BISMILLAHIR RAHMANIR RAHEEM
She is a nine-year-old girl, dressed in a gown, her head adorned with a beautiful baby pink ribbon. She possesses a special charm, with dimples that grace her cheeks, revealing themselves every time she smiles or laughs, adding to her natural beauty.
“Aunty Aina!!!! Aunty Aina, please don’t give me the chocolates that Uncle Datt bought for me,” she pleaded as they were about to head to the store. Khadija’s love for chocolates was unmatched, and she frequently visited Uncle Datti to ask for him to buy them for her.
“Khadija, I can’t give them to you. Haven’t I already warned you about consuming sweets? Are you doing this for yourself?” Aina replied, her voice tinged with a touch of sadness.
“Eeeyyaaaa aunty, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Just give me one more day; I promise I won’t have any more after today,” Khadija begged earnestly.
“Hmmmmm, you’re still a young girl, and you might not fully grasp the harm of consuming sweets for a girl. But since you’ve made a promise, pass me my glasses, and I’ll put them on to go get them for you,” Aina conceded. Rana had a chronic eye condition, and she couldn’t see clearly without her prescription glasses. Without them, her vision blurred, and even her palms would lose their color if she found herself in a brightly lit area.
As if she had been waiting for this moment, Khadija fetched the glasses from the glass table and handed them to her. Aina accepted them and stood up. She then took her sister’s hand, and the two entered the room, instructing Khadija to stand by the window to watch out for any onlookers.
One by one, Aina removed the chocolates from their hiding place and handed them to her niece. However, instead of accepting them, Khadija opened her mouth and burst into tears, refusing to take them. She cried even louder when Aina tried to persuade her, demanding more explanation.
Uncle Datti, overhearing Khadija’s cries, felt deeply moved. He was at a loss, not knowing what to do. His heart ached, and he was determined to fulfill her wishes.
As he danced with Nana later, Aina couldn’t help but wonder if they were secretly married. Why didn’t he treat her the same way he did Khadija? Did Uncle Datti love Nana? These questions raced through her mind without answers.
When Khadija saw him, she rushed over, but upon seeing Nana, she froze, her words failing her. Uncle Datti attempted to console her, urging, “Hush now, my angel. Tell me what’s wrong. Who are you?” He asked her questions one after another.
Aunt Aina opened her mouth, her eyes filled with a terrible surprise. She was equally taken aback. Nana broke into tears, crying herself to sleep. She must have been upset with him. Uncle Datti didn’t know where to turn, feeling somewhat helpless.
Khadija sobbed, saying, “Uncle, I want chocolates. Aunty Aina, please don’t deny me,” tears streaming down her face as she shook her head.
“Well then, hush now. Let’s go and buy them for you.” They left the house, leaving Aina standing there, her thoughts racing and bewildered.
While they were gone, Aina headed to the kitchen, where she cooked a pot of jollof rice, filling the room with its aromatic fragrance. She then went to her room, changed into a gray lace blouse and jacket, and returned to the living room.
She sat there quietly, and time passed with no sign of their return until the call to the Maghrib prayer sounded. Aina noticed the chocolates placed beside her and the questioning look in Datti’s eyes.
“Hey, ma’am, what’s with that look?” Datti asked, tapping her gently on the hand.
She looked at him with a smile and said, “Oh, my dear, how many times have I told you to stop buying sweets for this girl? You know it yourself. I shouldn’t need to remind you. You’re aware that we have a family member with diabetes, and it’s believed to be hereditary. Have you forgotten?”
