It’s a major street in the Rimi Low-Cost area. All the houses along the street are large; there’s no small house. The houses are so impressive that you might think you’re not in Kaduna, but in Abuja. At the beginning of the street, there’s a particularly grand house, its design and structure impeccable.
A big car pulled into the street and stopped right at the gate of the house, honking. The security guard quickly came out to open the gate, letting the car in, and it parked. From the outside, the house didn’t seem extraordinary, but it was actually a large home with two apartments facing each other and a central part at the back.
When the car parked, the children inside opened the doors and got out. The driver opened the back for everyone to take out their lunch boxes and school bags. Two of the girls went to the left part of the house, while another ran to the right side.
Leena entered the parlour with a smile, went to her mother’s room, and said,
“Mummy, your girl is back!”
But she found the door locked. She frowned, then went to the kitchen, calling,
“Mummy, where are you?”
The kitchen was also locked. Her face twisted into a frown and tears began streaming down. She sat at the kitchen door, sulking, feeling very hungry. She then went to her room, hoping it wouldn’t be locked. The window was open, so she entered, took off her uniform, and as she was about to put away her school bag, she noticed that milk, sugar cubes, lots of cornflakes, and Golden Morn had been prepared for her. She realized that perhaps her mother had traveled and left her behind.
“Ammi, why do you travel and leave me here alone?” she cried. She eventually got up and went to the small part of the house.
In the parlour, she saw Hajiya sitting and eating.
“Hajiya, where’s my Mummy?”
Hajiya replied, “If you don’t speak Hausa in a way I can understand, then figure it out yourself.”
Leena sat quietly, then asked, “So where’s my mother?”
Hajiya said, “Clearly, your mother didn’t teach you greetings, or what? You only listen to other kids, huh, little gold girl.”
Leena almost cried, saying, “I forgot.”
Hajiya continued, “Well, since you understand Hausa, you must know how to answer.”
Tired of Hajiya’s chatter, Leena pursed her lips, stayed silent, and began to cry.
Hajiya said, “Don’t fill my ears with nonsense. Ammi has gone to Niger for a funeral.”
Leena asked, “Did she say when she would return?”
Hajiya replied, “Look, don’t bother me. Go eat.”
Leena said, “I’m hungry.”
Hajiya responded, “Go to Mama Riyan’s room; she’ll prepare food for you.”
Leena pouted, “Even if I go, Mummy would have fed me, but she hasn’t. I won’t get anything here.”
Hajiya said, “Well, here’s a little I’ve prepared for you.” She went to the kitchen, brought a bowl, and filled it with food. Leena stared at it.
Hajiya handed it to her.
Leena said, “You didn’t put any meat in it. I don’t eat without meat.”
Hajiya said, “Alas! Your mother has really spoiled you, hasn’t she? Even the little meat I put, you stare at it?”
Hajiya cut a small piece of meat for her. Leena then went to eat the rest of her meal.
After greetings, everyone looked up as Rayyan entered. Leena smiled and said,
“Welcome back, Ya Rain.”
He replied, “Little angel.”
She almost cried, “Ya Rain, you see, my mom went on a trip and left me here alone.”
Rayyan said, “You’re not alone; I’m here with you, okay?”
Leena nodded. He sat down on the carpet, greeted Hajiya, and she gave him a side-eye but smiled. He smiled back, then apologized, knowing Hajiya had prepared the food for her.
Leena went to the kitchen to put back the leftover food. Hajiya said,
“You little girl, always causing mischief! You never finish your meal, so I had to mix in the meat for you. Now, you’ll want the rest back.”
Leena left the kitchen. Rayyan said, “Be patient, Hajiya, she’s just a child.”
Hajiya replied, “Mind your words.”
Leena said to Rayyan, “I begged her before she gave me a piece of meat, and she even insulted me.”
Rayyan smiled, “It’s okay.”
Hajiya added, “Even if you cry, it’s your father who made you, so know that.”
Leena got up and walked away.
Rayyan said to Hajiya, “How can we scold her? I just came to greet you.”
Hajiya smiled, “Alright, son. Don’t forget the same type of meat tonight.”
He replied, “In shaa Allah.”
Leena was about to enter her part of the house when Nisreen ran toward her and slapped her. Leena froze and asked,
“What did I do to deserve that?”
Nisreen said, “I don’t know.”
Before she could finish, Rayyan lightly hit Nisreen and said, “I didn’t stop you from being naughty, so why hit her?”
Nisreen burst into tears, “Yaya Rayyan, I’m your biological sister! Why do you love Leena more than me?”
Rayyan held her, “I love you equally. You are both my sisters. Now, what did she do to you?”
She replied, “She saw my assignment and I know it was her. She’s not your sister; she’s just an Agola.”
Rayyan scolded her, while Leena shrugged, “Do what you want. As an Agola, I know I’m better than you in every way, so Alhamdulillah!”
Leena walked past Nisreen, leaving Rayyan stunned. He took Nisreen to her room, instructing her not to bother Leena again.
They reached the parlour and saw Mummy working on a system. Nisreen tried to peek at her, but Rayyan covered her eyes.
Leena greeted, “Mummy, good work.”
Mummy looked at her, “You! Did you see her?”
Nisreen nodded. Mummy said, “I don’t like mischievous girls. Did you let Leena get away with something?”
Leena said, “No, I went to stop her from hitting me.”
Rayyan asked, “Mummy, what did she do?”
Mummy said, “She saw Nisreen’s assignment.”
Rayyan asked, “How did that happen?”
Mummy asked, “Who is Nisreen’s friend in this house?”
Rayyan said, “She didn’t enter that part of the house.”
Mummy said, “Then go and scold her, shameless girl.”
Rayyan sighed, and Niswa appeared in the kitchen, complaining that Leena always got attention at school and from teachers.
Rayyan realized, for the first time, that Leena was indeed favored by everyone and smiled.
Later, in the evening, Rayyan came home with three bags. He went directly to Hajiya’s part, greeting her, then entered the parlour and gave one bag.
Hajiya said, “Thank you, Riyan. May Allah bless you with a good wife and blessed children like you.”
He replied, “Amin.”
He looked around, then took out his phone and called Hajiya, asking, “Where’s Leena?”
Hajiya said, “She hasn’t come in yet. I was afraid something might happen to her.”
Rayyan left, saying, “See you tomorrow.”
Hajiya muttered to herself about Leena’s boldness.
Rayyan tried Leena’s part of the house. The door was locked. He knocked and called, “Leena, it’s me. Please open!”
To his surprise, she replied, “I’m coming.”
After a few minutes, she opened the door, greeting, “Good evening.”
He said, “Why not stay with Hajiya tonight instead of being alone here?”
She replied, “Ya Rain, you know I don’t like Gori, right? I prefer staying here.”
He was surprised by her frankness but handed her a bag. She saw chicken inside, thanked him, and he corrected, “Rayyan, not Rain.” She laughed, nodded, and said, “Good night,” then locked her door.
The next morning, Rayyan went to the mosque, then to Hajiya’s part. After greetings, he checked on Leena. She brushed, prayed, ate breakfast, and packed her bag for school. Her father opened the gate for her, and she smiled at him. He smiled back because he loved seeing hardworking children. Leena ran to hug him; he held her hand, and they walked to her part, chatting.
Rayyan greeted Abba, and Leena said, “Good morning, Ya Rain.” Abba smiled. Rayyan asked if she had rested well; she nodded. Mummy, Nisreen, and Niswa also entered the parlour. Seeing Leena with Mummy, they scowled at her and scolded her.
Alhamdulillah
It’s a major street in the Rimi Low-Cost area. All the houses along the street are large; there’s no small house. The houses are so impressive that you might think you’re not in Kaduna, but in Abuja. At the beginning of the street, there’s a particularly grand house, its design and structure impeccable.
A big car pulled into the street and stopped right at the gate of the house, honking. The security guard quickly came out to open the gate, letting the car in, and it parked. From the outside, the house didn’t seem extraordinary, but it was actually a large home with two apartments facing each other and a central part at the back.
When the car parked, the children inside opened the doors and got out. The driver opened the back for everyone to take out their lunch boxes and school bags. Two of the girls went to the left part of the house, while another ran to the right side.
Leena entered the parlour with a smile, went to her mother’s room, and said,
“Mummy, your girl is back!”
But she found the door locked. She frowned, then went to the kitchen, calling,
“Mummy, where are you?”
The kitchen was also locked. Her face twisted into a frown and tears began streaming down. She sat at the kitchen door, sulking, feeling very hungry. She then went to her room, hoping it wouldn’t be locked. The window was open, so she entered, took off her uniform, and as she was about to put away her school bag, she noticed that milk, sugar cubes, lots of cornflakes, and Golden Morn had been prepared for her. She realized that perhaps her mother had traveled and left her behind.
“Ammi, why do you travel and leave me here alone?” she cried. She eventually got up and went to the small part of the house.
In the parlour, she saw Hajiya sitting and eating.
“Hajiya, where’s my Mummy?”
Hajiya replied, “If you don’t speak Hausa in a way I can understand, then figure it out yourself.”
Leena sat quietly, then asked, “So where’s my mother?”
Hajiya said, “Clearly, your mother didn’t teach you greetings, or what? You only listen to other kids, huh, little gold girl.”
Leena almost cried, saying, “I forgot.”
Hajiya continued, “Well, since you understand Hausa, you must know how to answer.”
Tired of Hajiya’s chatter, Leena pursed her lips, stayed silent, and began to cry.
Hajiya said, “Don’t fill my ears with nonsense. Ammi has gone to Niger for a funeral.”
Leena asked, “Did she say when she would return?”
Hajiya replied, “Look, don’t bother me. Go eat.”
Leena said, “I’m hungry.”
Hajiya responded, “Go to Mama Riyan’s room; she’ll prepare food for you.”
Leena pouted, “Even if I go, Mummy would have fed me, but she hasn’t. I won’t get anything here.”
Hajiya said, “Well, here’s a little I’ve prepared for you.” She went to the kitchen, brought a bowl, and filled it with food. Leena stared at it.
Hajiya handed it to her.
Leena said, “You didn’t put any meat in it. I don’t eat without meat.”
Hajiya said, “Alas! Your mother has really spoiled you, hasn’t she? Even the little meat I put, you stare at it?”
Hajiya cut a small piece of meat for her. Leena then went to eat the rest of her meal.
After greetings, everyone looked up as Rayyan entered. Leena smiled and said,
“Welcome back, Ya Rain.”
He replied, “Little angel.”
She almost cried, “Ya Rain, you see, my mom went on a trip and left me here alone.”
Rayyan said, “You’re not alone; I’m here with you, okay?”
Leena nodded. He sat down on the carpet, greeted Hajiya, and she gave him a side-eye but smiled. He smiled back, then apologized, knowing Hajiya had prepared the food for her.
Leena went to the kitchen to put back the leftover food. Hajiya said,
“You little girl, always causing mischief! You never finish your meal, so I had to mix in the meat for you. Now, you’ll want the rest back.”
Leena left the kitchen. Rayyan said, “Be patient, Hajiya, she’s just a child.”
Hajiya replied, “Mind your words.”
Leena said to Rayyan, “I begged her before she gave me a piece of meat, and she even insulted me.”
Rayyan smiled, “It’s okay.”
Hajiya added, “Even if you cry, it’s your father who made you, so know that.”
Leena got up and walked away.
Rayyan said to Hajiya, “How can we scold her? I just came to greet you.”
Hajiya smiled, “Alright, son. Don’t forget the same type of meat tonight.”
He replied, “In shaa Allah.”
Leena was about to enter her part of the house when Nisreen ran toward her and slapped her. Leena froze and asked,
“What did I do to deserve that?”
Nisreen said, “I don’t know.”
Before she could finish, Rayyan lightly hit Nisreen and said, “I didn’t stop you from being naughty, so why hit her?”
Nisreen burst into tears, “Yaya Rayyan, I’m your biological sister! Why do you love Leena more than me?”
Rayyan held her, “I love you equally. You are both my sisters. Now, what did she do to you?”
She replied, “She saw my assignment and I know it was her. She’s not your sister; she’s just an Agola.”
Rayyan scolded her, while Leena shrugged, “Do what you want. As an Agola, I know I’m better than you in every way, so Alhamdulillah!”
Leena walked past Nisreen, leaving Rayyan stunned. He took Nisreen to her room, instructing her not to bother Leena again.
They reached the parlour and saw Mummy working on a system. Nisreen tried to peek at her, but Rayyan covered her eyes.
Leena greeted, “Mummy, good work.”
Mummy looked at her, “You! Did you see her?”
Nisreen nodded. Mummy said, “I don’t like mischievous girls. Did you let Leena get away with something?”
Leena said, “No, I went to stop her from hitting me.”
Rayyan asked, “Mummy, what did she do?”
Mummy said, “She saw Nisreen’s assignment.”
Rayyan asked, “How did that happen?”
Mummy asked, “Who is Nisreen’s friend in this house?”
Rayyan said, “She didn’t enter that part of the house.”
Mummy said, “Then go and scold her, shameless girl.”
Rayyan sighed, and Niswa appeared in the kitchen, complaining that Leena always got attention at school and from teachers.
Rayyan realized, for the first time, that Leena was indeed favored by everyone and smiled.
Later, in the evening, Rayyan came home with three bags. He went directly to Hajiya’s part, greeting her, then entered the parlour and gave one bag.
Hajiya said, “Thank you, Riyan. May Allah bless you with a good wife and blessed children like you.”
He replied, “Amin.”
He looked around, then took out his phone and called Hajiya, asking, “Where’s Leena?”
Hajiya said, “She hasn’t come in yet. I was afraid something might happen to her.”
Rayyan left, saying, “See you tomorrow.”
Hajiya muttered to herself about Leena’s boldness.
Rayyan tried Leena’s part of the house. The door was locked. He knocked and called, “Leena, it’s me. Please open!”
To his surprise, she replied, “I’m coming.”
After a few minutes, she opened the door, greeting, “Good evening.”
He said, “Why not stay with Hajiya tonight instead of being alone here?”
She replied, “Ya Rain, you know I don’t like Gori, right? I prefer staying here.”
He was surprised by her frankness but handed her a bag. She saw chicken inside, thanked him, and he corrected, “Rayyan, not Rain.” She laughed, nodded, and said, “Good night,” then locked her door.
The next morning, Rayyan went to the mosque, then to Hajiya’s part. After greetings, he checked on Leena. She brushed, prayed, ate breakfast, and packed her bag for school. Her father opened the gate for her, and she smiled at him. He smiled back because he loved seeing hardworking children. Leena ran to hug him; he held her hand, and they walked to her part, chatting.
Rayyan greeted Abba, and Leena said, “Good morning, Ya Rain.” Abba smiled. Rayyan asked if she had rested well; she nodded. Mummy, Nisreen, and Niswa also entered the parlour. Seeing Leena with Mummy, they scowled at her and scolded her.