CHAPTER ONE
'Who is that Aisha?' This question echoed through my mind like a persistent whisper, asked by my curious parents to my nosy sisters. My standard response—'Aisha is my friend'—barely scratches the surface of the meaning she had in my life. Beneath this simple inquiry, I sense a deeper query: 'How did you come to know that enigmatic girl?' Beyond the surface-level answer, I reflected on the meaning of friendship through the mischievous grin etched in the face of that chocolate-brown skin girl. While others watched, a fair-skinned, petite, svelte girl, she saw me in her own light, describing me as a lady with a confidence stride. She'd say; "You have stunning looks, a beautiful pointed nose, and soft pink alluring lips that zoom into a smile capable of waking the dead. Your grinning dimples, and a preeminent brow sooth the soul. You rival the moon's brightness, and men will find you so appealing to their eyes." I would playfully punch her on the shoulder. She said my eyes give me a Chinese resemblance, and nicknamed 'China Paɣa.' You can't grasp the depth friendship unless you knew us years back, and you won't fully know unless you've seen our journey's progression. On Saturdays, we enjoyed being together. Though, this was an elephant in the room to most people, but it was more life to our friendship. A day I'd take a yellow-yellow to her house, then we would head to taxi rank to buy stuff. We'd walk and talk through the bustling streets of Tamale, teeming with busy riders, yielding to the roaring sounds, and beeping, tonking, and tooting horns of motorbikes that drowned out other sounds. The image of one particular Saturday sharpens like photograph developing in my mind. The gentle morning rays bathed the city, casting light on every hue of skin. Walking side by side, Aisha and I moved neither too fast nor too slow. My eyes were fixed on the ground in front of us, arms seemingly lifeless. Aisha's lips kept parting as words escaped, gazing at the distance ahead, and gesticulating with her hands in the space before us. Suddenly, a motorbike screeched to a stop in front of us, and we hastened to move aside, giving way. Two boys seated on it, one behind leaned towards us. "Hi, how are you?" he greeted. I nudged Aisha's arm. "Friend, they're talking to you." Aisha turned her back them to face me. "Who says they're talking to me? Did they mention my name?" "Aren't they riding a dash-5?" I said, glancing over at the motorbike. "Sisters, you're nice ladies," the one riding spoke out. "Stop acting such manner and let's have a little chat." Aisha turned to face them with a skeptical gaze, while I shrugged and slowly walked ahead. After a brief conversation, I noticed Aisha exchanging contact with them. They left while she caught up with me. As we advance towards a stopped yellow-yellow. A handsome gentleman in top and down tailored garments caught sight of us with just a turn of his head. He had just stepped down from the tricycle, rooted to the roadside, hoping to take advantage of the distance of vehicles to cross. The sight of us caused him to turn towards us at his right, his face lit up with grin. As we approached each other, he positioned himself by our side, as if trying to offer us a way out. Aisha's eyes flickered with discomfort, but I remained oblivious, lost in thoughts. "Salamu Alaikum, lovely sisters," his words resonated with a soothing melody. I finally looked up straight into his face, my eyes gleaming and mouth slightly open, as I glanced at the boy standing before us. "Wa Alaikum Salam." I responded, my face gradually transitioning to a warm smile. Aisha's gaze roved from his head to feet and back up again, assessing him before averting her eyes dismissively. "I'm Hafiz," his calm introduction cut through Aisha's apparent indifference. "We're in a hurry," Aisha replied impatiently, "our mother sent us to buy something from the market. Perhaps another time." Undeterred, Hafiz reached into his pocket and retrieved an old, worn-out Tecno-Y2 mobile phone, its screen cracked. He extended it, his eyes filled with hope, and his smile radiant. "Could I perhaps have your contact? So I can reach out to you later?" he requested, switching his gaze between me and Aisha. "We don't have phones, bro," Aisha responded, pulling me away while he stood with the phone in his hand extended like a sculpture. With each step, I stole glances back at him as I was dragged along. My brow furrowed as I questioned Aisha why she acted such in manner towards someone she didn't know. Emphasizing that even as a stranger approaching us, he still deserved to be respected. Aisha firmed her grip on my arm, pulling me along with increased force until I tottered on the brink of a great tumble. The dress I wore ensnared around my legs like a stubborn vine. It was a long, wide garment made by the seamstress with an ankle-length hem and long sleeves. Like many of my attires, it was a hand-me-down from my elder sister. "When will I understand you?" Her tone turned sharp, slowing our stride and lowering her voice. "What will you do with this one standing like he's lost? You've got to wake up," she added. My eyes widened as I darted a glance back at the guy. Somewhere in evening when I was leaving Aisha's house, she walked me to the roadside where I could hail a transportation. Suddenly, her phone rang with the iPhone tone, and she answered, asking who was that. Our steps slowed, and I heard her say she could make the person up as someone we met in the morning at the traffic near Police Park in Tamale. I overheard her mentioned her own name and area. "Aisha, from Changli." My curiosity got high, and my eyes crinkle at the corners when she mentioned my name and area too, glancing at me. "Radiya from vitin." "She's still here with me but I’m escorting her to the road side to go home," she added. From her left side, I watched her intriguingly. She detached the phone from her ear and passed it to me. "Take this call, someone wants to say 'hi'." "Who?" I asked, taking it over from her. "You'll find out," she replied, pushing it into my hand. I put the phone to my ear. "Hello." "Hello sweetie," a male voice responded, "how are you?" "I'm fine and you please?" I replied, inquiring. "Cool. I know you didn't make me up," He guessed. "That’s obvious." "I'm Taufik, one of those guys who met you in town." "But you mentioned Hafiz to us." "Eeei China Paɣa!" Aisha interrupted, standing still. "So, you are still thinking about that boy? "Who said he is the one? Did we give him any number to call us?" she added continuing the pace again. "Oh, we didn't mention such name to you," he answered. "Sorry, I remember, you were the two guys on the Dash-5?" "Yes, by the way, who’s Haf...?” he attempted to ask. "Please let me give back the phone to my friend," I cut him. "Aisha take your call," I said to her, returning the phone and focussing at a far-off tricycle. "Please she is going to hail a means to her area; call me back in two minutes," Aisha talked to him. "Sss! Yellow-yellow lana! Stop please," she called out, stoping the tricycle with her hand waving as it sped nearer. The tricycle broke speed right in front of us, the engine purred steadily. "She's going to Vittin," she told the rider on my behalf. "Get in, let’s go," the rider instructed me, looking at my face, with a firm grip on the crotch. "Take my friend home safely; she is an angel," she informed the rider. "Friend, until another day," I said adieu, staring back at her as we departed from her. "Okay, don't forget to call when you get home," she said, waving at me. As soon I reached home, I called to inform her that I had arrived. She gave me gist about what transpired between her and Taufik on the second call. I became a bit miffed when she told she'd shared my number with him. Her apologetic tone and the gossips she brought up calm my head. Before I knew it, a caller was on my line signalled my a vibration of the phone. I ignored to focus on Aisha untill we were done talking all the words in our mouths. I returned the missed call, and it was hm, Taufik. He introduced himself once more to me. Our conversation flowed effortlessly until he insisted on knowing my house. In a moment of spontaneity, I gave him direction to my residency! Fast forward to his arrival, signalled by the call I received inviting me outside. The moonlight shone on his white shirt as I stepped out of our house entrance. Sitting on the motorbike we saw them riding, I walked reluctantly towards him, crunching the gravel beneath my feet. The night air grew cooler and thinker, inviting more night crickets to cry. The world around us appeared empty, as if only the two of us existed. When I looked at him, my heart pounded in my chest, my hands feeling suddenly warm, and I tried to avoid closeness. A moment of niceties followed, and his persistent invitation somehow, instinctively drew me nearer. "I know, you must be shocked," he set the tone, sitting on the motor, "wondering why I came in such a hasty way. Don't surprised, it wouldn't take me a minute emerging from the seven layers of sea to reach you. I longed to be standing with you like this ever since our paths took separate turns in the morning. I was also left with no ability relax my nerves even for a second to be here after we spoke minutes ago. I have all the assurance that you are the good girl I have been looking for all these while. I couldn't afford to miss the opportunity of this beautiful moment. I strongly believe that the future holds greater things for us." I couldn't blink to the gleaming pendant dancing in the moonlight around his neck as his body dangled by the strength of his words. Diffusible pleasant fragrance traveled from him towards me like the scent of night blooming flowers. He talked in an unwavering confidence, never diverting his eyes from mine, robbing me of all hints of evasion. I crossed my arms, trying to appear nonchalant. At the minute, I couldn't find words from tongue. "I mean every word I say," he continued, his voice energizing. "You're more than what the word beautiful can describe. It's quite fine to sound crazy by telling you that you're the one my mind has been fixated on all this time." My tongue still felt heavy, unable to form words. I took a step back, trying to create the distance again. "What do you mean by that?" I soon forced out words. "Our paths crossing is some kind of cosmic fate," he replied, smile spreading across his face. I scrunched up my face. "Is that what brought you here?" "You are the reason I'm here, my dear. Let's hold hands and walk the beautiful path friendship." I enunciated, leaving my hands free. "What kind of friendship?" He said, reaching out to my hand, sending shivers down my spine. "I don't want prolong your stay outside, kindly let me be straightforward with you. A friend I can rely on for love, comfort and peace. I trust you with that completely." "What about my friend?" "What about her?" he asked back. "You first called her... and you proposed to her. She told me." "We had a friendly discussion, but I didn't express love towards her. I needed to reach out to you through her." He kept persistent eye contact with me. "So what do you want me to do?" I asked. "I could see us through your eyes, the love of Romeo and Juliet. Just think about what I said, that's all," he answered, brushing the back of my hand with his thumb. I pulled my hand from his gently. "I need time to think." He nodded. "I'll wait." I walked away from him towards the entrance of our house, without looking back. The sounds of my footstep was louder in the silence. I reached the entrance, pushed open the door, stepped inside and and turn to look back. He was already fast in the air. The motorbike sound diminishing as its back red light was dimming. His white shirt kept fading into the darkness. His words echoed once more in my ears: "I'll wait."
