Leeya pushed open the bedroom door, her mouth greeting with “salaam,” her forehead slightly bent, feeling apprehensive of Khulud because of what she had just done to her.

The room was empty. On the small table in front of the fabric-covered sofa, a large plate of food that she had brought for Khulud sat neatly. Leeya reached for the exercise book she had seen on the bed, picked it up, and began to open it.

“By Allah, Khulud, she messed up this assignment. I wish I had been here to help her—I can see she didn’t understand the topic.”

Even though she had heard the door open, her mind didn’t register who it was because her attention was entirely on Khulud’s mathematics book.

Khulud snatched the book from Leeya’s hands abruptly.

“What are you doing?”

“Nothing.”

Khulud raised an eyebrow, surprised that Leeya even understood English, but she quickly hid her shock so Leeya wouldn’t notice. In her usual stern tone, she continued:

“What do you mean by nothing? Why are you staring at my book? By the way, who gave you access to this room without knocking?”

“Papu said I should bring your food.”

“Then you took it upon yourself to enter? I told you to get out of this house, yet you refused. Take whatever you brought and leave my room.”

“I’m sorry,” Leeya whispered, picking up the plate and leaving. She felt hurt by Khulud’s treatment but decided to remain patient no matter what.

After leaving Khulud’s bedroom, Leeya went to the dining area, collected the scattered items, and went to the kitchen to wash them. She then returned and tidied the dining area as if no food had been eaten.

After finishing, she returned to her own room, cleaned it, then went to the bathroom to perform ablution and prayed the Asr prayer. Just as she began, her mother entered. Leeya waited until finishing her prayer and supplication before greeting:

“Mum, good evening.”

With a smile, her mother replied:

“Good evening, Leeya. How’s work? I see all you’ve done. You’ve really tried, may Allah bless you.”

“Ameen, thank you so much, Mum.”

“When you finish what you’re doing, take a bath, and we’ll go shopping. You can choose whatever clothes you like.”

“Insha’Allah, Mum. After I bathe, you’ll see me. Thank you so much, may Allah reward you.”

“Ameen. But stop thanking us all the time. Treat us as your parents; it’s nothing for which you need to keep thanking us, understand?”

“Uhmm, I’ll try, Mum, to do as you wish.”

“Go ahead and bathe. I’ll wait here until you’re done, then I’ll inform Khulud to prepare as well.”

Leeya hesitated, feeling conflicted about going out with Khulud, but she knew it wouldn’t be polite to refuse.

“Is something wrong? You seem upset or uncomfortable.”

“Oh, Mum, nothing. I was just thinking about my parents.”

“May Allah keep them safe. Keep praying for them, my daughter.”

“Insha’Allah, Mum, not just them but for you as well.”

“Good, my blessed child. May Allah accept your prayers.”

From there, her mother left Leeya’s bedroom.

---

Meanwhile, Khulud, after Leeya left, entered the main parlor alone. It was quiet, with no one around. She wandered, tensed and anxious, clenching her fists and punching the air as if releasing her frustrations. She finally sat on the royal two-seater chair, leaning back, breathing heavily as if in silent anger.

“Mamana, what happened?” Papu’s voice called from the parlour, breaking the tension.

Upon hearing Papu, Khulud burst into tears:

“Pa, how could you let this happen? Didn’t you see me? Now this filthy girl has been sent to bring me my food! There was no need! If you’re done with me, just tell me so I can go back to Kaduna to my mother, the twins’ mother, or Uncle Jif. They all love me, so let me go to my loved ones since you’ve chosen another girl.”

“Khulud, why are you crying? Calm down and explain what happened. Who told you this, Mamana?”

“Pa, wasn’t it you who brought that poor, wretched girl here to be treated like a family member? She even claimed the house as hers. This is unfair, Pa. Seriously, you should have chosen either me or her.”

“What!? You’re saying it’s either you or her, Khulud? This is just temporary until her family is verified. We are checking her background now and will return her to her people. Problem solved.”

“Yes, Pa. But what about the next one coming later?”

“My kiddo, don’t worry, we didn’t expect another problem to arise.”

“Okay.”

“What I want now is for you to get up and prepare. Your Mum is waiting for you.”

“My Mum is waiting? Where? What should I do?”

“Nothing, you’ll go shopping with her.”

“Okay, Pa. I’ll prepare. I hope we won’t go with that girl?”

“No, you’ll go with her. She’s the one choosing her clothes. She doesn’t have anything to wear.”

“God forbid! Pa, I won’t go with her! Only if we shop for her since you insist.”

“Okay, no problem. Just prepare to go. I’ll inform your mother as you said.”

Khulud didn’t respond further, left the parlour, while Papu went upstairs to Mum’s place.

---

LEEYA

Leeya sat in her bedroom for fifteen minutes, waiting for her mother, but she never arrived. She got up and walked calmly to her mother’s bedroom. From the doorway, she overheard Papu explaining Khulud’s behavior to her mother.

“Justice, is it fair to let this girl do whatever she wants? Now we’ll go shopping with Leeya for her clothes, and Khulud will say she shouldn’t go? You agreed to let her, and it won’t work. Leeya must choose what she wants herself.”

Papu replied firmly:

“No, Fanaya, just go with her. She can choose her clothes, but Khulud won’t say anything. You know I don’t like trouble, especially in front of your mother.”

---

AFTERNOON

Mum gently wiped her tears:

“Justice, go with Kaida and let her shop. I won’t interfere, and neither will Leeya. Leave the house in peace.”

Papu held Mum’s hand, concerned by her tears.

“Are you upset, Hajjaju?”

“What’s there to be upset about, Justice? I just think Leeya, like any other child, shouldn’t be left alone at home if Khulud isn’t going out. Both are daughters, so both should go.”

Papu calmed down, smiling gently, knowing Mum was right.

“Okay, since that’s the case, we’ll cancel Khulud’s exclusion.”

“Cancel it!?”

“Yes. If we leave Khulud alone, Leeya will feel bad even if she doesn’t show it.”

“Okay, what should we do now?”

“Call Leeya to choose her clothes and then do online shopping. No arguments.”

---

Leeya, realizing Papu scolded Mum for her sake, left the parlour trembling and cried in her bedroom, knowing she was the reason for the scolding.

The door opening startled her:

“SubhanAllah! Leeya, are you okay? What happened?”

“Mum, my head hurts so much. I can’t go shopping. You go with Khulud instead to pick her clothes.”

Mum gently lifted her up:

“Let’s go to the hospital first. I’ll get your thermometer.”

“No, Mum. I’ve taken medication. If I’m still not okay, we’ll go later.”

Mum fetched fever medicine.

“Take this, then rest, and you’ll feel relief.”

“Okay, Mum, thank you so much. May Allah reward you.”

“Ameen, my daughter. Once you feel better, you can browse online shopping without leaving the house.”

“Tau, Mum, no worries. I won’t pick. Whatever you choose for me will be mine.”

“Good, my blessed daughter. Allah bless you.”

“Ameen, Mum.”

After Mum left, Leeya felt relieved she no longer had a fever. She prepared dinner—pounded yam and vegetable soup—carefully considering Mum and Papu’s preferences. She cooked quietly and efficiently.

Mum entered, praising Leeya’s efforts:

“Leeya, you can cook well! Mashallah, the soup smells so good.”

Leeya smiled silently, letting Mum enjoy her work. Together, they finished preparing dinner. Leeya served it and went to bathe, as Mum had instructed.

After bathing and dressing, Leeya sat at her dressing mirror, applied body lotion and perfume, and tried on some of the clothes Mum had bought for her. She was delighted with the variety: long dresses, skirts, pants, shoes, niqabs, and other accessories.

With joy, she prepared quickly, respecting the household rules of modesty and discretion, without looking into the mirror, as promised to her mother.