The house was a four bed room apartment and it belongs to the Oladele. Just a week with the family brought a lot of tears to her eyes as it makes her remember her family fondly.Of course, why wont she?They are exactly like hers, for a bit difference!In the family, there are four children, Imran, Ibrahim , Idris and Hikmah. Imran is the first child of the family and he is probably in his thirties or late twenties, he keeps a lot to himself and he works…she cant say where, but she know that he lives so early in the morning in his well-tailored suit that remind her of her father suits, she had met him twice, but she always clean his room every morning. The fast time was a Wednesday, it was her first Wednesday in the house in the house and he was late that day and she wanted to clean his room only to stumble on him at the room entrance. It was obvious that he was in a hurry. “Salamualykum… I am Imran, you must be the new help.” He said to her and left without even waiting for an an
“Then how do you pray without regular hijab?” He asked her“What do you mean by regular hijab?” She asked him.“You know for a Muslimah to observe Salah, you need to cover up all the part of your body, leaving at most your face and Palm.” He explained .“No one told me that , I thought it is only the head... You know I wear short and three quarter skirts alot. I only have just a long skirt ..” She said , she and her sister had only few outfits, having lost all their dresses to the fire years ago, the only outfits they were left with were just the few they took with them to school and that is what they have been wearing since the death of their parents, no one seem to care about their outfits.“You can start with that ... And if you don’t mind, I can get you one hijab and a skirt , you can always have it in your bag to pray ...” He said to her.“You will buy one for me ?” She asked with a frown...and he sensed it.“I said if you don’t mind, it is not a must ...” He said to her and sh
The feeling of being covered that she felt was out of the world, she felt secured! She felt covered! She felt pure! She felt so relieved And she keep smiling at herself that morning as she find her way to work.She know her boss will be surprised and she was as soon as saw her. “Oh ma Sha Allah, this is beautiful.” She said to her. “Take that wrapper you use for Salah in the store and tie it round your body so as not to stain your dress while you work.” She said to her and she nodded. She didn’t even thought of that.She smiled at herself as she continue mobbing the kitchen tiles, she had come so early that morning, even though she didn’t know how best to say it, she felt different with her hijab and Abaya and that very first morning she put it on to work, she swore never to wear any short dress again.Perhaps she should just look for who to give, her sister refused to wear hers , so she already have a spare... she can wear one alternatively. “Who is this?” she heard Hikmah’s
“Ma Sha Allah, I could barely recognise you...” Ismail said as soon as he caught up with her and she smiled at him. “So how is Ibadah?” he asked her and she looked at him not knowing what to say because she didn’t know the meaning. “I mean act of worship.” He said smiling at her and she nodded. “Oh... Alihamdulilah...” She said “And your sis?” He asked her and she sighed, her sister seem so off lately and she didn’t know what is wrong with her. She would not share her worries with her no matter how much she tried. “Is there any problem?” You can tell me anything.” He said to her with interest. “It is not that.... Hmmm, never mind... When are you travelling , is your exams results out?” She asked him , she remember him telling he would only go home after the convocation list is out “Yes, Alihamdulilah, I got to see it yesterday, and I will be travelling next week ins sha Allah.” He said to her and saw cloud of sadness on her face. They have become so close over the few weeks. “
“What is it ? Why are you staring at me like that? I am not doing anything wrong, I am just doing the best for us. I want us to have a better life and this man did promise us one.” Her sister said to her and she tried to understand what she was trying to say.“Ehn… what are you saying ? Who is Daddy? What is bless you …. Wait … are you … no… do you now go to church, I do heard Christians neighbors say that to each other.” Ashabi asked her with her heart beating so faster, hoping that it is not true but just staring at her sister , that moment, she need no one to tell her that it was true. “You now go to church?” Ashabi asked and there were tears in her eye. “Ashabi don’t shout… I just want us to get a better life… they said if I start coming to their Church and participate in all activities, they would send us back to school and sponsor us until we get a job.” She explained to her sister who shook her head in denial. “No, I am not going to do that with you… I am not …” She said a
“Is that what you come to the house to tell me?” She asked and he nodded. “I am sorry again.” He said and she wish to shut him down for telling her sorry. “I have never for once see you as a … I always see you just like my sister…and I can’t even begin to see you differently. The proposal has already being sent before I was aware and waiting for my father to do this might take a while and hence why I am here. You are just like a younger sister to me and I really want it to be like that.” He said to her again and without a word, she stood up and went into her bedroom and didn’t come back to the living room, he waited for a while for her before he left the building, she was the only one in the house as it was a weekday, he had thought that he would meet her mother at home but he didn’t and part of him was glad, he didn’t want to see the disappointment on her face.It still baffles him that anyone would want to get married to someone like him. He know she might have been brainwashed an
“What is not good enough… looking for some alternative?” Shade asked looking at him and he swallowed hard. “Yes, I am not comfortable with that.” He said to her and she looked at him with surprise… wondering why he was not comfortable with it.“How about you just be patient … let us keep looking for some other work, I am back now… I will help in whatever way I can ins Sha Allah… “ He promised and she sighed.“We can’t put all responsibility on you Ismail, that is unfair … Ashabi and I had been taking care of ourselves since the death of our parents , you don’t have to take any responsibility … I can do anything as long as it is legit.” She said to him and he swallowed hard.“Normally, you don’t have to do all these… “ He said to her half to himself and she sighed. “So, who is suppose to do this? Did we tell you that we never have brothers , we were three girls and one died with Dad and Mum.” She said “May Allah forgive them and grant them Jannah.” He prayed and sighed with Amin.
She sighed as she entered the room and watched her sister who seem to be looking through he bag and she wondered what she was looking for. “Anti mi, is anything the problem?” she asked her sister who looked at her and shook her head innocently. “Nothing .” She replied her sister and Ashabi sighed and sank in the bed looking at her sister. “Bro Ismail returned from the camp today, and you could not even greet him properly when he was greeting you.” She said to her sister who shrugged. “How do you want me to greet him?” Shade asked with exasperation. “Is everything okay at ... Your work place?” Ashabi could not help asking. “Did I tell you anything is the problem?” Shade snapped at her sister who looked surprise at her sister’s question. “Hmmmm, okay, I am not going to say anything more... “Ashabi said with a sigh and truthfully, she didn’t have any interaction with her sister all through the night. Her heart was beating faster as she entered the office wondering why she was bei