When Stars Collide

Breaking Apart

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"Nurse Amaka, where's the family for the girls acid was poured on?" Hibba and the other eight people who are waiting suddenly got up in a loud shuffling of feet that forced the doctor to turn around.

She took off the nose mask she had on and gently threw it into a biodegradable bin she opened with her clogged feet. "Two people should please come with me. You all can get the information from them later." Hibba and Nana's father opted to follow the doctor and they were soon in the cramped office that was the doctor's.

"I'd first like to congratulate your families. I only did a simple first aid while I waited for tests from the lab on the acid used. Miss Amina got the most of the acid while the baby, miss Aisha got a little splash, nonetheless very harmful." Hibba gasped and began crying all over again. She had cried herself into hoarseness earlier as they waited for news on Nana and Ummi's condition. The doctor handed Hibba a tissue box and waited till Hibba dried her eyes before continuing. Hibba had heard that this doctor was supposed to be resting since she had been the only one responding to patients for about thirty one hours.

"Contrary to notion that all acids melt the skin once they come in contact with the skin, this one that was used was different.  I'm sure the person who mixed it didn't know, they only boiled some acids that works as a bleach. If not for the fact that it was boiled, I doubt it could have done as much damage, so don't fret anymore. They're both going to recover very well." The doctor stopped to drink some of the bottled water on her table.

"The injury shouldn't touch water till it scabs over and the bandages are removed. The nurses will explain the rest to you both. That's all, do you have any questions?" Hibba shook her head, she only wanted to do one thing right now and that was see her baby.

When they got back to the reception, Chichi was on the phone with someone that sounded like her mother, she was carrying a bag of clothes, diapers and essentials for Ummi. Hibba smiled gratefully at her friend and Chichi nodded back silently. Hibba found where to sit and think, she thought of the information she had received at the hospital from the woman who roasted plantain and fish sauce outside the gate.

The incident was reported to have happened thus; Ummi was in Nana's arms. Nana had taken her to pick up her own siblings from Islamyiyya and while they stopped to buy some roasted plantain, a car stopped by them and called to Nana very gaily. When Nana looked towards them, Ummi was now in front in Nana's arms, a lady in the front seat opened a flask she was carrying and flung the contents on Ummi's face and body, only that in the last second, Nana turned Ummi and let the contents touch just her.

"Tell your aunt to leave another woman's husband alone." Was the message left. Hibba couldn't help but break down in tears. She cursed herself and slapped her laps, all this had happened because of her. She wondered what would have happened to Ummi if Nana didn't take on the content of that acid.

Nafeesah who had arrived a long while ago but was sitting with Nana's parents saw Hibba crying in a quiet part of the reception and walked to her. When she reached her, She pulled Hibba in to her own arms and rocked her like a child.

"It's not your fault, I saw your crying by yourself and I just want you to know that you should never blame yourself. You say it to me all the time to me when people body shame me for being chubby, 'Its not your fault, it's their fault for being stupid'. This time around, take your own advice and understand that none, not one of all these things is your fault. It's the fault of that person for being so stupid." Hibba didn't reply but Nafeesah knew the information had sunk in. The nature of a mother was quite different, Hibba vaguely heard the things that Nafeesah had said and calmed down.

About an hour later, Nana's mother came close to where they were. Asking Nafeesah to excuse them; them being she and Hibba. Hibba knowing Nana's mother pinched Nafeesah to stay and signaled for ChiChi who had finished getting out the orders via the dispatch rider and returned to the hospital.

"Since you don't want your friends to leave, I'll just say what I came to say. We don't have money to pay the hospital bills, because as we came in I heard them say something about buying a particular injection for ten thousand naira. Since the girl got injured while on duty, you better pay for everything, and take care of her afterwards. Me, I've left her in your hands, do as you wish with her." Chichi started forward, in what Hibba knew to be her This-person-needs-an-ass-whooping stance. So, Hibba pulled on ChiChi's skirt and pinched her skin to calm her down.

Nana's mother turned around and walked back to the rest of their family. The three women she left behind looked at one another in shock and askance.

"Did I hear clearly? The remaining money from Nana's money they collected where did they keep it?" Nafeesah pursed her lips and took out her phone to send a quick text to Ayman.

"I didn't think to let them pay in the first place, who is she angry with? It shouldn't be me right?" Chichi who was still calming down hissed very loudly and looked away. When Chichi and Hibba first arrived at the hospital, Nana's mother had flung herself on the floor and cursed and raved at Hibba, for no apparent reason. It left the two friends very baffled and confused.

"What is he doing here?" All of a sudden Chichi who was being pacified was pushed away and Hibba walked briskly to Salman's front.

"Please leave." She said very calmly. She motioned with her head for him to take his leave. Salman who was expecting some form of resistance but not that level of disgust did a double take.

"Hibba, please hear me out." He pleaded with a calm front but his heart beat so hard it wanted to jump out of his chest. "I've reported her to the police, they've arrested her already. That's why I came late. I'm going to resolve all this issues." Hibba scoffed and wagged a tired finger at Salman.

"You really are bold. To come here with such confidence after your family member! You think I would not find out that the lady is your cousin? You're not the only one with people in high places! Your own cousin poured acid on my child. Your own cousin Salman Baanziye." She laughed sadly and wiped her  face with both hands, she didn't notice that tears had poured down her face.

"Your own cousin did that to my child and you're here? Can't you tell that it's all over forever between us? Does it sound repairable to you? Would you accept it if it were you? Please just leave. I do not want to say anything I will regret in the future." Salman found out that as Hibba spoke to him, he began to feel a staccato beat in his head. A migraine began from the back of his head and he just didn't know what to say.

"I'll be back. It's not over. We're not over." He tapped Ayman who walked behind him as they left the hospital premises to the car park.

*****
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