DARK LINES

Broken pieces

Sometimes, the shattered pieces can’t be glued together they were pierced before they could ever become whole.

The next morning, the sun rose over the compound, but its light struggled to touch Sameeha’s room. The cheerful chirping of birds filled the air, yet inside the house another sound thundered louder, Nadia’s voice, sharp and commanding, summoning Sameeha.

Quietly, she rose to answer her mother’s call. Her face, still swollen from the tears of the night before, carried the weight of hidden sorrow. It was always the same: harsh words, endless demands. She quickly wiped her cheeks before stepping in, afraid that even a trace of tears would give her away and invite her mother’s wrath. Her day unfolded as though nothing had happened. Sameeha masked her pain behind a practiced smile, carrying a bright face while moving through her morning chores.

Mr. Ali called his younger son, Haider, to the sitting room. Haider answered in a voice that clearly said he didn’t want to be disturbed. He entered the parlour looking disheveled, unsure if he was ready for the day. He was tall, fair, and not too chubby, with an irritating expression that could ruin anyone’s mood in an instant.

Nadia moved closer to hug Haider, her voice warm and proud. “You are the pride of our family, baby,” she said. “Your dad sent you to take the money to buy what you asked for.”

At that moment, Rimsha stepped out of her room. She was beautiful, though not quite on the same level as Nadia’s own striking looks. Rimsha carried the face of the house, inheriting the best features of both Ali and Nadia. She had her father’s posture,tall and graceful, like a flower ready to bloom,and her mother’s captivating smile. Loved and pampered by everyone in the house, Rimsha received everything she desired. Sameeha, in contrast, dared not utter a word whenever Rimsha spoke, silently shrinking into the shadows of the family she called her own.

Ali called out to Sameeha from the kitchen, signaling that she could also have a share of the money given to Haider and Rimsha. But before she could step forward, their mother intervened. Ali’s tone softened, and Nadia held him back.

For a moment, Sameeha felt a flicker of happiness. Could today actually be different? she wondered silently. Could my father actually think of me for once?

But the hope was short lived. She hurried forward, and Ali stretched out his hand to give her one thousand naira. Sameeha’s heart sank as she took it, glancing at Haider and Rimsha. Their shares were clearly far more than hers.

Her mother’s voice thundered again.

“You want what the others got?” Nadia screamed. “Then you have to earn it!”

Outside, the driver’s car waited to pick up Haider and Rimsha for school. But Sameeha knew her own routine. She had to finish all the house chores before going to school, running against time like a servant in her own home. Her education meant nothing to them. They treated her like garbage.

Sameeha was used to it now. A life not worthy of living, but one she had to endure because she needed to struggle to break free. Her principal had complained tirelessly about her treatment, but nothing had been done. Even the chief imam of the community masjid had intervened, yet her parents silenced him too.

Now they left her to come to school as if she was the owner of the building, late and weary. Yet, surprisingly, she was brilliant. Always at the top of her class. Her siblings, those ones were dullards. If there were any adjectives strong enough to qualify their mediocrity, they would go a long way.

But still, her parents were never proud of her.

It was Friday, and Sameeha felt a small flicker of relief. I will pray to Allah. He is my only hope. I want to run away from here, she whispered aloud, not realizing Nadia was standing just behind her.

It was Nadia who lost control. She couldn’t even finish her sentence “Today, wallahi, today!!!” before she bounced on Sameeha. A hot slap landed sharply on her cheek. “You want to what?” she snapped.

Sameeha received the beating of her life that day.

Finally, she saw a space, a fleeting opportunity. She ran, heart pounding, out of the house. She escaped.