Burnt Embers

Chapter Eight

It was a Saturday night and the weather is hot, Khadijah, Ummie and Baba sat on a mat  in the courtyard reminiscing on old memories when Khadijah will cry at night and refuse to sleep because it is too hot

" I pray your child will not make your life miserable as you made mine Deejan, you were a handful and your father is always in support of you I almost packed my clothes and leave this house leaving you behind for  him to get a taste of what I was going through "

" Be honest habibty, I was with you all through those nights ,we will rock and fan her together, I have never left you alone " Baba defended himself which earned him a glare from ummie .

If there's anything Khadijah admire in this world is her parent's relationship , to her it's something worthy of praying over for. Baba  address Ummie as habibty regardless of whoever is in their presence likewise Ummie and when times are hard for them they will comfort each other , encourage each other and  come up with a way to solve their problems together .Never for once in her entire life had she seen her parents unhappy with each other, no matter how unhappy or tired Baba is ,the moment he set his eyes on his family ,his mood automatically change to a happy one and all he pray for is to give  them a better life because the two most important women in his life deserve nothing short of the best .

They were laughing over a joke when Ahmad said the salam, all of them sobered up and their mood changed to that of indifference, Khadijah's heart started beating faster than ever, it feels like her heart will burst out of her chest .

No one answered his salam for a while before Baba finally cleared his throat and gave him the permission to come in .Khadijah averted her gaze towards the inner house and felt like running to her room, slamming the door shut and blocking out everything ,right now she wish with all her heart that she's numb, that she's inured to feelings and unaffected by the presence of a man that molested, abandoned her and forgot that she exists for 7 months .

" Good evening Baba, Good evening Ummie , hope I find you in good health " his voice , the voice she loved so much ,that which was music to her ears ,that which lull her to sleep countless nights sounded like the eruption of a volcano to her ears, and brought out the worst memories she tried to hide in the deep recess of her mind .

" Lafiya lau " came the short clipped answer from Baba . when neither said a word for a long while , Ummie took it as her cue to leave and Khadijah tried to follow suit ,looking any where but the direction she heard his voice .

" where do you think you're going to? We are having a family time here and it's not yet 9pm " Baba  summoned  them back and from his tone they know that it's best not to argue.

After what seemed like forever, the guy crouched in front of the mat, directly facing Baba cleared his throat, knowing that he might stay forever in that position and no one will breath  a word to him.

" Baba am really sorry for all the things that have happened, I have no excuse whatsoever and I know that all of you are disappointed in me. It was Satan  but in shaa Allah such will not happen ever again ayi hakuri Baba "  a loud hiss came from Ummie's direction, Khadijah can swear that she had never seen her mother his angry in her life .

" Ahmadu "

" Yes Baba "

" Ahmadu "

" Na'am Baba "

" Ahmadu "

"Yes Baba "

" How many times have I called you ?" Baba asked raising from his slouched position .

" Three times Baba "

" Take a  good look at Khadijah "  without a warning, Baba flashed his torch at Khadijah's direction , she ducked her head and lo and behold Ahmad's eyes were met with a lean ,dark, worn out looking version of CaT with a protruded belly that looks like she may be in labour any moment .