UNDER 168 HOURS [BOOK 1, 168 HOURS SERIES]

Chapter 11: A Blessing

She could feel her own heartbeat, maybe it was time to open up.  Humaira was folding and playing with her sweaty hands but doctor Azeezah gently held her hands to stop her.

"You're in front of me now. Tell me what's disturbing you."

"Every step I've taking to become independent has failed. Out of the five manial jobs I took this holiday, only one is paying me fully. The others are paying me half salaries while others aren't paying at all. Even when I make them see reasons why I really need the payments. They shout at me instead, they either turn me down or ask me to leave the work if I'm more interested in money than working. It's from frying pan to fire ma, I don't know what to do anymore." She explained with a cracky voice. It made it sound emotional, doctor Azeezah felt more concerned.

"But what do you need money for? Is it really urgent? Don't you have savings." The doctor asked interestedly.

"Yes ma, its so urgent. In fact, I need to pay my tuition fee within three days, this Saturday is the closing date. Ma, I've tried endlessly to save as much as I can but all I have in my safe if just ten thousand naira." Tears clotted her blurry eyes as she explained.

"What? Why are you telling me this now, Humaira? How long were you planning to suffer this alone?" Doctor Azeezah asked her furiously. "This is sufferance not endurance, this is too much, Humaira. I never expected this of you."

"I'm so sorry ma, I didn't want you bother you with and more problems. First my mother and now, me..."

"Did I ever complain? Or did I once tell you i was tired? It seems you don't know the kind of relationship your mum and I held. She was more than a sister to me. Your mum was my best friend and she always be. She was my senior in high school, she took care of me as if we were blood related. I begged her to be my school mother then in boarding school because Hajia Binta was the only best in both morals and academics, that the school board her head-girl in 1984. I'll tell you the story today if you really don't know. It was in Government Science Secondary School, Kuje. Then, when schools were schools. Not now that the tables are turned the other way round. After marriage, your mother stood by my side. It is because of her that I'm here today and you're feeling shy about sharing your problems with me?"

"I thought..." Humaira wanted to say something but Doctor Azeezah stopped her.

"No! Things aren't done that way." She paused to study Humaira's facial expressions for a while.
She was regretting in sadness for keeping quite. Keeping quiet all these times.

"How much is your tuition fee?"

"It's twenty thousand naira ma."

"Twenty thousand naira?" She emphasized. "Just twenty thousand naira and you're busy starving yourself with all of these burden, alone? See, God made man and man faces problems. God wouldn't come down from heaven to save you. Instead, he sends people around you as a help and solution. I'm a mother and I feel your pains. I was planning to come to your place but since you're here now... I'll have to tell you what I wanted to.
You said you'll be going to school next tomorrow right?"

"Yes ma." Humaira quickly replied. Her hearts waiting to her the next words.

"Okay. This thing is, I would love Zainab to stay with me because I can't imagine an eight-year-old living alone. Zainab is really a brave child else?..."

"Okay ma, I'll bring her to you before Saturday." Humaira voice shivered.

"That's good to hear. Now, you'll lock the door while taking the keys with you while Zainab stays with me."
She gives her a paper and a pen.

"Here, write down your school account number so that I can transfer the twenty thousand naira for your tuition fees and let me see..." She stood up with a frown and goes back to her executive chair. Unlocks her drawer and brings out some cash.

"This is all I have on me for now, five thousand naira. Add it to the ten thousand in your savings for provisions and handouts. I would add to it soon enough."

"Jazakallahu khayran ma, thank you so much" she kneels down to thank her.

"Don't worry, stand up." Doctor Azeezah rested her back to her seat.

"Give me your account number so that I can send you money from time to time.."

"I don't have any account number ma."

"What? You mean you don't have a bank account at this age?"

"Yes ma'am." Humaira blushed a little.

"Okay no problem. Come to my house with Zainab tomorrow by 12:00 p.m. We would both got to the bank and I'll open a bank account for you. While Zainab would stay with me."

"Thank you ma, I'm very grateful for you help." Humaira muttered joyously.

"It's okay, Humaira. This is nothing compared to what your mum had done in my life. She's my life saver and I owe my all to her. Now that we have each other I'll do all in my power to see that both of you become more successful that I am." She promised.

Just then, a short nurse with a rectangular oblong face came in.

"Doctor Azeezah! That patient in male's ward didn't want me to inject him ma. He says only a male doctor can." She reported.

"Okay, I'll be going now," she said as Humaira finally thanked her well before leaving.

At last! There is an helper.

Humaira finally think about the saying... Every disappointment is a blessing, but what happened between her and Alhaji Musa, only God would judge.