A Tale Of Justice

Chapter 10

She clung to my hand throughout and persuaded to drop me off. I opposed, but she insisted.

We went to where she parked her car and she put all the baggage into the boot. It was a white Model 6 Lexus jeep. She said her dad presented it to her last year, on her sweet-sixteenth birthday. I wanted a lab-coat for my 16th birthday; but my dad bought me a wrist-watch instead.

I only heard her parents were filthy rich. As she was born and brought up in South Africa. Her dad own hospitals in various places, in and out of the country while her mum is a senior advocate in the University of Abuja.

“I so admire you, Aisha. Your way of life and the way you recite Qur’an...”

“Really?... Zainab!” I blushed.

“Yes, remember the first time you attend our youth meeting, you gave the opening prayer and my heart started beating like... Subhanallah! Where’s she from?! I practically envied you.”

“Hmmm...” I smiled at her, saying nothing.

“And I’m thinking, Instead if just being envious... How about you pay me a visit?” She tore a piece of paper and wrote something. It was her address and phone number. She handed it to me.

“Take this..” She handed it to me.

“What’s this?” I collected it.

“My contact. Visit me anytime, okay? Don’t forget to call me before you come.”

“Okay. I guess we would meet later. Thanks a lot for the free ride.”

“It’s nothing, thank God.” Zainab smiled willingly.

“Don’t you want to say ‘hi’ to Hajia Maryam?” I suggested, and she nodded with a shy smile.

“No, maybe some other time.” She smirked at me, handling me my bag. “Bye, take care of yourself, okay?”

“Okay, bye...” I waved as she drove off.

I walked in with a big smile on my face. Zainab seems to be a blessing and a staunch friend. I got into the kitchen to prepare breakfast. It was just 12:00 p.m.e. It seems Hajia Maryam wasn’t at home. She might have just gone somewhere.

I made Eba and vegetable soup. Able to eat just a little portion of it, so I left the remaining for later. After that, I made my Zuhr prayer, praying that the Akerele’s family would see my reasons and accept me back the way they did. I prayed for blessings and mercies upon my unborn children and my kind new friend, Zainab Akorede.

***

A WEEK LATER...

8:30 a.m.

I went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. I put a quantity of water into the pot to make rice. Just then, I noticed the gas had finished...

“Yaa Rabb! Not again!...” I muttered to myself in frustration.

I would have to face Hajia Maryam again. And I so hate the feel of this.

“Let me give a trial. She surely won’t bite.” I suggested as I walked to her room.

“Assalam ‘Alaikum!” I greeted as I knocked on the closed door.

“Walaikum sallam!” She spoke softly from inside. “Yes! Any problem?”

“The gas finished.”

“Come in. The door is open.”

I gently pulled the door’s knob and enter. As I entered, I knelt beside her bed and repeated.

“The gas is finished, ma.”