I Fight It: Part I (Baba)

Baba

I got off the bus holding a couple bags of groceries. It was very windy today so I quickly walked from the bus stop towards my apartment building in the projects. Putting my keys in the entrance lock, I noticed Baba and his friends were not in front of the building as usual. I got inside and pressed the elevator button and waited. The elevator was all the way on the 9th floor, I only lived on the 3rd. I sighed and opened the door to the staircase. As the door shut behind me, I grimaced at the horrible aroma of urine and marijuana. There were candy wrappers, cigar guts, and used condoms all over the floors. I held my nose and walked up the stairs.

Walking up the stairs, I noticed the smell of weed getting stronger and stronger. As I reached the 2nd floor, I had seen three boys standing there, smoking. I recognized one of them as one of Baba's best friends. The weed was in his hands I assumed because I'd seen him quickly hide something behind his back.

Donny: Oh.....How you doing...mam? I wanted to say.....I'm sorry I couldn't make it to-

I walked past him and continued up the flight of stairs. I made it to the third floor, opened the door to the long hallway, and started walking down to my apartment. I took a deep breath as I got closer to the door. I don't know why Baba choose to hang out with those boys.

When I got inside, I locked the door, and placed the groceries down on the kitchen counter. 

"Bismillaahi walajnaa, wa bismillaahi kharajnaa, wa 'alaaRabblnaa tawakkalnaa"

I took another deep breath and opened the refrigerator and poured myself a glass of water. When I finished sipping, I looked around the living room and noticed how unusually clean it was.

I poured myself another glass and as I sipped I thought about Dauda, my ex-husband back home. I felt a wave of depression ready to overtake me. I knew this feeling too well.

"Allahamdulillah"

I sighed, put the groceries in the fridge, and left to take a shower.

I left the bathroom and went to my room to perform salat. It was about 7 pm, time for Maghrib. I set my prayer rug on my floor and began.

"Allahuakbar"

When I finish, I'd usually stay on the prayer rug for an extra three minutes to perform my supplication prayers. But this time, I stayed on the rug for about an hour, praying harder than I ever did. I know Allah will make things right. I know it.

I finished, rolled up the rug, and left the room. As I slowly walked towards Baba's room, I put my ear to his bedroom wall. I heard him talking on the phone with who I assumed to be his girlfriend. I told him plenty times to stay away from that girl. Hmm.

I turned the doorknob and seen him lying on his bed, on his laptop with his phone on speaker. His room was cleaner than usual too.

He still hadn't notice me standing in the doorway. He was too busy on his phone.

"Hey! Baba!"

He quickly turned around and let out a sigh of relief when he realized it was me.

Baba: Ma, you scared me. You can't be doing that.

He closed his laptop and sat up on his bed as I  walked towards him.

"Did I scare you cause you was doing something wrong?"

Baba: Nah, I'm just sayin-

"Did you pray?"

Baba: Yes. Yes I did.

No he didn't.

"What salat did you do?"

Baba: I JUST did Ishaa! JUST now!