HAPPILY NEVER AFTER???

1

As I was flipping the pages of Fluffy newspaper and drinking my cold coffee. I stopped at the women's column where women post their stories to some human therapist for advice.

I suddenly hear my desk line ring "giring giring". It was my secretary, I accepted only one appointment today and the person didn't  show up. My job can be exhausting.

I pick up and said, "Sandra please am busy and don't want to see anyone".

"But Miss DD it's  hadiza your appointment," she said with a low tone.

"And so? Nagayamiki I am busy cancel all appointments and schedules please" I irked. 

"Ma, she's  here with two little kids" she finally said.

PAUSE!!!

little kids are my weaknesses. I have a thing for children. those innocent little creatures especially those who get hoarded up in the cruel world we live in. 

Right there I knew it was a violence case and I told her to let her in.

A slim woman comes in. Her clothes and hijab were torn and her face was swollen. She was crying continuously. I look down and I could see 2 little kids from the look of it one is 5 and one is 3.

I immediately offered her a sit and water. I picked up the children and took them to Sandra to wash them up.

"Get some of those clothes in wardrobe B. Find their sizes please and feed them pls while I talk to their mum". I instructed her.

I rushed back inside and sat close to the woman. I handed over a couple of tissue papers from my large tissue box to her.

I have a dozen of tissue boxes because of the kind of cases I handle.

" what happened Hadiza. Talk to me? Stop shedding tears what would your children think? Kiyi hakuri" I began consoling her.

Now,  I make my clients super comfortable with me because that's the only way I can understand whats going on with them, its hard for someone who goes through domestic violence to open up easily and in most cases its usually BWS or BHS(battered wife syndrome or battered husband syndrome) 

She began to sniff. When I looked into her eyes I knew she was a deep problem. Her coming here 4th time this month means she has no one to run to. 

"Miss DD.....", She began and i stopped her. 

"Call me Dalia... Dalia Dahir... that's my name" I said.

She continued.....

"Aunty Dalia... its happening again... I have tried and tried. He came back home last night by 3am and we were all asleep. I know I have gotten used to him coming late but Aunty Dalia he came back drunk. He was smelling like alcohol...I didn't  say anything to him. He dragged me down from the bed and started beating me and calling me names and suddenly I saw the children coming out of the room... they saw him beating me.." she began to cry again... seemed she had too many tears...

"when he noticed the children standing by the door. he drew me closer to him and started telling me he loves me. He cannot divorce me. Nagaji Nagaji. Aunty Dalia!! I had to force my tears to stop because of the kids. he called them in and started singing to them telling them how much he loves me and them. this is torture I have been bottling it all in but need I seriously need help" she burst into tears.  

"Raheem fainted almost immediately  Aunty Dalia".

I had to give her a minute to catch her breath. I have been through worse. Alhamdulillah, she has me to talk to.  I didn't have anyone. I had to hold it at this time. 

"He just ignored all of us and went to the room. I had to rush and take Raheem to the nearby hospital. Luckily the doctor was around. He regained consciousness and I paid the bills with my last money. I took a rickshaw (Keke napep) to get here" she began to cry again

"Ya Allah why me... why me.." she was saying as she continued crying.

At that point, i felt like a knife was piercing through me reminding me of my deadly past. I was in her shoes a few years back but much worse so I understand what she is going through and that's  my main focus when it comes to my job. to help those going through gender symmetry, criticism, domestic violence, emotional abuse e.t.c. Hadiza has been to my office more than 4 times complaining about her husband. She is an orphan and has no one to turn to. I relate to all my patients as I call them because i have been in their shoes at one point in time.

I quickly snapped out of my flashback.

"Hadee don't you think I should meet him and talk to him at least" I suggested to her.

"No No Aunty Dalia... I don't want anyone to know my situation. He is my husband and I would protect him as I vowed to do. I know u won't take it likely with him. Please don't look for him. I still remember Alhaji Danladi's case with you. Where is Raheem and Rajeev lets go home thank you for listening to me.  No, I can't  do this to my husband. I love him." she said as she was redressing herself and rushing to go out. 

I quickly sat her down using a little force. I sat on my office table and drew her close to me using my heels on the angle of the chair.

"Now listen and listen very carefully to what I am going to tell you. Kina haukane ( are you mad?) This is not the first time you are coming to my office with this issue of violence eh. You want to go back to your wife beater husband. Go go back. By the time he kills you and dumps you and your children that's  when you would know. You think I care about your vows to him. To hell with your vows. you think I sit here in my office and listen to people rant without finding a solution. Allah yasoki Insonki( God saved you I like you"

I began to raise my voice at this point because immediately the thought of Ishaq came to my mind yet again. Her issue awfully reminds me of my past.

"No, you must be so stupid to allow this continue happening, think of your children think of self. If Raheem is already fainting now what would happen next time? All I do is help. I don't need your money or anything" I said calmly

I realised she was becoming scared.  I had to react this way because she keeps leaving a constant reminder that my past was horrible. 

"Aunty DD... I have to go now" she stood up from the chair again.

she moved my legs away and wet out of the office. 

I knew she had no money so I called in Sandra to give her transport fare which the hadiza I knew would collect and come back the next with another sign of battered wife syndrome. 

OH HI DEAR, It's BEEN LONGGGG.

AM BACK AGAIN WITH HAPPILY NEVER AFTER.

I HOPE YOU ENJOY IT AS MUCH AS I WOULD.

HERE'S  A FOOD FOR THOUGHT BEFORE THE NEXT UPDATE

WHY IS HADIZA AFRAID OF MISS DD MEETING HER HUSBAND?

WHAT HAPPENED IN MISS DD'S PAST THAT WAS DREADFUL?

WHY DOES HADIZA ALWAYS GO BACK TO HER HUSBAND. WHATS ALL THESE BWS about?

WOULD DALIA GET BACK HADIZA'S RIGHT FOR HER?

I PROMISE YOU WOULDNT WANT TO MISS MY NEXT CHAPTER. 

DONT FORGET TO VOTE AND COMMENT YOUR THOUGHTS.