Chapter 34: Chapter 34

"So what are you suggesting right now, Amina. I'm curious."

"Let's keep her. I agree. I accept whatever you want but please, don't compare her with any of my sons. She doesn't belong here and you know it!"

"But we're only doing this to get Allah's Barka and Rahma. Zainab is just an orphan, she deserves a better life just like our sons."

"Okay. Let me agree with you. Imagine we treat her equally among our sons and she becomes our daughter as you wish. When she gets old enough to get married, who would you think would want to marry an HIV patient?"

"Ehn?"

"So you see... All these are not ordinary. It's not as if you have an obligation on her or something. She's just an homeless girl. Give her a home. She's hungry? Yes, feed her. Educate her well. That's enough. Don't do more than that."

"Aminaaaa..." He smiled. You always have a way to control me. So who are you protecting now o? Your son's.

"No. It's not just our sons. I'm protecting you as well. Help her as you should and you'll still get blessed?No hard feelings."

"Okay, fine. I get you. I won't attach so much feelings to Zainab any longer. If that would make you happy."

"Yes, definitely!" Amina lit a bright smile across her lips as her husband planted a soft kiss to it.

"I love you hubby."

"I love you too, wifey." They hugged themselves romantically.

Finally, Abdullahi was able to settle his wife and Amina was able to save humer marriage and her beloved husband.

****

The Following Morning...

Everything went on as planned. Zainab did all the chores and continued school. Her and Idris became closer and they did everything together. Amina was curious about the fact that her last son was so attached with the girl she hated so much.

She planned to despise her even more. Maybe warn her from even getting closer to Idris. That would be a good start.

***

Days Later,

At Zaria...

It was hot as usual. The sun was brighty and shiny, making the pricing even looked hotter and unbearable.

The fact that Humaira was pregnant meant nothing to all of them. She isn't going to be the first pregnant prisoner in history anyway, so, what's the news?

Earlier that they, Humaira and other prisoners went outside to cut the grasses. They cleared the bushy surroundings and burnt the dirt. After that, they were divided into sections (pairs) to clean each office because it was Saturday.?Some wash the toilet while others do the dishes. Firdaus and Saturdays are for cleanings and sanitation. While Sundays and Fridays are for visiting.

That day actually looked longer to Humaira. She's been going through so much pain since she got there but.. all she had done so far was to keep all the pain to herself, waiting and praying for God's miracle. If there's ever one.

She laid on the bare floor as usual, silently reciting some prayers. It was after Asr... She was about to take a sleep off when one officer came, hitting there burglary (iron door) with his stick.

Some that were asleep woke up while others that weren't asleep rained him curses.

"You better shut up there else?! I'll come and teach you some lessons!!"

The ladies hissed at him and sat down back.

"Hey you!" He pointed.

"Me?" One ugly looking lady asked with a smile.

"Not you idiot! I'm talking about cry- cry. Where is she?"

The lady hissed and tapped Humaira. She's nicknamed cry-cry because of how frequently she burst into tears there and everyone knows her well...

She slowly jilt up. "Yes?"

"They're calling you." She rolled her large eyes at Humaira's lazy body..

Humaira quickly stands up to meet him. Maybe he wanted to give her a chance to call her sister.

Yes sir. She muttered as stood in front of him

"You have a visitor."

"What? A visitor?"

"Don't ask me foolish questions, cry-cry, because you're not deaf! Just follow me."

He opened the door and dragged her out if the place.

"Walk fast abeg!" The officer yelled as her as she woke up from the thought of who would come to visit her. She thought maybe it was Mrs. Bridget or Mr. Abdullahi from Abuja.

Just then, she saw someone she never expected. It's barely two weeks after the incident but he was looking better.

Melvin.

-------------

Zainab's excerpt:

Rain was falling. The icy water dripped hard into wipes and splashes all around Zainab, catching on her eyelashes while she stared up at the tall man before her. Mr. Abdullahi was in a sleek, black suit, he was as stark against the rain as a selient devil in the dark that wanted to hunt her. He considered her with murky, bloodshot eyes and she shuddered, glad for my mother抯 firm grip on my hand.

揨ainab, don抰 let go,?she said, and pulled me closer to her side.

揥hy,?I asked, only to realize that no sound emerged when I spoke. Were I to let go, there would be nowhere to run anyway. Nothing but deep covered drain of water covered terrain surrounded me for miles. A sudden touch, something colder than water, made me jump. I whipped around to find him reaching for me with hands wrapped in a swirling stain of fresh blood shed. He was coming towards me with a knife, but it seems my mother, Binta was invisible to him.

As her walked closer, my mother yanked me away and said, angrily, 揥e had a deal.?

***

The man angled his bald head and smiled, displaying perfect, porcelain teeth. His reply whispered from his lips like moths rustling dry leaves. 揂 deal requires the participation of all parties involved. You,?he emphasized the word, 揾ave not upheld your end of the bargain.?

He looked at Zainab again. Those putrid orbs bore into her and the scraping, fluttering sound returned. It intensified to a roar, drowning out whatever he抎 been about to say.

Zainab awoke suddenly, the familiar noise still echoing in my ears. Cold, hard rain pelted me from above and she squinted as it struck her face. Grass encompassed her, looming so high that it obscured the sky and her view of the immediate area. A tangy scent of blood drifted in the air and she sat up cautiously, worried it might be her own.

Or her sister抯.

揌umaira!?She called softly.

Her body was unharmed, other than a few cuts and scrapes. The silky pink nightgown, however, were torn in several places and soaked in frigid, muddy water. They clung to her as she stood, weighing heavily on her arms and legs. Height was not a gift Zainab parents?gene pool had bestowed upon her, so she could barely see over the colossal plants around. Peering through the wispy ends of the blades, she could make out the edge of a forest less than a quarter mile away on her right.

Hugging herself for warmth, Zainab turned full circle in my little patch of flattened grass, looking for the highway they had left earlier. But there was no road in sight, only the long line of the forest extending into the horizon. Any other landmarks that may have been present weren抰 visible through the deluge of water and towering foliage. There wasn抰 even a trail of broken stalks around to denote where Zainab had come from. As though the sky had dropped there there with the rain.

"What an excellent deduction Zainab. The sky is raining people! And there's no escape for you, little witch!! It's all your fault! Now, it's all your fault you'll never find your sister!!"

揌umaira!?Zainab said a little louder. There was still no response. Shivering, she continued to glance around, alarmed that there was no sign of him.

The plains were as isolated as the rainy night of her dream.

"Get up!" A splash of water wrenched her from the confusing dream. As she trembled from dreaming into reality.

"I said get up, you little witch!" Amina sprinkled another waster to her from a tiny kettle.

"It's 8:00 am and you're still sleeping?! Who would do your house hi for you?! Your servant?!"

"No ma." Zainab woke up confusedly shaken into consciousness. "I'm sorry... I had a dream."

"Get out of bed immediately and start the cleaning. We might be having visitors later in the afternoon so, I don't want to hear any complain! Prepare Jollof spaghetti for breakfast and you would was all the blankets and curtains after that!"

"But... I'll be late for school." Zainab complained. Almost in tears.

Amina wrenched water on her again another and rolled her eyes at poor Zainab like a piece of garbage.

"It's Saturday, Zainab! Get up immediately before I find a suiting cane to beat you up this morning! You won't be able to sleep well let alone dream!"

Zainab stood up immediately.

"I'm so sorry ma. I'll go now." She muttered sorrowfully and left in tears.

"Sorry for yourself! Mteeeew!!"

Amina hissed and left the room.

***

It seems things were getting worse every single day. Despite the fact that she was just discharged from hospital. Amina decided to treat her like this. She wept quietly as she badly wished she had even stayed in the hospital for one more day.

'Everything won't last long. That, I know.' Zainab muttered to herself as she finally find a courage to wipe away her tears. She really missed Humaira so much... 'And uptil now, my big sister didn't even care to come and check on me. On how I'm doing. How I'm eating and how I'm living. How unfortunate is life, itself?'

***