g against the banister of the stairs. I gasped as the i

ou understand?” Mama’s voice reached

ara cried out as sh

ve birth to you? Why?” Mama’s ranting echoed dow

nd rushed back to help me collect my th

her concern wa

ed to spill from my eyes. I didn’t want my baby sister to see me like this. It was

amily dinner. How I hated that man. He was the root problem of our society. As the older brother,

had set up a counter full of raw ingredients to prepare for the mass cooking event that would take place all day. Several aunties were expected to show up at our house

ndeed compulsory. No amount of excuse-making was going to get me out of it. Half the problem was attending the dinner, the other half of the problem would

hen I found myself grounded. I should have been pleased, but the slap had

and I pulled my hijab tighter around my ears. That was another thing I was forced to wear. Although a religious symbol, I had no interest in the hijab for I believed Islam was in the heart and not on the head. I contemplated taking it off and stuffing it down t

bordered the building with only one way in and out. I sighed as I neared the gates. School wasn’t somewhere I would willingly go. The most difficult thing abou

I’ve been calling you

d to run the house like I was. Maybe it was her parents who were lenient enough to let her just be. We sat side-by-side in class and that’s when I discovered that her love for reading historical books was on par with mine. Thereafter, a solid base of friendship was formed. We often discussed details of far-flung cities and what it would be like to visit them when we were toge

rdless of time, what did they achieve by gaining likes or followers? I didn’t have Tik-Tok, but if I had, then my followers would be looking at a blank profile. I only had Insta and I used that to follow accounts that were ded

nny boy barged past us shoving

!” Squealed Anna with delight. She eagerly sc

d secondly, not much learning took place away from school. Students usually went for a laugh, to socialize and walk around without a chaperone.

” Anna was incredulo

would be able to find a quiet corner and be alone for a while. Maybe I could lose my

nt to go?”

ot sure. Ar

. Trying to weigh up the pros and cons didn’t take very long. The decision woul

down. I arrived home bang on time at 3.45pm and headed into the k

!” I announced

responses and some “Oh, look ho

cussion was. It is usually a good thing. Except for when it’s put into the same sentence as being healthy. In oth

number one called across the kit

whilst shooting a glance ove

g. But before I could leave the kitchen and retire to my room,

other aunty tried guiding me down

ed to change my clothes…”

ama magically appeared behind me and p

many people. Sighing, I joined the mini convoy