Love in the Flood

In the flood-ravaged streets of Maiduguri, Abdul and Hadiza found themselves in the middle of a love story that would rival even the most turbulent waters of the Ngadabul River.

It all began when the floodwaters surged into Maiduguri after the dam at Alau overflowed.

The city, known for its resilience against insurgency, now faced an equally ruthless enemy—nature. Water gushed through the streets, leaving Abdul, a hopeful poet, stranded on the roof of his uncle’s modest house.

He watched in awe from his perch as the powerful waters surged beneath him, carrying away everything in their path. But the one thing Abdul couldn’t take his eyes off wasn’t floating downstream.

It was Hadiza, the fierce and fiery girl from Dalori, a village that had miraculously escaped the flood’s wrath but had sent aid to the city. As part of a volunteer effort, Hadiza and a few others had paddled into the flooded areas in a makeshift canoe, distributing food and supplies.

With her hijab flowing like a flag in the wind and her paddle slicing through the water with determination, Abdul was smitten. “Help! Help!” Abdul shouted, flailing his arms from the roof. “I need rescuing, and also… maybe your number?”

Hadiza paddled closer, eyes narrowing with suspicion. "What kind of rescue call is this? Do you want to be saved from the flood or your singlehood?”

Abdul grinned sheepishly, “A little bit of both?”

?She sighed but steered the canoe toward him. “Jump in if you can handle some choppy waters. But be warned, my canoe doesn’t carry nonsense.”

As Abdul clambered awkwardly into the canoe, nearly capsizing them both, Hadiza shook her head. “You’re lucky you’re cute because your balance is tragic.”

Together, they navigated the murky, debris-filled waters, avoiding floating pieces of furniture and the occasional goat that looked utterly confused by its new aquatic lifestyle. As they paddled, Abdul tried to make conversation.

“So, do you come here often?” he asked, a smirk tugging at his lips.“In a flood zone? No, not really. But thanks for asking,” Hadiza deadpanned.

They passed by what was once the bustling market square, now eerily silent, with only the tops of stalls visible above the water.

The Navy had already ventured into the worst-hit areas like Simari but were still on high alert. Every corner held a new challenge, but none of them fazed Hadiza.

“You’re something,” Abdul said, admiring her calm demeanour.

“Well, when you’ve lived through insurgencies and floods, you learn to keep your head above water—literally and figuratively.”

They reached a makeshift medical camp set up near the Muhammad Shuwa Memorial Hospital. As they unloaded supplies, Abdul found himself lingering by Hadiza’s side.

She pretended not to notice, but when she caught him trying to scribble a love poem on the back of a waterlogged leaflet, she couldn’t help but laugh.

“Are you seriously writing poetry during a flood?”

?Abdul looked up, slightly embarrassed. “I just thought—well, you know, if the Titanic could have a love story, why can’t we?” Hadiza shook her head but smiled. “Well, let’s hope our ending is a little less… tragic.”

?Just then, a group of villagers from the outskirts arrived, soaked but alive, having been rescued from their flooded homes. Abdul watched as Hadiza sprang into action, organizing relief efforts, tending to the wounded, and ensuring everyone had something to eat.

As the sun set over the waterlogged horizon, Abdul realized that while the flood had destroyed much, it had also brought him something unexpected—a love that was fierce, like the waters of the Ngadabul River, but steady, like Hadiza’s determination.

Later that night, as they sat on a dry patch of land near the hospital, Abdul looked at Hadiza and said, “You know, if we survive this, I’m going to need more than just a ride in your canoe.”

Hadiza smirked, “Survive first, poet. Then we’ll talk.”

And with that, their love story floated on, stronger than the floodwaters that had brought them together.

September 24

@HAWIE24

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