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Daddy looked at Imaan as she wiped the tears from her eyes and said,
“Is it because your brother took the apples that you’re crying, Imaan?”
She spoke in a weak voice, “But Daddy, you didn’t buy them for him. He took all of mine, and he doesn’t even eat apples.”
Daddy smiled and said, “Did he tell you he doesn’t eat them?”
With a trembling voice she replied, “Yes, I’ve known for a long time that he doesn’t.”
Daddy said, “Alright, when I go out later I’ll buy you some.”
Softly she said, “Okay, thank you.”
Then he added, “But what suddenly happened between you and your brother, Imaan?”
Ammi, who had come into the parlor, said, “I’m still wondering too. It all happened suddenly.”
Daddy said, “Did you do something to him?”
She pouted and moved closer to Daddy. “I just noticed he has become wicked, that’s why I stopped caring about him.”
Daddy only laughed.
Ammi said, “He doesn’t even come here anymore.”
Daddy replied, “May Allah make it easy.”
Imaan said, “Daddy, please get me my own personal driver.”
Daddy said, “It’s not your father who will get you a driver. We already discussed it after the former driver left.”
She said, “No Daddy, I want my own. Maybe the driver won’t even come today. Yesterday, my brother didn’t allow me into the car because I delayed them, so I walked to Islamiyya. That’s why when I came back my whole body was aching. Ammi rubbed medicine on me and I slept. When I woke up I felt better.”
Daddy smiled, stood up and said, “Let me go and take my bath, my daughter,” and went into his bedroom.
Ammi said, “Get up and take food to Inna. Or are you not going today either?”
Imaan quickly looked at Ammi and said, “Ammi, she said she doesn’t want to see my feet in her section again. If I go now she’ll tell Daddy.”
Ammi said, “Get up, carry the food and take it to her. I said so.”
Then Ammi left the parlor.
Reluctantly, Imaan stood up and went into the kitchen. Almost everything Ammi prepared for Daddy, she also dished out for Inna and arranged it neatly in a basket. She carried the basket and went out. When she reached Inna’s section, her face was stiff, as if she wouldn’t greet anyone. She stared at the shoes by the door before opening it and entering.
Mujaheed was sitting, watching Inna as she narrated a story with dramatic eye movements. He was smiling—he rarely laughed. Maimoon and Rahma were laughing loudly. Inna raised her hand and said,
“We just heard ratatatata… Your grandfather didn’t hide under the bed and leave me alone with the children. Bukar behind me was screaming, while Ahmadu wet himself three times!”
When Inna noticed Imaan, she stopped talking, picked one of the five apples in front of her and started eating it. Maimoon and Rahma kept laughing. Imaan placed the basket down, staring at the chocolates Daddy had brought which were now in Maimoon’s hands. She stole a glance at Mujaheed and turned to leave.
Inna clicked her tongue and said, “Your meat stew is in the room. I kept it for you; I don’t follow your mood.”
Without turning back, Imaan said, “I don’t eat.”
Inna continued chewing her apple and said, “Then who loses?”
Mujaheed asked, “Where is it in the room?”
Quickly, Imaan turned and went inside.
Inna said, “How can you ask where it is when you already ate your share and even took some I didn’t give you?”
He said, “Come on.”
She hissed. “It’s there in a nylon bag, covered. Yours is even more.”
Imaan came out holding the bowl of stew with a lid and headed for the door.
Inna asked, “Is this Bukar’s celebration since he returned?”
Imaan replied, “He hasn’t returned.”
Then she left.
Inna said, “She behaves as if she doesn’t eat food.”
Rahma said, “Please continue your story, Inna.”
Inna adjusted her sitting position to continue, while Mujaheed stood up and left the parlor.
On her way back, Imaan met Yusuf who had come to greet Daddy. He watched her as she hid the bowl and widened her eyes at him, saying, “I know you’ve eaten yours already.”
Daddy’s entrance into the parlor stopped Yusuf from replying.
Daddy said, “Engineer, so you’re in town?”
Yusuf smiled. “Yes Daddy. I hope you arrived safely.”
“Alhamdulillah, my son. How’s work?”
“We thank God, Daddy.”
Daddy sat down. “Good. Everyone is fine?”
“All fine.”
Yusuf didn’t stay long. When he stood to leave, Daddy said, “Won’t you stay to eat?”
He replied, “Alhamdulillah Daddy, I’ve eaten.”
Ammi, arranging food in the dining area, said, “Are you sure, Yusuf?”
He laughed. “Ammi, I’m really full.”
She said, “Alright.”
He greeted Daddy and left.
After Maghrib, Daddy wanted to go and greet Inna. He tried to take Imaan along, but she refused. Surprised, he went alone.
Inna was cleaning the tiles in her parlor when Daddy entered with greetings. She stood up and said,
“Honestly Bukar, you should keep warning your daughter to stop lying. She told me you weren’t back.”
He sat down smiling. “Sorry Inna, how was your day?”
She spread a mat and sat. “I’m fine, but lying isn’t good, and truly Imaan knows how to lie.”
She continued complaining bitterly about everyone neglecting her, how they no longer greeted her properly, how Mujaheed’s mother and the others avoided her, and how only Imaan and Mujaheed sometimes showed her concern. She said everyone had turned her into nothing in the house.
Daddy listened quietly, then said, “Please forgive them, Inna.”
Angrily she replied, “I’m tired of hearing that useless word ‘sorry.’ People keep apologizing while hurting you. If I disappear, they’ll search for me even abroad.”
Daddy said, “We’ll fix it, Inna. Forgive them all. I’ll talk to Imaan now, and also to Mujaheed.”
She said, “Good. Sit them down and ask them why they behave this way.”
After Isha, Daddy returned and found Imaan eating in the parlor. He said,
“Imaan, have you turned your grandmother into your playmate in this house?”
She looked at him as if about to cry.
Angrily he said, “Would you take your eyes off me, silly girl? Is that how you treat your grandmother? I warned you last time and you’re repeating the foolishness again.”
She lowered her head.
“I know your cure. Get up and leave my parlor.”
She stood up quickly, abandoned her food, ran into her room and locked it.
Daddy said to Ammi, “I don’t like this nonsense character of hers. Her grandmother is not her mate. You, Aisha, didn’t restrain her. I don’t like it, and I’ll teach her manners.”
The next morning, Imaan came out in her Islamiyya uniform, greeted Ammi quietly. Ammi said,
“So even scolding you isn’t enough, you cried all night until your eyes are swollen?”
Crying, Imaan said, “Please Ammi, don’t ever tell me to take food to her again. She always accuses people wrongly.”
Ammi replied, “Even if I don’t send you, I see you going there yourself.”
Imaan said firmly, “Yesterday was the last day I’ll go to her section. I’ll never go again.”
Ammi said, “Alright, he’s there. Let him hear you.”
Daddy asked, “Why wasn’t breakfast taken to Inna?”
Ammi explained that Inna had everything and didn’t want food brought anymore. Daddy turned to the news channel.
Before leaving for school, Daddy called Imaan back and told her to take two room fresheners to Inna. Silent and almost crying, she obeyed.
When she got there, Inna noticed her swollen eyes and asked what happened. Imaan suddenly broke down crying, saying Daddy scolded her harshly. Inna stormed into Daddy’s parlor and angrily defended Imaan, accusing him of tormenting the girl unnecessarily.
After that, Imaan went straight to the car and left for Islamiyya. Later that day, she fell sick with fever and body pains. Ammi discovered her wrapped in a blanket, burning hot. Daddy was informed, and they decided to take her to the hospital.
On their way, they met Abba, who suggested Mujaheed examine her since her doctor was away. As they spoke, Mujaheed appeared. When Abba told him to check Imaan, his heart skipped as he looked at her leaning weakly against the car, clearly unwell.
