I don't want to get married into a family where they will give me a two-hundred-and-fifty-thousand-naira bed and respect me because they assume my father is well-off. I would rather get married into a family where they will give me a three-million-naira bed and still look down on my father as a poor man, underestimating my intelligence. In short, I still stand by my decision to marry a rich man rather than a poor one!"

I laughed as I listened to Jidda’s words, which she always repeated whenever we talked about marriage.

“My friend, you will never understand. You always take my words as nonsense. I swear, Nawwara, this life we are in does not suit us at all.”

I laughed again for the second time, then looked at her with the same look I always gave when I wanted her to take my words seriously.

"You have a lot of ambitions, Jidda, just as I do. But still, yours don't compare to mine. You and your family are doing okay, but you keep making life difficult for yourself because of your desire to marry a wealthy man. Not all money is clean, and not every rich man is a good person. Many of them don’t respect the poor, nor do they value their wives’ parents. They look down on everyone because they think their wealth makes them superior.

Some rich men are just womanizers, Jidda. If you become their wife, they will humiliate you, especially if they see that you are nobody. I prefer to marry a poor but educated man who values and respects me. A man who will help me strengthen my faith, improve my future, and take care of my children while honoring my parents, even after I am gone. As long as he can provide for me, that is enough for me."

Jidda touched me when she noticed the tears rolling down my cheeks without my realizing it until she spoke.

“Wipe your tears, Nawwara. I know how you feel, but this life we live is hard. Growing up in poverty and staying in it makes you crave a better life. You want to help your parents. Even education, Nawwara, is impossible without money. If you have no money, you are nobody. People treat you however they please. No one likes poverty except God.”

I smiled as she responded to her mother’s call and stood up. I truly understood how my friend felt. Poverty is not easy. But still, the life of the wealthy does not impress me because I know how it is. Not every poor girl who marries a rich man enjoys life, even if he gives her a bank account in her bedroom.

“You see, every day, it’s the same dark millet porridge with maize. No change at all. I swear, Nawwara, I am tired of this life. I pity my future children if I marry into poverty. They will grow up eating millet porridge every day until their skin darkens. I swear, Nawwara, I would rather spend a hundred days with a poor man than one extra day with a rich man.”

Jidda was saying this as she placed a large bowl of millet porridge and baobab soup in front of me.

‘Oh, life! At least you have millet porridge.’

I said in my heart, but out loud, I said:

“Well, stop complaining and eat your food because I am already full.”

Jidda widened her eyes, giving me that mischievous look she always did when she was up to something.

“Maman Nura! Maman Nura! Come quickly!”

I quickly covered her mouth with my hand when I heard her calling her mother. I knew she was about to get me into trouble.

“Jid—”

Before I could finish speaking, Maman Nura, Jidda’s mother, was already in the room.

“Maman Nura, she said she wants to take some home!”

Jidda announced, and her mother responded:

“Alright, let’s add more for her.”

I quickly protested:

“I swear, Mama, she's lying! I never said that!”

She turned to me with a sharp glare, as if she was about to slap me, then pointed a finger at me.

“You see, Nawwara, this behavior of yours irritates me. You lower your value in my eyes. If you find something in this house, you won't take it home? Is your mother and I not the same? One day, I swear, I will slap you if you keep up this nonsense, you shameless girl!”

She stormed out angrily, while I turned to Jidda and hit her.

“You got me into trouble, are you happy now?”

“Well, if I hadn't done that, you wouldn't have taken it. You're the shameless one. When I see something in your house, I ask for it, but you never ask—you just steal it!”

I shook my head at the way she spoke with her mouth full.