Some things are just present for some times. Just how some people come to go, If only I knew Abdul was one of those things.

It was in an unexpected place we found love, his charms and enamour captivated me, he was of average height, even in his fulani jallabia (male flowing gown) he had the looks of a demi god.

His smiles could break chains and his fulani treated hair always fell over his face in a seductive manner. He was fulani and he was a herdsman, but he was way too handsome to tender cows, somehow I wished I could give the cattles charge to take care of him, but who am I?

I am Nana, the 11th daughter of Ardo... Ardo the whole village knows as worthless, drunkard and miserable.

I hawked awara (Soya bean cake) around the express way every day, awara was loved by many so my little business flourished excellently, perfect for a a naive, young and typical Hausa mind.

Whenever I came back after the day's sales, mother will plead with me to eat a little, but can a meal digest when I have not seen Abdul, the man my heart beats for?

I would hurry up the hills where he was. I would hide behind a mahagony tree and like someone with strong perception skills he would swerve his head and smile.

"Nana zo Nan, na gan ki" (Nana come here, I've seen you).

I would walk to him shyly, hardly ever looking at his face. He would hold my hands and ask how my day went. He would give me nonon shanu (cow milk) if he milked the cows earlier.

He would tell me how he missed me how his day on this hills with his cattles went.

I would ask after my favorite cow Shara, the cow with the most beautiful color combination and healthiest body

"She's been a thorn in my flesh" He would form a small pout with his small fulani lips as he told me.

We would chatter and bleat happily like two birds that just escaped the cage.

If there was a moment I wished stayed forever, then it was this; a time with Abdul.

"Innalillahi, Nana!" My mother's sharp voice shrilled in my ears, ofcourse that will be her reaction when she sees what love has done to her Nana. But he was only a fantasy, a love story that never existed.

Ink spiller✍️✍️