"sweetheart, darling, kayi hakuri wallahi I didn't mean to upset you. I just want you to understand my plight. If Halima continues getting pampered wallahi everything will come back to us ne. Is it not better to let her suffer here and enjoy in her husband's house and hereafter? You know that every woman's Jannah is under her husband's feet. We have to train her to earn that Jannah. When do you want us to start, a day to her wedding? Think about it please." Hajjo says, leaning on her husband's chest, feeling his warmth.

She is wearing a short silk pyjama gown that's transparent and it's robe which is also of silk, but thicker than the gown. Instead of using the rope of the robe to tie it to her torso, she let it fly.

She made all this efforts to seduce and make her husband fall into her trap. He looked like he had seen a ghost but once he set his eyes on her, he calmed down.

Only two people have that effect on him, Hajjo and Uwani. He sighs and run his hands through his wife's short hair - one feature of hers he loves so much that she unfortunately is insecure of. Long hair has never been something he fancies, he has always had something for girls with neck length straightened hair, but Hajjo will never stop using weird stuff on her hair so it grows.

"You're right though. So what measures have you taken?"

"I've told Lauratu to pack. She's going back to Borno tomorrow In Shaa Allah. I've splitted the chores between me and Halima. I'll clean every nook and cranny of the house while she cooks dinner, washes the plates after dinner and does anything she needs to do to herself on her own which includes washing her clothes, cleaning her room and bathroom."

"Lahaulafisha atillah!" Audu pushes his wife off him.

"This is too much for her haba reduce it." Hajjo hides the hurt on her face.

"Haba mana I'm just doing what I think is best for our daughter. Amma since you don't like it bah matsala." She ties her robe and turns to leave.

"Sai da safe." He holds her hand and drags her to sit on his thigh. She tries to stand up but he keeps her in place.

"Haba Hajjo. Toh shikenan. You can do it."

"Can't you see that our daughter is turning to something else? I don't like this even one bit. I support their friendship but anything that can spoil the good conducts we've managed to force into my daughter's head is bad news to me. And Halima is that thing." 

After what happened earlier, Abba has decided he'll cutting some slacks for Fatima because of Halima. Halima will just have to adjust to Fatima's lifestyle not the other way round.

"Dan Allah give them sometime. Tashen balaga ne ke damun su." Abba shakes his head. What maturity? They'd been arguing for the past one hour and his wife doesn't look like she's ready to agree with him. And he won't agree with her too.

"Amma ai they are not the first to mature in the world neither will they be the last. So you better find a solution to this or... You know the rest." Abba takes off his jalabiyya.

"Toh In Shaa Allah I'll call Halima's mum tomorrow and talk to her about it." Innayo finally gives up.

"yawwa innayo na."Abba smiles.

Halima's POV

I jump off the bed holding my stinging cheeks as tears start to sting my eyes. It seems the new style of waking people up is by slapping them.

"An yafe miki sallah ne wai nikam? I know you're not off so you better get up before i use your dad's belt on you."

"They won't allow somebody to sleep in peace. It's just 4:30 in the morning for crying out loud." I mumble under my breath.

"Me kika ce? Kin fara koyan rashin kunya koh? Wallahi zan miki illah. Amma why should I blame you? It's all mine and your dad's fault. But now is the time to rectify that mistake. Before I injure you or break your bones you better get up, pray raka'atanil fajr and start your chores. I've decided that you'll do everything except for cooking lunch." my frown deepen as I trudge into the bathroom. I come out and pick my only cream hijab and start to think.

What is this raka'atanil fajr? How's it performed? What's its benefits?

"Waton kina jira sai na zo na karyaki a wajan koh? Dallacan get up and pray, it's almost time for subhi and you need to sweep the whole house and clean up your room before leaving for school. That means you have only two hours to do everything."

"Uhm, mummy what is raka'atanil fajr?" Mummy's face soften.

"raka'atanil fajr is a nafilah. It's performed before or after subh prayer. It's just like every normal nawafil just that no surah is read whilst performing it. And before you ask, nawafil and nafilah is the same thing." mummy walks out of the room.

I perform it on my pompom rug and start my chores. I make my bed then go to the parlor. It's not even dirty. We were just five in the house including Adda Afrah, Teemah's cousin who's staying with us on Ammi's request.

I dust the carpet and chairs and sweep the parlor. No need to mop. I go to the dining and take the used dishes to the kitchen and keep them on the sink.

I see a rag on the door that leads to the back and use it to clean the dining table and chairs. I wash the rag and use it to clean the cooking gas, cupboard and the table or whatever it is called.

I wash the dishes and dry them with another clean white dried towel I saw in the store room in a small basket. After that, I sweep the carpet on the stairs and the corridors. It's 6:48 by the time i'm done. I go to my room and pick out my uniform and everything I'll need for school then place it on the bed.

I notice that my uniform is ironed but my shoes aren't polished. I groan in frustration and check for the shoe polish in my bed side drawer. I polish  my shoe.

Oh no!

I need to make pap for daddy and lemon mint tea for mummy. Then a sandwich for myself for breakfast. I know how to prepare lemon mint tea and sandwich but pap, I have zero idea on how to prepare it. I pick my phone and connect to the wifi and browse through YouTube.

From the video, I just need to boil water, mix some kulli in cold water and add the hot water to it then mix. That is all. It looks simple.

I rush to the kitchen and pour some water in the kettle and connect it. I mix the kulli.

I look at my notification page and a message catches my eye.

Meet me at 10:30 at the carpentry workshop at school.

It's from Ya Sa'eed. I'm not even going to reply. What if he's online? Nop, I'm not going to take that risk.

I hear the kettle switch itself off. I quickly drop my phone and mix the pap. It looks okay, although lumpy and wattery. I fetch little with the spoon and it tastes like raw millet. If I give daddy this mummy will kill me.

I pour it away in the sink and try again. This time it's not wattery. I got it right but it's still lumpy. I seive it and keep it in a mug that has a cover and keep it on the dining.

I quickly make the lemon mint tea and by the time I'm done with everything, it's 7:30. I'm going to be so late. I take a quick bath and get dressed as fast as I can.

I rush out and get into the car as the driver is waiting and he drives me to school.

Oh no!

I didn't put my pajamas in the right place neither did I wash the toilet. I'm so going to get in trouble. And I haven't even had anything. Ugh!