“What is it ? Why are you staring at me like that? I am not doing anything wrong, I am just doing the best for us. I want us to have a better life and this man did promise us one.” Her sister said to her and she tried to understand what she was trying to say.
“Ehn… what are you saying ? Who is Daddy? What is bless you …. Wait … are you … no… do you now go to church, I do heard Christians neighbors say that to each other.” Ashabi asked her with her heart beating so faster, hoping that it is not true but just staring at her sister , that moment, she need no one to tell her that it was true.
“You now go to church?” Ashabi asked and there were tears in her eye.
“Ashabi don’t shout… I just want us to get a better life… they said if I start coming to their Church and participate in all activities, they would send us back to school and sponsor us until we get a job.” She explained to her sister who shook her head in denial.
“No, I am not going to do that with you… I am not …” She said and ran out of the house crying while Shade just sat down on the floor and cry so hard.



The outside was empty and she didn’t have anywhere to go to, so she just sat outside on the pavement and cry…
If only Dad were to be alive …
“Ashabi… let us go inside, it is late… remember you have to go to work tomorrow …” she said to her sister.
“Don’t talk to me…” she said to her and started crying again.
“Let me call your friend.” She heard her sister said.
And here he was…
“Why don’t you want to come in to sleep?” she heard Ismail’s voice and that was when she noticed his presence.
“Your said you don’t want to come in to sleep… it is late.” He said to her and she sighed.
“I am sorry, you are to travel tomorrow…” she said to him with tears.
“You are crying.” He said to her and she sniffed in her tears.
“I am … I want to ... I don’t want to sleep in that room with her again…” She said to him.
“Why? It is late Yasmina.” He said.
“She now go to church… she hasn’t been observing her Salah.” She said to him and he was quiet on what to say.
“Are you sure of what you are saying?” He asked her after a long silence.
“I am not lying , you can ask her ...” She said to him and watched him sighed deeply.
“I will surely do that... But for now, you need to go in, it is late.” He explained and she shook her head.
“No...” She said to him and he sighed further , he stood up and with a stern voice, he said
“Come in with me now...”
“Why are you being stubborn, it is late.” He said to her and after a while , she stood up and went in with him, she met her sister outside the room waiting , her face brightened as soon as she saw her sister. And she gave Ismail, a gratitude look as the latter sighed. Without a look on her elder sister face, she went into the room while her sister stayed by their door entrance looking at Ismail.
“When will you be free tomorrow?” He asked looking at Shade.
“I am off tomorrow but I had to go work at the ch....” she wanted to say but keep quiet.
“They we have to talk tomorrow ins sha Allah.” He said to her and she sighed .
“I thought you want to travel...” She asked him.
“There is a reason for me not to do that now.” He said to her and she sighed.
“So, what do you say?” He asked her.
“Okay.” She agreed and went into their room.
She met her younger sister lying on the bed and facing the wall and she swallowed hard.
“Ashabi... All that I am doing ...” She tried to say but her sister cut in.
“I don’t want listen to any of your reasons, just leave me alone... I am leaving this house soon... I don’t want any money from you, whatever you are doing, just do it for yourself.” Ashabi said and without any further word, the sisters were in that state till morning, none of them slept ....


And so did Ismail , he laid awake in his room trying to access the reason for Shade actions, most of the times he do have a pity for the orphans who lost their parents at a very young age and he always wonder how life can be so difficult for them having to fend for themselves at a young age.
Hmmmm, he sighed , he know he just had to have that discussion with her first
As soon as Ashabi went out to work that morning, he left his room and went to their bedroom entrance, he knocked severally before the door finally opened and as soon as it got opened, he realised what she has been doing! She has been crying , and his heart sank.
She opened the door for him to enter and he stood in the middle of the room staring at her.
“Can we talk now?” He asked looking at her and she nodded.
“Okay, come and seat.” He said and without invitation, he sat down on the clean terrazzo floor while she sat on the bed looking at him with her swollen eyes.
“Folashade ... That is you full name right?” He asked her and she nodded.
“What is your Muslim name?” He asked her.
“Yusra.” She said to him.
“Ma sha Allah, such a beautiful name , Do you know the meaning of your name?” He asked and she shook her head. She hardly use the name. They were just there on her certificates, nothing more.
“It means ease.” He said to her and she nodded.
“It is a beautiful name.” He said to her.
“And that is the name I would have loved to call you ... Yusra...” He said and sighed.
“Why do you start going to church ... Secretly?” He started when he realised that she felt relieved.
“It is a decision I had to make for my sister ... but she didn’t want to understand, I met the man in my supermarket, he as just opened a new church not far from here and he came to tell us about it at the supermarket, he is a friend to my boss, one thing led to the other, I told him about myself and Ashabi and he promised to help... I want to go back to school, I am not happy at my present situation. He promised that the church will sponsor us to school and even renew my house rent... There is even a weekly allowance which is half of my salary. Life seem better, for some weeks now, most to the items I have been bringing to the house are from the church offerings.” She said and swallowed hard.
“I am sure Ashabi will kill me if she know this ... But I just want a better life for us all... life had been so unfair right from the first day that we lost our parents, we were in the village for more than two years suffering ... It was so difficult to have a two square meal, our father only sibling did not ask of us since we lost our grandma a year ago... And our mothers family? They didn’t even want to have anything to do with us... It is been so unfair.” She explained with tears in her eyes and he sighed listening to the sad story.
“I know what I did was wrong... Not that I wanted to start going to church, I don’t even listen to any of their sermon, I had this guilt inside me ... But they have so much to offer... “ She said to him and he swallowed hard.
“That means you still wish to be a Muslim....” He asked her.
“Perhaps one day...” She said distantly and he sighed further.
“Do you know death is inevitable? He asked her.
“Yes.”
“Do you know Death can take anyone at anytime.” He asked her and her heart missed a beat.
“What if it takes you now....” He asked her.
“Do you know that what you are doing is very close to scan or let’s call it Scam properly, accepting help from people at a price you aren’t willing to pay is scam.” He explained.
“Allah has reason for everything, I know you must have gone through a lot, so much that I can’t imagine but do you know that there are so many people in worst condition? Take a look at your present situation, you have every cause to be thankful... One for being alive... For being healthy, for being able to put food on the table even it is just once, there are people who don’t even have this luxury. Take a look at this place you lives..
So cozy , some don’t have this at all, you have clothes to put on .... there is every cause to be thankful.” He said to her.
“I am not going to rebuked you but I want you to know that it is important for every Muslim to believe in qadar. Whatever trials one face in this life ... Accept it in good faith... This is the only way, your Iman will be steadfast and you will not be moved or confused by temptations. Can you even see your sister, she is taking all these in good faith.” He said to her.
“Reconsider your options and revert back to Islam.” He said to her.
“Not because of your sister , or for me , but because you want to... Because you believe in all pillars of faith, you believe in oneness of Allah, you believe in the angels existence , you believe in the books of Allah, you believe in the messengers of Allah and that Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him is the last of them, believe in the last day and the lastly , believe in Qadar. When you have strong believe in these six articles if faiths then it is a good step starting towards the right direction.” He explained to her.
“Okay, ....” She said to him.
“Okay what?” He asked her
“I will revert back...” She said.
“You are likely to lose your job?” H e asked her and she shrugged.
“I will get another one ... Ins sha Allah.” She said.
“Ma sha Allah, let us visit the Masjid.” He said to her and she nodded.
Faster than he thought

Ashabi returned back home to meet her sister in the house as a Muslim. The two stood there starring at each other for a while and without any word from any of them.
It was obvious Ashabi didn’t want to talk to her sister, so both just keep doing their things until they had the adhan for Maghreb
Ashabi, stood up and was about going to the Masjid when they heard a knock at the door, it was Ismail when she got to the door.
“How about we all go out to the Masjid for Salah…” He said, Ashabi turned and was surprised to see her sister to see her already on her feet as soon as she turned to look at her.
“Okay.” Shade said to her and stared hard at her younger sister who was still staring in surprise.
“Alright, please, don’t let us miss the Jama’ah.” He said to her and she nodded quickly and she immediately followed Ismail out with her sister following them slowly.
They stayed back for the lecture at the Masjid and only returned back home after Ishai. As soon as they got to the corridor of the house, Ashabi could not hold it anymore, she moved her sister closer and hugged her tightly, Ismail only watched the two sisters hugged each affectionately.
“I am sorry for anything I have said.” Ashabi said.
“Can you forgive me?” She asked her sister and Shade nodded amidst sobs and she hugged her tighter.
“That means I can travel back home tomorrow?” Ismail asked looking at the two ladies.
“Yes… And thank you… Jazakallahu khair.” Ashabi said smiling and Ismail smiled.
“Wa anti fajakillahu khayr.” He replied.
“I didn’t do anything…” He said as they resumed their journey to their room.
“I lost my job, the manager don’t want to see me anymore.” Shade announced as soon as they got to their room entrance and Ismail swallowed hard.
“That is bad…” Ismail said.
“I start another job search tomorrow.” Shade explained and her sister looked at her sister and embraced her again.
“It’s nothing, I will be fine.” Shade said dry eyed.
“I have some food stuffs left in my room, I will bring them to your room tonight as I would be going to the back so early tomorrow ins sha Allah.” He announced to them.
“You don’t have to do that.” Shade said to him and he shook his head.
“It will just waste.” He said to her and went into his room, he came out some minutes later with two small sac and the two sister exchange glance before Ashabi helped him with one.
“This does not look like a left over.” Shade said to him and he smiled. That morning, he had gone out, withdrew his last savings aside from his transport fare and got the girls some food stuffs, he was just waiting for the right time to give them.
“Let us just assume that it is.” He said to her.
“How can we thank you for all that you have done? I am so sorry for misjudging right from the beginning.” Shade said with regrets.
“So, see you tomorrow ins sha Allah.” He said as soon as he helped them with one sac of the food to the kitchen before he finally left for his room while the girls locked the door.
“I misjudged him from the very beginning.” Shade said to her sister and swallowed hard as she watched her sister checked the items from the bag, there is some mudu of rice, some garri, beans, 2kg of Semo, some Elubo, some wheat flour, he got a bottle of palmoil, some salt, detergent, soap, groundnut oil.
“He even got grounded Egusi and dry fish.” Ashabi said to her sister.
“Hmmm, but why is he doing all of this?” Shade said while her sister shrugged, one thing is sure; they are lucky to have him.


Hikmah sat down facing him, it was the first time they would talk after her father had told her about her proposal.
“I am sorry.” He started and she wondered what he wanted to say, how can he be sorry for no such reason.
“I am sorry that a proposal was sent to you by my Dad without consulting me first.” He said to her and her heart missed a beat.
What is he talking about?
“What are you talking about?” She asked him.
“I don’t understand you.” She said.
“The wedding proposal was sent without my awareness and now I am here to plead with you not to take the wedding proposal seriously, I only see you as my sister nothing more.” He said to her and she stared at him with disbelief.
“I understand that you see me as one too… and I am deeply sorry for any further misunderstanding.” He apologized,
“Is my Dad aware of this new development?” She asked him and he shook his head, he was planning on seeing her Dad as soon as she is done with him.
“I will pay a visit to his office after this meeting ins sha Allah.” He promised.
“I wish I could have stopped it before it become so serious… I am deeply sorry.” He apologized again.
“Is that what you come to the house to tell me?” She asked and he nodded.
“I am sorry again.” He said and she wish to shut him down for telling her sorry.
“I have never for once see you as a … I always see you just like my sister…and I cant even begin to see you differently.
TO BE CONTINUED