Iman took a step back, his heart hammering at a fast pace. The one who stood at their door step is none other than the man who ruined and changed his whole life as a child.

His father stood like a statue, equally staring at his son, the one son he was opportune to see grow, but he had used his very own hands to destroy everything. He could not fathom a tangible word to say to his son. When he had found them, he had practised over and over how he would ask for their forgiveness. But, seeing Iman standing at the door step had formatted his brain. He could not compose a word, instead he stood and stared at his son with so much intensity and longing.

    Iman swallowed a lump, and another and then another. It took a number of years to actually get back to what would be called a shadow of his former self. He was an energetic, extroverted, bubbly child. He used to be a whole lot chirper than now. He was only beginning to thread the path of who he used to be, that child whom everyone wanted to be around because of the amount of happiness he carries around with him and his father decided to show up now, now of all times. 

     "Iman who is at the door?" His mother asked a little concerned about the silence that engulfed the house after he had opened the door. She hadn't heard a word, if it were Bash, or any of her son's numerous friends, they would have turned the whole house upside down with their noises. 
    
And if it were either of their neighbors, Mrs Smith's giggle would have caught her attention. The woman's husband passed away three years ago yet, she flirts with Iman at every given opportunity, as if she cannot birth him and It's weirder since she's old, like clearly old. While Mrs Ben's manly voice would have resonated the whole house. Iman's mother rinsed her hands quickly, and headed to the front door as she felt a jab of fear.

     On seeing her ex husband who had broken and shattered her heart, she paled. He looked the same, just older. He had bags under his eyes and he did not have that glint of joy he used to have. Well, he had lost that since when they were together, when he had destroyed every single thing she ever held dear. He had on a white T-shirt and a jean trouser. He had no pot belly at least, so he wasn't looking funny. She composed herself quickly.

     "Junaid, what on Earth are you doing here?" She yelled angrily marching to where her son stood transfixed, literally hyperventilating. "How did you even find us?" She yelled standing in front of her son, as if her short frame would cover him from his father's scrutinizing gaze.

     "Jay, I searched" he whispered looking from mother to son pleadingly, the last time he had seen his son was when she won the court case, successfully taking custody of their children. "Jay please don't shut me out, I......"

     "You what?" She cut him off squeezing her child's hands reassuringly.

     "It has been hell. Jay please let me explain, I am not like that anymore" he stated lamely much to her irritation. She hissed loudly and then banged the door, she secured it with the locks. He knocked softly calling out her name and his son's name, but Iman's mother dragged her son away from the door, away from his father's desperate pleas. She sat her son down on her bed, and only then did Iman cry, and she could only do what she had done all those years their family fell apart. She cried too.

******

"What university do you want to attend Maryam?" Zarah asked handing Maryam a soapy plate. Maryam rinsed the plate thinking a little. After her conversations with Khalid, she's realized being a nurse might not be too bad. But trust Mommy to bad mouth anything Maryam says, she literally called the nursing profession the second best. She explained how Maryam would have to deal with being the number two, and she would not have that. She further compared Maryam to Ya Tahir who is almost done with school, saying she knew Maryam is way smarter than him and it would be a waste of knowledge to study just nursing when she can be a doctor.

"Besides, you should not allow Mama lead us, she's always bragging about how her children are the apples Alhaji's eyes, you have to start big so your younger ones follow your footsteps" she had said confusing Maryam for a moment. But when Maryam thought of it, she realized that Mommy is competing. Competing with her co-wife and Maryam is the only person she could brag with for now, so far Faheem and Aliyah feel promising but Noorie is struggling.

Maryam collected the third plate eyeing Zarah's sluggish hands. It's frustrating rinsing for Zarah, she is so slow you'd probably want to slit your wrists out of frustration. "I honestly don't know. I'll go wherever mommy says to go. You know I don't really have a choice here"

"Yeah. I would rather go somewhere away from Adda Hidaya's scrutinizing self. She would haunt me and I don't appreciate being disturbed. I want to have new experiences" Zarah said staring in space. Maryam could not take the sluggish chore, she quickly stepped sided Zarah into rinsing while she did the washing.

"Adda Hidaya isn't that bad" Maryam stated through gritted teeth. She knew she was lying to herself and ofcourse, both girls started giggling together. Hidaya demands for respect so much, it would be torture to live with her. Ya Tanzeel on the other hand had met her fiance in school, he is from some influencial family from Kano, and ofcourse the wedding preparations were taking all of Mama's time to go hunting for trouble from mommy. Ya Tanzeel's new found love has changed her so much, that she barely has time to bully anyone.

"On a scale of ten, rate Ya Tanzeel and Adda Hidaya" Zarah whispered after looking around. Maryam chuckled softly knowing if they get caught having this conversation, she would be hurt, but right now she needed the fun. She turned around and peeped through the door. When she noticed no one was coming.

"Adda Hidaya 7 and Ya Tanzeel 9" then both girls burst into laughter. It's very nice talking bad about mean people, at least it would take the edge off the stress.
.......
They all sat in the living room, listening to their father go on about how he is so proud of Ya Tahir and Ya Tanzeel. Both had successfully won his heart, with their bling results so far and ofcourse Ya Tanzeel's ability to get a husband over there. Mama had a smug look on her face, her heart tugged in excitement. She loves how her husband goes on and on about her own children. Late Ya Abba's behavior had created a rift between her and her husband because whenever she brought up her son, he would flare up and accuse her of rasing a drug addict. Now, the moment she talks about Tanzeel and Tahir, he listens with so much happiness. That was how she got him to approve getting Tanzeel's house wares from Dubai. He was spending lavishly on his daughter with no care in the world.

Mommy on the other hand had cocked a brow and was scoffing every once in a while as her husband spoke about his children with Mama. Had he not stated the meeting was about the goodness of the upcoming children, she would have bounced out of the living room.

     "Where do you want to school Zarah?" Alhaji Matazu had asked, staring at his daughter who had planned out her life, to be far away from her siblings.

     "I would love to go to Harvard Baba" Zarah stated making mommy scoff loudly. She actually started chuckling making Mama frown deeply. Mommy could not hold back her amusement to the fact that Zarah wanted to go to Harvard. The girl always scores two or three marks away from Noorie and ofcourse Noorie is not very bright, leaving Zarah on a scale of average. She wouldn't even pass the entrance exam obviously. Baba glared at Mommy who composed herself at once.

     "Noorie, where do you want to school?" He turned his attention to Noorie whose head was bowed respectfully. Mama was as prepared as she could be to laugh at whatever option Noorie would choose since mommy dared to scoff at her own child.

     "Wherever you want Baba" Noorie answered much to everyone's surprise. Maryam saw how a smile crept up her father's face, he loved how humble Noorie sounded, the girl could surprise anyone with her behavior. It is so easy for Noorie to get away with anything because of her manipulative ways. Mama could not help but let out a hiss, she eyed Mommy and Noorie with so much disdain, before hissing and adjusting her sitting position.

     "Maryam, what about you?" Baba Matazu stated with a smile. Maryam had made the mistake of looking up, and she hadn't looked at her mother but at Mama whose eyes were blazing with fury. Maryam looked down quickly, scared the older woman might skin her alive. "I don't have all day, you can get into any university of your choice. You're too smart and you know it" he teased making Maryam smile a little. She knew she is smart, but Mama had threatened to deal with her so badly she would not be able to study if she dares to tell Alhaji Matazu she wanted to leave the country. Her excuse had been, they were helping Maryam, who is another man's daughter so, it is expected Maryam pays back by staying in the country to help her around.

     "Any university here" she answered making her mother sit up. She could not remember having that conversation with her own daughter.

     "I don't understand you" Alhaji Matazu stated, furrowing his brows. Maryam smiled confidently at him, she knew he would know her step mother played a part if she allows him read her expression for long.

     "I am okay with any university here. It's a degree after all" she stayed shrugging. Funny enough, Maryam knows she could stomach her mother's beatings, at least it is her mother. Receiving beatings from Mama while her mother does nothing hurts way more than the other way round. Alhaji Matazu looked up at his first wife and he saw the satisfied look on her face. He knew there and then that she had one way or the other influenced the little girl's decision. Maryam in her right senses would never ever agree to stay in this house, after all the hell he's noticed her go through. He knew Maryam would have wanted out.

     "Listen to me, you all should go think about it, if you make a unified decision, then come back to me. Since Tahir and Tanzeel are attending the same school, Nabil and Hiday too then the three of you would have to come to a unified decision, the three of you will be attending the same university" he concluded. Mommy sat still wondering when her daughter had decided staying in Nigeria isn't a bad deal after all. It must have been that boy Khalid. He must be the one influencing Maryam's decision. She thought angrily.

     Mama on the other hand was angered by her husband's change of heart, her plan had fell through and she needed to decide if for the sake of daughter, to allow Maryam follow her out of the country.

     "Maryam, follow me" her mother beckoned exiting the living room. Mama eyed both of them with so much disdain. She hated Mommy so much, it annoys her that the little girl whose mother is her closest friend decided to marry her husband yet, her mother had not stopped the absurd arrangement. She had witnessed Mommy's birth, had she known mommy would be her rival, she would have strangled the useless girl to death. She thought violently before releasing a breath to calm herself down.

     "Remind me why you decided to stay here in Nigeria. Are you insane? I cannot believe after sitting you down here to explain why I believe you should go abroad to further your Education, you decided to go contrary to what I specifically told you. What is wrong with you?" Her mother yelled out the last part as angrily. Maryam stared at her hands than were placed on her thighs. She could not risk looking at her mother, she is scared the woman would realize her co-wife had something to do with it. "It is that stupid stinking boy, isn't it?" Her mother asked making Maryam look up abruptly.

     "What?" She had asked stunned by her mother's bizarre outburst. What on Earth does Khalid has to do with this? How on earth did she rope him into this mess?

     "You heard me right! You do not want to get separated from him, that is why you're spewing rubbish about schooling here, isn't it? By Allah you're playing with a hot coal! Maryam at the rate which you're going, that useless boy will find it very difficult to marry you. When you did not meet him, you do everything I ask without any question. Just because he has started whispering sweet nothings to your ears, you're rebelling, aren't you?" Then she paused and laughed maniacally making Maryam shift uncomfortably. Maryam hated she was the only one seeing this side of her mother. Her siblings never witness these kinds of things, it's like she brings out the worst in her mother which is heartbreaking.

     "Mommy, it's not Khalid. He has never ever asked me to disrespect you" Maryam defended, still trying to cover up the fact that her step mother had made it very clear she stays back home.

     "Then who is it? Who is it?" Her mother asked, but Maryam kept mute. She could not believe her mother needed to ask that question. There is only one person in this world who doesn't have her best interest at heart, but her mother's eyes are blinded by rage and dissatisfaction of Maryam's everyday move. "Go and discuss with Noorie, wherever she goes you follow. You must leave this country and you must make my husband proud, okay?" She seethed. Maryam nodded quickly, before running out of her mother's room. It makes her happy that she hadn't gotten beat today.

When Maryam got to the living room, she found her sisters arguing about where to go to. At least Mama is nowhere to be found, so she sat beside them listening to them argue about what country allows you study and have fun most. She decided to agree to wherever they conclude they wanted to go to, Mama could do whatever she wants, besides she would not even be here to suffer those said consequences. After thirty minutes of their annoying argument, Zarah and Noorie came to a conclusion and they decided they would be going to London where Ya Tahir and Tanzeel are graduating from and ofcourse, Maryam did what she does best, she nodded and agreed ignoring Mama's burning glare.

She needed to prove to her mother that she would make her proud, make her happy and her mommy would finally stop being harsh towards her.
Oh how wrong she was!