Chapter 10

The Daran's home was a delightful sight, large widths and lengths and a beautiful front yard. It was made of mostly glass and a few brick walls, and undeniably, it was truly suitable for their eminence.

When I entered, I was welcomed by a maid, who led me straight into the living room where I was sure I would find my father and Rashid already seated.

I was right but what I didn't expect was Shade to be present too. She sat beside him caked in makeup, dressed in a pretty but too exposing package. What she didn't know was that, most times people preferred unwrapping the package but that was her, she tried too hard when she knew she didn't fit in.

"Good Evening father... Rashid," I said greeting them both before I took my sitting. We were the only ones here and I wondered about Tijani, I had thought he would be involved in this as well.

"Ah Jacob What took you so long?" My father asked as they both shifted their gazes to me for an explanation.

"Traffic," I replied simply while waiting for the next step on the deal but it wasn't taken at all.

The living room was well spaced and relatively large with a number of 10 sofas aligned in a circle with a long centre table. My eyes caught sight of the photos on the wall and I wasn't taken aback when I didn't see a single family photo.

A family that gave out their only daughter in marriage with a stranger for business and treats their son like a business partner, showed that there was no sense of intimacy or amity amongst them. I knew Rashid was ruthless enough to pick his empire any day over his children.

"So, Mathias tell me, How's business?" Rashid asked and I snorted. It's not as if he truly cared, I was sure it was just small talk and he was stalling.

"Hopeful," Dad replied with a smile but anyone could discern that it was fake. Why were they both wasting all our time? They should just drop the courtesy and go straight to the matter at hand.

I didn't continue in their discussion because I received a message concerning the Gala tomorrow and it was certainly more important than putting up a show. It was already set to hold at Saffara which was the only resort of ours nearby and unfortunately, we didn't have any branches in Sokoto as the nearest was an hour away in Kebbi State.

The message contents were satisfactory, everything was set and we had cross checked many times on the background of Dankani Hotels and Erik's other personal businesses. At this point I could say, sanguinely, that it will all turn out well.

"Na Dawo," I heard a voice that sounded like Tijani's say. It was coming from the entrance and my guess was right when Tijani entered the living room, holding a briefcase.

"Sanu da Yamma," he continued in their native dialect as he proceeded to sit with us.

"Sannu da zuwa," Rashid replied to him and I assumed he had either greeted or asked a question.

"Good Evening Mr. Cross... Jacob," he further added when he realized and remembered that the other company which was us hadn't understood his previous words.

My father and I answered him with a curt nod and I hoped we would finally begin what we came here for as I assumed Rashid was waiting for Tijani's return.

"Did you bring the documents?" Rashid asked and Tijani reached for the case, bringing forth some papers.

"You see Tijani here is a Lawyer and soon to be judge even at such an early stage of his life," Rashid bragged as he collected the papers, placing them before my father.

I just forced a smile but my dad appeared to be much better than me in faking expressions as his smile was so big, like he was actually happy for them.

It surprised me though, I had thought Tijani was fully into the business and planned on taking over from his father. Maybe he intended to but so to say, I didn't know how this news of him having some influence in the law would affect plans.

"I have prepared the necessary documents," Tijani explained.

"And I assume your presence means you've accepted our deal." Rashid turned to us for confirmation and I nodded with a silent yes before Tijani extended his hands, holding out a gel pen.

"I think we should have dinner first, don't you?" I suggested, not acknowledging his outstretched hand and he scowled slightly in reply but covered it up immediately, though, I hadn't missed it.

"Alright then," Rashid agreed after some time of consideration before we all stood up and walked towards their dining room with the Daran's in lead.

I sat directly across Shade who didn't look so pleased with all that was happening. I guess we were all putting up fake fronts here.

After we had settled around the dining table on our various seats, the maid began setting up the table but when I saw the food, it was a sight I had never beheld in my life. 

It looked weird but palatable, like a mixture of diced chicken with crushed semolina, carrots, peppers and onion.

"This is Burabisko, one of our proudest Northern dishes. We prepared it specially for your visit," the old lady said to us and again we responded with the usual smile but this time I was wary of proceeding.

"Zan Tarfi Yarke," the old lady remarked finally to Rashid before leaving us.

"My sister would soon be here, let's wait for her before we start the blessings," Tijani explained and we agreed.

I was at last going to meet her, so then, I relaxed back into my chair in expectation.

The dining room became quiet, no words spoken amongst us again as we could hear the light footsteps descend from the steps. She was coming and involuntarily all our eyes turned to the door to receive her entrance.

It was probably for some seconds but to me it took like minutes before she appeared at the door. The al-amira was noticed first as it was wrapped and fastened round her shoulders, rising to her neck and finally her head, leaving only a bit of the front of her facial features to view.

She looked tense and uptight and I totally understood, this was not the way I expected to meet my future wife either. Her steps were timid as she approached the table and I looked over at her family on instinct, Tijani smiled purely of adoration but Rashid of extreme displeasure.

"Goodevening, dad," she said and I wondered why she hadn't greeted him in their language but her accent was also missing. People from the Northern region had a different way or tone of speaking, that is, in general their accent was different and more distinct than the rest of other cultures, individually, but now this girl didn't have it. 

It was there subtly on the sidelines but it didn't dominate her whole speech and I wondered again, did she stay here her whole life or had it been someplace else...

"Come sit," it was Tijani who enjoined, gesturing for her to take a sit by my side and Instantly, my eyes fell on the seat beside me and I reflected on how it would be or feel if she sat closely to me, would it make the whole situation more real than it is now?

When she took to her seat, the old maid came into sight again. Quickly, she prepared her master's daughter's table before retiring back to her post

"Say hello to Mr Cross and his Son, Jacob, your soon to be husband," Rashid instructed firmly and a little sternly too. Then I realized that he was cold towards his children or maybe it was just her but what did she do to warrant all the harsh treatments and hostile glances.

She greeted my father first and his reply was unusually genuinely polite, then afterwards she turned to me.

It was almost like a revelation, when I looked up close into those eyes...I remembered. My thoughts went tracing back to that day, that night when I had seen those eyes and I was left wide eyed and flummoxed.

I had seen that face before but the whole scenario was almost not real and then, my eyes found the fleeting scar plastered at the bottom of her cheeks. 

As recognition flooded through me, I saw a reflection of it too on her features.

The gala, the parking lot, and the locket. These words came flashing back and then again, if I wasn't still at all convinced, Tijani affirmed my suspicion. 

"Jamilah!" He called out and instantly, upon hearing of the word, I thought to myself, it had actually been a person's name then.