“Nooo!” Hoor screamed, eyes widened in horror, hands clasped over her mouth, as though to prevent her tongue from falling out.

Barakah turned to her, the broom she was holding poised in the air.

Hoor dropped her hands and looked around. Her castle, her sand castle which was standing tall in the verandah was now a crumbled pile of wet red mud in the blue packer beside Barakah’s feet.

Hoor gasped, closed her mouth, and gasped again. “Daddy!” She ran back into the house.

Kai. Kauthar winced and shook her head. “Daddy!” Hoor's feet buff-buffed up the stairs, towards their room, tempting Kauthar to lock the door.

“Da-” Hoor opened the door, then closed it immediately, before knocking softly.

Kauthar smiled and left her chair in front of the dressing mirror. “yes?” She answered at the same time with Isma’il who was just coming out of the bathroom, a white towel hanging around his neck.

“Me nene?” kauthar peered down at Hoor, who frowned and tilted her head in search of her Dad. “Daddy.” She called out. 

Kauthar hissed. Of course I dont matter anymore.

“Yes, my baby.” Ismail replied from the bed. Kauthar walked back to the mirror and checked the rose turban on her head, satisfied.

Hoor peeked inside. On catching her father’s eyes, her face crumbled.

“Ah ah, what happened na?” ismail lifted her into his arms.

“See kar ku bata mana lokaci fa,” Kauthar warned, swiping a powder foam across her face.

“Jealousy,” Ismail said, jiggling Hoor around like a baby about to be put to sleep.

“It seems you want to stay and babysit ko?” kauthar sat by the bed to put on her sparkly black heels. Then she made her way towards the door, opened it, and called out, “Barakah, kin shirya ne?” 

“Ah ah,” Ismail frowned at her, then turned to Hoor and scrunched his face, which made her burst into a fit of giggles. Then they heard the lock of the door clicking. Ismail rushed to the door.

“Kai!” he wriggled the door handle. 

“Enjoy yourself!” Kauthar sang.

…

Kauthar couldn’t recall the last time she had a fun outing. It wasn’t that she didn’t have time, but she never saw the need, or maybe she believed that it wouldn’t be fun without Ismail. And, perhaps the girls thought so too, that’s why they never bothered her to take them out.

Although she’d never admit it, but his absence had made Kauthar feel like one without an umbrella under a heavy rain.

But now he’s back, she thought, watching the girls clamoring for his attention, a few steps ahead of her, back to where he really belonged.

Few minutes after they returned from their outing, and after she had supervised the girls brushing their teeth (much to Baraka’s dismay), Kauthar put on her  nightgown to join Ismail in the living room for the 10 o’clock news. But just as she sat beside him, there was a knock on the door, which made her stop in surprise.

“Are you expecting any visitors?” She asked Ismail who shook his head, eyes still glued to the tv.

On opening the door, her eyes popped out, her breath hitched at her throat. “Sa-Salsabil?”

The lady blinked in surprise, mirroring Kauthar’s expression.

Ismail’s head whipped to their direction, he rushed to Kauthar’s side. “Excuse me, who are you?” he frowned at the stranger.

“I’m sorry,” she said with a nervous laugh, I shouldn’t have come so late or unannounced, but I was tired of staying away.” She said, then turned to Kauthar, who was still frozen.
Ismail shook her shoulders.

She recovered and released a breath. “Sorry.” she mumbled.

The lady smiled, “I should be the one apologizing. my name is Sumayya Aliyu Manga, Salsabil’s aunt.” 

“Salsabil’s aunt?” She asked disbelievingly. 

“From her father’s side.”

“Oh,” Ismail and Kauthar chorused, sharing a look. 

“Please, come in,” Kauthar said with a smile.

Sumayya sighed in relief and smiled back. After settling on a couch to the couple’s left, she looked around the room admiringly. The dim blue fluorescent bulb made the brown furniture appear black, but made the room relaxing, coupled with the cool ambience from the air conditioner on the wall across her.

Ismail watched her closely, now understanding why his wife mistook her for Salsabil. They shared the same round face, button nose and petite frame. 

“I apologize for earlier.” Kauthar said, alighting her seat. “What can I get you?” 

Sumayya smiled, her eyes almost disappearing into its socket as her chin dipped to reveal a dimple. “There’s no need.”

Kauthar sat back. “How did you find us?” she asked, though a part of her was still unsure whether to trust the stranger. But for some reason, she felt unfazed by it. Besides, anyone who looked like Salsabil should be family too, right?

“It was Zainab, her aunt in Ibadan that gave the address, she also told me about her demise and…” She looked down. “may her soul rest in peace.”

“Ameen.” They chorused.

“But why haven’t you looked for her all this time?” Ismail asked, brows furrowed.

Sumayya sighed. “We didn’t even know she was still in Nigeria. Infact, I didn’t even know Nana had left the house.” She placed a hand the pearl necklace that was around her neck. She was attired in a white atampa gown with a veil on her head. 

“Nana?” Kauthar asked. 

“Salsabil’s mother.” Sumayya clarified.

  Kauthar nodded, realizing how less she knew about Salsabil’s family. “Do Hidaya and her mother know you’re here?” 

Sumayya quickly shook her head, “Oh no, Zainab mentioned them too, but I was in a hurry to meet our young Barakah.” She said, smiling.

They exchanged an unsure look, “We don’t think that’s a good idea right now.”Ismai'l said.

Sumayya frowned, “why not? She’s my blood too.” 

“Your family should have realized that when they decided to throw Salsabil’s mother out!” Kauthar said, not realizing that she had spoken loudly, or that she was now standing.

Salsabil would’ve been angry too.
“Why are you really here?” She asked, eyes blazing.

This was what we could’ve asked her before letting her in. What if she was a bad person!

“Kauthar,” Ismail called softly, “take it easy.”

“No,” She turned to him. “Simply because we let her in doesn’t mean we trust her.” She sat down.

Sumayya sighed, nodding. “I understand.” She gazed at Kauthar, who was still glaring at her. “My family was unfair to Nana, they never gave her a chance to even show them who she was. But I was never her enemy, I loved her like my sister since I never really had one.” She said, brown eyes pleading.

“But I thought they got married in Liberia.” Ismail piped in. 

“Yes, but they came back here, to our family house in Abuja.” 

“How did you find out about Barakah?” Kauthar asked less harshly. 

“I haven’t been in the country for five years now, I just got back this month. So when I asked my eldest brother about her, I was shocked to hear that she had left. but I don’t think they knew of her pregnancy.” She looked away. 

“Why do you say that?” Isma’il asked.

She turned to him, “Because if they did, they wouldn’t have let her go. her eyes moved to Kauthar, “at least, not alive.”

Kauthar felt a zing in her head. Did I hear right?

“What?” She sputtered, then glanced at Ismail, who was just as shocked. They tuned to Sumayya who stared ahead, unblinking.

“Umm, Hajiya Sumayya?” Kauthar called.

“Hmm?” She replied and turned to them with a wide smile. 

“You said-” Ismail began, then turned to Kauthar as if to say, “should I ask her?”

“I said what?” Sumayya asked, eyes moving back and forth between them. She let out a breathy chuckle. “I must have gotten carried away again.” She tapped her headscarf and laughed. “I tend to just...say things.” Her shoulders rose with the last two words. She picked her bag from the floor and rose from her seat. “I should just get going, I’ll be heading to the Doctor’s house first thing tomorrow morning, then come back to see her.” Her eyes fleeted between them again, “if you don’t mind, I hope you don’t mind.” She said in a low voice, her eyes on Kauthar, pleading. Almost like Salsabil.

Kauthar shook her head, “Yes, in sha Allah.” She smiled.

Sumayya beamed in relief. She clapped. “Nagode sosai. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She headed for the door as they trailed behind her.

They escorted her out of the gate and towards her car. As she drove away, Kauthar announced, “I don’t trust her.”

Ismail chuckled, “ yeah, you already made that obvious.” On noticing her glare, he cleared his throat. “Me neither.” 

“And what she said about Salsabil’s mum, please tell me I was just hearing double.”

“You’re not,” He said as they ambled towards the gate. He tapped his chin. “And that Aliyu Manga family sounds very familiar.

Kauthar shrugged, “There's always google.”

They went back into the safety of their home, which was about to come crumbling down, like Hoor’s castle.

A/N
Sallama, y'all

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F. I Uthman (Zah Storyteller HQ)