TRIALS (Completed)

Five

Too often when we hurt someone, we say ‘the truth hurts. But perhaps, it’s not the truth that hurt them. We did. – Faith, from the journal of Umm Zakiyyah. 

The sun rose slowly, peeking behind the clustered clouds, and adding a yellow hue to the sky’s blue.

Barakah and Hoor held hands as they sauntered out of the house. Hoor talked animatedly, skipping beside Barakah who listened quietly, bobbing her head at intervals. Wednesday was sports day. Hence, Barakah’s attire of white and blue tracksuit and Hoor’s deep pink polo and white shorts with a pink face cap. 

Kauthar followed behind. She locked the front door and dropped the keys in her canoe-shaped handbag before joining them by the car. 

As she drove back home, Kauthar spotted Aunt Rose jogging from the other end of the road, heading home in her usual pink singlet, which hugged her slim frame and white shorts that showed off her muscled legs. 

Kauthar parked before her gate, unsure of whether to approach her now or later. No, later will be better. She decided and beeped for the gateman.

Her phone rang as she unlocked the door. “Oga.” She greeted, flinging her bag on the nearest cushion. She unpinned her silk black veil, letting it hang loose around her head. 

“Madam,” Isma’il replied, his voice light with laughter. 

“Don’t tell me you’re just seeing my missed call, since last night.” She snapped her fingers for emphasis.

“Haba, no.” He chuckled as she rolled her eyes. 

“Ka Fadi gaskiya dai–be honest o.” She entered the kitchen and picked an electric kettle to fill it with water.

“Toh, afuwa–apologies. I was too exhausted to call back last night.” 
“Okay o, how is Calabar?” She asked, leaning against the marble counter.
 
“Toh, gashinan dai–fine sha.” He said. 

“Ah ah, what happened, last I checked, you were gushing about the exquisiteness of the state, or are you getting bored already?” She asked playfully. 

Isma’il sighed. “Not really, I’m just missing you guys.” 

Kauthar burst into laughter. “That’s too bad, we’re not missing you anything.” 

“Ah, haba dai,” he said disbelievingly. 

She burst into another laughter and he joined her. 

“You’re not serious.” He added. 

Kauthar took her breakfast and attended to some chores. She gathered all the trash from all parts of the house into a black trash bag and went out to drop it into the trash can situated in front of the house.

As she rubbed her hands together and made her way back inside, she saw Aliyah coming out of her house in a red tracksuit, glancing from left to right for an okada (motorcycle). When she noticed Kauthar, she greeted in a low voice and an embarrassed smile.

Kauthar nodded in reply, itching to say something, but fighting it.

It’s past 08:00 am, she mused.