Chapter 35: Chapter 35

"Mel-vin." her lips muttered as she started at him in confusion.

"Humaira!" He turned to her and went to her side.

Tears gathered in his eyes almost immediately. Her wrist was hurt and her hands was handcuffed.

"I'm so sorry, it's all my fault." He cried bitterly.

"I go just give una just 5 minutes! Because today no be visiting day, Ehen!!" The office warned, rolling his eyes at both of them.

Despite the fact that Melvin has bribed him with some cash to let him in, just for 5 minutes. He still treats him like he don't care.

"Yes, I know sir, I'll be brief." Melvin said as the officer walked out of the visiting room.

Leaving only the both of them to talk their minds. Melvin couldn't help but to hug Humaira.

"No Mel-" She wanted to pull away from his touch again but right that minute, she couldn't.

It was as if her oxytocin ?or dubbed the 搇ove hormone??had?kicked in and made her feel warm and fuzzy inside. The effects Melvin's warm embrace lingered long after the hug: As it is, Oxytocin promotes feelings of trust, nurturing, and calm. He held the hug for a moment before letting go.

He leaned forward again, placing is two hands around her waist and cuddling her warmly towards himself.

Humaira just stood there with her hands, slightly bent to her side.

'What's happening?'

She was frozen in this state. And why was she feeling this way?

Again, keeping her in that position for no more than a couple seconds, he let go as soon as?he woke into the reality of what he was doing. Look her in the eyes, Melvin separated himself from her and continued his conversation naturally.

"Wipe way your tears." He said, placing her on the chair to sit.

"You shouldn't have come here, Melvin! I don't want any more problems, please. I've had enough."

"No, Humaira. Please, don't say that. I know you're innocent after all but Mrs. Bridget is blind to the fact that Melody is capable of stealing her money... She's no where to be found so, they put the blame on you"

"How is she doing,Melvin. I miss her so much."

"She miss you too." Melvin muttered with a confirming smile.

"I and Melvina would be resuming work again tomorrow. I was feeling guilty that's why I decided to pay you a visit myself. The thing is... Since I heard about your arrest, I couldn't help but to blame myself and trust me, I'll find a way to get you out of here. Trust me."

"Okay, I trust you, Melvin. And thank you."

'Krrrraannkkkaaaannnkkkkaaaaannnnn-'

The police officer made an annoying noice with his staff before entering.

"Time up, oga! Ten minutes sef don pass!"

"Just a minute, please." Melvin begged.

"It's okay, Melvin. I'll be fine. Just leave already, there's no need to beg." Humaira muttered.

Melvin looked at her lovingly. Tears were still hanging at the corner of his eyes

"I put you in this mess anyways. Let's be friends." He proposed.

"Fr-iends?" Humaira smiled.

"Yes, friends. Maybe that's how I should have started."

"Yes... We're friends now." Humaira agreed.

"Bye then, I'll be back soon."

Melvin promised as the police officer grabbed Humaira by the shoulders. She took her back into her fell where she joined the others while Melvin watched till she was taken away.

***

When Zainab and others came back from school, she took a warm bath before going into the kitchen to prepare yam Porrage which is one of her favorite.

After the shower, she changed into a silky long jalabiyya and went to peel two large tubers of yam before going to perform her Zuhr prayer. It was already 2:30 pm when Mr. Abdullahi got in.

"Zainab! Is luch ready?" He asked immediately he got in. It's evident that he was hungry... And one thing is, he loves Zainab's food. Because anything cooked by Zainab tastes like heaven.

She quickly ended her prayers and went into the kitchen to blend the peppers and onions for the food. She added seasonings to taste and poured an amount of palm oil. It took a while before she serve the food. By then, Mr. Musa had already taken his shower and prayed too.

Zainab served lunch. She packed all the food in a well designed cooler. She gently placed it at the middle of the table and went for the plates and spoons. Ibrahim, Isah and Idris quickly joined the table as they were famished as well.

Claash!

Zainab fell down with all the plates. It broke into pieces Aon her body as she was hurt. Idris quickly rushed to her and helped her up.

"Is everything alright?" He asked her quickly but she nodded her head as if she was trying to say everything was fine.

"What happened, Zainab? Are you okay?" Mr. Abdullahi bursted.

"Yes sir, I'm fine." Zainab answered quickly and walked to the table.

Idris helped her with the plates too as she served.

Meanwhile, Ibrahim and Isah snickered quietly at her. They planned earlier by placing a banana peel at the entrance where she passed.

The food looked super yummy as the golden aroma filled the dinning room.

Mr. Abdullahi hungrily took a spoon full of Porrage cream.

Pppppphhhhh!!!

She spits it out immediately. "What did you cook this time Zainab?!"

Zainab looked threatened at his words and action.

"I made yam Porrage sir?"

"You made yam Porrage... You surely did. Now, I understand that you're a changed person but I just can't understand why. You intensionally did this right? Why don't you taste what you cooked?!" He spat

It was the first time Mr. Abdullahi has ever shout at her. Her eyes turned watery with the way he blamed her in front of his sons. How unfortunate?

"Yes, yes! What are you waiting for again? Stupid girl! Do you expect me to feed you or what?"

"No..?siir." She squivered to lift ha spoon into her mouth.

She just couldn't swallow it, she had to force herself. "It's as someone had tempered with my cooking sir... I'm sure of what I made. I mean.."

"Just shut up Zainab! Shut up and stop blaming others for your own mistake! You prepared this food? Me?"

"No sir... Thaaat's not what I mea-"

It's clear that you're so selfish and wickedness. As young as you are, you're already this heartless. It's clear that you poured the whole jar of salt into this food. And the pepper alone is unconsumable!

"I didn't do it sir. Wallahi! I didn't know... I'm sorry." Zainab breaks down in tears.

"Sorry for yourself, Zainab! Just take this rubbish out if my face!!" He hissed with so much anger.

She had to close the cooler and takes it all back into the kitchen. She shivered silently as she wakes away.

"This isn't fair dad, you shouldn't have treated her like that!"

"Shut up! The three of you, follow me if you're hungry!" He hissed and left the table. Ibrahim and Isah happily followed their father to his car while Idris noticed their behavior all through. He went to meet Zainab in the kitchen. She was washing all the plates and packing the porrage into always her to throw away.

"How did this happened, Zee? What even happened." Idris asked and quickly tasted the food from the plate.

"Aww! Peppery and salty!! Phhh!!!'

"Just go away, Idris. Don't question me again, I'm tired." She turned away with a frown.

"It's all Ibrahim and Isah's doing right?" He questioned as she immediately stopped crying. She hated it when Idris see her cry. As if she felt shy about him seeing her weakness or so. So, she wiped away her tears and continued her washing.

Zainab kept silent for a while. Just then, They heard the car horn.

Zainab sniffed and faced him, "Why don't you follow them and leave me alone?"

"I'm not interested in going anywhere, Zee. If your hurt, I'm hurt too. He folded the sleeves of his shirt and helped her rinse the plates."

"I can do this alone, Idris. I don't want any more drama for you."

"I'm not complain Zainab. Perhaps, I'm in my father's house. I can do whatever I want to."

Mr. Abdullahi drove the others to a nearby eatery. They ate to their fill and even brought home take aways but nothing for Zainab.

After doing the dishes, Zainab and Idris cleaned the kitchen and the livingroom as well.

Then, Idris brought out a story book he borrowed from the school library and they happily read it together. They wrote down the new words into their vocabulary building notebook. It is a 60 leaves exercise book the both of them bought... So, they checked up the meaning of the words inside a big dictionary and save the meanings and synonyms into the vocabulary book like a piggy bank.

As it is, the dictionary was for Ibrahim and Isah so, it's clear that they wouldn't lend Zainab or Idris, himself. Even though he's their bother, they don't share things with him like that because they thinks he's too young to handle such things.

An hour later, Idris returned the dictionary back into their room while Zainab decided to prepare dinner. Carefully this time. One thing is clear, Ibrahim and Idris wants her out so they planned against her. She wasn't offended at all but one thing for sure, she won't stay forever with the Bala's.

Suddenly, when she heard the horn of the car, she quickly went to open the gate. She greeted Me. Abdullahi welcome but her ignored her. She wanted to collect the takeaways to help them take it in but none of them even looked at her.

When Mr. Abdullahi get in, he noticed?she was cooking again. He angrily walked into the kitchen to see for himself.

She had made Semovita and melon soup.

"What's this again, Zainab! Are you blind or deaf or you're simply just dump?!"

Zainab looked at him, puzzled.

"What did I do again this time?"

He clamps his hand over his head as if he regretted doing something or he was thinking about something confusing too.

Another series of tears gathered her eyes as she thought about that she had done wrong again. Her poor heart raced as she thought about it.

"Why, Zainab! Why do you love wasting food this much! Something that is so expensive in market!"

***

Words and Translations

Semovita: A food made from grounded corn. Corn flour.

-Jalabiyya: A long loose gown worn by make it female.

-Zuhr : Afternoon prayer between 1:00 pm to 2:00pm

***