BORDEAUX, FRANCE.

Madeleine leaned closer to her table and scrutinize her client with doubtful eyes. She said she is ready to talk but the reluctance is written all over her face as though she'd rather run the opposite direction than confess anything about herself. With her profession came forced patience, she wants to reassure her that she mustn't talk about things she is not sure of because that won't take them anywhere. You need to be sure about everything you want to say or be back in square one when you should be moving forward. She's met a lot of different people but it seems like the story behind the couple is going to hit her more than every other she's heard. There is just something about them.

"Are you sure you're ready, Zaitun? I'm not supposed to force you to say anything. This should be about yourself. You,wanting to help yourself out of the situation and not because you are compelled to. No one can force you and you shouldn't feel pressured." Her eyes are calculating and she saw the determination that replaced the reluctance, good.

Zaitun have a shaky smile and took a deeper breath, release it through her mouth. "I'm ready to talk about it even if it's not all. At least, we should start somewhere and know where it's going to lead us."

Musa gave her hand an encouraging squeeze and a small clap of glee from Madeleine. "That's the spirit, dearest. You are surely going somewhere today with such determination. Oh, how I wish this look will forever be on your face so you can face your fears now and in future." Madeleine goaded her some more, knowing her way with her clients and what they want to hear.

Eyes closed for a few seconds, she started. "When I gave birth to my first son Rashid, the doctor said something about not trying to give birth again because I'm fragile, we agreed that one child is okay but a year and few months later, I fell pregnant. We were so afraid that we started thinking about abortion then Musa thought better of it and flew us abroad to find out if something is really wrong with me. We went to India then, the doctor confirmed that I'm not very well but I'll be able to give birth to this baby without any complications just that I shouldn't think about conceiving after the baby is born, we agreed of course. We stayed there for the remaining of the months till I gave birth to my baby girl, she was so small and beautiful.

"We came back to Nigeria and continue living our life like nothing bad has happened. Rashid was so protective of Fatima, ya Allah! He wouldn't permit anyone close to her for a very long time, not even his aunt or cousin. It was funny at first but things became serious after he turned four, always hovering around Fatima so we decided to enroll him to school. He's always crying for Fatima before leaving when we asked a doctor, he told us he is extra attached and obsessed with his sister. We were afraid it's something bad but he reassured us that it's advantage is when they grow old, we won't have to worry about her safety whenever he is at the vicinity.

"He went ahead to tell us they have a bond of twins. We didn't believe him, it was too... mushy if you get what I mean. It continued like that. Fatima turned two and also started following Rashid everywhere whether he's invited her or not. She will go to his room, follow him to his lessons inside the library, even to the bathroom."

Zaitun let out a watery chuckle at the memory. Rashid will be shitting but Fatima will sit down there on the floor and perceive all the smell while staring at him with closed nose or he will wrap a handkerchief around her nose so she won't smell it. When she found them one day doing that, she snapped a picture then pick Fatima up but the girl wailed and refused to leave the bathroom while her brother is still into his business. Zaitun placed her down on the floor and waited for them both outside the bathroom with food burning downstairs without her knowledge, she's forgotten about it.

The two were inseparable that Fatima was sent to school at the early age of three so they can be together during car rides there, break and closing time.

"When Fatima was old enough to go to school, we took her to the same school as him but Rashid became unfocused. He will sneak out of his classroom and go to her class, the teachers always complaining. Then we changed their schools, they were not happy at all but get used to it when they realize that we won't do anything to change it. That's all I can say about my children, there is nothing more. We don't have much memories since they were just six and four when everything tumbled head down." She sighed, blotting her nose with a tissue paper Musa handed to her.

Madeleine nodded her head, her face filled with more curiosity and questions but she waited for the older woman to gather her emotions. There is no doubt about her love for her children but she cannot help wishing Zaitun will just talk about the reason behind their separation and hatred. She knew the older one is dead but what about the youngest baby girl named Fatima? Why are they not currently cruising together in France? She's seen her picture, a beautiful dark girl with smile to die for but being a mental health therapist, she could instantly tell which smile is fake and which isn't.

Zaitun stopped crying, lie her head gently on the table for a few minutes before raising it and send an apologetic smile to Madeleine. "Sorry, I always get emotional whenever I talk about them. I just miss them both. The joy of having children or a child wasn't given to me because even the memories we have are hazy in my head, I can't remember most part of it." She sighed, closed her eyes for a bit then shook her head. "I miss them so much."

Madeleine placed a gentle hand on her own, her smile wide and encouraging. "Do you have anything else to tell me? Maybe how you feel when you think about your grown up daughter? Anything else?"

Zaitun thought for a minute before shaking her head in no, she cannot talk further without crying and talking about Fatima will ruin the rest of her day when she has a lot more to do. That's a topic she needs to ready herself with, both physically and mentally. She's been thinking about no one but Fatima for the past days, stalking her on social media to find out just anything. Some of the stories she's read about her daughter made her laugh, some furious while the others wonder and astonishment. Who is her daughter? The media tend to show many sides of Fatima that she is not sure which one to pick.

She's been waking up during the nights to pray. Whenever her forehead touches the ground, she could think of nothing but her daughter. She will pour it all out, sometimes with tears and mucus while other times with hard beating heart. Musa will wake up in between her sobs and hiccups and decide to join her. So far, there is no hope in their hearts but that doesn't mean they are going to give up, they will keep doing it till they succeed. Evil shouldn't triumph over good, they have full faith that it'll happen too in their situation.

"I have nothing to say. Maybe next session when I'm more stable." She spoke after a long time, her head back on the table because she cannot stare at Madeleine with eyes filled with tears.

She heard Musa speaking to her but his words are slurry, she couldn't hear a thing with her chaotic mind. After a while, he assisted her out of the building to his car then accelerated to her favorite Chinese restaurant just few feet away from her penthouse. A smile forced it's way to her lips because she's read somewhere that her daughter's favorite food is Chinese. Like mother like daughter.

"How was it , ma'am?" Nayla panted when she sat on the floor with her new boss, Zaitun.

They just finished another practice that's taken longer than the other ones they've tried few days ago. A week more before they launch the seasonal outfit with her co-models. There are eight more models apart from her but the company has been looking for someone to pose as a showstopper since none of the ones they have is worth the performance. So far, Nayla has been receiving nothing but positive comments from everyone around her except a few models that don't want to acknowledge that she is better than they could ever be, that did nothing to dampen her enthusiasm and instead fuel it.

She's been working harder and her husband supports her hundred percent. A married woman shouldn't be modeling but he understands that she has the passion for it and besides, they need the income that comes from working as a model. They are not rich, his work doesn't provide much for them even with their low-key life. She is used to lavish life but she bowed down because her husband doesn't have it and her parents won't sponsor them after the stunt she's pulled to get married to someone out of their circle.

Her husband isn't acknowledged by the force or he would've being the assistant commissioner of police there in Bordeaux. Her father is actually part of those people since he is a well known man in France and have vast connections. She's been with her husband for almost seven years now and the minute her father found out about him few years ago, he started playing around with his profession. There is no doubt he will make sure he gets dismissed from the station any moment from now. He's confirmed that they are married due to her absence for two whole days.

That's the only option they have, to elope and be with each other.

"You all did great. I feel like drawing it closer so I can leave for Nigeria sooner than planned." She sipped her chai, eyes filled with pride as she gazed into Nayla's hazel eyes. Such pretty eyes, Zaitun thought.

Nayla beamed before lying flat on the carpet, she is tired after all the work and cat-walks. She's in love with all her outfits, they are beautiful and dazzling. Hats off to Zaitun's magic hands, she creates magic with just mere imagination and the thing always fascinates her. Writers, singers, designers and artists have such exquisite talent. She cannot do any of those aforementioned things, she's never been that passionate. She is good with clothes though, wearing them and posing for the camera is where she is good.

The first outfit she wore was sable leather pants, matching turtle neck shirt, black and white two inch Nike sneakers and single breasted trench leather coat. Almost all the outfits have matching coats to go with ranging from capelet, quitted parka, reefer, double breasted trench coat, wrap and cloak. Winter is silently approaching and that's the reason behind the concept of seasonal outfits but most of them are meant for winter.

"I'm so glad to be working here with you, ma'am." She whispered after a while, half talking to herself and half expecting Zaitun to hear her and she did.

A small smile ambled it's way to her face as she looked down at the girl lying flat with adoration. "I'm more than glad to have you here. You are a natural and perfect addition in the family."

"So what do you have for us today?" Madeleine beamed at her two new favorite clients. She's always looking forward to their session and this is the second to the last, she is already missing them. She just hope they gain something before they leave this place and end their contract.

Zaitun looks calm today unlike the other days. She's talked about how she's felt when she lost her child, when she left their home and how she is living all alone even with two children, the last time they were here. Musa was encouraging her and chirping in from time to time. He is more reserved but whenever the starts talking, he doesn't keep quiet until he reaches the full stop. She likes his vibe, albeit emotional too from time to time, he is better than Zaitun when it comes to expressing feelings. She's told her how malleable, meek and submissive she's been throughout her teenage. And also why she's toughened herself and lock her emotions for a very long time. She's improving with each meeting and she is looking forward to this.

Zaitun started talking, beating Musa with a sideways glance that he's read as 'ladies first, man' and he shook his head with a clumsy bow. "I have a lot to tell you today and maybe this will be our last time here... don't be so unhappy now." She laughed at the exaggerated pout that settled itself on Madeleine lips.

"You expect me to be jumping in joy? I'm going to be all distressed and filled with melancholy. I'll miss you both, a little." Her words are serious but her expression is saying otherwise so they let the weird woman and her reaction slip.

Zaitun is in a hurry to voice out everything once and for all so she started talking after a deep breath through her nose and exhaled through her mouth. "What really happened to Rashid... we were outside the mansion for a picnic but forgot the basket and Rashid complained that he was hungry, I left to go get the basket when Musa followed me to get water. We've never faced any problem leaving the two of them together but that day, that day..." she trailed off at the prickle of tears visiting her eyes hurting them in process. A stinging feeling assured her that tears will start rolling down any second.

Swallowing a hard lump, she continued. "We found Rashid inside the pool drowning, he was not moving actually. My baby girl was about to dive inside the water to see why her broth-brother is taking too long to emerge when we arrive. Everything was a blur but meeting Maimuna, Musa's ex-girlfriend standing beside his car smiling evilly at us. We were so confused as to how she managed to come in even with the heavy security outside the mansion but then her words echoed, all galvanization at the sight of her vanishing in process."

Madeleine couldn't handle the two minutes silence that followed so she pried in a gentle manner. "What did she say?"

Zaitun frown with a start, her expression faraway and pain-filled. "She said 'you won't be able to save your son and the daughter you are holding is going to be abominated by the society, an abomination and that will be all because of the pain you both will inflict on her. My job here is done. I don't have you, she doesn't too, neither will your own daughter. I've settled the scores, don't try to fight back' and she stood there watching us with a jutting chin, deliberately raised eyebrow, a smirk, a look that radiates superiority and fake sympathy as she stared at Rashid in Musa's arms. We were confused but didn't bother asking what she means, took our son to the hospital instead deciding to deal with her later.

"The nurse only held Rashid's wrist and announced his death with empathy. I was shattered! The whole ride to the hospital, I knew something is going to be terribly wrong after what Maimuna had said but I was hoping... I was hoping it was all a nightmare and she is gloating. I know it was his time to die, but I couldn't accept his death." She crumpled again, bringing her knees to her chest after furiously tugging off her loafers. Her head lie gently on them as she rocked herself in the chair, cajoling and coaxing herself.

The room was quiet, Musa's eyes filled with tears too, he meandered away from them and dab at it with his handkerchief. God, they've had such a tough life that even their wealth couldn't solve and safeguard. There are so many things money can't do in this world but people tend to forget that in their pursuit. Money is definitely good but it's not the best thing out there in the world, there are so many things better than wealth but you can't even tell them the truth because they won't listen. They want it through thick or thin.

Madeleine is used to seeing her clients all emotional and regard them with cool sympathy but for some queer reasons, Zaitun's breakdown is the only one that's touched her. She swallowed back her own tears, it won't look good for her profession even though they are allowed to be emotional when they cannot hold it in, she doesn't want to be.

"What else, Zait?" She instead asked in a gentle probing voice, chilly and motivating.

Zaitun's voice was muffled in her knees when she whispered. "When I finally came to terms that my son is dead and won't come back to me, I detached myself from everyone, my daughter, Musa, my entire family -mother, father, sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles and brothers- because I felt like they don't understand my grief and they never will. After that, I honestly don't know what's happened only that Fatima is always sad and crying for her brother then murmurs or murderer will echo all over the house. We were so confused and thought something is wrong with the house, maybe a genie of some sort.

"I told my father, he advised us to send for a great scholar to see what is really going on in the house and we did just that. When the man came, he asked us whether anyone of us or the housemaids in the house have genie and we told him no because none of them have it neither do I. He confirmed that there's evil spirit in our house and something terrible is going to keep happening for many years. I don't believe in superstitions but I got frightened, Maimuna was the first person that came to my mind.

"He told us to go see if any of those well known scholars that can have their way with evil spirits can help us but they couldn't. Musa went as far as hiring a man from India since they are known for such things, it didn't work. Everything we try is useless but then my friend, Salina brought a man to our house one day and the man walked around for a few minutes then sat down in our living room and shook his head in astonished wonder.

"You have an enemy and she's done such a great work in making sure your little family is ruined. She wants you to leave the house, your husband to be miserable and your daughter to hate you both -the kind of hatred that not even an enemy would have for his rival- the society and be filled with pain and anger for the rest of her life. The sorcerer she's asked to do this job for her is not a normal one and he is the only one that can have this severed. I don't know where he is and from the way things are happening so fast, he won't be found and if you do find him, he won't severe this for anything. There's a deep connection between her and the sorcerer, I'm sorry I won't be able to do anything. But everything is going to happen as per her wish. All you have to do is pray.

"I told Musa about it, we didn't want to be superstitious, shirk and all that so we settled on praying and giving sadaqa -charity. Few days later, we had a gargantuan fight, I left the house both of us too furious to even think that the man was actually right about what Maimuna had done. That was when our lives got shattered, ruined forever. We were not even allowed to talk about her, our lips were sealed too! That woman is evil. Musa was able to talk to her and even stay with her but their relationship is better off not existing at all. Our daughter now hates us, indifferent to all our affairs and stopped asking about me." Her shoulders wracked as more tears rushed down, her stutters halting.

Madeleine was stunned into silence, her head throbbing at the news. She's only heard about evil spirits once and she didn't believe them but now, she believes everything Zaitun just uttered. The broken woman, pitiful mother.

What do you think? You thought about something close to this? Well, we have no more secrets now but there's one more shock or two? I don't know.

JUMA'AT KARIM✨