Hidden bonds of love

5.

The next day, Mustabshira was dressed in her school uniform, heading towards the car when her brother, Ahmad, intercepted her. He walked up to her and stood in her front, requesting a conversation.

"Can I talk to you?" Ahmad asked, attempting to catch her attention.

"Yes, but make it quick. I don't want to be late for school," Mustabshira replied, her eyes fixed on her phone, waiting to hear what Ahmad had to say.

"Can you stop looking at your phone and look at me? I'm trying to talk sense into you," Ahmad said, slightly exasperated.

Rolling her eyes and releasing a frustrated sigh, Mustabshira turned her gaze towards Ahmad. She could sense the seriousness in his tone.

"Are you even supposed to take the phone to school?" Ahmad posed another question, concerned about her actions.

"Subhanallah, Ahmad, you're so annoying this morning! You've been bombarding me with questions. Can you just tell me what you want to say?" Mustabshira retorted, her voice tinged with irritation.

"We'll talk about it later when you're calmer," Ahmad replied, sighing silently. He smiled, realizing that engaging her in this state of mind would only lead to a heated argument. Ahmad preferred to approach her when she was more composed. Without waiting for her response, he watched as Mustabshira opened the car door and instructed the driver to take her to school.

Meanwhile, in the classroom, Maryam sat with her friends Zainab and Ummi. They were engrossed in a discussion about a popular series called "Best Friends." Spotting Mustabshira entering the classroom, Maryam swiftly placed her school bag on her desk. As soon as Mustabshira left the classroom, Maryam followed her, leading them to a quieter area of the school where fewer students lingered. Calling out Mustabshira's name, Maryam paused, waiting for her to turn and face her.

Mustabshira stared at Maryam, her expression questioning.

"Um, Mustab, I just wanted to apologize for yesterday and for ruining the dinner. I truly didn't mean to hurt you in any way," Maryam began, her head bowed, fidgeting with her fingers. "I'm sorry; I just miss Daddy a lot."

Mustabshira chuckled, unable to believe that Maryam thought a simple apology would calm her down. "So, you think apologizing will pacify me? Haven't I told you not to talk to me at school? I specifically asked you not to even acknowledge that you know me. Honestly, I don't want people to know that I'm associated with you," Mustabshira said, her eyes filled with a deep sense of animosity.

Witnessing the hatred radiating from Mustabshira's eyes broke Maryam's heart. All she could manage to say was, "Sorry." She continued to apologize, but Mustabshira only hissed and walked away, leaving Maryam behind, crestfallen.

❀

A week passed, and Ahmad found himself in his room. He had taken the day off work as he had little to do. Lounging on his bed, engrossed in a movie, his thoughts wandered to Maryam. He missed his little sister dearly, but he hesitated to visit her at home due to her mother. It wasn't that he was afraid of Maryam's mother, but their encounters often led to heated arguments, and Ahmad didn't want to engage in such exchanges, especially in front of Maryam.

Despite repeatedly calling Maryam, she refused to pick up. Maryam often withdrew and avoided answering calls when she felt deeply hurt, particularly if Mustabshira had hurled hurtful words at her. It wasn't because she was angry with Ahmad, but rather, she needed time alone.

In another part of the house, Uthman, Maryam's father, sat on the couch while his beloved wife, Mommy Beauty, handed him a cup of coffee. Uthman took the cup, sipped it gently, and fixed his gaze on the television. Mommy Beauty's voice broke the silence, sounding worried as she suggested Uthman visit Maryam and check on her well-being.

Uthman paused, appearing lost in thought. He remained silent, seemingly unwilling to say a word, and took another sip of his coffee. Eventually, he shared with her that he had been talking to Maryam almost every day and visiting their house might not be the best idea, given the potential confrontation with Mrs. Fatima, Maryam's mother. He simply wasn't in the mood for another argument.

Mommy Beauty's face mirrored her sadness as she insisted that he find a way to meet Maryam because she was his daughter too. Uthman nodded, acknowledging her words, but the weight of his daughter's absence weighed heavily on his heart.

Mommy Beauty held a deep affection for Maryam. She understood the pain of not having a close relationship with one's father or being unable to see them. It pained her to witness how Mustabshira treated Maryam with disdain.

❀

In the school classroom, Mrs. Anna entered, greeted by a group of exhausted students who had just finished an unexpected test. She informed them that all the prefects were to meet her in the staff room. The prefects promptly stood up and made their way to the designated room, facing several teachers waiting for them.

"We have received a few complaints about some of you, particularly regarding your conduct as prefects and, specifically, your treatment of other students. Mustabshira, as the health prefect, you do not have the right to mistreat anyone's children. This is a private school, and physical punishment is strictly forbidden. Some of you have violated the rules, and the principal has decided on appropriate consequences," Mr. Abubakar addressed the prefects, their murmurs filling the room.

"Quiet down, everyone," Mr Abubakar commanded before continuing his announcement. After concluding the meeting, he requested the head girl, Maryam, to stay behind.

"Head girl, how are you?" Mr. Abubakar inquired gently.

"I'm fine, sir," Maryam replied, trying to conceal any distress she might have been feeling.

Mr. Abubakar proceeded to discuss the actions he expected Maryam to take on his behalf.

❀

It was the weekend, and Maryam was alone at home. She sat in the living room, watching television and enjoying the movie. When it was time for zuhur salah, she went upstairs to her room to observe her prayers.

After finishing her prayers, she went down to the kitchen to figure out what to cook for herself. As she was in the kitchen, she heard the living room door open, and she knew it was her mother. Maryam came out of the kitchen and saw her mother removing the key from the door. However, she wasn't very happy to see her mother, as she had hoped to spend the weekend together, but her mother had other commitments and work to do.

Mrs. Fatima walked over to the couch, looking exhausted, and placed her handbag on the other side of the chair as she examined her skin. Mrs. Fatima appeared younger than her age, as she was a very light-skinned woman. She checked her skin and complained about how hot it was in Kano city, wishing she could go back to Korea, where she grew up. She disliked anything touching her skin.

Mrs. Fatima asked Maryam to bring her some cold water. Maryam, who had been staring at her mother, stood up and fetched the water. She returned with a bottle of cold water and a cup. After pouring the water into the cup, Mrs. Fatima quickly picked it up and drank.

Continuing to scrutinize her skin, Mrs. Fatima felt as if the sun had damaged it, but in reality, her skin looked perfectly fine. She simply didn't like anything that touched her skin, as she was a fashionable woman.

Maryam, sitting on a one-seater couch, burst into laughter at her mother's behavior, finding it amusing. Mrs. Fatima gave her a questioning look. "Mommy, your skin is fine. Stop making those faces," Maryam said, still laughing.

Mrs. Fatima smiled, feeling happy to see her daughter laughing. The last time she had seen Maryam laugh like this was the day Ahmad brought her back home, and that memory filled her with joy.