Hilwa.

5: STRANGER

Chapter 5: STRANGER

Hilwa still hadn't joined school yet daddy wanted her to get used to things, the 'new life' first before she gets enrolled, so he decided to get her a home lesson teacher, Mr Obinna, a middle aged igbo guy.

They would start by 2pm and end by 4pm every week from Monday to Thursday. While every Saturdays and Sundays a malam would come from 6:30pm-8:30pm and teach them Qur'an and other islamic subjects.

Hilwa's classes with mr obi always go smoothly. She was very clever and the guy was friendly and easy going.

"Make sure you finish this assignment by tomorrow, is that clear?" Mr obi said, as he passed hilwa her assignment notebooks.

"Yes sir" She nodded submissively

"Good" He nodded as well and packed his bag.

"Goodbye iliwa"

She sighed, wondering why people find it hard to pronounce her name correctly. Shoving off the thought, she smiled warmly and waved him goodbye.

Just before she starts ascending the stairs, she heard Layla and Feenah's voices. The girls close from school by 4pm too.

"Hilwa" Feenah called at the sight of her, jogging towards her. 

"Feenah, you guys are back?" Hilwa said, looking at Layla who didn't even spare her a glance and walked pass her, going up the stairs.

"Yes, how was your class today?" Feenah asked as she clasped her hand with hilwa's, gripping on the strap of her backpack with the other and they began to ascend the stairs too.

"Fine" Hilwa answered.

They went upstairs and into their room before feenah started to strip off her school uniform. Hilwa liked their uniform. She always imagine herself in the white short sleeve shirt, navy blazer, navy blue skirt wearing the clean white socks and the beautiful backpack just like the one feenah and layla go to school with. Feenah always tells her about her friends there. She honestly couldn't wait to meet all of them. She just prays that she'd be able to blend with them.

Feenah took a quick shower, put on a shirt and some jeans before they prayed Asr and went down to eat lunch.

Basma was still in school and aunty had gone out to a naming ceremony. It was only daddy, layla and na'im.

"When are you going for your BCT na'im?" Daddy asked, breaking the silence around the room.

"In a month in shaa Allah" Na'im answered and took a sip of his chilled zobo.

Daddy nodded "Allah ya kaimu lafia"

"Ameen captain"

"Do you need anything before then? Money or something?"

"No, I have enough money and ammiey had sent some few weeks back. So for now I don't need any money but if there's something i'll let you know in shaa Allah" Na'im stated.

"She shouldn't have" Daddy said looking at na'im who just gave a nonchalant shrug.

Hilwa couldn't help but wonder who ammiey was. Na'im mentions the name a lot. Maybe his mother? Where was she by the way?

Knowing fully she wasn't going to get any answer now, she brushed off the thought and continued to eat.

"Hilwa" Daddy called her attention after they were all back to the living room.