Slowly driving with his eyes on the road, he listened to his friend, confidant, and brother sitting in the passenger seat. Eventually, he sighed and shook his head, speaking calmly, "Ahmad, you should change your story; I don't see its benefit..." His friend Ahmad laughed and said, "Well, it benefits me because I love her and want to marry her. Look, Captain, please be honest and tell me what's wrong with Maryam." The one called Captain ran his hand through his soft hair and said, "You know what?" Ahmad just looked at him, waiting for his response. Captain said, "I want you to tell me why you Hausas only talk about love. There are so many meaningful educational topics to discuss... But you all focus only on love. Did you know that I recently discovered that airplane water is riddled with bacteria? Not only that, but I also found out recently that..." Ahmad, giving him a look, interrupted, "What you're saying won't add any value to people like me." Captain focused entirely on his driving. Ahmad said, "Whenever I bring up Maryam, you always find a way to avoid the discussion. Why?" Captain said, "Okay, you asked me about her flaws, right?" Ahmad said, "Yes, so?" Captain said, "First of all, she is local. Secondly, she has no qualities that would make you stick to her, dude. Just imagine, an undergraduate? And worst of all, she isn't even beautiful enough. There are big babes in Abuja where you came from. And... her hygiene is nothing to write home about. That's my main concern." Ahmad looked at him in surprise, initially unable to say anything. Then he said, "What lack of hygiene have you seen in her?" Captain glanced at him and said, "You'll see one day." Ahmad shook his head and said, "You're talking nonsense. Maryam has the qualities I want. I think that's all? And if you don't like something, you'll never like it and will discourage others." Captain nodded and said, "Yes, that's true. Please, let's close the chapter." Ahmad was about to speak when he saw a place selling fried bean cakes (awara) by the roadside. He quickly said, "Captain, please stop. I want to get this. I can't remember the last time I had awara, since before I went to the UK..." Captain glanced at the place and sped up, saying, "God forbid, just because I came to pick you up at the railway station doesn't mean you should turn us into vagabonds in the neighborhood... What's awara anyway?" Ahmad said, "Just drop me off. I didn't ask you to pick me up at the station; you offered to do so." Captain lowered his voice and slowed down, saying, "Ahmad, do you know how they process what you're about to eat? This is the neighborhood. Wait until you get home and have it made for you. I don't like your locality." Calmly, Ahmad said, "Aren't the people in the neighborhood human beings, Abuturrab?" Captain said, "No, that's not what I mean. I mean... the hygiene. They don't value it, you understand." Ahmad said, "You always talk about hygiene. Well, Mr. Clean, I still want to buy it, and it's none of your business." Captain didn't say anything more, seeing a place selling fried bean cakes, he parked before reaching the spot and said, "Go ahead and buy it, but honestly, you aren't worth being a doctor, a very careless doctor who looks down on hygiene." Ahmad glared at him and said, "I didn't say I wanted to eat potatoes, man. I said awara, and they sell potatoes here." Captain looked at the place and said, "So that's not it?" Ahmad said, "No, it's not." Captain drove slowly, sighing under his breath. Ahmad is just too local for his liking. Ahmad said, "I think there's another place over there." Captain parked by the spot Ahmad pointed out, looking at the girl frying the bean cakes with a grimace. He wondered if he could eat what she was making even if he was starving. Ahmad got out of the car and went to her. She was sitting alone, with children and beggars waiting for her to sell them the bean cakes. Ahmad said, "How much are your bean cakes?" Without looking at him, she said, "Twenty naira each." Ahmad widened his eyes and put his hands on his waist, saying, "Oh my God, it's like we're arguing with the bean cake seller with that kind of response." Still not looking at him, she continued serving the children in front of her. Captain watched them from the car. Ahmad stood there, not saying anything else, seeing her mood. After serving the children, she looked up at him.