Chapter 52: Chapter 52

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Two Days Later...

Umm.. I need #5,000 for transport and treatment.

But I gave you #10,000 three days ago. Yes. I actually used that money for something else.

"Hmm... I'm not with cash now, I'll withdraw whenever I go out. Remains me later, okay?"

"Okay," Humaira smiled and went inside.

"Nawa o! So you accommodated a stranger in your house, Star girl! And you're feeding her too?"

"Won't she eat?" Star hissed at her friend. "Lady G! Abeg o!"

"Ah, I'm not saying you shouldn't feed her o. What I'm saying is, hustling isn't easy for you and you're still feeding someone inside it. I heard you gave her 10k!"

"Yes. That's her weekly allowance

"Yeeehhh! Olorun o!" Gift cried, placing both of her hands on her head as if she's just seen something strange.

"What's it, Lady G? Do you kill someone before coming here!"

"No! It's your behavior that's making me act like this. Like seriously, there's even monthly allowance involved again."

"Yes now? Don't you see she's heavily pregnant? She has to eat lots for fruits and take her medications and injections. You know, based on the doctor's prescriptions. Plus, I've also registered her in Alheri Specialist Hospital. There, she would give birth safely and everyone would be happy. That would be a blessing for me."

"Have you ever committed murder?"

"No o! God forbid! Why?"

"Ah, maybe that's why you're doing this good now. So God would forgive you all your sins."

"You're not serious!" Star his at her friend jokingly.

"I'm just doing good for God. And I don't expect anything in return. As long as we're in good terms."

"Hmmm... But that babe is beautiful o. Hope you've given her all the gists Sha."

"What are you insinuating?" Star frowned.

"I don't know. But it would be good if she would someday join us, don't you think?..."

"Auuuch! My stomach!!" They heard her cry from the room.

Star immediately ran inside to check on Humaira. Gift followed her friend too.

She was on the bed, trying to stand up with one hand at her back and the other, holding the bed.

"What's it, Humaira? Is it time."

"Yes star. But I was thinking of going to the hospital later in the evening. It's going to be t.. today!" She muttered in pain.

"Okay. Ummm... Let me get my car keys and the baby's stuff!" She opened Humaira's wardrobe in a rush and picked one or two things into a round baby bag. She folded two pieces of ankara wrappers into a basked and also some of the baby's clothes and diapers.

"Yes! This would be enough!" She told herself and gave gift everything to take into her car of her.

"Come on, Humaira. Let's go!" She held her up as they gradually walked of of the house then into the car.

"Star! Help me!!" She cried as they took her into the female ward where pregnant women usually gives birth. The nurses too in some stuff immediately and the doctor injected her with something to reduce the pain. They locked the door immediately, and asked Star and Gift to wait at the reception room.

***

"Oh God! Please, make Humaira's childbirth be a successful one!" Star cried.

It took a while, then the nurses ran out of the room and they switched on the emergency light.

"What's wrong?!" Star rushed to the doctor as he came out. "It's strange... we checked his breathings and heartbeats just yesterday. How possible?"

Star and Gift looked confused. They didn't understand what the doctor was talking about but they sensed that something was going wrong.

"The foetus is in a sitting position. She would have through Cesarean section."

***

"What am I going to do now? Is she going to make it? She haven't even eaten this morning..." Star cried, not knowing when she even remove her wig.

"Stop behaving like this, star girl. Imagine the kind of mess you're in just because of that girl, ehn?"

"Just shut up, Lady G. If you have nothing better to say, you can go home and leave me alone!"

Gift looked so surprised and disappointed. It seems Star won't think twice when it comes to Humaira. She's so heartbroken and emotional. It would be a shame on her face if she can't help Star in a time of need like this.

"I won't leave you, Star. I'll say here with you the way a real friend would. She sounded remorseful. What about her family members? Don't you have her parent's number or her husband's contact?"

"No... That girl has nobody to call on to. Her parents are dead and I don't even know the stupid man that impregnated her. He is a rich Alhaji but she said he denied it. Humaira is an orphan, Lady G, that's why I had to take her in. We just have to pray... Help me pray for her well being."

"Oh Lord, please save both mother and child." Gift knelt down and started singing songs of praises, begging God to help Humaira through a successful operation.

It went on and on. An hour later, the doctors came out of the emergency room.

"What's it doctor? Is she alright? Was the operation successful? How's her child?"

"Be calm my dear. The doctor uttered. It wasn't what we expected. I mean, her low- lying placenta completely covered her cervix and apart from that the baby was sitting but congratulations! It's a baby boy!"

"Yaaayyyy!" Star hugged the doctor with so much excitement but he pulled away gently. It looks like he was a Muslim so he felt shy in that position.

"Umm.. so sorry sir! I'm just so excited."

"Can we go and see them now?" Gift asked.

"Yes, sure. You'll definitely see her but in twenty minutes time."

"Okay sir!" The girls chorused?with a bright smile beaming on their faces. The doctor went into another ward. Star and Gift hugged themselves again and felt relieved.

Finally, Humaira is a mother.

***

Minutes Later,

Star and Gift went in to check on Humaira and her new baby. The cute baby boy was lying in his mother's soft arms. Humaira stared into his lovely face but he was still sleeping.

"Humaira!" Star muttered joyously and Ave her a hug.

She looked quite calm with her baby. "Wow! He's so cute! He looks like you." Gift commented.

"Really? I don't think so."

It looked like she had mixed feelings about him. How she's going to bring him up alone.

"Don't worry, Humaira, I'm here for you." Star smiled, sitting right next to her.

She collected the baby and studied his face. "At least, he takes your facial look. That's enough. Have you eaten?"

"No... I'm not hungry."

"But you haven't taken anything since yester-night."

"I'll drink tea."

"Okay, good." Star muttered and prepared tea for her she looked so tired and needed rest.

"Okay, well come back and check on you."

"Okay. Thank you."

"Do you have any idea how long you'll stay here? I mean, when would you be discharged?"

"Hopefully, tomorrow." She muttered with a smile.

"Okay, fine then. I'll come back to check on you by 2:00 pm."

"Okay."

After taking the tea, she slept off.

****

One Week Later...

Humaira took a bowl of warm water and have the baby lay his small naked body on her bare lap.

"Yeeehhh Yeeeeeeehhhh!" The baby started crying.

"This is your diaper, Mamma's changing your diaper!" She sang to him as started his bath by gently washing his small, pinky face. He shivered to it's wetness even though the water was warm.

"I'm just wiping out your eyes, your nose and your ears, Hadee." She muttered to him in a babyish tune and a big bright smile lightened up her face as she watched her son.

For some reasons, she felt he was going to bring goodluck into her life so she called him 'Hadee' meaning, 'The Guide.'

Why do you keep talking to your baby as if he can actually hear you?" Star interrupted.

"He has ears, Star. He can hear me." Humaira replied her, wiping in between his neck, arms and fingers.

"I've been through a lot in my life but I want to be able to stand up for my son. I would love Hadee to live a very simple, happier and better life than I did. And think talking to Hadee would help him feel that his voice is heard. That he's seen and loved. He would be an intelligent child, Star. There's no need to worry."

"Ugghhhh!" Star left out an heavy breath, still puzzled. "Whatever!"

Don't worry, I'm a mother now!!" Humaira mimicked her voice and let out a joyful expression. Luckily for her, they're on holidays again. She gave birth just after she completed her exams... And she could stay two months more before school's resumption again.

Humaira gently wiped his armpit to his chack and then, his tiny legs, toes and thigh before taking out a new diaper. Star did all the shoppings. She made sure both mother and child didn't lack any thing. Even though it was though getting through the surgery, Humaira loved and enjoyed taking care of her new baby boy. She loves Hadee so much, hoping that he won't lack anything.

Humaira carefully fold the diaper under his amblican cord so it does not irritate the baby's tender skin. She gently places the tabs?to the back and the back tabs, to the front of the diaper. It fits smugly but not too tight. She smiled throughout the routine. It seems she was getting used to it afterall.

"Yeeehhh! Yeeeeeehhhh!!" Hadee cried again

"Awwwwn! You're crying again. I think you love water. Don't worry, mamma would give you another bath in three hours time. Okay?" She joked again in a childish voice. The kissed his hands and gently wore his clothes for him.

"Yeeehhh! Yeeeeeeehhhh!!"?He wailed again.

Just give me a minute! I need to clear up this place before breastfeeding you my love. She placed a soft hiss on his lips. Placed a soft white shawl down flat on the bed and folded a corner before placing Hadee in the center of it. She wrapped the left side from under his right arm and the right side over his left arm. He looked perfectly cute and adorable.

The joy of motherhood is something so precious. She has been like a mother to Zainab but there's a special connection she feels for Hadee. And she hopes it last forever.

It's just that sometimes, she feel so sad and lonely and emotional. She wished all of this never happened in the first place but now that Hadee is here with her, all Humaira wants to do is forget about the past. Work on her future and train her son to be a better man in future. Unlike his father....

***