Chapter 3

"I'm surprised at you dad! What has gone wrong with the integrity and faith you once held? The standards you set up... Dad!" I uttered in regret and dismay as hot tears streamed down my face, as if I was been hitten by a rock. It's unbelievable.

"How can you allow them play with your spiritual intellect? Where is your faith dad? This is Ash-Shaytan whispering in your heart... Imagine an Imam's daughter going for an abortion. Do not give in dad, please." I begged in tears.

"I'm tired of this already!" Ibro hissed and goes upstairs, into his room.

"Then let them go, dad! he who stands with million of people without Allah is standing alone! I know you're the imam of the central mosque, it means nothing... Not even your tears will change my mind, dad! I'm keeping this baby!!"

"If so, then I think you need yourself a new home! Being a Yoruba from a good home with noble birth, Will you disrespect your own father?!If you have another father outside, then, feel free and find yourself a new home!!!" My dad finalized.

"What?! A child is a blessing from God, Dad! How can I murder an innocent child in the name of what? Wealth? Fame? This is unfair daddy!!"

"I gave you good upbringing in the most religious way. Leave this house and never come back! I disown the child that would cause my own down fall! You did't even think of your mother's condition!

"I will not leave this house, dad. Leave this house to where? Like are you seriouse right now? I don't have anywhere to go and you of all people knows that! Dad please, reconsider!!!"

"You heartless, self-centered child. You're so stubborn and wicked. Your destiney is so unfortunate... I can't take it any longer."

He stood up and wandered around the room for a while. Then he sat beside me again, reading my confused eyes.

"Ash-Shaytan want to use you to destroy my 20 years of hardwork. I've been appointed the chief imam if this community even before you are born. Today, Alhaji Aliyu said he's so disappointed in me. Someone whom out of love and kindness gave me 2 million naira to build this house we're living in. This 6 bedroom duplex."

"Many of them like that! There is no money anywhere! You mum is dying... Ibrahim is in his final year in medical school and you're yet to get admission into university. Meet the doctor and he'll fix a date. Do the abortion, Aisha. My hands are tied now. My colleagues are laughing at me."He moved closer to me, trying to persuade me.

"My daughter, I suffered. I saw hunger and starvation. My hassan and hussain, your elder twin brothers died on this journey because of poverty. I held unto my faith... You too almost died, remember? How you manage to survive that sickness due to mal-nutrition is still a miracle. I'll rather lose you now than go to poverty. PACK YOUR THINGS AND LEAVE!"

"Yaa Allah, this is not my dad speaking. This is not Imam Hussain Akorede. Dad, you can't do this! Where do I go from here, you're making things worsen by listening to them."

"Dad, it was on that sick bed you made me this Aisha that I am today. We had no money and the doctor asked us out of the ward. Almost dying, I was laid on the cold floor and mum developed eye problem due to too much crying. Your words gave me strength dad, you held my hands when nobody was there with me. Remember when you told me; Aisha, you're five years old. The name of Allah is five letter words. You will not die now, with faith keep saying it to yourself. And I kept saying it 'I will not die now', I kept saying it, dad. You made me believe in Allah, The One who healed me was Allah, The All Doing. Remember the day when you said to me "Aisha, I'm sorry. Dad has no money, he can't help you. Only Allah hss the power to heal you." 

I held his hands tight so he would understand.

"Dad, I kept calling on Allah with deep faith inside my heart and miraculously got discharged on the third day. That was the man you were. I saw Allah's powers through you, daddy. Why are you doing this to me now? Why?! Don't give shaytan a chance, please..."

He held my face earnestly.

"I thought you everything you know about Islam so please, don't lectutre me. I groomed you to who you are today, Aisha. I lead you through the right path. I've always told you what you should and shouldn't! Why disobey me now?! Abort the pregnancy! It's not a request but a command, Aisha. For the last time I'm telling you this as your father. Get rid of that basterd and save my reputation."

I pulled away from him.

"I'm going no where dad, My faith in Allah is stronger than the bond we share.  You may give up on me but I'll never commit a sin. I'm the only daughter you have dad, but you prefer to treat me like rubbish. Only if mum was here... If only that stupid incident didn't happen?" Tears streamed down my red, disappointed eyes.

"But no problem, dad. I'll leave if that's what you want."I wiped away the tears with the back of my hand.

"Ibro!"

"Yes dad!"

"Are you done?!"

"Yes sir!"

"Good, throw her out!"

Ibro lifted my laugage, throwing them out of the gate one after another. In tears,  I watched my own family throw me out because I wanted to keep the baby. In my heart, I kept reciting qur'anic verses hoping Allah would send an Angel to save me. 

"Bro. Ibrahim, Is this what you wish for me?... Dad, please don't do this to me! How will you sleep confortably when I'm homeless?! Yaa Rabb!!"

"Mteeeew! Go and meet the father of your unborn child in hell, little sis! Shebi you can make mouth! Madam holy-holy, You see your life?!" He nodded at me pitifuly as if he actually felt my pain. "No one wished this for you, baby sis but you just wouldn't listen. I guess this is what you wanted for yourself, right?" He banged and locked the gate at my face.

Thinking about the incident and what my it has caused my family, I cried for a while. At this moment, My confused head wasn't able to think straight. I started hitting the gate but no one answered. I packed my luggage together at a corner just behind our big, black gate continued reading qur'anic verses in my heart. The sun was hot and burning... I hadn't even taken breakfast. I began waiting as if someone would come in or go out, but there was nothing, no sound. I sadly watched the beautiful, blue sky and hoping I would find it's kind of peace too.

Soon, I heard the call for Zuhr prayer and guess it would be 12:59 p.m. Finally, I settled for a plan. To visit Adunni Ayomide, my best friend since childhood and to stay with her for a while. Even if she's a chirstian, we love and cherish each other like blood sisters. Trecking the distance was about 30 minutes, I did it with my two heavy leather bags.

Adunni's mum did the unimaginable. As she sighted me from afar, she ran towards me as if she wanted to welcome me or so.

"Good afternoon ma." I innocently greeted with a wide smile of relieve across my lips, making my face light up a bit.

"Keep that greeting to yourself! Where do you think you are going with all these bags?!"

"Good afternoon, ma. Mummy please, I'll explain when we go.. go inside. Please ma, I..It's not what you're thinking."

"Inside where?! Ehn?! You must be crazy, you shameless prostutute! Ashewo! Omo bi aja lasan lasan! Can't believe you're claiming innocentee. After every-every, na belle! You people now use rape to cover up! Please o, Aisha! You're a bad influence oo! Don't come and corrupt my virgin daughter for me ooo!!" She spat.

People from around started gathering, forming a circle. Some elderly women even started staring at me with bad eyes. I heard a woman say "Hmmm, Children of nowadays." Some were hissing unnecessarily while others fold their arms on their chest like wrappers.

"Ma... It's not like tha-"

"My Adunni went for everning fellowship, she's not around. Oya go and meet your boyfriend and continue where you stopped. Omo oshi, Omo iran ki ran! I've warned my daughter never to come to your house and consider this the end of your friendship, Okay?!"

"Okay ma." I uttered dumfoundedly.

"Thank you ma, I'll be on my way now." I managed to say, almost chocking in my own tears.

***

I turned back, facing the hot, busy road. So disappointed, not knowing where to go. Well, I'm not so disappointed. Dunni's mum never truely love me, She's always taken me as a bad influence to her daughter.

A voice in my head saying:

'Breath, it's just a bad day not a bad life.' 

"What do I do next? Could I still walk back home with these big, two bags?"

I thought, looking for where to rest for a while just a distance away from Adunni's house.

"Yaa Dhal Jalaal wal Ikram! (O Lord of Magesty And Bounty), Show me the way to breakthrough! Where do I go from here? Oh Allah! Guide me to the right path... I'm lost. Who I want to see is dunni. At least, to explain things to her. I'm so troubled, I haven't seen her after the incident, hope she'll understand."

***

Minutes Later...

Standing by the side of the road, still puzzled about everything. A keke napep (tricycle) stopped in front of me as Adunni came out.

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Ashewo! : Prostitute! / Slut!

Omo bi aja lasan lasan! : A Dog-like child!

Yaa Dhal Jalaal wal Ikram! : O Lord of Magesty And Bounty

Oya: Okay / Right away

Innocentee: Innocent person

After every-every: Afterall /After everything

Omo oshi:  Stupid child

Na belle: It's pregnancy

Zuhr prayer: Afternoon prayer

Omo iran kiran: A child from a very bad linage.

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