"Khady" Tehzeeb shouted immediately it's Dawn on her that it was her friend that slapped Ibrahim, because she's the last person she expects to see, but before she could say something else Khady raised her hand up a gesture for her to keep quiet

"Ke bani da lokachin ki(you I don't have your time)" Khady said facing Tehzeeb before she turns to face Ibrahim that's was looking at her dumbstruck "Kai Kuma Mara mutunchi (and you that don't have respect), are you a human or what?. It's a shame and disgrace to call you a man, because a man can't raise his hands to slap someone, and that a lady for that matter. Don't you have respect for your mother or what?" Khady asked, fumming with rage

"How dare you compare yourself with my mother?, You filthy things," Ibrahim said, agitated

"Filthy ubanka (Filthy your father), I can see you don't have proper upbringing or moreover the money you had have gone into your thick skull, that's why your brain is malfunctioning that you can't differentiate between black and white" Khady want to continue when Tehzeeb intervene

"Khady, stop it already," Tehzeeb shouted at her friend

"Not today and just shot up because am not talking to you, when am ready for you I will let you know"Khady said making Tehzeeb mute before she turned to Ibrahim again "and you without doubt your the useless Ibrahim that think the world revolves around him just because of the little change you're having, and oh! Let's I forget it's not yours" Khady said mockingly "it's could have been better if I don't know that you're not the owner of the company" Khady continues "I wonder how you could have feel or walk on others if the company was yours but unfortunately it's not yours and your misbehaving. And for the slap that's just a welcome greatings from me to you, now that you have known and see me, I think it's better you stay clear out of my way and that of Tehzeeb own, if not your name will be sorry. Kana takama da kudin ubanka baka da na Kan ka Wawa kawai( feeling proud of your father's money while you don't have yours, your a fool)" Khady take a little step closer to Ibrahim before she stopped and continue talking "don't think am afraid of you, am not Tehzeeb that will take this trash with you. I wonder why she's even letting off the hook easily while she could have handled you single handed, but nevertheless am glad I was able to slap you, because have been pregnant with your issues even before I met or set my eyes on you. I thought I could have seen a human being not knowing it's an animal dressed in a human clothes, Amma Kai anyi assara haihuwa anan(but, there's lost of child here), I wonder how you're being treated at home" Khady wanted to continue when Ibrahim raised his hand to slap her but she cought it immediately "not even in your wildest dreams think that will be possible. Are you blind or what? Did I look like a fool to you or what? You must be dumped from grade one. This should be the last time you will raise your hand to slap someone in your life Cox if you do, " she laughed evily." I am sorry to say you won't like what you will see next. Human with no brain, animal with no sight nor vision" Khady dropped his hand and face Tehzeeb "and you hands down walk over let's go" Khady said holding Tehzeeb hand about to leave when Tehzeeb open her mouth to apologize to Ibrahim "don't you dare say sorry to him. Are you insane or what?. This is not the Tehzeeb I know. You endure everything, but you don't allow people to walk over you. So please wake up if you're dreaming or sleeping. Gosh, you're annoying me, " Khady said angrily before she dragged Tehzeeb along with her. To say Ibrahim was shocked was an understatement

"That's just the beginning, if you don't change this your idiotic attitude. Am glad someone can walk over you. And mind you, don't you dare take any drastic decisions, action or send people to deal with them. I would find out, and if i do, you know the rest. Nonsense. " Ibrahim heard that from know where, which with no doubt it was his father, which means he saw everything that unfolds here without intervening. Ibrahim was boiling with rage, but he knows very well not to try his father's patient he can do the undoable

Immediately, they were outside and out of reach that no one could see them. Tehzeeb released her hand from that of Khady's hold. "What did you just do over there?" Tehzeeb asked, looking at Khady with sharp eyes.

"And what did you think?" Khady asked in the same tone Tehzeeb used "you see I get it quite alright that you work in there company and at thesame time you work under him, but that does not give him the license to walk over you or do whatsoever he wished to do with you. For Allah's sake, wake up Tehzeeb,aren't you tired of people walking over you?" Khady asked wrathful."Quite alright, you did not ask me to slap him or talk back at him like that, I know you did not invite me. But damn it Tehzeeb I can't just stand and watch some fool shouting at you, on top of that he slapped you, or don't tell me I should have leave him?, You know I can't and am out of here. Am tired of you, am tired of everything about you, infact am tired of the friendship since you no longer value me" Khady said finally and stomped out on Tehzeeb who was dumped struck from Khady outburst. Tehzeeb immediately revived from her shock state and hurriedly followed Khady before she hail a cap. Tehzeeb grabbed Khady's arm, but Khady threw her hand away

"Don't you dare touch me, you can go to hell for all I care. Am tired of always being the bad person, am tired of seeing people do what they dim fit to you, but since you're fine with that, let me go"Khady said at the verge of tears because she knows deep down she can't do without Tehzeeb

"Am sorry" Tehzeeb said In a shaking voice "am sorry I didn't choose to be walk over, am sorry for everything and most importantly am sorry for shouting at you a while ago, I know you were just trying to be there for me"Tehzeeb said in tears. She couldn't hold it anymore, she was tired of everything, she was tired of being volunerable but she didn't know what to do anymore. She has reached her elastic limit that she didn't care anymore. Khady hugged her, and both of them cried to their heart content. Khady knows her friend needs her, but she's pretending to be strong. She knows she's going through a lot, but she's not ready to ask for a rendering hand or a shoulder to cry on. She always hides behind the facade that shows she's strong, which she's not

"It's okay, dear. Am sorry for saying all those things to you, am sorry for shouting at you too and am sorry for not reaching out for you when you needed me must" Khady tries to be strong not for anything but for Tehzeeb. Khady noticed Tehzeeb was weak, so she saw a spot for resting and held her firmly before walking over to seat

"What happened? Where have you been?" This were the first question Khady asked immediately they sat down

"Hummm, no where," comes Tehzeeb replies

"Not again, Tehzeeb. Let it out. Don't just keep it all to yourself. By doing that, it will hurt a lot more than before. You know am always there for you, even if I can't do anything for you, I can give you my shoulder to cry on, my time and ear to listen to all your worries, even if I have no power to change it but atleast I can listen" Khady tries to make Tehzeeb open up

"Umma had been sick for some days now,"

"Innalillahi wa'innailaihir raji'un. When, how, and where?" Khady asked, taken back by Tehzeeb out burst "since when have Umma been sick that you didn't care to tell me?" Khady said angrily but tried to tame her anger because she knew that not what Tehzeeb needed now but would give her the piece of her mind when everything was settled

"Am sorry, it's almost a week," Tehzeeb answered, and that did the trick because Khady could not keep her anger at Bay any longer

"But you didn't care to call or inform me because you think it's not important or am not dim fit to know" Khady said and Tehzeeb was about to talk but Khady didn't allow her "don't give me the excuses of being occupied or busy. You have the chance to come to work, at least five minutes of your work won't cause you a problem if you called to tell me. If not, because I come to check up on you because your number has not been going through this, how you could have kept it to yourself. " Khady voice out

"Am sorry, I know, have wrong you, but you know how it is when Umma is sick, I tend to forget about anything."

"I know, but still yet you should have called or texted me."

"I know, bu... but"Tehzeeb stammered."I just don't know what to do anylonger, it's like Baba is sick too, but I can't put my finger on what's wrong with him, Tehzeeb said crying already

"Shhhhh, it's okay, dear. Everything will be fine,don't stress yourself over little things. "

"What if everything is not fine?" Tehzeeb asked weakly

"Everything will be fine, just let be prayerful and have faith in our Lord," Khady said, using her hand to soothe Tehzeeb back

"Thank you, kawa," Tehzeeb whispered, which Khady smiled a little because it's been long since she had heard that, which she missed it. Khady was comforting Tehzeeb that she slept off without knowing. Khady didn't wake her because she knows she has not been sleeping properly because of her mother's sickness and work stress

Tehzeeb move a little bit to adjust but when she felt she's not on her bed rather on something hard she jack up "calm down babe, it's me" Khady said "you slept off and I didn't bother to wake you up, I know you need some rest"

"Thank you, I feel at ease a little bit. So why did you decide to come here and not go home?" Tehzeeb asked

"Well firstly I know you won't be at home, secondly I missed you so much and thirdly I wanted to see the idiot that have been tormenting your life, that is it at simple as that"

"Thanks for coming. I think we should start going because I want to go home and cook so I can check on Umma. " Tehzeeb stands up, adjusting her clothes

"It's okay. I will go home with you then from there we will go to the hospital together."

"Thank you, Khady,"

"Oh God, stop this, thank you, thank you of a thing. It's irritating me already, " and Tehzeeb didn't say it again but smile, and they both left

Khady helped Tehzeeb to cook and arrange the house before they left for the hospital. Upon their arrival, Tehzeeb heart beat increased , and she stopped and touched her chest, saying some supplications "hey what wrong?" Khady asked

"I don't know, it's just that my heart beat have increased than the normal speed"

"Don't worry, in Sha Allah, nothing will happened" and Khady holds her hand, giving her assurance that everything will be okay, which Tehzeeb is glad with that small gesture. They ambled inside and saw a lot of people gathering at something, which Tehzeeb and Khady shake it off thinking it's just a normal gossip. "Umma," Tehzeeb said immediately she saw her mother seating down on the bed alone. "Why are you alone? Where's Baba?" Tehzeeb asked in one breath

"Hey, calm your horses, we just came in, leave the poor woman alone," Khady said, giving Tehzeeb a Stern look. "Umma ya jiki(how is your health)?" Khady finally got to ask her

"Am fine, dear. What of your mother?" Umma asked

"She's fine. I just found out today that you were admitted. But in Sha Allah, if I reach home, I will tell her, " Khady, smile

"It's okay, dear. I'm fine now. I will be discharged today that what your father went to attend to"

Tehzeeb whined, "But Umma, when I asked of him, you didn't tell me," Tehzeeb pouted

"Yes, I didn't, because you just came in and start bombering me with questions" Umma smile faintly which got Tehzeeb to smile to because she's happy her mother is finally fit and would be discharged today. They sat in silence waiting for Mallam Audu to come back with the discharge papers, but seconds turned into minutes, minutes into hours, and his still not yet back, which made Tehzeeb on alert. Tehzeeb was about to open her mouth to talk when the door to the room was pushed open, and she saw her Umma's doctor, but the way he looked scream danger

"Hu... Humm"the doctor stammered not knowing what to say, but he composed him self and put on his doctor mode "Mrs I think we need to check you out for the last time before you're discharged" he said finally

"Is something wrong?" Tehzeeb could not help but ask

"Nothing, I just want to be sure everything is fine before discharging her to avoid any complications," the doctor replied

"Oh! Okay, " Tehzeeb answered,Not that she believes what the doctor said. "Then go on," she gave him the go ahead look

"No, we should go to the theatre room."

"What?" Tehzeeb asked alerm." Why the theatre room? You can just check her here since Baba is already getting the paperwork ready for discharge. "

"I know but it's my work to know that my patience are in good condition before being discharged" and Tehzeeb was about to speak when Umma intervene"let him do his work, or are you going to teach him his work?" Umma asked, giving Tehzeeb the look of "don't say anything again" look, which Tehzeeb sighed, defeated

"Alright then. We're coming with you. " Tehzeeb took a glance look at the doctor before averting her gaze to Khady , and she nodded in agreement

"Alright then, let's go." Tehzeeb heart was beating in her ribcage as if a bomb would explode any moment from now, but she kept her cool and followed suit. Immediately, they arrived at the theatre door . Her head began to turn in an unknown way. She didn't know what to feel again, but she knew something is not right. The doctor hesitated before opening the door, and when he does he was covering their view until they reached the bed where someone was lying down. The doctor shifted, and they all gasped in terror. Umma couldn't speak, Tehzeeb was glued in her spot while Khady tried her possible best to get hold of her trembling body.

With shaking legs, Umma walked close to the bed. Her hand was trembling, but she used her hand to touch his face and tried to compose a simple sentence but it's was difficult. "What happened?" She asked no one in particular

"Am sorry Habiba" Mallam Audu said inaudibly "please forgive me" he was trying his possible best to talk because it's was difficult for him to comprehend a simple sentence "don't cry for me, pray for me and take care of our daughter. I know there's a big challenge ahead of you both, but stay strong" Mallam Audu continue which Tehzeeb walk to his bed with shaky legs and trembling lips "Baba" Tehzeeb said looking at all the machines and tube surrounding her father

"Am sorry I won't get to see your Nikkah, be strong and respect your husband."

"Baba, stop saying all this. It's not the end of the world. I know you will get better, just hold in there, " Tehzeeb said, trying to reassure herself about what can not be changed

"Am sorry" and Mallam Audu begins to cough vigorously which made the monitors begin to beep loudly, he hold both his wife and daughter hand before saying his last words "Laa 'ilaaha 'illallaahu(There is none worthy of worship but Allah)" he said before taking his last breathe. Tehzeeb was just staring at her father's dead body while Umma was numb, Khady was already in tears. Tehzeeb used her hand to close her father's eyes, saying the prayer when closing the deceased eyes

"Allaahummaghfir li (name of the person) warfa' darajatahu fil-mahdiyyeena, wakhlufhu fee 'aqibihi fil-ghaabireena , waghfir-lanaa wa lahu yaa Rabbal-'aalameena, wafsah lahu fee qabrihi wa nawwir lahu feehi(O Allah, forgive [name of the person] and elevate his station among those who are guided. Send him along the path of those who came before, and forgive us and him, O Lord of the worlds. Enlarge for him his grave and shed light upon him in it)". And heaven breaks open because after hearing that, Mrs Habiba (Umma) collapsed while Khady shouted, "Innalillahi wa'innailaihir raji'un" Tehzeeb was glued in her position looking at both her parents lifeless body

*********
In Remembrance of My Daddy (Sayuti Ladan), Alhaji Abdullahi (Estu Nitsa) and Alhaji Abdulateef Alkali ( My Grandfather's) and all the Deceased. May Allah continue to forgive all your shortcomings and grant you Aljannatul Firduas. May we all meet in Jannah

What did you think about the surprised that it's not Ibrahim's father that slapped him rather Khady.

And the demise of Mallam Audu Tehzeeb's father

Plsss comment, vote, add share

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