FUNTUA
Unguwar Jabiri

They were walking in their Islamic uniforms, chatting lightly.

Asmy pointed out to Zarah, "Zarah, that man is at your door again today, and I swear I know he is waiting for you."

Zarah, who was called by that name, sighed softly and replied calmly, as she always did, "I won't enter the house now, I swear, until he leaves."

Then I looked at her; she was tall with an average build.

Her skin was chocolate-colored; you wouldn't call her light-skinned, and she was stronger than you could call her with a finger.

She had a round face, a long nose, and a small mouth that slightly curved, giving her a heart shape. Her two dimples were deep.

They had always been like that; even when she didn't speak, they accentuated her natural beauty that God had given her. Her face was fresh, with nothing but a little makeup around her eyes.

Zarah had a stunning shape often referred to as the Coca-Cola shape, and the way God made her was the main thing that attracted men to her. Zarah was not just about her figure; when she walked, you could see her hips swaying.

It was as if she was doing it intentionally, even though she didn't want to, as she always wore a hijab. But despite the large hijabs she wore, they didn't hide the shape that God had given her.

"Asmy quickly took her hand, and they entered their house, which was a decent home. As they entered, Zarah sighed and said, 'May God let the man not see us; otherwise, he will follow us.'"

Indeed, if he followed you, I swear he would see how disrespectful it is because I am not you; he sees you like that, flaunting yourself, and that's why he disrespects you. I swear, Zarah, you need to tone down your allure; your health is too much. How can a person be in such allure every day? Despite this, your demeanor has made him think you are not a modern girl. Come on, even in school, I would have told you to be careful. So, from now on, I swear you should learn to protect yourself; your patience is too much, I swear."

Asmy finished speaking, panting. Her mother, who had come out of the kitchen, was listening to them and said, "Zarah, don't follow her; continue being who you are. God loves those who are patient. Every human has their own kind of trial; you hear? That is your kind. Make an effort to see that you overcome it. May God grant you ease in your affairs. Here is food; come and eat."

Zarah lowered her head, wiping the tears that had fallen from her eyes out of pity for herself, and said, "Insha Allah, Mama." She looked at Asma'u, her mother, and said, "You should always encourage her; don't just push her, you hear?" Asmy nodded and said, "Insha Allah, Mama." They sat down to eat the rice and delicious soup that Mama had prepared.

After they finished eating, they brought out their Islamic books and began to study because now their minds were fully focused on the prayer time approaching. After they finished studying, they heard the call for Maghrib prayer, which made them stand up. After they performed the Maghrib prayer, Zarah put on her hijab and said, 'Let me go home; I will come back in the morning.' She bid farewell to Asmy's mother, and they both went out together. Since their homes were close, Zarah sighed when she saw Nura was not there. At the entrance of Asmy's house, she stopped and said, 'See you tomorrow, Zarah; I will leave now.' Zarah looked at her and said, 'Aren't you coming in with me?' She shook her head and said, 'We will just meet tomorrow.' 'May God take us there,' her friend said as she slipped into the house, greeting softly.

It was a small house with four rooms: one for Mama Rabi, one for Baba, and three for her and her siblings. In the courtyard, she found Mama Rabi looking at her with a disdainful glance and began to speak, saying, 'You are hiding behind Islam while engaging in prostitution because of your dead mother. When you went to stay with someone, did you leave anything at home?" She shook her head, and tears began to fall because in her life, whatever Mama Rabi did to her, she felt no pain like when she insulted her mother who was below. Wiping her tears with a fearful voice, she said, 'I am sorry, Mama.' Rabi clicked her tongue and stood up, saying, 'Before thirty minutes, I want you to finish cooking the food for your mother.' 'Okay,' she said, falling down and entering the kitchen.

She blew on the two pots, even though the fire was strong due to the rainy season. She quickly lit the fire, and in no time, she finished all the cooking tasks and came out to wash the dishes. Habiba was sitting there, busy on her phone, not even noticing her. After finishing everything, she went to her room to rest. She took off her clothes and put on a wrapper because she felt hot due to the weather, as if there was a storm brewing. At that moment, Mama Rabi and her children were eating the food. She frowned and clicked her tongue, saying, 'Only when you finish your outing will you come home to wash the filth.' If it were new, she would have been used to it, so even in her body, she felt it when she came out of the bathroom. After performing her Isha prayer, she went to her room, spread her old mat, put on her Islamic hijab, and began to pray.