Chapter 1

Hajiya Zainab Akorede, my mum was rushed to the hospital. I was by her side, making dua' (supplications), reciting silent prayers. Her poor heartbeat throbs slowly as she was breathing through oxygen. Mum hasn't gain consciousness since the incident happened. I don't want to talk about it right now because the last five days has been the worse days of my life...

 As it is, I was just discharged minutes ago from this same hospital. I was with mum in the "Emergency Room", waiting for the surgeon to remove the bullet from the right side of her forehead as it was bleeding. 

Mallam Shehu, Alfa Luqman and Imam Hussain Akorede, my dad was with the doctor.

"Stay away from mum, crazy witch!"

Ibrahim, my brother came in to the ward and dragged me away from mum. 

"You put her in this situation and you're praying?! The robbers raped you because you're ill-luck. I don't want to ever see you near mum, just go home and get lost!"

"Brother..." I muttered slowly as painful tears gathered in my eyes.

"Take yourself and that bastard away from our lives, it is causing so much trouble already!" He raged in anger.

"Will you stop sinning against yourself? And stop uttering nonsense, brother Ibro! It's not my fault, no matter what you do... So don't put your hatred on me because I never wanted this for myself." My shaky voice sounded as I moved closer to him, placing my right palm on his shoulder but he flinched away.

"Bro Ibro, where is your faith?" Tears of sadness streams down my weak eyes. My heart and whole body was trembling with my voice. Deep in me, I know I'm never going to be the 'Aisha Akorede' I was five days ago.

"He says we should believe in good or bad." I continued. "We all make plans but Allah is the best planner. Keep faith in God, everything would be fine, Insha Allah... " I faced him and looked into his red eyes... All I could see was the boiling level of his anger and hatred.

"You must be insane, Aisha! You're crazy! I can't believe that you are the one telling me this right now! In fact, your presence stinks me! Just excuse me... Madam, The Purest!!" He hissed at me with disgust and leaves me in tears.

***

Imam Hussain, my dad and his friends with some elders came out from the doctor's office. I was about to leave the ward when I saw my dad. Sadness and distress were boldly written on their faces but that on my dad's face was worse. I quickly rushed to him.

"Dad... Dad, what is it?! Will mum be fine?! Dad, say something... Please don't keep quiet, your silence is killing me!" Another set of tears gathered again in my eyes.

Dad held my face lightly, trying to force a smile that wouldn't even come.

"My daughter, the doctor said she needs brain surgery immediately if we still want her alive. The problem now is that... The specialist is not in town. He won't be around till next tomorrow."

"Yaa Allah! It's awful, dad! What are we going to to do now?"

"We're making plans to fly her abroad, we don't have much time and money. The doctor said the earlier the better for us. Aisha, I can't stand the thought of loosing your mum."

Ibrahim walks to where we were standing and grabbed my arm.

"Aisha! If mum dies, you'll die too!" 

My body was apparently weak and my head and heart was pounding more than pain to my whole body.

Dad slightly pushed him back.

"Ibrahim, shut up! Not in front of the elders. Be patient and don't speak to your younger sister like that! You should be sympathizing with her, and serve your shoulders so she would lean her heavy head on, Instead of nagging about unnecessarily!"

"Leave me alone, dad. Let me talk some sense into her!"

He held my face to his.

"Right now, I wish you aren't alive! I wish you never come back and die with that bastard baby!"

"Stop this nonsense and stop disgracing yourself, Ibrahim!"

"Aisha, You see yourself abi?! Now, Dad hates me because of you! It's all your fault and I'll deal with you, don't worry!!" He pushed me away and stormed out of the hospital.

"Take your sister home, Ibrahim!

I'm talking to you, don't walk out on me.... I - B - R - A - H - I - M !!!"

Dad yelled but Ibro didn't even turn is back.

"Yaa Allah! Yaa Rahman!! Oh Allah, please come to my rescue. The All-Doing, The All-Hearing, Accept my plea..." Hot tears rushed down my eyes, As I tried to supress it with the remaining strength left in me.

"Dad, please. Remember your years of good works, sacrifices and Jihad. I beg you, don't let anything shake your faith but to wake your faith instead. Dad! You taught me to thrive and be conscious of who I am in whatever situation I may be facing." I wiped away my tears, holding his hands with mine.

"Dad, You taught me to always put Allah first in whatever I do and I would succeed. You're my pillar and strength, don't turn your back at me like Ibrahim now..." I held him into a tight hug, breaking into uncontrollable tears again.

"It's enough, Aisha. Please, stop crying now else you'll cause yourself more pain." He gently pulled away from me and helped my weak body seat on a white, plastic chair in the reception.

"Your mum... The doctor said she might not be able to make it after 24 hours. Aisha, your mum is dying and the specialist is not here." He nods his sweaty head in total confusion.

"Taking a transfer to another hospital or traveling for treatment somewhere else might be too risky, I'm so confused."

"Dad, Allah is here. God is always with us to answer our prayers. He is the All-Seeing, The All-Hearing. Where is your faith, dad? We can't fight this with a weak faith in God, remember? If Yusuf can return to his father, Yakub. Even my mum will come back to me, dad." I looked up at my dad's face, staring into his sad eyes for a while. With almost the same confusion on his face.

As if I remembered something mentioning the prophet names.

"Excuse me dad, I'll be right back." I ran out of the hospital as my eyes searched over the place for the hospital's mosque.

"Finally!" I uttered with a deep sigh as my eyes caught up with the small, white painted mosque stand behind the gates. I rused to the tap but there was no water. The big drums, buckets and kettles were also empty. I tried adding up the leftover water from about six to seven tiny kettles but it would't be enough even though I manage it. 

Immediately, I ran out of the hospital to buy pure water from a restaurant opposite the hospital. I made an ablution a offered naflah (two raka'ah). I started reciting Qur'anic verses in my eyes with faith and fear in my trembling heart.

Originator of the heavens and the earth, Whenever You decree a thing, You only say to it 'Be' and it is (Q2: 117)

Rabbir - hamuhumma kamaa rabba yaanii sagiira. (Q17: 24)

My Lord Bestow my parents, Your Mercy as they cherished me in childhood.

"Oh Allah, The Most Exalted. Please, send An Angel as a specialist to mum. The Compassionate, The Director, Save my mum from death and save my family from Shaytanic plots and any evil that whispers in the heart of men. please, don't make my mother die in this way. O Allah, Accept my prayers and perform a miracle... Just like how you accepted Zulaiha's prayers."

***

Minutes Later

I returned back to the ward quietly reciting Suratul-Nass in my mind. Sure, I must have recited it about a hundred times already. Just then, the doctor tapped my dad and said.

"Alhaji, the doctor is here. He missed the flight and didn't travel again."

"Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Kabirah!" Alfa Luqman, one of my dad's friend giggled loudly.

Mum was quickly taken into the theatre for operation. Everyone felt better as the operation would commence for about 3 hours.

I took a taxi home to freshen up, only to meet Ibrahim outside gathering woods and sticks. With him was my file containing my certificates and other valid documents.

"Assalam 'Alaikum, big bro." I greeted with a broad smile on my happily face. "Huh-huh, My brother is so sweet! So you rushed home because you wanted clean the house before my arrival." I made a cute cat's eye at him but he wore a wicked smirk to reply my expression.

"Yes, I've been waiting for your arrival. So you'll see your ruin with your own eyes."

"What do you mean my ruin? Is that fuel and matches?" I made a wide-goaty laughter at him.

"If God wanted you to burn it, bro Ibro. You would have burnt before my arrival. You wouldn't have waited for me."

"Really?" He questioned in bewilderment. "I've seen you've grown wings."

"As long as I'm here, you can never set it ablaze." I went inside to keep the bags I was holding inside and left him to do whatever he likes.

As he was about to pour the fuel on the file, Danlami shouted.

"Small oga, I dey cook... Chai! My food don burn finish oo. Smoke don full am for everywhere ooo!! Chai!!!"

"Yaa Rabb!" Ibrahim exclaimed and ran into the kitchen with the house boy.

I took my files clean and unburnt. Picked it and hide it safe. All the commotion happening with me resently is becoming tougher and unbearable for my young shoulders to carry. I prayed Salatul 'Asr and decided to visit Adunni Ikudaisi, my best friend since childhood. On my way, I said this timelessly within my heart.

"Rabbanaa 'aatinaa mil-ladunka Rahmatanwaa hayyi' lanaa min amrinaa rashadaa. (Q18: V10)."

"Oh Lord! Bestow on us Mercy from Yourself, and dispose of our affairs for us in the right way."

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Arabic Words and It's English Meanings.

Allahu Akbar - God is the Greatest.

Yusuf - Joseph.

Yakub - Jacob.

naflah - (two raka'ah).

Raka'ah - Prayer.

Yaa Dhal Jalaal wal Ikram - Lord of Magesty And Bounty.

Insha Allah- By the will of God.

Pure water: Satchet water

Zulaiha - blossom or Flower. Also a devoted wife of Joseph.

Zainab - An ornamented Tree or A fragrant plant. Also the name of the prophet Muhammad's daughter.

Salatul 'Asr -  Evening prayer (between 3:30 to 4:00pm)

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ADVICE OF THE DAY...

Servants of Allah, Exercise Patience In Whatever You do Or Face!!

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