Rayhaan

I stared blankly at the small piece of paper on my desk contemplating, if I should call her, or I should send her an email.

I dialed the number and she picked up after he third ring.

"As Salam alaikum, This is Doctor Rayhaan speaking" I spoke, feeling my feet cold

"Wa'alaikumus Salam, I'm glad you called, I have been waiting for your call for a while" She said

"Ma'am" I started, "We have gone through the patients case and there's a very reliable and possibly fast treatment" I proclaimed.

"Can you give me a minute" I could hear ruffling movements from the other side of the phone, befor she finally spoke. "Yes doctor, tell me"

"Electroconvulsive therapy" I spoke, staring deeply at my office walls "...Electrical currents, in controlled amounts will be administered into the patients brain, this creates a seizure, which impacts the levels of neurotransmitters in the br-" She spoke, cutting off my explanations

"How effective is the treatment?" She inquired, in a business like tone.

"90 percent chances of recovery is guaranteed, but this treatment does have some side effects..."

"Side effects?" She reconfirmed

"Yes. Drowsiness, dizziness, changes in weight, trouble in sleeping...and 30 percent chances of short-term memory loss"

"Umm..Doctor Rayhaan, this is not something we should speak through the phone, if you can, then please meet me at my house"

I nodded, then realized she couldn't see me. "Okay" I replied.

*********

Noor

The door snapped open, making me flinch and my spine shiver. I snuggled deeper into the corner I sat, hoping he wouldn't come any closer. I looked up and met dark eyes, full of anger and hatred. I shivered, clutching my eyes shut. He moved closer to me and I flinched yet again at the feeling of his hand against my cheeks.

In a swift moment, he grabbed my hair and my head was smashed against the bathroom walls

Blood was oozing out of me, my eyes were closing, my head was hurting, so much that for a moment I couldn't feel my head.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

I woke up instantly, soaked in my own sweat and panting heavily. I closed my eyes tightly, and said some supplications mama taught me, and when I opened my eyes again, I was no longer scared.

Whenever I get bad dreams, I usually keep it to myself, I never tell anyone because I read somewhere that if you speak about your bad dreams, then they are bound to come true.

And whenever I get nightmares, I tend to blacken out during the day. I zone out completely.

I hate these nightmares. Just when I start to forget my life's most terrifying incident, they come back to haunt me.

I tardily walked to the bathroom to have a shower. Mama said we'll be visiting Mamie today, I don't want any bad dream to spoil my day.

*****

My grandparents house wasn't close to where we live, given that my grandfather had taken up large scale farming, they lived in the outskirts of the city. Like really really far. You wouldn't say they lived in Abuja because of the bumpy and dirty red soil that leads to the gigantic farmhouse.

The car ride wasn't silent as usual, the blazing sound of Arabian music filled my ears along the way. After a while, mama turned down the volume to answer a call.

"As Salam alaikum, Ummi Noor, the coolness of my heart" baba's enthusiastic voice filled up the whole car, mama quickly turned off the speaker and pressed the phone against he ear, as she guided the car with one hand. I tried to suppress my laughter.

The coolness of his heart, wow this is new.

Mama passed the phone to me and I suppressed the urge to cringe at him. "Noor dear, how are you my child?" He asked.

The truth is I'm angry at him, calling twice a day and sending enormous amount of money at the end of every month isn't just the role of a father, Is it?

We reached the very gigantic farmhouse my grandparents lived in, and I jumped out of the car even before mama parked properly, I could hear her scoldings as I reached the front door. I squeezed my nose at the disgusting stink of poultry, how do they possibly live with all these animals, given that they stink like hell!

I spotted my grandmother in her favorite place, the kitchen, stirring a pot of soup. I jumped on her instantly.

"Maamie" I beamed happily

"Keh! You're so fat, don't break my old bones" she remarked.

Mama went upstairs to greet my old grandpa first, before she joined mamie in the kitchen.

I have never seen a bond between a mother-in law and a daughter-in law like that of my grandmother and my mother. When growing up, I could swear mami gave birth to my mother because of the motherly affection she showers on her.

Mother-in laws are supposed to be harsh, but I think mamie loves mama more than the son she gave birth to.

I scurried upstairs to meet my grandfather. He has a hard time recognizing people because of his age, as mami says, but there hasn't been one time he doesn't remember me.

What to do? Everyone loves me!

"Oldie!" I beamed spotting him on his favorite massage chair, reading a newspaper, with his glasses messily falling on his nose. He laughed loudly before he spoke.

"You this girl, I thought your mother sold you off to an orphanage" he joked about the time when I heard mama speaking to some orphanage officials and assumed she was selling me off.

You can't blame the mind of a ten year old.

"How can she sell me, when she can't sleep a single night without her beloved Noor" I chimed as he patted the chair beside him. I sat down and adjusted his glasses.

"What does your mother feed you, see how you are rapidly growing, you'll soon break my chair"

And that is how we kept chatting until mama brought food upstairs.

"Halima, sit" he addressed mama and she did

"Where is Sadeeq?"

"He's in kaduna" mama answered without looking up from her fingers.

"Does he call?" He asked yet again and mama nodded. He turned to face me to verify if mama was lying, and I also nodded.

"Tell that son of mine to call me as soon as possible" he spoke, putting a spoonful of salad into his mouth.

Mama's phone rang and she quickly answered.

"Wa'alaikumus Salam, I'm glad you called, I have been waiting for your call for a while" She spoke, staring blankly at the tiled floors, a habit of hers whenever she's on a phone. "Can you give me a minute" She excused herself and left the room.

Oldie was whining about his tasteless salad, Abincin awaki (animal food), as he called it.

"Well you wouldn't have to eat it if you hadn't sneaked into the kitchen and finished a handsomely amount of kunun aya( tiger nut juice)" Mami bellowed.

I looked at him surprised and he smiled. "I couldn't help myself" he whispered.

"Finish the avocado salad, then drink this juice, it'll help stabilize your sugar level" she said, handing him a glass of filled with green liquid, looks like a concoction, which he subtly collected and gulped down without a word.

After my meal of tantalizing rice and stew(mami's hands are blessed) I sat on the arm chair and read out the newspaper for grandpa.

"75 year old kills husband, for his untidiness" I spoke as we both glanced at kaka, fuming and packing a bunch of old newspapers, as she ranted about people who are so untidy.

We both burst into fits of laughter.

Ya Allah, bless my grandparents, I prayed mentally.

**********

After Magrib salat, they all saw us off.

"Drive safe" grandpa reminded "And don't forget to tell Sadeeq to call me"

"Bye" I waved.

Mama was quite throughout the ride back home. Just as we reached home, she reminded me of school tomorrow and I frowned.

My mid-term break is officially over.

******

Hello😁

I know it's been almost a month I updated, I apologize.

Please check out my other book, the untamed storms. Updates are slow, but I'm sure you'd enjoy reading it.

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Husnah Hussain✍🏼💋