The chronicles of Layla

Brewed Tension

The choices you make don't determine your entire life. My life has been a living hell since the big revelation. Baba was always angry and shouting at mama for any small mistake she does, mama was always crying. She doesn't talk to me or even spare me a glance. Armanu whom has travelled to lagos was yet to know. I couldn't leave my room. I considered it my safe haven. I prayed to God everyday. I became more prayerful, I asked for forgiveness.

"Mama, Good morning". I greeted her everyday even though I knew she won't answer. She surprised me today by answering "Morning.Go, your father is looking for you."

"Okay. Is everything okay?"

"How will everything be okay when my unmarried daughter is pregnant? Just go before I loose my temper." I told your father that school was a bad idea. I heard her say.

How will I make them understand? It's not their fault and it's not mine either. Why can't they just hear me out. Why is it so hard to talk?

"Mama, I'm sorry. Please forgive me."

She just nodded and motioned her head towards the door "Go, he's waiting."

I left the kitchen and passed the corridor leading to baba's sitting room.

I knocked on the door and waited for response.

"Come in"

I went in and kneeled down in front of baba. "Baba, Good morning. How was your night?"

"Alhamdullilah."

He didn't even ask me how I was. What was I thinking?

"I called you here to tell you that your plane leaves by 8 tomorrow morning. I talked to your uncle Ashraf, he said it's okay. He would keep you as long as I need you to be there. He will find a good school for you there. Don't go and keep creating troubles for them."

He was serious. I'm going to London. Oh my God. For as long as he wants me there. What if he doesn't want me here anymore, like forever. What I'm I going to do?

Have I been banished from here?

"Baba, please hear me out this once."

"What do you have to say, say it. It won't change the fact that today will be your last day in this house."

I...... I can't say it. I kept mum for a while then I heard him saying.

"What is it? Just say it. You've done the worst ai."

I closed my eyes and said "I'm sorry please forgive me."

"Ohhh. Is that all?"

"No! Yes."

"Stand up and go."

I sat down and bit because I wanted to say something but I couldn't. God, help me.

"What are still doing here? I said go."

I could hear the sound of my life crumbling down like an old building disintegrating.

Is this the end for me?

*******************************

The blaring sound of the alarm woke me up from my deep slumber. I stretched my hand to picked my phone by the socket. The time was 5:00. It was fajr.

"Hey Layla. What the hell is that?" Rukky grumpily said in her husky morning voice.

"Wake up, it's fajr."

"Ohhh, I'll do it in the morning. I had a long night." She said dismissively

I stared at her surprised because of how she said it as if it's nothing. Without any care in her utterance. I didn't add anything. I took my kettle and poured some water in it and went to toilet to perform ablution.

I did my morning routine and prepared for my first day in university. I woke up Rukky and she told me her lectures was by 12.

I dressed up in my purple and ash atamfa bubu paired with an ash R&S. I slipped into my pumps and took my backpack.

The campus was very enormous that I still couldn't find my lecture theatre. I was trying to make a good use of the map.

"Here it is! Yes!!! I found it." Room 503. I was so happy and I did my little happy dance in my head.

When I entered the theater, a lot of people were already seated. I strolled up and sat on the far end of the right row.

The first lecture was physics 131. I brought out my notepad and a pen. The lecture commenced and we left.

That's how my life became. The normal boring girl with the boring routine. Nothing special. My only friend was Rukky. We got along so well aside the fact that I dislike how she neglects her duties as a Muslim. I'm not being judgmental but she lives her life a risks. She's passionate about only one thing.

Her parties. I wanted her to tell me what was wrong with her so I could help her.

>>>>>

March, 2016

Dear diary it's been a while, I've settled well into the school's system. I kept my promise and talked to Armanu everyday, I thought It was going to be easy but it wasn't.

I made a few friends amongst them is Lisa, she is really nice and fun. Rukky has been rukky rocks dai. Late night outings, and whatnot. We fought yesterday because I told her I was fed up with her smoking in the room but we made up today. May Allah guide her to the right path. Ameen. Can you believe it's already the end of the semester? No? I can't either. It felt just like yesterday. Well, I can't wait to see my family. Night.