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2024-10-29 19:42:56The 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
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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,
Broken Within 61.
They were already in the third month of their marriage, and according to their arrangement, they had two months left until they get divorced. But, none of them speaks about it, it was as though they were both trying to forget the fact that they had agreed to something like that. All they do is enjoy each other's company and try as much as they both can to get to know more about each other.Zeenah smiled as she hailed a taxi to ride home. She had just finished her exams for the semester, and couldn't wait to get home and have a nice sleep without thinking of her pending exams. Oh! How sweet can life be without thinking about having to write any exams?The abrupt beeping of her phone made her look through it. It was Nana, asking her if she was done with her exams and when was she going to get home so she can come over. Zeenah quickly typed a reply that she was already on her way home. Over the past month, Zeenah and Nana had become friends,
Broken Within 62.
As he drove through the street, AbdulRasheed's thought drifted towards the envelopes at home. Ever since he had spoken with Zeenah about them that Afternoon, AbdulRasheed found out that he was very nervous at the outcome of the content of those envelopes. He also couldn't help the creeping feeling of thinking it was Aliya that had sent them, rather than Abubakar, as Zeenah thought.Didn't she say she'll find a way to get back to him if he doesn't do something? Perhaps, she was already making her move.Overcoming enormous trepidation, AbdulRasheed eased the car slowly into their street, and honk at the gate for Musa, who had come rushing while greeting his master."Welcome, Alhaji," Musa greeted."Thank you, Musa," AbdulRasheed replied, as he stopped a little to talk to him. "How was your day?""It was fine, Alhaji.""That's good," AbdulRasheed replied. He had wanted to ask
Broken Within 63.
It was a bright beautiful morning, and for some reason known best to her, Zeenah found that she had been walking around the house with a goofy smile on her lips. Oddly enough, she knew well enough that it was the odd satisfaction she felt for having spent the night again in the arms of her husband.She giggled slowly when she recalled how she had woken up wrapped in his arms, her arms were tightly secured around him as though she was afraid something or someone was going to snatch him away from her, and her right leg was in between his legs, while the left was atop them. She recollected how she had flushed with mortification when he had softly whispered into her ears to wake her up that morning. How deep must the sleep be for her to have slept through all that?She placed the last food warmer she had carried on the dining table, and adjusted the plate edging by the end of the table. There was an entirely different aura enveloping her, someth
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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
