Aisha

"Leave it" Zarah wailed, pushing Uche who was trying to collect her stuffed bear from her, both girls were dragging and screaming as I watched them from the kitchen. My hands were oily from cooking; I would have interfered, by definitely seizing the toy from both girls. I looked away to stir the content of the pot, when I heard Zarah and Uche’s screams become louder than it was I groaned tiredly, it is obvious they were both determined to keep the bear, I hissed softly, wondering where Chinelo and Ahmad are, aren’t they supposed to watch over the girls while I cook, when the wails got intense, I quickly started washing my had to go collect that which was causing a scene. As I got to the door, I saw Ahmad majestically walk towards the two children; he collected the bear from my Zarah and handed it to Uche. I felt a sharp pain piercing my heart.

"Zarah, you’re a big girl, you don’t need toys” he said hovering above Zarah, who screamed and threw herself on the floor. I looked away quickly as I felt my heartbeat increase. I started sweating profusely as tears filled my eyes. Actually this was what Ahmad has been doing. He shows how Uche meant a lot to him. Many a time, he'd see them dragging a thing or the other, he would collect it and give it to Uche, forgetting these things belonged to Zarah from the onset and I bought them myself. The day, I had the audacity to complain, he made look so stupid. He made it look like I was being jealous over nothing.

After the incident from his family house, his stepmother dragged me to her room, suggesting Ahmad had been bewitched. She even went ahead to suggest different methods she feels I can use to get him back. I took her advice and shoved it deep down into my heart with no intention of ever using it. I don't believe in all those things. Ahmad simply fell in love. I wasn't his soul mate anymore, things had changed.

Two months had gone by already. Staying with Chinelo and her child is gradually dawning on me; she's learned to stay as far away from me as possible.  I enrolled my baby in a daycare that's a little out of town, it's close to my office so I would quickly go pick her up, then come back home. The daycare is way safer for my child. With the way Ahmad behaves, I know my child would cry to exhaustion if I leave her with them. I would never subject my child to such an experience. She had done nothing to deserve her being maltreated. Ahmad suggested leaving her home so she'd get acquainted with Uche. I didn't even give it a second thought and told him stark naked "No". Gladly he left it at that and didn't argue with me, besides it is not like he was the one paying her fees.

Ahmad and I became complete strangers, I believe we are still together for old time sakes, and there's nothing like love in our dictionary. I cried myself to sleep within the first month until I decided to be stronger for myself and my daughter. I loved him till he came back. I began losing hope when I saw how he cared for Chinelo. I couldn't understand what she was doing right that I wasn't doing. I even gave up behaving like her to see if it would get her attention but it seemed futile. I am so blunt that I cannot act like someone else. Being me is the best I can do.

Other than Chinelo's little attempts to cause a fight between Ahmad and I when she notices us getting closer, she's not a very bad person. I am the one feeding them, the least she could do was to cook without poisoning me. She cooks terribly and wastes food products. I'd come home to see half the poison she cooked burnt. I don't know what she is doing that she can not simply focus on her cooking. I wanted to complain but decided against it because Ahmad would always take her side. 

I didn't want to upset myself so I refrained from complaining. The first day I complained, Chinelo cried for two hours straight, saying I was being mean because I was feeding her husband and her. As if Ahmad wasn't my husband too. The second and last day, I complained, I lost my cool; of course Ahmad took her side as usual. I woke up so early, but found Chinelo making breakfast, so I took my time hoping I'll eat a good meal but the opposite happened.

"I wasted my time cooking this food, I put all my effort into making it taste nice and you tell me you're not hungry. If you're going to be acting this way then I'll stop cooking" Chinelo yelled dramatically because I was assessing the dish in disgust. She had managed to turn this beautiful white bread into burnt bread. I did not know one could fry bread, not until Chinelo sneaked her way into my dear life. I felt it's unhealthy but as expected, a quarrel ensued. Even Zarah declined eating on seeing the dark tea which by the way is her favorite. Uche on the other hand was eating as though it's her last meal on planet earth. She had no issues with what her mother’s cooking. 

"Excuse me if I can't eat this thing you prepared" I retorted, making her gasp. She didn't think I'll talk back to her evidently.

"Ahmad will hear this. I refuse to be abused by you. Even Ahmad ate it without any complaints" she said with her hands akimbo. She started tapping her feet as if she could beat me up. I wasn't scared of her empty banters that always ended up in her long crying sessions. Chinelo is rather a loud empty mouth; she could not do anything other than scream and call onto Ahmad’s attention.

"Excuse Ahmad, if he likes eating rubbish, then by all means he should go at it. But I will not eat it. Besides I'm the one who should be complaining since I'm the one buying the food stuff. I'm the one providing the food yet I'll have to go buy food because you cannot cook ordinary noodles without making me want to throw up!" I yelled mockingly. I know that would hit a nerve. No one wants to be talked to in that manner, but it was long overdue and I felt so good about it.

"So, because you're feeding me Aisha, you'll have to broadcast to the world right?" Ahmad's voice reverberated throughout the whole house. I was startled a little since I had no idea he was listening. But I stood my ground. What was more irritating was the fact that I make my beautiful salary for two people, but would still have to share it with them, yet I wasn't fed properly.

"Well, if you don't like being broadcasted to the whole world, tell your wife to learn how to cook or something and warn her to stop wasting food cooking for me. I'll cook for my daughter and me. She's clueless when it comes to cooking. She doesn't add pepper in her food. I am Yoruba! I eat pepper. Her rice is always watery and her soups, Haa! Utter crap. Tell her to cook your share alone. I cooked before you crept back here with her. I can still do it now. I am not disabled" I stated loudly as a matter of fact. I caught Chinelo smiling triumphantly; she enjoys listening to Ahmad and I bicker, I would have ignored her but I have had it up to here with her and even if another miserable day should pass without Ahmad talking to me, I would take it gladly.

"Why won't you teach her then? Since you're so perfect, Chef Aisha Ahmad stated sarcastically, moving closer to me. Daring me to speak disrespectfully at him, one thing I learnt from my mother was never to be at arm's length while exchanging words with your spouse. He could easily beat you up. Stay afar and answer him boldly. He won't get to you, if he attempts to you would have run away. I picked up my daughter, knowing Ahmad would never hurt me, not when I have Zarah resting on me. I hissed loudly and picked up my bag. He was still waiting for me to say a word. But I walked to the front door before turning around.

"Thank God my mother taught me how to cook. Unlike some people who dump their daughters on strange men. Had Ahmad been a ritualist; you and your daughter would have been bags of money!" I said banging the door, but not without hearing Chinelo's sob. I chuckled wickedly, happy I had the last word today. I got into my 1977 Mercedes Benz 200 my father sent down to me after Ahmad's supposed death and drove straight to Zarah’s school. 

**

"Mummy" Zarah screamed as she ran towards me. I picked her up and twirled her while she giggled uncontrollably. It came as a surprise that Zarah did not shed a single tear when I dropped her. She was sad, but she put on this brave face. I kissed both her cheeks while she laughed. I looked over to the nanny in charge and we exchanged pleasantries. 

"Can I talk to you for a minute?" the nanny demanded in a very calm manner, making my heart drop. My brows were furrowed and my eyes bulged out because of how scared I was. I know Zarah isn’t much of a talker but she could be mischievous for all I care. She placed her hand on my shoulder and squeezed a little.  

"Oh, don't worry. It's not something terrible, I assure you" I dropped Zarah who ran to other kids after assessing I am not leaving without her. "It's about your daughter," she said. 

"Hope she's not causing trouble. I am really sorry about it, I will reprimand her. You know she's a little kid......" 

"Mrs Aisha, calm down" she cut me off and then she opened her drawer and brought out a plain sheet of paper. I collected it and was astonished by what I saw. It was a perfect illustration of the nanny, as she was seated on her table writing something down.

"Wow, this is beautiful. I've never seen anything like it. It's beautiful" I said breathlessly. Sketches are amazing because one has to wrap their head around the fact that someone made it.

"Your daughter sketched this." she stated collectively. I furrowed my brows, and then laughed nervously, then uncontrollably. I've been with Zarah for so long and she's never made any attempt to write anything. How on Earth will I believe she sketched her nanny? "I am serious. Your daughter is gifted. You have to enroll her in an art class. Let her talent be recognized. Listen, she could even be recognized by the Government" I started sweating and hyperventilating. This is too much to take in. The girl is too young. This girl cannot recite A-Z at home. Where on earth did she learn to hold a pencil right?

"Who taught her how to hold a pencil?  She cannot recite A-Z correctly for God's sake" I said, placing my hands on my chest to ease my breathing. 

"Yes, she has quite an issue texting A-Z but with numbers your daughter is gifted. And she's an artist. You've got to send her to a better school. Inform her father" she said laughing humorously. I sighed, my heart breaking. Her father doesn't even care about her. He'll probably play it off as a joke. Not after the issue we had this morning. Maybe I should have controlled my temper, or I will simply get a divorce from him, then my daughter and I will leave this country with the help of my brothers. I've got to make her a legend and I've got to make Ahmad feel sorry for neglecting us. I thanked the nanny, collected the sketch. I would write a letter to my brothers. They will get me out of here as soon as they come to find out I have a gifted daughter. They have always been on the look out for me, if I inform them about Chinelo, they would probably send Ahmad to his supposed grave.

I opened the back door and secured her with a seatbelt, hopped in and drove out of the daycare. I kept analyzing how I would leave Ahmad. We aren't in love with ourselves anymore. As long as Chinelo remains here, I won’t be getting Ahmad back. I stared at Zarah through the rear view mirror, she was playing with her fingers; she pouted, and then smiled. She was counting and adding something. Has Zarah always been this weird? Why didn't I notice quickly? I thought she was a normal child! How on Earth did she start calculating things? She's not even two yet! I can't wrap my head around this. As I turned my attention to the road, it was a little too late as a fuel tanker was coming at us. I swerved away, not fast enough. I heard Zarah scream. I felt my heartbeat accelerating. I looked at the rear view mirror one more time to see my daughter's eyes were tightly closed. The car somersaulted and ended up under the tanker. 

 "Mummy" I heard my daughter faintly scream. I tried hard to open my eyes but I couldn't. My whole body was aching. I tried moving but I couldn't feel my limbs.

"Inna lillahi wa Inna ilaihi rajiun!  Inna lillahi wa Inna ilaihi rajiun!" was all I was hearing and my baby's wail. I managed to open my eyes to see a woman heavily dressed in Fulani attire. She was speaking to a tribe I couldn't understand. Her lips were moving but I could not understand a thing she was saying, just a long beep sound in my ear. I noticed Zarah had been saved and was wailing in the woman's hand. The young boy with the woman pried my car door open, while the older woman was pacifying my child. He tried dragging me out but my legs were trapped. As he pulled harder, I felt something rip from my body. I screamed loudly, making him back away quickly. I could smell petrol everywhere. It's a matter of time before the car explodes. I was scared to death. But I know if they tried saving me, we'd all die.

"Go…..Go...Go" I chanted as I kept feeling sleepy. He refused to move. He probably doesn't understand me so he tried dragging me again making me scream harder. I started vomiting blood. The boy's eyes brimmed with tears. "Go" I made hand gestures weakly. Zarah was still crying. A tear slipped from my eyes as realization dawned on me; the end is here for me. I won't be seeing my child again. Not till hereafter.  I silently prayed to God to protect my child. I closed my eyes waiting for death as I chanted prayers I was taught since when I was a child. I stopped hearing anything. My eyes were stuck on my child and the people who saved her. I watched them leave. Same way I felt myself fading away. 

**

The tanker caught fire which immediately caught Aisha's car. Explosions could be heard from miles away. Aisha died in that explosion and Zarah was taken away by a Buzu woman and her son from Sokoto state. What a cruel fate for poor Aisha!