Hadiza in Lagos(Unedited)

CHAPTER 19

Hadiza's Pov

"Alright,Goodnight".

"Goodnight ma,please can you show me the nearest mosque to this place?"

"No problem,it is just on my way to where I will take bike to my house so you can follow me".

"Thank you ma".

"You are welcome and you can come with me to my house if you dont have somewhere to stay for the night because Aminat was a very nice person to me".

My mind didnt go with her last sentence at all.I just told her not to worry about me and thanked her.She showed me the mosque and went her way.
By the time I entered the mosque it was time for the night prayer by 7pm.I cleansed my body and joined in prayers.People were already leaving when I saw the cleric.

I explained in full details what happened and that I would love to sleep there over the night.He accepted me wholeheartedly and showed me to a woman to arrange where I could stay.
The early morning prayers woke me up from my sleep.I jumped as I heard Allahu Akbar.I realized it was just me and a little girl in the room I slept.

I wore my hijab and spread a mat to pray on.

"As -salamu alaykum",I greeted the woman that arranged a room for me the previous night as she entered the room after like 2 hours that the prayer ended.

"Alaykum Salam ...I saw you were very tired yesterday that's why I didnt wake you".

"Ahh no oo it doesnt mean I wont do the right things".

"No problem,are you ready to take your bath so that I can show you the bathroom".

"I will really like that",I said observing that she looked younger than when I first met her a day before.

The bathroom was a very neat place that was well taken care of.

"I think you know your way back or should I wait?",she asked.

"Ahh no oo I can come back myself".

After I got out of the bathroom and came back to the room,she already placed food on a stool with water beside it and I heard from the little girl that the woman brought the food for me and that the cleric was around.

The woman came into the room shortly after the little girl finished talking to me.

"I prepared rice and beans and I hope you like it".

"Haba this is too much,shelter is enough not food too",I said rejecting the food.

"That is how things are done here and that's what the cleric wants and moreover we are taught to help those who are in need".

"Thank you and please I want to see the cleric  before I leave?".

"Alhamudililahi ..no problem when you are done eating I will take you to him",she left the room after we were done talking

I cleaned up well,combed my hair and ate after packing my things in order.The food reached the right spot.

I breathed a sigh of relief.

I noticed the little girl eyes followed me around how I was doing all the things I did.

"What is your name?",I asked her as I took a seat beside her.

"Aminat",she answered in her tiny voice.

"Aminat you are not talking or playing why?".

"It is my mummy that said I should not go out of the room because my friend is not around".

"Your mummy?".

"Yesh".

"Who is your mummy?".

"She is.....",she was cut short as the woman entered the room to tell me that the cleric wanted to see me".

"Byebye Aminat".

"Byebye Aunty".

On our way to see the cleric,the woman just stopped walking making me to stop too.

"You spoke to my daughter".

"Your daughter?".

"Yes Aminat because she doesnt normally talk to everyone apart from only one friend she has and I am surprised she spoke to you".

"I didnt know she was your daughter..I was like her when I was her age even till now"

"Really?I think she likes you because I won't lie I was listening to your conversation".

"She might change overtime don't worry about her".

"I hope she will...let's hurry and not keep the cleric waiting".

As we approached where the cleric was,he was speaking to some young men but as he sighted us he dismissed the young men and told me to follow him into the mosque without saying anything.

"As-salam malaykum",I greeted as I sat on a mat and he sat on another.

"Malaykum Salam",he said.

"Thank..."

"Uhhn uhhn Alhamudililahi,so you are about to leave because I can see you have carried your bag"

"Yes sir".

"I saw a message about you and I want you to be prayerful because of where you are going".

"Ahh"

"There is nothing to worry about,just be prayerful as I said and leave the rest to Allah".

"I have heard all what you said and I will do as you said sir".

******

"Good morning ma",I greeted Iya Dele as she was attending to a customer.

"Ahh Good morning oo,you are back".

"Yes ma".

"I have found the paper where i wrote the address",she said as she stretched it to me after the customer left.

"Ahh thank you ma and please I dont know anywhere here can you describe how I can get to this address?".

She described how to get to the address and I thanked her and quickly went my way.