***
Friday Evening,

4:00 p.m...

Zainab was in the kitchen when Hajia Fati entered. She was surprised to see her there.

"What are you doing in the kitchen, Aliyah? You don't have to stress yourself."

"Welcome mum." Zainab joyfully went to hug Hajia and retorted. "I was just trying to prepare something."

"You don't have to stress yourself, perhaps, we have the cook and the maid to prepare dinner."

"Yes I know. I was just feeling bored that's why I came here."

"Nice. So, what do you want to prepare?"

"Tuwon Shinkafa da mian kuka."

Hajia Fati suddenly looked perplexed. You didn't forget how to cook it?

"Last night, I watched how to prepare delicious Hausa foods on YouTube. So, I decided to try it out today."

"Wow! Masha Allah. That's good. Its exciting to know that you're learning those stuffs. You need to be careful okay? I'll join you shortly." Hajia persuaded.

"Thanks mum." A line of excitement rose through Zainab as she measured the rice into a bowl.

Hajia Fati went into her room to change. She put on a simple gown and walked into the kitchen. Mrs. Maikuddi usually cooks once in a blue moon because she has workers who can do almost everything. She just give orders while they obey, but today is different. It's so strange that Hajia Fati entered the kitchen today. Obviously because of her new daughter, Aliyah.

When she got into the kitchen, Hajia Fati put on an apron as she watched Zainab. She gave a hand in Zainab's cooking as to help her improve.

Zainab rinsed a clean stainless pot and placed it the heated gas. She put an amount of water into it and closed it appropriately, letting the water to boil.

"Have you ever cooked this food before?" Mrs. Maikuddi questioned.

Zainab smiled at the thought. I don't remember but I think I used to.

"Wow! That's good."

"Umm... I don't know if Khalid would be able to eat this kind of food?"

"Yeah, sure. He would eat but just very little. He doesn't eat at home most times and he's not used to these kinds of food."

"Where did he grow?" Zainab asked, pouring water from the tap to wash the ride in a small bowl. After washing the rice, she posted the water in the sink and poured water to wash it again.

"I gave birth to Khalid in America. We stayed there for a while till after a while. I came back to Nigeria when he got clocked 13 to work and stay home. For some reasons, I missed Nigeria so I had to come back home. After his highschool in San Francisco, Khalid got an admission to study theater arts in Oxford university. So, he graduated months and I suggested he come home for a while. You know?"

"Wow! That's good mum. It's a good thing he came back home else, his attitude might get worse than it already is."

Hajia Fati chuckled at Zainab's funny words then she asked...

"What do you mean by that?"

"I mean, he'll be more responsible and respectable only whe_" a ball hit the bowl hard and everything almost Splash on the floor but Zainab was there to told it. Everyone's puzzled face looked up to see his mischievous, grin. It was Khalid in the kitchen.

"Khalid!" His mum cried.

A large amount of the water splashed on Zainab's body while the rest dripped to the floor.

"What's the meaning of this?!"

"Umm... I'm so sorry mum." She muttered with an evil smile on his face. Zainab stared at him annoyingly as she rolled her eyes at his foolishness.

"So sorry? And you're laughing?" Zainab corrected him.

What's it with you?! He glared at her. Zainab stifle a laugh and shake her head.

"I have no idea what is making you misbehave but I'm certain about one thing. You're the reason I'm living in this house. I'm sure you get into tons of trouble with this nasty temper of yours. You cause so much trouble for your parents as well, that's why they accepted me wholeheartedly. It's not as if I'm scared of you, Khalid. If you can't be a useful human being to others, you should be a better person to yourself. I don't know how you live your life in England, America or wherever place you've lived; you're back in Nigeria now so I suggest you behave yourself. If you can't find anything good doing then don't spoil other people's good doing. I'm cooking and you almost poured the rice?!" She spat at him while others paid attention. As if there was sense in every word she said so they just listened and watched.

"Are you done sprewing whatever is on your fucking mind? I would have given you a befitting reply but you're still at the verge of healing, Aliyah! I can't wait for you to again all your memory back so you'll finally get the fuck out of this house and go back to the streets where you came from!" He said, emphasizing the last word.

"Shut up, Khalid! Is this how you talk to your sister?" His mother glared at him. "Aliyah isn't going anywhere even if she remembers... This would still be her home. You did something wrong and she's trying to correct you... You should be grateful. Perhaps, maybe it's time for you to learn from her. She hissed.

Khalid wanted to say something more but his mum stopped him.
"Just leave us alone Khalid! Go to your room!"
'It's unbelievable, mum never spoke to me like this till today. What the fuck!' He huffed.

Tears gathered in his disappointed eyes as his mum bashly spoke to him. It's clear that she's never spoken to him in that manner before. Khalid angrily felt the kitchen and slammed the door to their faces.

The kitchen went silent for a while. Until Zainab turned to Hajia Fati. Zainab saw tears pricking in her eyes.

"Are you alright ma?"

"Yes dear, I'm fine." She wiped out the tears that were already forming at the corner of her eyes. She was stunned by how Zainab talked to her son. It was kind of direct but Mrs. Maikuddi felt that Zainab would help Khalid sharpen into a better person. Zainab might be able to peel off his eyes from material things and make him concentrate on real life issues. To grow morally and spiritually.

Zainab couldn't help but to cuddle Hajia Fati in a soft hug as Hannuatu cleaned up the wet floor.

After cooking, the house made served dinner as everyone are except Khalid he was still furious that he didn't come downstairs to eat. Hajia Fati, his mum didn't want him to be a spoilt, mummy's boy so she didn't bother going to his room. She asked Hannatu to call him downstairs instead but when the maid got there, he freaked out.

"Ma, he said he's not hungry." Hannatu reported.

"Okay, dear." She took part of it since the food was so delicious.
"Take, give the rest to the cats." She ordered.

"Okay ma." The maid collected the remainants to give the cats.

"Mum." Zainab called. "Is everything going to be alright?"

"Yes my dear." She replied with a smile. "There's nothing to worry yourself about. He really has a lot of learnings to do. I've always want to train him myself but his dad said he'll learn better when he's away from his family." Mrs. Maikuddi explained.

"As my only child, life was difficult without him but later, I got used to it. I agreed to leave him there so he won't be a spoilt, mummy's boy but look at him today. I blame his dad all of these. Anyway, let's eat and pray. Then we can go to bed afterwards."

"Okay mum." Zainab replied with a smile as Hajia Fati smiled too.

***

Meanwhile... Khalid's room felt like hell. He couldn't believe what he just withnessed.

"I don't know who that girl is or whatever right she has to face me. Imagine mum taking her side?! How absurd?! I'm going to do my own investigation and send her to her real family! Whether she remembers her past or not. I regret ever helping her, I should have just left her there to die that night. All of these wouldn't have fucking happened! Damn!!" He clenched his jaws out of fraustration.

"When did mum started siding her?! It's just three weeks that she cane and she's already taken everything away from me! That bitch is so proud and arrogant. I'll show her her place very soon. As he grinned pondering in his clouded thoughts.

Well, for now, nothing would stop him from hating Zainab. As if every minute she spent in that house was suffocating him. He just needed enough space, to breathe and live.

***
Word and Translations

-Tuwon Shinkafa da mian kuka: Rice flour and boabab leave soup.