Her ideal one

‘For someone who spent the better part of two hours making my favourite meal, you seem too quiet.’ Tahir observed, while trying to serve himself another helping of steaming alkubus from the food flask. 

‘Really? Well what did you expect me to say? I made the food, I shouldn’t be the one praising it.’ I replied, raising my eyes to meet his.

‘But I wasn’t asking you to praise your work, just to accompany it with the usual chatter whenever you cooked alkubus. I remember those days when you used to cook it any time we were celebrating something at home, you’d ask whether it was as good as the one I used to eat as a child. You’d recall what I told you about eating it every Friday at my grandfather’s house because the day was special and that was what he liked to eat after he returned home from juma’ah prayers. Then you’d say that you had added value to that treat because you now serve it with sharbar muluk, the royal drink.’ He reminisced, with a smile.

“Yes, but I must have sounded like a real boaster way back in those days.’ I answered, smiling back.

‘Maybe you did but I enjoyed your boasts as much as I enjoyed the meal. That’s why I was disturbed now that you were so quiet.’  Tahir declared.

‘Actually, I was only quiet because I couldn’t get Harira off my mind.’ I replied.

‘And who is Harira?’ He asked.

‘The young lady who did her NYSC at my office last year. I’m sure she has been here a couple of times. Maybe you just don’t remember her.’ I explained.

‘I’m sure I don’t recall anyone by that name.’ He insisted. ‘But what made her occupy your mind so thoroughly that you were even acting out of character.’ He queried.

‘I ran into her outside the supermarket today. She was so deep in thoughts she didn’t even see me until I spoke to her. She looked so unhappy I had to ask her what was wrong, as soon as we exchanged the salams. She called me aside and said she had a big problem and if she had any where to go she would gladly run away. I asked what the problem was and told me that her mother was making it impossible for her to marry the man she prefers. In fact when she tried everything in order to separate them and did not succeed, she now gave a list of the bridal items she wanted the suitor’s family to bring. According to Harira it will be impossible for them to bring those items because they are very expensive and her young man just can’t afford it. She said she knew that her mother deliberately did that to get the man discouraged, so he will give up on the idea of marrying her.’ I narrated. 

‘But what about her father? Or isn’t he around to take a stand on the issue?’ Tahir asked.

‘I asked her the same thing and she said that initially he was on her side and he even told the mother that Harira’s happiness should be their main consideration. But later the mother convinced him that her suitor was a gold digger so the only way to chase him away was to give him that impossible list.’ I explained.

‘And do you have any idea what is on the list?’ Tahir asked. 

‘Yes, she showed a copy to me. I remember reading six original Gucci shoes, six genuine Louis Vuitton handbags, six Herme’s slippers. All perfumes, cosmetics and other toiletries, are French and Italian designers and they are required in dozens. The suitcases are Ferragamo and they need a minimum of ten plus a vanity case for jewellery. Even the Jewellery’s designers were named and she wants two of each, apart from those of pure gold. In fact by the time Harira and her suitor calculated what was required, he will need nothing less than five million naira to do that. The young man told her that as a fresh graduate, who just landed a job at a private company, he had no such money to spend buying her bridal gifts. He also told her that his father was an honest civil servant who also doesn’t have millions to spend while his mother is a housewife. Even the car he drives was given to him by his elder brother who just bought a new one. But the same brother is not in a position to buy him all those pre-wedding gifts.’ I concluded.

‘But if there is a huge gap in their social status, what makes her think it’s a good idea to settle for him? I mean she might miss all the luxury she is accustomed to and then the marriage won’t last.’ Tahir observed. 

‘Harira thinks he is just ideal for her. She said he is God-fearing, honourable, a complete gentleman and he cares a lot about her. She said that’s all she wants in a husband. And she is also convinced that with his job, his future is bright and he might actually make it big in future. But even if he doesn’t, at least she knows he will make her happy.’ I answered.

‘In that case let her talk to people she knows her father will listen to, like his parents, siblings, uncles or best friend. Anyone who can argue her case well and bring the father back to her side, since it’s obvious that her mother is a lost case.’ Tahir suggested. 

To be continued.