Hurdles

CHAPTER 2

Wa'la yahzunka qawluhum(and let not their speech grieve you)_Yunus10:65

I ran hurriedly back to the bathroom in reflex closing the door shut and leaning my weight on it to prevent any access in, just as my legs seems to start functioning because they were wobbly and felt just like jelly a while back in an effort to evade the aggressive animal which seems very eager to pounce on me and was looking at me hungrily as if I was its next meal to be devoured.

I began weighing chances whether to remain inside the bathroom and pray for my safety or to quickly open the door and make a run to my mum's downstairs. I think I should go out,no I can't escape it! I won't take a chance because I vividly remember what happened when I tried that.It was a Friday evening while me and ya Zara were walking back from the library which was some streets away from home when ya Zara spotted a barking dog and suggested we change route but I negated insisting it won't even notice us,so we went by my opinion and were walking pass it when alas! the dog charged at us ,in a disheveled state we followed different path running heavily to escape it but unluckily for me it followed right after me and caught up with me clutching on my skirt till I was flat on the ground and that's when I knew I am also to be another victim of dog bite and in reflex I closed my eyes anticipating its next move which is obviously to bite me but received nothing only to open my eyes and find out that it had being Wade off by a kind passer-by who came to my aid.I could never forget how mortified I felt at that time and to top it I was bruised alot  whose faint scar is still visible on my knees. Thanking him I and ya Zara who caught up to where I was feeling very sorry and at the verge of tears over my state left immediately to save me from pity looks and sympathy I was gaining from passers-by ,that incident made me never visiting that library again and that ordeal was what intensified my fear for dog which explains my state of panic upon seeing one which was all ready to launch on me.

The bickering of people and the seize of the incessant barking of the dog made my anxiety drop because I know help is here .Stepping out of the bathroom all attention turned towards me and I began being bombarded by questions from different angles,"what happened,"are you hurt","please answer us" added Aysha and Anisa my two friends I was expecting.

" I knew it" said Zara after I've narrated what happened,turning towards Sarah who I just noticed standing by the door with the panting dog in her hands stroking it gently.

"Mum please stop trying to defend her and see the truth,coming with it here is not my problem but why won't she hold it in place instead of allowing it roaming about and scaring the hell out of people" finished ya Zara with a scowl etched on her face.

"Am sorry for any inconveniences it might have caused, I am just too obsessed with it being a new pet that I do take it everywhere I go now and if anyone is to be blamed its me not  Rob because I left it to get a glass of water from the kitchen and it fled before I was back entering the room which he found ajar" said Sarah to my mom adding emphasis to the last part.

"Of course its yours whose  where you expecting before" Zara chirped in.

" Zara enough mum cautioned and Sarah you need not apologize, its no ones fault here mum said softly at her,it just took Zaitun off guard".

"Oh well done I will be taking my leave since I've delivered the message she said to mum"

" So soon dear,okay let me walk you to the door" mum said.I'm very positive I saw Sarah smirk at me right before exiting my room with mum or was it my imagination.

"We will just wait for you downstairs said Anisa breaking my reverie but please hasten up added Aysha exiting the room followed up by ya Zara who smiled my way before walking out.

Adjusting my beige coloured hijab to perfection I walked downstairs bading goodbye to mum who insisted on me eating up before leaving but convinced her on allowing me leave by taking a bite of pancake and promising to eat something while at school.