A Promise From My Heart

31.

YUSUF'S POV

Prayer, I learnt since I was a kid, is the key to everything. It is the only way Almighty Allah guides us, protects us, open our eyes, heal us and grant us wisdom.

The power of prayer should never be underestimated, mum had told me. It is the only way you connect to Allah. Pray wherever you are. No matter what you are doing, make a dua. Make a dua while sitting, standing, walking even working. It means you remember Him, the Most Glorious.

When you are going through hard times, when you need guidance, talk to Him. Have a chat with Him. In good times, pray. In bad times, pray. Dedicate your life to him. It was how I was raised and prayer has become part of my life.

My palms were opened before me and lips moved to the duas that flooded effortlessly from my brain. My head was bowed, gaze in my palm. I felt relaxed and an overwhelming sense of calmness consumed me. After my Fathia, I rubbed my palms over my face down my body.

The mosque was beginning to get empty. Worshippers took their leave to return back to their normal activities. There were few whispers of greeting and very little conversation bouncing across the room. I looked to my left where Idris sat, waiting for me to finish my prayer.

"Let's go." I said. Silently, we both left the mosque.

Idris had come over to my office to pick me up so that we could go and see the realtor. After a deep conversation, Amatullah and I had decided to purchase it. She could not afford a land at the moment and since I could, I bought it. Idris took me to the realtor where papers were signed. I now own two plots of land. Subhanallah!

I looked back to where I was a year ago. If anyone would tell me I would own a land and be financially stable as I was, I would not believe. A year ago, I was in a bad place. My family was still mourning the death of my mother gravely and my wife was yet to recover from her denial. Financially, I was struggling. A lot seemed so uncertain in my life. I had fears which have reduced. Alhamdulillah. I had only Almighty Allah to thank for it.

As we settled in the car, I noticed his face turned as moody as the sky on a stormy day. His smiles had been forced and he appeared absent minded during our meeting with the realtor.

"Baba, you sure say you dey alright? You have been moody and not speaking well." I asked as he wanted to switch on the ignition.

His hand dropped from the ignition as a little breath of air escaped his mouth. Exhaustion had him dropping his head against the headrest of the car seat. "It is Tauhida."

"Is something wrong with her?" Worry crumpled my brows.

"Not that. It's just that we had a little misunderstanding this morning." He hissed. "Can you believe Tauhida want to enrol Haider," Haider is their son, first child. Idris and Tauhida had two children. The second's a girl, Yusrah. "Into a school where they pay over three hundred thousand naira."

"What's wrong with that?"

"A lot's wrong o. A lot!" He bellowed, elevating his head to look at me. "Three hundred thousand naira for a child who is just starting school! He's four years old! Never!" He shook his head to the absurdity of the situation.

"Is it that you cannot afford it?"

"I can. Money is not an issue. Alhamdulillah. But it is crazy. Wetin Haider wan learn? Hin pass one two three or ABC. He no fit write well. It is the same thing he would learn in a sixty thousand naira school. It's the same syllabus. He's just starting school. Haba na!" His hand flipped over against the steering. "If I pay nearly three hundred thousand naira for nursery school. Then how much will I pay for university? I don't even mind spending such amount or more for university education. They deserve it but nursery school. Never!"