Hurdles

CHAPTER 4

La yukalifullahu nafsan illa wus'aha (Allah does not impose upon any soul a duty but to the extent of its ability) surah -Al Baqarah.

Zaitun

I flicked through channels aimlessly on the TV in aunty Hadiza's cosy sitting room after being back from school my mind totally far from my current act drifting to the thought of my mum's and sister, what's wrong?,I have being trying their both phones but can't seem to reach them either even though dad called informing me he phoned them some couple of hours back but also wonder why he couldnt reach them now and had placed a call to their destination which he was informed they haven't reached which they ought to have considering its a six hours journey and its now getting to seven hours from their time of departure but had calmed me down knowing how worried I will be reasoning to me that the delay might be from them halting on the way to eat up and pray which we both know they will surely take a lot of time doing so and their phones might have ran down on battery or thereabout for it being not reachable which I even came to remember of ya Zara's phone being out of battery even before they left but I could tell he was also worried and its obvious his suggestions were not only to calm me but himself also. Dad assumptions made me calmed a bit but not for long I started feeling antsy and fear taking a grip on me and a hand on my shoulder was what took me out of my reverie.

"I have being calling you out severally but you seem so lost and out of here if its about them then I tell you in shaa Allah they are okay might just be network problem accounting to us not reaching them so don't stress yourself too much love and you didn't even take a sip of the coffee I brought" aunty Hadiza said glancing towards the ceramic cup which was lying untouched and the steam which was earlier emanating from it had now seized indicating it has gone all cold.

"No aunty am.... and the ringing of my phone was what cut me off as I hurriedly picked it up from where it was lying right next to me on the sofa I was plopped on and immediately seeing the caller id I made a shrill of joy exhaling the breath clogged in me and took the call just as fast feeling as though it will disconnect.

"Assalamu alaikum came mum's melodious voice causing me to smile widely relief and happiness washing over me and I silently thanked Allah for he alone can change situations and feelings in just an ounce, as my anxiety and worry has vanished completely as if it never came.

"Hello are you there?

"Uhmm yes,wa alaikumus salam,mum what happened, are you alright? Being trying your lines severally,hope all is well,where are you,you guys scared the hell out of me" I said all in one go.

"Oh easy dear which do I start from" mum said chuckling and she reiterated what happened to both me and aunty Hadiza of them developing a flat tire,her phone battery running down all thanks to a certain someone obviously ya zara who cant keep her hand off phones and such should be expected as hers has being off and to top it all the driver forgot his at the eatery they stopped at and much to their dismay mum's phone refused being charged through the car she explained as I had put the phone on speaker following aunty Hadiza's demand to also hear out what happened and after making sure they were okay and had arrived safely she left there giving me some privacy with them.

"Hello sissy Zara chirped on the other end "heard you were crying your eyes out of for not reaching us,mum this daughter of yours seriously needs to grow".

" I didn't! I shrieked making her burst into an evil laughter which roared filling up the sound system.

"Well that was hilarious" she said quiten her laughter but you could make out the amusement in her tone.

"But you did....

"Zara! Someone called her out"bye Zita(as she do call me) gotta go love you" and I heard some shuffling on the other end signalling her leaving.