Autism

2.

FatimaIsmail3. Jazakillahu khayran 💓

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Ameenu had his right foot kissing the accelerator, he took hazy zig-zags a little faster than normal, cursing the muddy clotted path lokogoma had at some juncture. Hajiya Mama's flight landed five minutes ago and they are not there already; it's just five minutes and she has called three times already then just imagine how many times she would call before they get there. Muhammad and Batool tagged along to fetch her, taking Batool along was deliberate. Ameenu felt maybe this might help in tying a bonding string between hajiya mama and Batool; be it slim or fleshy. Ameenu's right foot kissed the accelerator deeper than he did previously when they hit the smooth road, Batool has never been a fan of wildness, she stared totally dissolved in fear and distress due to the speed as her body shook slightly like a dried leaf being assaulted by the wind.

At the junction, leading to 'Prince Ebeano Supermarket' is a ridiculous traffick light which pauses for few seconds then picks up at a particular number, Batool always finds the view enticing on their way to school. Rickshaws, motorcycles, cars of different types, hawkers, roasted maize sellers and also plantain hawkers are dispersed all over the busy road giving fair attention to their businesses, outside the window, a little girl selling sachet water knocked on Batool's glass. Batool wind down the glass staring at the little girl questionably.
"Hajiya, please buy my sachet water or else my step mother will make me go to bed on an empty stomach" The little girl who looked like she was barely eight years old, famished and exhausted, pleaded with strings of sweat sliding down each side of her face.

How heartless humans can be, from clay we are and unto clay we shall return, but humans often forget that.
Batool's heart sank as she rummaged through her purse and brought out a 500 naira note. She passed it to the little girl "Inama al usri yusrah" she quoted a verse from the holy Qur'an for the little girl in Arabic, and translated the verse "And indeed with every hardship comes ease"
She slid the note in the little girl's hand and just in time the traffic light switched to green and they began moving. The little girl jumped in delight reciting prayers for Batool. Her eyes formed a little pool of tears "Alhamdulillah alaa kulli haal" she muttered under her breath.

Ameenu noticed her distress "Are you okay?"
She simply nodded tapping on the edges of her eyes with her palm in an attempt to dry the tears.

Muhammad looked away from his phone from the back seat "daddy, I should often get such questions from you and Ammie as I am the last born"

"And how sure are you about not having a kid brother or sister?" Ameenu questioned him teasingly.

Muhammad protested " Nobody is coming after me!"
Daddy laughed hardly. Batool was in no way interested in their jokes as her lips were sealed all through.

Muhammad felt this is the perfect moment to confront daddy about what has been bothering him recently. "Daddy" he called out.
Ameenu hummed a reply.
"To be honest, I have a strong feeling that something pugnacious is about to befall, you know the last time hajiya mama came things weren't good and now too.." Muhammad ended as his shoulders swam downwards.

Daddy could relate so well owing to the scenes hajiya mama always creates whenever she's present but truth to be told, he has zero says and authority because she is his mother.
Hajiya mama stoops very low, zillion inches beneath a tiled floor. She's indeed a woman of power and holds a masters degree in pretence, that too she has a first class. Her two unsolvable issues are doves which she sadly views in vulture's lens due to her black hatred for them; Batool and Halima, her daughter in-law.
Till date, there's no genuine reason behind the hatred she has for them but she claims that Ameenu got married to an outsider instead of her sister's daughter and that misfortune which she labels as Ameenu's disrespect and disregard for her led to Ameenu and Halima having an autistic child as their first child.