Chapter 65: Chapter 65

揕et抯 give our valedictorian a warm welcome.?The crowd began to clap as the EmCee helped Humaira on stage (Not to fall again).

With sweaty hands, she immediately forgot about her fears and insecurities simply staring at Hadee and Zainab.

"Bismillahi Rahmani Rahim? Humaira started.

She spoke about college and grades and tests. She mention teachers, students and how everyone got along so perfectly despite their differences. Humaira even made a few jokes, though no one laughed. Well, Zainab did.

"Lastly, I'd like to dedicate all of these to my late mother;燞ajia Binta Sanni Ahmad and to all struggling orphans out there. To my precious sister, Zainab Ahmad Sanni and to my adorable son." She suddenly fell emotional as tears gathered her mascaraed eyed. She looked directly at Zainab, causing everyone else to look at Zainab too.

Some guests seating close to Zainab whom also got emotional stopped talking for that moment they watched how tears trickled down their eyes and felt how strong the love and bond between the two sisters must have been.

"Zainab? She began. "I don抰 yet have the words to fully describe the happiness you bring me, precious sister. One thing is for certain, I will love you even beyond my dying days. A bright, loving, and strong sister like you is worth more than an ocean full of gold and diamonds. I love you so much, my sweet and adorable little Zee. It brings me more happiness to see you've grown into a beautifully, matured teenager. May Allah always bless you with the things that your heart desires. And to my loving son." Then she turned towards the other side, where Star, Hadee and the rest were seated.

"My wish for you is simple. Have the very best life imaginable, live like you will never grow old, laugh, giggle, cry if you must?Pray as hard as you grow and work, make time for the people and things that you adore?when you sleep, I hope you have the best dreams, that you will wake up with a smile on your face and that even though you can't speak, you always know and feel that you're loved. From your beloved mother, Humaira Ahmad Sanni! To all Fathers, To all Mothers, To all Sisters, To all Daughters, To all sons?to everyone present. I love you all." She dropped the microphone and stepped down from the podium. She looked like a swan when stepping down the stage as everyone including all of her colleagues welcomed her back to take her seat.

A lot of people felt Humaira's touching speech. Most of the College academics were all soaked in tears, even the EmCee had to use his handky to wipe his eyes.

And when her speech was over, Zainab was the first to jump up and clap with all her might, shouting "...You deserved it, sis!!!"

After a while, the closing prayer was made and everyone went their separate ways. There were lots of hugs and gifts for Humaira. Some we're from her friends, her loved juniors while others were from the lecturers. Everyone wanted to take pictures with her. In the midst of all of these, Humaira couldn't wait to meet Zainab. They held themselves in a warm, tight hug with tears pouring down their identical looking eyes.

"I miss you sis?Zainab cried. I'm so happy for you, you've made me proud. I'm sure mother would feel the same wherever she is right now, Humaira. Thank you for making me so happy."

"No, Zainab厀hat are you saying? I should be the one thanking you. You made be believe in myself, Zee!"

She held Zainab's beautiful face in her palms. "Thank you for brightening up my life and inspiring me to move mountains. You抣l always be the shiniest star in my sky, irregardless of what happens, for my love for you is the everlasting type." She kissed Zainab cheeks over and over again and admiring how much she had grown.

"You're looking like a 20 year old already, Zee! Like seriously? What have you been eating?!" Humaira asked wiping out the eyes that was still pouring out of her eyes.

"Come on sis! It's not food. It's all the grace of Allah. Perhaps, I've even reduced now. It's all because of my WAEC, JAMB and NECO exams."

"So gist me...How was it?" Humaira asked interestedly.

"Fine?Alhamdulillah. I think I tried my best. The results would be out by September Insha Allah. You gave an awesome speech earlier?I'm so proud. Where's Hadee?" Zainab asked. "I can't wait to meet him."

Just then, Star an the rest came. Zainab almost couldn't recognize Hadee but he took so much of Humaira's resemblance.

"Is that him?" she asked, another set of tears welling up in her eyes. "He's grown so big!"

Zainab walked towards star and collected him. Humaira thought he would get frightened at her because Hadee?most times reject cuddles especially from people he don't know- but this time, Hadee didn't cry.

Zainab hugged him with so much happiness.

"How are you Hadee?" She asked him but he didn't even looked at her. "It's me.. Anty Zainab"

****

Zainab looked puzzled as she held his face. She couldn't help but to wonder why Hadee don't recognize her.

'Or maybe it's because it's their first meeting.' she thought.

"You don't want to speak with Anty Zainab, right?" she cupped his face and joked.

"Come on Zee, let's go home." Humaira muttered.

"Is she your sister? The one we've been hearing about all these while?" Star asked

"Yes of course dearie. You guys meet Zainab. Zainab, meet my friends." She introduced.

"Oh my world. You girls look so much alike, someone can easily mistake you for twins." Star joked. Giving Zainab a welcome hug.

Yes... They look so cute together unlike me and my sister that looks so different." Thodora contributed to the talk, already looking jealous.

You girls are so funny. C'mon, let's go. Humaira tuttered, handing some of her gifts to star and carrying others into her Jeep.

"But seriously, you girls look so much alike except for the fact that Zainab is prettier." Gift added while helping her carrying the gifts into the boot.

"Seriously, I can't argue with that. At least, I don't have dimples." She smirked at gift's talk as everyone got into her Jeep.

"Madam graduants, why don't I drive you home today?" Star suggested.

"No... I'll drive." Humaira shrugged and entered the driver's seat.

"Okay..." Star sat with others at the back while Zainab sat right next to her sister.

She turn on the radio and they played a popular Nigerian hip-hop. Humaira had forgotten so the noise disturbed Hadee. She quickly turned down the volume but Hadee started crying again as usual.

"Shhhh!!! It's okay my love. Mummy is sorry. She pleaded with him but he didn't stop. Instead, his crying increased and his pitch went louder and louder. Humaira just had to turn off the radio and start the car.

Zainab that was carrying I'm on her lap wondered why he wouldn't stop. His noise was so disturbing but, she didn't say anything.

***

Minutes Later ....

They got home. Zainab was surprised to see how beautiful the mansion is. The mansion where Humaira had been living all these years- Star's house. She was so excited even though she was a bit scared at first.

"Come in, Zee. Come and see my room!" Humaira dragged scared Zainab upstairs. She was staring at almost everything in the house and that was the first time shed ever stepped into a building so beautiful.

"Woooooowwww!!! What is that?" She pointed at something glittering from the ceiling.

"It's called a chan-de-lier." She expanciated.

"Chan- what?"

"Yeah, that's a chandelier." Humaira nodded her head as if she was trying to mimic Zainab.

She couldn't help but to remember the first day she stepped into Star's house too. She's acted even worse.

"C'mon, let's go to my room." Humaira held her hand and took her in.

"Masha Allah sis! Only you sleep here?"

"Yes see. Me and Hadee."

"Wow! It's beautiful!!"she jumped on the bed excitedly.

"You need to take a shower and change your clothes, See. After that, we'll gist and eat."

"Awwwwn... But I'm feeling sleepy already."

"You won't sleep till after Asr." Humaira muttered, taking off Hadee's clothes, leaving only his singlet and pant.

"Okay..." Let me go. Humaira took off her clothes and tired he old Ankara wrapper.

"What's that? Humaira asked. Don't you have a towel?

"No..." She muttered. than it looked as if she suddenly remembered something. "Ummm..?I actually forgot it at the Bala's house.

"Why would you forget something so important?" Humaira scolded and opened her wardrobe. Under it were different sets of beautiful pink and white towels. She gave Zainab two and asked her to use it.

"Thank you sis." Zainab hugged her before going into the bathroom.

Everything looked different and she'd actually never used a shower before. That was the first time.

She placed her soapdish in a corner and held the showerhead.?

"What next?" She touched the shower cubicle. "What should I press and why is this looking like a telephone?" She frowned again confusion.

She turned the showerhead side to side but it wasn't working. Just then, Humaira peeped from her room to the bathroom.

"Hope everything is fine?"

Zainab kept quite for a while. She don't want to speak on the bathroom as it's Haram in Islam.

"Should I come and help you with anything or...?"

Silence

"Okay, fine." Humaira was about to walk away when Zainab called her back.

"Sis!"

"Yes..."

Zainab quickly tied her towel in her chest and ran to where Humaira was.

"Please help me on this shower."

Humaira blushed at her little sister's curious and showed her how to.

"I know you won't be able to switch it on that's why I came around. You shouldn't forget to press here when you want to shower, okay?"

"Okay sis." She replied childishly with a small smile.

"Fine. I'll press that same place again when you're through. I'll be downstairs just in case." Humaira muttered and left Zainab to have her bath.

"Oh! So this is how it works?" Zainab chuckles alone in the bathroom and started having her shower....

Humaira went to meet star and the rest downstairs. They were gisting while Hadee was in the room playing with his toys.

***

Get down from there!" Zainab shouted immediately her eyes caught Hadee.

He was sitting on the shelf, with this legs up and this head down. The shelf was about ten feet tall and hadee was sitting on it upside-down.

He kept on laughing at Zainab, staying in that same position. His legs were streched straight in the air, like that of a professional gymnastic.

Zainab couldn't believe a child that age would actually sit like that for only God knows how long he's been in this position.

"Humaira!" Zainab cried, as if she was scared. "Come and see your son!!" Humaira from downstairs ran upstairs. About to take Hadee down, he fell down and stripped, hitting his head to the tiled ground.

"Inna lillahi!" Zainab screamed as he hit his head, like a coconut against the ground.

She rushed to him immediately in fear. But Hadee raised his head and look at her, perplexed. As if he was puzzled about something, then he suddenly burst into laughter.

As if Hadee suddenly grew wings, confounded, Zainab's eyes suddenly clouded with tears. She just couldn't believe what just happened. How did he manage to climb the wardrobe and he fell down without feeling any pain?

"Hadee!" Humaira broke the silence as she rushed to her son, giving him a warm hug.

"What happened Zainab, I heard your voice from downstairs."

"You son... What's wrong with him?"

"What do you mean by t..that?"

Humaira wanted to pretend nothing was wrong. She tried to cover it up.

"Does he have super powers or what? I mean... He doesn't feel pain. He just feel from your wardrobe just now. I can't believe he's still laughing, acting like nothing happened."

Sunk in silence, Humaira didn't respond to Zainab's question. She just watched him as tears slowly gathered her eyes too.

"What's wrong with you sis? Did I say something wrong?" Zainab questioned again, feeling so concerned for her sister.

Thus, Zainab got increasingly worried and thought it must be something very serious.

'What's it about Hadee that she could be hiding from her?' she thought and grabbed Humaira by the wrist, as they say on the bed.

Humaira started breathing as if she was sniffing as if she was suffocating. They remained silent for a while, sitting side by side, on the bed and holding each other's hand, watching Hadee, spinning in circles and giggling at himself.

Tears were just pouring out from Zainab and Humaira's eyes as they watched him but Zainab was more confused then ever.

"What's wrong, Humaira. Please talk to me."

Humaira gathered the courage and wiped away her tears with the edge of her cloth.

"You're my sister Zainab and we've known each other like the marks on our palms. Even though I tried keeping this away from you, I know you'll still find out somehow so... Why would I hade this from you Zee?"

She sniffed and faced Zainab. Zainab faced her too, all ears.

"Hadee is sick. H... he's autistic."

"What? You mean Hadee is having bio-neurological disorder?" Zainab cried curtly, trying to digest what she just heard.

Humaira couldn't talk she just nodded her head in agreement as tears trickled down her cheeks.

"Subhanallah!!" Zainab exclaimed. Why poor Hadee of all people. Why this innocent child that doesn't know anything... How is it even possible? What caused this awful sickness?"

"I don't know, Zainab. I'll just say it's part of God's plan. We plan but God is the best planner, Zee. I've accepted my fate on my son. It haven't been easy for the both of us though but at least, I try to pay for his therapy. And at least, he's getting better." Humaira explained, sobbing and wiping her tears with her hand.

"Don't worry sis, God would heal him. Hadee would be well very soon Insha Allah. But why didn't you tell me all these while?"

"I just didn't want to disturb you and perhaps, I was thinking it wasn't necessary to bother you with such."

"Come here sis, you've been through a lot. I can't imagine what you must have sacrificed but you're my heroine; No matter what." Zainab held her sister in a warm cuddle and consoled her.

"All of these would come to pass very soon Insha Allah." Zainab promised as they watched Hadee.

He started flapping his hands in the air as if he was trying to catch invisible butterflies. The ones that only him could see.

****