Believe it or not, Cinderella didn't suffer quite much as Maryam has! Cinderella didn't get beaten up by her step mother whereas Maryam has gotten beatings from her step mother while her mother watched without doing a thing. What could her mother do? Her own mother is scared of the co-wife. The woman is old enough to be her own mother, how can she confront her all because of a child who isn't their husband's to begin with. The woman could easily get her beaten up too. Staying put is all she does when things like this happens.
    
     Unlike Cinderella who had to do alot of chores only, Maryam gets beaten up by both her younger and older siblings in addition to the chores she had to do. Exacting her revenge on the younger ones would attract the consequences of getting beaten up by their older ones. So, she doesn't even bother defending herself. The day she tried standing up for her right, she gotten beaten up badly. For that reason, she decided to swallow it all,  as such she's successfully turned to a door mat.

     Cinderella got the privilege to have the mice and blue birdies as friends. They kept her company and assisted her in whatever way they could. Unlike Maryam who has only her thoughts as company. Non of the other kids bothered to know if she was fine, heck she was invisible to them, besides she's not Baba's daughter. This information is something each child knows.

     Cinderella also had only Anastasia and Drizella to contend with for siblings. Maryam has quite a number of them. Mama(her stepmother) had given birth to seven kids before she was brought to this world. Mama didn't stop there when her husband had gotten married to Mommy(Maryam's mother), with every pregnancy of Maryam's mother,  Mama got pregnant too. Maryam has four siblings already. Trust Mama to have additional four children too, making the sum of Alhaji Ali Matazu's children to be fifteen.

     Finally, Cinderella was lucky to have a fairy god-mother at her disposal and had ended up getting married to the prince. There's no Prince coming to Maryam's rescue for now, the poor girl is twelve years old. She is in junior secondary school one. There's still a long way to go, but on the bright side is that Maryam didn't get that mean Lucifer of a cat to torment her.

Maryam arranged her textbooks in her bag. She had handpicked the subjects they have for the day. It was an advice from one of Mama's daughters. She had seen how Maryam kept stacking all her text and note books on her bag every blessed day. Not like she relayed the advice nicely. She spat it out irritatingly telling her she might break her spine if she keeps stuffing all her books in her bag. Maryam was grateful for the advice nonetheless.

     "I hope you've arranged your siblings' books" her mother asked as she laid on the longest sofa like she always does. Maryam wonders if she ever gets up from the sofa  when they leave for school. They always meet her on that same sofa, in that same position when they return from school. Maryam nodded. She had done that last night not wanting to be preoccupied with work this morning.

     Alhaji Ali Matazu is a retired Air marshal. The man had secured connections in every part of the country. He is also into politics now. He helps fund campaign because the man had money coming from different businesses he's into and ofcourse several shares he's bought in major companies around the country over the years. It's evident they won't be getting poor anytime soon unless if Allah wills it ofcourse.
Maryam allowed herself take in a deep breath thrice before leaving her mother's part of the house and ofcourse it began.

    "Maryam! I can't find my bag"

    "Maryam where is my homework"

    "Maryam I want my tea"

    "Maryam the toast is too dry"

    "Maryam my sock is Missing"

    "Maryam get my bag from my room"

    "Maryam go pick my bag and take it to car"

    "Maryam my pencils are blunt"

    "Maryam...."

    "Maryam..."

    "Maryam..."

Same way they screamed Cinderella's name in the beginning of the movie. Maryam's name gets screamed every minute, each lazy child demanding for one thing or the other. They each grew up to Maryam being available. The worst part is, they aren't even thankful to her. They've all made it seem like it's her job, her duty, her role. Even though Alhaji Ali Matazu employed a chef and personal maid for each wife. The maids would clean their various assigned wife's part of the house, then they'd take turns in tidying up the living room and the kitchen. On weekends when the house maids know the work might be unbearable they would bring a family member to help, but Maryam still had to do alot of things.

All the children going to school chattered on the gigantic mahogany dinning table. Ya Tahir and Adda Tanzeel were showing each other what one would suspect as either chats or photos of their classmates. They're twins and are both in SS3. Their faces are always glued to their phones, giggling about one thing or another.

In SS1 is Ya Nabil. He's always glued to his books, a meanie ofcourse but atleast reading takes most of his time.
Adda Hidaya is in Jss3. She's a few Months older than Maryam. She had been a baby when Maryam was born. Just a year difference yet Maryam isn't allowed to call the girl by her name.
The oldest three aren't even around to make Maryam's life miserable, they used to though but the first born, Adda Tasneem is very married with five kids already. Trust her to be like her mother, giving birth every year if possible. Ya Shahid is married too. To an extremely nice person who Maryam admires. Her name is Izzatu, she's given birth to a daughter who is an angel like her mother. Then the last of the trio_Abbah is not in Nigeria. Just last night, she heard his mother crying on the phone, begging one of her various relatives there to go bail him out from the police station. He had been drunk driving. Maryam believes it's a mistake sending him there. He's been there for a while now yet no news about graduating. His father doesn't even talk about him anymore. Maryam believes his older siblings are the ones taking care of him.

The last eight are in sync with each other. There's a few month difference amongst themselves. Each child older than the other with a month or two.

Noorie, Aliyah, faheem and little Anas are Maryam's half siblings. Noorie is in jss 1, Aliyah primary 5 faheem primary 3 and little Anas still at home with their mother.

Zarah, Amina, ummusalma and little Isah belong to mama. Each child a month or two younger than the former kids. They're all in the same class though. Mama likes to show how smart her children are. Maryam steadied her steps as she headed to the front door. Thankfully it's a double door, if not she would have not been able to pass through it with everyone's bag on her shoulders. She staggered and wobbled a bit before successfully opening the door.

The children tapped one another when they saw how she was staggering and wobbling around. She's fallen times without number and it never gets old because they'd laugh until they couldn't anymore.
They all groaned in disappointment when she exited the living room successfully. It would have been a good laugh, but she could fall tomorrow and they are pretty sure they would enjoy it like they always do.

Baba Musa the driver slid out of the mini bus quickly seeing how Maryam was at the mercy of those bags. He removed each one and arranged them  in the booth of car accordingly. He stared at Maryam pitifully, it's no news the child is ugly duckling in the family. She's the odd one out. He could bet each child is eating happily inside whereas she's standing here in  this cold December watching him stack bags in the booth.
     "Aren't you going in?" He asked but she did not reply. The poor child is already lost in thoughts. He tapped her, startling her ofcourse. She grinned sheepishly showcasing her prominent dimples. He pointed to the house. She got the message and ran back into the house.

The children were about to start with their numerous demands again when Alhaji Ali Matazu stopped them. He was seated on the chair with his children when he noticed how they tapped each other when Maryam was passing with the heap of bags. He was disappointed in how each one of them found her suffering amusing.
He's always reprimanded their mothers but non of them seemed to have heed to his advice. He might have neglected the child a bit, but he didn't think her own mother would be reluctant to defend her own child.

     "Maryama, come eat your breakfast" he ordered softly, which she obeyed. She munched her bread quickly knowing the children will complain about how she had made them late if she adds a minute to the initial time they're supposed to leave home.

     "Eat slowly. You'll choke" he cautioned but Maryam's attention was far gone. Her eyes kept darting to the gigantic wall clock placed at the end of the wall in the living room. She picked up the jug of cold water and diluted her tea knowing she has just three minutes before they throw insults at her in the bus. She was standing already. She placed the cup in her mouth and finished the tea as fast as she could she to her mother's part of the house to pick her socks and shoes.

Her mother laid on the sofa in the same position Maryam had left her moments ago. Atleast she had changed the channel to Telemundo. It shows she actually moved.

     "Please get me water" Maryam's attention darted to the wall once again. She had a minute and thirty seconds left. She dropped her socks and moved towards the fridge.

     "Don't forget to dilute it. I might be coming down with a flu" She cautioned clearing her throat. It's a miracle she hasn't come down with the asthma because of her intake of cold water. The woman could drink cold water in snow. She mixed the water to her mother's satisfaction.

     "Thank you! Noorie forgot her project. Make sure you pick it from the backyard. Your sister is very forgetful" she said laughing alone. Maryam swallowed her irritation with a smile. She bade her mother farewell before running to the backyard. Noorie's ugly human face sculpture rested on a bench. She picked it up and ran to the bus. Noorie is in fine arts while Maryam the catering craft class.

     "We're late!" Noorie exclaimed shamelessly pointing at the digital clock attached to the car. The grumbling became louder. Maryam ignored them as Baba Musa helped her keep the sculpture so it does not get destroyed. She started wearing her socks wondering why Noorie was actually named that. The girl is complete opposite of her name, she brings nothing but sadness and darkness into Maryam's life. She's the chief instigator. The girl always made sure Maryam was excluded from every single children play. On days when the others considered Maryam to be part of them, Noorie would come with her sly attitude and turn everyone against her. To say she's her half sister. It baffles Maryam where all the hate is coming from.

     By now Baba Musa had gotten to the school gate. The dropped down from the mini-bus in an orderly fashion. They all carried their bags except Ya Tahir. Maryam knew the routine. She's to take his bag to his class. She picked his bag pack and mounted it on her back, then dragged her own trolley bag and headed to Ya Tahir's class. 
 
     Initially, Maryam wasn't in the same school as the other kids. She attended a government school slightly close to the house. Unlike the good old days where pupils actually get taught well in government schools, that doesn't happen anymore. She was actually lucky to understand and speak English because of the kids at home. Other than that Maryam knows little or nothing in school.
Maryam's mother, had to have a little talk with her husband to get him to change Maryam's school. She resumed this school this term and had become popular in no time, she's the only Matazu who doesn't bear the Matazu name. That brought about questions and voila! Everyone knew her to be the other woman's daughter.

     The bell signifying the beginning of classes rang and the school gate was closed immediately she got in. Today being a Tuesday meant there would be no assembly. She pedestrianized her way to Ya Tahir's class. They were all chattering since the teacher was yet to arrive. She met Ya Tanzeel and her minions giggling and whispering things to each other. Maryam had always wondered what they talked about when they do that. They'll all keep mute once you get too close to them. She trailed to his seat and dropped his bag. She noticed the certain person who always has his head bent on the table as always. He's never talking to anyone. Always sleeping or whatever it is he's doing.

     Maryam headed to the door, but one of Tanzeel's minions tripped her and she fell face flat. Her little scream had startled the sleeping one. He sat up quickly, but laid back down when he saw the Barbies laughing at the little girl. Girl drama is not his forte.

     Maryam ignored the pain in her head, she stood up, dusted her uniform then threaded to her class. Things like this don't bother her at all anymore. She's never left that class untouched. An insult, shove and on really bad days like today a fall is always thrown into her way. When she got to her class, her teacher was already standing by the board. She eyed Maryam warily before pointing to her seat. Maryam quickly ran to her seat ignoring the Snickers from Noorie, Zarah and their minions.
She's used to it already. It doesn't matter anymore.

    The bell chimed signifying it's time for breakfast. Each child packed up their books in their school bags and headed for the cafeteria. Maryam has no friends because she's a newbie and because Noorie has told whoever cares to listen that she's bad news. Zarah never actually cared what or who Maryam befriends as long as she's far away from her, she's fine with it. Maryam picked her bag pack and headed to the cafeteria. She knows keeping her bag in the class meant trouble. They could pack her books or her homework just to put her into trouble. They've done it before.

     She showed her meal ticket to the cafeteria lady who ticked it. A tray of chips, ketchup and egg with a cup of fresh juice was handed to her. She found a corner and quickly occupied it. She massaged her forehead which was gradually forming a painful lump. She sighed softly before starting to eat.

     "Can I sit?" A boy asked with a smile. Maryam shrugged and he slid in the chair opposite Maryam with a smile. "I am Islam" he added opening his bottle of orange juice.

      "Maryam" she whispered. He smiled at her. He knew her name. She is the one Noorie told everyone to avoid.

      "I am in your class you know" he said munching his apple. Only then did Maryam take a proper look at him. His white T-shirt covered with handless navy blue fur jacket made him look so boyish. His thick brows and plum lips complimented his fairness. The nerdy glasses he's wearing made her recognize him immediately. He's the boy who answers all the questions in class.

     "That's nice" she replied taking a sip from her fresh juice.

     "You don't talk much. Do you?
Maryam could only smile at him. Who could she talk to? Who listens to her?

     "Use this for your head. It will lessen the swell. Sorry" he said standing up from the table. He dropped a methol rub on the table before leaving her to her thoughts as always. She opened it and used it's contents to massage her forehead as she watched his retreating figure. He didn't even finish his food.