Tears of Zubaida.

•••••TEARS OF ZUBAIDA••••• •••Chapter One•••

The cool air made the sorrounding more pleasant and inviting, the tranquil silence that enveloped in the house made it more easier for Zubaida to tiptoe into the house from the zaure.

Malam Musa was seated on the old mat that was spread by his wife Zainaba in the premises of the house, the only noise heard was that of the old radio the duo were listening to as the news headlines were being read out by the anchorman.

"The federal government had declared that every child should go to school for free and also the  government will be providing food for every child."

Malam Musa reduced the volume of the radio and kept it beside him. He turned and looked at his wife Zainaba then to the two casseroles which contained his dinner.

"Where is Zubaida?" He asked as he put some amount of ghee in the dried okra soup.

"She's inside her room." Zainaba replied.

Zubaida quickly spread a prayer mat on the cemented floor of her room as she heard the footsteps of her mother, grabbing her hijaab from the wooden Chesterfield which had some of the clothes she washed earlier during the day and were yet to be folded. And pretended to be praying.

" 'Yan'nan, when you're done, your father is calling you."

Her mother refers to her as 'yan nan' because of the Hausa culture which is now abolished that a first child shouldn't be addressed with his/her name by his mother.

Zubaida hesitate a bit before she removed the hijaab she wore, and walked out of the room with fear written all over her face.
She thought her parents have noticed her absence and that's why she was called upon.

"Baba, gani." She said as she squatted to his level in order to show some respect.

"Is it true?" Her father queried, as he took a lump of the tuwon masara.

Zubaida's heart skipped at the query her father had asked. Many thoughts rushed into her mind.

Could it be that Inna hanne had come home and told them?
Or is it Mariya that told them?

Those were the only possible questions that popped into her head at the moment.

"I mean, the free education. Is it true?" Her father cleared the query.

She mentally heaved a sigh of relief before answering his query "Yes... No... I'm not really sure." She said nervously.

"Okay, you may go." Her father dismissed her.

She stood up and walked wobbly to her room, which her mother didn't fail to notice the sudden fear in her daughter's demeanor. She made a mental note to go and check on her later.

She gently pat Zubaida and made her got seated before giving her a scrutiny and proceeded to the queries she had to ask her.

"Me yake damunki?" Her mother asked.

"Nothing." She replied as she shook her head negatively.

Not satisfied with her answer, Zainaba moved closer to her daughter and made her look up to her.

"Look at me, and tell me what's wrong with you." Her mother said.

"Inna, promise me you won't get me married, like..."

"Has it come?" Her mother asked with concern and fear laid in her voice.

"Yes today, when I was done washing my clothes. I saw it... And I panicked and ran to Mariya's place." She was silent, waiting to hear what her mother will say but none happened rather she gestured to her to continue.

"I told inna hanne all that happened and pleaded with her not to tell you, she told me what to do and assured me she won't tell you."

Zainaba understood her daughter's plight as she too wouldn't want history to repeat itself.

"'yan 'nan calm down, I won't let what happened before repeat itself. Pray and I will also pray for you. Now, sleep and don't forget to pray okay." Her mother assured her before she also told her some few ways to take care of herself, and they called it a day.

Glossary.
Zaure ...  A hallway by the entrance of a house.

Gani ... Here I am.

Chesterfield ... A type of chair which its headrest and armrest are of the same height/level.

Me yake damunki ... What's wrong with you?

Inna ... Mother.

Baba ... Father.

Tuwon masara ... A type of meal made with maize and is eaten with soup.

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