A Tale Of The Broken

It was a tiring day from work after seeing many patients Yusuf made his way home. His mind was everywhere but with him, he still can't believe he got the same feeling whenever he is near his father's house. The same feeling of wanting to run away and never come back arose again. But he know how important it is to maintain his relationship with his father, who he have been trying to meet for a month now, but his stepmother is not letting that happen.

Each day had its own different excuse to why he can't see his father. So tonight he is planning to sleep in his old room so that he can at least get to see him the next morning. Which the father don't even give a damn about. From what Yusuf can remember his father use to love him, but everything change like a blink of an eye.

He is known as the outcast of the family, his stepmom is doing anything possible to make his existence forgotten by his family members, especially his own father. His car came to a halt in front of the giant gate which he never entered without reciting ayatul kursi and any supplication he can remember for guidance from the evil. His gentle nature is welcomed  by everyone but his family. The gate was open by same conniving old man. He welcomed Yusuf as if he sincerely meant it, showing his brownish teeth that got spoiled from consuming many cigarette and kolanut.

Yusuf just knew he will be welcomed by the chameleon herself, he had never seen a person that can change personality in a matter of a second like his stepmother does. But by now he believed she is so good at what she does, with her angelic face, everyone can mistook her as a God sent angel from heaven. And just like he predicted, there was she standing by the main door, with her both hands on her waist. In her eyes so much disgust for the person approaching the door.

"What are you doing here this late?" She asked annoyingly with a deep frown.

"I am here to meet my father." Was his simple reply. Yet, she didn't move an inch from where she stood blocking the way for him.

"Can I at least come in?" He politely asked, but she still didn't barge.

"No, because you have no place in this house whatsoever. So stop showing up your stupid face, no one needs to spoil their mood with your presence." She added bitterly looking at him in the most disgusting way possible. He believe that, the woman can strangled him whenever she got the chance.

"But I have to come here at least to see Baba, if not anyone." At the moment he was really trying to control the rage boiling inside of him, before he do or say something stupid and finally make her wishes come true, he is good at calming himself. Hajiya Luba is a beautiful woman in her early fifties, cunning yet elagant, she has a perfect physical appearance but evil in nature, at least to Yusuf.

"Stop bragging about your father, if not someone will think the man want to see you. I suggest, you carry your stupid self, the way you came and get out of my house, before I throw you out like the dog you're." She exhaled sounding exhausted, "what part of no one wants you here didn't you get in your thick skull, uhmm?" Luba asked annoyed as hell, thinking of why he is still coming back till now. Yusuf clenched his fists more tighter from inside his breeks pockets. 

"Who is at door, Luba?" A voice asked from somewhere inside the house, and the figure coming into view.  Yusuf felt an instead relief washed over his entire body. His eyes came in contact with the same look on the man's face, he have been trying to read for years now, but in vein. It was his father.

"Is our son, he has finally come to visit us after so long, you have no idea how we all misses you around here, my son. Come inside and stop standing by the door, dear." She said so lovingly with one of her sweet yet fake smile, they both made their way inside the main living room which leads to so many doors.

"And what are you doing here?" His father inquired with his neutral face, he can't hardly remember when last his father had smiled at him or show a little bit of affection in his regard. Though he is always so affectionate toward Yusuf's half siblings.

"Ina wuni, Baba (Good day)!" Yusuf greeted with a smile.

"Lafiya(okay), I asked what you were doing here this late?, you don't know when to come visit, right? You only come at the odd hours of the night." He says, so coldly that it can send shiver down one's spine. Yusuf swallow the lumps forming in his throat, he can see Luba's evil smirks from behind his father. It was only 8:45pm but they go on exaggerating how late he came. Yusuf was more than sure his brother is still out.

"I am here to see you." Yusuf replied  broken from the inside.

"Haba Alhaji(Oh dear) look at how tired the boy is, he probably came from work just to see us. And what you're saying is just not right, a son is always welcomed at his parents home no matter how old they became. Yusuf my dear, come have sit and talk with your father for the mean time, I will bring you something to eat." If only she was sincere, Yusuf thought.

"There is no need for that, I have already eaten, but thank you." Even though he was hungry he can't risk being poisoned by Luba. The last encounter he had with the food she served him wasn't something he quite want to remember.

"You keep calling him son, but he don't regard you as his mother. I told you to stop trying to please this ungrateful boy, and about coming to see me you don't have to come here. You can just call me if you want to, you can leave now." Usman concluded pointing at the door and standing up from where he was sitting. Yusuf sat there staring at the tiled floor as if he had finally seen the miracle behind it.

"But Alhaji, he just arrived and it's getting late, let him stay please." Luba requested with a sad face not meaning any of what she said. Alhaji Usman Balarabe Maitaya, he is an elderly man at his late fifties, dark skin yet very handsome, everyone can tell he was once a heartthrob. He owns the largest tyre manufacturing company in the country. For some reason he and his eldest son Yusuf don't seem to get along.

"You will never learn your lesson Luba, and let him leave, that's final, I don't want to see him here." Usman said with finality in his voice as he exist the living room. While Luba laugh silently and Yusuf felt dejected.

"I guess you heard what your dear father had said, and I don't want to repeat it either. I won't come back again if I were you." She smiled wickedly and Yusuf existed the house without a word.

...

Even after so many years Yasmin can still hear those faint groans, it echoes in her head as if it happened yesterday. She wiped her tears with the back of her hand and sat properly on the bed. She doesn't even know when she felt asleep, but it didn't even last for a good ten minutes. Subhanallah(God is Great), she mumbled to herself and went to the washroom to wash her face. Upon looking at the mirror, the same girl with panda eyes stare back at her and she quickly look away.

After performing wudhu(ablution), she set the prayer mat facing the qibla(direction). With all her might as she bow down in prostration and pour her heart out to the Almighty being, for all her worries, insecurities and her family's well being and seek refuge from Allah for the last day. After ending her nawafil prayer she look at the clock only to see 3:20am.

She parked all the clothes she had gathered earlier from all her family members and starts doing the laundry with the washing machine and some by hands, before fajr(dawn) she was done with everything.

After Fajr, she went to the kitchen and start preparing individual breakfast for each member of the family. As cooking is no big deal for her, she is a pro when it come to the kitchen. Socializing with others is the big deal, with her strong personality many mistook her for being arrogant which is nothing close to who she is.

"Good morning, my big princess!"  Aisha greeted her daughter as she entered the kitchen in her usual jovial self. She is an elegant woman in her mid forties, with wise eyes and beautiful smile. Even with all that had happened, Aisha managed to pulled her family together and keep going.

"Good morning, Maami!" Yasmin greeted back with a small smile as usual, that can be the highest she can say in a day.  She start assembling everyone's plate in front of them on the carpet, followed by greetings from her younger siblings. She only answer with a small smile or nothing more than a nod.

"Assalamu alaikum(peace be upon you), Yasi my child!" Her father greeted as he sat next to her on the carpet at the far end of their dinning area.

"Wa'alaikum salam, good morning, Daddy!"

The thing with Yasmin is that she never start a conversation, but she knew how to end it. She sat at her usual spot while the rest conserved among each other and she smiles sometimes when they say something funny. She is far left behind in her own world much less in other people's. 

"Yasi, everything was delicious, do you need anything on my way back home?" Her father asked lovingly after breakfast, which she nodded no to. Alhaji Abubakar Datti, he's a high paying civil servant and very close to retirement at his mid fifties, a very amiable family man. He owns a department store. Though the Abubakar's live an average life. Both Yasmin's parents have a charm, it's like a magnetic string that keep pulling people to them, once they meet. And their daughter is only a mystery.

"Ok my dear, take care of yourself." He said giving her a small pat carefully on her right shoulder, as if she was so delicate and he, trying not to hurt her. She smiled and murmured 'Ok'. And he left along with her sisters.