Sa’ada who had been curious about whether Usman finished his food or not, finally decided to go and check, the table was as she set it, nothing was touched, she shook her head and went to his room only to find him smoking.
She’s totally shocked that she’s stoned for seconds.
“What is this, what are you doing, did you just forget about the kids, what if they see you?” she said anxiously.
“Mtsss” he hissed. “Sa’ada you are my problems, are you blind? Can’t you see it’s a cigarette am smoking, and it’s already 12 am they are asleep.” He replied carelessly blowing the smoke from his mouth.
“Ok then let say they are sleeping by now, what about your health?” Sa’ada press on.
“It’s my heath right so please leave me alone.” He pleaded.
“Ok then, what about the food” she said looking at him.
“Am not hungary” he replied shortly.
She looks at him for seconds with straight face her anger seems to be growing day by day, “I think it will be clear and understandable when you say you don’t like my food, I have been noticing you for long you hardly eat what I prepared”. She lamented.
He laughed with contempt “No you are mistaken, it’s because I sometime have no appetite and for now am not hungary.”
“You don’t like my cooking that’s all” she complained again.
“Alright I don’t, so leave me alone please.” He said without looking at her.
“Usman what will I do to please you? I want to be like every woman living happily with her man.” She said pleading with her hands.
He rose up, take few steps closer to her, looks at her in an astonished manner before sitting back, he sat with one leg stretched on the ground, and the other resting on the chair on which he sit, he later thrown away the cigarette to Sa’ada who was standing by his side sobbing.
Her sobbing made him uncomfortable; he hateS to see women crying specially when he was the reason of her tears.
He suddenly got up and ordered her to either keep quite or get out of his sight “It’s either you keep quiet, or you leave this place.” He said in an awful voice, but she refused to do one rather continue crying.
He couldn’t help slapping her, he slapped her several time and push her back, she fell flat on her back but sprang up and charged blindly at him.
“You must kill me today am tired wallahi” she said loudly in a crying voice.
Usman shook her up and went in search of a cane, he comeback holding a thick cane but Ummi intervened she hold the cane saying, “Please Dad don’t do this, I beg your pardon.” she pleaded.
He looks at Sa’ada who is crying and feels about to bust, he just move to his room and locked the door.
Sa’ada curled into a frontal position and have a silent sob.
Everything that belongs to Zainaba is now her’s but she is not happy, and it’s only belongs to her by law, deep down nothing seems to be her own, both the children and the husband.
She gradually understands that putting blemishes or scratches on Abu will tear not only Abu but also herself.
She falls asleep some unwiped tears left greasy tracks on her face, she woke up in the morning with headache and a slight dizziness.
*****
The next 12 days were not easy for Abu the wedding preparation was in progress her depression grow bit by bit.
It’s been a week since Zainaba said a word to anyone though she wanted to, but speaking become difficult to her but nobody notice.
Umma who is tired of Zainaba’s new attitude of not saying anything to anyone since the last event which her father beat her decided to take action, so she called her to speak to her.
Umma look at Abu and said, “So because your father speaks to you over small matter you then decided to not speak to anyone again?”
“Let me tell you it’s either you be back to your old self, or leave this house you may go to anywhere you wanted, I just can’t live with a daughter like you, I have been watching you it’s over 7 days since you said a word to anyone.”
Zainaba wanted to apology but she just can’t pronounced anything, speaking becomes difficult for her, how she wish her mum would understand.
Umma continued “I once live without you (she meant before giving birth to Abu) so don’t think I can’t do without you, get out of my slight please,” umma said coldly.
Abu rose to go, umma shouted “so you can’t apologize”
Abu stared at Umma she doesn’t know what to do, it was not like she is not willing to apologize, no, it’s because she can’t say a single word.
*****
Back in her room Abu lay on her bed staring at the ceiling, she felt thoroughly empty, she couldn’t do anything, not even pray she was silent while thinking about what her mother said.
Her plight was heightened by the fact that nobody understand her problem and her pain. Even her parents were directly heaping a disproportionate share of the blame on her, the feeling of loneliness is unnerved, the more she thought about this the angrier and more depressed she grew.
Her brain was filled with her mum’s voice saying she should leave, she no longer sees her as a daughter.
She was stricken at her mum’s words.
Her cogitation mingles with her dream, she suddenly woke up after having a dream that her parents are throwing away her things, after Malam Musa divorce her they are telling her to leave she is no longer their daughter…
She rose up from the bed and plodded to outside, it’s 2am she open the entrance door and walk out, she wore nothing but the sleeping dress no shoes, talk less of veil, if you see her the only thing that will come to your mind is mad people yes senseless people.
She trekked for about 3 days not knowing where she is going and for the whole 3 days ate nothing.
She hiked for several meters and Suddenly collapsed by the road side near Falgore forest.