Chapter 3
"Humaira"
"Humaira"
I quickly removed the headphones and listen attentively as I thought I heard someone calling my name. When I heard nothing, I shrugged and about to put it back when my mother's voice hit my ears again
"Humaira"
"Here goes nothing" I mumbled getting out of bed and heading downstairs. I stood mid stairs staring at my father eating breakfast, with my mother serving him. Beside them sat Zainab, my younger sister eating her everyday breakfast. Cereals
I quickly tried my best to look tired and sleepy before completely descending the stairs while massaging my temples and acting like i have a headache. I need a reason to explain my waking up late as usual. Which never works by the way.
"Quit the acting young lady" My mother said turning to give me a glare as I chuckled approaching the dining table
"Good morning Mami" I smiled up at her and she shook her head
"Good morning Abba" I said sitting next to him and he turned to give me a smile
"I always scold you about sleeping late Humaira. It's 10:00am for Allah's sake and your father kept saying we should wait for you to come down and have breakfast together"
Mami scolded and I looked at the clock. Leave it to my mom to complain I wake up late when it is only 10:00am. There are a hundred and one things Mami hates, sleeping in the morning is one of them. I tried to develop the habit of waking up early but honestly unless I have classes, my life is yet to be that organised.
"But Mami it's only 10:00am" I pointed out
"As I said earlier" She muttered putting golden yam onto my plate completely ignoring my tone
"And it's Sunday and I have no lectures which means I should get to sleep all day" I added staring at her knowing the only time I can sleep all day is if I'm sick, she's not around or not in her house.
"Humaira, it's a very bad habit for a lady to keep sleeping late. Sleep early and wake up early"
"But why" I whined and she shot me another glare.
"Because you are a woman. Do you expect your husband to take care of himself before going to work while his wife lays in bed snoring like a pongid"
Well here goes the typical conversations on marriages.
"Mami I'm not a pongid" I said in an irritated tone and she rolled her eyes in response pushing my plate towards me and sitting next to Abba
Zainab snickered and I shot her a deathly glare
"That's why I added "like" except you have forgotten your figure of speech Humaira" She emphasised biting into her avocado sandwich. I kept quiet and looked away from her and zainab's annoying amused face before turning to make myself a cup of tea
"Humaira listen, you can sleep alright. Just don't over do it. After all successful people sleep early and wake up early" Abba said handing me the jar of sugar. Always the motivating one
"I will keep that in mind Abba" I smiled collecting it.
My name is Aisha Sulaiman Baba Gana. I come from the hausa/fulani family of Baba Ganas. Now you must wonder why Baba Gana, since it is obviously a Kanuri name. My great grandfather, had a best friend who was kanuri. After his friend's death, he decided to name my grandfather after him who then named my father Sulaiman. Now generations later, we all bare Baba Gana and most times mistaken for Kanuri.
My father is the first born to his mother (who happens to be the typical cantankerous grandmother) followed by one sister and two brothers making them four. He has been working in a juice making company and he is the manager. Although now, for the past months he has been planning to open his own water and juice making company also.
We live in a duplex and we are only four. My dad, my mom, Zainab and I excluding the house help and the gateman. There might be an addition of my cousin sister though who would be coming when she is accepted into the culinary school she applied for.
While my father is hausa from katsina and my mother is fulani from Adamawa. She comes from a long line of nomads who migrated ro Adamawa from Guinea. My family and I we stay in Abuja and I am in my second year in Baze University.
I love books and I write a lot. I write articles, quotes, ebooks and sometimes poems. But I mostly write articles. I write and post them on my website www.humairawords.com. I mainly write on women, their health, challenges and success.
I have three best friends and one amazing cousin. Intisaar, Yusrah and Juwairiyya (juju) then my cousin Zahra, the one attending the culinary school.
I will be turning nineteen in a few months together with one of my girls. The rest are quite older but then with little age difference.
I wish I could say the type of person that I am but I have no idea what I am doing with this life. I have phases, I have sides, I have fears, I have strength and just taking life, one moment at a time.
Now, welcome to my story.