Chapter 8: Chapter 8

Have you ever felt like beating someone to his own game? Have you ever felt wining in double ways, and getting something you've always wanted. Well, this was the kind of excitement playing in Alhaji Miss's mind right now. He had never felt so satisfied in his entire life.

Driving back home, he branched to an executive shopping complex and bought a lot of stuffs for his lovely wife and family.

No one would ever suspect him. He's been martied twenty years and no one ever suspected, and no one ever would ever suspect him. His very devoted wife, Engineer Almirah Adamu have five children for him out of which the fifth born alone schools in Nigeria. The rest are either working or schooling in Canada.

Eighteen yesterday old Humaira is just age mates with his third child, but who cares?

"He's a man after all and he's able to marry more wives if he wished." Of course, this was his mentality.

***

(Flash Back)

Alhaji musa having a business meeting the first time they met in Nicon Luxury. It was the main reason he'd booked the hotel before hand. After Humaira left in the state of shock girl her mother's death, he came back to the room to take some files he had forgotten and took the money along with him... He ever wanted her to have it anyways.

And the second time she came back to him, it was still the same money he brought to her, going into his car to take the hanky and glue into his pocket and the suitcase at hand. Also, he entered the toilet to fill the hanky with glue and Talaaa! What a clever plan!! He seized her breath with?glue and went for a ride to paradise again. Leaving with the money and no single trace of evidence to ever prove him guilty.

"Once beaten, twice shy" they say but this rule isn't appliances to Humaira because she's stupid!

"How smart God created me!" He laughed so hard?

"Now, those two tiny witches wouldn't even dream of tormenting me, ever again. They'll have to think twice before coming to me?THE END!"

***

Later That Evening,

Humaira went to the hospital to meet Doctor Azeezah. She was in hr office studying a patient's file when Humaira knocked.

"Yes, Come in!" Doctor Azeezah replied.

"Assalam Alaikum ma."

"Wa'alaikum Sallam. Ah! It's you, Humaira." She closes the file before her. "How have you been?"

"Fine ma" she replies with a smile, as Doctor Azeezah offered her a seat.

"Don't be offended with me Jared! I'm just sitting occupied these days, wallahi. In fact, I was planning to come and visit you and your sister tomorrow morning after this shift?You know, before going home." She explained.

"Ma, I understand." Humaira cuts in, unknowingly.

Doctor Azeezah raped her observing eyes through Humaira's pale face.

"Why are you looking o down? Hope all is well sha?"

"Yes ma'am." She started thinking about how to start telling her about what happened between her and Alhaji Musa. Was it right to tell her yet? Where to start from, how to say it . She searched and scratched through all her mind but felt empty. Her mouth was so dried and out of words. She never felt so ashamed of herself.

Doctor Azeezah could read her face that something was wrong. She stood up from her executive chair and came to seat with Humaira, facing her directly.

"You don't look alright my dear, tell me what's bothering you."

Humaira find courage to look up again, at the doctor's face.

"After since mum died ma, things haven't been going well for me. I'm so heart broken and lonely, and I have no one to run to."

Doctor Azeezah smiled and took off her glasses, placing it on the table before them. "But you have me right?'' She smiled. So tell me whatever you're feeling because a problem half shared is half solved.

***

Humaira was folding and playing with her sweaty hands but doctor Azeezah gently held her hands to stop her.

You're in front of me now. Tell me what's disturbing you."

"Every step I've taking to become independent has failed. Out of the five mental jobs I took this holiday, only one is paying me fully. The others are paying me half salary while others aren't paying at all. Even when I make them see reasons why I really need the payments. They shout at me instead, they either turn me down or ask me to leave the work if I'm more interested in money than working. It's from frying pan to fire ma, I don't know what to do anymore."

"But what do you need money for? Is it really urgent? Don't you have savings." The doctor asked interestedly.

Yes ma, its so urgent. In fact, I need to pay my tuition fee within three days, this Saturday is the closing date. Mm A, I've tried endlessly to save as much as I can but all I have in my safe if just ten thousand naira.

"What? Why are you telling me this now, Humaira? How long were you planning to suffer this alone?" Doctor Azeezah asked her furiously. This is sufferance not endurance, this is too much, humairah. I never expected this of you."

"I'm so sorry ma, I didn't want you bother you with and more problems. First my mother and now, me..."

"Did I ever complain? Or did I once tell you i was tired?" It seems you don't know the kind of relationship your mum and I held. She was more than a sister to me. Your mum was my best friend and she always be. She was my senior in high school , she took care of me as if we were blood related. I begged her to be my school mother then in boarding school because Hajia Binta was the only best in both morals and academics, that the school board her head-girl in 1984. I'll tell you the story today if you really don't know. It was in Government Science Secondary School, Kuje. Then, when school were schools. Not now that the tables are turned the other way round. After marriage, your mother stood by my side. It is because if her that I'm here today and you're feeling shy about sharing your problems with me?

"I thought..." Humaira wanted to say something but Doctor Azeezah stopped her.

"No! Things aren't done that way." She paused to study Humaira's facial expressions for a while.

She was regret and sadness for keeping quite. Keeping quiet all these times.

"How much is your tuition fee?"

"It's twenty thousand naira ma."

"Twenty thousand naira?" She emphasized. "Just twenty thousand naira and you're busy starving yourself with all of these burden, alone? See, God made man and man faces problems. God wouldn't come down from heaven to save you. Instead, he sends people around you as a help and solution. I'm a mother and I feel your pains. I was planning to come to your place but since you're ere now... I'll have to tell you what I wanted to.

You said you'll be going to school next tomorrow right?"

"Yes ma." Humaira quickly replied. Her hearts waiting to her the next words.

"Okay. This thing is, I would love Zainab to stay with me because I can't imagine an eighth years old living alone. Zainab is really a brave child else?..."

"Okay ma, I'll bring her to you before Saturday." Humaira voice shivered.

"That's good to hear. Now, you'll lock the door while taking the keys with you while Zainab stays with me."

She haves her a paper and a pen.

"Here, write down your school account number so that I can transfer the twenty thousand naira for your tuition fees and let me see..." She stood up with a frown and goes back to her executive chair. Unlocks her drawer and brings out some cash.

"This is all I have on me for now, five thousand naira. And it to the ten thousand in your savings for provisions and handouts. I would add to it soon enough."

"Jazakallahu khayran ma, thank you so much" she kneels down to thank her.

"Don't worry,stand up." Doctor Azeezah lit him back to her seat.

"Give me your account number so that I can send you money from time to time.."

"I don't have any account number ma."

"What? You mean you don't have a bank account at this age?"

"Yes ma'am." Humaira blushed a little.

"Okay no problem. Come to my house with Zainab tomorrow by 12: 00 p.m. We would both got to the bank and I'll open a bank account for you. While Zainab would stay with me."

"Thank you ma, I'm very grateful for you help." Humaira muttered joyously.

"It's okay, Humaira. This is nothing compared to what has done in my life. She's my life saver and I owe my all to her. Now that we have each other I'll do all in my power to see that both of you become more successful that I am." She promised.

Just then, a short nurse with a rectangular oblong face came in.

"Doctor Azeezah! That patient in male's ward didn't want me to inject him ma. He says only a male doctor can." She reported.

"Okay, I'll be going now," she said as Humaira finally thanked her well before leaving.

At last! There is an helper.

Humaira finally think about the saying... Every disappointment is a blessing, but what happened between her and Alhaji Musa, only God would judge.