STRINGS

CHAPTER 1

"Zuhura what did I say to you about going under the rain...?"

"Mamii if she gets sick don't pity her since she can't understand simple do and don't."

"Zuhura didn't I warn you...??

"Yes,you did mamii and am sorry for not listening..." Zuhura apologize sadly pouting since it's the only option for her to escape this scolding.

"Fine just don't do it again if not I will report you to your father and am not threatening nor joking with you this time I mean it..." she warn.

"I know and I know you weren't threatening nor joking with me the other time.." Zuhura smiled knowing that even if she goes under the rain again her mother won't report her because "Zuhura don't go under the rain again if not I will report you to your father" has being repeating itself since she was fifteen,she was already used to the words.

Serving the tea into a mug she bought out earlier before putting the remaining in the flask she add two cubes of sugar before turning to make her leave to her room. "Where are you going without serving yourself some breakfast...? Hajiya khadija asked Zuhura when she noticed she was trying to walk out of the kitchen without serving herself breakfast. "My room,am not hungry, Zuhura reply sipping her hot ginger tea.

"Zonra!! what are you drinking? sultan who was standing all these while asked.

"Stop calling me that!! she snarl with the biggest scowl on her face glaring at her brother who she wished she could punch. can't this guy keep secret for once,he saw her dancing under the rain yesterday when she came back from school while mamii was out to meet a friend and he promised not to tell mamii.

"What? Zonra..? he struggled "That's your name..." sultan teased knowing she hated the name, the name was given to her by his two year old son Ammar who couldn't call her name.He thought it's was Zonra instead of Zuhura.
Zuhura tried so hard to make him stop calling her by the name the boy is just a baby he can't.

"Mamii tell ya sultan to stop calling me that..."

"Sultan stop teasing your sister, what are you even doing here?

"Mami!! can't I come here anymore just because am married doesn't mean I can't come? he asked walking pass Zuhura not after drawing her braided hair.

******

"Abba Good evening." Zuhura greeted an elderly man in his middle sixties, Alhaji kabir her father, a businessman,a very strict man sitting on the dining beside her mother.

"Umm...Zuhura how are you? Alhaji kabir asked chewing his food staring at Zuhura baffled because she was supposed to be at school.

"Am fine abba,how is work?? Zuhura replied serving herself some food with her hands trembling feeling her father ferocious gaze surveying her. "Alhamdullilah..." But what are you doing in Kaduna? why aren't you at school..? he asked with his authoritative voice.Upon hearing that question Zuhura gulp down before sitting down slowly as she reply "Am here to spend my weekend here." she answer hoping not to get scolded by him.

"Just because you want to spend your weekend you came all the way from Kano?Couldn't you wait until you are on break?

"Here we go again..."Zuhura breath out, asking herself was she expecting not to get scolded afterall her father was not a fan of hers, there was a time when curiosity got her she secretly stole her father toothbrush and took it for a DNA test because of how her father acts like she wasn't his,like she was adopted or an unwanted child,but why will they adopt me afterall am the last born I have two older siblings;that what she always tells herself.

"No abba I just missed home but am sorry..." Zuhura murmured with her head down bracing herself for what's going to happen next.

Hajiya Khadija who sat there watching her husband and daughter sadly finally decided to join "But Abban sultan can't she come home anytime she is wants? she asked because she hate how her husband and daughter are always acting how, he always treat his daughter like an outcast among her siblings.

"That's it!! Anytime I'm talking to this girl you will try to cover up for her, you have spoiled her alot. Alhaji kabir yelled angrily hitting the table which got Zuhura and her mother spooked. "Am sorry but I wasn't......

"Please keep quiet.." he stifled then turn to Zuhura who sat there with her head ducked down,fiddling with her fingers restraining her emotions.

"Zuhura the reason I sent you to kano was because of your mother she is spoiling you alot so, I don't want to see you in this house until you are on vacation focus on your studies do you hear me."

"Okay abba.." Zuhura replied primly with her head down losing her appetite. Her father's behavior toward her was topnotch,and it irked her how he acts nonchalantly. she wished she could for once just for once try to understand the reason her father is always treating her like that,she has never seen him behaving that way with her older siblings, even when she was a kid he always scolds her for playing too much,or leaving her dolls on the floor with the excuse someone might step on them and might get injured, or she always talks too much. For once Zuhura wished she could understand the reason behind her father's behavior toward her,she never lacked anything since she was born, from toys, to attending a good school, to shelter, food, cloth,everything but just one thing she always ask herself why? she needed her father's love, she wanted him to smile at her, praise her whenever she bought her result or when she does something good instead of nodding his head and sending her away pretending to be busy. she always end up feeling like an outcast,the blacksheep and ugly duckling.

After they were done eating,Zuhura help mamii clean the table. she noticed her mother was was cleaning the counter but in reality her mind is far somewhere else with a clear hurtful impression.

Releasing a melancholic sign she slowly stride toward her and hugged her from behind "Mamii am sorry...I...I.. .she trails not knowing what to say next. she was actually angry at herself knowing that everything is her fault, she always end up affecting her parents relationship one way or the other.

"Zuhura are you okay? She asked cleaning her hands with a napkin.

"Am sorry for what happened earlier at the dining, it's was all my fault abba talked to you in that manner I should've come back, I only wanted to come see you......

"No..." Mamii interrupts. "It's okay stop blaming yourself" don't mind what your abba said okay. she whispered patting her daughter's head.
Zuhura may be the the youngest but in her eyes she is the strongest among her siblings.It hard to tell if something is bothering her, she's good at hiding and pretending with a smile as if everything is okay. that's why she is trying to be a good mother to her, but one thing for sure that Hajiya khadija doesn't regret is having Zuhura in her life even though her father sees her as a mistake.

"But Mamii...

"Zuhura believe me..." she assured tickling her.

"Mamii stop please..." Zuhura beseech laughing .

"Okay go to your room..." she said smiling.

"Good night..." Mamii Zuhura said exiting.

Taking a shower to help her relax before heading to bed thinking she should go to her brother's house to greet them and meet her baby before she leaves for school tomorrow.

____________________________________