The chronicles of Layla

Decisions

“How dare you? How dare you tarnish our reputation? Have we not done our best to differentiate between right and wrong for you? We trusted you.” Baba was so broken. He kept on talking and talking with so much disappointment. I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me up but that is so much luxury for me. Mama was just by the corner with her head hung low, her shoulders slouched and her eyes lifeless.

Baba kept on blaming them for trusting me.

“How did this happen? Is it in that school? What kind of friends did you make? Shameless girl.”Baba kept quite for a while and then looked at me. His eyes were so sad.

“Layla please tell me. What happened? Let me help you. I am your father. We are family. We don't keep things, do we?”I want to say something. I wanted to say many things. I wanted him to be there for me. I wanted to run into his arms and hug him tightly. I wanted to do a lot of things but I was numb. Everything on me felt heavy so I kept quiet.

We stayed there looking at each other with a million sentences on the surface of our teary eyes for a few seconds which seemed like a million hours. The tension in the room was so thick that it could be cut with a knife.

I wanted to go into his head and see what he was thinking. Did he really think of what I thought of myself or worse. But first what did I think of myself. A foolish young girl who was misled or a naive girl who thought the world was all candies and chocolates or perhaps both or worse. Well he thought right.

He got up from the 3 seater couch and headed for the door. I noticed his shoulders were hung low in defeat or the weight was too much.

I apologize a thousand times in my mind for I was the cause for this. As he was about to close the door behind him, he said what he thought was for the best. His voice was low and deranged.

“I have a solution to this.”. he looked at me with contempt and left the words hanging.

We were all quiet then he continued.” she is going to stay with my brother in London.”

Mama let out a harsh sob and she also stood up and left. Leaving alone cold and numb. What I felt mostly since that unfortunate mistake.

Cold and Numb...

Past

Dear diary,

How ironic is this? Writing to you at the end of last semester and the beginning of a new one. This holiday was the best holiday so far. We had lots of fun with mama, baba and Armanu. Have I told you how beautiful Jerusalem is. Gosh! Thou the heat was scorching, we didn't relent in our sightseeing. Can you believe it?! I prayed in the masjid Al Aqsa(bayt al maqadis).

Located in the heart of Jerusalem, the friends of Zion museum was our next stop were we told the stories of love and heroism. Magnificently told using ground breaking technology not found anywhere else in the nation. We didn't spend much days in Jerusalem because our cousin Sadiya was getting married. We landed in Aminu Kano international airport and went straight their house which was close to the government house. Thank God my asoebi was there and ready. I was a vision in my cream pencil skirt with pink peplum blouse and a pink head gear. The tailor really did his best.

Armanu introduced me to his girlfriend, Jamila. She's a very nice girl. We talked for a bit. About school. And I got to know her quite well. We shared some cool selfies using the Snapchat application filters.

The bride and groom look so breathtaking as they walked down the aisle and sat on the stage that was beautifully decorated with different flowers and lights. I loved weddings. The happy faces, the beautiful colors, the bright smiles. Everything was perfect. Everything felt right. Photographs were taken and varieties of delicacies were eaten. The best night in a long time. We left the event hall after midnight.

After a few days, I started packing for school. As I did, I dreaded every bit of it because I was going to leave my favorite people again. I tried not to cry when my way back but I did. Very Michu You know why? Mama came along too. We departed after much coaxing from baba promising he will come and see me before the semester ends. Perks of being a daddy's girl! Good night deary diary. I think it's enough for the day. Bye.

"Hey laylu, you and this your diary" I heard Rukky muttering. I turned and looked at her direction before answering.

"Assalamu alaikum Rukky Habibty, when did you come back?" I added with a smile.

"Not long ago. We were busy with your best friend"

"Ohhh, How was the holiday?"

"Good. I got a new tattoo. Wanna see it?" I said very excited with her new a achievement.

"Where is is exactly?" I asked because I knew her with her weird choices of tattoos location.

"Between my upper thighs, just beneath my backside."

"I'll pass. What is it this time?"

"It's the name of my boyfriend."

"WOW! Which one?"

"The one I truly love."

"Abdulrashid?"

"Yeah, I miss him." The tears started falling. I got up and moved to her bed. I hugged her for some minutes before she broke the silence.

"Oh my God. Look at me. I'm a mess. Spoiling the mood with my sad life"

"It's okay Rukky. What are sisters for?" I grinned at her because that was her line.

"So, how was your holiday?" She asked as she dabbed on her eyes with a napkin.

"I went to Jerusalem........" that was how we spent the night, talking and anything and everything.

It felt so good to be back with Rukkaya. I got to love her more when she bared herself to me. She told me things that made me understood more about life. Behind that fun and carefree girl is a broken a shattered soul. How I wish life was more good to her. Or vice versa.