Fatima’s POV
I woke up in my room, how that happened, I didn’t know. I wasn’t in the gown Amir bought for me. Instead, I was in a black gown and big black hijab. I suddenly felt some serenity and peace.
I tried to sit up but my whole body ached, I didn’t even know how, why when, I was just confused. I tried to get off the bed but I ended up falling down off the bed which made me scream.
I saw the door open and Ya Sa’eed all clad in a black suit with green bow cane in. I was expecting him to close the door but instead someone I didn’t want to see came in.
Halli.
I glared at her then turned my face away. She came and tried to pick me up but I wouldn’t budge. “now is not the time to get all stubborn, moreover you’re not feeling too well so you need to cooperate with me and get up”.
I widened my eyes in surprise. She helped me up and I told Ya Sa’eed that I needed to talk to him alone. Without further ado Halli left.
“does she know? About my sickness?” I asked Ya Sa’eed hoping he’d answer in negative but instead he said yes. He told me to rest that Ammi and Abba were called by Aunty Fareeda but they’d be back before Isha.
I laid down and fell asleep almost immediately.
Halima’s POV
“So as I was saying, she started going to parties and all that. She never wore trousers and those short tops that didn’t reach the navel…”
“crop top”, I corrected him. “yeah those. But she started wearing them after his death. She’d always complain of chest pains and lack of breath but Ammi always passed it as a lie.
“ Then one day she entered toilet in the evening to perform ablution and she slipped. She sprained her ankle and it was bleeding, then her breathing was hitched, she started shouting I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe. Abba rushed her to the hospital, at that time Ammi had traveled.
“Abba came home and said that I should pack some clothes for her and come and stay with her in the hospital, that she had been admitted. I did as told and while in the hospital, she was shouting AbdulHalim don’t go, please I’ll follow you, let’s die together. Please.
“I was very scared wallahi I thought she was going to die. She was clutching her chest and tightening it, even in sleep tears were coming from her eyes. I was very scared.
“ I called the doctor and they injected her. He asked me to call Abba. I told him I couldn’t because it was 2am in the night. He said it was urgent so I immediately called him. Abba came with puffed eyes. It was obvious he was asleep and he always has a migraine when he’s woken up from sleep.
“we were called to the doctor’s office and he told us that she was slowly getting depressed and she had something similar to a combination of minor heart disease and stomach ulcer. It can only be triggered extreme hunger and emotions like sadness, anger, hurt, heartbreak and the likes.
“Abba was scared. We all were, so we started giving her all she wanted. Everything, no matter the price she got it. Slowly she started healing and Alhamdulillah she’s all better now”,he looked up then said.
“I think you can connect everything now”. All I could mutter was a wow. I was about to say something when we heard the door open. Ammi and Abba, Teemah’s parents came in, Ammi looked very worried.
Abba on the other hand was emotionless. I greeted them, “ina wuni Abba, ina wuni Ammi, ya aiki? {good evening Abba, good evening Ammi, how’s work?}”. Ammi didn’t evwn answer me, she just called Ya Sa’eed and went upstairs.
Abba answered with a tight lipped smile, “lafiya {fine} my daughter how are your parents?”. “Alhamdulillah”, I replied and he went upstairs. Ya Sa’eed sprinted upstairs and I was left downstairs alone.
I used the time to wrap my head around what I’ve just heard, my best friend, Fatima Abba Sulayman went through all that! Wow. But why didn’t she tell me about the sickness? I understood the reason why she didn’t tell me anything but she could’ve told me about the sickness, what if it got triggered in school?
I decided to beg mummy to allow me to spend the night at Teemah’s. Moreover, I was tired of being home alone.
I opted for video call and she picked at the second ring. “mummy na{my mummy} when are you guys coming back am sooo lonely”, I said pouting.
Mummy glared at me then looked at daddy who just came to view then said, “this scientists should really create something that you can use to send things virtually, I would’ve given this daughter of yours a virtual knock”.
I chuckled which earned me another glare. We talked and talked and she said that they’d be coming back on the Friday of the next week. I was ecstatic. I asked if I could stay at Teemah’s and she agreed.
Mummy received a call and we ended the call. I went to Teemah’s room and entered without waiting for her permission. She was asleep.
I laid down and connected to their Wi-Fi network since I knew the password. I started chatting and I heard the Adhaan {call to prayer} for Maghrib prayer.
I woke Teemah up and she snapped at me, “what do you want? Why are you disturbing my peace huh? Don’t you know I’m sick?”.
“abeg nikam I don’t have your time get up and go and pray, an kira sallan Maghrib {the call to Maghrib prayer has been made}” I snapped back at her.
She scoffed then said, “I’m not praying kar ki ishe ni{don’t disturb me}”. I widened my eyes in surprise, did she say she wasn’t going to pray?
I stood up and entered the toilet then took some water in a cup that held her toothbrush, toothpaste and shaving stick. I poured the contents in the sink then fetched some water in it.
I entered the room and splashed the water on her face, “what the efff!!! Oh Halli you’re sooo dead”, she said and I could imagine the steam coming out of her ears.
I laughed at the thought and she stood up saying, “the fuck! Waton dariya ma kike koh? {so you’re even laughing?} Hehehe awoni {your own has finished}”.
I laughed then said, “meye kuma awoni, wayaga she don sabi dey speak fulani {what is awoni, as per she has started learning how to speak fulani}”. “kutumelesi”, Teemah glared at me then took a pillow and threw at me.
We had a pillow fight and we heard the prayer being started we prayed and went down to cook dinner together. We were entering the kitchen when Ammi stopped us, “Halima, Fatima, you people should come here”.
We did as told and sat on the carpet. “Halima you might need to go get some clothes from your house tomorrow because we’re going to Gombe next tomorrow. We’re going for a family meeting so your parents said we should take you along with us. They said they’ll meet us there. Fatima you’ll follow her and then we’ll pick you up from there to go shopping and we’ll spend the night at Fareeda’s house. We’re leaving together with Fareeda, her husband and her kids”.
We nodded and Teemah dragged me to her room. She squealed and hugged me. We started packing every single thing she’d need in Gombe.
I couldn’t wait!