01
Halima
The noise woke her up. It always does. She should have been used to it but it always becomes new every night. She pushed the duvet off of her and climbed out of bed then quitely walked to her door. She gently pushed it open and stealthy walks along the passage towards where the noise is coming from. The closer she get the louder the thuds amidst muffled voices coming from her parent room.
"Did the noise woke you up?" She quickly jerked her head towards the voice and found her elders brother Umar staring down at her small frame. She shyly nodded her head.
"Come'on let get you back to bed" he said and gently held her hand heading back to her room.
"I hate you mahmood!.. I regret the day i decided to wed syou!..i wish for you to rot in hell!" Their mother's voice coming from the close doors stopped them in their tracks as more crash continues in the closed room.
"Hey lets go" Umar gently tug his sister along.
The quilt was still on the floor exactly where she left it. Umar covered her with it as she lay on the bed. He kissed her goodnight on the forehead and left for his room.
"Will they ever stop?" Her small voice asked him before he walked out of the room. He turned with a frown on his face and sadly smile at her while saying
"I hope so Haleema.I hope so"
"Wake up sleepy head" I heard my dad called out to me through my subconscious mind as I slowly open my eyes to meet the blurry figure of my dad poking his head through my half open door.
"Am awake but I thought I said not to wake me till 10 o'clock..My lectures is not due untill 11" I said lazily as I pulled my blanket to cover my eyes from the bright light coming through the windows into my room.
"Breakfast is ready and yes its after 8am" I heard him said as he gently closed the door and walk away. I smiled as I listened to the soft patter of his shoes as he walk down the hall probably to his room or the kitchen and my mind wondered back to the dream I had earlier or was it a memory I inwardly asked myself.
I have been having those lately and I couldn't shake the feelings that they are memories of my mum and my elder brother Umar. The last time I saw them was 21years ago when I was barely three years old and my little mind couldn't fathom what a family I had then. I never remember my childhood as it was so traumatic and my mind had blocked it. I tried discussing the memories with my father when I started having them but he wouldn't let us talk about it. He claimed it reminds him of mum who died when I was three years. She died together with my elder brother.
"They had an accident" he had said and kept quite. I eagerly waited to hear more but it never came. He never let us talk about it ever again. I feel the tears threatening to drop from my eyelids at the side and wiped them off. I missed my mum. Although dad tried to fill the void of my mum and brother and wouldn't even take a second wife for my sake but it was never enough. I needed them now more than ever.
I pushed the blanket off me and stretched while reciting la ilaha illalla muhammad rasulillah ( there is not deity of worship except Allah and muhammad is his messanger) and sit up. I looked at my bedside drawer and picked my portable alarm clock. It is the shape of an elephant with a truck and flappy ears. Looking at it brought smiles to my face. The clock is what I remember of my brother Umar who gifted it to me on my second birthday. But nothing of my mum as she spents more time fighting my dad than actually looking after us. The clock means so much to me that I don't think I can ever part with it Although it has stopped working a long time ago.
"Haleema!!" My dad shouted as he banged on my door and i mischievously laughed as I know I have exhausted his patience.
"Coming!" I replied as I ran to the restroom to tidy up for the day not bothering to hear his reply as he grumbled and walked away.
I took a quick shower before rushing to the closet. I had to find the perfect appropriate muslim outfit as my dad always said. He believes dressing in Jeans and tops even when using an after dress on it is unislamic. So its either the traditional hausa wears or an abaya but no jeans trousers. I went through dress after dress untill finally settling for a peach coloured gown with a mint green scarf and slipped on some mint strappy heels. I quickly applied some banana flavoured lip gloss and mascara. I grabbed my bag and rushed out to meet my dad at the dining table for breakfast. He never eat without me.
Dad was talking to someone when I got there and without a doubt I knew who it was. they quickly turned to face me and I realised that I was blushing. I averted my eyes from him and sat opposite them but I was so nervous and shy whenever am around him but he refused to stop staring even when dad cleared his throat.
"Shall we eat?" Dad asked but I was up and running out of the door before any one could stop me.