She did as she was told before going out to join her parents to eat

"My daughter. How were the lecturers? " asked Baba Mallam Audu

"It was fine. Alhamdulillah, " replied Tehzeeb

"That's good. May the Lord see you through"

"Ameen Baba" with that they ate their food in silence. Tehzeeb packs the dishes to the kitchen before she performs wudu and enters her room.

She was not in the mood to go out to gist with her parents today, because if she does, then they will know that something was bothering her, which she don't want them to know.

"Tehzeeb dear. Aren't you coming out?" Umma asked from outside her room

"No, Umma. I want to go through my books first. "

"Oh dear. You need to rest. It's not been long since you came back from school and you want to read again. Let's your brain rest for a while. "

"Hummm," she sighed before she replies "Okay Umma have heard you. But I don't think I can come out now. I need to rest. "

"It's okay, you need the rest. Goodnight, dear. "

"Night Umma," she replied, resting her head on her ramshackle bed. She was turning from side to side because sleep couldn't come and she was still bothered by how to tell her parents. She was like that before she slept off without knowing.

Having eight o'clock lectures was not fun nor easy, especially when you know the lecturer must attend the class and might write a test which makes you hurry up to school. That's the situation in which Tehzeeb was. She didn't sleep on time yesterday night and slept again after her fajir prayer while Umma didn't have any idea of her having eight o'clock lectures. Now she's running up and down to get dressed so she won't be late because she knows Professor Dennis will surely come to class. That man doesn't miss his class for anything.

She arrived before eight and hurriedly entered the class but was glad Prof. Was not there already. She saw Khady and walked to her because she saw an empty seat by her side.

"Babe. Why are you late?" Khady asked her immediately she was by her side

"Hummm, I slept off walahi."

"That's unlike you. What happened? Are you sick?" Khady said, concerned

"Geez Khady. Am not sick. I just couldn't sleep on time, that's all. "

"Are you sure?" Khady asked, raising her eyebrows

"I am, trust me. Was just reading, that's all. " Tehzeeb defended

"Well, if you say so. But if I find out you're hiding anything from me. You know the rest, " Khady threatened

"Yes, ma," Tehzeeb said, saluting Khady in a playful way. They talked for a while before Prof.Dennis entered the class

"Today we are going to talk about meat science. So who can tell me about Meat? " Prof said, waiting for one of the students to speak up.

Tehzeeb raised her hand. "Go on. Tell me what you know about meat. "

"Meat is a soft part of an animal body with the expectation of feace's and bone. Meat also comprises skeletal muscles, gastrointestinal tract, and reproductive system. " Tehzeeb answered

"Good. That's was an excellent explanation. You know I recall when my grandmother will give us meat 😂😂 that's days were so sweet, " he said, laughing.

He continued to talk about everything and nothing until the time was over before he left the class.

"Oh! Prof. " Khady sighed." He can talk nonstop if we let him, " complained Khady

"Yeah, he talks a lot, but you enjoyed his lectures," Tehzeeb said, smiling

"I do. But his always talking about his grandmother. Everything my grandmother this my grandmother that. I wonder when he will say his mother did these or that"

"Hahaha," Tehzeeb laugh "you're not serious. Leave that old man alone, Khadija. "

"Have heard you. Let get going before Bagere enters the class and humiliate us. "

"Don't worry, we won't be late." they both walk together to the class, holding their hands

"So as I told you earlier before about the excurtion have come to a conclusion about how much each and every one of should would pay. Each person will pay the sum of ten thousand naira. Hope that's clear. The payment should start next week we have no time to waste. " Bagere informed them before leaving the class since he was through with his lectures

"I don't know what wrong with this man. You didn't tell us where we're going and his telling us already to pay ten thousand naira like money has been plugged from the tree. " Khady the complainer said

"I don't know when you will start leaving the lecturers alone."

"Oh! Don't worry, not now. I will not stop any time soon unless they change"

"Allah shiryaki (May Allah change you)"

"Ameen. It's a prayer. Let's go home. I am famished, "

"Foody." Tehzeeb teased her

"Thank you. As long as I will get what I want, no problem. You can call me whatever you want, " she replied, smiling.

Tehzeeb was worried about the amount Bagere said but decided to let her parents know that keeping it away from them would change nothing, and she had no one apart from them. So  She made up her mind that if she reached home she would inform them.

Upon arriving at home, what she saw couldn't even allow her to speak

"Audu, I need my money. Am tired of your excuses all the time, " the man said

"Mallam Ilaro, I promised to pay you back. Give me from now till next week, I will personally bring it to you, " Mallam Audu Tehzeeb father said

"Oh! I won't take that again. Now or police station, " the man Mallam Audu called Mallam Ilori said.

Upon hearing police station, Tehzeeb surged quickly to Mallam Ilori's front and kneel down

"I beg you in the name of Allah don't report my father to the police. We promised to pay next week in Sha Allah. But Dan Allah (because of Allah), let's not involve the police. " Tehzeeb pleads still on her knees

"Hummm," Mallam Ilori sighed. "Have heard you and will not get the police involved, but if it exceeds the time, you said. Am sorry to say but I will surely involve police"

"Thank you. We will not disappoint you, and we will not exceed next week, " Tehzeeb said. Mallam Ilaro left without giving them a second glance. Mallam Audu rushed to her daughter's side

"Am sorry." Before he could continue, Tehzeeb hug him. "It's okay, Baba. I know you don't have it, but the Lord we serve is not asleep. He doesn't burn a soul with what he couldn't carry. Everything in life is a test from Allah. And we shall overcome it by his will and support. So don't think much about it. Let's just pray for the best, " Tehzeeb said to her father in a soothing voice

"Am blessed to have you as my child. You're more than everything every parent would pray for. May Allah continue to bless you, my child. "

"Ameen Baba" with all of these going on Umma was too weak to even console her husband. They don't want their daughter to find out about all their sufferings, but today, she witnessed it

"Umma," Tehzeeb called. "Are you okay? What's wrong?" She asked her mother

"Nothing, dear. Just a slight headache. "

"Oh, sorry. You need to lie down and rest for a well. I think it's will be better that way. "

"Okay. Go and freshen up. Your food is in the kitchen. "

"Okay, Umma. Let's go to your room first. " With that, she held her mother's arm and gently guided her inside the room.

She went to freshen up and pray. She couldn't eat. Everything that happened not long ago was just coming back to her mind. How can she tell her parents now when they have a lot to worry about. She was no longer bothered about the excurtion again. What was more important to her was how to raise the money her father was owing Mallam Ilaro because she couldn't afford to see her father being humiliated. When she sees that seating down will not solve her problem, she goes to perform wudu and start praying to her lord

*********

Another Banga. From frying pan to fire

What's going to happen now?

Thank you all for reading.

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