Chapter: 7

The day was a happy day for Alaina, her sisters treated her well, she was so happy and she prayed it will continue, because their kindness towards her goes on and off, somedays they are good to her, and some other days they are not.

'But why are they good to me sometimes and sometimes not?

'its mom's doing, she poisons their minds and make them treat you bad whenever she realizes you are on good terms' she heard a voice in her head telling her,

"what does she even say to them that makes them switch"?

"what are you saying, Alaina"? siya said looking at her,

she was lost in thought, she didn't know when she said it out,

" Concentrate Alaina, stop thinking in class," Siya said a bit worried,

she knows her friend is going through a lot but she just hopes it's not going to affect her grades.

"Okay siya," Alaina said and smiled at her.

After the class, Siya headed home and Alaina also, outside the gate she saw Hanan and Hanifa,

"Where have you been, we have been waiting for you," Hanan said stretching her hand, she held Alaina's hand and all three of them got into the car,

today their driver came to pick them, he has been sick for some days, that was why they had to take public transport for some days now.

Immediately they entered the gate, Alaina couldn't believe her eyes, "she saw a man sitting under the mango tree, the same spot where she and her dad sit down every evening whenever she was back from school,

" is daddy back"!? she asked almost coming out of the car before the driver even parked, she jumped out immediately he parked the car in the parking space, she ran and jumped on him, he stood up and hugged her back,

"I missed you so much the apple of my eyes," dad said to her with a smile on his face

"I missed you too my hayatii (my life)" Alaina said with tears in her eyes still hugging him tightly as if he was running away,

that's how they express their love for each other whenever they reunite, the love they both had for each other was phenomenal,

everyone knows this in the house, and sometimes that's what leads to the jealousy and hatred they show Alaina when Hashim(dad) was away.

Hanna and Hanifa too came to him and hugged him, he hugged them back and said "I missed you, my beautiful angels",

"We missed you too daddy," they both said at the same time.

"How are you, daddy? how was your trip?"

Alaina asked, excited to hear all about it,

she was his gist partner, he is going to tell her all what happened and all the new things he saw or learned, but she was too excited.

Hashim smiled and said, "Allhamdullilah Alaina, I am fine and my trip was wonderful, I will tell you all about it later but for now let's go in so you all will eat and have some rest"

they left under the tree and went into the house, after greeting mom they all went to their room, showered, and came down to the dining table to eat,

it was a delicious Hausa traditional meal 'Dambun shinkafa' prepared specially for daddy because he loved the food, After the meal, all of them sat at the parlor to gist with Dad,

Dad, Alaina, and Noah sat together on the long couch,

Alaina was sitting by Dad's right and Noah was by his left,

mom was sitting on a one sitter couch facing them,

while Hanan and Hanifa sat on the same couch.

"Daddy, tell us about your trip," Noah said excited,

"Okay, I will tell you everything, but first of all I need to know how all of you are doing, and all that happen when I was away"

"Noah, you first," dad said looking at him with a smile,

okay, Daddy, he jumped up and started talking, as if he was doing a presentation,

"the next day after you traveled, I fell sick,

Alaina too fell sick, because you traveled, we cried till we both slept off, I slept in her room that day,

After that, mummy took me to the hospital and I was given an injection when we came back from the hospital...

mum started coughing hard and loud, Hanifa took the bottle of water beside her and handed her mum, she was pretending to cough because,

she didn't want Noah to continue talking, she is in a big mess if Hashim discover what she did to Alaina that day, she knows Noah will still say it regardless

sorry mummy, they all said except Hashim who all his attention was on Noah, he needed to know was Alaina took to the hospital too or what happened

"Sorry dear," Hashim said shortly and said to Noah, "continue Noah"

Noah was silent for some seconds thinking of the part he left off to continue,

"yeah I now remember, After we got back to the hospital, I went to Alaina's room to ask if she was also given an injection too but I saw that she was shivering in her blanket when I went downstairs to tell mommy she said I should go to my room she will go and take her to the hospital"

he paused a bit and looked at his mom then he turned to his dad and asked,

Daddy? is my mummy Alaina's Mummy?

"What are you saying Noah!" mummy shouted at him.

"Just calm down let's hear him out," Dad said to her, his heart was hurting, but he is just being calm,

it's not proper that he scolds her or they should have an argument in the presence of their kids.

he drew Noah close to him, placed him on his laps, and asked him, "why did you ask that Noah"? this time Noah was crying already, Alaina was also crying, she remembered what happened that day too,

"Daddy, because that day, mummy didn't take Alaina to the hospital, she even poured cold water on her and she saw that she was shivering, but she didn't care and she asked her to go and clean the kitchen when everywhere in the kitchen was neat.

it was around 8 pm that I and maeesha took her to the hospital, that time mummy was asleep,

Daddy, mummy is wicked, I don't like her" he concluded and burst out in tears crying hard this time.