Binta

Chapter five

I arrived home very late today and my mother was so upset with me.

"If you continue this way you might have to quit your job, I can't watch you risk your life" she reprimanded.

"What if something terrible happens to you ehn!" she sounded worried and afraid.

"Nothing would happen to me mom by God Grace, your prayers are with me mom" I tried to calm her down as I sank tiredly on the sofa.

"Binta! wake up" my mother tapped me hard on my shoulder which gave me a stir, I have no idea I'd slept off, I was so exhausted.

I have been so busy all through the day, I'd even forgotten to say my prayers in good time, and when I did I'd to rush my prayers. God forgive me! I was neglecting the most important reason of my existence.

"Go and wash up and eat your dinner it's 10pm already" I stood up and gathered my files and bag and I walked reluctantly to my room.

"Binta! I hope you are not thinking of working on those file tonight?" she pointed at the files in my hand.

"Mom I just want to run through some few details, the matter is coming up tomorrow in court" I replied softly.

"Okay, but please make it snappy you really need to rest" she shrieks.

I entered my room and found my siblings peacefully asleep, I moved around vigilantly not to make so much sound to stir them up.

I undressed and stepped into the bathroom, I turned on the knob and stood under the nozzle with my eyes closed at the warmth of the water splashed passionately all over my tried body, reviving and relaxing my nerve. Suddenly, like a flash of a light the image of my boss taunted me.

"Gosh! He is handsome and brilliant" I whisper to the emptiness of the room.

Binta can you please get out of the bathroom..." my mother yelled.

I hurriedly stepped out of the bathroom wrapped in my bath robe, and went to the room to change into my night wear.

"gurrrrrrrr" my stomach growled which made me hasten to the kitchen for my late supper.

"Mom why are you still awake it almost mid-night "I mimicked my mom.

"Sleep doesn't seem to like me these days" she answered softly.

I stopped eating and stared at her for a while, she was distant, lost in a world of her own where she grieved in silence. She had grown paler and the wrinkle on her face  now so obvious.

The loss of my dad...I mean my step dad, (readers please permit me to call him my dad I hate the idea of step dad...it hurts, I hope you understand...thank you)had caused us all so much pain and unleashed a lot of dirty secrets that hurt so bad.

"Mom...mommmm!"I called out louder which caused her to stir.

"What is it Binta!" my mom snapped at me. She gets easily irritated these days and always distant which is not good for her condition. The Doctor diagnosed her with high blood pressure and has placed her on some medications.

"I'm sorry mom but you seem distant are you okay?" I inquired calmly.

"Yes I am fine" her voice was a soft drawl.

"Have you taken your medication?" I asked her calmly.

"I don't like taking those medication, they slow me down "she protested.

"Mom please you need to take it, you remember what the doctor said about your heart and blood pressure" I admonished her.

"Where did you keep your medication so I can get it for you?" my mom refused to speak she just stared at the ceiling.

I went in search of the medication in her room and luckily I found it under her pillow.

"Was she hiding it" I murmured to the emptiness of the room.

"Here mom, take it" I gave her a glass of water to take her medication which she took without a fight.

"Mom you have to promise me you won't ever skip your medication. We need you to be strong and focus please..."I pleaded amidst tears.

"You're all that is real to us....all that we have...I don't know what we would do without you" I whispered to myself.

"I'm so sorry Binta....I'm so sorry for everything..." she said repeatedly as she sobbed quietly.

"What is she sorry about" I pondered aloud.

------------------------

There was something about her that got me lost. The way she spoke with confidence, her composure and boldness, she was very good, she diligently performed her duties as she was supposed to at all time even a bit further, which I silently admired.

She always avoided my gaze but when she was explaining something very important or proving a point, she faced me head on which I found challenging, when she looked at me for word, her brown eyes deepened which enthralled me.

She was quite what my dad pegged her for.

When my father recommended her for the firm, I was reluctant to work with her because she lacked experience which counts a long way.

"But dad she was just called to the bar...she lacks the requisite experience....You know we have a track record to maintain, at this crucial time we need someone with at least 6-10 years experience in practice, someone extremely hardworking and committed, not someone we have to train. We don't have vacancy for her dad." I badger on.

"Yes you do and you must hire her, she is good." Retorted my dad softly, with that he patted me on the shoulder and walked away.

I was so disappointed in my dad. As a onetime Chief Judge I expected him to understand my point. It's don't matter she was the best in law school, I had seen many scenario where a first class candidate cant even move a mere motion properly or draft clean proceedings. I just hoped he was not making a drastic mistake.

The moment she walked into my office late for her interview, I should have followed through with my original plan. But when I set my eyes on her I was incapacitated.

She was so innocently beautiful...a vivid kind of beauty, shy and modest in her dressing. The way she stammered and played with the edge of her veil nervously when I told her she was late made her seem so vulnerable you just want to protect her and when she spoke, her voice was soft like something poured from a rich bottle you just want to drink it.

I had hired a private investigator to look into her background, I wanted to know everything about her and her family and the private investigator had done a very good job. I normally do that to my entire employee before entrusting them with sensitive matters. We deal with client of great integrity and position in the society and I won't want anything that would jeopardize that.

She had finished from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria with a first class, and also from the Nigeria Law School, her lecturers had commended her as a very hardworking student, driven and modest.

The report went further to state that she had very few friends and had never been involved in any serious relationship. She was anti social and from a much disciplined background.

The report went further to shade more light on Binta personality, she lost her father few days to her call to bar and only for her to be told he wasn't actually her biologically father.

"Poor Binta" I murmured to myself, I badly wanted to shield her pain, I just can't imagine what she is going through, and I don't know why the world is so wicked to good people.

I was so uncomfortable that I was invading Binta privacy but I told myself it's important because of the nature of the job I'm entrusting her with. Now I wished I didn't know a thing about her, I felt so angry at the world. I just want to find out who her real father was and make sure he rots in jail.