Humaira continues her food hawking the next day and gained double the amount she did a day before. Yet,  about ten people were still owning her almost half of the money.

"I'll collect it tomorrow." She told herself as she was determined to get if not #50,000, then half of the money so, Hadee would meet his therapist.

***

Days later...

7:50 am.

Humaira was walking along with food on her head when one huge trailer started horning. It's noise woke Hadee from his early morning sleep and he started crying agreessively. She had to move to a corner and drop the food off her head.

"What's it my love... Please stop crying." She begged. "What do you want now?"

She glanced around before moving to the corridor of an empty shop. She sat there and decided to breastfeed him but he just wouldn't stop. Hadee rejected her breastmilk, crying even loser. He pushed her away as if her wasn't interested, scratching his face with his fingers. Humaira tried to stop him because it was piercing his skin but he just wouldn't. He made ziz-zagged designed on his face, crying for something his mother was uncertain about.

"What's wrong with you Hadee? I don't understand.." she stuttered at her son, perplexed by what he's doing to himself. She tried taking his hands away from his face but he kept on scratching it even harder, crying as if someone was pouring red chilly into his eyes.

He kept making disturbing noises as Humaira tried to calm him down but there was no avail.

The woman selling provision near where Humaira sat came to check what was happening.

"Is everything alright? Who are you."

"I hawk food ma. I think my son is disturbed."

"Why don't you breastfeed him now, or give him something at least."

"He just won't collect."  Humaira answered her gently.

"The woman moved closer. And why is his whole face bleeding? And you're watching him scratch himself? Is he okay?"

"What do you mean ma?"

"I mean is your son mentally and spiritually okay? Why's he behaving like someone that is possessed? It's abornal."

"No ma. My son is fine." She defended. He just hates noise that's all!"

"Babies are usually calm but yours isnt. He looks terrible. I mean... this isn't normal." She looked at him disgustingly and moved away.

Humaira couldn't argue with the woman. Saying more would cause serious issues and she's not ready to argue with anyone.

"I told you he's fine."

"He's not. The elderly looking woman said. You young girls of now adays. You aren't old enough to take care of yourself then why did you get yourself pregnant?" The woman hissed and rolled her eyes at both of them.  Saying something like... "Like mother like son. Allah Kia ye." while going back into her provision store.

Touched by the woman's words, Humaira felt tormented by self-repulsion, remorse and regret for bringing baby Hadee out. It was her fault all of these is happening. Uncontrollable tears trickle down her cheeks as she threw her to her back and tied him with the wrapper to her chest. He was still crying louder and  non-stop at her back.

It seems as if baby Hadee wasn't going to stop anyway. It's not his first time crying like this not this loud and in public.

Humaira decided to take him home before someone else insults her son. Looking around where she sat, some passerbys stared at her with awkward confused baby. Making it look as if she had stolen the child.

Quickly carrying the big stainless try on her head, Humaira directly went home. She had not even sell half of the food yet and now this.

"It's as if Hadee would hold me back today but who cares? What's the essence of making the money when Hadee is not willing to stop crying." The thought played on her mind as she walked back home.

Getting home, Humaira removed Hadee's clothing from his body and took him into the bathroom to take a cold shower. He shivered to the icy touch of water on this skin and wept even louder.

"You and this your Stubborness. I know what would make you stop crying..."

Humaira gently rubbed her hands through his body, wiping out all the blood stains on his faces. Poor Hadee started Convulsing  like someone that slept in the cold night hamattarn. She threw him up into the air, the way mothers usually do to their babies but instead of laughing, baby Hadee shivered with fear and cried even louder.

"Fear fear... See you." Humaira joked and kissed his cheek lovingly. She wrapped him into his soft, blue towel and laid him on bed. It took almost an hour before sleep finally took Hadee.

Just then, Humaira scrolled through her phone. It was already 12:30 pm, almost time for Zuhr prayer. So, she couldn't go to sell the remaining food. She had to pray and stay with Hadee for him to wake before she would go and sell the remaining amount of food in the cooler.

***

Later that evening, Star was around so, she left Hadee with her, promising not to stay long. People still bought her food but it was already late. They told her they had eaten snacks to satisfy themselves.

About going home, a she met some people working in a construction site. They called her and ordered for the rest of the food. She served them well but they promised to pay her the following day. She argued that they should pay her money or else...

"Look here woman, do we look like theives?" One with a faded looking face cap  asked. "Come tomorrow and collect your payment, it's as simple as that."

They were five of them, well built and matured looking. Humaira was very angry, she regret serving them her food just like that.

"I won't argue with you guys because it's already after seven but first thing tomorrow morning, I must collect my money else?.."

"What will you do? You're just a small girl any ways." One elderly man in his mid 40s mocked her, blocking her way and staring at her in a seductive manner.

Humaira rolled her eyes at him and hissed.

"Heeeyyyy!!" The others hailed her and laughed at her action.  They thought she was quite impressive, because no one ever challenged him.

"This one is a no go area o." One guy blurted from the back.

"Wetin she go do?" The man that was blocking her moved closer, as if he wanted to kiss her or something.

"Abdul!" the slim looking man warned. "If you touch that girl I'll show you the other side of me, another man muttered. Just let my wife go, she'll come tomorrow for her money.

"You guys are owing me #2,000. I'll be here by 8:00 am." She carried her try on her head, and bolted.

"She's so loaded!" Abdul muttered lustfully as she walked away, looking at the rhyming movements of her backside.

***

Days Later, with Hadee's therapist...

"Humaira. It seems Hadee's condition has gotten worse." The therapist started.  "From the last time I saw him, he was already moving his face to a toy within a minute or two but now, he's not even interested. It's like he's going back. What happened? Didn't you practice with him at home?"

"He would still get better right?"

"Yes but it would take a lot of process. It's like we're already making progress and you're taking us back. I mean what have you done to this boy?"

"You know what's disturbing me doctor. Don't act innocent in all of these. I'm a mother all I want is his improvement but where is the money.
Where would I get #50,000 for his drugs. I myself hardly eat. I'm struggling doctor and I'm trying all my best on him."

Humaira my dear... Don't misunderstand me." Doctor Fred tried to calm her down.

"Don't say I'm taking him back because I'm not. Can you give us free service? You have human feelings right? Why don't you do free therapy for my son if you're that considerate?!" She stuttered and Hadee started crying again.

"I'm so sorry Humaira. You must have misunderstood m-"

"Excuse me doctor! Humaira cuts in. You're just so inconsiderate See you tomorrow!" She stands up,

"Where're you going?" The doctor stopped her

"I'm going, doctor. It seems you're not ready to give therapy for my son. And maybe I'm not just strong enough for all of these. You have no idea how I got that #50,000 to pay for his therapy and why it took me so long. Yet you point fingers as if I happy seeing my son autistic or I'm making his condition worse. Wasn't that what you just impled?"

"No, it's not like that, Humaira. I'm so sorry I talked out of line. I know all of these is hard on you but your son needs his therapy else his condition would get worse again."

"I don't care whatever! I think I've had enough for today!"

Shocked by her reply, the doctor queried.
"So you're taking him away? Every minutes of therapy means a lot to Hadee. I just hope you understand that."

She tied him to her back and grabbed her hand bag.

"You indirectly asked me out, doctor. I know how long I waited in the reception before I'm able to meet you. I book appointments with you doctor, it's not as if I'm asking for charity. I know having appointments with low-class people like me means nothing. Try to look at things from my perspective and you'll understand. I'm  talking to you like this but I'm leaving." She said in tears and walked away.

Humaira stopped a taxi and went home directly. Tears streaming down her eyes as she felt so sad and lonely.

"The doctor would have just done his job instead of blaming me for the unimprovement of my son. How annoying could a doctor be? So unprofessional." A lot of thoughts streamed through Humaira's mind till she got home.

Getting home, Humaira removed Hadee's clothing and took him into the bathroom. Using cold water made him shivered but she softly scrubbed all his body including his bleeding face. He cried an wailed even louder and shivered to the touch of it but baby Hadee had no choice here.
She washed his whole body with her hands and threw him up into the air  to make him laugh a bit but but he didn't fall for any of her pranks.

"You're showing stubborness for me right, you this naughty child." She smirked at him, folding him into his blue soft towel.

Convulsing like someone that slept in the hamattarn, baby Hadee wept for almost an hour before sleep finally took him.

Checking her phone, Humaira saw that it was couple minutes past 12:00 pm. It's almost time for Zuhr prayer

Sitting by her bedside, she wept profusely the entire day. Everything is crumbling. What am I going to do. That therapist was so harsh. Imagine him telling me that I'm responsible for Hadee's.
Although Star consoled her, she just couldn't stop crying. Don't mind that therapist, Humaira. He's just a human being like you and me. Just forget him for now want concentrate on your son. What's going to happen next now?

"I don't know, Star. The man just angered me."

"Don't worry, I suggest you meet him tomorrow for Hadee's treatment or better still, ask Doctor Malik and Doctor Ibrahim for a better therapist." She held her hands. "You know I don't like to see you heartbroken like this."

"Yes... That would be better." Humaira muttered. "Thanks  a lot Star. What would I do without you?" Humaira asked wiping away her tears and sniffing like a baby.

"Everything would be alright. Star encouraged Humaira with a smile. Al you need to do is mutter up courage and gather some strength. By the grace of God, Hadee would get better one-day and all of these would be story.

"I hope so..." Humaira sighed, gently wiping way her tears.

"Have you eaten?"
Humaira nodes her head from side to side which indicates no.

"Go and eat, star advised. You're a breastfeeding mother. How do you expect your son to survive without you? Ehn?"

"Things would get better gradually." Star promised.

Take this.

Star handed her some amount of money.

I just earned it from sleeping with two chiefs but...I think Hadee needs it now.

Confounded, Humaira muttered curtly as she stared at the money in her hands.

"What?! All these for me?" She felt so emotional in tears again.

"It's nothing, Humaira. C'mon, we're sisters. This is #30,000... Make sure you add it to whatever is at hand."

"Thank you so much Star. I can't thank you enough for all you've done. You've been a blessing to me and me son, what can I say?" Humaira cried.

"Don't say anything, Humaira. I want you to know that I just wish the best for you. For both of you- you and your son. Don't look at it as if I'm wicked or I don't want to help you when I tell you I'm broke. That's the nature of my business, Humaira. Sometimes, it's difficult that's why I'm inviting you but you rejected. I spent extra nights for you. And...wipe away your tears, please. I don't deserve any of it." Star muttered, wiping a her tears with the edge of her clothes.

"Again, I'm hoping you'll be able to register Hadee in a daycare. At least, for the main time when you're working."

"What? But Hadee is just a year and three months old. Isn't he too young?"

"No, he isn't Humaira. Take him there to avoid incidents like this to happen again. You know Hadee too well, he's sensitive to noise and all that. This might affect his health... Shey you get?"

"Okay, I'll take him to a daycare tomorrow." Humaira said thoughtfully and sniffed. "Thanks a lot Star. For everything."

"Don't worry my dear. I'm here for you." She smiled Come downstairs and have lunch, please. You're looking so slim and pale these days."

"Really?!" Humaira smiled at Stars words and looked at herself in the mirror. "I'm looking perfect, please!" She defended.

"Just look at your collar bones. They greet anytime I look at you....Whatever." She hissed and left the room, leaving Humaira to think about what she just said.

A lot has been happening recently, she don't even have time for herself again like before. She sells food but she hardly eat.
"Hustling is stressful indeed." She muttered to her reflection on the mirror.

***

Words and Translations

-Allah Kia ye: God forbid.

-Wetin she go do?: What would she do?