Chapter 1
DAY 1
Dear gentle diary
I started dreading staying alone at some point which is crazy following the fact that I've always enjoyed staying alone, you know, drowning in my imaginations, letting them take control.
But no one told me, so I'm telling anyone who comes across this not to let their imaginations take control because I allowed it and it drowned me to the negative part, and I'm not talking about sexual scenes, I'm talking about homicide…
***
“My name is Asha, Asha Mohammed. I'm 17, and in my final year of high school. I moved to the UK with my parents last year, and uh.. I love drawing…”
"stop Asha”
Miss Streets stopped me, she tapped her hands on her desk frustratedly before sighing deeply
"you keep talking nonchalantly Asha, and you'll have to drop off the essay club. This is a big opportunity for you to register for the college of your dreams and…
Her voice trailed off though she was standing just a few feet away from me. I could easily get into college without her damn essay club
“Asha!"
she jolted me back to her, I glared at her through my thick lenses and looked away. Just then, the bell rang for dismissal and without waiting for her to say more, I grabbed my bag and walked off.
I walked across the school to the nursery to pick up Ahmed before heading to the school park to wait for our driver, just then..
"watch where you're going girl”
Serena snapped after bumping into me, i stood staring at her while Ahmed clung to me
"what are you staring at, and oh everyday is not halloween, try a new touch"
she giggled with her girls, Amaya and Zainab.
ignoring them, I moved to a new position.
I never understood why Zainab chose to hang out with sassy girls like Amaya or Serene, or why she wore mini skirts and long nails and make up, instead of the normal hijab which is traditional for Hausas and muslims.
They always laughed at my hijabs and long gowns even after Mamma got them from an expensive boutique.
***
When we got home, Ahmed ran to Mamma to greet her. I smiled watching her rub Ahmed’s head while asking him about school.
"Barka de rana, Mamma, ina wuni?”
i asked forcing a smile
“Lafiya Asha, how was today?, greet papa, get Ahmed's lunch ready…and yours too"
I nodded and stepped into the house. A typical duplex, large and made mostly of glass. My father Mohammed Ekpe was my worst nightmare
“Assalamualaikum papa"
I greeted calmly as I stepped into his study. He swung his chair around with a wild smile, he stood up and hugged me
" Waalaikumusalam Asha. Mr. Richardson just sent in the results…straight A's, well done but, you still have a rival to eliminate, you are not top until you defeat your rival and render them helplessly behind you”
he patted my shoulders and excused himself.
I walked to my room, hung my bag and slumped on my bed staring at the ceiling.
Eliminate..
A strong word, and a quite interesting one. I stood up, stuck my hands under the bed and brought out my diary. A thick black book with my name on the cover, I opened a page where I wrote down the words papa told me, it was his famous words.
" you still have a rival to eliminate, you are not top until you defeat your rival and render them helplessly behind you”
-Mohammed Ekpe
i had a calendar formed under it, and according to this week's readings, this would be the 10th time papa has told his famous words.
I picked a red biro, and marked the tenth one..
"Asha!”
i heard Ahmed's little voice and quickly stepped out of room whose door was ajar according to Mohammed Ekpe’s unending rule
“what's up Ahme.."
“you need to hurry, papa is scolding mamma again and mamma is crying"
i held him back and smiled
“scold? Now what would papa say about such words, eh Ahme?"
Bowing his head timidly, he said with his little teeth clenched together
“Choose your words carefully Mr. Ahmed Mohammed”
He whispered mimicking papa, this followed with a little chuckle, i smiled at him again
“So you see Ahmed, they are just talking about business, maybe something happened in business. You know how Papa needs to learn to keep his voice down, eh?”
He nodded again.
"come now, your lunch will get cold”
I lifted him to my bosom and carried him to the dinning. Just through the window of the dining room I could see the scene Ahmed just told me about. But what I didn't understand was why Papa's personal secretary, Diane Waves stood there while Papa shouted at Mamma.
When I finally put Ahmed to sleep, I retired to my room. Just then, Diane walked past with Mamma. Eavesdropping, I could hear Diane tell mamma in her cringe accent.
" Easy Mrs. Mohamm’i’d, you'll be just fine after a rest”
I ignored them and slipped into my bathroom with my diary, headsets and I locked the door, it was my only privacy. I slumped on the floor, covered my ears with my headset, set the music slow and low, then I sunk into my imagination.
After drowning for some minutes, I picked up my pen
Dear gentle diary,
I think I've sailed once again to that wrong path of the Sea. I haven't been there since Uncle John was here, but I'm afloat there right now.
This Sea, soaked in red, as if the world bled in it yet I find it peaceful, quiet, but it feels wrong. But I love this wrong, cause I can hear the pain in their voice. Their giggles turning into pleas, their worries becoming a reality and their worst nightmare yet.
How peaceful floating in this sea, feeling the red hit against my mild skin, and waiting, waiting for my saviour to come to my rescue once more. Although only one can save themselves, the feeling of being saved hits different…
“Asha Mohammed!"
i sprang up immediately, removed my headsets, hid them behind the toilet alongside my diary and quickly opened the bathroom
"Barka de rana papa…
“Why do you look like you saw a ghost?"
He asked, his Hausa tongue slipping in
"i just jerked papa, i was using the toilet”
He studied my face for some seconds before breaking into a smile
"Come now my straight A girl, your lesson teacher Mr. Houston is here, be serious now and listen carefully while he teaches, Oxford is only hard for the dumb”
He dropped yet another famous word and left. Through my window, I could see Mr. Houston greeting Mamma like a gentleman, she seemed okay just in a few hours.
