So Aisha invited me to her house today to come and eat Sallah food. I told her I wanted to come but I was scared of meeting her father whom I heard was a very strict man.
“Praises are you coming or not.” She asked.
“But your father will be around na.”
“Are you coming?”
I could sense that she will be angry if I failed to come. So I nodded my head even though we were talking over the phone.
“Answer me.”
“Yes. I am coming.”
“Then come now before my father’s guest start coming.”
I stood up and took out my white Jalabia and palm sandals. Had my bath and left the house at around 10:20am.
I got to Aisha’s house by 11am. She was the one that asked me to come inside the house and sit.
Moments later, her father emerged from the bedroom wearing a jalabia and holding a Tasbih in his right hand.
I stood up on seeing him and bowed.
“Good morning sir.”
He sat down without saying a word. Dropped his Tasbih on the short stool and began to look at me like a police officer observing a criminal.
In my mind, I was saying to myself, “Praises who sent you. Because of Sallah rice and meat, you came to face problems. You came to be disgraced officially and even arrested.”
“What is your name?” His sudden voice echoed, breaking the silence in the room.
“My name is Praises, sir. Obiora Praises.”
“Praises?”
“Yes sir.”
“Is it your parents that gave you the name?”
“Yes sir.”
“And your father’s name is Obio. Obio…”
“Obiora sir.”
“Obiora.”
“Yes sir.”
“Sit down.”
I could not sit down comfortably anymore. I sat down with half-buttocks. Just at the edge of the chair.
“Welcome to my house.”
“Thank you, sir.”
He looked at me again.
“I am Aisha’s father.”
I smiled.
“Yes. She has told me so much about you.”
“What did she tell you?”
I raised my head and looked at him.
“Sir?”
“What did my daughter tell you about me?”
“O sir. She said you are a very simple man.”
“No, I am not simple. I am a very strict man. What else?”
“Yes sir. She mentioned that.”
“I know she will.”
“She said you are very kind too and generous.”
“That was why you came very early to eat my rice.”
“Sir.”
“You heard me.”
“Ah no. Aisha is a very close friend to me.”
He leaned forward.
“How close.”
“Not close o. Not like we are close close but we are like good friends.”
“Since when?”
“School days, sir.”
“Stand up.”
I stood up.
“Sit on the floor.”
“Sir.”
“I said sit on the floor.”
Sat on the floor.
“Yowa. That is our tradition. You come to an Alhaji house like mine, you sit on the floor and not on the chair.”
“I didn’t know, sir.”
“Don’t call me sir. Call me Alhaji.”
“Alhaji.”
“Good.”
Just then Aisha emerged from the kitchen carrying a plate of food. Her father stood up without saying a word and walked out.
“Praises sit on the chair na. Why are you sitting on the floor?” Aisha asked.
“Do you want me to disrespect your father?”
“Who? Aminu? That is the gate man. My father left for Dubai this morning.”
I turned to the window and saw Aminu laughing with two other girls.
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