chapter fifty nine

Third person's POV

"Mama! Mama!" Khair shouted as she rushed inside the house dropping her suitcase in the living room.

She kept calling her mum's name but the woman wasn't answering. She looked for her mum in all the possible places she could be in but still couldn't find her.

"Maybe she's in dad's room?" She asked herself.

'But assuming she was,she would have answered me.' She thought

"Lemme just check dad's room." She decided and walked to her dad's room.

She didn't bothered knocking because she knew her dad won't be around.

'His car wasn't in the house.' That signified that he wasn't around.

She opened the door and she stood still in surprise.

Her parents were praying together.

Such a beautiful sight.

Suddenly feeling shy,Khair closed the door and ran to her mother's room.

She sat on the bed blushing. She started making different scenarios in her head of her and Ahmad prayer together.

"Gosh!" She whispered and covered her face smiling like a goner.

"Why are you smiling like that?" Came a voice.

Khair quickly removed her palms from her face.

"Mama!" She called smiling brightly then rushed to her mother and enveloped her in a tight hug.

Assuming that surgery she did back in SF was unsuccessful, that means she can never be able to see her mother again.

That thought alone made her hugged her mother tighter.

"Okay okay. It's enough like that." Her mother said pulling away from Khair's tight grip.

"I just missed you so much mama." Khair admitted.

"And when did that one start?" Her mother looked at her weirdly.

"What? I can't miss my mother again?" Khair looked confused.

"No. You calling me mama,when did it start?"

"Oh." Khair laughed. "I just thought 'mum' sounded childish,so mama it is."

"Toh. Big girl." Her mum joked.

And a joyful conversation started between the duo.

Out of nowhere,Khair hugged her mum again.

"What is happening?" Her mother asked.

"I just thought I won't be able to see you again you know,before the surgery,when my mind was thinking about all the negativities and possibilities of the surgery going wrong. But here I am today,seeing you perfectly well." Khair said exactly what on her mind with tears filled in her eyes.

"You will always be fine my baby. No evil shall harm you insha Allah." Her mother prayed tears filling up her eyes too.

"I..." Khair started but suddenly burst into tears.

Her mum drew her closer putting Khair's head on her bosom,tears already streaming down her face.

"Now why are you crying?" Her mother asked,her words choked up.

"I should be asking you that too. You're also crying." Khair chuckled in between tears.

"And we actually don't know the exact reason for the cries." Her mum added and the both laughed sadly.

"Subhanallah. What is happening?" Khair's dad asked opening the door to his wife's room.

"What happened? Who died?" He asked really concerned.

"Is it when someone dies that we will cry?" Khair's mum laughed and cleaned her tears. "We are just bonding you know. We missed each other."

"Why am I feeling like you are hiding something? Because I just don't see the reason why you will hold yourselves and cry."

"You won't understand." "Khair go and wash your face." Her mother commanded.

She silently stood up and walked into the bathroom.

She greeted her dad as she came out of the bathroom.

The trio started a conversation. One talk led to another and her father suddenly asked

"The surgery you had that day? Who paid for it?"

Khair looked at her mother,the look that was saying 'you told him? I told you not to' and her mum just gave her an apologetic smile.

"The school did. Remember I paid for health insurance right?"

"Oh yes. And what was the cause of it? I thought your eyes were okay before you left Nigeria. You were not even using your glasses then." Her father reasoned.

She remembered the lie she told her mum but....won't it sound lame?

"I'm asking you of something here." Her father reminded.

As she wanted to open her mouth to talk but her mum first her.

"Maybe you forgot but I told you. During her lab practicals, some chemicals like this got into her eyes. She was rushed to the school's infirmary but they couldn't wash it out so they have to take her to the hospital. All those while,the chemical has already circulated her eyes." Her mum explained.

'Huh....when did I tell her all that? But its good tho. She greatly covered me up.' Khair thought.

"Don't you use eye goggles during practicals?" Her father asked.

Gosh!

"I...yes..we do use goggles, but we all removed it that time to get a better view. Nobody knew the chemicals were going to react and I was the closest person to it. So wasn't my fault." Khair answered.

"How can you say it wasn't your fault? Why were you standing so close to it? People were avoiding it but you,miss getting a better view decided to get a better view and now see what you caused." Her father scolded.

"Ha'an? Why are you shouting at her? Something that wasn't her fault. It was bound to happen and beside,she's fine and okay. The girl that just had long flight journey and hasn't rested you're shouting at her. Take it easy on her pls." Her mum supported her.

"I'm going to fetch my food. I'm very hungry." Khair said awkwardly and left the room.

She couldn't watch her parent argue on what was not of importance. She caused it all. They were living peacefully and were even praying together like the sweetest couples they are,until she came.....

Everything was lie. Lies upon lie and her parent are arguing about her lies.

God!

She went to the kitchen and sat there,thinking about her messed up life until her mother came.

"Khair what are you doing here? I thought you are suppose to be eating?"

"I'm not hungry again. I came and saw you people in peace,now that I'm around,you're both arguing."

"See this child. We aren't arguing, we are just discussing about you. Your father is just worried about you that's why he was asking all these questions but now I have made him understand." Khair's mother said.

"And don't even tell me about you not been hungry. You spent eighteen hours in flight and you will tell me rubbish. Stand up joor let me serve you your favourite food." Her mother smiled and she returned the smile.

'Mum is the best mother but....am I the best daughter? I have lied to her too much and she needs to know the truth.' Khair thought and sighed.

'I chose not to tell her if not,she will be in shock for months.'

With that final thought, she beamed as she saw the food her mum was presenting to her.

Without wasting time,she dug in and ate like her life depended on it.

The next day....

....

Khair's POV

"Ummul Khair." My mum called.

"Sir." I replied

"If I slap you,cos I have resemble your father to you abi?"

I laughed and rinsed my soapy hands then faced her.

"Leave those plates. Your father is calling you." She announced and left.

My eyes widened and my heartbeat increased.

What did I do?

I wouldn't have panicked if everything was normal cos it might just be school stuffs he will ask me but from our bitter conversation yesterday,he will want to know more and I can't keep on lying.

Hell! I was even out of lies.

I found myself moving to the parlour. I sat on the couch opposite him as I watched my fingers.

"Ummul Khair. Someone called me and informed me that your number is always switched off." My dad started off in riddles.

He should have just called the person's name instead of saying someone.

Anyway,I just kept quiet.

"I told this person that you changed your phone and number that's why he doesn't get through to you. Now,why didn't you let him have your new number? He would have talked to you directly instead of going through me."

Wow! My dad talking to me freely about men. Wow!

"And I tried my best to ensure that everyone has my new number. Maybe by mistake I forgot this person you are talking about. Pls tell me who he is." I pleaded.

"Sumayya's father of course."

Sumayya's father as in Maya's dad?

What?

What did he need?

He have never sent for me personally. We just use to greet whenever we saw each other if I go to his house.

But now he is looking for me. For what?!

'Maybe he wants to finish what his daughter started.' Said my mind.

'No it can't be. Maybe he want bribe you to drop Maya's case.'

I kept debating with myself.

Anything or anyhow it was,I wasn't going to step in that house.

"So get ready to go. Come and meet me for transport fare." My dad concluded and I nodded getting up and leaving his sight.

I went inside the kitchen to finish the dishes but my mum already helped me with it so I just went to my room and changed into a better cloth.

"If you like don't come back early." My mum said out of nowhere.

"I will come back early like I always do." I smiled.

"You? Come back early from Maya's house? Impossible. You guys will be acting as if you don't see each other everyday. And I don't want to hear 'I'm sleeping over at her house'." My mum warned.

Oh dear mum,I will come back home as early as possible cos I was going no where close to that house. I have separate plans.

"OK OK. I won't stay long insha Allah." I said and went into my dad's room.

"The transport money. I'm ready to go." I reminded him.

"Well,I'm even going out so I will just drop you off."

'What?' I shouted in my mind.

"What is what? Why did you shout?" My dad eyed me.

Did I said that loud? Oops.

But what the dart? Whyyy?! My plan was to go to an ice cream palace,spend long time there before going back home cos how can I go and meet Maya's dad,in Maya's house? What if she was in there? That girl that was hellbent on killing me.

Nop. No way.

"Don't stress yourself. I will just go by myself." I said nervously.

My dad just looked at me,blinked,put up his cap and went out.

Ughhh. I knew what that look meant.

I followed him with boiling heart. Not of anger,but fear and not wanting to go.

"Now tell me seven valid reasons why you don't want me to take you." My dad said as he was driving.

"No its not like that. I just don't want you to be late to wherever you are going. That's just the only reason." I grumbled.

"I said seven reasons." He reminded.

"I don't..."

"Seven reasons." He interrupted.

"Well,if you...."

"Seven valid reasons." Again,he interrupted and I just wanted to cry out loud that moment.

"Dadddd." I whined tears filling my eyes.

"We are here." He announced.

"But before you go,the seven reasons." He smiled and I bursted out crying.

His smile instantly wiped away and was changed to confusion.

"What is happening?" He turned and looked at me.

"Nothing." I lied.

Everything is happening.

"Talk to me. What happened? Why did you suddenly burst into tears?"

"Cramps." I lied,again.

"Oh. Sorry dear." He said but the look on his face showed that he wasn't convinced with my answer at all but he kept quiet about it.

He gave me a handkerchief and I wiped my face with it.

"Take care. It shall be well." He gave me his words of encouragement or comfort, what ever it meant and I nodded.

I waited for him to leave so that I can change direction and go to the ice cream palace I intended but fate wasn't on my side.

"Go inside." My dad said.

"I will."

"Or do you want me to walk you in?" He asked.

No!

"OK. No problem. I will walk you in." He said and came down from his car.

Huh...did I said yes?

Before I could fly and just disappear out of the world,my dad was in front of me.

"Oya let's go." He commanded and I moved forward slowly behind him.

The gate was opened for us and we went in together.

I sighted someone far from where we were standing. I couldn't see the person clearly but I just saw my dad moving towards the figure in strides.

Darn! I should have brought my glasses.

I stood there and waited for my dad to come back.

"I should get going. The man is waiting for you. Be back home early. Take this." My dad said and handed me money.

"Bye." I waved and walked forward.

I walked to the main parlour door and knocked breathing in.

Will it be too late if I decided to just jump the fence and run away?

Maybe it was not.

I turned back to check whether anyone was watching me and guess what? My dad was still standing there, looking at me.

Was all his sudden behaviors indicated that he was being suspicious of me or just simply being over protective of me? I honestly got no idea.

"Come in." I heard a voice from inside and I slowly turned the door knob with my whole body shaking.

I took forever to enter the living room and when I did,I met Maya's dad sitting on one of the cushions.

He wasn't smiling at all and he looked so older than he was.

Why?

The 'him' I knew was always smiling but now....

I gulped.

"Ummul Khair. Pls seat." He gave me a forced smile.

Why was his smile forced?

Okay...ladies and gentlemen,till we meet in heaven,maybe,if he kills me or his psychotic daughter kills me.

*chuckled in fear.

_______________