Zara

Chapter 9:Wherefore

It was a cold night,the room was quiet except for the sound of an Indian song and riffling of pages.

Muhammad sat on one of the dinning chairs crossed legged reading WAEC past questions and answers and on occasions he would attack his nicely cut watermelon with a fork...

Kakus on the other hand was busy dozing off,but whenever her grandson attempted to wake her up, she would quickly grab the remote control claming to be watching God knows what probably Mbc Bollywood.

"Kakus!!! " He tugged her out of her sound slumber.

"Wai kai Kantarina da Sharu kan(Katrina da Shah Rukh Khan) dinne ba ka so in gani don bakin ciki? "(Are you just jealous of me watching Katrina and Shah Rukh Khan?). She asked crinkling her nose.

"It's 11:00 Kakus instead of you to retire to your room you are here wasting your time watching what you know you aren't grasping, Mtsww why are you so mean?"He asked ruffling his hair in frustration.

"Ka gama turanceni ko da saura?"(Have you finished speaking English or not).She eyed him.

He smiled at how she was stressing her eyes and twisting her mouth.

"Chill"

"Uwaka zan cilla waje da an auro Ladi"(I'm sending your mother out as soon as Ado marries Ladi).

It was at the mention of mother that he realized that he haven't seen her for almost 4 hours which was quite unusual of her.

He fumbled his way to his mother's room after bidding his Kakus Goodnight.

"Salamu Alaikum." He greeted

In spite of him being her son,he never entered her room without permission, apart from preventing himself from invading her privacy, Salam is also the best greeting one could ever offer.

Allaah, the Sovereign, the Most Holy, the Peace, prescribed that the greeting among the people of Islam should be Assalamu alaykum, which is better than all the greetings of the world .

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) urged the believers to soften their hearts. The best Islamic attitude is to love one another and greet one another, and this is achieved by words and deeds. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) urged the Muslims to foster love between one another by exchanging gifts and food, and by spreading salaam, and he forbade the opposite, namely forsaking one another, turning away from one another, spying on one another, seeking out information about one another, stirring up trouble and being two faced.

"Waalaikumussalam" She answered with a languid voice.

He sprinted towards the end of her bed where she cocooned herself in a very big blanket, she covered her whole body but he could see the way she was shivering and breathing rapidly.

A chill ran through his spine, his face became pale,his skin felt cold as frightening thoughts crossed his mind. Is this really his mother?

"Madre?! " He  called as his eyes welled up with tears and before he could consume them back, they began rolling down his cheeks like streamlet.

He rubbed his hands on his thighs before he placed the back of right one on her neck to feel her temperature and as soon as his hand made contact with her body, he was opportuned to realize the meaning of 'heat'.

"Ya Allah Madre you are sick, you've been thinking about Padre's marriage right? Now see what you've caused, now what am I supposed to do? I'm clueless Madre should I call kakus? No she won't even come, she hates you right? Padre isn't home and he prevented me from driving. " He managed to say this pacing to and fro, flailing his hand at the same time.

"Bobo" He heard her sniggered.

"Madre are you okay? "He asked the already answered question.

"I have a pounding headache Bobo and I checked the first aid box for Panadol but it wasn't there. " She finished the statement massaging her head.

"Let me check 'Alumma Chemist' ".He abruptly headed to the door but he was stopped by his mother.

"Where do you think you are going to ? It's past eleven for Allah's sake... "

"Madre just pray I can't leave you in this condition after I have a way of helping you. " He ended the statement shaking his head, he wasn't ready for her protest.

"May Allah protect you my son take care. "

"Amin Madre."

It was on his way back home that he met a lady probably of 16 yrs of age,he didn't miss the time she was dropped by a car and from the way she dressed, 'Auzubillah' he knew she was either from a club or the 'others'.

When he greeted and she reluctantly answered,her face and voice seemed familiar but he shrugged it off.

He lectured her for almost or more than an hour before he left.

"Sannu yanzu ka ga damar dawowa?Ai da ka bar ta ta mutu ko na huta burina ya cika. "(Is it now that you're coming back?You should have let her die so that I will be at ease and get my mission accomplished ).Kakus soffed.

"I don't know why you hate my mother but whatever your reason is please I beg you in the name of Allah let her be, enough of the torture Hajiya,you've been causing her agony is it because she is patient enough not to have ever retaliated?" He asked the question that had no answer.

Before Kakus should register it in her brain whether he spoke in Hausa, English, Yoruba or Igbo, he was already in his mother's room.

"I'm sorry Madre actually... "

"Kai I don't have that energy to listen to your explanation, the headache has even subsided but get me water." She said waving her hand in a dismissive manner.

"Madre I have a question." He said as he handed her a glass of water.

"Uhumm" She gestured with her hands indicating 'go on'.

"Why does Kakus hate you? " He asked and let out a sigh when he noticed the painful smile on his mother's face.

"It's actually a long story but I think it's because I'm from Niger(country)." She said bitterly.

"What does your nationality has to do with her? "He asked confusingly.

"Her co-wife was from there too and it's like she dealt with her in their stay in your grandfather's house..."His laughter stopped her mid sentence.

"Can you imagine this Madre,Kakus being dealt with, she is just redirecting all that she endured on you,unbelievable" He exclaimed amidst laughter ."

"Wait and hear the bitter part of the story, her co-wife Lantana was responsible for the damage in her womb and that was why she bore only two children;Your father and his Late elder brother Alhaji Shu'aibu,she even went to the extent of bewitching their husband that he danced to her tune, he never objected to her decisions,he onced divorced Kakus because of Lantana.

"That sucks I somehow pity her." Muhammadu said wiping tears.

"Cry cry baby "Madre teased.

"No Madre it really hurts,she is just judging you according to the experience she had with her co-wife,is this why Padre doesn't get along with his step sisters?"

"Of course,you know she was jealous of being the first wife yet unable to bear a male child".

"Where does she live now? "He asked.

"She died a year after your grandfather's demise. "

Alhamdulillah finally strike has been suspended.

Who's happy? I'm wallahi
And we are only in chapter 8 the beginning of the beginning I don't know whether I will be able to finish this book before school resumes,anyway I will give it a try.

Please press that little star at the bottom of your page, I need your support, comments are also welcomed atleast let me know about your view on my book.

Ma'assalam.