Lami wiped her joined palms on her face,a sign she had finished prayer.
"I'll do wanke-wanke today, you can sweep the compound." Baraka said keeping her prayer beads and removing her hijab.
"Okay," Lami said while folding the prayer carpet.
Lami and Baraka wake up at dawn to pray and do house chores before preparing for school. It had been their routine for years.
"Lami, shigo kiji," Sadiya said after Lami had greeted her.
"You know how we've been living for a while in this house," Sadiya waited for Lami to nod before she continued.
"And we've been lucky your uncle's been helping us a lot. But what if he doesn't help? What will we do? When will your father be able take care of us properly?" Sadiya continued, frowning.
Lami was so intimidated, she didn't know what to do. There were so many questions to begin with.
"What will we do then Umma?" Lami asked,having no idea what else to say.
"We won't let the day come,Lami,by God's willing. If we can't provide for you,then the least we could do is let you provide for yourselves,"
*******
Lami stopped when she saw Sameera and her gang guarding the door.
"Oh look,she showed up," Rahama Nasiru said touching Sameera. Sameera smiled when she turned and saw Lami.
"Ki karaso idan ba wasaba mana,munafika," Rahama said,stealing glances at Sameera.
"Leave her alone. If she thinks she can avoid this encounter,she's way stupider than I thought," Sameera said with her hands on hips.
"But what did I do?" Lami said frowning.
"I was hoping you'd ask me that. Your mother came to our house yesterday with her dirty and diseased chickens," Sameera started,staying quiet to study Lami's reaction.
"I didn't know she came to your house," Lami defended.
"Of course she won't tell you. She begged and whined like a dog that you guys are starving back home," Sameera said smirking.
The girls behind started laughing.
"Ooooh! She's crying!" Zainab, Sameera's best friend said. The girls laughed harder.
"I know my mom. She wouldn't do that," Lami said as the salty tears roll down her cheeks. They felt so warm and bitter.
"But she bought yoghurt back didn't she!" Sameera screamed annoyed.
"She did-"
"It was mine! I was planning to drink it all day,just for my mother to give it away. She even scolded me when I told her about it and refused to buy any for me. So I'm here now,pay me back my yoghurt or suffer the consequences," Sameera said crossing her arms in front of her chest.
"I can't pay you! You know that," Lami desperately said.
Sameera smiled her signature smile. The one with two meanings,it could make her look like an angel. And from another perspective, a demon.
"Bring me her bag," she said snapping her fingers.
Lami understanding what that meant,ran away.
"Lami! Lami! Don't you dare run. Wallahi if I catch you ko? Hmm!" Sameera called loudly after her.
"Hadiza! Go and catch her!" Sameera called turning to Hadiza. Hadiza was the fastest runner in their class. She easily caught up to Lami before holding her down.
Some girls ran over to help in holding Lami down. Lami struggled to be free with all her might,realizing what she had done. Running away was the worse idea possible, now she's in huge trouble.
Seeing that Lami won't stop struggling, they shoved her down and sat on her. Lami was wildly trashing in the sand,coughing because of the dust that she breathed in.
"Give me her bag," Sameera said approaching them. Lami didn't give in without a fight,which earned her a few hits. She gave up because of pain.
I will not cry! Lami thought,because she was humiliated enough.
"So you think you can run away from me? Me! I will see who your father is today. Dan Ubanki! Shegiya kawai," Sameera said while furiously hitting Lami on her head.
Lami let out a cry as her head exploded with pain. The tears falling down her face were so hot she could feel their burn on her skin. The bitter feeling in her chest had expanded,making her unable to breathe. She only came to her senses when she was shoved back into the sand.
She tried to stand,but she felt numb. As if she was suddenly made of wood. Too tired to even panic,she laid there,tears silently streaming down her face. No longer screaming.
******
"Amina! Why are you in class now?" Aunty Felicia,their civic education teacher asked.
"I'm not well," Lami answered.
Aunty Felicia stared at her before nodding. She doesn't look so well.
"Did you talk to the health prefect?" Aunty Felicia asked.
Lami just shook her head.
"Go talk to him. Tell him to take you to the infirmary," Aunty Felicia.
"Apta class?" Lami asked.
"Okay. What about your assignment?" Aunty Felicia asked.
Lami risked glancing at Sameera now. "In the house," She replied and she felt angry when she saw a smirk spreading on Sameera's face.
"Bring it tomorrow. Go and sit down,you can go to the prefect after my class," Aunty Felicia said.
******
"Here is your homework," Sameera smiled throwing pieces of papers on her desk.
Lami gathered the paper and putting it in her bag. No amount of tape can make her homework look like a book again.
Sameera turned and faced Rahama Nasiru. "You can eat with my group today," she smiled at her.
Rahama looked like she was promised heaven and earth.
____________
*wanke-wanke: doing the dishes
*hijab:headscarf
*shigo kiji:come in and hear something.
*ki karaso idan ba wasa ba mana,munafika: (uh🤔😹) come over here if you dare,hypocrite!
*wallahi: I swear to God
*ko: right?
*dan ubanki:an insult directed to a father
*shegiya kawai: bastard!
*apta: after
Third chapter is done! Done!! Done!!!
Are you excited for the next chapter?? I know I am!!
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YOU ARE READING
LAHADI (SUNDAY)
AdventureShe was the kid with oversized, raggy, hand-me-down things. Bullied because she couldn't fight back,made fun of because she couldn't afford the luxuries of life. Lami was the kid nobody hates but everybody loves to pick on. Follow her on her journey...
