Searching for Khadeejerh

Chapter One

I was lying half awaked on my bed thinking about the weekend that ended real quick as I heared footsteps approaching my room, it was my mum. I quickly covered myself with my bed sheet and pretended to be asleep.

"Tahir! Do you know what time it is?" Mum said as she pushed the door.

"This is 7:00am and you are still snoring. You better wake up, do your works and prepare for school" She added.

"Mama, I'm having a serious headache, I don't think I can go to school today" I replied coldly as I struggle to get off my bed.

"Ohhh! That's bad. Since when did it start? " She asked.

"It started earlier this morning when we woke up for Subhi prayer" I replied while holding my head.

"When you were busy going from one friend's house to another throughout the weekend, why won't you have headache?. Very soon, it will be leg pains" She paused.  "If that is the case, Don't worry about the morning chores. Go and take your bath,lets see what happens after " She added as she reached for the door and slammed it.

Immediately, I got off my bed and took two quick steps towards the door as I make a flying 180° turn, making gestures similar to Ronaldo's. I have been a fan of the Portuguese footballer lately. I was glad that mum handed me a break from the exhausting morning chores. Being the first child wasn't easy. I do all the house work. I wash the dishes and fetch water from a borehole, 3km away from our house. I also wash my clothes, Mom's clothes and that of my two younger brothers. They were born twins a month after my father passed away. ( Tears started to roll down my cheeks as the memories flashed before my eyes)

I remembered with clarity, The last day I saw my father, he was tall and quite handsome, though there were bruises on his face. He was a hard working army.

I remember our last breakfast before he embarked on the journey he never returned. He noticed the sad looks on my mother's face as we ate. "My darling wife, this is just a journey like any other, and we would be back within a week or two. This is not my first journey to Sambisa Forest". He said as he ate the last Akara on his plate

After the breakfast, my father took his gun. It was a heavy gun, not really sophisticated though. He was wearing combat regalia with bullets all over his shoulder. He adjusted his gun as he swerved down to speak in into my ear.
"My boy, Take care of your Mom and the baby in her womb until I return. Be brave and courageous. Be obedient. I'll bring you goodies when coming back. Bye my boy" He said .
We watched him board the army truck waiting for him outside.

*
One week later, we received the heartbreaking news. My father died in the fight with Boko Haram insurgents.
I was roughly 11years old,and my mother was heavily pregnant. Life turned into a total mess for us. We mourned all day.

The commadant of the barrack we lived came to us on a Sunday, He addressed my mother as I overheard their conversation from my room

"Mrs. Hassan, I want you to know that every soldier in this barrack is mourning with you, but you know well that you'll no longer be allowed to occupy a flat in this barrack, but you can stay at my house pending when you will be compensated for your husband's death.
*
And that was happened. After the money was paid, Mom and I relocated from Shittu Alao Barrack, Keffi to Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa State, where she set up her business and delivered my twin brothers, Hassan Junior and Hussain.
* end of memories *

Tears continue to roll down my cheek as I wipe them. I entered the bathroom to take my bath. I was late for school already.
"Let the bygones be bygones" I said to myself as I begin to bath.
*
I took me 25 minutes to prepare for school. My younger brothers, Hassan Jr and Hussain have been picked up by their school bus, they were both in primary 5. I assured Mom that I could go to school and that the headache has subsided. I took my breakfast and left for school.

***end of chapter*
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Akara: An African delicacy made from beans.

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Credits to ner_nah, my first wattpadd friend.