The window cleaner

A Genesis on Busayna

Ramlah was very much emotional at Busaynas history . She felt she was the strongest woman she had come across as she _ Busayna still managed to live a jovial life amidst the loneliness she felt in her heart.

" I'm sorry for all the pain you had to go through ma. I believe love has no barriers and age doesn't really matter. You would still find love someday. " Said Ramlah with a Warm smile that comforted Busayna.

" Thank you very much my child." Said Busayna and reciprocated the smile while she played with Mahir.

" I know that you already know why I am here . It's my heart. I seem to have lost control over it . There is hardly anything I do without thinking about Siin. I have tried all means possible to get him out of my mind but all my efforts have fallen short. I don't know what else to do. It's affecting my well being and I need your help on it." Said Ramlah as she purged her heart.

" Love. my dear. Love is what beseiges your heart. I always knew from the first instance that I saw your reactions in his presence, that you love him very much. There is really nothing to be scared about it. Love is a beautiful thing to those who harness it properly, however it can cause the greatest of pain if not properly controlled. Does Siin know you love him.?" Asked Busayna as she talked quite slowly in a comforting tone.

" I haven't told him anything about my feelings. I don't think I may ever have such courage to do so." Said Ramlah as her face fell in sadness.

" Courage you say. Well that's a virtue you must develope and hold tight on to as you incept the journey of life . It's almost laugheble for a teenager to lack courage. Life would always be filled with challanges and courage will always be your first option in taking on challanges. One without courage is coward and a coward is always running. Ramlah dear, tell me . Do you want to settle down and have a good life or do you want to keep running away from reality all your life.?" Said Busayna without a smile on her face.

" I want a happy life Busayna. I'm tired of this feeling in his heart. " Ramlah said as looked up to Busayna for solution.

" Good then you must be courageous enough to say out your mind. The only two options that exist are being accepted or being rejected.either one he doles out to you , it will be the beginning of your healing process. Penchant itself is a sickness. " Said Busayna in Serious tone that was almost stern to the hearing of Ramlah.

" I and my family members are more happier thanks to the appearance of Siin our lives. I come from a very humble family. Getting rejected is something we are used to already. I also heard that Siin comes from a humble background like me. He used to be a window cleaner that I know off cause I was amongst the paramedics that took him to the hospital when he had the fall. It broke my heart to see such a handsome man die and there was nothing I could do but cry. My joy knew no bounds when I saw him alive , I couldn't stop looking at him in joy. It was since that day I began to nurse a special feeling for him. I fear that , he would think I am after his money , now that he is rich and affluent." Said Ramlah and sighed deeply.

" Hmm. My child I know that feeling in exact. I have been through similar battles my self and I have learnt some vital lessons which would be key in your life's journey. I have studied Siin to the best of my knowledge. I don't see him as someone who discriminates people based on their social class. He interacts with the maids and workers of this house just as if they were his bosses. I haven't seen such a humble person with so much influence , in all my years of living. The young man is a special being. You must take your shot at him and hope for the best. However, if the best doesn't come by, you must heal and keep on living just like I did. " Said Busayna and her face fell again.

" Okay aunt Busayna . I promise I will meet Siin and tell him my mind. Please which me luck for I do not know if I may be able to live with the shame that comes with the rejection. For the first time in my life I'm scared of getting myself hurt. " Said Ramlah as she covered her face for a second or two.

" That's my girl. I will always pray for you and Mahir. Like I Said. I have no kids of my own and I wished I had done things differently. That's now in the past and the present is what I have left. I take you and Mahir as my own children and your happiness is my priority." Said Busayna with a warm smile.

" Thank you aunt Busayna.May the good Lord bless you more. Enough of my problems. I will like to know who this special man in your life was and what circumstances had played down the possibility of a Happy ending for the both of you." Ramlah asked with much seriousness.

" Well my dear . It's a long story. One I I rather not recall." Said Busayna as she paid more attention to the infant in her arms.

" Please Aunt Busayna. I will really much like you to share this story with me. Just as you say. Keeping it in only stagnates the Soul. Please feel free to confide in me." Said Ramlah as she subsconstiously crossed her leg in an akimbo position.

" Good and fine. I will tell you my dear. I will tell you. " Said Busayna and went Silent as Ramlahs eye opened in wait for the commencement of the story.

" Please Aunt , tell me ." Said Ramlah with a smile as she stood up and sat close to Busayna.

" You don't give up do you .? Okay the story of my love life goes like this. Many years ago, when I was still young and beautiful I..."

" You are still very beautiful aunt Busayna." Ramlah said with an effeminate smile and held took the palm of Busayna in her hands as a child would hold her mother.

" Oh thank you my child. I was just about the age of seventeen or eighteen when I fell in love with the sheikh . " She paused with a smile at the surprised face of Ramalah and continued with a series of nodding.

" Yes the Sheikh and I were age mates. We grew up playing as kids together. His mother was one of the kindest woman I ever saw. She didn't treat me like I was a maid. She treated me like her own daughter. We went to the same school as kids with Shagori because he wouldn't stay in a class if I wasn't present. We were best of friends and I still like to believe we are best of friends. Just like how I noticed you have feelings for Siin, my mother was quick to notice that I had feelings for the Sheikh and it made her scared for her job as it was our only source of livelyhood. She called me secretly to her chambers and pleased with me to keep my emotions at bay as me and Shagori belonged to opposite social classes. She was quick to point out the fact that even if Shagori loved me to, his parents would oppose our Union as they would see it as a thing of shame and defamation, should their son date a serving maid. It made me hate very exitence. I felt my mom who should be my pillar of support at a moment when I needed her the most was the person discouraging me from living out my dreams. It wasn't too long before Shagoris mother noticed the chemistry between me and her son. At first she had thought it mutual love shared between a brother and a sister but what time she noticed it had inclined towards a romantic love and she wasn't going to let that continue. One day she had stumbled upon me and Shagori discussing alone in the garden. We both held hands smilling merily at each other. It's just like I said, his mom was a kind and humble woman. I knew for sure that she wasn't happy with what she had seen but she never showed a sign of anger or irritation towards me. She called Shagori out and asked him to see her immediately in her chambers.

After that encounter, I noticed a drastic change in attitude of Shagori towards me. He hardly answered my greetings and he could hardly look me in to the eyes. Even when I tried to initiate a talk with him, he always found an excuse to quickly leave my space before anyone could see us together. It hurt me alot.I even contemplated on committing suicide due to the depressive state I found my self.

However in later years I would find out the reason for his sudden change in attitude." Said Busayna with a teary eyes.

" What was the reason Aunt Busayna. Please tell me." Said Ramlah who was now very emotional and a few words away from tears herself.

" He later told me that his Mom had called him to her chambers and she told him that I was impossible for him to fall in love with his maid. She said doing that, showed his weakness to the world and no Shagori heir was ever to be weak. She asked him not to be the weak link in the chain of strong ancestors. Finally she served him an admonition. She told him that if he kept seeing me wether in public or in private. She will have no choice but to send me and my mother packing. Shagori knew quite well that we were poor and had no where to go he decided it was better to loose the love of his life than allow her loose her means of livelyhood, thus the reason for his sudden change in attitude. My mistake in life was that I never gave up on his love. I turned down Many suitors among which were afluent men in the society who wanted my hand in marriage despite knowing I was just a made in the family. I felt that one day me and Shagori would be together against all odds. I was young and naive I wasn't thinking straight. Even when he got married to the mother of his children .all I did was cry under my blanket and cursed poverty for choosing me. If only I was a rich man daughter or perhaps wasn't the child of a maid, then his mother would have accepted me. Well that used to be my thought. I also thought I will be young and beautiful forever, but the years pass me by and when I began to realize that me and Shagori were never meant for each other. I began to look other directions but by then it was too late as there was no suitors coming again. I don't blame my mother or the Sheikhs mother for hindering my love with her son. I blame myself for being to carried away by a hopeful happy ending which never materialized. I waited to harvest a plant which I never sowed and my punishment is loneliness." Said Busayna and this time she could no longer hold in her tears. Ramlah who was already in tears rested her heads on her shoulder and held her in a warm embrace.

" Oh Aunt Busayna. Don't ever blame yourself for the bad things that happen to you .love happens on it's own. It's never a crime to fall in love. You are indeed a distinct worrior. I am always here for you. Don't ever feel lonely. I am the daughter you never had." Said Ramlah in an emotional tone as the warm tears rolled down her cheek.

" You are so kind my child. Thank you very much. Please you must never end up like me. You are still very much young and beautiful. If Siin rejects your offer. Cry your heart on your bed and heal quickly. You will have many more young men coming to you . Choose a good one and settle down in matrimony. " Said Busayna as she sniffed and clean her tear with one hand.

" I will do that aunt Busayna . I will do as you have said. Talking to you has really lightened the burden in my heart. I feel so much better ." Said Ramlah with the side of her head still on the shoulder of Busayna.

" Whatever outcome your adventures bring to you. The choice to be Happy or sad is solely your yours. Don't hesitate to move on when things aren't longer working. Lot of people would say things like never give up. But the truth is that a wise person knows when to give up and call it a day even when they have to count their losses. I still count my losses every day and I'm yet to conclude. I shared my story with you not because I love to tell stories but because I want you to learn from my mistakes. I repeat move on with your life in the face of rejection. You will be happier someday. " Said Busayna with a warm smile on her face.

" Yes aunt. I would need to your advice. May the good Lord bless you. You are so kind. You are so beautiful.I believe you will find love someday with someone who would treasure you. " Said Ramlah with a consoling smile at Busayna.

" I am an old Lady. No one would find me attractive anymore my rose has since outlived it's bloom. It's now the time for young ladies like you to bloom and we hold the responsibility of guiding your generations on the right track. " Said Busayna as she played with the infants finger.

" Oh Busayna ,we are forever indebted to your guidance. Thank you very much ." Said Ramlah with a warm smile that lightened the heart of the elder lady.