THE SEVEN BROTHERS’ SISTER

CHAPTER 3

Ruma could not take her eyes off Umar.

Fear had completely taken over her.

He pulled out a chair and sat directly in front of her.

For a few seconds, he simply stared at her.

Then, in a harsh voice, he asked,

"Where exactly did you go after your mother sent you on that errand? You left in the afternoon and didn't return until Maghrib."

Because the electricity was on, Ruma could see his face clearly.

She could see the seriousness in his eyes.

"Didn't I ask you a question?" he shouted. "Why are you staring at me?"

Ruma jumped.

She tried to speak.

He interrupted her.

"And listen carefully. If you lie to me, you'll regret it tonight."

Her entire body shook.

She finally began telling him everything.

She explained how she had gone to Habiba's house, borrowed Sani's tire, gone to Laure's house, bought the ingredients, and then stopped to play with the other children.

She explained how the game had turned into a fight.

She told him how the children had ruined the palm oil and kuka and taken the money.

She told him everything.

Huzaifa had already heard Ruma crying when Umar entered Mama's room.

He knew she was in serious trouble.

Mama simply shook her head as she listened.

Unlike before, Ruma was finally telling the truth.

Umar stared at her.

"You're a girl, and you went to borrow a tire?"

Ruma lowered her head.

He continued.

"And what have I told you about fighting on the streets?"

She shook her head.

"You warned me not to."

"So everything I tell you enters through one ear and leaves through the other?"

Ruma said nothing.

"Get up. Hold your ears. Since you refuse to listen, you'll be punished."

Ruma immediately began pleading.

But one look from Umar silenced her.

She stood up and held her ears.

Huzaifa felt uncomfortable watching her.

He knew she deserved punishment for what she had done, but he felt Umar had waited too long.

Ruma was already exhausted.

Still, no one dared challenge Umar.

The only person who could probably stop him was Abubakar Sadik, his closest brother.

But he was not at home.

Umar calmly opened one of his books and began reading.

Ruma remained standing, holding her ears.

She swayed from side to side.

She was struggling to remain upright.

At first, she cried quietly.

Then the pain and exhaustion became unbearable.

Her crying grew louder.

Finally Umar looked up.

"Stand properly."

Ruma raised her head.

Sweat covered her face.

Tears and mucus ran down her cheeks.

"Why are you crying?"

"Yaya, I'm tired. Please forgive me. I promise I won't do it again. I'm sorry."

Umar stared at her.

"Apparently, you're still not tired enough. Since you're tired of holding your ears, get down and sit like a motorcycle."

Ruma's eyes widened.

But she obeyed.

That night, Umar punished her in every way he believed would teach her a lesson.

Eventually, even Mama began to feel uncomfortable.

But she remembered that Ruma was not a helpless child.

She had been warned countless times.

So Mama remained silent.

Aliyu eventually came out of his room.

He looked at Ruma with sympathy.

"Please, Yaya, forgive her. Let her go and sleep. It's already late. She has school tomorrow."

Umar turned toward him angrily.

"Get out of my sight before I add you to the punishment."

Aliyu's face tightened with anger.

He said nothing.

He simply turned and went into the bathroom.

Umar continued.

Ruma's legs trembled.

Her thighs burned terribly.

Her back hurt.

She felt as though there was no strength left in her body.

Eventually Umar was satisfied that she had learned her lesson.

"Sit down and rest."

He stood and walked away.

The moment he left, Huzaifa rushed over.

He comforted Ruma as though he had not been the one who suggested that Umar punish her.

He fetched her a cup of water.

Ruma took it and drank while crying.

She finished and handed the cup back.

Huzaifa wiped the tears from her face.

Then suddenly—

"What are you doing here?"

They both froze.

Umar had returned.

Huzaifa immediately stood.

"Are you going to get up, or should I punish you too?"

Huzaifa quickly returned to his room.

Umar looked at Ruma.

He could see how exhausted she was.

He picked up a plastic bag and threw it toward her.

"Drink this."

Ruma picked it up with trembling hands.

Inside was a large bottle filled with cold yogurt.

She drank almost half of it.

Umar stood there watching her.

She avoided looking at him.

"I'm full," she whispered.

When he said nothing, she slowly looked up.

His expression made her continue drinking.

She forced herself to finish the yogurt.

Then she placed the bottle down and waited.

"Go to bed."

Ruma struggled to stand.

Her legs shook painfully.

She entered the room and found Mama praying.

She collapsed onto the sleeping mat and began crying.

Mama finished her prayer but said nothing.

Ruma continued crying until exhaustion finally took her into a deep sleep.

But her troubles were not over.

In the middle of the night, she felt someone hit her thigh.

"Get up!"

Ruma slowly opened her eyes.

Mama was standing over her.

"Because of your carelessness, you wet the bed. You're not a baby anymore."

Ruma immediately sat up.

She looked down.

The mat was wet.

Her eyes widened.

"Oh no! I thought I was dreaming. Please forgive me."

Mama shook her head.

"Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi raji'un. Get up and go clean yourself before I lose my patience."

Ruma slowly got off the mat.

Her entire body still hurt from Umar's punishment.

She dragged herself to the bathroom, washed herself, changed her clothes, and returned.

She moved the wet mat aside and lay down on the floor.

She was too exhausted to care about anything anymore.

She heard Mama complaining.

But within minutes, sleep took her again.

The next morning, Mama struggled to wake her for Fajr.

Ruma refused repeatedly.

Only when Mama threatened to send Umar to wake her did she finally get up and pray.

After the prayer, Mama reminded her to prepare for school.

Ruma frowned.

"I'm not going. Look at me. My thighs still hurt because of what Umar did to me yesterday."

Mama ignored her.

Huzaifa entered and greeted her.

He asked what they would prepare for breakfast.

Mama told him to wait until daylight and then buy some gari and potatoes.

Huzaifa nodded.

Before leaving, he glanced at Ruma's sleeping mat.

He suddenly noticed the smell.

"Mama, don't tell me this girl wet the bed again."

Mama sighed.

"You can see it yourself."

Huzaifa shook his head.

"These children will be the death of me. You should have made her remove it before the room started smelling."

He turned toward Ruma.

"Get up, you foolish girl. Take the mat outside."

Ruma woke angrily.

"What did I do to you?"

"You wet the bed."

"I did not! It was water."

Huzaifa laughed.

"Mother, she's still lying."

Ruma refused to move.

Huzaifa grabbed her and pulled her up.

"You will take this mat outside and wash everything you wet."

Mama ignored their argument.

She was already used to them fighting.

Then Umar appeared in the doorway.

Both Ruma and Huzaifa immediately became silent.

"What is all this noise?" Umar asked.

Neither answered.

"What are you two doing?"

Huzaifa explained.

"She wet the bed, so I told her to take the mat outside."

Umar looked at Ruma.

"You wet the bed again?"

Ruma spoke weakly.

"Yaya, it was an accident. I couldn't wake up."

"Accident or not, take your things outside and wash them."

Ruma had no choice.

She dragged the mat outside.

Huzaifa secretly laughed.

Anyone who came into the compound and saw the mat asked what had happened.

Huzaifa happily told them.

"She wet the bed."

Ruma glared at him.

She wished the ground would swallow her.

Usman felt sorry for her.

Seeing how much she was crying, he helped her wash the clothes.

The other brothers also began their morning chores.

Some washed dishes.

Others cleaned the compound.

Someone prepared breakfast.

By the time the sun was fully up, even the water Ruma needed for bathing had been heated for her.

The family eventually sat together to eat.

Ruma drank her kunu slowly.

She tasted it and frowned.

"Mama, there isn't enough sugar. It's too sour."

Mama looked at her.

"You saw the sugar being shared among everyone. You know it has finished."

Ruma pushed the cup away.

"This kunu gives me diarrhea anyway. My stomach is already hurting."

Umar simply shook his head.

There was no way Ruma could remain quiet for ten minutes without creating another problem.

Haidar noticed her discomfort.

He reached into his pocket and gave her two hundred naira.

"Go to Mamuda's shop. Buy bread and sugar. There's hot water. Make tea and drink it."

Ruma's face immediately brightened.

"May Allah reward you with Paradise, Mama's favorite son!"

She pushed her unfinished kunu toward Mama.

"Mama, you can finish this for me."

Then she ran outside.

Despite everything, Ruma was still Ruma.

And somehow, everyone in the house had grown accustomed to her chaos.