KANO STATE

GADAR SALGA is an independent neighborhood situated close to Kurmi Market — an old market full of history in Kano State.

Among the clustered, old-style houses of the area, a young girl of about nineteen to twenty years old sat on a low stool, in front of a pile of dirty dishes. She was washing them quickly and with intensity.

Suddenly, without warning, Saliha arrived. Without thinking twice, she let out a loud, sharp scream right into her ears.

Startled, the girl — Shahida — turned around so fast that the plate in her hand slipped and fell to the ground. Her eyes welled with tears immediately. With a pained and worried expression, she said:

“Saliha, what is this for?”

Saliha, speaking rudely, replied:

“If I don’t shout at you, you won’t hear me. Must I always stress myself calling your name? You are the type that only understands yelling since your ears are blocked!”

Shahida only shook her head and lowered her face, continuing with her washing.

Angrily, Saliha snapped:

“Ah, so you’ve turned me into a madwoman talking to myself while you ignore me? Let me go and tell the one who sent me to call you.”

Shahida took a deep breath and wiped the sweat from her forehead, then signed and spoke with the tone of someone who struggles to hear clearly:

“Saliha, can’t you see I’m washing dishes?”

Saliha glared at her.

“Will you leave that washing and go answer her or not?”

Slowly, Shahida put down the sponge, stood up, pointed toward the house and said strongly:

“Let’s go.”

Saliha frowned, but followed behind her.

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Inside the house, Baba Asabe was sitting under the shade of her hut, tying up salt into small portions. They greeted her.

Saliha headed straight into the inner room, lying comfortably on the bed.

Shahida knelt respectfully before Baba Asabe and said:

“Baba, here I am. Saliha said you called me.”

Baba Asabe set aside the salt, picked up her handbag, brought out money wrapped in a plastic bag, and handed it to her:

“Go to the hospital area and buy groundnut oil for me. It’s been finished since yesterday.”

Shahida looked at her lips carefully — because she hears, but not clearly — she understands by watching people’s mouths move.

She replied quickly, in her soft speech:

“I haven’t finished washing the dishes.”

Baba Asabe answered:

“Leave them. Finish when you return — there is time.”

Shahida said “Alright.” She went inside to get her hijab, where she saw Saliha lying with her phone, playing a game.

Shahida shook her head silently, took her hijab, and came out.

Baba Asabe added:

“It is forty-four thousand naira. One gallon of groundnut oil and one gallon of palm oil. I will call Garba to meet you and help you carry everything.”

Shahida answered:

“Okay Baba, I’ll be back.”

“Be careful with the money. Today is Friday — the roads will be crowded,” Baba Asabe warned.

Shahida replied:

“I will, Insha Allah.