I shook my head as I looked away from those disgusting human beings. This yan acaba or whatever, are shameless human beings wallahi, some men in general. How can you just pee by the roadside or in the gutter of people's houses dan Allah, danannabi? Didn't Islam teach us modesty? Kai Allah ya kyauta. I don't know how my wandering gaze dropped on them, thank god their backs were to me, they didn't corrupt my eyes.

I have just dropped Rumana at school. After the last encounter with obnoxious, I wasn't comfortable with her walking to school by herself anymore. So I do it myself now, and I pick her up by 2:30 pm, take her to Islamiyah and pick her up by 6:00 pm. That has been the routine for a week now. But I don't know how the case will be now that Hajiya has called me back to work. Umma said she's okay to do it, she'll be exercising in the process, which is good for her health.

I pushed the gate door but it was locked. Great. I picked a stone to knock on the door. After almost three minutes of knocking, I heard the jingle of keys, and the door was pulled open.

"Ina kwana; good morning." I greeted the gateman, Garba Baba tsoho out of respect.

"Lafiya lau Jiddarh, an dawo kenan; so you've returned."

If I haven't will you see me here? I mentally rolled my eyes, while nodding to him in response. I just dislike the man for no reason, or maybe because there's a possibility he's here enjoying while his family and relatives back at the village are suffering. Surely he has a wife, if not wives, right? Kids too and definitely relatives. But not once in the three years I've been working in this house did he ever go to check on them. Wata kila ma ko kudin baya tura masu; there's a possibility he's not even sending them money.

Ya ilahi Jiddarh! Carry your judgmental self and walk into the house and do what brought you here, not analyzing the poor old man's life, huh-uh.

Refusing to believe that my subconscious mind is right, I walked into the main house. I pushed the double door opened and I was met with a whole new living room.

I suppressed a sigh. Why am I not surprised? Hajiya has changed the living room furniture more times than I can count on both hands. Every single time she travels for a vacation, then be sure that the whole house will be furnished again. And they say there's 'no money' in the country, kudi na inda suke kawai. Ya Allah, please, please grant us luxury in Jannatul Firdaus. Ameen Ya Allah.

I walked straight to the kitchen not even bothering to check out the living room, what's the use when I'll be seeing it all the time.

"Good morning." I greeted Inna Lami while changing my hijab to a knee-length one.

"Morning Jiddarh, how are you?" She smiled warmly.

"I'm fine," I smiled back. "How are your kids and family?" She sighed a bit ruefully. "They want me to return home."

I stopped wiping the counter to look at her. "Then what is the problem, Inna?" Honestly, I've been wondering when her kids will take this step. I expected it from them for a long time. How can your fifty-something, almost sixty-year-old mother be the one working and sending money to you, her kids? It's—I don't even know— not right, at all.

"I don't want to go back." She confessed quietly.

My eyes widened. "B-b-but why? Considering how you're treated here Inna, I thought you'll be ecstatic."

Inna smiled sadly. "You have no idea how my life was in that place, and how it'll be if I do go back. I'd rather stay here and be disrespected than ever go back to that village. Comparing the two, ai here I'm living in luxury, pertaining peace of the soul and the mind. I'd rather they get tired of me and fire me and I'll look for another job than willingly go back to that village, I can go and visit but returning there for good is not an option." She shook her head at the end.

I sighed. Whatever it is, it must have been—still is— bad. For her to prefer staying with strangers than her own family, her blood. For her to prefer being treated like she's nothing by a lady she's old enough to give birth to and by brats, she's old enough to be their grandmother, it must be really bad. Hmmm just leave some blood relationships as you see them.

"Allah sa haka shi yafi alheri. May Allah make it easy on you." I prayed. "Ameen, thank you Jiddarh. God bless you." I smiled and mumbled an Ameen.

I released a breath then began to work. The house is so dusty, I can't believe when everything was installed the place wasn't swept after. No matter how many times this happens, it still manages to surprise me. Leave it for Jiddarh, Jiddarh the machine will come and do everything. I thought sarcastically, mentally rolling my eyes.

I swept the whole house, it took me thrice the amount of time I use on a normal basis. And I haven't cleaned their rooms as they are still 'sleeping.'

I went back to the kitchen and together with Inna, we cleaned everything. All the cupboards, the whole utensils, the store, everything. I told Inna to rest as I washed all of the dishes. At her age, she isn't supposed to be squatting much or doing any heavy work in general.

*****

By the time asr prayer was called, we were almost through with everything. Inna started working on lunch while I returned everything to its place.

I stood on my tiptoe trying to keep a place when a body threw itself on me, clunking to me like a baby monkey, legs wrapped around my waist and hands wrapped around my neck in a choking grip. I gasped as we jolted forward, thank god my reflexes were good if not my head will have collided with the drawer or countertop.

"Jiddarh!!!!!" A voice shrieked so loud it almost destroyed my eardrums. "I missed you like sooooooooooooo much." The monkey tightened its hold on my neck, blocking my windpipe.

"K-k-ke-keh you're choking me." I croaked.

"Oh right, sorry." The monkey replied sheepishly and got down, I could hear Inna's laughter in the background. I leaned against the counter to catch my breath. I twirled around to glare at the culprit. She had the nerve to smile brightly at me.

"Hauwa'u Jiddarh Kuluwa!" She shrieked again. Ya Allahu, this girl, and her chatty mouth. "I missed you to the cube of infinity and more, wallah."

I rolled my eyes and facepalmed myself. The monkey dramatically gasped, placing her hands on her chest. "You mean to say you didn't miss me?" She fake cried. "Allah sarki." She sniffed, wiping a fake tear for more effects.

Ever the drama queen. I rolled my eyes at her. "I see you're back."

"Of course I am," she said in a duh tone. "I missed you guys wallahi like sosai sosai, especially your food Inna. When will you do bandashen gurasa for me?" Inna smiled and answered. "Whenever you like."

The monkey grinned excitedly. "Soon In sha Allah, and you," she turned to me. "you won't greet me properly ko?" She pouted.

I smiled brightly and opened my arms for her, which she gladly walked into. "It's good to have you back," I whispered. "monkey," I added with a teasing tone.

"Oh common! You need to stop calling me that."

Meet Sa'adatu, better known as Sa'adah. She's Hajiya and Alhaji's last-born, the yar auta. As you saw earlier, she's nothing like her sister or cousin. She's an absolute sweetheart with a heart of pure gold, bubbly and enthusiastic, sometimes a bit naive. She has that type of personality that it's hard to dislike.

She looks so much like her father, with her warm tanned skin, a long narrowed nose, and definitely the tall genes. The few differences are in her eyes and mouth which—I think— she inherited from a relative because that's not how her mom's look like. Alhamdulillah, not only does she resemble him physically, but she's also like him in character. Wallahi, she's such a darling. God knows that she makes my stay here very bearable. It's safe to say she's my friend, a very good friend.

She went to Lagos for vacation, as she awaits her admission. She's eighteen, two years my junior. Her sister and cousin are older than her by four years, but hey age is just a number.

"Inna why don't you go and rest, I'll lend Jiddarh a helping hand." You see nothing like her sisters.

"Are you sure?" Inna questioned unsurely. "I am," Sa'adah nodded. "You go and rest." Inna smiled and gave her the duster but I could see the uncertainty in her eyes. I get why she's unsure.

With the help of Sa'adah, I cleared and returned everything in a record of time. As we were cleaning, Sa'adah told me about her stay in Lagos. Her visit to the beautiful islands and beaches in Lagos, the Nigerian National Museum, universal studios of arts, the amusement parks, and many more. It's something a common person like me can only imagine.

"......we had so much fun, Aunty Mami is the best," Sa'adah concluded. Aunty Mami is their father's youngest sister who recently got married.

I smiled, nodding my head.

"Ohh! And Ya Baffa is back, ahhhhhh I cannot contain myself." She squealed.

Not knowing who she's talking about, I ignored her and continued wiping the counter.

"Jiddarh?" She nudged her hips with mine. "Don't tell you don't know who Ya Baffa is." She gasped. I glanced at her and scrunched up my nose. "Am I suppose to know him?"

"How could you?" She gasped dramatically yet again. Rolling my eyes, yet again, I grumbled under my breath. "Is he my mother's brother for me to know him?"

"Keh!" She exclaimed and smacked my forearm. "That's my brother you're talking about."

"I don't care who he i....oh." I mashed my lips together. "Ohh," I said again, my lips forming an O before grinning sheepishly. "Your brother....."

"Yes my brother," Sa'adah nodded. "the one I've been telling you about. So have you met him? What do you think? Did you like what you saw?" She wiggled her eyebrows.

I furrowed my eyebrows and looked at her dumbfounded before it finally clicked. I gasped in horrification. "You... Allahu yahdeeki. You shameless child and FYI I haven't seen or met him."

"What?!" She cried out. Wallahi one day this girl will successfully destroy my eardrums. "He has been at home for so long and you still haven't met him? We are gonna change that, common.." she roughly tugged my arm, and the plate I was holding fell, shattering completely.

Inna lillahi! I flinched at the sound while Sa'adah sucked in a breath, closing her mouth with both palms.

"WHO BROKE MY PLATE?!" Hajiya bellowed from the parlor upstairs. As she walked down the stairs, the sound of her shoes echoed.

"You're not hurt right?" I asked Sa'adah as my eyes roamed around her body for any injury. "No," she shook her head. "You?" I also shook my head but I could feel a piece piercing my right foot. I bit my lips hard to hide the pain, why did I remove my shoe? I stepped back and the piece embedded itself in my skin.

Hajiya stepped into the kitchen, fuming. "Who broke the plate?"

"Mom I—"

"It was me, I'm sorry." I quickly cut Sa'adah off. She shot me a look that screamed 'what the heck are you doing?!'

"Of course," Hajiya threw her hands up. "Of course it was you. If not then who will? You have nothing to lose, right? It wasn't your money that was used to buy so why would you care? Do you know how much that plate is?" She shouted.

"I'm sorry." I apologized looking at the floor.

"I'm sorry," she mimicked. "that's all you know how to say. After all, it wasn't your sweat and blood that was used. I must deduct it from your salary, I must, I will. Maybe then you'll know the pain, useless gir—"

"Haba Mama!" Sa'adah interjected. "It wasn't her fault fah."

"Will you shut up!" Hajiya screamed. "What are you even doing here? Didn't I warn you? Didn't I say you shouldn't step a foot in this kitchen? DIDN'T I?"

"I was helping out," Sa'adah grumbled.

"Kinci gidanku," Hajiya showed Sa'adah her palm, with the fingers spread out. "Get out of this kitchen!"

Sa'adah opened her mouth to say something but I stopped her by holding her hand. "Don't." I mouthed while discreetly shaking my head.

"Ba nace ki fita ba! In rasa tsiyar me take yi a kitchen din!" Hajiya yelled again. Sa'adah huffed angrily and walked out of the kitchen, she stopped by the door and turned to look at me. 'I am sorry.' She mouthed. 'It's okay.' I mouth back.

"And you," She turned to me. "Cl—

"I heard yelling, what happened?" Lubna walked into the kitchen. She was wearing a figure-hugging floor-length gown with stilettos.

"This useless girl broke my plate." Lubna glared at me and rolled her eyes, she then turned to her mother. "Just deduct it from her salary."

"Ai dama, that's definitely what I'll do." Lubna hummed, glared at me one more time before walking out.

"Common clear this place before I slap you," Hajiya glared at me from top to bottom. "Stupid, nonsense." She hissed then walked out.

I held my bottom lip between my teeth. All these, for a piece of plate. I drew in a deep breath then released it heavily. Sabr Jiddarh, sabr. This too......it shall pass.

I took a step forward and winced. For a minute, I almost forgot about the glass embedded in my skin.

"What happened?" I looked up to see Inna. "A plate broke." I shrugged. "Ohh," she smiled sadly. "Oh my god, Jiddarh you're bleeding." She cried out in an alarmed tone.

"It's nothing." I attempted to brush it off but lord, it hurts.

"No, no, go tend to that wound. I'll clean this place."

"Thank you," I said and walked out, more like limped.

I sat down on a small chair near the tap where we washed the dishes earlier. How are we going to do this? Mehn it hurts. I huffed, okay Jiddarh in the count of three.

"One, two, three!" I yanked it out and released a silent scream. Waiyo Allah na. More blood kept gushing out of the wound. I remember when we were kids if you had an injury that's bleeding, your friends will tell you to lick it, if not you're wasting your blood and you will die. I mentally chuckled, ahh the stupidity of kids. So innocent, I wished I could go back to being that naive.

"Here." A container was thrust in front of my face. "What is this?" I looked at Inna. "Salt." She replied.

"And...?" I asked hesitantly.

"Rub it on your wound."

Say what now?!! I gulped. "O-on my wound?"

"Yes, it will stop the bleeding."

"Hmm," I hummed and collected the container. "I'll return it don't worry."

Inna nodded and went back to the kitchen. I kept the container aside immediately when Inna disappeared. There's no way I'm rubbing salt on the wound, oh hell no. Umma did it to me once and it hurts like hell. I used water to wash away the blood then used a piece of cloth to tie it.

I limped to the kitchen to return the salt. Inna asked if I used it and I eagerly nodded and walked out while bidding her goodbye. I wasn't able to see Sa'adah again, knowing Hajiya, she must have strictly instructed her not to come down.

I winced with every step I took, I don't think I removed the glass properly. It's biting my skin, sinking deeper with every step I take. Oh, Allah.

"Jay! J? Jay!"

I mentally groaned. Not now, please. I don't have time for this.

Obnoxious appeared in front of me. "You're bleeding!!" He exclaimed in horror. "Don't you think I know that!" I hissed through clenched teeth. "Now move out of my way."

"No, we have to get that wound checked. Common."

"Look mister, I didn't ask for your help. Now move!" He has no idea of the amount of pain I'm feeling just by standing.

"No!" He replied stubbornly. "Please keep aside your pride, stubbornness, or whatever, right now you need help."

Gahhhhhh! I attempted to move in the other direction but he was fast and in a blink, he was in front of me.

"Look you're not the only person that is stubborn, I can be stubborn too. You are not moving from this place till I'm sure that wound has been treated, you're bleeding for Allah's sake." He chided.

It's hurting so bad I feel like pissing myself, he's right. I sighed in defeat.

"So?" Obnoxious smirked knowing that he has won.

"Fine." I bit out reluctantly. "Alhamdulillah," he sighed. "Lemme get the car."

"No!"

"Jay." He shot me a flat look. "You don't expect us to walk to the hospital do you?"

I twisted my mouth. "Fine whatever."

"Ashe kin iya murguda baki." He teased before walking to get the car. Ya Allah, this man. A black Camry was parked in front of me, then the driver pushed open the passenger door. "Get in."

"Uhh, I'll stain your carpet with blood."

Obnoxious hissed and rolled his eyes. "That's for me to worry about, now get in the car Jay."

Dejectedly, I entered the car but my body was tensed, I just couldn't relax. "Relax Jay, I'm not gonna hurt you."

"My name is not Jay." I glared at him.

"What do you expect me to call you then? You have not informed me of your name or shall I say you refused to tell me your name. So Jay will be your new name till you tell me your real name."

"I'm never going to tell you," I mumbled under my breath.

"We'll see about that."

About thirty minutes later, Mas'ud parked the car in front of a small clinic. I turned to him for an explanation.

"I figured you wouldn't want me to take you to a hospital." He shrugged and alighted the car. You figured that right mister. He rounded the car to pull my door open.

"Thank you," I whispered whilst carefully alighting the car. You must be shocked I said thank you, but hey this girl has not forgotten her manners.

"Do you need help?" Obnoxious asked.

I turned to glare at him. "Okay," He raised his hands in surrender. I carefully limped to the entrance with Mas'ud behind me. He pushed the door open for me. "Sit here, " he gestured to a chair. "I'll go inform the nurse."

I sat down and let my eyes roam around the clinic. It's nothing fancy, just a few benches and chairs. Then a counter with shelves behind it, the shelves are filled with various drugs. Left to the shelves is a door which leads to a room labeled 'consultant room.' Besides it, a door read 'operating theatre.' I scoffed at that. To the right alcove of the clinic is a bathroom. The whole place is painted green.

A few minutes later, Mas'ud walked out with a lady nurse behind him, she was holding a first aid kit. The nurse squatted in front of me. "Hey Ma'am, I'm Debora."

"I'm J—nice to meet you." I caught myself in time. I saw Mas'ud shaking his head from the corner of my eyes.

Debora smiled and put on a pair of gloves, she placed my leg on a small stool then unwrapped the cloth I tied. She pressed on the place and I winced, reflexly drawing my leg back.

"What did you step on?" She questioned while inspecting the foot.

"A broken plate," I muttered.

"Well it's buried deep, I'll have to cut the skin a bit to remove it. It might hurt."

Wai might. "Just say it'll hurt," I grumbled. Obnoxious and the nurse laughed. They think this is funny, it is not funny.

"Okay, I'll remove it now. One, two, three....." She used small scissors to part the skin and pulled out the glass. I winced and held on to the first thing I could find next to me, which happens to be Mas'ud's hand. He looked down at me in shock. I quickly retreated my hand. "I'm sorry." I apologized and kept mumbling astaghfirullah under my breath.

"...and it's done." The nurse, Debora said. Tapping the place a bit. She removed her gloves and hand me a paper bag. "The prescription is inside please take it accordingly and stay off the foot for a few days to let it heal. The wound is quite big."

"Thank you." I nodded.

I carefully limped to the car with Mas'ud behind. He pulled the door open for me, mumbling a thank you, I entered the car. He also entered and began driving. I didn't bother directing him since I'm pretty sure he knows where the house is located. He didn't say anything, and I kept quiet too. It's not like I have anything to say to him.

We finally arrived at my house. Mas'ud turned to look at me. "We are here."

"Yeah..."I mumbled.

Common Jiddarh don't you have something to say to him?

No!

Jiddarh?!

Fine! Wallah the voice in my head sounded like Umma's.

"Thank you," I said under my breath.

"What?" Mas'ud tilted his head a bit to my side.

"I said thank you," I whispered.

"Common Jay, use your words." Stupid man! I'm sure he knows what I'm saying but he's making me say it out loud, obnoxious.

"I said thank you." I snapped.

Ya ilahi Jiddarh! The man helped you for Allah's sake.

Mas'ud chuckled. "That's more like it. And you're welcome Jay. But I need something in return."

I knew it! Ba dan Allah yayi ba, he wasn't genuine about it!

"Get that look off your face Jay, I was just kidding," he laughed. "But I won't mind if you tell me your name." He said almost hopefully.

"No." Came my clipped reply.

"Thought so." He nodded.

"Anyway," I opened the door. "Thank you, I'm really grateful but," I looked at him in the eye. "It won't happen again." With that, I alighted the car and limped to the door.

I heard the sound of a door being opened. "You're something else, you know that right, Jay?" Mas'ud shouted. "Bye, see you next time."

Obnoxious.

I surprisingly found myself smiling.

Ohh what's the smile about, are we getting somewhere already?🤔💃🏻💃🏻

Assalamu alaikum lovelies,

How are you? Hope we all fine☺️💕

Thoughts on the chapter?

One word for Hajiya

One word for Sa'adah

One word for Lubna

One word for Jiddarh😍😍

And finally

One word for our darling oops🙊 I mean Jiddarh's obnoxious

Don't forget to please vote, comment, and share🌼🌺

See you in the next chapter, in sha Allah💕💕

Remember to stay safe and stay at home🙏🏻Do not forget to wash your hands regularly. May Allah SWT bring an end to this pandemic.
Ameen🙏🏻🙏🏻

Yours truly
Memzyb✨🌹