Ring! Ring!! Ring!!!

Ring! Ring!! Ring!!!

The vibration of her old Nokia phone brought her back into reality.

It was Doctor Azeezah, calling.

She quickly wiped away her tears and picked up the call.

Doctor Azeezah was a very close friend of their mum's who happened to work at University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada Abuja. For the past six months, She had been using half of her salary for Hajia Binta's treatment and she's also been very supportive to the girls.

"Assalam Alaikum, ma."

"Humaira, where have you been?! I tired calling you through out the night, you weren't picking up!"

"What's the matter ma, is everything alright? Hope all is well?" Humaira's voice tensed.

"You need to calm down... It's bad news! Just come here immediately."

"Please tell me ma! What happened to my mother?!" Tears started welling up in her eyes again.

"We did all we could but I'm sorry..." Her voice sounded very calm and cracky. "We've lost Hajia Binta..."

Humaira's heart stopped beating for a moment... Her mind went numb.

"Tell me its a lie, Doctor Azeezah. Tell me it's impossible!" Immeasurable tears poured down her swollen eyes. "She still had hours left, didn't she?"

"Only Allah Subuhanahu Wa Ta'allah could predict time, not doctors..."

Humaira unconsciously ended the call and ran out of the hotel like a mad woman. She felt hot tears swelling behind her ears, yet, it stung both her eyes. Her vision went blurry but who cares?

In grief and heartbreak, Humaira stopped a taxi and zoomed back to gwagwalada, to the direction of the hospital. The sensitive driver sped up when he saw Humaira's state but it was already late. She knew nothing would save her mother now! If not for that stupid Alhaji, she would have been beside her mother throughout the night.

Even after he used her body for a million, she couldn't save her mother. Everything now was useless. She cried, bearing the agony in her heart, body and mind.

As soon as she came down from the taxi, she noticed she wasn't having any penny on her. And because of the shocked condition she was in... She must have forgotten the money in the hotel.

Luckily, the taxi driver was a very kind man. He told her to forget about the payment. When she went into the ward, she didn't meet her mum there. Her body was packed into the morgue. Seeing Hajia Binta's body was so heart smashing for her, unbearable. Humaira cried bitterly over her mother's dead body, knowing she already failed.

'Is this God's will? That I lost my mother and my virginity on the same day?' She thought within herself.

"Innalillahi Wa'inna illahi Rajihun."

(We surely belong to Allah, And to Him we shall return.)

It was a very painful experience for both girls. Since the death of their dad, Hajia Binta has been their hope and role model. Their dream and wishes was to become great in the nearest future and to care for their mother who sacrificed almost all for their well being. Now, everything was in vain, vanity upon vanity.

Zainab went back to school, even if it was just days after her mother's death. She didn't let it weigh her down, unlike other children her age. They would spend forty days at home before resuming school. Always look for an excuse to skip classes and avoid their frustrating teachers... But not Zainab Sanni Ahmad.

Even though she attended a public primary and now secondary school; Government Secondary School, Gwagwalada Abuja. She was transferred from primary 5 to J.S.S. 1 because she was even doing better than the J.S.S 3 students. And it was just the second term when this happened.

Zainab was known for her brightness, respect, intelligence and selflessness within and outside her school compound. She was the kind of student who others hoped she fall sick just to miss classes and fail exams, but she always excelled. Every student were envious of her, even her teachers; but she disappointed them all. Always backing the 105 students in her class and even doing better than those empty-brain-prefects that were as well, jealous of her in every way.

Zainab represented the school and during their last speech and price giving day, the Executive Chairman of Gwagwalada, Hon. Adamu Mustapha Danze and the Minister of Education in Nigeria, Mallam Adamu Adamu promised to sponsor the best 5 students after their SSCE into any university of their choice. And since last year, Zainab has been working towards it.

***
Words and Translations

-Allah Subuhanahu Wa Ta'allah: God, Almighty.

-Gwagwalada: A local government area in Abuja, the central of Nigeria.

Naira :Nigerian Note or Current (#)...

J. S. S. 3: Junior Secondary School, 3. Middle school, 8th Grade.

Innalillahi Wa'inna illahi Rajihun: We surely belong to Allah, And to Him we shall return.

S.S.C.E: Secondary School Certificate Examination. An Exam done or written in high school before entering college or university.

Mallam: An Islamic scholar.

***

Enjoy reading and please, don't forget to press the tiny orange star ★ at the end of each chapter to notify me you've actually read it... So! What are we waiting for! Continue reading this story of family, adventure, mystery and plot twists, and also leave your comments.