Since after the kiss, the relationship between Zainab and Idris wasn't the same again. It's just hours actually, under 168 hours and it looked like they haven't talked for years.

Everything changed. Especially Zainab. She stopped talking to Idris. She avoided him as much as possible but Idris was finding a way to see her again. He needed to apologize for what he did the other day. But his feelings for her were as transparent as water. Even though his family doesn't like her a bit.

Deep inside, Mr. Abdullahi's feelings on both of them are "whatever" while his wife, Amina's thoughts about both of them are "never". She doesn't want them to be together. She hated seeing her son being close to Zainab, the little witch as she usually calls her. Amina thinks she's too low for her son to be friends with let alone date. So, she's trying to separate them from each other, making Zainab look bad, worse, and ugly every single day she stays there but Idris loves her even more.

Everyone I'm the Bala family knows they had this closeness and a special type of keen connection for one another that might be; maybe unrepeatable but it's a complicated type of friendship.

Since Zainab was avoiding him, Idris was also trying to get closer. He had a plan after all. To expose his parents. To tell Humaira about how they've maltreated Zainab all these years and she's not still willing to tell specifically anybody for no reason.

It was just a couple of days when Humaira came back to Abuja.

She made a phone call to inform the Bala and informed them that she would be coming to pick up her junior sister the following day.

"Awn... She's such a lovely girl. We're just going to miss her. Mr. Abdullahi muttered over the phone as if he was really sad about Zainab's leaving. He wasn't sad at all.

Mr. Abdullahi and Amina were just angry. They wanted her out of their house for long but they kept her... As a slave. For some selfish reasons, they still wanted to keep her.

"Don't worry sir," Humaira laughed over the phone. "She would come to visit you guys from time to time. I'll make sure of that."

"Okay... Wow!" He exclaimed excitedly. "That would mean a lot. You know Zainab is like a daughter to me."

"Yes sir, I know. And I know I can't pay for all the love and care you've shown towards her. I'm forever grateful to you, Mr. Bala."

"Subhanallah... It's nothing. Thanks for being understanding my dear."

"I should be the one saying that sir. Jazakillahu khayran fil jannah. Extend my greetings to Mrs. Bala and the rest of the family. Please, help me get her ready for tomorrow."

"Yes! Sure, I will. Goodnight Humaira."

"Goodnight sir." She cut the call with a smile while Mr. Abdullahi hissed hatefully.

He was in his room with his wife. Meanwhile, Idris was silently recording everything.

He was going to use it to prove how his parents hate Humaira and her sister, faking hate for love. He was going to expose them no matter what. At least, Humaira shouldn't be left in the dark any longer.

"Imagine that idiot, she's coming to pick her sister here tomorrow!" He blurted and threw his phone under the pillow.

"Whatever! Zainab should just go. At least, we will have rest of mind again, the way we used to before she stepped into our lives with all her bad fortunes and curses."

"What's paining me is that... The girl is so ungrateful. I passed their house the other day and you won't believe what I saw."

"What was it, my dear?"

"A very big bungalow. I was so surprised I didn't know how such a small girl would build a house like that. I mean, she hasn't even started working and Sha already spending so much. Where did she get the money from?"

"Hmmm... Don't you know where girls get money from?"

"No, I don't Mr. Abdullahi looked at his wife, puzzled."

She let out a wicked laugh and clapped her hands.

"It's definitely through rich men. Its no doubt that Humaira is doing prostitution in Zaria. I was scrolling through her Facebook page the other day and I saw her pictures. The worst part of it is that she didn't wear hijab in most of the pictures and she posted it for the world to see."

"Subhanallah!" Mr. Abdullahi jerked at what he just heard. "You don't mean it!"

"Hmmm... What were you expecting? She's just a greedy thing. Useless, the same way her sister is. Even when Humaira sent money, did she ever say take o... For you and your husband? No! She only sent money to her sister."

"That's true. But thank God we used the money on ourselves instead."

"You see. I recognize those witches very well. If you're not careful, they'll bite you in whole; like a dog."

"Hmmm... No wonder. Wai! I was just wondering how come. From when to when. And she has made it so big in less than 5 years. Nawa o."

"Let's just forget about those two. Thinking about them gives me a headache." Amina placed her right hand on her forehead and hissed.
Then she yawned and adjusted the pink, transparent nightgown on her body.
"Come to bed honey, let's go to bed. It's been a long day."

"Yes, dear. Let me take a shower. I'll join you immediately." He smiled and walked into the bathroom.

Stop and Save. Idris saved the video on his phone. Well, that wasn't the only one. A day before, he also took a picture, showing the heap of clothes  Zainab had to wash. Well, she was already used to it but all Idris wanted was for these to end.

He gently tiptoed back to his room, Isah and Ibrahim were deep asleep.
Earlier that day, Idris went to steal his dad's personal, jotting book. At the back of it were all the contacts on his phone. He scrolled through searching for Humaira. About 5 people were bearing the name on the list. Though, he had to call them one after the other

Humaira Abuja
Humaira 1
Humaira 2
Humairah Kd
Humaira Zaria

This was how the names were arranged. Although It was already 10:00 p.m., Idris had to try his best to get to Humaira. He needs to tell her tonight or it might be too late. Zainab would be leaving tomorrow but I need to tell Humaira today." He said to himself as he dialed the last number which was supposed to be the right one.

'The number you've dialed is currently switched off. Please try again later.' a female, robotic voice answered.

He dialed it over and over again but it wasn't reachable. Maybe this plan was a waste of time. Idris cried mentally. Almost giving up.

Just then, his eyes caught a name at the end of the page.

Zainab's Sister.

"Oh! This must be her number." A smile flashed through his lips as he quickly typed it on his phone and called the number.

It kept on ringing.

Humaira was busy arranging her luggage in the wardrobe. She wanted to arrange her room that night and get ready for the following day. Hadee was playing a ludo game on her phone when the call entered.

She quickly collected it from him and saw it was an unknown number.

'Who could it be?' Humaira wondered. 'And by this time?'

Idris dialed about three more times before she finally picked up the call.

"Hello."  Her voice sounded so tense over the phone.

"Assalam 'Alaikum Humaira. It's me, Idris. Mr. Abdullahi Bala's son." He almost whispered.

"Oh! Long time Idris." She felt relieved.

"How are you? How's everything?" It excited Humaira to hear from him. It's been a long. She knew he was close to Zainab.

"I'm fine. Ummm.  There's something I need to tell you." his eyes gazed from side to side, to be sure that no one was spying on him.

"Okay... What's it?"

In a blink, Ibrahim turned. Idris held his breath and paused. As if he was bitten by a mosquito or something, Ibrahim wanted to open his eyes. Then, he went back to sleep. Idris let out a relieved breath, not to get caught. If anyone mistakenly hears him, it would spoil his plan.

"Umm.. I'll just save your number and text you the message via WhatsApp."

"Okay then. Humaira frowned but.. hope it's nothing so serious?"

"No... It's nothing." He muttered. Goodbye."

'Okay. Bye."

Humaira looked at the screen of her phone as Idris cut the call.

He immediately saved her name and messaged her on WhatsApp.

***

[10:20 p.m] Idris: Assalam'Alaikum. Please save my number. It's about Zainab.

[10:20 p.m.] Humaira: What about her?

[10:21 p.m.] Idris: A lot has happened since she started staying here. I know she didn't tell you. She won't tell anyone either.

[10:21 p.m.] Humaira: What's it, Idris? You're making me worried.

[10:21 p.m.] Idris: Zainab is being maltreated here. What I mean is, that my parents don't love her. She's treated like a slave and not a human or their daughter as they claim. She's been emotionally and physically tortured, Humaira. I hope you understand.

[10:21 p.m.] Humaira: What? I still don't get it. I'm sure they love Zainab. I mean...

[10:22 p.m.] Idris: Okay, I'll send you some pictures and videos. Maybe you'll understand what I'm trying to say.

He quickly forwarded the proofs to her and she shoved to open the files.

It's just unbelievable. How would Mr Bala treat Zainab like a slave when he knew what they'd been through? It's just impossible.

Idris saw Zainab washing heaps of clothes and Amina adding more, telling her to wash all within a short period. Zainab wasn't looking happy there and Amina looked so rude. She couldn't believe what she had just seen.

[10:20 p.m.] Idris: This video was from this night.
(He sent the video he just took 30 minutes ago.)
Humaira couldn't believe her eyes. She dropped her phone to the bed as tears formed in her eyes. She just couldn't believe how terrible they were and what Zainab might have gone through so far. Why did she hide it? Why didn't she say something? Why did she keep quiet?

Humaira just couldn't comprehend how all of these were happening under her nose. She thought Zainab had been living and happy and peaceful life. Imagine, they've been spending all the 20k she sent to Zainab monthly?

**"

Words and Translations

-Subhanallah: Glory be to God.

-20k:  #20,000 Twenty thousand naira Nigerian naira.