Not revised!!!

***

"What do you want to eat today? Dambu or alkubus?" Fatimah asked Maleekah as she was instructed by Sadiqu to ask Leek whatever she wanted to eat before cooking.

"I have zero appetite today. Just prepare groundnut pap for me when you're done cooking." Maleekah ordered, taking a glance at a book in her hand.

"Okay." Fatimah trudged out. She didn't like the way Leek was treating her like a child. Now if she talk, Sadiqu would be on her neck.

Fatimah started seiving granulated maize powder, washed it and transferred it into a two layered pot; pot to put water and a steamer at the top. Fatimah turned on the coal, blew the fire and set the water to boil. She grabbed her hijab and headed to Mariya's house to pluck moringa leaves which she would use in cooking the dambu.

Her younger brothers were at school. Inna has gone to the neighborhood as she said.

"I heard that your brother's wife is staying with you." Fatimah plucked a leaf and dust it off before putting it in a yellow and black lined nylon.

"Yeah." Fatimah replied, jumping to catch a full branch. Mariya helped her pluck more when she felt like Fatimah was not going to gist her. They finished plucking enough and Mariya decided to walk Fatimah out.

"I met Inna at Nasallah's place yesterday." Fatimah stood in her pace and looked at Mariya.

"Yeah..."

"What took you there? I thought I adviced you to stop going there?" Fatimah hissed, shaking her head rightway and leftway.

"I have no option Fatimah. In this lane it's only you and I that's left to be married as per our age mates. You're on the brighter side since at least you go to school what of me? All I do is to jump from Goggo's house to dandali at night." Mariya bitterly spoken, pitying herself.

"What help do you think Nasallah can offer to you? What does Nasallah has that you don't? Or did he have a pointed mouth to pray better than you?" Fatimah stopped to pick a big stone from the way. It's in the hadith that, the lowest form of sadaqah (charity) one will offer is removing harmful objects from streets. Such as seeing a thorn, nails, big stones or anything that will harm people. Sadaqah erase one's sins apart from getting additional reward. It prevents arrogance and increase one's faith; after all, the most honoured of humans in the eyes of Allah are the ones with the highest taqwa and faith.

"But you've got no reason to be furious. I met your mother there and I heard him telling her something." Mariya peered at Fatimah who was seething in rage.

"Do I care?" Fatimah dismissed her.

"But you can help your brother since it has to do with him. But since you don't want to hear it's fine. Nasallah has made it clear to me that I will get married soon. He said you're also going to get married but unfortunately, you will have to face more difficulties. " Fatimah didn't know when the nylon on her hand went downward. Mariya was a fool.

She squatted to pick it up with the thought of what Mariya said trying to settle in a part of her brain. She wasn't allowing that falsy in her mind.

"When did Nasallah turned to the lord of the universe?" She asked almost reaching her house.

"Do you always have to blurt something hurtful whenever you open your mouth? He's not a foreseer. He's not a witch, he's just a servant of God that help us see through things." Fatimah hummed under her breath.

"You should go back home. Thanks."

"I will come and see you later. Now I'm going to Zuwairah's house to design her hands with henna." Fatimah waved at her without saying a word. She increased her step's length when she remembered that the water she set to boil might have reduced in quantity by then.

****

Inna and Maleekah were having a chat when Sadiqu came back without his crutches. He had attended his final treatment session at the hospital. Both of them rose to their feet and hurried to welcome him.

"Masha Allah. This is beautiful." Inna cooed, checking him out. Sadiqu placed his hands on Inna's shoulder and smiled.

"It's all due to your prayers Inna." Leek sulked. She felt left out. Sadiqu and Inna walked to the mat they were sitting earlier.

"Uh, welcome."

"How're you faring?"

"Alhamdulillah." She answered coldly looking at both Inna and him. Inna was busy checking out his leg. There were some evident scars but it doesn't mean anything since he could walk properly. Scars aren't sign of weakness. They scream strength; an evidence that one was once in a difficult phase and was able to overcome it.

"When you're done, your food is inside." Maleekah throated with a groggy voice.

"I've cooked your favorite son." Inna chirped in.

"Let me refresh up first." He stood on his feet and went to their side. Sadiqu wasn't ready for any type of misunderstanding between the two women he held dear.

Leek followed him and made sure she jammed the door.

Inna bit her lower lip with a smirk.

"Inna!" Waliy ran fast into the house shouting Inna's name. Inna was jolted out of her thought by his constant yell.

"Some rich people are in uncle's house with big big cars. They brought foodstuffs and they said it's for Fatima's marriage. Inna including indomie!" He jumped in sheer happiness. On contrary, his mother was glued to the ground. What does this man mean? Who did he think he was? Well, she wasn't leaving him do things the way he wanted them.

"Go and bring my veil." She dismissed his heedless explanations and exaggerations.

****

Mimi stared blankly at the ceiling as she felt like loosing it all. She was in distress for the whole week because she couldn't find the reason why Aliyy will divorce her. It left her encumbered. She was dying to find out if she was a terrible person. She remembered him telling her that she was a nice person.

But why the divorce? If not because the cutter and destroyer of pleasure; the death had taken him away, she will have been a divorcee by then.

"Mimi I will be back late evening. Don't forget to eat." Maama stood elegantly in front of her. Mimi caught a glimpse of her hand, stashed with rings. Maama was still the same.

"Where?" She asked, looking at the way Maama was glowing. Maama could win a miss world title.

"I'm attending a meetup or rather a reunion." Mimi nodded and wished her a safe drive. Maama made Mimi to promise her that she was going to eat.

As soon as Maama left, Mimi felt the urge to talk to someone. Her heart hammered in her chest when she opened his contact. What will she tell him? Will he even know she was the one since he has changed his number? She was having the answers to those if only she calls him.

Mimi dialed the number.

Sadiqu has just dropped at the market where he will buy ram, when his phone rang. With no valid reason, he felt a bit scared or rather nervous to pick the call. He let it rang off before he called back. Mimi didn't pick when he called.

She called him for her own purpose so, she won't use his airtime.

"Assalamu alaikum." He greeted as he picked the call.

"Wa'alaikumus salam." This being answered, she lost her speech.

"You?" He asked, checking in the screen again. He was really surprised because it had been long since they talked. Even in the group, they don't talk at all. Well, the last time they had a call was when Mimi was in need of blood.

"Your pickup line all the time. Yes me, good afternoon." She chuckled although there was a thick distance between them. The words were left to float in the air before the next were being pronounced.

Sadiqu took a deep breath and gulped something. He was extremely ashamed. One, he didn't call to congratulate her when she conceived. He heard she lost her husband. That too, he didn't call to console her.

What a disgrace!

"Umm... Fine... Ummm... I..." He stammered rubbing his head really fast.

"What's wrong with you? How's Maleekah?" Sadiqu released his breath.

"She's fine. How're you doing? It sounded silly but he had no option.

"Alhamdulillah. I called to ask you if you can go to Bauchi next month. There will be a meeting with the governor about the foundations. I want you to represent me."

"I... Let me talk with Leek first."

"No, forget it. Mu'azzam can equally do it. Thanks." Mimi cut the call in annoyance. Who dare he do that? He honestly hurted her pride. Why won't she just forget about him? Psst. This man is extremely annoying.

Sadiqu stared back at his phone. He knew he had messed up again. He kicked a stone and hissed.

****

Jameel's hand froze under the desk before him. His body has been shaking for the past few minutes. It was the final day of their interrogation before they are being executed. Others have undertaken their finals the previous days and now it was his turn.

"If your life is to be rewound, will you rather live a lowkey life or be an insurgent?" What type of question was that? Even a newborn would choose the former.

"I will rather be born blind, deaf, cripple and handicapped." Jameel blurted.

"Easy there dude," Robinson interrupted, marching forward Jameel.

"What did you said so?"

"Like I told you before, I was forced to be among them. I had no idea what type of people they were. And when I found out, I wanted to leave, badly." Jameel's eyes were moisty.

"What did you do when you realised you can't escape?" Jack, partially removed his spectacle and cleaned it then put it back.

Jameel looked at the men. "The least and highest I did was to remove implanted bombs and stop attacks by manipulating. I had also free some of the abducted youths." Officer Daniel stopped writing what he was writing and clapped thrice, impressed.

Officer Johnson; the mentalist from the other room spoke into his microphone for all the detectives to hear via their airpods.

"Jameel is remorseful. He doesn't like the life he was subjected to. If he was given a chance, he would have escape. He is also broken —his eyes are all shades of heartbreak and emotions." All the officers diverted their gazes into his eyes.

Johnson continued.

"He's also a devoted fellow. From the CCTV cameras we planted in his room, I have collected them and saw the videos. I have seen him breakdown during his prayers at midnights. He normally spend three-quarter of the night praying; which others do not. They are not regretful towards their actions. In fact, you all are witnesses that they said they wanted to die and go directly to Jinnah." He quited for a second to catch some breaths before he went on.

"Sometimes he prays out loud. I think we have to involve Islamic scholars on his case before the execution. Ask him one more question officer Liza and we call it a day. I want us to meet after this session so that we will review the videos once again. Thank you." The officer, Elizabeth Solomon turned to look at Jameel whose eyes were closed. She dragged a chair with her and toed to where Jameel was.

She was a woman around her forties with a blonde type of hair. She was dressed in a jean trouser and shirt that hugged her feminine figure. Matthew's eyes fell on her curves.

Dipping her well manicured fingers into her pocket, she brought out a very small camera and pasted it around Jameel.

"Jamerl," Jameel uplifted his head. He wondered what was so difficult about pronouncing his name. The officers have different ways of calling him.

"I'm Liza, once again." She extended her hand for a shake.

"Liza, straight to the point!" Matthew barked orders. He had a secret crush on her and he hated it when she was bring friendly with other men. Liza was blind to his gestures and shots. She thought he was always barking orders because he was above her in the office.

"You call yourselves Mujahidun which according to google, it said it means 'strivers' what are you striving for exactly?" Other officers nodded.

"They call themselves strivers in the path of Allah but the truth is they are strivers in the path of the devil. Islam is peace, it's the religion of peace. When we greet we say 'peace be upon you'. What is the relationship of killing people and peace?" Liza raised her well penciled eyebrow.

"I think you're the one to answer that question to us Jamerl." She set the trap.

"There's no relation obviously. I told you I'm not among them and I will never be. If one of them dies in that faith then I'm sorry I don't think they will go to Jannah. I'm no God but that's my statistics." Jameel shook his head.

"You're saying If you will be given a chance, you will live a normal life without ever going back to that group."

"Exactly." Jameel retreated.

"Thank you for your cooperation." She rose to her feet and faced her colleagues. They all nodded in satisfaction while Jameel was retaken back to his room.

"It's going to be tough." One lamented while others laughed and all heed to Johnson's office for the final review.

****

Inna and Maleekah were having dinner when Leek felt a sharp pain from her back. It was an excoriating pain that made her felt like she was about to be sliced into two. Her under belly cramped too and suddenly it started becoming unbearable.

Inna didn't notice the way Leek was bagging the feeling on her face due to darkness.

"Inna it's here," she managed to cry out. Inna put on her torch and shone it on Leek's face.

"Kai, Sadi and Wali go and call your brother out. Fatimah go to neighborhood and call Laraba the local nurse." Inna quickly held Maleekah and helped her stood up to their room.

Sadiqu was in the house the next minute. Without waiting to hear Inna's explanations, he held Leek's hand and put her in her car. He took the box she had been gathering stuffs and tossed it at the backseat. Inna stopped to say Laraba was on her way but he didn't heard her.

He didn't even wait for her when he started driving out to the town.

The pain became unbearable for her as he drove.

"Will you be fast? Oh my God! Please drive fast." She managed to bark off his ears. Sadiqu was literally loosing his mind as he drove. The sound of her wail was draining the little energy he had. Now he wished he had came along with Inna.

After fifty minutes of unbearable pain, Leek was wheeled into the hospital.  Soon, she was taken to the labour room where she spent another fifty minutes times two, wailing and crying.

Sadiqu went out of the ward and sat with his head sandwiched between his leg. He was crying because of the way Leek was. He had no idea about what the labour seemed like until that day.

After some minutes of freshair breath, he went back.

"Maleekah we can do it. Just endure a little." Sadiqu chewed a portion of date and put it in her mouth. He didn't know whether it was true or not;  that dates help during labour. He only knew that Maryam, mother of Jesus took dates when she was giving birth to Isaah alayhissalam.

"Will you just leave me alone and stop giving me some stupid herbs?" Maleekah hissed while wiggling.

"It's no herb. It's a date. Now repeat this prayers after me." And so, they started praying until when he felt her grip tightening on his palm and she said the last part of the prayer with a loud, and strong voice; bringing in to life, their bundle of joy.

Sadiqu removed his handkerchief from his pocket and wiped up the beads of sweat on Leek's forehead. He was also sweating as if they did the labour together. He walked out for the second time. This time around, he went out to cry because what he witnessed almost made him faint. He just watched the struggle between death and life.

Maleekah burst into cries after he went out. The first person that crawled to her mind was Ammi. So this was what Ammi went through? How do all women manage to give birth to up to twelve? Well, in her own case, she was done. Once and for all. She will not go through this ever again. Not even in her wildest dreams.

She used to think it was easier than what people used to say. It turned out to be harder than how they described it. Leek shuddered as she cried, if the pain was this much, how would death be? She honestly thought she was going to die but with the will of Allah, she's here. Verily, the mother deserved to be hold dearer than everyone.

"Congratulations sir. A baby girl." The nurse handed him the cleaned and dressed baby. Leek was also getting cleaned at the moment.

His hands trembled as he collected the little Maleekah in his arms. A smile graced his lips when she cried. Sadiqu and the nurse walked to where Maleekah was laying.

Her eyes have become deeper in their crease. Sadiqu pitied her.

"Congratulations to us. Thank you for this wonderful gift." He squeezed her hand and was about hugging her when Inaa and others came in. He had even forgotten that he called them.

He gave Maleekah the child and excused himself to call her aunties.

"I'm so sorry." She kissed the baby's forehead and cheeks. She stared at her, taking in her features. For now, Maleekah couldn't differentiate whether she looked like her or like Sadiqu. The only thing was, she was fair and covered with ample silky hair; such that her eyebrows were almost joining together.

Her love for the little one in her arms started growing bigger with each breath she took. She felt the urge to shield her from all harm and have her protected in her arms. She might be saying she loves Sadiqu more than everybeing else, but right now, it had all been transfered to the baby.

She waited for him to come in so that they will start debating on whom love the new one better. Inna cleared her voice and brought her out of her reverie. Leek gave her a weak smile and handed her the baby.

*****

A very lengthy one and kinda filler.
I'm not proud of this chapter to be honest.

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Assalamu alaikum.