Chapter Seven

1

One.. two.. three...

I rolled over unto my stomach and blew out a bored and tired breath. It was the following day after Saturday and we were all at home.

I hate Sundays.

It marks the end of the weekend and introduces Monday.

It was also the day we were all supposed to get all our chores done. So far, I was the only member of the household with a pending list of work to do.

"Iman", I called out to my sister who was sitting at the desk, furiously typing away, occasionally punctuating the taps with annoyed grunts.

"What is it?"she answered, albeit grudgingly. She had been in quite a mood since the previous day, just like mummy.

I attributed my mother's anger to whatever might have gone down between she and that rich, old lady. I had tried getting information out of her to no avail.

No one was willing to tell me anything about it and to be expected, that only fueled my interest.

"Tell me something, my dearest. Who was that woman? That Hajia from yesterday?"

Iman turned away from the laptop to stare at me with blazing eyes. She did not look like she was enjoying her weekend at all. She looked frustrated and ready to snap. I could only wonder what the problem was; it seemed like she was trapped in a bubble of unending foul temperament.

"What is it Iman? What happened?"

"I really do hate humans", she said.

The door chose to open at that moment and in came Lawal grinning from ear to ear like Cheshire. He hadn't gone two steps into the room when alas!a paperback flew past me and struck him dead centre on the forehead.

I let out a squeal of delighted laughter. The Cheshire grin vanished off his face in an instant.

"Iman!" shouted he.

"You are trespassing",said she," Always learn to knock before entering into a room. This room in particular, okay?"

Rubbing his forehead and still staring daggers at her,he commanded me to get up and run an errand for him.

"What errand? Can't you see just how tired I am? I am trying to relax after having such a stressful day".

"This is barely noon,Layla. What stress are you talking about? Your clothes are still in the hamper, overflowing",he said. Iman snorted an agreement.

"Useless creature, that one", she added from behind the laptop.

"What errand do you want me to run for you?" I asked and lazily tossed a leg over the bed cover.

"My girl is coming", answered Lawal , his grin back in place. Iman ooh'ed and I groaned.

Anyone but sugar girl, I thought.

"Today is Sunday, isn't it? I thought she only comes on Saturdays".

Lawal gave a nonchalant shrug, "Maybe she wants to see mummy. Besides, she wasn't able to make it yesterday and God knows I miss her already".

"Love is truly, truly blind" I remarked and pantomimed gagging.

The paperback connected with my chin next.

2

After a series of verbal blows and bullying, I finally agreed to run the errand for Lawal.

He wanted me to help him get refreshments for his"girl" (ugh) but that I had to collect the money from our mother, considering the fact that his money was in high denominations.

So, there I was, on my way to mummy's room when all of a sudden, the desire to cool my parched throat (it had been a long argument) struck me. I changed directions.

The kitchen was cool and blissfully quiet. Soft filtered fingers of sunshine stretched into the space, lighting up even its darkest corners. A faint aroma of curry powder lingered in the air.

I got out a sachet of cold water and had just begun drinking when I heard it; muffled sounds coming from the back of the house.

A sniff and a muffled cough.

Then:" It's okay, Naja'atu. Can you please calm down?..... I'll be right there".

"What happened, mummy?", I asked as soon as the woman came in, the gown she wore billowing behind her.

There was a miserable expression on her face and her entire countenance whispered one word; despair.

Anything involving Naja now was mostly linked to that word. I could only hazard a guess.

"Is everything alright? What happened to-"

She cut me off with a wave of the hand and told me instead to get her the car keys from Lawal. She was going to see her daughter.

It didn't take long for the rest of my family members to converge in our mother's room. An aura of barely controlled agitation was wrapped around the room, filling us all with apprehensive energy. Mummy's hand shook intermittently as she stuffed items into a little bag by her side. From all indication, she wouldn't be coming back home that day. Fear swelled in my bosom, turning my stomach into jelly.

Just what, I wondered, could have possibly gone wrong?

No one spoke until she was packed and all ready to go.

Lawal and Iman moved closer to her, "What happened?"

Mummy heaved, gasped,gulped and then finally comporting herself,said," Your sister needs me right now. It's nothing you people should worry about. I'll be back by tomorrow, okay?"

"Come Lawal, you are dropping me off. Iman, take care of them before I get back, alright? Layla, please don't trouble anyone".

My sister and I watched, speechless,as the other two left.

"Something is horribly wrong", remarked Iman with such certainty it was like she already knew what had gone wrong. Although in all honesty, it didn't take a soothsayer or a fortune teller to tell it was related to her child bearing issue.

As usual.

...............

A soft knock on the door drags my attention away from the past and back to the present.

Dropping the pen aside, I gently massage life back into my fingers and let my eyes roam what I've written with silent contentment.

Closure is only a few chapters away, hopefully.

"Good morning" Kudirat's voice calls out from the other side.

Morning? My eyes shoot up to the window. On the other side of the curtains is a breathtaking sunrise.

I stagger to my feet,suddenly aware that my eyes are drooping and that my joints are stiff from sitting in one position all night.

The knock repeats itself.

Why is she knocking by the way? Has she forgotten that the door is normally locked from the outside or is that her way of being courteous?

"Layla" she calls out,"if you are awake, madam wants to see you. Now, please".

And then she leaves. I know that because I can hear her footfalls growing fainter by the second.

What could aunty possibly want me for? And why is she telling me to come over? A way of letting me know that I can be trusted now? That my mental state is finally balanced and I am as good as free?

When I first started staying here, sharp objects and open flames were a big no-no. Candles, knives, mirrors and even pens. Like they were actually scared I would try stabbing myself or something. Or that in a fit of murderous rage, I might attempt to burn down the house.

Please.

Even though there are days suicidal thoughts cross my mind like turbulent storms trying to drown me under their raging currents, that's one thing I've promised myself not to do. If not for myself,then for her.

I tuck my writing materials away in a corner and prepare myself for a mental battle. With these people, it's always war.