Aliyah

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 1

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“…. What will I do without your sad mouth… Calling me in and you killing me out… You’ve got my head skipping… No kissing….I can kill you…” She sang as she washed her clothes.

“Aliyah! Stop! Just stop! Is it a must you sing, ehn?” Her elder brother, Haq barked at her, cutting her short from the trash she was singing. “You’ll just be uttering trash! Are you a kid? I’ll stop playing music in this house now. It’s high time I buy earpiece. Olodo” He continued, angry with the way she twisted song.

“Ahn ahh brother Haq, shebi you’ll correct me na. You know that’s my best song” She said. She Already stopped washing as she watched her brother mad at her.

“Why would you choose that as your best song? Spoiling someone’s song with that your stupid mouth. How many times do I have to put you through? It’s “What will i do without your smart mouth? Drawing me in…”

“Okay. Okay. Yes, I get it now” She nodded positively not letting her brother complete his words.

Haq sighed and continued with the car he was cleaning. He had corrected her times without number but she won’t heed. “Fish” He muttered under his breath.

Aliyah. Her name is Aliyah. She was the third born in her family. Born into a family of 4, two boys two girls. Her parents weren’t rich nor poor. They belong to the middle class. Her mother is a doctor while her dad heads as the General manager of an oil company. (We’ll talk about that later) At the age of 16, Aliyah already had the look and shape of Kim Kardashian buh everything was hidden under her large clothes and hijab. It wasn’t as if Aliyah was dull or something but Aliyah just don’t take things too serious. She’s nice, pretty (When talking bout pretty, Aliyah is beautiful. Especially when she puts on her hijab. God really took time to create her.) Brainy (Talking About Aliyah being wise and brainy, even her parents and peers found it hard to believe. They often wonder how she pass with excellent, not good grades, excellent grades in school) Naughty, popular, jovial, fun to be with and wierd sometimes.

“What will I do without your smart mouth…” She sang and paused, turning her head in order to see her brother’s reaction. She grinned mischievously as she saw him smile. “…. Draw… Drawing in me in… In.. A beautiful card” She stammered as she tried to remember.

“You’re cursed! Ha! Aliyah, when will you have sense bayii…” Her brother asked, frustrated. Aliyah formed a childish look, pouting her lips. “Abi what kind of human being are you? Assuming the music isn’t one of my favorite, it won’t hurt me that yah spoiling it, making me lose interest in it. Just now that i…” He continued buh was interrupted by Hameed, the last born in the house..

“Aunty Aliyah, Uncle joseph is calling you” He delivered the message and ran inside almost immediately.

“Joe… Joe boy don dead…” She sang as she hurried inside not making contact with her angry brother.

“Chai! Aswear, yah gone! Let Joe boy fans hear you. You’ll find his corpse” Haq shouted at her. “Mad girl” He added.

“Uncle, yah calling me” Aliyah said childishly, grinning. She liked Uncle Joe so much. Why else would she like him for? He gives her money of course.

Uncle Joseph is her daddy’s brother. He came to visit em’.

Uncle Joe looked at her, yawning. He was just waking up. “I’m hungry, Liyah”

“Eeee! Me too o. In fact, the kind hunger wey dey yarn me pass your own.” She said in pidgin.

Uncle joy smiled. That was one reason why he liked her, she’s always free with people. She says her mind.

“I’m not sure your mom will be back this morning. Is there still noodles in the store?”

“Hmm… No”

“Okay. Take” He handed 2k to her “Go and get a pack and prepare some for everyone when you’re back”

“Okay, uncle” She smiled collecting the money. She knew he won’t collect the change.

“Jesus, you love me too much o…. Too much o, too much o excellence o” She sang rubbish as she went out feeling happier.

“Where are you going?” Haq asked. He was through washing the car and was cleaning it.

“I want to go and buy noodles” Aliyah answered, still smiling.

“Is it out of store?”

“Yes.” She answered “Shebi is you that even finish everything. You prepared a feast for your friends, on Friday. Shey you have forgotten?” She added.

Haq continued with his cleaning. He knew better than to reply her. He wasn’t in the mood to start a convo with her. No one wins against her. She can argue for Africa.

“Eh! Wait!” Haq suddenly shouted as he remembered something. Aliyah was almost out of the compound. “Who will prepare the noodles?”

Aliyah grinned. She knew where he was driving at. “It’s me na”

Haq spit on the floor. “I’ll rather remain hungry than eat a food prepared by you. I’m not ready to die young”

Aliyah burst out laughing rolling out of the compound. She laughed hard as she remembered the reason why her brother won’t eat her food.

FLASHBACK

The whole family were present at home. Aliyah’s dad and mom were watching a Tv program while Aliyah’s elder sister, Aisha and her elder brother, Haq were busy operating their phones.

Hameed was in the kitchen with Aliyah. Aliyah was busy preparing spaghetti while Hameed gave her a helping hand. That was her first time preparing a meal for the family. Her mother had returned late from work with Aisha. They were both tired. She was the only option available in order not to sleep in hunger.

“Aunty, is it enough?” Hameed asked as he losed the wrap of the maggi with him.

“No, lose five more” She answered as she grilled the pepper.

“Making 25 Maggi”

“Yes”

Aroma of the spaghetti escaped the kitchen. It filled everywhere. Aliyah’s parent had lost interest in the movie. Aisha and Haq couldn’t concentrate on what they were doing. Each and everyone stomach rumbled like thunder. The worms in their stomach fought angrily waiting for what they perceived to come in. Mouths watered. If only they knew.

Few minutes later. Aliyah announced that food’s ready. Haq was the first to reach the dining table.

Aliyah served all. It was as if the whole family had been starving. They devoured the food hungrily, losing all table manners.

“Yummy” Aliyah’s dad said.

Aliyah smiled.

“Aliyah… To be honest, this is the best thing you’ve ever done ever since you were born” Haq praised.

“Awwwwn…. Thanks big bro”

“My sister is growing big” Aisha said, smiling. “Wife material o”

Aliyah blushed.

Mrs. Ridoh, Aisha’s mother was silent. The food was way too delicious and she could perceive nothing buh too much ingredients. She smiled and stared at Aliyah. “At least, she filled their empty tummy.” She muttered.

She stopped eating and cleaned her mouth. Haq assisted her in consuming it. Everyone was through with their meal. Haq was even asking for more.

Now, the hunger had totally subsided. Everyone sat still, taking a breath. Suddenly, the air changed from good aroma to bad scent. Someone had pollute the air.

“And who’s that demented numerated miscreant?” Mr. Ridoh fired as everyone ran out of the dining space to the sitting room.

“I’m sorry” Hameed apologized.

Everyone burst out laughing as they tried to catch their breath.

“I want to go and poo poo” Hameed added.

“No o, I’m going in first” Mr. Ridoh said “Go to your brother’s room and use his toilet. “I think I’m too filled up”

Mr. Ridoh said and moved upstairs to his room while Hameed followed.

“Hameed!” Haq called out “Wait! Is like I want to poo poo too o” Haq said as his tummy rumbled in anger.

“What’s happening?” Aisha asked. She wasn’t feeling comfortable. She felt pain in her stomach.

Mr. Ridoh stopped in his track. All eyes turned to Aliyah who was busy laughing. She stopped immediately as she saw them glaring at her. “What?”

“What did you put in the food?” Mr. Ridoh asked knowing Aliyah is always up to something always.

“Nothing oo.” She answered, shaking her head.

“Aliyah, how many Maggi did you use to cook the food?” Mrs. Ridoh asked as she had been suspicious the ingredients were much.

“Just 25 Maggi o and…”

“Haaa!” The whole house screamed. “25!”

“Walahi! Aliyah have kill us” Mr. Ridoh lamented as he quickly ran up to his room before he mess up.

“Aliyah, why? Two spaghetti twenty five Maggi” Haq said as if he was about to cry. He held his buttock with his two hands tightly and ran up the stairs.

That day was one of the days the Ridoh’s family won’t ever forget. Everyone except Mrs. Ridoh who ate little and used drugs immediately almost had their intestine purged out. No one dared to eat her food again. Not even a tea prepared by her.

“Aliyah!”

She heard her name being called, jolting her out of her thought. She looked back and saw her best friend, Tife running towards her.

Tife had been her friend since childhood. Tife was also an epitome of beauty but nothing compared to Aliyah’s. Even though she puts on tight fitted dresses, aliyah was way more pretty than her. Tife is also slim buh had little body curve. Fair and tall. She wasn’t as mischievous as Aliyah neither is she as brainy as Liyah buh she was okay on her own. They had other friends buh they weren’t that close to them.

“What are you thinking?” Tife Asked after meeting up with her “Or you’re in another trouble?” She asked again

Aliyah eyed her. “Later, they’ll say I have bad mouth o. Your mouth like something that they use to s–k d–k”

“Ahhnn”

“Ehn. Which one is “Or you’re in another trouble?” Is like wire want to shock you for me.” Liyah continued jokingly.

Tife hit her jokingly and ran.

“Ha! Werey. Wait for me o” Aliyah Smiled as she chased Tife.

Tife stopped, trying to catch her breath. Aliyah was meeting up with her. She now held a small stone with her. When she saw Tife, she smiled and threw the stone at her. It missed as Tife dodge bending down and the stone hit a mad man.

“Yeeeee! Oiii! Onamenamename yoo!” The mad man shouted ranting rubbish. He turned and saw them. He took a step forward, slide sideways, took another step while pointing at Tife who was backing the mad man while Aliyah watched. Without warning, the mad man raced towards them.

“Tife! Ruunnn!” Aliyah screamed as she took to her heels.