March, 2012
It was early march and rainy season had already begun in Nigeria. The streets of Kaduna were often flooded with water especially rural areas such as Gana Village which was among the villages in the Northern Nigerian which was still under developed.
The people of Gana Village lived in linear settlement and mostly all of them lived in Huts, this was how poor they were, the ones who lived in Mansions and Duplexes were people whom their children has been to township and had succeeded and come back to rebuild houses for their parents but aside from that, the village was very poor. No electricity and bore holes. Water were to be fetched from the Zulika River which was their only source of water.
In one of the settlements lived a family of three. A couple, Fatima and Mohammed Hassan with their daughter, Aminat Hassan.
Aminat was a 15 years old promising Hausa girl. She was dark skinned with long Afro-Hair which She often covered with hijab. She was tall and very beautiful as such suitors came to ask for Her hand in marriage. Aminat never wanted marriage, She wanted to go to school. Seeing other children of the people living in duplexes as they go to school everyday Aminat always wished that She too could go to School. But it was forbidden in Her village for girls to school. Only the boys got an education. The girls were married off as soon as they were of marriageable age which for them begun at 12 years so for Aminat, She was awaiting the same fate too. To be married off.
That afternoon, Aminat had gone to the stream to fetch water when She met a girl who resides in the same street as Her and had come to fetch water in the river as well.
"Mariam, Were do You go to study" Aminat said to one of the girls from rich homes.
"Greater heights International School" Mariam answered
"You are so lucky, I wish I was like You" Aminat replied while sighing
"My brothers are educated, so they encouraged My parents to send Me to school first before they marry Me off" Mariam explained
"Wooooow" Aminat Said cheering up
"Why don't You talk to Your parents, who knows, they may agree for You to go to school"
Mariam encouraged Aminat
"I don't think so, I have tried talking to them but they just won't listen. They always talk about My marriage instead. Sometimes I wonder why they haven't married Me off yet" Aminat explained
"See, Maybe God is still talking to them on Your behalf" Mariam teased Aminat
"Hahaha....I hope so, I want to be like You" Aminat Said as She carried Her Pot of Water on top of Her head and they both walked down the bush paths of the stream.
When Aminat was done with fetching water, She came to meet Her parents who were sitting in front of the hurt. Her mother, Fatima, was seating on a mat and making weaved basket for selling while Her father was chewing a stick of chewing stick and resting on a rockey chair beside His wife, Fatima.
"Papa, Mama, I want to discuss something with You" Aminat said while holding the piece of cloth She used in carrying the water.
"What is it" Her Father asked sitting up Then He continued
"I hope You have finished fetching water"
"Yes papa" Aminat answered politely
"Ok then what is it You want to say" Her father asked curiously
"Papa, Mama" Aminat said looking nervous
"I....I...I.....want..." She stammered
"I never knew I have a stammerer for a daughter" Her father Asked looking pissed off and then He continued
"If their is anything You want to say, You had better say it now"
"Papa....I want to go to school please" Aminat begged
"What!!!!! Aminat, You want to go to school...Really" Her mother exclaimed with anger
"with which money" Her father asked
"Look how poor We are, no money to even buy more wood for Me to continue My weaved basket business and here You are talking about school" Her mother Scolded Her
"But Mama, My mates are all going to school and am here sitting at home all the time" Aminat Shouted
At the sound of Her shout Her Father rose and gave Her a hard slap saying
"You useless child, look at You, Your mate are already married and here You are being a liability to Us instead of helping Us by getting married to the suitors that had come to ask for Your hand in marriage"
"Get out of My sight, Idiot" Fatima scolded Her daughter.
Aminat ran into the hut with tears and cried and cried till there was no tears left in her eyes any longer.
In the evening, Fatima and Mohammed summoned their daughter to what was to be called parlour inside their hut and calmly explained things to Aminat.
"My Child, We are sorry for the way We yelled at You. Its just that We are frustrated with the situation of things. We are hoping You can get married and better Our lives that is what I and Your father are holding on to"
Her Mother said
"But Mama...." She said
"No buts" Her father interrupted Her and continued
"We are Your parents, We Want the best for You My Child, so just obey Us"
"Ok Papa" Aminat Agreed.
Her Mother came closer to Her and Aminat laid Her head on Her Mother's shoulder.
******
It was the afternoon of the next day. Everyone capable of going to school had gone to School. Aminat decided to hang out with a friend down the street as a way of making Herself feel better instead of sitting at home and sulking all day.
"Hakeem, how come You didn't go to school today?" Aminat ask Her friend.
Hakeem Akbar was a Dark skinned 18years old Northern Nigerian boy. He was very humble and respectful to everyone. A very trusted friend of Aminat who always comforted Her. Beyond Friendship, Hakeem is madly in love with Aminat but Aminat was interested in going to school and had little interest in marriage.
"Am taking My board exams, its called WASSCE" He explained as they walked down the street.
"What's WASSCE?" Aminat asked Hakeem.
"WASSCE means West African senior secondary certificate Examination. That is the examination We take at the end of secondary school. With this exam, one can gain admission into the University to study" Hakeem explained
"Oh!! really You are so lucky Hakeem I wish I was like You, at least, You get to go to school even though You are poor whereas I don't have any hope at all. I just have to sit and wait for marriage" Aminat Said looking sad.
"Aminat" Hakeem called Her and held Her hands
"I promise You, I will study law in the university and become rich. Then I would come and marry You and train You in school"
"Hmmm....You just want to marry Me for the purpose of training Me and what makes You think You can even marry Me. Can I wait that long? Anytime from now My parents will marry Me off, so please stop giving Me false hopes" Aminat said looking pissed off and walking out on Hakeem
"Aminat!! Aminat!!!" Hakeem called out to Her
"Hakeem just go home I don't want to get annoyed?" Aminat said while still walking
"Aminat wait just hear Me out first" Hakeem pleaded with Aminat as He ran after Her
"What is it" Aminat stopped and turned to Hakeem then She continued
" Why are You even running after Me? What do You want from Me? I have no hope at all!!! I can't even get an education like every other person just because I am a Girl" Aminat said crying
"Aminat, it breaks My heart to see You cry, Aminat, I Love You. Ever since We met I have always loved You" Hakeem said confessing His feelings to Aminat
"How can You say that to Me. Why will a promising young Man like You be in love with an illiterate like Me, pls just let Me be" Aminat said trying to walk away
"Aminat, I won't give up on You. I will train You in school and this is a promise I am making to You, My love for You is My witness to this promise I make to You today that I will train You and I will make You My bride One day" Hakeem said with assurance to Aminat holding Her from leaving His presence
"Hakeem..uhh..." Aminat stammered in astonishment to Hakeem's promise.
"Aminat!! Aminat!!" A female voice came from a distance. It was Salimat, A 13years old fair skinned girl who was Aminat's neighbour.
"Salimat, What are You doing here and why are You so tensed like this" Aminat said turning to Salimat
"Its Your mother" Salimat said breathing faster
"My mother did what?" Aminat asked anxiously.
"Your Mother.....Your..." Salimat said struggling with Her breath in tension
"Calm down Salimat, just calm down and take a deep breath"
Hakeem calmed Salimat who after a while became calm.
"Aminat Your mother has committed suicide" Salimat cried bitterly
"What???" Aminat shouted loosing consciousness and fell to the ground.
"Aminat!! Aminat!!!" Hakeem and Salimat called out to Her trying to revive Her.
"Quick Go and ask the compound opposite to give You water hurry!!" Hakeem instructed Salimat who ran off to go and get water from the next compound. The water was poured on Aminat and She regained consciousness.
"What did You say happened to My Mother?" She cried as She asked Salimat.
Aminat, Salimat and Hakeem hurriedly went to Aminat's house and found lots of people there including Aminat's father. Everyone was crying. Aminat entered into their hurt and saw Her Mother lying on the ground with a rope beside Her. Aminat thought to Herself that this was the rope Her Mother used in Committing suicide.
She cried bitterly saying
"Mamaaaaaaaaa...Mama why did You do this to Me...Mama pls wake up I cannot live without You...Mama...Mama....Mama....Pls don't leave Me Mama....Pls come back to Me Mama....Mama..." She cried and cried.
Hakeem and Salimat joined with Her father come to console Her but could not find the words to console Her. Aminat rolled on the floor of their hut crying and crying. Her tears moved the neighbours and Her friend that they all wept hardly. For no tears or words could console the child whose Mother had just died. Aminat was determined to know the reason for Her mother's death and how to resolve it.
*****
In the Nigerian Islamic culture, the diseased is buried the same day She dies and for that, Aminat's Mother was Buried the same day. An 8days fidau prayer for Her soul was was scheduled to hold but because Aminat's Mother's death was not natural but suicidal, No burial party or celebration was to be held for Her.
That evening after the quite burial of Aminat's mother, In front of there compound, Aminat and Her father was still receiving condolences from relatives, friends, neighbours e.t.c.
At night when all the visitors had departed, Aminat sat Her father down to question Him.
"Papa How did it happen?" She said with tears rolling down Her cheeks
"I don't know, I came back from Mr Ibrahim's farm were I Work and met people outside just like You did. Mama Grace had explained to Me that She came to collect salt from Your Mother only to realise that Your Mother had hung Herself with the rope You saw beside Her when You returned. Then Mama Grace started shouting for help. Mama grace came too late when She had already died if not She may have saved Your mother" Aminat's father explained crying
Aminat consoled Her father by patting Him on the back and saying
"Its ok papa, Life goes on. We can't bring Her back can We?"
"We found a note She dropped on the floor were She committed suicide" Mohammed said as He handed a piece of note to Aminat.
The note read "Pls forgive Me My child, I am tired of Suffering from poverty"
On reading the letter Aminat helplessly cried the more.