Soiled #ProjectNigeria ✔️

Chapter 35: Meeting Father

"I should leave now."  I said even though I really wanted to stay and see how things would turn out but, I walked to the hospital cupboard where my bag was and picked it up. 

"To where?" Safiyya's mother asked with a frown. Her head cocked in question. I smiled internally, Alhamdulilahi. I was fishing to stay.

"Home." She purses her lips and eyes me lightly.

"You have to stay oo.  Ya Affy, I'm shivering in fear and anxiety. Wallah." Safiyya mutters in fear making me smile and set my bag back on the cupboard. Yippee, I'm staying.

There's a knock at the door and Safiyya runs to open it, it's the nurse on her rounds and Safiyya rolls her eyes lightly in obvious relief. The nurse tells Safiyya's mother that she'll be discharged the following day.

I pull down the shutters and look across the vast car park, my eyes sweeping for any of my father's cars.  None. 

Is he bailing out?

Just as I'm about to pull the shutters back up, I see his blood red Mercedes drive in. That car caused my father a lot of trouble as he's easily recognised with it everywhere.

I don't tell Safiyya who is busy wringing her hands and tapping her feet in absorbed anxiety, it's like waiting to see a parcel all your life and finally the time has come.  That's probably how she's feeling. 

A knock sounds at the door and I walk to the door to open since I know who it is, I pass Humairah who is deeply asleep to the door and open it up for my father. 

"Ina wuni"  He nods at me and says the salaam as he enters, we all reply and I notice that Safiyya's mother has covered her face properly. She became a Niqabi years ago. 

"How are you Umm Safiyya, May Allah grant you shifaa." She nods and looks outside the window. 

Baba looks towards Humairah and nods towards her in question.  Umm Safiyya obviously gets what she means because she replies.

"She's my adopted daughter." Father relaxes visibly and I do a double take.  Umm Safiyya shouldn't be foolish, father has nothing to offer her. 

Father clears his throat. "I'd like to apologise deeply for all that has happened and all that transpired. I didn't think we'll at the time.  I didn't make the right decisions, I was foolish.  I admit it and request your forgiveness even though I don't deserve it." He looks down to his fingers in nervousness. And I feel some empathy for him. 

Imagine being told that the same child you let go after many years is back, hale and hearty. He's definitely feeling unwanted here. 

"I've forgiven you." I look up from watching Humairah's detoxifying drip go through her vein into her body. Forgiveness? So soon?

"Really? Toh, Thank you." Safiyya's mother nods her head and I count down the time to when my father will make his demand. Five..four...three...

"Can she come live with me?" Oh Father, why can't you be unpredictable. Safiyya's mother laughs, a long belly laugh that borders on mockery and contempt. 

"My child, live with you? With your wife?" She turns to me "Nabeela, sorry to say.  That Shaytan's spawn?" She claps her hand and shakes her socked foot. 

"Is that such a big deal? I deserve to have her after all these while, I haven't seen her since she was born." Umm Safiyya makes a sound but Safiyya beats her to it. 

"Whose fault is that? Whose fault is it other than yours? Who couldn't take responsibility?" My father looks at her open-mouthed. Take that father 

"It was a mistake I have apologised for,  haven't I?" Safiyya makes a face and walks to his front. 

"Alhaji Abdullah, I've only accepted that you are the man who fathered me, I haven't agreed to be your daughter. I'm who I am with the grace of Allah, my mother and your daughter who I'm sure you have little in her upbringing." I cup my mouth in shock.  Safiyya has never spoken like this.  I try to stop her but last minute I let it go, I want to hear what happens next. 

"Young girl, you will not speak to me however you wish, I'm your father!" Safiyya tucks the edges of khimaar into her sides before walking out. 

Father removes his cap and swipes through his bald head and I smile. He's found one daughter that isn't ready to bend to his will. Good.

"This is outrageous, is this how you've raised her? To talk to her elders how she wants? What sort of girl doesn't want to stay with her father?" Umm Safiyya smiles, so widely that her eyes crinkle.

"What sort of request did you make? What makes you think I didn't raise my child well? What makes you think you can just come here to fling orders around for her to live with you? You didn't want nothing to do with her when she was a baby, what do you want now?" Father looks at me and frowns deeply.  In shock are we? 

I walk out of the room to find Safiyya. I see the edge of her blue khimaar at the balcony from a distance and I take my time to walk to her, how I want to talk to her enveloping my thoughts. 

I finally reach her.  "Saffy am?" My Saffy. I open my arms out and she walks into me in tears.

"He's going to begin with little orders like 'come live with me' and and end with big ones like 'marry this or that'. I can't live with the fact that I left my mother should suffered to bring me up just for a few moments of luxury." I nod onto her head, understanding her pain. Father overdid his request, what happened to the 'I won't push her promises' he made. 

"I understand. Saffy, I understand completely." She comes out of my arms to peer into my face uncertainly.

"Really?" I nod with a smile and her pretty fair face widens into another smile. 

"Thank you." I pay her back in response.  Safiyya has gone through so much, from hawking to doing menial jobs with her mother around their area. She surely deserves all the happiness she can get.

******

Hi guys,

Today has been one very hectic day for me. My phone shattered and stopped working. I just hope it can be repaired. 😿😿

Today's chapter abi 🙀🙀, e tire me sef.

Its also Chapter 35 🙌🙌🙌👼💃💃💃 Kudos to us all and Thank God for all inspiration.

God bless you all richly. Have a great weekend. Love you. ❤💋💋