DEENA (Complete)

SIX: How Much More..??

I rushed to the gate and unlocked it to face gentle man who looked too good to be a staff of
the PHCN. He passed a paper bill without a word and walked away. Perhaps he was upset because of my delay.

"Sorry" I said after him and he turned and nodded before I went back inside.

The bill showed quite a high debt we owed PHCN. It was a four months debt, like a month before Abba's demise. There was a two-weeks' notice before they'd disconnect our household.

Ya Allah

I folded it and kept it on an old stand in the sitting room. Aunty had gifted it to Maami the day I was named. I had always called it my table.

I went back to the kitchen. The grains of rice sat motionless in the pot of water which meant the water had not begun to boil. I replaced the lid and worked on the stew.

After about an hour, my rice and stew were 'ready to serve'. The rice had this mushy, shimmery look and the stew, was simply too watery.

Cooking is frustrating.

"I'm sure they'll complain. I'll just make it tuwo." I smiled to myself and put on the stove again. Everything went well and I molded the tuwo into food flasks.

Maami and Hanif returned from the hospital and they had their lunch without any complaints. I was glad about that.

I presented the electricity bill to her, she shook her head and said she had forgotten totally that there was anything like that.

Maami and the baby were in a stable health
condition and so, the day went smoothly except for the fact that Ya Farhan was yet to return and we could not reach him.

Once it was evening, Maami began to panic. She was so worried that she wanted to report to the Police. She was about to leave for the area station when Ya Farhan showed up.

"What happened to to you like this?" Maami noticed the signatures made on him. She began to check where he was injured or not, he got irritated and walked out. She followed him to meet a locked door. She knocked several time before he opened the door and allowed her in.

Hanif went ahead for an eavesdrop and I followed suit.

Ya Farhan narrated what happened to her. He said he and his co-passengers were robbed on their way. He was beaten because he acted stubborn to give up his lovely iPhone'. He had bought it not up to a month ago.

She thanked God he wasn't very injured and she advised that he take some painkillers and rest, but before that, he should eat and take a hot bath.

We tiptoed back to the sitting room and pretended as if we hadn't heard anything.
Maami returned with a sad expression.

Eyya
mother's love.

She sat down quietly, then I asked what happened. When she narrated what he had told her, I and Hanif went "Eyyaah" in unison and I chuckled quietly.

"Maami, what are your plans for the baby? I clasped my hands smiled.

"Nothing" She looked pale.

"Haven't you come up with a name for her?" I wanted to cheer her up. She was about to answer, but Haniif beat her to it.

"And who told you it's a girl..?" He rolled his eyes.

Awww

"It is. Koh Maami?" I made a puppy face, to lighten up her mood. She smiled and adjusted her position.