SHE LOOKS LIKE MY WIFE

"Wallahi Anisa wake up. Mama zata zo da ruwa a bucket fah!"(Mama is coming with a bucket of water) I heard khaltum's voice. I ignored her when I felt myself drowning in a bed pool. wait what? a bed pool??? I jolted up and saw Aunty Rashida and Khaltum standing over me. Khaltum trying to hold in her laughter while aunty Rashida was looking so angry with hands on her hips. "So you won't wake up and go to school right? you're two hours late for your lectures!" aunty said. her voice sounded like if I reply her now I'll receive the beating of my life which she never did by the way. if it was ammi she would have brought a cane and not a bucket of water. Aunty Rashida is abba's younger sister so, ammi and aunty rashida are inlaws but act like twin sisters. They don't joke with education so whenever I am late for school I see Aunty Rashida's bad side. "Sorry Aunty Rashida" I said and rushed to the bathroom. I didn't even bath well cuz I was in a hurry and wore jeans and skirt and not the good type, the staying at home type. I wore a long jilbab. I know what you're thinking. Heat will kill me. That's what I would have thought too if I was even thinking right. I put everything available inside my bag. my cream, face oil, perfume, khol, lipbalm, everything I ran outside to enter my car. A blood red 2022 chevrolet malibu. I'm so lucky my dad bought me a car because trying to get a napep in Maiduguri is a dead end and now it has worsened because of the increase of petrol price in this country. I experienced it one time when my car had a problem. I didn't come back home till 6PM that day. Aunty Rashida was so worried. The next day Aunty Rashida gave me her car to drive. As I reached my car I saw Khaltum leaning on it. "Where are you going?" I asked annoyed. I was still angry at her, she didn't try to stop Aunty Rashida for pouring water on me "School of course. I need to collect a handout from our classrep" Khaltum is studying Law in University of Maiduguri (Unimaid) while I'm studying Pharmacy "Fine whatever. You'll have to trek from my faculty tho because I'm late" I told her "Haba mana Anisa meh haka, meh walakanci? (What is all this Anisa, what's with the wickedness?) "I'm late for my lectures as you can see. It's Marte we have this morning and you know he doesn't approve of late coming." I eyed her "ohhhhh I see. you're being wicked because I didn't stop Mama from pouring water on you right?" she said laughing I hissed and focused on driving, trying to block out her annoying laughter. I used to love her laugh because it's cute but now I just feel like smacking her. "Oya I'm sorry na. please." she said pouting "Okay tell you what, if you're done with your lectures. We'll go out and chill" "So that you'll make me pay ba " I replied "no. I won't do that. promise. We'll go out and chill, we'll go to hebrons and buy food then we'll go to cravins. and the best part here is. I'll buy fuel for you. Full tank" the last part got my attention, I squealed and hugged her "hey eyes on the road Anisa!" "we're literally at a traffic light Khal. I'm not driving " "yeah yeah. but don't kill me" "anyways when are you going to learn how to drive, I've been asking you that for 2 years now" "probably when my husband marries another husband and you know it will never happen. You know I'm scared of the road why would I want to drive" I've never met a scaredy-cat like Khal before, she's literally scared of the road like she could literally freeze up when she touches the wheel without even turning on the car like who does that. She's very weird anyways I love her like that she's my favourite cousin. I drove through gate 2 so that I could drop Khaltum first at her faculty, we're both in year 2 (second semester), we're going to start our exams in like 3 weeks time. GST timetable are even out. I dropped her off and drove to my faculty. I ran as fast as I could. I was panting so heavily like I'm about to faint because I hate running. "Aniiiii babyyyy. why are you here so early?" my friend, Mahbubah said I stopped in my tracks. Wait. what???? what does she mean here so early? I noticed the class was almost empty. it was just Sumaiyya, Khalid, Fatima (Mahbubah) and Jamal and some other group of people at the far end " I thought you wouldn't be here till 11 for Marte's assignment submission?" Sumaiyya said "what is happening? why is marte not coming?" I asked. anger boiling. not because I like that man's class but because of what I went through today "didn't you see the group chat yesterday? Marte cancelled his lectures" Khalid said I turned to look at Jamal who apparently is our classrep. I was eyeing him. "What!!!! I DID try to tell you! I sent countless of messages both on w******p and imessage. and I called but you never picked." I opened my bag looking for my phone then it dawned on me. I forgot my phone at home. Oh My God I just huffed and started smiling "I honestly forgot my phone at home and I need to go now bye guys" I said trying to leave "wait. Mrs. mood swing" mahbubah called I turned and she said "what about your assignment? " I nodded and opened my bag and gave it to her. I was too angry to say anything. "alright let's go, I was going to leave too." I just smiled and started walking out. Mahbubah was wearing thesame jilbab as I was. We are practically best friends. After we left the place Mahbubah started talking "Babe. I specifically came to school to gist you oooo." She said and I stopped "Seriously??? So you left the comfort of your home to come and gist me. why won't you gist me on the phone?" "The gist is sweeter when I see your face" I just laughed. she sure can know when to make me smile when we reached my car I noticed I parked close to her car without knowing. I opened my car and started applying my lotion and everything else I dropped in my bag earlier. "Mama told me some news earlier. Imran came with some elders yesterday to meet her when I came to school" she said excitedly "Who is Imran again?" I asked she eyed me and I laughed. Mahbubah has alot of suitors but she only likes one man and one man only Imran Ahmad. The love of her life. I call him twin brother because everyone thinks we look alike and act alike. But I barely knew him if it was not for Mahbubah's sake I jumped and hugged her squealing. I'm so happy for you. "kinsan ko za sa rana very soon?"(do you know whether they'll put a date very soon?) "yes habibty. they'll be back in a months time. insha Allah (By God's Grace) I squealed even louder and hugged her. We finished gisting and said our goodbyes and drove off. I drove to the Law department while Mahbubah drove to the opposite side of the road leading to gate 1. After parking, I dropped down and started walking to Borno Hall 1 saw them having lectures. the lecturer scowled at me and I left. He had traditional hausa attire on and glasses, kind of fair. I bet he'll look cute when he smiles. I checked the other class and saw Khal talking to a guy. She saw me and waved to me before I could wave back someone scared me "KE! ZO NAN" (YOU! COME HERE) I turned to see an ugly old man scowling at me. Some young people were beside him so I presume he's a lecturer. I walked over to him "Good morning Sir" I greeted "Morning. Why are you not wearing black and white? Are you not a student of this faculty?" "No sir I'm not" of all days why did I wear yellow jilbab? "What faculty are you from?" "Pharmacy sir " "What brought you here then?" "I came to pick up my sister" "Who's your sister?" Okay this guy is officially getting on my nerve. "Kha...Khadija sir." I said not wanting this disgusting guy to know about Khaltum because I understand the kind of person he is "sir should I go and drop this in your office?" one of the young guy asked I totally forgot they were around "Yes. both of you go and keep it" he said leaving him alone with me After they both left he turned to me and smiled with his yellow teeth from the looks of things this guy smokes. "So give me your number so that I'll call you later " I faked smiled and typed in the wrong number. Then telling him I forgot my phone at home today because I was in a hurry before he tries to call "Where do you stay?" "Damboa Road sir" "I'll come visit you someday" he said laughing. I smiled and left I went to Borno Hall 1 and saw Khal looking at me wide eyed "What were you doing talking to HIM" she asked whispering "You really shouldn't talk to him, my sister. He's a very bad person" a guy close to Khaltum said whispering he seemed to have a Yoruba accent. I nodded. "Why are you guys whisper tho?" I asked "The walls have ears and mouth too" they said and I burst out laughing "Sorry. I know you guys are serious but it's just so funny. Khal, are you done so that well go???" "Yeah sure. oh by the way Ridwan. this is my sister Anisa" Khal introduced me to the guy "And this is Ridwan, our class rep" she said and I smiled "Our famous class rep. I've heard alot about you" "All good things I hope?" "Very good things even." "Bye Ridwan. See you some other day" "Wait don't you have lectures tomorrow???" I stopped "Didn't you hear?" "Hear what?" "ASUU has declared indefinite strike" Ridwan said and I didn't know when I shouted "Sorry. I'm just in shock. INDEFINITE???? that's very wicked of them!" I said muttering and leaving "Bye Ridwan!!!" I hear Khaltum say behind me before running after me After we enter the car she said "Do you know who you spoke to earlier?" "No. who was he?" I said uninterested. thinking about asuu "Babunu ne fah"(Its Babunu) she said "Are you serious?" "Dead serious!!!" "So he is as ugly as people say" i said and she laughed "I won't say anything before I get a carry over from my lecturers " she said and I smiled We drove off to Hebron Foods and bought dinner for everyone. Khal called Aunty Rashida to tell her not to cook. Since Khal heard about the strike. she has been smiling from ear to ear. She had change of plans. Saying she's going to buy grilled chicken, meat and fish plus ice cream and wine. for everyone. I know that Aunty Rashida will scold her for spending that much money It's not that they're not rich. Aunty Rashida's husband is almost as rich as Abba but Aunty Rashida hates extravagance. Just like Ammi. Told you guys they were twins After finishing all the shopping. We went back home. I didn't introduce myself. My name is Anisa Usman. I'm 20 years old. I'm from Adamawa. I live with Aunty Rashida. who you've met earlier. Khaltum is her only child and her husband is uncle Isa. Why I came all the way from Adamawa to study Pharmacy in Maiduguri you ask? I don't know. like seriously, Abba just told me Anisa you're going to Unimaid. I was planning to study in AUN but Allah has other plans for me I guess Now that the ASUU strike is on. I'll call Ammi and Abba to hear their say in this.