Two

Dedicated To My Beloved Editor....Maryam

She was in a haste to get home that she wasn't looking her way when she bumped into someone.

"I'm sorry" she said, and continued walking without waiting or looking at him a second time. She quickly hailed a cab coming towards her and entered to go home. She arrived home and was about to dash inside the how when the cab make yelled, "Mallama baki biyani ba fa (Madam you are yet to pay me)". She stopped in her tracks and hit her forehead with and hand before turning to him. "Sorry, mantuwa na yi (sorry, I forgot)", she paid and dashed inside the compound. "Umma! Umma!!", she began to shout even before reaching the room. "Ke yarinya na yashe Zaki girma? (hey my girl, when will you grow up?)" Baba asked, "daga dawowar ki da Kiran sunnan Umma ki ko (from coming back you are already calling your mum's name)". Her Baba said laughing at her behavior. She pouted, "haba Baba, you know she was sick before I left for school this morning that's why". She replied still pouting.

"Diyata manta da Baban ki, na samu sauki lafiya ta kalau yanzu (my daughter, don't mind your father. I'm feeling okay now)". Her Umma said smiling, she sat close to her cuddling her. "Toh mage, let your Umma rest" Baba said teasing Tehzeeb. "Hmmm Umma, kinji Baba ko? (Hmmm Umma, can you hear dad?)" she said pouting her mouth still. "Ni dai ina  so inji dumin ummata, koko Umma kai na da nauyi? (I want to feel the warmth of my mother or Umma is my head heavy?)". She turned asking her Umma.

"Baza ki taba min girma ba Diyata (you'll never be too big for me my daughter)", she said stroking her head.

Tehzeeb sighed and smiled in contentment seeing her Umma a little big stronger unlike in the morning. They were all sitting in the room with smiles plastered on their faces, especially Tehzeeb because she loved seeing her parents in good moods. She hated seeing them not happy at all.

They were having their family moment when they heard a voice from outside the room. "Salam Alaikum (peace be upon you)", someone said from outside. Let me go and check, Tehzeeb said getting up from her mother's laps.

"Wa alaikum Salam (and unto you too)" she replied before coming out of the room but stop abruptly immediately she saw her friend Khadija. "Khady" she said but wasn't answered. "Khady I'm sorry,  I know you are mad at me for not saying goodbye before leaving".

"Hmm just because you know how to apologize and you know I can't stay mad at you for long right? You should have waited for me" Khady said a bit mad at Tehzeeb.

"I'm sorry, na damu ne da jikin Umma shi yesa (I was bothered about Umma's health that's why)" Tehzeeb said. "Tunda ba Umma na ba ko, ba mastala (since she's not my own mother right? no problem)" Khadija said leaving Tehzeeb there before saying Salam and entered Umma's room.

"Umman mu ya jiki? (our mother how are you feeling?)", Khadija asked,

"Jiki da sauki (I'm feeling better)

"Allah ya Kara sauki (may Allah increase your health)"

"Ameen, Ya makaranta? (how's school?)

"Lafiya lau Umma" Khadija said before turning to Baba. "Baba how's work?"

"Work is fine my blessed daughter, ya boko? (how's school?)

"Boko is fine" Khadija replied smiling.

"Toh Allah ya bada sa'a (wishing you the best of luck)" Baba said

"Ameen". Khadija continued to chat with Umma and Baba and totally ignoring Tehzeeb. When she noticed Khadija didn't want to talk her she intervened "Haba my friend I already apologized earlier, I said I was sorry. Umma please help me beg with her".

"No ooo, you are closer. It's between you two, don't include me" Umma said smiling.

"Umma" she pouted like a baby, "you're not helping the situation here, Baba please beg her for me".

"Oh oo ni kunfi kusa, kun ma ga tafiya ta (you guys are closer, I was even about leaving)" Baba replied leaving the room with a smile on his face.

"You see, no one is supporting you. But you've been forgiven, next time don't do that again". Before Khadija finished her statement she was engulfed in a bone crushing hug by Tehzeeb. "Thank you, you're the best! Let me go and cook"

"Let me help you out" Khadija said while the both left the room, Leaving Umma all alone. 

They had a great time while cooking. When they were done, they served themselves and ate, then it was time for Khadija to go back home because it was getting late. She bid them farewell and went back home. 

The rest of the week passed by quickly and it was weekend already. Umma had already recovered and was strong again. Baba has been busy going to his shop since Umma's recovery  and Tehzeeb has been busy with her lectures and assignments. 

Umma had just finished cooking with the help of Tehzeeb since she had no lectures during the weekends. They both ate together before going to perform ablution for prayer. After praying, Tehzeeb entered her parent's room, "Umma let me take food to Baba" 

"Toh bari muje tare (Okay let us go together). I want to take a stroll a bit, my joints are stiff from not having to move for a while". Umma said adjusting her wrapper before putting on her hijab. 

"Umma are you sure? You need to rest" Tehzeeb said concerned

"Oh ni Habiba, so I can't even take a stroll again?" Umma asked

"Umma it's not like that"

"Then how is it honey? Tell me"

"You're just recovering, you need all the rest you can have while fully gaining your strength back"

"Have I not been resting? Being sick and not doing doing anything or going anywhere is just like resting you know"

"No it's not Umma, that's different"

"Okay Tehzeeb, I've head you. Lock the door let's get going"

Tehzeeb locked the door and they both began to stroll to Baba's shop where he sells Kayan miya (soup items). Umma spoke after some minutes, "Tehzeeb How has  school been, hope there's no problem at all?"

"School is fine Umma, there's no problem at all in coping"

"Are you sure?" Umma emphasized because she knows her daughter well. 

"Yes Umma I'm sure" 

"Good, don't hesitate to tell me when you're having troubles. You know I'm always here for you and will always be" 

"I know Umma, thank you for being there for me. I'm proud to have you both in my life" 

"We are proud of you too Tehzeeb and in sha Allah (by Allah's will) we will always be proud of you our daughter" 

They arrived shortly at Baba's shop. "Sannu da kasuwa Baba" Tehzeeb said smiling at her father. 

"Ahn Ahn, what a pleasant surprise" Baba said smiling at them. "What do you have me?" He asked looking at them both with contentment and happiness. 

"We brought you food, we know you'll be hungry by now or Umma what do you say?" Tehzeeb said waiting for Umma's reply. 

"You're right" Umma replied. 

"Thank you my ladies, I'm really famished but didn't want to come home just yet. But thank you for bringing it to me" Baba said happily. 

"Here, come and sit for a while with me before leaving" Baba said, showing them a chair. 

"I don't feel like sitting down now, you know I'm out for a stroll and when strolling you don't sit" Umma said gesturing the chair for Tehzeeb to sit. 

"Won't you be tired?" Tehzeeb asked with concern. 

"No I won't, don't worry we will be leaving soon" they continued to chat for a while as Baba was eating his food. When he finished, Tehzeeb packed the plates together before standing up. "Umma let's start going so that Baba can concentrate on his business" 

"You are right my dear, toh mun wuche sai ka dawo (till you come back)"

"Will see you both when I'm back. Be careful and watch where your way because of careless drivers" 

"Don't worry, we won't go close to the road" Tehzeeb replied. Umma and Tehzeeb were walking carefully along the roadside, they were so far from Baba's shop when a car from nowhere hit Umma. 

"Umma! Tehzeeb yelled bending down to see if her mother was okay. Luckily, nothing was wrong with her. She helped her up not knowing Baba was already there by their side. 

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?" Baba asked all the questions at once, his voice and hands were trembling. 

"I'm okay, it was just a brush that's all" Umma replied dusting off her clothes. 

"Don't say that Umma, you were lucky -" before Tehzeeb could say another word she was interrupted 

"Haba dan Allah, are you blind? Don't you have eyes or what?" The guy that hit Umma said. Tehzeeb was so shocked by his statement that she was left speechless, she couldn't even say a word to him. 

"Haba yaro na (my boy), you're at fault and should apologize not the other way round" Baba said calmly. 

"Don't tell me that, and waye Yaron ka? (who's your boy?)" he said looking at Baba from head to toe in disgust. 

"Let me warn you, next time look at me properly before jabbering rubbish from your mouth. Do I look poor to you?" before he could say another demeaning word to Baba Tehzeeb slapped him twice on his face, leaving them all bewildered. 

What do you think of what Tehzeeb did? 

Did the guy deserve the slap?

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