FAIZA'S POV

She sat on the plastic chair in mama’s room with legs in the air and head upside down looking at her friend and nieces.

She just does not understand why the triplet were never close to her the way they are with the mama and the rest of the family. Heck, they are even close to ya bashir, the person that does not talk nor joke around.

Where has she gone wrong? She thought

The only thing she gets is “anty Noorie take me to this place or buy me that”, and when she refuse, they will not even wait a second before running to her brothers and wish granted.

Are they not supposed to peruse her or something like that? Right?

Mama once told her no child would ever like her because she does not tolerate them. She always scold the triplet for some childish mistake that is not worth her voice. Nevertheless, she thinks it is the right thing to do, to scold a child so they do not repeat the same mistake. 

Faiza adjusted her sitting position bringing out her phone from the purse to clear her mind.

She logged into instagram and busied herself there, stalking a few couples that like to show off their relationship and post pictures of each other. She always like them and even befriend few because they keep her entertained.

Faiza likes the life they are living and always monitor them, but never see herself there. She never sat and imagined being married, at least not anytime soon. 

Marriage. The word seem strong to her, not because she is scared but because she never understood the concept of being under a man. Ordered around by her husband and his family, asking for permission, these are the only things she can do to her own family, not some random man.

Her family knew about it, her brothers to be exact. That was why ya mukky was hell bent on her not dating random men, so she could live the lavish life she desire, her fantasy.

She would get married. Yes, she will, but only to a man who agree to her conditions. If he is desperate, she is willing to give her gamete to a surrogate if he agrees to hire a nanny to take care of the baby. She will not agree to anything that will change her body structure or impact pain in her, or worst, come in between her and her work; anything that will make others give her that pity eyes.

“Girls, it is late let’s get going “she informed the girls who pouted but knew not to say anything, mama silently stood and helped them down the bed then walked out of the room.

What is wrong with her? What is with the shrugging? She is already irritated by it.

She followed them out and walked ahead of them so because she does not want to meet mama’s parent, they are to annoying to her, asking silly questions they know the answer to.

She successfully walked out of the house not knowing that mama’s parent saw her, they just shook their head at her act. She just does not care.

 The triplet came shortly with mama in tow but faiza did not even wait for what mama will say, as soon as the triplet got into the car, she drove away.

Faiza drove in high speed because she was furious, mama should not have shrugged at her, and she is superior to her in every way.

She arrived home fast due to her speed. “Out” she yelled at the triplet making them shiver in fear but complied. She got out after wards and went into the house and into the room banging every door she opened.

Alhaji musa saw the state his daughter is in, instead of trying to know what happened in mama’s house that made her furious, no, he is now angry, his blood boiling with fury, who would dare anger his daughter, couldn’t they just mind their business or simply comply to what she wanted. He never liked the so-called mama and her family, they are just not his type of people, and a university lecturer can never be of his class. He is just keeping up with them because of his daughter.

Hajiya hafsat is also upset to her daughter’s condition, but most importantly, she is pained. Seeing her daughter angry pained her a lot, she could have done better to make her only daughter happy.

Hajiya hafsat put a hand on her husbands’ hand giving him and assuring smile, she stood up and went to her daughter’s room to hear exactly what made her so furious. She saw her daughter sitting on the window seat clutching her head. She got scared seeing that and rushed to her side.

“Noor, are you alright? What happened, you came looking very angry?

“Mummy wallahi I will kill mama one of these days, how dare she” faiza said to her mother with tear soaked eyes. This made her mother even more scared and angry. She knew her daughter cannot be able to kill but she will do a lot of damage to mama. 

She hugged her daughter and calmed her down whispering soothing words to her ear.

Faiza told her mother what transpired between her and mama, to say she was shocked would be an understatement. She was still angry, yes, her daughter should not be shrugged at but still, it is a small issue but faiza took it to heart.

She looked up only to see her husband’s angry figure standing by the door with hands crossed behind, he looks even more furious than he was earlier. She knew mama and her family will not be let off the hook this time, he will definitely do something about it. Before she could utter a word, her husband has already left the room.

“Emm mummy, there is something I wanted to talk to you about” faiza said to her mother

“Go on my daughter”

“Earlier when I was coming home, I saw a woman...” she pauses

“Go on” 

“Her five year old daughter was raped and no one wants to fight for her” 

Hajiya hafsat felt the pang in her chest; she could not imagine her daughter in that condition talk more of an innocent five year old. “Is the culprit known?”

“Yes mummy, he is the son of mamman jato, that corrupt commissioner” 

Hajiya hafsat assured her daughter justice for the innocent child because after all, she is good in bringing politicians down. However, this time around, her daughter will fight the case.

Back in mama’s house, the family of five were having dinner when mama’s mother brought up faiza’s case.

“that lady is insolence” said mama’s mother “can you believe she rolled her eyes to me earlier and even scoffed just cause I asked if it was her that came” she added

“Wallahi, I never liked her Daman, she feels as if she owns the world,” her brother said

Mama was quite listening as her family throw insult at faiza. She also does not like faiza’s attitude but she was quite for a reason.

She felt a bile raise in her throat when her father spoke. “Whatever it is that you have with that family, break it. I do not want my daughter being friends with such people”

She felt her world crumbling down because she has to let go of a person she treasures in that family.

After the dinner, she took the dishes to the kitchen and went to her room just then her phone started ringing. Seeing the caller just made the tears she has been holding roll down her cheeks.

“Hey” the person on the line said.

“Please don’t call me again,” she said to the person on the line

“Wait what? Maryam what are you saying” the person said she broke down completely because he is the only one that calls her Maryam; she is mama everywhere.

“I am sorry but I have been ordered to cut ties with your family” 

“Why” that was the only word, he could utter. 

“Your sister is why” with that, she hangs up the call and blocks the number. She could not let her happiness make her disrespect her family. she just could not.