the clay pot filling it up to the brim I was exhausted and decided to rest a bit before going inside and so I just sat on the floor. Mama spotted me and began to shout about how I was sitting on the floor unladylike being her dramatic self as always I rolled my eyes at her, of course, I made sure her back was to me before rolling my eyes. I watched as Usman and Yusuf laughed at the profanities mama was throwing my way. They just finished pounding the yam and potatoes and Yusuf walked up to me ruffling my hair I tried to squat his hand but his reflexes were quick. I pouted " how many times do I have to tell you to stop touching my hair, "I asked Yusuf annoyed and tying my scarf I had bundled into a roll to ease the pain of the bucket on my head. " when you start acting like a lady" he responded quickly running inside I had no strength to chase him. Usman simply rolled his eyes at me. Usman was dark-skinned like Baba but he had broad shoulders and a height fit for a man at least that's what baba would usually say Usman was undeniably handsome. Yusuf on the other hand was light-skinned like mama he hard dark eyes like God had taken his time to line his eyes with kajal he had well-shaped brows natural and untouched he was beautiful.  Mama was smiling at me when I asked her where Baba was before my junior sister Mariam began to tug me pulling me close as though to say something but never speaking, she was starting to annoy me.

I woke with a start to find Zara tugging me " what is it Nah?" I ask sleepily rubbing my eyes she giggled before answering " you sleep like a log" she said while standing up b to retie her wrapper properly. Minutes later and she managed to drag me to the hall with her. But my mind went back to the short dream I had, that was the first time I dreamt of mama and my family. My eyes were heavy but the tears did not fall not yet.