Halima's POV

I wait for the driver and after thirty minutes of waiting, he arrives. The drive home is silent as I'm not in the mood to talk and the driver seems to understands.

The car stops moving right in front of the junction, five houses away from ours. I watch as he tries to start it but it all in vain. I get down and start walking home.

"Please don't tell Hajiya and Alhaji. They will reduce my salary if they find out that I haven't taken the car for servicing..." I just nod my head and continue walking.

I don't even know why I'm moody. I guess I'm just tired and all the day's events have tired me out.

When I reach the front of our neighbors house I raise my head in time to see daddy coming out of a car that's parked across the street. I'm sure I've never seen the car and i know all of daddy's cars. I also know all of mummy's cars. So whose is it?

I've seen the car somewhere. I can't remember where exactly so I start walking to where daddy is peeking through the window of the car. I try to walk faster as I hear the car rev to life.

Daddy looks in my direction then widen his eyes and says something to the person. Next thing I know, the car is zooming past me only to stop by the junction.

The person in the car brings his head out and... Is that Amir? I squint my eyes to see the person but it's too sunny. The person swiftly puts his head back in the car and drives away. I look at daddy who's looking scared.

"Daddy waye wannan {daddy who was that}? Is he one of your friends or colleagues at work? I think I've seen his car somewhere."I look back to the now empty junction trying to remember where I saw the car.

"No baby na {my baby}. You don't know him. Though he's been here a few times but you guys never met. Anyways let's go inside. I thought they said you'll be back after four so why are you here now? It's just 2:30. Or you know what? Let's go inside and talk about it over ice-cream. Aunty Fauzzy brought some for hers and your mum's whatever it's called." He's trying to change the topic and i understand. Moreover, having ice-cream sounds refreshing. But I don't want to relive today's ordeal. But whether I like it or not I have to tell him.

We walk in and sit down. We sit for the ice cream after I took my bath and dressed in a flay leaf green material gown which I pair with a cream veil wrapped as a turban.

I start telling him about my day and at the mention of Amir he stiffens.

"What's his full name?" I look at daddy.

"Amir Aliyu." he nods, suddenly dropping his ice-cream.

"What happened?" he shakes his head and I shrug.

"I have some work to do now. Make sure you eat." I nod and he leaves to his room.

After finishing a whole tub of ice-cream and suffering from several brain freezes I sleep till 4pm then binge watch all the zee world series I've missed after praying Asr.

"I'm sorry, I had to leave you all those years. I had my reasons. Just don't do it please. I already know they left you you and that girl a huge amount of money to live on. I can give you anything but this please." Audu Kalshingi says with pleading eyes. He's giving him his best pleading look despite knowing that he can't see him.

They are in a hotel room at Prixair hotel. He has his back facing Audu Kalshingi and his gaze is outside the window as he enjoys torturing this man.

"Halima already knows me as someone else. All I want is for her to know me for who I really am, not who she sees me as." he says, face stoic.

"Please, I'll introduce you when the time is right. This is a wrong timing please. Just reconsider. I can go on my..." Audu Kalshingi is cut off by his ring tone. He gulps as he looks at the caller ID displays on his screen.

"Answer it. It's her right? I know she's the one so pick the call."

He gulps then nods. Realizing he can't see him, he says, "Okay son." As he takes the phone to his ear about he sends something flying across the room such that it almost hits Audu Kalshingi.

"Don't ever call me that in your life. You lost the privilege to call me that when you left me in the hands of those monsters ten years ago. So. Don't. Ever. Try. It." He says through gritted teeth.

He walks past Audu Kalshingi and leaves the room after saying, "I give you from now till April 13th. You and I both know it's her birthday so you better tell her before then or else..."

He slams the door and leaves. He has kept the truth away from her for too long. He needs to tell her and his wife before it's too late.

Fatima's POV

"I just need her to learn to respect me. Ammi, you and Abba have always shown that... "

I can feel my chest closing up and the walls closing in on me. My breath feels hitched.

I quickly reach for the water on the center table but my hand is shaking and I can't seem to get a grip on myself. The glass cup slips out of my hand, breaking in the process. I can feel everyone's eyes on me.

I feel like someone is squeezing my heart, ribs, neck and everything. I hear some voices which sound like Afnan and Amal's but that doesn't matter to me. All that matters is that I feel like it's my last day on earth. I feel like I'm slowly being robbed off my life.

Is this how I'll end? I have not even prayed Subh prayer talk more of Zuhr. Is that how I'm going to meet my Lord?

I pray silently as I see some light being shined on my face. I think it's the angel of death. I don't even know his name. I start saying all the supplications Ammi forced me to learn. Not that they'll save me from death.

I suddenly feel water being forced down my throat and then I feel like the grip on my neck has been released. Then I feel my cap being taken off, I don't mind. My shirt follows. I try to move my limbs but they fail me.

I open my mouth to say something but all that come out are incoherent things that even my brain can't decipher.

I finally gather the energy to move my hands so I push the person who's taking my shirt off but some set of hands hold mine tightly.

I blink continuously till I can see even though my vision is a little bit blurry, all the while refusing the person who's been trying to get my shirt off. Turns out it's Ammi and a female doctor. So I calm down. I feel something pierce my hand and it's all black. 

The next time I wake up Ammi is sitting beside me with a blue Hijab and her counter in hand.

"Ammi." her eyes snap open at my croak and she hands me water. After I have taken it she looks at me.

"Don't mind what Sa'eed said. I have talked to him." I nod, although I can't remember what exactly he said.

"Ammi please call him. I need to talk to him." She nods and leaves. Minutes later Ya Sa'eed is entering the room with a scowl on his face. He sits on the couch Ammi vacated.

"Ya Sa'eed do you hate me?" He looks at me surprisingly.

"Of course I don't. Why would you say that?" I shake my head.

"Nothing." I turn my head to the side. After some seconds I hear him sigh.

"That punch was a mistake. I was clouded by anger." I simply nod. I can't find it in me to be angry. I'm just tired of everything.

"Just know that I love you." I hear the door being opened and closed. And I fall asleep again.