032

Hafsa had just finished feeding the baby with formula and was settling him in his cot, when she heard the doorbell ring. "I'm coming. Just wait a second." She boomed, heading towards the door in a steady pace. But before she got there, Mr. Aliyu had already ushered the visitors in.

Hafsa's brows furrowed as she watched the visitors walk in. She was bewildered to see a lady dressed in a nurse's uniform and some other people she had never seen in her home. She couldn't help but wonder what they wanted or whom they visited. Her unasked questions were answered when Zynah appeared and greeted them warmly.

"Mr. Aliyu called us earlier," the lead lady explained. "About a newborn you're finding hard to take care of and would like us to take to the orphanage with us. Is that correct?"

Hafsa gasped. She was totally taken aback. It seemed almost as if her ears were deceiving her. Zynah, she knew, disliked the baby, but this inviting social workers to take the baby? That was simply uncall