Chapter 36: Chapter 36

"Sir... I had no idea where you were going? I thought you'll come home hungry and it's dinner I prepared sir..." She tried to explain but a hard slap hit her across her face. It whirled so fast that she almost fell to the ground.

Flabbergasted.

"Wheres the porrage? Where's the porrage you wasted?!"

It's already in the dustbin sir...

"What? You wasted all of that?" He clamoured.

"I can't believe this. You had no food to eat and I brought you home. Now what did you do? You waste my food?"

"No.. no... Sir." She shivered to so much tears. She cried as she knelt down in front of him.

"I...I tthought no one would eat it sir."

"What about you? Can't you eat it?"

"She kept quiet, not knowing what to reply him with."

"Ehn! Am I not talking to you?! I said why can't you eat it?! Perhaps, you cooked it yourself!"

"I'm sorrry ssir, forgive me."

If you say that word one more time, I'll give you another hot slap, you'll forget how to speak."

Zainab trembled to the ground. She's never seen Mr. Abdullahi beat a student in school let alone insult one like this. He's been the definition of a true father and a perfect gentleman but today, he's been a different person entirely.

"I give you one minute, go and bring that stupid food you cook from the dustbin."

" Yes Sir..." she looked at him, quivering live a baby cat

"Are you deaf or you want me to meal you one!" He raged at her as she ran out immediately to bring it.

The three body's hid themselves by the door of the kitchen, watching what was happening. Ibrahim and Isah felt happy for this. Finally, their father seem to treat her how they've wanted to. Idris just kept quite, watching a of the drama.

She came back with the wrapped leather of porrage in her hands.

"Since you enjoy wasting food, this is going to be your food in this house from now on. From today henceforth, I dare not see you eating in this house, else! I'll show you the other side of he, and you'll hate me so much. Do you understand me?"

"Yes ssir." She stammered, still in tears.

"Good."

He was about to leave when he turned back to her again. As if he remembered something.

"What about the clothes I have you to wash. Have you washed them?"

"No sir. I'll do that tomorrow."

'Twaaack!'

She heard another hard slap on the other side of her cheek.

"I have you that cloth since last weekend and you're giving me excuses?!" He looked at her with fire in his eyes.

He took out a plug of their electric kettle to wipe her with it. After receiving five lashes, she ran away, trying to avoid any more lashes. Mr. Abdullahi ran after her... Like a goat that's escaping death.

"If you move one more inch from where you are, I'll make your life more miserable than it already is!"

She then decided to stay.

He kicked her into her room and closet the door. Idris didn't feel settle. Everything was wrong. Why would his dad. Of all people in the world. Why would his dad ever treat Zainab like this. This was unfair and it needs to be corrected immediately before it gets out if hand.

On the other side, Ibrahim and Isah rushed to the room with so much amazement.the burst out into an uncontrollable laughter and praised themselves for planning things do well.

She broke the plates because we placed the banana peel at the entrance. Meanwhile, we had already completed the kitchen work.

"Yes, nobody would ever suspect us, Ibro. Imagine if mum was around, this fun would have been unbearable. But... Let's wait for her arrival." Isah smirked.

Just then, Idris waled in. He overheard everything the just said?

"So, it was both if you. Right? Subhanallah!how can one be so heartless and do wicked?!"

"Later, you'll call yourselves my brothers? I'm so disappointed in both of you. I can't imagine you did this to our only sister."

"Hey! You better shut the hell up already or I'll give you your own slap right now. Who are you talking to like that ehn or are we your mates?" Perhaps, that stupid girl isn't my sister! She can be yours for all I care.

"I hate both of you so much! Isah, I can't believe you joined hands with Ibro too." Idris cried.

"You better keep quite there, else. I'll teach you your own lesson." Isah warned. Didn't you hear she's bad luck?"

"You both are bad luck! Idris hissed and left the room . He wanted to report them to his father but the door to Zainab's room was locked. And all he heard was her screaming and shouting for help and forgiveness.

Idris felt so angry and he left the house. It was just 6:00 .in the evening. He wanted to be alone, away from the devil's he call family.

'How can dad beat Zainab with all that has happened to her? She's gone through enough. She's been through a lot already. As if the slaps and insults weren't enough.' He sat on a log of food somewhere along the street. Then he passed a corner. He once heard there was a river somewhere at

the back of their house. So, he divided to visit there to relax his mind and think of how to convince his father of Zainab's innocence.

**

After beating Zainab blue black, Mr. Abdullahi went into his room to take a shower. It was time for Magrub. Mr. Abdullahi called his boys to get ready for prayer when he noticed Idris's absence.

***

Zainab's P.O.V.

Zainab laid herself on the ground, she started thinking...

'Is this going to be the end for me? I thought he loved me like his own child? I mean... Why the sudden change?'

But.. Another voice inside of her replied.

'No... Don't think about it, Zainab. Dad is just doing what he needs to do. He can change his mind on you for all I care but I wouldn't. I love you do much and that isn't debatable.'

***

The scent of the rainy wind cane through the prison's window, thickening the air. Humaira woke up from the tangle of dreams_ the weight of regret in her heart and the guilt in her mind was unstoppable. She's been having nightmares since she got there.

The pressure of leaving the prison soon, getting her freedom once again and visiting Zainab make her hug herself so tight on the bare floor. It was as if she was feeling cold from the chill of everything.

It was already 4:00 am. She was awake but still, in her head, she heard voiced from the nightmare she just had. Voices that cry out words that aren't even comprehensive. Her dried hands shivered as she opened it to recite a prayer. But instead, the thoughts clenched her like claws and she remembered the last time she held Zainab so close. Her muscles ached as if she spent the entire night running. She cried silently instead, telling herself that everything would be alright. And her mattress was as flat as a pancake... She missed home and school so much. And all she wanted so much was her freedom. It's been six long weeks. Six long weeks that looked like a six centuries...

"I'm such a mistake. I regret ever being born." Humaira cried silently to herself. Trying not to wake the others but 'Ugo' a stupid pshyco girl woke up and stared arguing with her.

'How would he ever treat Zainab like this? It's all my fault. But today, I'll correct it all. I'll expose those two wicked brothers of mine. They should be punished for-'

Just then, he saw a couple of strange men opened a big black sack. They brought out a young child from it, a four year old girl with bald head and then they strangled her to death. The three of them laid her down as if they wanted to seprate her body parts for a ritual.

One of them held two sharp cutlasses, then the other one whispered something to the others. Immediately, they looked around and caught Idris staring right back at them. He swallowed hard as the hefty men turned to him.

He looked confused... Not knowing what to say or do.

"Good evening s...ssir." He managed to say but with so much effort, his voice still sounded low and shaky.

Immediately, he stood up from where he was sitting and ran away.

He ran as fast as his tiny legs could carry him but his slippers cut. He had to leave it and continue running. There was a bushy path around the area, so, he couldn't run into the bush except he followed the way forward. The three of them were stronger and faster. They overcame him in no time, squeezing his tiny hands to the back.

"Please, don't kill me!" He cried.

One of them with a deep scar across his face grabbed his head and turned it back. Idris's neck twist so fast that the fell down unconsious. They carried him inside the black sack and took him to an old truck packed along the road. They threw him in the booth and rode off. By this time, it was dark already.

***

After prayer, Mr. Abdulahi couldn't still find Idris, his beloved son. He was hoping, maybe he would meet him in mosque but he didn't. Where would Idris go? He's not a baby... He's just a 12 years old. He asked his neighbors and checked everywhere but Idris was nowhere to be found.

"I left him with both of you! How can you say he disappeared just like that?" Abdullahi faced Ibrahim and Isah.

"I don't know dad! He was angry for the fact that you were beating Zainab!" Ibrahim reported.

"He said he would stop you but you locked the door! He just raged out... Only God knows where he went to." The other supported his talk.

'It's all that girls fault. God! What have I done?' he thought to himself in confusion.

Soon, it was time for Isha prayer. Mr. Abdullahi quickly informed the imam before prayer. After Isha'prayer, he made the announcement of the missing boy in mosque. In case anyone sees him or has an idea of where he could be. One old man said he saw a young boy walking towards the riverside alone. Although,Mr. Abdullahi wasn't convinced that it was his son, all he wanted to do was to go and find out.

It was dark and chilly, Mr. Abdullahi ordered Ibrahim and Isah to go home and wait for his arrival. They were hungry already so they went to the kitchen to take anything available. They served themselves the Semovita and melon soup and ate to their satisfaction while Zainab warmed the salty porrage in a small pot and ate before going into her room again.

Although, Ibrahim and Isah laughed at her, she didn't pay them any attention. They would definitely get exposed someday. She hissed and locked herself in her room.

She heard about Idris disappearance already so, she kept on paying for his safety and that he should come back home that very day.

A group of men decided to follow Mr. Abdullahi to look for this son at the riverside that night. The walking distance between the mosque and the river is about ten minutes to and fro so, they held their touches and lamps as they moved.

On the way, they saw one leg of Idris's

slippers. They were frightened that something wrong might have happened to the young boy and headed directly to the riverside. But instead of meeting Idris, they met the dead body of the four year old girl, lying lifelessly beside the river.

Everyone were so shocked with what they've just withnessed. The country is becoming more scarier by the day and people are becoming even heartless. Now, where is Idris?

Everyone sympathised with Mr. Abdullahi as the imam advised him to report the case to the police immediately.?

Some returned back home while others followed him to the police station that night. That evening, the police officers available extorted money from him to make a stay and send signals to find his missing son.

"Where do I write the statement sir?"

"You can meet my colleague." He pointed at a female officer sitter by a corner.

He went to meet the woman.she was busy copying q report from a book.

"Good evening ma." He greeted.

"I would like to make a statement for my missing son."

"When did this happen?" She frowned, still concentrating on her writing.

"Just this evening. About two hours ago."

"I think you should wait till tomorrow sir, reports are made after 24 hours of missing persons."

"He's only 12 years old ma. Please, help me out. You're a woman, you should understand what I mean." He begged.

"Okay, fine.' she took out a book and placed it in front of him. "Can you write the statement yourself?"

"Yes." He answered.

"Good. You have to pay for the writing materials."

"What? It's free!" the Imam advised but Mr. Abdullahi didn't want to waste any more time. He knew Amina would run mad if she learns about all of this. So, he dipped his hand into his pocket and handed the female officer a #200 note.

"This one too small now. Add something."

"These people are theives!" The Imam poured out in fraustration. "His son is missing and what are you doing?! Collecting bribe?! You're asking for an Illegal money you wicked woman!"

"Imam, please calm down now."Mr. Abdullahi begged him.

"My brother is a D.P.O in Lagos so I know about these things very well!"

"What are you trying to say Mr? You're calling me a thief right?!" The woman questioned angrily. "I'll arrest you now an nothing would happen. See this man o! Don't you know where you are?! Mteeeew!! "

"Sorry, ma. Just forgive him." Mr. Abdullahi pleaded abd dipped his hand into his pocket. Handling her another #500 note again that makes it #700.

"Take this madam and don't mind him." Mr. Abdullahi begged.

"Mteeeew! She hissed and collected the money. You for come teach me my work now, oloshi!" She buttered and finally took down the statement.

***

Words and Translations

-Iman: Leader of a mosque.

-Oloshi: Yoruba word for fool.

***