“At Salford Crescent” was the text I
read from him which tied me speechless, because I just spoke with him couple of
minutes ago while he was preparing to board his train. So I told him to catch
the next school bus right away there in the Peel park campus to Mathias court,
where I will be waiting for his arrival. Nay! Suleiman while waiting has been
smeared by a staggering cold, so he took to the central mosque where he eventually
missed the bus. On finding out this, I set out cycling to pick him there, but
he said he has begun walking through campus finding his way to Adelphi area, so
we can meet there.
Wearing a complete glymur jacket accentuated
with black head warmer, gloves and earmuffs, he gave me a friendly warmed hug. Isn’t
this ironic, you just told me that you were wearied by the naughty cold of
Manchester, aren’t you hot enough not to have wore such multi-layered winter
clothing now? I inquire, isn’t that too early? “I only prepared for your colder
Manchester” he replied. Well that’s cheeky by the way let’s go home quickly
before Arc. Sanusi fumbled in the kitchen while preparing our dinner, “Sanusi
must hear this” he replied laughing. Suleiman cycled to home as I continue to
mock him of his intense phobia for cold.
We dined and gist through the night, I
asked Suleiman to go to bed, but he contest that saying “just leave me you know
I have been missing you”. I know, but I
dare told you I miss you more, I passionately replied. Therefore I retired to
my bed leaving him and Sanusi going on with the stimulating discussion and. I
receive a call from Amina Kontagora asking me about the departure time and also
to remind her at least an hour or two ahead of the time. So I did told her and
asked her to convey it also to Bello Nagoggo.
Saturday morning, shudehill
interchange saw the thrilling team ready to rock the coach to the biggest city
of the north east, Newcastle. To my astonishment, Bello did wore a much more thicker
cloth than what I saw yesterday from Suleiman’s so called preparedness for the
dreary cold -if it were. But Amina’s frock appeared the most surprising attire,
so I laughingly said to them are you guys heading to Eskimo? “Don’t mind Saleh”
replied cold stricken Amina. Even at that, Bello wanted to add to his body the
jacket I carried along in case the weather went windy, so he swiftly grab it
off my shoulder contesting to my hesitation. I was dumb stricken watching the
drama continue to unfold, when Amina quivered while mesmerizing into the
station as Suleiman rolled her red heavy bag behind
We waited for a while and latter all the passengers queue calmly and all check into the coach. We were ferried through Leeds, Borough, Sunderland, Gateshead and across the famous river Tyne. In no time, here we are in the hearth of the most northern county, the Northumberland. A whispering world fizzled to my ears, “this is the time, excuse the team and fly to the historic city of Berwick once referred to by your friend, then to the beautiful coastline of the North Sea, then return and join them later at night. I resisted painfully, but sooner than later I found that Newcaslte worth sacrificing those places whispered.
It was cold and rainy weather just like any other county in the north, especially the most eastern county. So we walked in to GFS to wait for Jide and Fauzy to come and pick us and also to have some hot coffee. Jide arrived and took us through to the city centre.
At the centre, I gave Fauzy
a call, authoritatively I was, telling her that we are not going to see her till
tomorrow, she quickly opposed my decision as she used to back then in Unimaid,
especially if Maunde (my brother and friend) is beside her. She denounces
me saying “no! you must be joking MB Saleh, do you know that since my
colleagues have been asking me about my visitors, infact our teacher, Mal.
Bukar jokingly said may be you have cancelled the visit, just tell me where are
you I will be there soon. ” After telling Suleiman he then asked to reverse my
early decision then I told her you are lucky meet us at the St. Ann’s square or
precisely under the popular Charles Grey’s monument, (2nd Earl Grey). All these
well known places sounds orthogonally extraneous to Fauzy’s ears, she quickly
put me through to Deborah, on telling Deborah, she subtly told me to wait
there, they will get to us latest in 10 minutes.
The appearance
of Fauzy, accompanied by two of her friends Deborah and Zainab at the Greys
monument was first perceived by Amina, she alerted us their arrival. Wao! We all
were elated seeing our reunion here in this marvellous suare. Fauzy did not
hesitate in invoking “Noi Babale Jam nee” so, pleasantries continued, we all
introduced ourselves to one another. Both Deborah and Zainab were also Unimaid
Alumni, I inquisitively asked Zainab about her course and year of graduation, “Civil
engineering 2007” replied zainab, oh just a year ahead of myself. Then I further
put same question to Deborah, “English 2000”, replied Deborah. Alas! I
conciously shred away freezing inside by skinny blanket. I breathed a sigh of
relief when Amina said to me “Oh you thought seniority never exist here” They
all laughed at me and Suleiman said “we were in S.S1 then” Yeah, sure we are in
SS1 then. Impalpably it seems to be, I
finally bow wholeheartedly to now Aunty Deborah. So she led the conversation,
before in few minutes I found out that Aunty Deborah was kid at heart, and this
has considerably sharpens the way we related throughout our stay in Newcastle.
She could not even mind dinning from same plate with us later in the day.
....To be
continued!
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