Tears Of Summayah - Episode 28

 

After the 3rd week in seclusion, Mrs. Aminat released Sumayyah briefly because Jamiu wanted to speak with her.

“Take my phone and speak to him. Now I want you to listen carefully. If he asks why you have not been picking up your calls, just tell him your phone developed a fault.”

“Okay, ma,” Sumayyah answered weakly

“Secondly, don’t tell him I have been staying here. He is writing his exams and I don’t want your bad luck to disturb him because he is worried about you, useless girl.”

“I won't say anything to him.”

“Sit down and talk to him in my presence . I don’t trust you one bit, pr-stitute.”

Sumayyah sat down quickly and dialled Jamiu’s number. After two rings he picked up his call. As soon as she heard his voice all the tears she had been holding back threatened to fall.

“Hello.”

“H-Hello.”

“Hello Sumayyah, are you there?”

“Yes, I am.”

“I am so upset with you.”

“Why?”

“You didn't even bother to call me after that day. Do you know I was so worried about you, I called your number severally but you didn't pick up”

“I am so sorry, it was not my intention

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. My phone developed a fault. Mum just came here, and she promised to help me repair it.”

“I was so worried, I would have come back home if not for my exams.

“You shouldn't worry, I am perfectly fine. Mother is here to see me, she really takes care of me.” Sumayyah lied as she fought back her tears.

“Sumayyah, are you sure you are fine? Your voice doesn't sound like it should.”

“I am fine. I just miss you so much.”

“I miss you more than you miss me. Don't worry, I will be back by next week immediately after my exams are over.”

“Come back soon okay.?”

“I will and make sure you keep smiling. I can’t bear to think that you are unhappy.”

“Okay.”

Mrs. Aminat glared at her and she took that as her cue to end the call.

“I have to go, study hard ok?. When mum repairs my phone, I will call you immediately.”

“Bye Sumayyah, don't be sad. Use your medications at the right time and make sure you eat too.”

“Okay.” The tears she had been holding at bay flowed freely this time and Mrs. Aminat snatched the phone from her grasp.

“Hello, son.”

“Mum, please give Sumayyah the phone, I want to tell her something.”

“Oh, she went into her room, you know it's getting late and she has to go to bed early.” Mrs. Aminat lied

“Okay, just remind her to eat.”

“Okay, I will.”

“Good night, I have to study. Assalam Alaikum.”

“Walaykum salaam warahmotulah wabarakatuh.”

Mrs. Aminat looked at Sumayyah immediately the call ended. “Sumayyah, what were you trying to do ehnn, you wanted to tell him right? “

“No, I just miss him.”

“You miss him. Have your boyfriends not been satisfying you? Oh, I know why you are missing him. It is because he hasn't touched you before and you want someone fresh right?”

“I don't understand what you mean mum, I only miss him because he is my husband.”

“My son will divorce you very soon because you are just some used up trash. I can’t allow you bring a bastard into my family and claim he is responsible, you sl-t. So, remember, he is not your husband.”

“I have not met anyone!” Sumayyah cried.

Mrs Aminat did not even pretend to hear her. “I didn't tell him because of his exams but trust me, when he is through. I will reveal everything to him. Let's see if he is going to stay with you or not. Now, go to sleep early because you have lots of work to do for me very early in the morning and you can’t afford to waste time.”

“Goodnight.” Sumayyah greeted and went straight to her room, performed her solah and lay down on the bed. She closed her eyes hoping everything was just a bad dream that she would soon wake up from.

*****

Early the next morning at precisely 4:30am, Mrs Aminat woke Sumayyah up and told her to begin her chores.

“Good morning ma.” Sumayyah greeted her mother-in-law

“Good morning. Go to the kitchen and dispose of the water in the container there. Do the same for the toilet. The water is too dirty.”

“But—"

“Are you trying to argue with me.?” Mrs Aminat stepped towards her menacingly

“No.” Sumayyah left the room and checked the containers, only to find that the water is clean. She returned to Mrs. Aminat. “Mom, the water is very clean.”

“You are a foolish girl. I told you that the water is dirty, and you still want to disobey me. If you ever do what you did just now, you will see what I will do to you.” Mrs. Aminat pushed her to the floor. “Go and pour everything away and fetch clean water for me from the third street, idiot.!”

Sumayyah began to cry. “I have a headache. I can’t fetch all the containers”.

“So, you want to prove to me that you are too big to fetch water. You will see what I will do to you.” Mrs. Aminat started to look for her cane.

“Mother, I have never fetched water in my whole life. It is very dark out there, what if something happens to me? The taps are running smoothly too, let me just fetch it from downstairs.” Sumayyah tried to reason with her.

“There is always a first time for everything in life. Some of your mates are out there fetching water too, it's not a big deal. It is better you go now before I lose my patience.”

Sumayyah had no choice but to go out to fetch the water from the third street. To her dismay, she met some girls fetching water too and she felt bad. After filling the 15th container she sat down to rest, but her mother-in-law showed up.

“Sumayyah, what are you doing here? Are you done with your chores?”

“I am almost through with fetching the water ma”

“It’s okay, so after fetching the water you decided to sit down and do nothing? Didn't I tell you that you will be going with me to the shop?”

“You did but I only wanted to rest before taking my bath.”

“You must be stupid, get up before I open my eyes!”

Sumayyah was soon dressed and she went back so she and and Mrs. Aminat could perform Fajr Solah before they set out for the shop.

After an hour, they arrived at Mrs. Aminat’s shop where she sold clothing materials and fashion accessories.

“Take these keys, open the shop and start moping. I don't want to see a sprinkle of dust after you are done.” She instructed Sumayyah.

“Yes, mum.”

“I am going to visit a friend of mine who is ill. Make sure you get everything done before I return.”

“Yes, ma.”

*****
Mrs. Aminat returned to the shop after a few hours and noticed that Sumayyah had finished all the chores she had asked her to do. If she was impressed, she did not show it. Instead, she handed Sumayyah a dress.

“Take this dress and change into it. My goods just arrived yesterday, and you have a lot of arrangement to do.”

Sumayyah collected the dress from her and went into the changing room to wear it.  While she was changing, Mrs. Aminat's worker, Saki walked into the shop and greeted her employer.

“Good morning ma.”

“Good morning, Saki. Why are you just coming?”  

“Sorry ma. I got stuck in traffic.”

“If I refuse to pay you at the end of the month, you will start complaining.”

“Sorry, ma.”

“Sorry for yourself. Just go inside and teach that girl how to arrange the clothes in their respective places, you must not help her do anything.”

“Okay, ma.”

“Hurry up. When you are through come back to get me some food.”

“Okay, ma.”

Saki showed Sumayyah how to handle the clothes in their respective places after which she went back to her boss to get her food. Just as Saki left the shop, Jennifer sauntered in and greeted Mrs. Aminat.

“Good morning ma.”

“Good morning my child, what a pleasant surprise! How did you locate my shop?”

“My mum gave me your address, so I decided to come and greet you.”

“Thank you. So, would you like something to eat?”

“No ma. I am ok”.

“Sumayyah, bring me a chair. I have a visitor.”

“Okay, ma. Sumayyah did as she was told and was surprised to see that the visitor in question was Jennifer. “Here is the chair,” She said as she placed the chair by Jennifer

“Can’t you see you hit the chair on me?” Jennifer lied. She just wanted to stir up some trouble.

“I am sorry, I didn't mean to.” Sumayyah apologised.

Mrs Aminat slapped Sumayyah. “What if she hadn’t mentioned it, would you have apologised?” She hissed and turned to Jennifer. “I am very sorry my dear. What you told me about this stupid girl is true.”

Sumayyah went back into the shop to continue her work.

“Mummy is that your bag over there?” Jennifer asked, pointing to a bag on the floor.

“No it is not mine. It is for that useless girl.” Mrs Aminat replied with a smile.

“Okay.”

A little while later, Saki brought the food and Jennifer told Mrs Aminat that she would like to look around her shop, which Mrs Aminat agreed to. While Jennifer as looking around, she picked up an expensive gold necklace and slipped it into Sumayyah’s bag, without Mrs Aminat noticing. She sat back down after she completed her evil task and began to chat Mrs Aminat up.

“Mom, I really like the clothes. I will even tell my mum to come and buy some from you.”

“Before you leave, I’ll give you one of the best dresses because you are a good girl.”

Just then, Sumayyah entered the shop and tried to retrieve her bag from where Jennifer was seated.

“Please, stand up I need to take my bag.” She said to Jennifer.

“What did you put in the bag, are you not supposed to be working, you filthy thing.?” Jennifer spat

“I only came to take some tissue paper, why would I put anything in my bag.?”

“Just take it and leave.”

Sumayyah picked up the tissue paper and left. After an hour Jennifer told Mrs. Aminat that she was ready to leave.

“Ohh, why don’t you stay a while longer?” Mrs. Aminat smiled

“I would have loved to, but I need to go to my mum's shop to help her out.”

“What a good girl, May Allah bless you.”

“Amin ma”.

“Wait, let me give you something to take for you and your mum.”

“Thank you ma.”

Mrs. Aminat packed up some expensive clothes for Jennifer and her mum. Jennifer thanked her and left soon after. After some minutes, a customer came to ask for the exact jewellery that Jennifer hid in Sumayyah's bag.

“Good Morning, I need that exact gold necklace I bought last month. I hope it's still available.”
.
“Yes of course. Saki, bring that gold necklace on the left-hand side. You remember the one she bought the other time.”

“I remember ma” Saki soon returned with a troubled look on her face. “Oga, I can't find it.”

“What do you mean by that?” Mrs. Aminat bellowed. She excused herself and followed Saki into the inner room where all the jewellery was kept. A thorough search of the shelf and its surroundings provided nothing.

“Sumayyah did you see any gold necklace here.?”

Sumayyah shook her head. “No ma”

When they searched the whole shop and did not find the necklace, Mrs. Aminat decided to search Saki and Sumayyah’s bags.

“Bring your bags, the both of you.”  She proceeded to search through Saki’s first and dropped it when she did not find what she was looking for. She picked up Sumayyah’s bag and spilled the contents on the floor. Lo, and behold, right there amongst the other items was the necklace they had been searching for. Mrs. Aminat was shocked and surprised.

“So you are also a thief?” Mrs. Aminat asked Sumayyah unbelieving.

Sumayyah was even more shocked than Mrs. Aminat. “I- I don't know how it got in there ma.”

“So you came here to steal and that too on your first day at work. You are an expert dear.” Saki said

Mrs. Aminat knew what she had to do. “Don’t worry let me attend to my customer first before I deal with you. Wallahi I will disgrace you today.” Mrs. Aminat re-entered the main room of the shop and concluded business with her customer. After which she returned to an already weeping Sumayyah.

“Mom, I did not steal that necklace. Wallah, I didn't do it.”

Mrs. Aminat slapped her across her cheek and began to shout to attract a crowd. “Everyone please come o, I just caught a thief.!”

“Mom, please I am not a thief.”

“Shut up!.” Mrs. Aminat pulled Sumayyah’s hijab off of her head and dragged her outside. Sumayyah continued to plead to no avail. “Mom, I am begging you.”

The crowd outside began to beat Sumayyah with sticks and stones, all the while calling her vile names. They flung her into the mud and tore her blouse to shreds. Mrs. Aminat ordered her not to enter her shop until it was time to go home. Sumayyah wanted to enter Mrs. Aminat’s car, but she violently pushed her away from the car.

“You will trek home, and you must get home by 8 pm on the dot. If you happen to be a second late, then consider yourself dead tonight.” Mrs. Aminat said before she zoomed off.

Sumayyah trekked home and since she didn't even know the way home, she had to ask for directions. She ran as fast as her legs could carry her but she was still five minutes late. Her mother-in-law was already waiting for her at the gate, with her punishment.

“Hey! Pr-stitute, didn't I warn you to be here by 8 pm?”
Sumayyah was angry and frustrated. “Mother, I am not a pr-stitute!”
“Wow, so you can talk back. Wait for me.” She went into the kitchen to get ground pepper and blade and rushed into the living room with it.
She cut Sumayyah all over with the blade before pouring the ground pepper on the cuts. Sumayyah cried and cried but there was no one to help her.

“I hope you have learned your lesson now. “How was it? You feel nice, right?.”

“Mother, I am in pain.”

Mrs. Aminat laughed long and hard. “Go and wash up, and I will get you food. I am sure you must be hungry?”.

“I am not hungry, I have no appetite.” Sumayyah cried.

“I don't care. Next time you steal anything from me, I will make sure I do something worse to you. Go and sleep, you this foolish, bastard girl.”

“Good night.” Sumayyah sluggishly walked to her room

Sumayyah couldn't sleep after taking a thorough bath, she was so sick. She prayed her husband returned to her very soon so that he could help her out of the dilemma she found herself in.