That morning, the second day of Ramadan, the Muslim neighbors gathered, in Alhaji's house, awoken in the early hours of the morning before dawn, to eat suhoor.
"I suspect that Ahmed eats during this fast," Mr Haruna said. "First, it's obvious the man does not know of a life without food. Second, I'll place a bet, after Ramadan he still would not reduce in size. He—"
"Thinks he can break the rules," another man completed and a roar of laughter followed.
"I know you all think I'm crazy, but our world is governed by rules and it is only foolish people like Mr Edegbe that does not understand these rules. Imagine what he told Tanko because cows grazed on his land. Didn't he say he wanted to make the cost of living more affordable ? Does he not know that when cows are fed Nigeria's problem will be half solved?"
"Wallahi, sometimes I wonder if you know how senseless you are," Mrs Yasmin reprimanded. "Here in Kaduna we're battling against kidnapping, female gender discrimination in the sense of marrying off underaged girls who give birth and destroy their vaginas, female genital mutilation which in most cases lead to death and you talk about cow?"
"It was an attempt at humor," he laughed.
"It's a stupid attempt at humor."
Soliat shifted to whisper to Alhaji. "Does he not him get offended with all the insults?"
"He wants to get in her bed," he whispered back. "They all want to, I doubt he even hears the insult."
"The both of you are always whispering," Dikko pointed out. "I would have said you're seeing each other but with the way Mrs Yasmin comes in and out of here, I can't be so sure. See, the both of them are even staying here during Ramadan."
Alhaji smiled to the pointy look.
"Bello called me yesterday. You know Amina, Mr Bilal's daughter? She committed suicide."
Mrs Yasmin stopped eating.
"You mean the little girl Mr Edegbe defended?" Soliat asked.
"The one and only. She took an overdose of sleeping pills before she went to bed. It was night, everybody had gone to bed, they didn't suspect that she would do something of such."
They were all quiet for a while, letting the information sink. Mrs Yasmin broke the silence. "Why am I overjoyed that the couple does not have any other children? And why, I'm going to pray during Salah that even if the woman cries tears of blood, Allah should not give her any children."
"You don't sympathize with the girl?"
"I have a lot on my mind and sympathizing with a young girl who thinks her liberty to decide will be curtailed forever and hence sought what she thinks was the fastest route, is not one of them."
"You know, there's a way you convince people even without trying, Yasmin," Alhaji said.
"And you also call her by her name," the other man made the observation that had been subtle time enough to be palpable.
"I wonder how Mr Edegbe would react to his, maybe march to her and confront them."
"Edegbe may be outspoken, but he's not stupid," Mrs Yasmin said.
"Since when have you been on a first name basis with him?" Mr Haruna asked, looking surprised.
"Since I decided, asked him and got his permission and no, I am not breaking any rule." Then she stood up. "We're done here, if you're not going to spend the whole day here, then you can start leaving. The servants needs to clean up."
Alhaji stood up and gave Soliat a hand. She giggled, her childlike giggling and allowed him raise her up. The other men looked at each other but said nothing, silence was better then infuriating the woman, and silence was definitely better than trying to understand the other duo.
…
One week into Ramadan was when Soliat's father, Baba, visited unannounced, it was the day Yasmin referred to Alhaji as 'my brother', and the day that he, Alhaji, asked her about Edegbe.
"Does that concern you in any way?" It was more of a closure than a question.
"It does," he replied. "I don't have the right to know but I want to. It was different with your husband, I did not have the chance to choose, you sprang the news of your marriage on me so—"
"You should have the chance to choose who I marry?"
"Yes, I should."
"You did not complain about not having a chance with the men I slept with, you did not complain when I sold myself to them, but now you want to have a chance? That's so unlike you, Abubakar."
"I know," he agreed. "I'm not asking for too much Yasmin, I just want to know if it's leading to something. I've noticed the way you look at him."
"You've noticed the way I look at him," she repeated with a sardonic sneer. "And then what? Let's imagine you know whether or no it's leading to something, then what?"
"Then I'll feel like a part of your life, I'll know something about you that only the both of us knows, is that too much to ask for?"
"Yes." Then she walked away.
Soliat came from where she was hiding and placed a comforting hand on him.
"She's difficult, difficult to please, difficult to convince."
"You're trying, Brother Abubakar , and I know you feel like it but you're not a bad person, she's not too."
"I know but knowing doesn't make it less difficult. She's my only family, I feel bad for what she went through for us and—"
"Shh." She placed a finger on his lips. "I know, she knows and she'll come around."
He took her hand from his mouth and interlocked it with his, caressing gently the back of her hand. Then he looked at her and their gazes held, and lingered. She tried to move away, like she often did the few times he wore his emotions, but he held her back. And because he did not want to scare her, he threw her into his embrace and circled his arm around her waist.
Soliat told herself he just needed comfort, that it was because he needed comfort but then he looked at her, in that way he looked at her like he was contented with just looking. Did he really like her? No, it was impossible, the love between them was sibling-like and because she did not know what a sibling like relationship felt like, the thudding in her heart was normal.
Later that evening when the tension between the sibling had calmed, they reclined outside, Soliat tagging along. "So aren't you going to talk to Mr Edegbe's assistant?" Alhaji said to her as he fingered the tattoo on her hand.
"Edegbe's bouncer?" Yasmin probed, their earlier bickering, forgotten.
"She has quite a history with him. Apparently, they were on the same bus and she gave him her number, but he threw it out of the window. Can you imagine that?"
No wonder Edegbe had been curious to know who she was.
Soliat nearly screamed. "You should start staying out of my personal life."
Alhaji laughed. "I'm only trying to help. Yasmin already confirmed he's handsome, you should shoot your shot now the man is available."
"Or get a boyfriend and stop hovering around my brother. He won't get married if you're still single."
Alhaji jumped to his feet, excited. "Did you hear that? She called me her brother, she said 'my brother'."
Soliat was smiling too, laughing even.
"Say it again, Yasmin, say it again."
"I don't know the problem with rich men and the girls they want to court, it's as if having money costs you your boldness in the presence of a woman."
"Are you talking about me or someone you know dear sister?"
"Since when does she talk about you?" A deep familiar voice, said, startling them to look at the entrance of the gate. Soliat immediately leapt to her feet when she saw the figure. Baba was in his agbada, neatly tailored, looking exactly like the strict father Soliat knew. He had a few strands of white hair on his balding head and his chin was rough, an indication that he hadn't shaved in a while. He was walking with a stick although Soliat doubted he needed it.
"So you prefer these people more than your flesh and blood?" He asked as he walked towards them, blinking the soft look he had when his eyes first settled on her.
"They respect my decision, you don't." It had been such a long time since she left the house, since she saw him, and she tried not to jump into his arms.
"Why don't we all go inside and talk amicably?" Alhaji proposed, taking Soliat's hand.
"There's no talking amicably with him, you know it."
Baba's eyes zeroed on their hands for a while before glancing at Yasmin. "Shouldn't you at least greet your elder?"
"You should not dig your grave before you're ready."
"You still have not tamed your tongue." Then he smiled. "How have you been, child?"
"I am not your child." Then she nodded to Soliat. "And she doesn't want to talk to you."
He ignored that. "You're still young, aren't you going to remarry?"
"And who are you going to have me married to this time around, you?"
"Yasmin," Baba warned.
"I have nothing to discuss with you, you came for your child, go to her and don't disturb me."
"Shall we?" Alhaji said, ushering the man inside.
"How come Yasmin hasn't changed a bit? And you, how have you been?"
"Fine. Let the servants get something for you."
He smiled, pride evident in his eyes. "You've made money and you can no longer come and visit and old man, and I heard they even call you Alhaji now, ehn?"
Alhaji laughed. "I have no excuse, Baba. Come, have a seat."
"I wonder how you and Yasmin can come out from the same womb, you're so different." He looked around the house before settling his gaze back on them. "So are you people just as close as you used to be or are you now dating?"
"Baba!" Soliat shrieked.
"What? Can't I know what my daughter is up to? And I was asking Abubakar, I thought you didn't want to talk to me?"
"Brother Abubakar and I are not dating," she responded.
"She has somebody she likes already," Alhaji told the old man.
"Wallahi, I'm beginning to hate you," Soliat murmured.
"She does? Good, I will be carrying my grandchildren soon, I want three, and who is he?" But the old man knew whoever the man was did not matter. Would Abubakar allow another man have his daughter? He doubted.
"You better not say anything," Soliat threatened before turning to her father. "Brother Abubakar is just joking, there's no body."
"I did not let you off by yourself so you can say there's nobody, you're no longer a child, you should marry."
"Baba, please, not now."
"But I did not come here to look at your face, I came here to see if there's progress. I am a man that now walks with a stick, how much time do you think I have left? I want to die knowing that you have somebody you can rely on in this big world that is not me."
"But I'm not even relying on you."
"That's not the point, young lady!" He stamped his stick on the ground
"I have Brother Abubakar and Sister Yams to rely on."
"And what if Abubakar decides to get married, or do you think he's going to be here forever holding your hand?"
"Yes," Alhaji responded.
"Then do the needful." Baba rose to his feet. "I will come back, and by then I hope you'll have news. Solia, don't push me to use the same measure I used on Yasmin on you."
"You'll do no such thing," Alhaji said.
"You could not do anything for your sister, if you want to do something for Solia, then you should know what to do."