Maryam stared at Khalid as he reads through a gigantic book with a labeled human body as the book cover. She had read the titles of his big books so much, she did not bother to read this one. He kept zoning out of her conversations with him, and would spend a good fifteen minutes reading before he would look up and blink multiple times. Unlike before, their holidays aren't in sync anymore. He's either embedded in exams or in tests, it feels intentional some times.

     "What were we even talking about?" Khalid asked blinking multiple times like he's done a million times. Maryam rolls her eyes before turning her attention to the TV. "Maryama....." He drawls chuckling at her behavior. He has explained to her how important it was for him to read but he would still do it again, if she would stop frowning. "You do know how important this is. If I don't read, I will fail. And failing any course would cost me my tuition fee. Have you forgotten how Mamu's husband made it clear to stop my sponsor if I fail. I have to come out without failing so that I can be done with this, besides how do you expect me to build feed you if I fail in school?"

     Maryam felt her lips tugging upward, on their own accord. He always says the cutest things to her. She could not even stay mad at him for long because of how easy it is for him to say the right things.

     "I know. It's just that it is so annoying when you zone out" she grumbled still smiling. He apologized, but she knew he would still get distracted, so she decided to go to bed.  She bade him goodnight, before pedestrianizing her way to her grandmother's room.

     It's been Four dreadful years now, and like the past years, Maryam always came to Zaria for her holidays and her mother had consistently found her way to cut Maryam's supposed holidays short by turning up abruptly either a day or two days to the agreed time. Maryam is already accustomed to her ways, that she always prepared herself three days to the agreed time. Meanwhile Maryam's visit to Zaria had successfully paved way for a relationship with Khalid. He was already in 400level while she's in ss2. Khalid felt Maryam is the perfect person to be with. She had everything a man would want, ranging from beauty, brains and sensibility. Being maltreated by her mother had given Maryam the zeal to be successful in life and she had been doing just that by reading and studying like her life depended on it. She decided to create joy in studying and so far, Alhaji Matazu had her embedded in his heart for her consistent straight A's. A gesture which irritates Mama more than anything, so she had been making Maryam's life unbearable so she could oust her from Alhaji Matazu's eyes.

The incessant honking of a car by the gate had spiked Maryam's suspicions of her mother's numerous means to cut her holidays short. Her suspicions became right and just like every other time, Kahalid wasn't around to see her off.

     "Maryama, keep being good. Don't misbehave okay?" Her grandmother advised as they both headed towards the gate with her grandfather trailing behind them. Maryam could only nod before getting into the car. She bade them goodbye until they were out of sight. Halfway across town, Maryam's little Nokia phone started ringing. Khalid's name taunted her, she sighed softly before pressing the answer button.

     "Maryama...." He drawls as usual making her smile. "I just got back home" he stated. She understood what he meant by the statement. Her mother hadn't sent the driver early in the morning as usual. He had arrived by 3:30. She badly wanted to tell the driver to wait because she knew Khalid would be home anytime soon. She knew better than to make such request. It would bring about the usual punishments and quarrels. "I am sorry it didn't turn out how I had expected" he apologized. Khalid always apologizes for thing that weren't even his fault. Her mother was determined to be a stumbling block on her path.

     "Khalid, it's not a problem. We'll see each other again if Allah spares our lives" she cajoled. Khalid sighed softly not wanting to end the call. But he needed to rest so he could resume studying for his next paper. With the promise of calling her to know how her journey went, Khalid ended the call.

     On getting to Abuja, she met the house in frenzy, there were extra people in the house and they all seemed to be assigned a duty or the other. As usual,no one paid any attention to her as she dragged her box towards her mother's side of the house. She came in and found Noorie painting herself into a perfect model, and the younger ones all dressed up. Maryam felt a wave of uncertainty when her younger ones ignored her. She had learnt not to bother correcting them. Each of them would grow up and own a house, they would understand the value of being homely then. Her mother exited the bathroom giving Noorie advise on how to make her face natural. It is too late now though, because Noorie had painted her lips blood red smacking it in an unbelievably loud tone. Maryam started putting away her things after greeting her mother who barely answered her. Her mother was already threading towards her bed. she had two outfits laid down.

     "As usual, they sent you back empty handed right?" Her mother called out in a condescending manner. Maryam rolled her eyes at her mother's inability to make up her mind about wanting not or to receive gifts from her late husband's family. She had thrown the jewelry Maryam and her grandmother got for her and the children. She insulted it and called it cheap, then threw it away. Maryam had to search the bin in her mother's side of the house for the jewelry.

     "You said you did not want anything from them" Maryam grumbled softly making her mother's breath hitch. The woman does not even want to believe she had heard Maryam mumble a reply at her rhetorical question. She turned to where Maryam squatted, arranging her clothes in the wardrobe.

     "Did I hear you say something?" Her mother asked lowly cocking a brow.

     "She said, you said you did not want anything from them" Noorie volunteered with glee. Maryam could not believe Noorie was actually listening to their conversation. She looked so focused on smacking her distracting yet amazing red lips.

     "So, that is what they teach you over there, to go about replying rudely to your older ones. If you push me Maryam, I will stop you from seeing those good for nothing people" her mother flared up much to Maryam's dismay. She didn't utter another word because she knew her mother had consistently threatened to stop her from going to Zaria. Maryam hasn't given her enough reason to, so her mother was looking for the pettiest things to turn in to big issue so she could stop Maryam's yearly travels.

Aliyah, Faheem and Anas stood by their mother with googly eyes waiting for her permission to go out and meet the others. They were already dressed up in one of the best clothes they had. She had just arrived and nobody had bothered to fill her in as to why the whole house was being rearranged and the children all dolled up, instead her mother was already out to throw shades at her grandparents.

     "Finish that nonsense you're doing, go and bath and wear this. Your Ya Tanzeel is getting engaged today" her mother stated with no enthusiasm at all, it's not news she's only doing this because it is demanded of her, that's how it has always been done. They dress up and welcome the in-laws of Alhaji Matazu. If it was left for Maryam's mother, she would maintain her position on her couch and watch Zee world. "Make sure you dress up quickly. I don't want Alhaji to bother me about your whereabouts" her mother added sliding the lace BouBou over her head, down her body. Maryam nodded placing the last piece of clothing in the drawer. As she was zipping the bag, she heard Noorie gasp, she turned her attention to her only to see her clasping a bottle of concealer, staring at the spot where her mother had pointed her clothes to be.

     "Noorie are you insane?" She heard her mother yell, palming Noorie loudly. Noorie yelped scurrying away from her mother's possible assault. She stood by the corner moping, watching her mother pick up Maryam's supposed lace BouBou. The concealer smeared across the black cloth. "Were you not aware I had her cloth spread here. How on Earth did this thing got here. Aren't you done painting yourself like a house?" Her mother lamented loudly giving Noorie death glare.

     "I am sorry Mommy" she cooed wiping a tear Maryam couldn't really see from where she was currently standing.

     "Sorry for your self! Now go and wash this part off and make sure you use the iron to get it dry immediately"  she yelled angrily at Noorie. Noorie scurried away with the gown into the bathroom. Moments later, Noorie showed up with a cold material, which Maryam didn't see, because she was more interested in sliding into the bathroom to take her bath. She was so sure her mother would throw a fit if she sees her standing idle. Mommy is obviously irritated by the woke event that was about to take place. As Maryam turned off the shower, she was startled by her mother's loud voice. It was obvious she was quarreling Noorie so she quickly tied the towel around her chest before quickly exiting the bathroom.

     Apparently, Noorie had dunked the entire cloth into the water, successfully ruining Maryam's chances of being able to wear it in a few minutes. The dryer of the washing machine was suddenly faulty. It has been perfectly fine today, because the help had washed the whole dirty clothes in the laundry basket.

     "Why on Earth are you standing there cluelessly? Couldn't you have helped her when I told her to go clean it? Do you not know she doesn't know how to use the washing machine?" Maryam's mother yelled at her shocking her to the core. None of them were ever allowed to go close to a washing machine. Maryam stood perplexed for a moment. She could not understand how exactly Noorie's behavior her fault. She opened her mouth a couple of times but nothing would come out. "You are older than her, you should learn to be compassionate and be willing to stand up for her. When I asked her to clean up what she did, you should have volunteered. Now look at what she has done to your clothes!" Her mother yelled at her too, making Maryam cower. Her mother hissed and collected the clothes, she went to the washing machine, click on some things and it reverberated back to life.  She heard her mother hiss for the umpteenth time. When it came out of the dryer, the cloth was rumpled making Maryam's mother hiss again. She spread the cloth on the dryer by the door and marched straight to the wardrobe to get something else for Maryam so wear. Only then did Maryam, turn her attention to Noorie. She saw the glint of mischief and satisfaction on Noorie's face as she watched the rumpled cloth. Only then did Maryam realize Noorie had dunked her cloth in the watch intentionally. But her mother had been so blinded by her love for Noorie that she hadn't seen it, instead she had turned the table around and reprimanded Maryam.

     "Why are you still in that bathroom Maryam? Will you come and take this thing from my hand, or do you want me to slap the living daylights out of your head?" Her mother yelled. Maryam ran to her mother and collected an Ankara print. It was a skirt and blouse which Maryam disliked because of how big it had been for her, and the shoulder keeps falling off, it had been Noorie's. Maryam could remember that day Noorie had specifically explained she wanted her cloth freer and bigger than she was used to, only for the tailor to bring their clothes, Noorie almost screamed the whole house down, saying she did not want hers. Maryam's mother had made Maryam exchange her own well fitted gown, for Noorie's sizeable clothing. Her mother could have easily told the tailor to take it back, but she did not.

     Maryam collected the cloth frustratingly and slid her body into it. She tied the headtie in the most easiest manner as possible. She already looked out of place. When Maryam exited her mother's part of the house, her heart tugged in pain. Each and every female member of the house was wearing a BouBou, a lace BouBou to be specific. She swallowed the lump and moved her tired body to the kitchen where she understood she belongs.

     "What on Earth is that on your body?" Zarah spat our distastefully, eyeing the miserable clothing on her body. Maryam shrugged and ignored her. Zarah is the most confusing person ever, she desserts a person when the conditions are unfavorable. She loves her comfort and would not mind throwing anyone under the bus to get it, unlike Noorie who is an absolute angel to everyone but Maryam. "Did you not get the Memo?" Zarah added taking a piece of samosa that was arranged on the kitchen island.

     "Noorie mistakenly dunked my BouBou in a washing machine after splashing a concealer on it, hence this" Maryam replied trying to arrange the samosa that had successfully  scattered itself after Zarah picked on from the arranged samosa.

     "This won't do. Follow me, I'll give you one of my BouBou. It is way better than this. How do you expect Baba to brag about your straight As' in this miserable oversized clothing?" Zarah said starting to drag her towards the entrance of the kitchen. Maryam snatched her hands away. Zarah was forgetting her mother would skin Maryam alive if she finds her anywhere close to her part of the house. Mama sees her as a pest, the moment she realize she was wearing one of Zarah's clothing, all hell will break loose. "Mama is in a very good mood today, she won't say a thing. Come" Zarah stated and they scurried into Mama's side. Maryam's heart almost fell out when she came face to face with the woman. She was telling at the woman who was supposed to deliver the glazed doughnuts. Maryam started shaking knowing she might use her to ease her anger, surprisingly the woman did not. She had only peered at Maryam's outfit mirroring Zarah's gaze moments ago.

    "Is this the garbage your mother gave you to wear, even after I told her we were all to wear lace BouBou?"

     "Noorie mistakenly ruined mine with a concealer" Maryam croaked out making Mama scrunch her face. She did not say anything again, because she was called by someone who was supposed to deliver something and had lost their way. She was explaining loudly how the person was being unnecessarily loud, as if they weren't all being loud.

     "Take this" Zarah said smiling sweetly at her. Maryam undressed and wore Zarah's BouBou which turned out to be the perfect size for her. She squealed when she saw herself in the mirror. Zarah helped her tie her headtie, making Maryam fit into the Matazu's family. The engagement last only two happy hours, because Maryam made friends amongst Ya Tanzeel's in-laws, they all flocked around Maryam and Zarah, successfully pushing Noorie to the curb. Her red lipstick was actually what made everyone avoid her, she looked extravagant and had nothing to talk about other than the number of clothing, shoes, bags and accessories she owns. Ya Tanzeel's in-laws are really rich, so forgive them if they got bored of Noorie's comparison. What happy Maryam hadn't noticed was the glares her mother kept sending her way because of the new clothing on her body. She knew Maryam got that clothing from Mama and she isn't very keen on being that familiar with her co-wife and her children, so Maryam must be taught a lesson because she had disregarded her first rule.