About to put the powder into her food, she heard Humaira’s footsteps walking towards her.

She quickly stopped and hid it inside her bra.

“Wow! You’ve changed your kitchen?”

“Yes, darling.” She faked a warm smile and quickly opened the pot of stew.

“I love this colour... Everything looks perfect in here. You this girl, you don change levels o.” Humaira joked.

“Come off it, Humaira. It’s God’s grace. Let’s just say... Alhamdulillah.” She hissed at her, putting a tail of fish to the stew she added on the white rice.

“Oya take your food o.”

“Nawa o all these for me?” Humaira laughed Firdausi kenan! Wallahi I’ve really missed you. Let’s go to the livingroom now.” She suggested.

“Keep the food. I’ll join you in a minute.” Firdausi smiled cheerfully, but the smile dropped immediately Humaira left the kitchen. It turned into an evil, secretive smirk.

‘Mteeeew! Imagine this idiot girl? She spoilt my plan. Don’t worry now, she it’s me and you in this house?! You won’t last long. I’ll promise you that.’ She grumbled in her mind and went to take a bottle of water and two stainless cups.

“So how far with school and studied? Come and give me all the gists...” Humaira said joyfully as she deep her spoon into the food.

“No gist, bestie. It’s the same old boring stories in school. I heard...

“Yes... Tell me. What did you hear?” Humaira asked interestingly.

“You too like amebo, Sha. But no problems now. You know ABU has all the news.”

“That Aunt in your room. Emmm... What’s her name again?”

“You mean the one with low cut hairstyle?”

“Yes. That deeper-life Aunty. That always swear black long skirt.” She closed her eyes, trying to remember her name.

“Kelechi”

“Yes! She’s the one. Kelechi! I heard she’s officially engaged to the guy that impregnated her. His name is Damon Jonathan.”

“Ehen... Seriously?”

“Yes o..”

“That means the guy is serious now.”

“That’s not the news o. I overheard some student saying the guy is related to the country’s former president.”

Humaira let out a funny laugh, almost choking on her food. “You must be joking. Like seriously?”

“Yes o. The guy is stinky rich. His father owns one of the biggest companies in Owerri. This world Sha. Everything na luck o.”

“Wow. It’s good to know. Kelechi is a good person anyways. I’m so happy for her. What about others? Any news from them?”

“Yes, o! Have you heard the latest news about Mirabella Francis?”

“No, you know I wasn’t in school. What about her?”

“It’s a lie! So you didn’t hear that she’s our Mr. Disciplinarian’s baby mama?”

“What? It’s unbelievable!” Humaira gulped down a cup of water down her dried throat.
How come? But Professor Charles Ezechukwu don’t even look at girls, I’ve never even caught him ever talking to one. And of all people, Mirabella?! That Amebo girl, Subhanallah!"

“The Prof denied the pregnancy o. He said he didn’t do it.”

“Ah! What about her parents? She brags they are ministers and they live abroad. Mirabella that always carries herself like a queen in the hostel.”

“Ministers you say? Firdausi bursted. Na lie o! They exposed her secret when her mum came to school to challenge Professor Charles. She was crying around the school with her daughter. Poor woman, I heard she sells okirika in Mammi market.”

“What?”

“Yes, and the poor woman is a widow. That girl has just been bragging for you guys in hostel o. You’ve really missed a lot, seriously.” Awwnn, why wasn’t I in school?" Humaira whined as she ate part of the fish.

“Won’t you join me? I thought we’re supposed to eat this together.”

“No, don’t worry. I’ve eaten already. The rice sef don tire me.”

“You still see something to eat o. Some are even begging God for Garri, but nothing on their plates except sand. Say Alhamdulillah my dear. You’re living someone’s dream, I tell you.”

“Okay o.” She agreed. “Alhamdulillah. But seriously, life isn’t easy. I’m just managing.”

“Okay, so as I was saying, Prof Charles rejected her pregnancy. It’s caused a lot of noise in school o. To cut the long story short. Our English tutor is getting married next month. He even announced it during his last class. He invited everyone.”

“Hope his fiancee isn’t a student of our school, Sha?”

“No o. Not at all. I heard she’s a medical doctor in Hikmah Hospital. They’ve been in a relationship since, but he proceeded with his marriage before another stupid student spoils his image. I heard they suspended Mirabella Sha. That stupid girl. Mteeeew!”

“She’s always up for news and all that. I pity her mother.”

“Yes. Me too. The worse part of it is that, she didn’t even know who impregnated her. Hmmm.. Mirabella’s news spread o. Till now, It’s still reigning in school sef.

“Hmm... What a world.” Humaira took her last spoon and drank water.
“Alhamdulillahi Robil ‘Alamin.”
She said as Firdausi took her plates.

“NO, don’t worry. I’ll take it to the kitchen myself.”

“No o. I insist. Don’t stress yourself.” Firdausi blushed. “You pregnant woman.”

“Don’t look at me with that eyes o. I’m still a girl.”

“Whatever..” Firdausi rolled her eyes and took the plate and cups back into the kitchen.

So you need to have a warm shower now and rest.

“I want to gist now...” Humaira meowed.

“You and gist. We will continue tomorrow.”

“No... I want it today.” Humaira insisted, pleading jokingly.

“Sai gobe Yar’uwa.” Firdausi smiled and held her hand. Change and I'll prepare the water.”

“I wonder what I would do without a friend like you.” Humaira thought as she took off her clothes and went into the bathroom to take an evening shower.

After showering, the two friends performed ablution and prayed together. They studied and gist all night. It was loving to see that both friends were back together, but Firdausi had a special plan for our main character. Scroll to the next chapter to know....

***

Words and Translations

-Maami market: A special type of market located in barracks.

-Okirika: second hand clothes. Used imported clothes

-deeper-life: The organization of church in which Kelechi attends.

-Alhamdulillahi Robil 'Alamin: Praise be to God, The Lord of Worlds.

-Sai gobe Yar 'uwa: Till tomorrow, my dear.

***

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 leave your comments.