It has been two weeks since we visited our grandparents. As promised Rumana spent the weekend with them, it kind of became a policy, every weekend she spends it with them. It makes me happy to see her all excited about it.

Hajiya and Alhaji are still not back. They've gone for a mini vacation. Smh!! Rich people.

I'm yet to meet their 'Yaya' as they call him. Hajara and Lubna are still annoying the heck out of me, now even more than their Dad is not around. He's the one that always reprimands and scolds them, their Mom couldn't care less.

It angers me whenever they're rude to Inna, I feel like tearing them limb by limb. Like WTF?! That's someone's mother you're disrespecting!!! Way older than your mother. It's honestly disgusting. And Hajiya is very much aware of this, I'm not criticizing her parenting or anything but she should be more firm on her kids because they don't know where they might find their selves tomorrow. Manners are everything.

As I place the dishes back in their place I noticed Inna wincing as she held her head. I hurriedly rushed to her.

"Inna, what's wrong? Are you okay?" I helped her take a seat and gave her a glass of water.

"Thank you, It's just a small headache."

Poor woman. I wonder where her kids are? I would never let my mom work, never, but I don't know the reason so I'm gonna mind my business.

Just then Hajara barged into the kitchen, slamming the door so hard that the window glasses shook. "Wai Inna baki gama abincin bane; you haven't finished cooking?" She rudely asked. "We've been waiting for the food for ages, do you want us to starve to death huh?!"

Sabr Jiddarh, sabr. Innallaha ma'as sabirin. I kept chanting in my head.

"Kiyi hakuri; I'm sorry. I'll start it now." Inna said, with her head bowed down. This is hurting me, very much. "My head was aching shi yasa......" she began to explain.

" DO. I. LOOK. LIKE. I CARE?" She yelled cutting off Inna's sentence.

Innallaha ma'as sabirin. Innallaha ma'as sabirin.

"I don't care what the f***k is wrong with you, I didn't ask. All I.......

That's it!!!!!!

"ENOUGH!!" I bellowed. "What the hell is wrong with you? Are you crazy? She just told you that her head is aching." I didn't give her a chance to respond, my patience has snapped into two.

"Just because she keeps quiet doesn't give you the right to be disrespectful to her. Manners cost you nothing, it doesn't cost a dime to be respectful. And most of all she's someone's mother, uwa ba tafi uwa ba. If her kids were here do you think they'll let you treat her this way? As much as you love your mom, they also love theirs too and won't tolerate any person disrespecting her. Since they are not here, I am, and I'm here standing up for her because unlike you I know the importance of a mother.

We are not some robots you ordered from eBay that you control anyhow you like. Do you honestly think we want to be here?!!! Halin rayuwa ya kawo mu; circumstances brought us here. Just because we work under your parents, your parents not you, it doesn't give you the guarantee to treat us like that. We are also humans.

And you just had your brunch not less than two hours ago, what the hell do you want then? So you're gonna get the hell out of this kitchen and Inna will cook when she feels she's okay, then you will come back and take your goddam food. She's not your slave. We.Are.Not.Your.Slaves!"

Mehn that felt good. I'm sick and tired of their bullshit.

She couldn't do anything, what do you except? They are good at nothing but bluffing, they cannot do anything. Spoilt brats!!

I felt Inna's hand on my shoulder and I turned to look at her. I was breathing heavily."Jiddarh." She called in a soft frail voice. "You shouldn't have done that, I don't want you to get in trouble because of me. You should have just let her be."

"I should just let her disrespect you while I'm standing here? Haba Inna. There's a limit to everything, and they are crossing that limit. I don't care what they say or do to me, wallah I don't but you Inna? You of all people. Abun ya fara wuce gona da iri. Rashin kunyan yayi yawa. They should say whatever they want to say to me but I will not tolerate them disrespecting you anymore, I've had enough. There's a limit to what a person can tolerate."

She smiled weakly at me. "Your mom must be proud, she raised a beautiful young lady. Allah maki albarka Jiddarh, Allah maki albarka."

"Ameen Inna, Ameen." There's just something satisfying when elders say god bless you.

"What are you going to cook?" I asked.

"Daman Jollof rice ne." She answered with a shrug.

"Don't worry I'll cook it, you go to your room and rest."

"That won't be necessary." She protested.

"I insist Inna, I've already finished my work. I'll cook, you go and rest. I'll also bring panadol for you."

"God bless you Jiddarh, God bless you." Inna praised starting to get emotional. "Allah ubankiji ya maki albarka, ya cika maki burin ki duniya da lahira. Allah ya baki miji na gari. Nagode, nagode sosai." She showered me with blessings.

"Ameen. Ba komai Inna; it's nothing. Je ki huta; go and rest." I said, smiling at her. She smiled one last time then left. I sighed out loud. Now lemme cook for those brats.

******

Meanwhile, Hajara left the kitchen angry and marched to her and Lubna's room, barging in and slamming the door angrily.

Lubna who was sitting down on the bed messing with her phone looked up when she noticed her cousin's angry expression she kept the phone aside. "What's wrong Hajjo? Why are you angry?" She asked.

"WHAT?!" Lubna exclaimed after Hajara told her what happened. "And you let her?" She asked incredulously. "Baki dauke ta da mari ba; you didn't slap her? Lallai wuyan ta ya kai yanka."

"Hmm, bari kawai." Hajara responded. She's regretting why she didn't do anything but deep down she knows that there was nothing she could do.

"Let Mummy come back, she'll surely put her in her place," Lubna said.

"Definitely." Hajara agreed.

*******

After I finished cooking, I tidied up the kitchen. I left the warmers in the kitchen, I ain't setting no table. I took Inna's food and the panadol to her room but met her asleep so I kept it aside.

As I was leaving I saw a figure entering Hajiya's son's apartment. I didn't see his face not that I'm eager to.

I quietly walked home before I could say my salam I overheard Umma talking.

"........this is it. You know the place I asked you to go sell it right?"

Sell what? Who's selling what?

"Yes, Umma." I heard Rumana reply.

What is happening? I quickly entered and Umma seemed startled like she was doing what she's not supposed to. My eyes roamed around, I saw a plastic bucket full of awara; tofu.

"What's that for?" I asked Umma and she kept mum.

"Rumana?" I called sternly. She looked scared, her eyes darting between Umma and me.

"Umma I asked you a question. What's that for?" I think I have an idea but I do not want to conclude until she answers me.

"Uhm w-well, I was thinking uhm maybe we should, we could start selling this to earn more money. Rumana could......." She trailed off.

I said nothing but stared at her, she couldn't meet my gaze because she also knows that what she was about to do was wrong.

"Hawking Umma, hawking? You were going to send her to hawk?" I asked incredulously. "How could you Umma? Upon all I'm doing you were willing to send her to..... taje talla Umma?" I asked my voice cracking. "You doing this shows that you do not appreciate my efforts, at all. Every day you hear news about the ungodly things that happen to these girls and you are still willing to send her out there? Haba Umma, why Umma?" Tears pooled my eyes. It hurts, so much.

"Jiddarh I-I, I—"

"My sister will not hawk as long as I'm alive, baza tayi talla ba, never. That's my promise to you." I quickly rushed out of the house, I can hear Umma yelling my name asking me to come back.

But I didn't. I didn't stay because I might say something I'll regret and I do not want to hurt her in any way. My father has done enough of that. The moment I was out, I let the tears fall. I cried something I haven't done in a while.

Your mom must be proud of you.

I recalled Inna's words. Well, she isn't.

There is an alley not too far from our house, so I went there. I'm not ready to back home.  I sat down and cried to my heart's content. What Umma did hurt me a lot wallah. It felt like all I am doing is useless, it's like she isn't appreciating my efforts. Some may think that what I'm doing isn't much or that I'm blowing it out of proportion but try having the whole family rely on you. I pay the bills, electricity, water, and hospital bills. I pay for my sister's school fees, buy uniform, books, and all the essentials. I provide the clothing, the groceries, everything, and yet.....

"You know you shouldn't sit down here alone, it's dangerous." A voice startled me.

"Are you stalking me?" I asked when I saw who it was.

"You wish. We just happen to be in the same place at the same time." Mas'ud replied, he then sat down across me. "Tears do not look good on you, you know."

"Nobody asked you," I grumbled under my breath.

"Why were you crying?" He aside, he took a seat across me.

"That's none of your business." I snapped.

"Woah, chill." He raised his hands in mock surrender. "I can see feisty is back." I just rolled my eyes.

"But what is the problem?" He persisted.

"It's nothing." I sighed.

"You don't expect to believe that right?" He laughed. "Because you seem tough, you're not the type of person that cries over small things so it has to be something big."

I can't believe I'm saying this but he's right, it takes a lot to make me cry. I usually store my emotions and toss them aside. But then there are times it gets too much, your chest feels so full and tight like it's going to burst then you have to let it all out.

"Know that whatever it is you're going through will pass." He added with a small smile.

"Thank you," I replied, returning the small smile.

"Is that a smile?" He teased. I couldn't help but chuckle.

"There. You look prettier with a smile. That frown just doesn't suit you."

His company is oddly............calming and welcoming. I mentally shook my head, get those thoughts out of your head Jiddarh.

"Okay, let's get you home," Mas'ud said after a little while.

"What?" I said warily. "There's no need for that."

"You are scared that I'll see where you live right?" He concluded with a smug grin.

Uhmm yeah.

"Do not worry, I mean no harm wallah. My mom taught me not to let pretty girls walk alone at night."

Is he flirting? I think he is. I sighed and we walked side by side.

"So you're really not gonna tell me your name." Came his voice after a few moments of silence.

"Why do you want to know my name so bad?" He just shrugged. "Guess then?" I told him.

"Hmm." He said tapping his chin. "You're not calm like a Habiba. They are known to be tranquil, you're not childish like a Sadiya or scared and childish like a Rabiatu, you do not seem like a Zainab, they are mischievous."

(A/N bare in mind that I described the characters of those names based on how my friends act. So if your name is there and you find it offensive, hayyam sorry. But my friends go by those names and I described them.)

"What? Where on earth did you get that?" I giggled.

"Oho," he shrugged. "I don't know either. Just tell me."

One of our neighbors saw me, I didn't even see her. "Ohhh J-"

"Ina wuni; good evening." I quickly said before she could say my name. "Lafiya, greet your mom for me." With that, she left.

"Why didn't you let her say your name?" Mas'ud accused. "That's cheating. At least I have a clue now, it starts with a 'J'."

I hummed.

"Is it Jamila?"

"No."

"Juwairiya?"

"No."

"Jahan?"

"Nah."

"Jawahir?"

"I have to say that's a beautiful name but unfortunately it isn't my name."

"Jaleelah?"

"No, and.....we are here," I said as we stood in front of my house.

"Dang it," Mas'ud exclaimed. "I have a clue now, I'll figure it out."

"Good night," I said.

"Night feisty." He smiled and turned around to leave.

"Mas'ud?" I called back.

"Yes?" He turned with that smile ever prominent.

"Thank you." I genuinely smiled brightly at him. I didn't wait for his response.

****

If only she knew what that smile did to him.

Mas'ud shook his head and smiled to himself.

Feisty. He thought happily.

*****

I quietly walked into the house. I saw Umma pacing around looking very worried and disturbed.

"Assalamu alaikum," I said quietly.

"Jiddarh." Umma cried and ran to me, pulling me into a tight hug. "I'm so sorry Jiddarh, I'm sorry. Don't ever do that again, I thought I lost you too." She sniveled.

I just stood still as she hugged me like her life deepened on it. She then pulled away and cupped my cheeks.

"I'm sorry Jiddarh, I'm so sorry. I don't know what came over me but I promise it will never happen again. I just want to help too. I want you to know that I'm proud of you, so proud. I'm the proudest mother alive. Umma loves you Jiddarh, Umma will always love you."

I couldn't hold back anymore so I hugged my mother back. "Jiddarh loves you too Umma, Jiddarh will always love you."

I pulled back but still held her with my arms, "If you want, I can sell it for you after I return."

Umma shook her head. "I honestly don't know what came over me I'm sorry, my daughters won't hawk. Maybe we can sell it from home or take it to the kiosk outside so that he can sell it for us."

I nodded. "Whatever you say Umma."

"I'll think about it."

.......................................

My beautiful people ❤️❤️❤️

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Memzyb✨🌹