Zulaykheart Library

MARRIED TO A STRANGER
(My Journey as a Mother of one)

By, OYETUNMBI ZULAYKHO GBEMISOLA
ZULAYKHOOFGREATTHINGS.

Unedited.

CHAPTER FOUR

I got Hadiza ready for school as usual.

My morning is always hectic while I tried to get Hadiza ready for school. I'll also be getting impatient to get to the garage so I can sell food to those travelling early and also students. In a while, I was done, and we are both set to take our leave. We both got distracted by my phone. I tried to ignore or maybe call the person later, but it kept ringing. It was my sister. I didn't want to pick at first, thinking they had called to ask for money as usual. I believed all my family cared to call me is when they were in need of money.

Despite how everything turned out for me, I couldn't neglect my family. I keep helping them in the best way I can, and also, Kazeem's parent have been there for me too. I picked the call with a shrug.

And then, the worst new came to my ears.
..Mama is gone, sis. She gave up this morning.

My sister shouted over the phone.

I chuckled lightly. I didn't know whether I had heard the wrong statement, or she was just trying to make her silly pranks again.
....What nonsense, are you spewing this early? It's too early to start your useless pranks o. Do you need money?

I replied ignorantly.
....I'm not kidding, Aunty Aduke. Maami is gone! She....is gone.

My jaws dropped while I stared at Hadiza.

I sat her down to speak well to my sister.

Maybe she was just pulling my legs.
...What's happening to you, Agbeke? This joke is becoming expensive. You are just saying nonsense. Is Fatimoh around? Give her the phone.
I almost yelled. I felt like joking about something this serious is too much, and I was already frightened by this time.
...It's the truth, sis. Maami....ti ku.

Fatimoh responded faintly over the phone.
....Maami is what? Why don't you all tell me anything? Has she been sick? Why do you keep this from me and.....
....she wasn't sick! In fact, she was fine and discussed with everyone yesterday before we went to bed. I woke up this morning to check up on her, and I found her lying unconsciously on her bed. I thought she was just trying to rest... until I met her that way. Nothing is wrong with Maami. She...is gone! She left all of us.

Fatimoh narrated with tears while I sobbed loudly, too. My Six years old Hadiza stared at me confusedly. I pulled her closer and cried.

"What's wrong, Mom?" She asked childishly.
.... How's dad? Have you.....
... Thankfully, he wasn't at home when we found out. He went to visit his brother in the neighbouring village. We won't disclose anything to him yet.
....Okay. Don't bother telling him anything. I'll...get myself ready and come to Ibadan.

I said and ended the call.

Then, I realized the deed was already done.

I remembered the last time I spoke with her on the phone and my reactions to her. I couldn't control my tears. I wept bitterly. Somewhere in my heart, I felt like I was a bad daughter. I shouldn't have resented my mom and blamed her that way. I should've understood her much better.

What if it was because I neglected her that made things worse? I cried and cried.

I quickly changed Hadiza's outfit, picked up a few clothes for us, and left for Ibadan. Hopefully, my business is going well, and I have enough money with me.

I told my neighbour about what had happened and she felt really sorry. "Subhanallah! You lost your mom? May Allah forgive her shortcomings. This is really sad. You have to take heart ehn...Mummy Hadiza. Epele....."
Mummy Ridwan responded pitifully.

I only appreciated her kindness and left with Hadiza. She insisted on coming with us, while I told her to stay behind and tell her husband about it. If at all if she would love to come, I'll call her when I get to Ibadan.

The journey was the first worst ever.

I keep crying on the bus. I couldn't help my tears and wasn't bothered with people who kept glaring at me.

My Little Baby keeps looking at me, wondering what had happened, but I just cuddled her to myself when I cried. How much I wish I had a moment with my mom when I'll have a chance to tell her I'm grateful for having her as my mom. But isn't this too late? She is already there, closing her eyes, not knowing what I wish to say to her.

"What have you done to yourself, Aduke? The only woman who'll stay by your side regardless is gone. Why would you do now?" I scolded myself within.

After hours of getting into many potholes, we arrived at our destination. I alighted from the bus and took a taxi to our house.

My parents stayed in a small town in Ibadan. I got there with Hadiza, and the cries of people were enough to tell me something more than worse had happened to us. I only walk with Hadiza while others keep mumbling words while I pass.

My two sisters were the first to threw themselves in my arms when I was sighted. I only patted their shoulder while I looked at my mother's lifeless body. Tears streamed down my eyes as we both sobbed in one another arms. Our last born was with Hadiza. She kept her eyes on us while she wept silently, too. At this juncture, I knew no one needed to tell me....I have more responsibility to carry. My mom has been the one taking it all, but now I'm the now the mother for my three sisters and my child. I tried so much to comfort my sister's while I feigned to be fine all along.

My dad is yet to be back, so I quickly make preparations with the elders in our family on how to bury my mom. They all insisted we should wait for our father, but I told them their is no point in waiting for him. I can't let him come back and see his wife lifeless body. They all understood my points and decided to do as I've said.

Dad didn't return that day, and very early, we buried our mother.

I made all the necessary preparations, and Mom was buried in our presence. Seeing my own mother placed six fit below the ground, I can't help my tears anymore.

I screamed out at once "No no. This can't...be happening. Mom! Mom!! Someone should please wake her up. Someone should tell her Aduke is here. I need to talk to my mom please. Please....."
I wept bitterly, trying to get myself closer while my sisters pulled me back. We cried in one another arms for hours while people stood watching us with pity.

That day, our father arrived in the evening. Thankfully, almost everyone who came to show their condolences had left for their house when he arrived. It wasn't that some left on their own accord, but we actually persuaded them to leave because of our Dad.

Mom was the first person dad talked about as he arrived, and we lied that she went to visit a friend. Dad wasn't a little suspicious and believed our lies. He felt relaxed and talked so much about how his brother kept saying many good things about mom.
Tears welled up in our eyes as we listened to his talks. He was really happy.

"I didn't know everyone loved your mother this much. You should see how they talked about all the good deeds she had done. I'm glad I married such a woman as my wife. Not all women can stand by my side the way your mother did. She was always there through thick and thin." He was almost crying this time.

How I wish I could muster the courage and tell him what happened, but we all remain silent. We watched as he spilt his mind and walked inside to change his outfit.

He returned again and still asked the same thing

"Your mother isn't picking up my calls?? I had called her number before coming, and it's not going through. Which of her friends did she go to visit again? Is this because of Aduke? I don't know why... she'll always disturb herself over Aduke, who is already a mother too. Just last week, she told me about her friend's son who's interested in marrying her." Dad added, looking at me.

I was a little stunned. Mom never told me about any man who is interested in me. I was hurt. I felt I've distanced myself from her too much that she keeps many things from me.
Hearing this, I tried hard to hide my tears.

My sisters exchanged glances with me nodding in support of what Dad had said, and then, I realized my mom had been doing all for me, even when I hated her. Even when I decided to abandon her.
I wept silently.

My three sisters keep looking at me.

I keep pressing my sister's legs, not go say a word. My father's reaction was getting all of us, and my three sisters couldn't help it. Looking at dad's face, I could tell how miserable he would be if he heard this.
Fatimoh couldn't keep up with our pretence, and she spilt the beans with tears. Dad was stunned. His gaze at us was unbelievable. He only chuckled and said we are all lying." He didn't believe us as he picked his cap and decided to start looking for our mother in all of her friend's house. We all stood by the door with tears, telling him we were saying the truth. He still didn't listen and decided to check her in any of her friend's houses..we couldn't stop him and he left.

I was totally in pain.

My two sisters trailed behind him while I stayed behind with Fatimoh and My Baby, Hadiza. After many hours, they returned with dad. They all look sullen and lost.

Dad lowered his gaze and kept sighing.

We are all getting frightened at his reaction.

"You... you said your mother is dead? Why... would you bury my wife behind my back? Why can't you wait till I'm back? Why didn't you bother call me??!" He yelled at us with tears. This is the first time I'll see my dad cry so much. Despite his age, you could still tell how much they both adored each other. At this moment, I know what it's to lose a beloved person in your life. We all couldn't look up at dad and cried too.

We sobbed for hours with no one telling anyone that "It's fine." In everyone's heart, I know we are all in different thoughts. While I keep thinking I had been a bad child to my mother, I know others would be thinking about what they've done to her while she was alive, too.

That day, we all couldn't sleep.

Dad called Mom's relatives and informed them about her death. They were all shocked. In fact, many of them testified that mom called them last to check on them. That alone is terrifying and brought tears to my eyes..I was the only one she didn't call. I was the only one she felt like....I hated her. That moment, I felt like mom knew my reasons for all my actions and had only let me be to see all this.

I cried and cried overnight.

I couldn't stop thinking about my last conversation with mom and all of the statements I uttered to her.

I thought I'll be the one consoling my sisters or my dad, but they turned out to be the one consoling me the whole night.

Deeply in my night, I just wish I had a second chance with mom to tell her all I said to her was out of anger, and I never meant them a little.

WEEKS LATER.

*

Mom's burial prayer was over.

With the money I took with me when I was coming home, we were able to get all the things we'll need for the whole stuff. After the prayer, mom's relatives who travelled from Osun State returned back home. I decided to stay in Ibadan for some weeks before I returned to Lagos too.

I was able to have a lot of conversations with my sisters and dad, and I could say that is the first time we'll ever have a good conversation about our own life, our future. Realizing that my mom is not in our midst, this day brought many tears to my eyes.

Dad discussed me getting remarried while my three sisters were going to stay with dad's relative in Akure. I insists on taking our last born with me, but dad declined. He said I already had a lot on my plate, that I should just look over my child and myself. My sisters agreed on staying with dad's relative in Akure, while dad will stay in Ibadan to continue his farming.

It was a day for everyone to remember. With our mother's absence in our lives, I just hope we all survive all odds.

And that was how everything got sorted.

After some days, I returned back to Lagos with Hadiza while my sisters left for Akure to live with Dad's elder brother.

It was such a scene between us.

I cried along with my sisters as we departed. It seems like we won't be seeing one other forever, or was it because the thought that our mother is gone is still in our heart? We all cried as we departed.

After I arrived at Lagos, I called my sisters, and they also arrived at their destination safely. I called dad to inform him about it, and he just kept praying over the phone. I couldn't help my tears.....

How I wish it was mom? How I wish mom in our midst today? Why does she have to die and leave us in this cruel world?

That moment, a realization came into my head. If I'm well enough, my sisters won't have been taken to Dad's relatives that have abandoned us for years while we suffered and battled with many without any of them to give us a helping hand. And now, they can? When our mother is dead!

That alone is enough to make me want to work harder and succeed.

There isn't a day that the remembrance of mom doesn't come to my mind, but then I keep praying for her, and hopes She is among those that'll receive Allaah's mercy because she has been a good mother to us.

I continued my normal life as a striving mother with my baby and also, with Kazeem's parent giving me their support on Hadiza's education and many expenses too.

I just returned from work as usual.......

I arrived home, and my neighbour, Mummy Ridwan, was the first to approach me.

"Hhaa. I'm glad you are home. A man came here this afternoon and took Hadiza with him. He said you'll understand if I give you this card. I did all my best to stop him, but he insisted on taking her. He keeps saying Hadiza is his child or something. I thought you said Hadiza lost her dad?" She said to me..

That moment, my mind went wild.

"What? He took Hadiza away?!"
I yelled fearfully.

I didn't even wait a little as I ran to the street as much as my tiny legs could carry me. Then, I knew it's no one but Kazeem.
He had come to take my only hope away.....

How did Kazeem found where we live? How did he find out about us??

I keep asking myself while running.

I took a taxi and gave him the description of where I'm headed.

I couldn't stop my tears while in the car.

"Why is all this happening again? I thought everything was over. I thought I'm finally free of this bo***ge?? why is all this happening again?" I muttered amidst tears staring the busy road.

To be continued......

What did you all think?
The EBOOK IS AVAILABLE FOR THOSE MESSAGING ME. I'm really sorry for the late reply.

You can send me a Dm on WhatsApp, 09066741566
Thank youuu so muchhhh.

Chapter 5 comes in the morning biidnillāāh.

Engage massively, bikoooooo.

Jazakumlah khayran.

OYETUNMBI ZULAYKHOH GBEMISOLA
ZULAYKHOOFGREATTHINGS >>>>