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2024-10-29 19:42:56The sound of birds chirping woke Zeenah up. She stirred slowly, involuntarily snuggling into the warmth wrapped around her. Sighing in content, she inhaled the deep scent around her and felt herself smiling. She was happy, and nothing was going to ruin the day for her.
For some reason, the bed felt lumpy. Zeenah didn’t remember her bed feeling this way. She groaned as consciousness slowly returned to her, and she suddenly became aware of a hard body engulfing her.
She heard a soft chuckle above her and stiffened. A chuckle? She felt herself being tightened in an embrace, and she widened her eyes in shock.
Zeenah sat upright quickly, shoving the man aside. Sitting up, she looked around the room slowly, blinking at the unfamiliar walls before her eyes finally settled on the man lying beside her, his eyes glittering with amusement.
"Oh my God!" She exclaimed, as she quickly covered herself with the quil
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Broken Within 53.
Days rolled into weeks and weeks turned into an entire month. Zeenah and AbdulRasheed had been married for a month, and yet nothing had changed in the way they were living. They were two strangers pretending to be a couple. It was almost as though they never shared an intimate moment. As the days rolled by, AbdulRasheed had totally ignored Zeenah as though she had never existed.Saying he was hurt at their last encounter was definitely an understatement. He had been stung by her reaction towards him. Had she assumed he was like those men who batter and abuse their wives? What had made her think that way about him? He hadn't given much thought about it, but now that he did, something must have triggered that reaction from her.She had resumed school, and on most days before he even left for work, she would be out of the house already, leaving his breakfast on the table and a note like she always does. The note was always short, simply w
Broken Within 54.
It was exactly one week since Samirah put to bed, and as Hausa tradition demanded, the baby was to be named on the seventh day. There was to be a small celebration, where a ram would be slaughtered in the name of the child (although the slaughtering was not a prerequisite for the naming). It was always a festive occasion, and a naming ceremony was just always a cause for joy and celebration, especially if it happened to be the first child.Zeenah woke up that morning feeling giddy and excited. For some reason, the sun seemed brighter, the air smelled sweeter and even her breakfast tasted splendid. She hummed to herself as she set about cleaning, and even while she showered.It wasn't just the ceremony she was looking forward to, although it was always a joy to celebrate and socialize. Zeenah was looking forward to seeing Khadija as well, having been unable to contain her giddiness upon hearing that she would be attending the ceremony. Th
Broken Within 55.
The day went horribly.He'd spilled his coffee twice, and all his pens seemed to have mysteriously disappeared. To top it all off, he was barraged by a constant flow of patients so that he missed lunch.All in all, it was a horrible day.AbdulRasheed read through the file before him for the umpteenth time, dreading the way he was going to start explaining to Mrs Yusuf what her real problem was. She might get angry, he thought. She might even become hysterical or even claim he was wrong. But it was his duty to make her understand that. Part of being a doctor was learning how to break the news to patients, either good or bad.He pressed the buzzer and asked for Mrs Yusuf to be sent in."Spit it out, doctor. I'm ready for anything coming," Mrs Yusuf said, as soon as she settled into the chair before him."Good afternoon to you too," Abdul
Broken Within 56.
Zeenah debated getting up or trying to sleep for another hour. A gusty morning wind was rattling the windowpanes, threatening to smash them against the side of the building.The early morning light filtered through the drawn draperies. She loved a cold room and the tranquillity that came with it. Weird as it may be, Zeenah had always preferred the cold season to the hot season. She had been dreaming about Maama, holding a baby and smiling up at her. Who was she kidding? Ever since Samirah had given birth, she had been wondering how it would feel for her to also have a child to call hers.Groaning loudly, Zeenah tossed to the other side of her bed and stretched. She was still tired, despite the fact that she had actually slept early. Grabbing her phone, she checked the time and quickly sat up, almost hitting her leg on the edge of the bed. "Dear God! I must really have been so tired!" She picked up a wrapper from her closet and tied it over the
Broken Within 57.
Zeenah laughed loudly through the phone while applying a fruity scented lip balm to her lips. "You can't be serious, Samirah," she said. "How can you do that to my baby?""Why can't I?" Samirah's voice drawled through the phone. "He was proving to be stubborn, and I wanted to show him how stubborn I can also be.""He's just a baby," Zeenah said in amusement."I am aware of that unfortunate circumstances," Samirah said hysterically. "And yet he knows how to keep me awake for a whole night. Make that make sense woman. I'll wait until you have yours, then we can have this discussion again."Zeenah grew stiff at Samirah's words, but she brushed it off quickly, refusing to allow it disturb her any more than the issue already had. "How are you after yesterday's stress?""Oh, I should be asking you that. How are you? I'm glad you found your phone. I've been wondering who the woman you described w
Broken Within 58.
'How's work?'Zeenah typed away as she swallowed a spoonful of rice. It was a beautiful afternoon, and she had just come back from school. It's been five days already since she and AbdulRasheed had agreed to be friends, however, it was a gradual process for her. She still wasn't comfortable with the idea, but she was trying to.AbdulRasheed, on the other hand, Zeenah noticed, was as open as an open book. Even though he was yet to tell her anything about his life, he still tries as much as he could to make her feel as though she had been part of his life for a long time.She swallowed another spoonful the very moment her phone had beeped with an incoming message.'Hectic. I have lots of patients today, though, I'll be done in let's say two hours time. How was school?'She smiled before quickly typing away.'School was fine. Guess I won't be the only on
Broken Within 59.
They slept together, despite Zeenah wanting to stop that from happening, she couldn't. Not when he was an emotional mess that night, and definitely not when he had just finished pouring his heart out to her. So, instead of leaving the room like she had planned to when he fell asleep before her, she snuggled more into his embrace and drifted into a deep slumber.Morning came earlier than Zeenah wanted. She had enjoyed the night before and was looking forward to many more. As she made breakfast that morning, she scolded herself for even thinking about having another night like the night before.She was beginning to act weird, and it scared her that she was entirely changing because of him.Which was why, as soon as he had left for work that morning, Zeenah had called her therapist; Karimah."Isn't it weird that I'm acting that way? I suppose I'm getting ahead of myself. What if he is worse than Abubakar?"
Broken Within 60.
It was 8:30 pm, and Zeenah was already dressed for their date night.The woman gaping right before was entirely new even to her. There was a radiating glow about her, a kind of gleam in her eyes that was had never been present in her eyes before. This was entirely a new woman. This was a new Zeenatu, this was Mrs AbdulRasheed.She smiled at the sudden thought of being 'Mrs AbdulRasheed', and she even speculated she had imagined calling herself with the same tone he had used in calling her that morning. Carefully, she adjusted the purple veil she had rolled on her head around her face and pinned the hairpin more appropriate to bring out the curve of her face. She was wearing a black Abaya gown, mostly worn by Arabian women.It was black in colour, with touches of purple pearl stones by the neck and hands, so, she paired it with a purple small veil, which she had rolled around her face. She smacked her lips gently,
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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
