Tears Of Summayah - Episode 29

 

Mrs. Aminat woke Sumayyah very early the following day and informed her that she was leaving.

“I can't even take you to my shop. Make sure you eat the leftover food in the kitchen.”

Sumayyah sat up in bed and yawned. “Okay, ma.”

“I may travel to Lagos today, so don't wait up for me. If you like, go out and meet your boyfriends . I am sure they will like your new scars.”

Sumayyah couldn't argue, she just nodded weakly. “Safe journey.”

Mrs. Aminat left the house, not bothered by Sumayyah’s painful state. Sumayyah was relieved that her tormentor had left the house, so she ate a little breakfast and took her medications. She fell asleep soon after and was awoken by the sound of her phone ringing. Without looking at the caller I.D she took the call and spoke into the phone.  

“Hello.”

“Hello, Su.”

Sumayyah almost broke down when she heard the voice that she had been yearning to hear for so long. “Jamiu! How are you?.”

“I am fine and you?”

“I am fine too. When will you be back?”

“Is everything alright Sumayyah, you sound unhappy

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/tears-of-summayah

. Is anything the matter?” Jamiu asked in concern

Sumayyah burst into tears. She was tired of lying to her husband, so she spilled the beans. “Jamiu, Az is gone, and I feel so empty. I am so lonely here, it's suffocating. My head is...is... very heavy. I can't go on like this. I can't. I miss you so much, I want to see you. You are the only friend I have left.”

Jamiu was shocked to hear all that Sumayyah said: “Sumayyah, I have my exams in 3 days’ time, and will be back by then.” He sighed. “I have actually put you in a lot of mess, you should be enjoying yourself at this stage of your life but it's like I have caged you like a bird.” Jamiu immediately came to a decision. “I am coming home tomorrow, first thing in the morning.”

“You don't have to come home, I shouldn't have said anything to you. Just focus on your exam. I was only being emotional.”

“I won't hear of it Sumayyah, I have to see how you are faring. You are my responsibility and you should come first.”

“But trust me, there is no need...”

“No buts Sumayyah. I am coming home to see you tomorrow and that is final. Just rest okay, take your medications and make sure you eat.”

“Okay, I will do that.”
Although Sumayyah was glad that Jamiu would be coming home, she still worried about what her mother-in-law would do when she found out.

*******

Jamiu was so disturbed that he couldn't concentrate on his studies. He knew something was going on with his dear wife. Without wasting any more time, he booked a flight to Sokoto for the next morning. Abuja to Sokoto by air only took a few minutes, so by 10 a.m the next day, Jamiu was already in Sokoto. On getting home, he found Sumayyah asleep in her room. He gently tapped her awake but withdrew his hand because she was burning up with a fever.

“Sumayyah, open your eyes. It’s me, Jamiu.”

Sumayyah’s eyes fluttered open and she couldn’t believe that Jamiu was actually in front of her. She tried to speak but her voice was not more than a whisper since she was very weak. “Jamiu? Is that you?”

Jamiu was very scared now. “What happened to you? I knew something was wrong when we spoke yesterday. Why didn't you tell me that you are ill.?” Jamiu went to the bathroom to get a wet towel so that he could suppress her temperature, before taking her to the hospital. He was about to place the wet towel on her forehead when he noticed the scars all over her body. “Sumayyah, what are all these marks all over your body? Who did this to you?”

“It’s nothing, I fell down.”

Jamiu tried to calm himself because he knew she was lying. He failed. “You call this nothing? Stop lying to me and tell me who did this to you!”

Sumayyah held her pounding head. “Please don’t shout, I have a very serious headache”

Jamiu immediately apologised. “I am so sorry for raising my voice at you, but you have to speak up Sumayyah. Who did this to you.?”

Sumayyah burst into tears. “It's your mum.”

Jamiu couldn’t believe his ears. “My mum? What did you do to make her do such a horrible thing like this?”

“My head, Jamiu my... he...ad. I am dying.”

“Sumayyah please hang on. I will get you help soon” He reached for his phone and dialled the family doctor’s number…

****
Twenty minutes later, the doctor arrived at their house and Jamiu ushered him into Sumayyah’s room, after making sure that Sumayyah had donned her hijab.

“Welcome Dr. Malik, please come in. Help my wife, please”

“Just calm down, I will do what I can.”

Dr. Malik rushed over to Sumayyah and began to treat her. Meanwhile, Jamiu couldn't keep calm, the thought of his mother beating Sumayyah almost to the brink of death did not leave his mind. Although he believed his wife, he also needed to confirm with his mum, so he left Sumayyah’s room and placed a call to his mum.

“Salaam Alaikum.” Jamiu greeted when she picked the call.

“Walaykum salaam son. I am so happy to hear your voice. How are you?”

Jamiu did not bother to answer her. “Mother, I want to ask you some questions and I need you to answer me truthfully.”

Mrs. Aminat wondered what her son wanted to know. “Okay, what is it?”

“Did you beat Sumayyah?”

Mrs. Aminat hissed. “So that's why you called. Did she tell you I beat her?”

“She didn't call me. I am at home and she is in a very bad state. Just answer my question: did you beat her or not?.” Jamiu was barely holding on this patience  

“Yes, I beat her because she is a useless and bad…”

Jamiu exploded. “Mum, I am not interested in your justifications! How could you do something like that? She is a sickle cell patient for God’s sake and you treat her like this! I am so disappointed.”

Mrs. Aminat was dumbfounded. She hadn’t expected her son to take sides with that foolish girl. “Now just listen to me, son…”

Jamiu interrupted his mum again. “I don't want to listen to you mum. You have shown me the real you today.” He ended the call and went back to Sumayyah's room. “Dr. Malik is she getting better.?”

Dr. Malik nodded. “Yes. Don’t worry, I have administered some painkillers and injections. She is also malnourished as well, so I have set up an I.V.” He packed his bag and got up to leave. “I will send a nurse over to come and stay with her”

“Thank you so much, doctor. I really appreciate everything you have done”

“It’s my pleasure. Make sure she eats when she wakes up okay?”

Jamiu nodded and walked him to the door. When Dr. Malik left, Jamiu went back to Sumayyah’s room and noticed that she had fallen asleep. He gently sat on the bed and took in Sumayyah’s sunken face and too-thin body. All the anger he felt towards him mum came rushing back, and he wished she was present, so that he could find out why she maltreated his wife. Half an hour later, he heard a knock on the door and he quickly went to check. He opened the door to see the nurse that Dr. Malik promised to send over.

“Salam Alaikum. You must be the nurse, right?”

“Walaykum salaam. Yes, I am. Where is the patient.?”

“Follow me.” Jamiu led her to Sumayyah’s room. “She is still asleep”

The nurse nodded and took a seat on the chair by the bed. “Don't worry I will be here for her. She will be fine in sha Allah.

“Thank you nurse.”

With that, he moved out of the room and went straight to the kitchen to prepare some food for Sumayyah

……..

Mrs. Aminat was fuming. She couldn't believe that Sumayyah had succeeded in turning Jamiu against her. Her respectful son, who had never talked back to her, was now speaking to her in a harsh manner. She decided to call Jennifer.

“Salam Alaikum.”

“Walaykum salaam. How are you?”

“I am fine ma and you?”

“I am not fine.”

“What is the problem ma?”.

“I don’t know what that witch told my son, but he is in Sokoto right now. He called me in a rage just now, asking me questions I have no answers to. The Jamiu I know would never speak to me in such a manner!”

“Mom, please calm down. Where are you right now?”

“I am in Lagos, if not i would have gone straight to him.”

“Mom, you know what? Come back to Sokoto tomorrow and I will come straight to your house, so we can talk better.”

“Thank you, my dear, I think that is the best thing to do. I can't sit back and allow that witch to take my only son away from me.”

“I am happy you know the real Sumayyah now. We will both plan on what to do and teach her the biggest lesson.”

“Yes. Salaam Alaikum.”

“Walaykum salaam” Jennifer smiled because she had Mrs. Aminat right where she wanted her to be.