Too often when we hurt someone, we say ‘the truth hurts. But perhaps, it’s not the truth that hurt them. We did. – Faith, from the journal of Umm Zakiyyah. 

The sun rose slowly, peeking behind the clustered clouds, and adding a yellow hue to the sky’s blue.

Barakah and Hoor held hands as they sauntered out of the house. Hoor talked animatedly, skipping beside Barakah who listened quietly, bobbing her head at intervals. Wednesday was sports day. Hence, Barakah’s attire of white and blue tracksuit and Hoor’s deep pink polo and white shorts with a pink face cap. 

Kauthar followed behind. She locked the front door and dropped the keys in her canoe-shaped handbag before joining them by the car. 

As she drove back home, Kauthar spotted Aunt Rose jogging from the other end of the road, heading home in her usual pink singlet, which hugged her slim frame and white shorts that showed off her muscled legs. 

Kauthar parked before her gate, unsure of whether to approach her now or later. No, later will be better. She decided and beeped for the gateman.

Her phone rang as she unlocked the door. “Oga.” She greeted, flinging her bag on the nearest cushion. She unpinned her silk black veil, letting it hang loose around her head. 

“Madam,” Isma’il replied, his voice light with laughter. 

“Don’t tell me you’re just seeing my missed call, since last night.” She snapped her fingers for emphasis.

“Haba, no.” He chuckled as she rolled her eyes. 

“Ka Fadi gaskiya dai–be honest o.” She entered the kitchen and picked an electric kettle to fill it with water.

“Toh, afuwa–apologies. I was too exhausted to call back last night.” 
“Okay o, how is Calabar?” She asked, leaning against the marble counter.
 
“Toh, gashinan dai–fine sha.” He said. 

“Ah ah, what happened, last I checked, you were gushing about the exquisiteness of the state, or are you getting bored already?” She asked playfully. 

Isma’il sighed. “Not really, I’m just missing you guys.” 

Kauthar burst into laughter. “That’s too bad, we’re not missing you anything.” 

“Ah, haba dai,” he said disbelievingly. 

She burst into another laughter and he joined her. 

“You’re not serious.” He added. 

Kauthar took her breakfast and attended to some chores. She gathered all the trash from all parts of the house into a black trash bag and went out to drop it into the trash can situated in front of the house.

As she rubbed her hands together and made her way back inside, she saw Aliyah coming out of her house in a red tracksuit, glancing from left to right for an okada (motorcycle). When she noticed Kauthar, she greeted in a low voice and an embarrassed smile.

Kauthar nodded in reply, itching to say something, but fighting it.

It’s past 08:00 am, she mused. 

“Ah ah, you’re not gone yet,” Rose asked as she came out to join Aliya.
“Aliyah frowned, “No.” 

Rose’s eyes moved from left to right for an okada, the road was virtually empty, except for vehicles that passed, but none was commercial. 

Then she noticed Kauthar, “Hey!” She beamed and walked towards her. 
Kauthar felt her lips stretch wide.

“Good morning Rose, how are you today?”

“Huh, well,” she shrugged. “Good, you?”

Kauthar nodded. Even without makeup, Rose was a very pretty girl: with pale skin, small round eyes, a wide nose and pouty lips. 

Then an Okada stopped beside Kauthar. The okada man raised his dark shades over his plastic helmet.

“Aunty,” he smiled at Rose, eyes running down her form in appraisal.

“Where you want to go–where would you like to go?”

Rose silently pointed behind her. The okada man replaced his shades and moved to Aliyah’s side. 

Once they left, Rose tuned to Kauthar and waved. “See you around.”

As she headed for the open green gate.  Kauthar called out, “Em, wait. I want to talk to you.”

“Oh, any problem?” she rose her shoulders.

“Well, it’s about Barakah, I saw her putting on makeup to school on Monday.” 

Rose lighted up. “ Oh wow, that’s nice. I bet she looked fabulous, with her kind of ski— “ 

“No,” Kauthar interrupted, gaping at her like she just confessed to committing murder. 

“Oh,” Rose saw the look in her eyes. “You’re not happy about it, I see?” 

“What’s there to be happy about? she‘s too young for such things.” She shook her head. 

Rose rolled her eyes. “She’s old enough ma. If she can tell between a lipstick and lip gloss.” She raised her shoulders again. “I don’t see what the big deal is.” 

“The big deal,” Kauthar voice rose.” Is that I am her mother, and I ought to know better when it’s right for her put on makeup or anything for that matter.”

“Well then, consider this as a help from a friend,” Rose smiled, patting Kauthar’s arm.

Kauthar felt her anger boiling. “No friend of mine will do that. And besides, I didn’t ask for your assistance. Leave Barakah out of your baseless schemes, if not— “

“If not what?” Rose’s eyes turned icy. She chuckled, clapping her hands in disbelief. “Because of ordinary glitter powder and lip gloss, that’s why you want to bite my head off, Eh?” 

Kauthar closed her eyes and opened them to calm down. “I’ve already told you, leave her out of your schemes. Don’t make me repeat myself.” She said quietly. 

Rose folded her arms and shook her head. “I never took you for an uptight woman o, I thought you were more modern than this. I mean… “ she scoffed. 

“I’ve already told you, you can do whatever you want with your daughter. If you want to spoil her life, go ahead, but don’t include my daughter!” She bellowed, breathing heavily.

Whew, that felt good. She mused.

But the hurtful look on Rose’s face told her otherwise.

“Spoil my daughter’s life?” Rose whispered, blinking as if the words were red pepper aimed at her eyes. She placed a trembling hand on her chest. “Are you calling me a bad mother?” Her words came out with forceful breaths.

Oh no, Kauthar thought, unsure of what to say. “I didn’t,” She started to say, heart pounding.

What have I done? 

Rose nodded and let out a breath.
“Thank you, thank you very much Mummy Barakah, I promise to keep my distance, no,” she shook her head and smiled bitterly, “we will keep our distance from your precious daughter.” She spat out the last words and quickly marched into her house, banging the gate behind her.

Kauthar could only stare after her, shocked. She had never seen Rose react this way before, not even when she heard about some of their neighbours’ gossip, saying that she’s a prostitute, for there was no way she could have afforded her three-bedroom bungalow with her makeup assistant job. Rose had only smiled and gave her signature shrug.

Kauthar felt regret take over her anger. She had wanted to lash out, but not at the expense of hurting her.

What do I do now? She thought.