A good parent is one who can call you out on your shit no matter how much you're loved,  one you can feel free to tell your woes and trust enough to make you feel better if not make your problem go away.  A good parent is one who draw you close to Allah,  teach you the deen, tell you about the challenges of life, the goodness and badness of the world,  to prepare you for the worst,  make you your own super hero, make you strong,  independent and a good citizen of the community and above all love you selflessly for any love that ain't selfless that ain't love but something else.

Rufaidah realised all that during their daily lessons,  yaya Shams doesn't have to use the big brother card on her because she's an eager  and willing student.  Had he known that what his little sister want is love,  he'd have given her all the love his heart is capable of giving. She  is still bitter and angry at their parents, the maids are seeing a new side of her royal highness now that she has something other than barking orders at them. She hardly call them or make them do anything which isn't part of their job description,  she is no longer feisty and since she's a neat freak they don't have any problem with cleaning her mess.

She is laughing and crying at the same time while watching midnight sun, an American movie of a girl, Kate who has a rare disease called XP, she has been in love with Charlie right from young age but didn't get to meet him until the night of their high school graduation since she can't go out during the day except at night. She usually go to the train station to sing with her guitar and that's where they first met. She didn't tell him about her condition because she wanted to be more than just a disease to him. They stayed late on their first date loosing track of time and she got exposed to the sun which led to her death after making a song titled charlie's song for him which becomes a blockbuster after she was gone.

Wiping her eyes and closing the laptop Rufaidah turned to the maid that has been waiting for her for almost thirty minutes to tell her the reason why she summoned her.

"Oups sorry please,  I was totally into this movie I forgot that you are here" she apologized with a small smile while the maid stood rooted unable to say anything because for all the years she has been working in the house this is the first time Rufaidah talk to her nicely including an apology.

"it's okay ma'am,  what is it that you need to be done for you?" She finally replied,  not wanting to rile her up.

"Do you know how to plait?  I'm tired of untangling this bird's nest" she asked, propping her legs.

"Yes, which style do you want me to do for you? " came the maid's enthusiastic reply.

Rufaidah brought out her hair cream, cutting comb and hair brush " Take it easy okay? I haven't plaited my hair in two years" she warned,  wincing at the slight pain she felt the moment the maid touched her hair.

The maid took extra care as if she's plaiting a new born baby's hair, they were silent for almost thirty minutes before Rufaidah asked of her name.

"Ummi" the maid replied,  she thought Rufaidah's apology is the surprise that will last her a life time but she's wrong.

"That sounds more like a nickname than a real name, what's your real name?" She prodded.

"I don't know ma'am, I lost my parents when I was very young, my aunt took care of me until she no longer want me so she sends me here to work and she never told me my real name or anything about my late parents" she narrated sadly.  Rufaidah turned to look at her,  she can't be more than 16years of age and she has seen so much already.

"Have you ever been to school? "

"I used to go to islamiyyah but not anymore,  I have never been to a conventional school" Rufaidah nodded in understanding,  different thoughts running through her mind,  she thought she is the only one with problems,  that no one is going through worse than what she is going through but she's wrong,  she should be thankful to have all the luxuries of life at her disposal.

She kept asking about her village,  her childhood and what she does when she's not working.  She learnt that Ummi is good at knitting and she is also a good cook because the head cook is teaching her both local and international recipes. 

"Wow that's great, I'd love to eat something you make someday" Rufaidah commented,  touching the rows delicately with the tip of her fingers.  Ummi hand her a small hand mirror to inspect her hand work, her heart thumping in fear of disappointing Rufaidah when she's being so nice to her.

"Kai kai kai!  I never thought you're this good,  see how pretty I'm looking.  Thank you" she exclaimed excitedly.

"I'm glad you love it ma'am"  Ummi Couldn't hide her excitement either.

Rufaidah gave her a thousand naira note after profusely thanking her and complimenting her expertise.

"I can't take the money ma'am,  at least I get a roof over my head in this house and food to eat which is more than enough"  ummi rejected the money,  shaking her head. Rufaidah stared at her in awe, she has nothing and no one yet she's very humble and loyal.  Rufaidah put up her best stern face and urged her to accept the money but instead of giving her just the initial one thousand she gave her five.  Ummi keeps thanking her until it gets annoying.  She was almost at the door when Rufaidah call her back.

"Whenever you're free, you can come here, I will teach you how to read and write in English"  the look of utter surprise and gratitude becomes the highlight of Rufaidah's day.

♡♡♡

Yaya Shams couldn't hide his pride when she told him about her exchange with Ummi. With a little more help his sister is going to be her real self,  the darkness in her heart will fade and light will cover every nook and cranny of it  and he can't wait to see that day.

"I was thinking if you will like to have a personal tutor who will be coming here twice in a week to teach you because I haven't mastered everything either and I want you to have extensive knowledge" he said,  giving her a look that says he will respect whatever decision she made.

"Wouldn't that be embarrassing?  I'm almost 22 and he will be teaching me the basics I ought to have learned at 5" she asked, he can sense the vulnerability and Shame in her voice.

"it's never too late Rufy, the good thing is that you're willing to try and that's all that matters koh kina son ki shiga wuta ne? (Do you want to enter hell fire)" she nodded in the negative and he smiled at her before asking her to recite suratul A'ala using the Quran and give haddah on suratul Kafirun.

She did so albeit with a little difficulty which made him so sad and happy for her.  As long as she's willing to try, he is certain that there will come a day when she won't even need to try at all because she will become an expert.

"It is not bad huh?" She asked hopefully.

"No you are terrific darling,  just work on your tajweed and we are good to go,  now tell me about the pillars of Islam and Fara'idul salah" he encouraged.  They spent two hours at the dinning room oblivious of the happenings around them until Mommy's voice startled them.

"Wow Mashaa Allah! Bravo to you both.  Keep it up" she sounds genuinely proud of her two kids who despite the fact that she's a terrible mother,  they didn't desert her like her other three children did.

"Thank you" Yaya Shams replied,  drawing a chair out for her to sit.

"When did you two start seeing eye to eye?" She asked, motioning at the two with a wry smile. 

"Thanks B, have a very good night" Rufaidah abruptly got up,  packing her books in her trembling hands, she can't stand the woman she calls her mother and definitely can't play this game.

"Good night Rufy" he replied,  giving her a look of understanding.

"Why is she so mean and bitter? " mommy asked the retreating figure of Rufaidah who's in haste to get to her room.

"It's all your fault and I think it's time to mend things with her" shams answered,  making an attempt to get up when mommy caught his wrist urging him to sit.

"What have I done wrong?"  Shams gave her a look that dares her to say anything further.  He left the house to get some air because ever since he came to know the secret,  the house suffocates him more than it did in the past and he's on the verge of breaking which won't be good.

He texted Rufaidah telling her to come out with an overnight bag, they are going to their uncle's house.

His text brought her back to reality because she zoned out, becoming numb and blocking everything out.

So they even have an uncle that she can't remember or doesn't know. She hastily pack some clothes,  her laptop and chargers before coming down the stairs.

"What did she say?" She asked,  resting her head on the seat.

"Nothing out of the usual, be cool when we get there, they might say mean things about you never showing up"

They drove in silence,  each in thought before they finally halt in front of a very big mansion.  A guy yaya shams age came out clapping his hands in mock surprise.

"Manyan baki, Sannunku da zuwa (special guests,  you're welcome)" he greeted,  bumping sham's arm in a playful manner.  Turning to Rufaidah he gasp " is this really Rufaidah or I am just hallucinating?  I thought you've died a long time ago" he rubbed his eyes, taking another look at her. Rufaidah shifted uncomfortably,  willing for yaya Shams to say anything that will save her from her cousin's dry sense of humour.

"Bug off man! Don't hassle her" yaya shams shoved him aside.  They proceed into the house avoiding curious stares as they ascend the stairs to their uncle's side of the house.  He welcomed them warmly, teasing Rufaidah of growing so fast she almost reach his height.  Hajiya didn't share the same enthusiasm as her husband,  she keeps glaring especially at Rufaidah, snorting and rolling her eyes every chance she gets.

"Sorry for coming late Hajiya,  it was an impromptu decision because Rufaidah has been begging me to bring her here" Yaya shams said.

"This is your home too, you're welcome whenever you want to visit" Uncle Jibrin said, waiving shams off with his hands. Rufaidah is hostile and mean and she can sniff it from a hundred miles radius. She knew she's not welcomed and wish she can tell yaya Shams to take her home, at least that's her father's house,  welcomed or not welcomed,  loved or unloved it's her rightful place to be and no one can prove otherwise. 

The guy that welcomed them who she later get to know his name as Hafeez led them into the house,  teasing her about not seeing her since she was in diaper and how his sister,  Zubaidah will be pleased and shocked to see her.

They knocked on a door and it flew open revealing the said Zubaidah in her PJ's wearing reading glasses at the tip of her nose.

"Yaya Hafeez don't tell me she is who I am thinking? " she squealed,  crushing Rufaidah in a pierce hug before she gets an answer.

" Ahh, I see that you are making your acquaintance once again" Hafeez said with a dramatic sigh after dropping Rufaidah's bag on the bed.

"Uhmm do we know each other like before?" Rufaidah asked, she's still in a daze that they have relatives,  and those relatives know about their existence,  then why doesn't she have any memory of them,  she has never been to this house and definitely never seen them at theirs.

"Of course yes! I even have pictures to prove it to you. We were inseparable when we were kids" she replied excitement dripping from her voice as she went on a frantic search in her wardrobe for the said evidence.  She finally emerged with a picture and a triumphant smile on her face.  Though Rufaidah doesn't have her baby picture in her possession she instantly recognised herself in the picture, she really is the one in that picture so how comes she has no memory of it? Zubaidah brought another one which they posed in their school uniform,  even Faridah was in the picture,  why didn't she remember anything about it? 

Her eyes welled with tears and with a quivering voice she asked the question she has been asking herself in her mind "Why don't I remember you?  I can't recall anything that has to do with you and these pictures are a clear indication that we share some history together,  Reedah is the proof because I've known her since forever.  What happened? "

Zubaidah knew that a day must come that she has to tell Rufaidah the truth and apologize but now is not the right time so she lied " We fought,  we broke up and we stopped seeing each other,  I was transferred to another school"

Rufaidah shook her head in disbelief " You're a very bad liar,  I should remember you if that's true,  I should remember the fight and we are cousins that doesn't explain why I don't know any of you,  even uncle Jibrin and your mother.  You guys are total strangers to me"

"Let's talk about something else,  heard that you've graduated from Yaya Shams.  When are you going for NYSC"

Rufaidah ignored her, if she can't get an answer then they are definitely not going to talk about any other thing.  Zubaidah keep blabbering to herself till she gets tired.

"We will tell you everything tomorrow in shaa Allah I promise" she finally gave in and Rufaidah smiled satisfactorily. 

She is still as stubborn as she was back then. Zubaidah wondered with a smile.

♡♡♡
I know that I am a darling.

Any guesees as to what happened in the past?  The first person to get the correct answer will get a whole chapter dedicated in his/her name.
Shukran jazeel.