BEYOND AMBITION

CHAPTER TWO

Nigeria—Returning to Abuja, the City of Wealth

As I arrived in Abuja, the city where money speaks, I ventured toward the outskirts, where those with lesser means struggle to make a living. These were the people who could barely afford rent in the suburbs before reaching the heart of the city.

By the roadside, I spotted a young girl selling apples and boiled eggs. She moved from car to car, holding up her tray through the windows, calling out, “Apple and egg,” trying to entice motorists to buy.

I watched her closely. She looked around 17 years old, her face glistening with sweat from the scorching sun. She wore a simple, faded red dress that barely reached her knees. The fabric was old, worn thin from frequent washing, but still neat. A black scarf was tied around her head, securing her modest attire. Despite her circumstances, her cleanliness was evident, a sign that her household valued hygiene.

I couldn't take my eyes off her—she was strikingly beautiful, her features so well-formed that it was impossible to ignore. It was clear she had mixed ancestry, possibly part Arab. One could already tell that in a few years, she would grow into a breathtaking young woman. Every car that passed seemed to slow down just to look at her; some drivers even stopped, openly expressing their admiration.

I observed her smooth, flawless legs and nodded to myself in acknowledgment. As my gaze traveled upward, I noticed her full hips and well-defined curves—surprisingly developed for someone so young. I thought to myself, This girl is still young, but in a few years, people won’t be able to take their eyes off her.

Moving further up, I noticed the beginning of her budding chest—still developing, but promising. Her slender neck had five small black beauty marks, known as "Allah’s signature," which only enhanced her charm. Her skin was smooth, almost glowing, with her delicate collarbones subtly visible.

When my eyes finally settled on her face, I was mesmerized. Her lips were a soft light pink, full and well-shaped, revealing small, pearly white teeth whenever she spoke. Her nose was perfectly structured—slightly long with a delicate upward tilt. A small beauty mark on the side of her nose further accentuated her elegance. Her almond-shaped eyes were a mesmerizing shade of bright white, as clear as milk, framed by naturally long lashes.

Her hair was thick and jet black, cascading down to her forehead in soft waves, with a few loose strands falling across her brow. She had a petite forehead and had tied the rest of her hair into a long braid that stretched past the middle of her back.

My gaze did not stop there, readers. As I continued observing her, my eyes landed on her delicate, well-shaped ears. Her skin was naturally fair, though the harsh sun and struggles of life had slightly darkened her complexion.

She was solely focused on her business, selling her goods on the street, paying no attention to anyone. Some people bought from her simply because of her beauty, while others did so with the intention of drawing her into conversation, hoping to take advantage of her. However, she never entertained them. She would simply go about her business, selling her goods and moving on.

I saw a little girl who couldn't be more than 9 years old. She resembled the one selling apples and eggs, but her complexion was a light chocolate tone rather than fair.

She held the hand of the apple seller and called out, "Anty Iklas, come home! Ummi said your selling is enough for today. We're hungry, please cook for us."

Iklas held the little girl's hand with a smile. "Okay, Suhaila, I was just about to head home. How was school?"

"Normal, Anty," Suhaila replied. "They said I haven't paid for the books we're supposed to buy. School will close on Friday."

"Sorry, baby, I have the money; I'll give it to you tomorrow. Never mind." She picked up her basket, as the eggs were already sold out, leaving only two bags of apples. She and her younger sister headed home, and I followed them. They didn't walk far from the main road before entering a house, possibly the third most dilapidated in the neighborhood, situated among the poorest homes in the area.

The house was built with cement blocks but appeared almost like a ruin due to its dilapidated state. It consisted of two rooms and a toilet, with half of the toilet's wall made of corrugated iron sheets. The kitchen was also constructed from corrugated iron sheets. The entire house had a cement floor, while their room was covered with a relatively new linoleum mat.

Surprisingly, I noticed a real bed of foreign design adorned with a large mattress, and another spare mattress leaned against the wall. In one corner, there were some genuine, expensive kitchen and dining utensils packed in two large cartons. In another corner stood a wardrobe matching the bed's design, suggesting it was challenging to fit it into the room. Half of the wardrobe contained their clothing, while the other half stored their food items and other belongings—all within a single room.

The other room had a linoleum mat and a beautiful, seemingly expensive center carpet. I was astonished to see luxurious sofas: a three-seater, a two-seater, and a single-seater. If not for the poor condition of the building, the living room would have been quite attractive. There was also a large, modern TV, resembling a plasma screen, mounted on a glass TV stand.

The house was spotless, with the pleasant aroma of incense wafting through the air. I noticed an elderly woman sitting in the center of a mat, peeling yams. Observing her closely, it was clear she could be called their grandmother, but not the "Ummi" I had heard them mention. The children approached her, exclaiming, "Oh, Ummi, the iron-willed elder, we're tired," each collapsing into the room. The elderly woman responded, "Oh, get up! You'll be the death of me. You all smell of the sun. iklas, get up and prepare a meal, take a bath, and rest. I've already made it easier for you by peeling the yams and grinding the pepper." "Thank you, Ummi," she replied. "Let me perform my prayers first."

After performing her prayers, she entered the kitchen and prepared yam porridge for them, which they ate together. She then bathed and dressed her younger sister, Suhaila, holding her hand as they bid farewell to their grandmother. "Ummi, we're off to Islamic school. From there, we'll go to the market to buy apples and then to the poultry farm to purchase fresh eggs for tomorrow's sales." Their grandmother offered prayers for them as they departed.

WHO IS IKLAS—BIOGRAPHY

Abdurrahman Saddiq, the father of Iklas, was originally from Libya, specifically a village in the country. A severe rainfall led to a devastating flood in their region, resulting in the rescue of only about ten individuals. Among them were five men who, along with their camels, embarked on a journey to Nigeria. They traversed the Sahara Desert, enduring numerous days and nights, until they eventually arrived in Jigawa State, Nigeria. During their time in the villages of Jigawa, two of the men passed away, leaving three survivors. The other two decided to return to Libya, but Abdurrahman chose to remain in Nigeria. He faced significant hardships and poverty while living in various villages. Over time, he began borrowing land for farming, which gradually improved his financial situation, allowing him to acquire his own farmlands. In one of the villages near Roni, he met Abu, a Fulani woman who would become the mother of Iklas. Abu had been living under the care of her father's second wife, who mistreated her, especially after Abu's parents had separated before her father's death. This led to her father taking custody of Abu and placing her under the supervision of his wife.

Abdurrahman fell in love with Abu and felt deep sympathy for her situation. He remained persistent until he was able to marry her. After their marriage, Abdurrahman’s wealth and success became well-known in the village, which led to envy and rumors from others.

Abu later gave birth to Iklas, who bore a striking resemblance to her father. Eventually, Abdurrahman decided to move his family to Abuja, where they lived with Abu’s mother, Hajiya Asma’u. Since childhood, Iklas and her siblings had always heard their parents calling her Ummi, so they also adopted the habit of calling her the same name.

After settling in Abuja, Abdurrahman built a house and continued his farming business. He also ensured that both his wife and mother performed Hajj before he traveled back to Libya to reunite with his two surviving brothers. During his visit, he introduced Abu to his family and established connections, making sure that in case of any future difficulties, they would always have a way to find their relatives.

When Suhaila was seven years old, her mother, Abu, and her father, Abdurrahman, were involved in a fatal accident on their way back from Jigawa to Abuja. Sadly, both of them passed away. Their deaths brought immense grief, and condolences poured in.

Their grandmother, Ummi, immediately contacted Abdurrahman’s relatives to inform them of the tragedy. Some of them even traveled to Nigeria to offer their support. However, since they were only distant relatives and not direct blood relatives, they did not take responsibility for Iklas and Suhaila. After providing some financial assistance, they returned to their home country.

Ummi, their paternal grandmother, took full responsibility for raising Iklas and Suhaila. She made a living by selling cooking ingredients such as ginger, seasoning cubes, palm oil, beans, and pepper. Over time, their resources dwindled—food supplies ran out, money became scarce, and they could no longer afford school fees. At that time, Iklas was in SS1, while Suhaila was in Primary 2.

With no other options left, they made the difficult decision to sell their house. Due to their vulnerability as women, they were severely taken advantage of and forced to sell the house at a very low price.

After selling their home, they moved to the outskirts of Abuja, in an area close to the city but not quite within it. There, they purchased a smaller house at an unreasonably high price, which nearly depleted their remaining funds. To make the new home livable, they brought along some essential household items from their old house that they could still use.

They paid Suhaila’s school fees in advance, covering her education from Primary 2 up to JSS3 to avoid any future financial struggles. They also stocked up on food and all the necessities they would need, ensuring everything was carefully planned within their budget. Additionally, they invested in a small business, buying supplies of eggs and apples to sell.

Ummi continued her business of selling cooking ingredients from home. They also paid for their Islamic school fees for several years in advance to secure their education. As for Iklas, she transferred to a more affordable school, where her fees were covered from JSS2 to SS3.

To support herself, Iklas sold apples and eggs. Every day, after returning from school, she would immediately go out to sell her goods. By 4 PM, she and Suhaila would head to their Islamic school. This became their routine, and they maintained this way of life for two years.

Now, everything had become difficult for them. They survived solely on the money Iklas made from her street hawking and the small business their grandmother, Ummi, ran. Their daily meals and essential needs depended entirely on this.