I Was Created Like This

12: Home

Their cruise back home was hushed, only Fareeha and Malik sharing some laconic words, Hayfah was ruminative all the way. She was soo engrossed in her thoughts, of which were flabbergasting to her. She seldom finds herself thinking about her future, but today giving her fortuitous things, she couldn't ask why.

She envisaged herself as a married woman, with a loving and unshaken husband by her side. The person she would always look up to, the person that would always be by her side, he'll be her knight in shining armour, he'll be her shade, and the person she would forever count unto. He'll love her for who she is, not for what she possesses.

He'll give her beautiful and handsome babies, the babies that would be her source of happiness, they'll make her enthusiastic when she feels her world crashing down. They'll wipe away her tears, when there seems no one in her lonesome world.

Just the thought of how cute the babies would be; when they cuddle her, smile, laugh, and craddle around the house, made a wide grin and an outward chuckle escaped her lips.

They both gave her a puzzled look "Besty, what are thinking about? We've been talking since, but you haven't even utter a single word. And now__out of no where, a smile and chuckle crept out of your ruminative face," Fareeha inquired, flummoxedly looking at her. She knew there must be something wrong with her bestfriend, she had been acting bizarre.

Malik took a glimpse of smiley Hayfah, the grin he saw on her lips made a contented smile crept out of his lips. The smile gave him a sense of pleasure, it gives him hope, and how her dimple etched; made his heart flips.

"I'm thinking about life nah. Can't one thinks of his life? And when he envisioned something bright about the future, it's a must to grin, Besty. Try it one day," Hayfah acknowledged, with the smile not leaving her face. She looked at Fareeha through the rear mirror and winked at her, a naughty__full with words; wink.

"God! You look breathtaking with that wink, Betty. I couldn't help but embed it in my heart. Ya Allah!" Malik's subconscious words slipped out of his tongue, more like a whisper, but loud enough for Hayfah to hear. She was glad Fareeha hadn't heard it, if not__only god would save her from her blabbings.

She looked at him, flash him her exquisite smile and spoke in her husky, yet sensational voice "Betty, we have to drop Fareeha in Sabon Gari please. I think we're close by," he glued his eyes on how her dimples were etching in her tender cheeks.

He just nodded his head and glued his eyes on the road, he couldn't trust his words anymore, how his heart was twisted, he couldn't let it erupt her feelings in form of words.

Fareeha steered them to their house, he halted in front of their huge ironed gate, the house looked sumptuous and opulent, she was vividly from a rich family. Hayfah had never been to their house except for today.

"Hayfah, won't you come and greet Mom please?" Fareeha postulated, a pleading tone laced on her voice.

"I'll come next time, Besty. Betty will bring me, I'm not dressed properly, please," Hayfah begged and pouted her lips.

"Which kind of not properly dressed? We're dressed in an abaya, for god sake, Hayfah," Fareeha queried, flashing Malik the 'help me' look.

"Besty, please. I'll come," Hayfah pleaded again.

Malik knew what she was afraid of, he knew she doesn't want to be humiliated nor does she want to ridiculed. She was afraid if Fareeha's parents could accept her as she is. He knew her neurosis.

"It's okay, fake besty. I'll bring her next week, had something to attend to in 10mins time," he enunciated, looking at his wristwatch.

"It's okay then," Fareeha slumped her shoulders in defeat, bid them adieu and sauntered in.

In a hushed silence, he drove to Gwargwaje, halted infront of their metal door and turned; his whole body facing her. He thrusted her a brand new Tecno Y2, with a pleading smile on his face "Betty, don't say no, it isn't expensive, that's why I bought a cheap one. I know you will give back Abba his phone, and I couldn't live a day without hearing from you, don't repudiate it please."

Hayfah got her tongue tied, she could vividly see the plea and fear of veto in his eyes. How could she? She's in need of the phone afterall. She tardily thrusted her left hand and collected the box, scrutinizing it in her hand; a gratuitous smile escaped her lips.

"I couldn't say no, nor could I renounce a gift from you. But, Betty, If Abba or Umma didn't accept this gift, I would gladly return it back. Thank you," She elaborated, flashing him her best smile, as her dimples etched.

He palmed his face in relief, he thought she wouldn't accept, not so soon. "Thank you for not rebuffing my gift, it really gladened my heart. Thank you," he marvelled, his eyes were emoting how thankful he was.

She came out of the car, took her troley, bid him adieu and stood in front of their metal gate, realisation dawning on her. She had came back, the humiliation, the tears, the agonizing life. It has all came back, but she has already inoculated her heart, she will stand for herself.

With a heavy heart, she pushed the door and entered with a salaam. Her eyes started roaming around their small house, the water well, the toilet, the kitchen, their rooms, were and would always be like that. She didn't know when tears started cascading down her cheeks, she had missed home, 3 months without a glimpse of her family wasn't easy.

She heard Umma's ramblings from the kitchen, as she hissed and fan the woods she was cooking with. With ardent steps, Hayfah pranced to the kitchen, a wide and enthusiastic grin plastered on her lips.

She hugged Umma tightly and whispered "I've missed you, Umma," amidst her silent sobs.

Umma was startled, she shrugged her off, placing her hands on her chest; in an exaggerating way. "Who is this? Hayfah?!" She asked reluctantly, in a precarious way. She wasn't 100% sure it was Hayfah, this girl in front of her looked more matured, more beautiful, she looked oleaginous.

"It's me, Umma. How is home and everyone? I'm done with my first semester, Umma," Hayfah jabbered, her heart brimful of joy.

"Hayfah!" Umma exclaimed, as her eyes grew wide like a saucers. "What were you doing in school? Are you sure you went to school? See how your skin become sleek and luxurious. See the clothes you're wearing, Hayfah, what's in that leather? Hayfah, see the box! I'm flummoxed," Umma panted, pointing at everything she mentioned curiously. She couldn't want to think of what she was suspecting, how could Hayfah do this to her? How?

"Umma!" Hayfah droned ambiguously, tears washing down her face. Was Umma suspecting her? She couldn't fathom.

"Yes, Hayfah, tell me, how did you get all these? How, Hayfah! Don't tell me it's what university girls do, this is...Ya Allah!" Umma clamoured, as tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Umma, Wallahi, it's not what you're thinking, wallahi, Umma. These clothes, and the box, it was Fareeha that bought it for us, we live in the same room. And these__it was Malik that gave it to me, it's a phone. He gave it to me today, I can take it back to him, if you don't want, understand me, Umma. Don't inculpate me," came Hayfah's voice, it was laced with sheer anguish and an agonizing pain, she suddenly felt a spasm in her throbbing heart. Why? Wasn't she her mother?

"You're expecting me to believe all these? How dull of you. Hayfah, you must tell me what you did in those three months, or else__I'll crush you down and flush you away, in this house!" Umma roared, as she stood up, Hayfah took a trudging step backwards; this is just soo....afflicting.

Hayfah left the kitchen with backward steps, her heart beating vigorously against it's ribcage, she was crying excruciatingly. "Umma, believe me, wallahi, it wasn't what you're thinking. I'm not the bad girl you're expecting me to be. Please, Umma," she sounded despodent, as her tears were flowing unstoppable.

"Hayfah, I'll slap you right at this instance, and dare you take a step forward. You must tell me how you get all these things. Just admit it, you've become a w***e! Is it because I've always avowed that you wouldn't be successful in life? For you to prove me wrong? Tell me why, tell me why, Hayfah." Umma thundered, as she slapped her hard across her both cheeks.

Her words scourged Hayfah's heart, they were like a spasm to it, that made it throbbed uneasily. Her words were like a plague, they squirmed each and every vein of Hayfah's heart. How the words perforated her heart, they crucified her brittle heart.

She looked at her with her bloodshot eyes, her eyes emoting sheer anguish, pain, sadness, and nothing but a shattered heart. She forcefully wiped the tears that weren't stopping, and disgustfully looked at Umma, she had to stand for herself, she too has a life to live.

"Was I always at fault? Was I always the pugnacious and notorious type? Why couldn't you for once snub my faults? Why couldn't you for once look at me in an affectionate way. It hurts hearing those words erupting from your mouth, it hurts seeing a frown on your face, it hurts more when you accuse me.

Your words were like scourging knives, they directly pierce through my heart, and leaves it heartbroken, crestfallen and down hearted. They always impact my heart, and left an embedded sheer anguish and agonizing pain in my heart.

You have always ridiculed me, harrassed me, and humiliated me in the most agonizing ways. I've always looked down on how you threat me and do all my will to be good to you. But why wouldn't you realise how your words are detrimenting my heart? It hurts, Umma, deep down, beneath the heart, was an unvocalized pain.

You called me a w***e! It was the most heart wrenching word I've ever heard from your mouth. It writhes my heart, it causes the heart to bleed internally, and had stamped an impact on my life. I'll forever embed the word in my heart, for it came from an amazing mother like you.

I beg of you, even for a second, do snub my flaws, do smile at me, don't humiliate me, nor utter those words at me. Even for once, be nice please, Umma!" Without a glance, Hayfah took her box, and perambulated to their room, she locked it and slumped on the bed, as she completely broke down in tears. w***e! She had been called a w***e; that too by her mother.

Umma got stocked on her spot, she couldn't realise what her words had done. She felt a sense of remorse, as lamentation hits her. How could she accuse her of that? Wasn't she supposed to talk to her softly? Why would she utter that word to her? Ya Rabb!

Hayfah had only came out of the room when it was time for prayer, her eyes had already swolled up, due to the tears, she had been sluggishly acting; due to the lack of energy, her heart had been throbbing and squirming. She wasn't expecting that.

It was after Asr, she sat down on her bed, reading Qur-an; for in the remembrance of Allah, do hearts find peace. She heard the door creaked ajar but snubbed it, she was infuriated, and had vowed not to take anything from anyone. She will stand for herself, they will know the rebel that lies beneath her soul.

Amna sauntered into the room with a sneering look on her face, her hands at akimbo, she kept glaring at her, but Hayfah snubbed her existence. "It seems someone has finally found a rich guy, well should I say it's a reciprocation?" She taunted, enragedly glaring at her.

Hayfah abrupty stood up, facing Amna. "Don't! Don't you dare utter such a filthy word to me! For I'll show you the difference between an educated and an illiterate person," Hayfah roared in retaliation.

Amna got astounded, what has gotten into Hayfah's head? Is she uttering those words to her? Without hesitation, she slapped Hayfah's across the face, but her hand was halted before it lands on her face. It was no one but Hayfah.

Hayfah scoffed "Don't you dare! Do scupper your actions before putting them into play. That was then, Amna!" She bellowed angrily and flinged Amna's hand roughly.

So...how was everything going? Captivating? Or...

I sincerely didn't take down this book because of Niemsco, she's an amazing lady with a golden and rare heart. She's more than a friend to me, but a sister whom I could publicly avowed. I love her so much❤