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13. Done For
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2024-10-29 19:42:56“You look so thin,” Samira Bashir started as she settled on one of the couches illuminating Zeenah’s living room. “are you okay? Is something bothering you? In fact, you look so nervous Zeenah,” she added, accessing her friend’s appearance from head to toe.
Zeenah forced a sad smile and sat beside her friend. "What if I am pregnant?”
“Are you?” Samira asked quickly, “because if you are, you’re still in a mess. Remember, you’re yet to cleanse yourselves. Zeenah, do that before it’s too late, please.”
“But Abubakar is not ready,” Zeenah heard herself saying. Even to her ears, the words sound shoddy. What was really wrong with her?
It was a bright Monday morning, and she recalled the little fight she and Abubakar had before he left in the morning just because Samira was visiting. It had been long since any of her f
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Broken Within 14. Dramas
Little by little their marriage closed around her. At first, it seemed like heaven when she thought of the idea of being married to Abubakar. She had all the time she needed to plan how perfect their married life will be. She spent hours poring over recipes, improving her cooking skills so she can please her fiancee when they finally got married. Now, every day before Abubakar came home from the office, she would put on makeup and changed her outfit. She had started to do that after he'd told her one night he hoped she wasn't one of those women who let themselves go after they'd caught a husband because recently she had lost all interest in trying to look good for him.If Abubakar had been a jerk all the time, she wouldn't have been so compliant. It was the in-between moments that kept her with him, the evenings when they cuddled in front of the TV and watched the news, the impromptu romance after dinner
Broken Within 15. Lies
Zeenah had never needed something as much as she needed Abubakar's approval and go ahead in her life. From the clothes, she wears to the type of food she mostly eats, to the people she talks to, damn! To even how to speak.It was a bleak Sunday afternoon, and Zeenah was busy ironing Abubakar's clothes, while he sat, crossed leg, watching football on the large plasma screen pasted on the wall. They had just finished having lunch, and he had subtly talked about his clothes that weren't ironed."I wanted to ask Bala to help iron them, but I don't want to be a Bad Boss. Maybe I'll just iron them later when I rest." He had said that when he was feeding a Zeenah a spoonful of rice, while she sat in between his laps."I'll get them done. I always did, why will you give them to Bala?" Zeenah had asked pouting."But I don't want you to keep suffering. You're my wife, not a maid." Abubakar had said, wiping her mouth
Broken Within 16. Arguing
"What just happened?" Khadija asked as she closed the door behind her, confusion clearly on her face. "Is what he's saying true?" There was a slight edge in Khadija's voice, "I just don't understand what is happening with you these days, Addah (Big Sis). This is not who you are, I don't even think I know you that much anymore!" Khadija said sadly. "You've changed, you don't talk to me anymore, we don't share our secret code and all. I miss you. I miss us. I miss our moments."Zeenah slumped on the chair behind her, holding her head in her hands, she wiped the lone tear that escaped from her eye."I'm okay, Khadija. There's nothing wrong with me. I've just been careless these days, that's all.""And you think I'll buy that silly excuse of yours? You've got to be kidding me!""Whatever do you mean by that?" Zeenah asked stubbornly. "I said what he said was the truth. I don't know what came over me these past
Broken Within 17. The Start
"You look stunning," Abubakar drawled adoringly at Zeenah, who was dressed in a red and white Ankara sewed into skirt and blouse. Her hair was simply parked in the middle of her head, and her headgear tied in steps.“You think? I personally think you look way too handsome to go out. I can imagine so many women tripping and falling for you.”‘Oh!” Abubakar replied, a smile tugging at the edge of his lips, ‘it’s their lost then because I’ve got only eyes on you.’ He wiped the extra lip balm by the side of her lips and smiled.Zeenah smiled and held his left hand in hers, “shall we get going?”“Sure, after you beautiful.”They were going to visit their families. Starting with visiting Abubakar’s uncle, and then Zeenah’s family. Ever since they got married, Zeenah had only visited both families twice. They boug
Broken Within 18. Mixed Feelings
Two days later, Zeenah got a call from Khadija, telling her that their mum was awfully sick and might end up being taken to the hospital.Zeenah quickly dialled Abubakar's number, and even though they weren't speaking ever since the episode from his uncle's house two days back, Zeenah let go of her pride and called him."I need to go home, Inna is sick." She blabbed quickly as soon as he picked up the call."You'll go home when you learn of ways to respect your husband, Zeenah. Now, I'm very busy, do not disturb me anymore and do not dare leave that house until I say so. Else..." He left the threat hanging and ended the call.Zeenah sagged into the chair behind her, her legs were shaking and her eyes were dry. She willed for the tears chalking up her chest to come out, but nothing. She was numb.Was this really the man she had fallen in love with? Was he the same man she had married? The m
Broken Within 19. Rough?
Halfway through the ninth month of their marriage, Abubakar’s determination to get get her pregnant had become all-consuming. She half suspected he would most probably hurt her if he knew she was still secretly taking birth control pills, so she hid them in one of her purses shoved back in a corner of their closet.Convinced that the problem was her, it couldn’t possibly be him; Abubakar sent her to the doctor. She cried in the doctor’s office for an hour, telling him she felt anxious and miserable and had no idea why, and came home with a prescription for antidepressants.“You can’t take that crap,” Abubakar said, crumpling the slip of paper and tossing it into the trash. “It might be bad for the baby.”Their nonexistent baby. She thought guiltily of the pill she took every morning, a secret act that had become her last desperate bid for autonomy. It was difficult on the wee
Broken Within 20. A Beast
“Where are what?” she asked, her heart kicking into overdrive, going so wild that it made her rib cage hurt. She was amazed at how calm she sounded when terror was corroding her insides like battery acid. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”How dare she play him like a fool? How dare she?! Abubakar groaned angrily. He threw an empty water glass to the floor, smashing it. And he continued to empty out drawers like a madman. “You know exactly what I’m asking.”If he found the birth control pills, he would hurt her. A strange, sickening resignation settled beneath the fear, and her pulse quieted. She was light-headed and freezing. “I’m going to get dressed,” she said, still calm, even as he broke, ripped, threw, destroyed, liquids and powders spilling, running together in oozing pastel puddles.She went to her dresser, pulled out a gown, even thou
Broken Within 21. Woe To You
Three days laterShe felt as if she were floating. Her eyes were closed, and everything about her felt soft, a luxuriating fluffiness like the satin down comforter her grandma used to have. She thought she must have been sleeping. There was a not-unpleasant heaviness to her limbs, like the time she could finally sit down after standing and walking in the market for hours.Then her brain started to focus in a peculiar sort of way, powerless over thoughts that surfaced unbiddenly. Abubakar suddenly came to mind...how he had gotten her this way, and how she longed to tell Maam, but couldn't. Maama. . .As her consciousness began to return, she tried without success to open her eyes. Something tight and sticky was holding her lids together. Now she knew she was s
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Broken Within A Spinster 2
2nd May 2006Ten years later, Abuja. Nigeria."Ga Aljanin nan zuwa (the jinn is coming)" Safina whispered into the ears of her sleeping sister sakina "Get up quickly kis kis, you haven't prayed and he's going to take you away" she added.Sakinah yelped and jumped up, it was already past 11 pm and it had rained heavily that day which make it possible for everywhere to be dark.Safina and Nafisa laughed seeing the scared expression on their sister's face."Where is the jinn? Please tell it to go back I'll pray" sakinah said trembling."Well, you're praying isha very late, so it'll come over and punish you," Nafisa said smiling evilly."No!" Sakina shouted in her high pitched voice. Mama rabi quickly rushe
Broken Within A Spinster
14th August 1996.Kano, Nigeria.9:13 pmThe cold humid air of early august blows around the hospital corridor, sending shivers down the spine of those waiting along the labour ward. Three, out of the four people waiting were seated, while one of them kept pacing to and fro. An unreadable expression on his face."Bello, get yourself seated, please!" His elder brother Alhaji Sa'eed said."I can't, Brother. I can't be at ease without knowing how my wife is doing in there. She's suffering" he replied as if his puppy-like face will save his wife from what she's going through."Sit down and pray for her. That is the only solution right now, this pacing of yours is pissing me off" Alhaji Sa'eed scolded him."Fine!" Alhaji Bello said, heaving a defeated sigh as he sat down "Allah gani gareka. (I'm in your hands, Oh Lord!)" It has bee
Broken Within 73.
The next two days had been busy, and Zeenah spent them smiling all through like a loon. It was something she had never imagined was ever possible, her finding true love was nothing she had ever thought of, but she did, and she was going to relish in the thought. She recalled the teasing smile on Baba's face when she had told him that she would go back to AbdulRasheed in three days time. Baba's face lighted up with sheer joy, and she had recalled him asking her if there was anything she needs.Maama was also not left behind. She had raced to the room when Baba had told her and had asked Zeenah if that was true. Zeenah had ducked her head down and nodded in response."Alhamdulillah (to God be the glory)," Maama had said "I'm so happy that you've finally decided to give your love a chance, Zeenatu. May Allah continue to bless you in folds, and may you always and forever be happy, beautiful."She had wiped the lone
Broken Within 72.
For the next two months, Zeenah had avoided everything that might possibly link her to AbdulRasheed. Not even when he calls does she picks, nor does she replies his endless text messages. But what annoyed her the most was that, despite what she thought that if she avoids AbdulRasheed, she would be able to forget everything and be happy, that didn't happen. Each time she lay back on the bed to sleep, she kept remembering their happy moments and wondered what would happen if they were still together.She remembered the constant nagging, begging and all from Samirah not to let go of AbdulRasheed, but nothing Samirah had said then had made her changed her mind. And even now, as she remembered everything, she would've still chosen for AbdulRasheed to set her free from all.AbdulRasheed, as strong-headed as she had always known him to be had refused to let her go. He promised to hold onto her for as long as she needs, he'll be waiting, with open
Broken Within 71.
For the next two months, Zeenah had avoided everything that might possibly link her to AbdulRasheed. Not even when he calls does she picks, nor does she replies his endless text messages. But what annoyed her the most was that, despite what she thought that if she avoids AbdulRasheed, she would be able to forget everything and be happy, that didn't happen. Each time she lay back on the bed to sleep, she kept remembering their happy moments and wondered what would happen if they were still together.She remembered the constant nagging, begging and all from Samirah not to let go of AbdulRasheed, but nothing Samirah had said then had made her changed her mind. And even now, as she remembered everything, she would've still chosen for AbdulRasheed to set her free from all.AbdulRasheed, as strong-headed as she had always known him to be had refused to let her go. He promised to hold onto her for as long as she needs, he'll be waiting, with open
Broken Within 70.
Two days laterShe tried to open her eyes, but it felt as though they've been glued by something. She tried again but quickly shut them back as soon as she had opened them because of the blinding lights from the light bulbs in the room. The next time she tried, she was able to squint her eyes a little to adjust to the blinding lights. However, the first thing that caught her attention was the white Celine and the white walls surrounding her. Was she dead already? Perhaps, she might already be in heaven. God, what a life she had had to live to have died that way.She turned her head a little, and that was when she saw someone sitting right beside her. From all indications, it was a man, because the curly hair was bent right towards her, enough to want to make her move her hand and run them through the hair. A sigh escaped her lips when she finally realized who was sitting there.At the sound of her sigh, AbdulRashe
Broken Within 69.
AbdulRasheed surveyed the house once more before he moved toward it slowly. This was the house he had met Aliyah the night Zeenah had been kidnapped. He had called her number and was lucky that it went through and she picked up, telling him to come to meet her there if he wants to get his wife back.AbdulRasheed didn't waver, however, he had told Bashir to come along but stay hidden. He hooped out of the car and turned discreetly to check up on Bashir, who had parked some few meters away from the house. He had no idea why Aliya had told him to come over, but whatever it is, he was going to see the end of it today.He thumped on the door and waited for some minutes before the door was yanked open. Aliya stood by the door, dressed in a mint green fitted gown. Even her breasts were showing, despite knowing the consequences of her actions, it seemed as though all that didn't bother Aliya one bit. "Hello, handsome. Look, I'm wearing your favour
Broken Within 68.
The room was dark, and there was an unbearable stench to it. She moved a little, and the rope which held her hands tightly behind the chair squeezed more tightly. She groaned and yelled angrily and felt like yanking so hard at her hands, maybe, just maybe she'll set them free and remove the blindfold from her eyes. The only time she wasn't blindfolded or tied to a chair was when she was being fed. The first day she had been brought, Zeenah refused to eat everything she was given. But by the second day, when she realized that she needed to eat to survive, she began eating, while the large hulk man stands beside her, his hands folded across his chest.She was still yet to see any face apart from his. She tried so hard to think of any reason why someone will decide to kidnap her but couldn't. Nothing actually makes any sense to her no matter how hard she tried. The only other time she had felt a presence, was when she was snapped. She knew she had been snapped beca
Broken Within 67.
Three days later.Three days and six hours later, Zeenah was still yet to be found, and nothing has been heard from her. Despite how hard AbdulRasheed had tried, he couldn't hold it in anymore. So, he did the only reasonable thing that came to his mind. He went home and told his parents about the situation. His father had been furious that he took that long to tell them what had been happening. Worse of all was Maama's reaction after telling that Zeenah was missing.If Bashir hadn't forced him to, AbdulRasheed wouldn't have told his parents or Zeenah's parents about her disappearance. He had had a firm belief that Zeenah had run off away from him, not that something happened like they were all insisting.But, what if something had really happened to her?"Let's go to the police station," AbdulRasheed's father had announced the second day they couldn't get a hold of Zeenah. "We can't wait here when we
