YAN ARABIC
I see a large group of students gathered in what seems like an endless line, stretching across the field behind the school’s ICT building. They are all eager to secure admission, and their diverse conversations fill the air. Some engage in lively discussions, while others appear exhausted from waiting and speak sporadically. Most of the women are standing, while a few are squatting.
A car is parked on the side of the road, and the person inside turns to address someone named Nahnah Khadeejah with a smile, “Here we are, Nahnah Khadeejah, at your school. These people you see are all seeking admission, just like you. You’ll be joining them now. Ask your department where you should go.”
Nahnah Khadeejah, overwhelmed by fear, responds with a full mouth, “How can I secure admission among this crowd? How will I get accepted today?”
Mir Mishi reassures her, “Don’t worry, you don’t need a single course. Just approach anyone and give them different department names. If you don’t, you’ll be handing out ‘data windows’ to everyone, even those who don’t need them.”
As they prepare to leave, Nahnah Khadeejah inquires about her friend Saina, asking, “Tom, how is Saina getting back?” He hands her some money, saying, “Midwife, keep this in case you need money or get hungry. You can go to the west.”
Gratefully, she replies, “Thank you, Tom.”
Feeling anxious in the crowd, Nahnah Khadeejah starts to caress her breasts discreetly. She greets the women sitting nearby, saying, “Peace be upon you.” Some respond, while others maintain a quiet demeanor. Some of them look at her in the way women often do, especially when someone has an attractive appearance.
Changing her tone to a more serious one, she says, “Please, I have a question.”
“Sure, what is it?”
“I’m looking for someone who can assist with Arabic.”
“Truth be told, you just need to move forward a bit and ask around. They’re not too far ahead.”
She walks a bit further and approaches a woman seated nearby, saying, “Excuse me, can you help me?”
The woman welcomes her, they shake hands, and she adds, “I also need assistance with Arabic; I’m waiting for an admission letter.”
Observing the woman closely, Nahnah Khadeejah says, “Okay, my sister, we all belong to the same department,” gesturing to the other Matan girls nearby. She extends her hand to them, and they shake hands as well. They sit together, awaiting the distribution of admission letters.
Nahnah Khadeejah Alk’adi Yusuf hails from Sokoto and is the seventeenth child in her family, the only daughter among her siblings. Her father, Alk’adi Yusuf, previously served as a Judge in the High Court of Islamic Shari’a in Sokoto. Among her siblings, there are several brothers and only one other sister.
Her family is well-known for its religious knowledge, with her father dedicating his time to his children and grandchildren. The family is quite extensive, as her father has twenty children of his own, making gatherings vibrant and lively.
Yaya Haroon, a jovial and playful member of the family, plays a significant role in Nahnah’s life. She often seeks his guidance, and his presence is central to their home life. Nahnah showed an early aptitude for Arabic, even before completing primary school, and her talent extended to memorizing religious texts. Haroon decided to move to Kano, and Nahnah watched as he prepared for the journey, feeling a sense of abandonment as he departed to find a wife.
Thus, life continued, marked by Haroon’s visits and Nahnah’s emotional farewells as he embarked on his journey to Kano in search of a spouse.