Ara stared back at the woman standing by the door. "Mommy."

"Bawo ni?" Ara's mom gave Ara another look before moving away from the door. She didn't utter another word the moment she moved out of Ara's way. She looked tired. The allback hairstyle on her head had lasted more than a week and it was starting to look rough. The smell of smoke surrounded her with a bit of sweat covering her forehead. She just finished cooking dinner after a stressful day at work. It was a bit dark inside, giving Ara just little to see. But the moment Ara stepped in, an heavy shout came up from both outside and inside the house. It was a shout of...Up Nepa!!! The jubilation made Ara feel like she had left home for years. Being long she heard that or even shouted that herself.

"Up Nepa o!!!" Omoh ran out from the room straight to her sister's side. She carried Ara with joy, dropping her immediately before they ended up falling together. She was happy to see her sister, but more excited to see the light that had been gone for two days. "Sis, your leg is good I swear." Then she ran to the extension box sitting close to their Television space. When Omoh saw the missed calls from her sister, she was about calling back when they all heard people greeting Ara from outside with their loud voices. Overjoyed, Omoh made a move to the door but their mom sent her back which she dare not obey.

"Ekale sir." Ara greeted the man whose two legs were brought forward resting on their small wooden table. He paused and looked up at Ara from the church book he was holding. His eye glasses didn't let Ara see his expression well and couldn't tell if her dad was pleased seeing her or not.

"How is work? And how is palace? Welcome home." Ara's dad said and returned to what he was reading making it obvious he wasn't expecting to receive Ara's reply. Ara didn't bother to speak again. While she was about sitting down, her mom appeared with a large tray in her hand. Ara thought it was for their Dad until her mom was finally standing before her. She instantly stood on her feet. "Mom."

"This is your food. I just finished cooking." Ara's mom said. "Will you take a quick bath first. There is water inside the bathroom."

Ara was so happy. She smiled, but her mom wasn't smiling back. Instead, she collected the tray from her mom and carried it straight to the same room she was sharing with her sister, Omoh. Ara wasn't sure what was happening. She was expecting her mom to scream, shout and yell at her for leaving the house all this while. Though she had told Omoh to tell them, but she knew her mom didn't call because she was angry at her.

"Whao!" Omoh burst into the room. "Is that really mommy?" She quietly drew the curtain from inside to watch their mom who was staring at the television with a calm face. "Whao!" Omoh peeked into Ara's egusi soup. "I can't believe mom gave you one fish and one meat. Sissy, you these prodigal children ehnn..."

"I will break your nose if you don't let me eat in peace." Ara protected her tray with one hand, dragging Omoh away from her. Omoh couldn't help laughing at her sister. She had really missed Ara scaring her with words she wasn't capable of doing. Omoh decided to give her little trouble again.

"Sissy, remain small fish for your younger sister nau."

Ara looked up at her. "This one you are reminding me who you are, something must be wrong with my mouth. But cut it only after I finish my fish and meat." Ara dragged her food close to her, unwrapping the semo she had in her hand.

Omoh laughed. "Aunty Ara. I've missed you ehnn. When you are done, I want to show you some of my videos on YouTube. Today today, you will like them all and follow me."

"Noted." Ara was already slicing the tail of sardine fish she had in her plate. After few minutes, Ara finished her food, drank the cold water Omoh brought out from their freezer and immediately took a quick bath just like her mom had recommended. When she came back into their room, Omoh was gone. It was her mom she met sitting calmly on the bed.

"Mom."

"Yes." Ara's mom replied. She had wanted to talk, but looking for the perfect moment and finally she decided it was time. She looked up at her daughter who stood with towel wrapped around her body. She could sense Ara was eager to hear her too. And silently, she prayed her daughter listened to her. She was so happy seeing her again after many weeks of not seeing or hearing from her. Ara's mom heaved a sigh and began. "Aramade, don't you think this job isn't good enough. Besides, a place like that is very dangerous. Why didn't you tell me and your Dad before going over to a place like that? You can't just decide over everything because you are now mature. What about us, your parents?" Her mom managed to voice her opinion calmly, but Ara wasn't having it. 

"Mom, just stop! What is it now?" Ara's voice was becoming high, looking at her mom straight in the eye. They were used to solving matters with shout. She wasn't planning to stop as she raised her voice again. "This is the reason I didn't tell you, because you won't let me. It took me heaven before you allowed me going for ushering jobs. Mom I want to continue my education! That's my only priority, and that is what you and Daddy aren't planning to give us. You should thank God I'm not sleeping around." Ara added with a low voice, looking away.

"Ori e ti daru!" Ara's mom flared up, standing on her feet. Her voice suddenly went higher. She tried not to make the matter this way, but having her daughter raised her voice at her got her angry. While the last statement Ara said made her even more angry. She gave Ara a dirty glare. "Do you want me to kill myself! Tell me! May be if I kill myself, and you have no mother like the rest, you will see and feel my importance! You will finally see what I'm doing for you all. You all shouted you want us to leave this house. Is it with sand we will find a new place? Sacrificing all my enjoyment, I bought us a land for us to have our home and leave this place. Didn't I tell you as my daughter? Do you think all I'm doing is my responsibility alone! What else do you want me to do? Put money in your mouth before you can appreciate all I'm doing! Just be like your sister, you can leave my house too!"

"You can tell me if that's what you want!" Ara shouted back. Tired of having her mom compare her with her sister's wayward life. She was different. Why was it so difficult for her to see. Ara suddenly threw her towel away, which luckily fell on the bed. She quickly put on her underwear, grabbing any of her gown she could reach. She felt her mom threw something at her.

"Use your date of birth. That's the money have been saving for you." Ara's mom said and walked out of the room immediately.

Ara bent down and picked up the atm card before heading towards the door. The moment she stepped outside, she saw the landlady who wasn't far from where she stood. She gestured with her hand for her to come which she immediately did because she was a very good person to her and her family.

"Aramade! Aramade! Aramade! How many times did I call you?"

"Three times ma."

"Why are you shouting at your mom that way? I'm a mother too. I can feel her pain. Ever since you came into this house, she had been the one struggling up and down for you all. I know what's like to have a husband, and still being the one taking all the whole responsibilities. Not all women in this condition are happy taking the whole responsibilities. Some are tired, but they just have to because of their children, so don't make it hard for your mother. She's going through a lot too. Many wish to have their mothers with them even if they only get to see their faces. God be with you my daughter. You should go back inside and ask for her forgiveness. This same issue you shouted on, you will see how miraculously she will listen when you settle it with calmness. Don't shout on your mother again sogbo oko mi? Shouting won't solve the matter."

"Ese ma." Ara thanked the landlady who immediately left with the clean plates she was taking inside.

Ara felt guilty in her mind. Her mom screamed doing so much which was true in many ways. She was the one always paying the house rent. Anytime they needed anything in school those days, they went to her first. It was when their Dad's job wasn't going well that she  volunteered he was free to join her at her place of work. Now, Ara thought it must be hard on her carrying almost all the responsibilities without complaining to them. Though they were aware of her getting angry almost at anything. Ara never thought it could be that hard all those times.

Ara reached the atm stand she headed to immediately she left home. She never thought her mom was saving for her. It was unbelievable for her to accept that was true. But then, she was actually holding the atm card her mom threw at her. After the guy before her left, she inserted her atm card, pressed her date of birth. 1997. And immediately, it was accepted. Everything suddenly became true to Ara. Her mom actually saved up for her? Yet she never mentioned it. She wasn't even aware at all. Ara realized she would not have believed it if her mom had told her with her mouth. Ara went straight to check balance, waiting patiently for result.

Loading took forever.

Even though it didn't last that long.

Results came and Ara suddenly felt a tiny tear rolled down as she stated at the screen before her. Her mom had truly been saving for her. On the screen sat six hundred thousand naira. For her. Because her mom did care about her education. It was then she recollected how her mom stopped a lot of things for herself a year ago. She couldn't remember the last time her mom bought herself a new dress. Slowly, Ara burst into heavy tears, leaving the queue immediately.

______________________________________

It may be that your mother is the most annoying person on earth, but always remember. She loves you the most. She loves you all. Be grateful you still have her around. Mothers don't tell us almost everything they do for us, but always remember they have your best interest in them.

I updated late because I won't be updating today. Till Thursday. 🤗
See you soon with love. I hope you enjoyed this chapter?

❤️Drop a lovely word for your mom.
(Mom you are amazing. Thanks for fighting with me since you gave birth to me.)