"Safrah! Safrah!! Called the mother as she entered inside the sitting room from the yard holding a medium bowl of tomatoes and red bell peppers.
" Na'am! Mama. I'm here in the kitchen," answered Safrah, a 25 years old girl. Dark in complexion and average in height. She wore a pink t-shirt and white long skirt with strips of pink on it. On her head, was a pink turban. She was dicing some carrots on a wooden chopping board. She smiled jauntily, she knew why her mother was calling her.
"Of course. I know you will be there," said the mother as she headed straight to the kitchen swiftly, adjusting her wrapper with her left hand. As she entered the kitchen, she dropped the bowl of vegetables on the kitchen table, beside Safrah.
"Didn't I warned you of taking my onions and other ingredients without asking for my permission?" She pulled Safrah's ear a bit hard that Safrah screamed in pain and held the ear.
"I'm sorry, Mama. I wanted to make a beef sauce and I checked everywhere in the house looking for you to ask you if I can take the onions,but didn't see you. So I took the onions, explained Safrah.
"You know that I am going to use the onions for my miyan kuka. I just went to get the ground baobab in Maman Khadija's house. You always exhaust my maggi, onions, spices, etc for your so called cooking. I told you several times to write the list of the ingredients you need to your father to buy it for you. Haba! You have to go and get me onions now. If not no soup for dinner," She let go of Safrah's ear and stared at her angrily.
"I said I'm sorry Mama... What's going on here?" Interrupted Mallam Hassan; Safrah's father as he approached the kitchen. He was dressed in blue kaftan and wore a blue cap.
"Assalam Alaikum" he added as he entered the kitchen with a big black nylon on his hand.
"Wa alaikum salam," Safrah and her mother answered in chorus. Safrah rushed to collect the nylon from him and welcomed him happily "sannu da zuwa Baba", she said with a smile.
" Yauwa, Safrah. What are you cooking for us today? I heard the aroma from the neighborhood," asked her father with a smile.
"Sannu da Zuwa Mai gida, why are you exaggerating about Safrah's cooking? The aroma did not leave the door of this kitchen, talkless of perceiving it from the neighborhood," said Safrah's mother as she picked her bowl of vegetables from the kitchen table.
"Haba Mama, Baba ka jita ko?" Safrah said with tears in her eyes, she looked at her father waiting for his response. She knew he is going to support her. He always encouraged her in her cooking and in everything she do. Most of the times, she bought the ingredients for her. And appreciate her cooking whenever he tasted it. He bought so many cookery books for her.
Unlike the mother, who doesn't show much interest in what Safrah does. She believes it's a must for Safrah to learn how to cook by herself or learn from her.
Safrah loves cooking more than anything in her life. She spends time in the kitchen cooking varieties of food, both African and continental, especially weekends or in the evenings when she comes back from school. It's her favourite hobby. She cooks with passion. Safrah learned to cook by herself. She loves creating and trying new recipes. And loves food plaiting. She is a unique chef. And always share her food pictures and recipes on social media. And have lots of fans. That gingered her more, because she believes she is doing something good and important.
"Don't mind your mother. She is just pulling your legs, as far as I know you are one of the best cook in the whole world. Open the nylon, I bought some vegetables and fresh fish for you," consoled Safrah's father.
"Oh! Thank you Baba, na gode sosai. I really appreciate your support and encouragement" Safrah smiled happily and opened the nylon.
"I'm glad you bought vegetables and I hope there is onion too. Because Safrah used my onions for her cooking and I wanted to use it for my baobab soup now," Safrah's mother showed the bowl of tomatoes and red bell peppers to her husband.
"Don't worry, I bought lots of onions," Safrah's father responded to his wife.
Safrah brought out everything from the nylon and kept them on the table.
"Aha! Here are your two onions that I took. Safrah said with a delight as she put the
two onions in her mother's bowl.
" Two onions will not be enough for me, add three more for me, " she said as she pushed the bowl of vegetables towards Safrah.
"But Mama, I only took two. And I need lots of onions for my cooking. I have varieties of food to cook with onions this weekend, explained Safrah with a frown.
" Haba Safrah these onions are too much for you. You can't use it all." The mother picked three onions, put it in her bowl and turned to leave the kitchen saying "let me hurry up and grind the vegetables, it's getting late."
"Mama! Safrah called out her mother. She was pensive and turned to look at her father who was standing by the door, removing his phone from his pocket as it started ringing.
" Don't worry, Safrah. If you need more, I will buy it for you," he reasurred Safrah and left the kitchen to answer his phone call.
Safrah turned to her cooking, she washed her carrots, green peppers and spring onions, she rinsed them and add them to the pot. She stirred gently, with a wooden spoon and tasted the beef sauce if there is any need to add salt. But the sauce was okay, so she covered the pot and allowed to cook on medium flame. Then she cleaned and washed the bowls she used.
* * *
At twelve noon. The sun was blazing hot. The weather has changed; raining season has ended. The winter has started approaching. Safrah was dressed in a simple gown, yellow and red colour. She picked her small bag from the bed and put her purse and Android phone inside. She looked at the mirror and adjusted her powder and rubbed a red lipstick on her lips. She looked at her face in the mirror once again and left her room. She met her mother in the corridor and told her that she was going to her favourite supermarket for a shopping.
"You should have followed your father, he just left now on his motorcycle. He forgot his folder and came back to pick it," explained the mother.
"Don't worry, Mama. I have charted a tricycle from 'OPay. He will be here any minute" Safrah said with a smile. She opened her hand bag and brought out her phone. She checked the phone and saw the rider calling her.
"I'm coming right now," she said as she hurried to the door. She turned and looked at her mother and said, the rider has arrived. Bye Mama,"
"What is Opay?"asked the mother, gazing at her daughter as she reached the door.
" Opay it's a new easier means of transportation. You will order where you are going online and a rider will come and pick you up at your location" Safrah explained and dashed outside.
"Alright. That's good. Wish you safe trip, dear," said the mother with a smile.
"Oh! Ikon Allah. What a technological era! Wonders shall never end. She picked her broom and started sweeping the corridor.
"Afternoon, Hajiya," greeted the rider with an amiable smile as Safrah entered the tricycle.
"Afternoon, Mallam."
"AKCB Supermarket, right?" the rider asked as he started the car, without turning.
"Yes," replied Safrah.
He drove her to AKCB Supermarket, which was 500km away from her home. She paid him and rated him five stars on the App. He thanked her and drove off.
Safrah was welcomed by the security guards there, as one of their loyal customer. She responded back with an amiable smile and headed to the entrance of the supermarket. The security guard at the door, welcomed and opened the door for Safrah, he recognised her too. Safrah, did her shopping. She bought black olives, pasta, yellow mustard and spices. She paid at the counter with her credit card. The lady printed out the receipt from the POS Device and handed it to Safrah and said, "thank you for your patronage, we really appreciate.
" You are welome," Safrah smiled back after collecting her receipt.
She stood by the gate, waiting for another OPay rider. He arrived on time and she entered the tricycle. As the rider was trying to make a turn, they heard screams and loud noises beside them. They turned to see what was going on and to their greatest surprise, it was a car accident. The rider parked his car aside. Before the rider got out of the car, Safrah has jumped out already and headed to the scenery in dilemma. There was a large crowd there. Staring and talking in loud voices. Safrah peeped to see what really happened. She saw a lady almost her age lying on the road side, crying and holding her left leg in pain, "Oh! my leg. It's paining me. I can't get up. Somebody help," the lady cried in pain.
Safrah looked at the crowd. She discovered that it was a keke rider that hit the lady as she crossed the road to enter a brand new corolla car which was parked by the side of the road. The keke man was sweating profusely like a cascading waterfall, some people jerked him by the collar, calling him names. The lady's driver was insulting him, "that's how you stupid kill people deliberately with your reckless driving. How can you over take me through the right side, for God sake? You are in big trouble today. You will pay for what you did."
Safrah was scared and confused. So many accidents have been happening these days. It's scary. That's what happened to her cousin last week on his way to Kano. She had a fracture on his thigh. But thank God he is recovering gradually.
"Oh! my leg, it hurts" the lady cried in pain again. Safrah turned to look at the lady on the ground, holding her leg. A woman handed a bottle to water to the lady, consoling her, "don't worry, you will be fine,"
She was trying to make a phone call, but couldn't press the buttons. Safrah moved closer to the lady and bent down close to her."Do you need help? she asked sympathetically.
"Yes, please, help me call this number. It's my mum. Just tell her what happened," the lady said in a low painful voice, pointing at the name on the screen.
"Okay, Safrah said she collected the phone quickly from the lady and dialled the number. She narrated briefly what happened. The mother was shocked. She asked Safrah to describe the location of the incidence. Safrah did and handed the phone over to the lady.
" Thank you, she said to Safrah and added, "I hope I didn't break my leg. Oh! God help me. I'm on my way going to a Cooking Competition and I have only twenty minutes left. What do I do now? and I don't want to miss it. I have been waiting for this day, and look at what happened," she sobbed, staring at her wounded leg. There were bruises on the leg and some blood too.
Safrah looked at the lady, she pitied her and patted her on the shoulder, "don't wory, you will be fine." she said assuringly.
The lady looked at Safrah and asked her nicely, please do you have passion for cooking?"
Safrah looked at the lady quickly, "without second thought, "yes, of course. That's my hobby," she replied with a smile.
"Oh! Thank God. Please can you help me? I don't know if you can attend the Cooking Competition in place of me. I applied online. I will be grateful if you will do that for me," the lady said as she held Safrah's hand softly and looked at her with a trace of hope.
"Yes, sure. Why not? I will gladly do that for you." assured Safrah with a smile full of confidence.
"Thank you so much. Take this card. It contains my details and everything about the competition. All the best, please try your very best. Hurry, we don't have much time. I will definitely repay your kindness. Thank you and God bless," thanked the lady happily. She was overwhelmed by Safrah's kindness and trust.
"Don't worry, I won't fail you. I promise." Safrah assured the lady as she got up and rushed to her rider who was with the crowd.
"Mallam let's go, please am in a hurry, " she said.
"Okay, Hajiya."
"But please you will drop me before my destination, it's just close by. Something urgent came up."
"Okay"
The driver dropped Safrah at a story building and left. She quickly entered the gate and brought out the card given to her by the lady to check the exact place to go.
"2nd floor, Ajarsa's Kitchen." Safrah read aloud. She followed the direction that led her to the place. She was welcomed by he organizer and other members of the panel. She saw 9 ladies standing by their tables with their names written on a small square plastic. It was beautifully designed. She checked the card and saw the lady's name"Zahrah's Cuisines". She checked round go Zahra's table. At last, she sighted her table with inbuilt gas cooker, kitchen items and food stuff. Zahra's table was like any other table there in the place. Safrah greeted the ladies and went to stand by her table.
All right chefs. The Cooking Competition will commence in 10 minutes time. Cross check your tables to make sure your ingredients and kitchen items are complete. There is a paper on your table, read the paper and confirm," announced one of the judge who was sitting down at a big round table with 4 other judges. On the table were varieties of juices, bottle water, laptops, Jotters, biros and flowers.
Safrah picked a blue apron on her table and wore it like she saw the other ladies did. The name Ajarsa's Kitchen was written on it.
Her phone started ringing, she quickly brought it from her bag and checked. It was her mother. Thank God the phone was on vibration. She declined the phone call and sent her mother a text quickly. Then put the phone on silent and kept it inside her bag and kept her bag under her table.
"You are to prepare 2 food with all the ingredients on your tables. But we will you 20 minutes to prepare your ingredients. Then you will cook the two food in 30 minutes. And remember, it's a 30 Minutes Cooking competition."announced another judge.
" 30 Minutes? Said Safrah in a low voice as she gazed at the judge. Hmm! She sighed. I can do it! I can do it! In Sha Allah. She relaxed and looked at the other chefs. They are all ready for the competition. Don't panic,"she said to her self. She looked at the vegetables; cauliflower, carrots, chives, onions, tomatoes, red bell peppers, green bell peppers, yellow bell peppers, spices, chicken, seasonings, vegetable, olive oil and rice.
When the 20 minutes was over for the food preparation, all the participants were told to stop.
" Your time starts now. Remember, it's a 30 Minutes Cooking Competition. The youngest judge reminded them.
All the chefs set to work, trying to beat the time. It wasn't easy. Everyone worked hard. They boil, cook, fry, cut, blend and at last the time was up and they were all asked to step back. The judges checked the tables, food and neatness of chef table and chef. They tasted the food and comment, jot down the points and went to work on the result. After few hours, the result was announced. Safrah score the highest point. She was the winner. She almost fainted because of joy. Tears of happiness rolled down her checks. She was extremely happy and thanked God in her mind. Two other winners were announced. Second and third winner. They congratulated one another. Safrah received her prices, a standing gas cooker, microwave oven, a 3 in one blender and a large token amount of 100,000 naira. Safrah screamed with joy and huged the judge that presented the gifts to her. They took pictures together with all the other chefs. Safrah was so happy, she checked the lady's card and saw her phone number. She called her and told her the good news. Zahra shouted delightedly over the phone. She heard Zahra telling the news to her mother who seemed to be beside her.
In thirty minutes time, the same came to the story building, it was Zahra's driver. He took Safrah and her gifts to Zahra's house. Zahra was from a wealthy family, they lived in a mansion. Safrah was surprised. Zahra's family welcomed her whole heatedly. They thanked Safrah for her kind gesture. Safrah saw Zahra's condition, it wasn't a fracture but a sprain in the ankle. Her leg was wrapped in a bandage. She was holding a cup of hot tea.
To Safrah's gratest surprise, Zahra gave her all the gifts she received from the Cooking Competition. "I don't need anything, I have everything. I just joined he Cooking Competition for passion sake not for the gifts and money. It's all yours. You are truly a good person. You helped me and called me as soon as you received the gifts. Had it been it was another person, she would have run away with everything."
Safrah was shocked and surprised. At first she didn't want to collect the gifts but was persuaded by Zahra's family.
"You did everything, you deserve it. Zahra's father gave four hundred thousand naira to Safrah as a token of their appreciation. Safrah wept with joy and thanked them. Zahra's father told the driver to take Safrah home with her gifts as it was 7:00pm in the evening.
"Can we be friends?" Zahra asked Safrah with an amiable smile.
Safrah hesitated and then smiled back at Zahra, "yes." She said and they shook hands.
"Mama! I'm on my way home now with a good news," Safrah said to her mother over the phone almost laughing excitedly as the driver drove on a high speed to take her home.© Asma'u Sada
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