my daughter? I sent her to buy matches earlier today, but she hasn’t returned. We’re new in this area, and she’s unfamiliar with the neighborhood,” she explained in a trembling voice.
One of the young men immediately stood up and said, “Oh no, with the recent rise in political unrest, child abduction has become rampant. May God forbid any harm to her. Let us look for her. How old is she, and what was she wearing?”
“She’s thirteen years old, with a chocolate complexion. She was wearing a long pink dress and a small black hijab. Her name is Rimsha,” Mum described.
“Yusuf, Sha’aban, let’s split up and search for her. Hopefully, we’ll find her,” said Sadiq, the young man who had stood up. Turning to Mum, he added, “You should head back home for now. If we find her, we’ll bring her to you.”
Reluctantly, Mum nodded and returned home, although she was deeply worried and unsure where to begin if she were to search on her own.
—
Back at home, Jehan was sitting in the courtyard with Goggo. Mum hurried past them, heading straight to her room. Goggo called out, “Maryam, what’s wrong? Where is Rimsha?”
Before Mum could respond, Jehan interjected, “Mum, I’m feeling hungry. I want something soft to eat.”
Mum glared at Jehan but ignored her, replying to Goggo instead, “Aunty Aisha, you need to talk to Jehan. I’m worried sick about Rimsha, and this girl only listens to you. Rimsha hasn’t returned yet, and some young men in the area are helping me search for her.”
Jehan turned to Goggo, confused, as she barely understood Hausa. “Goggo, where is Rimsha? Why does Mum seem so upset? She’s always shouting at me.”
Goggo explained, “Jehan, you need to understand that our lives are very different now. Rimsha might have lost her way because we’re new here.”
Jehan sighed and stood up. “Let me check if I can find her. If I see her, she’ll get a serious scolding from me for worrying everyone.”
—
Outside the house, Jehan bumped into Sadiq and his brothers as they were about to enter the compound. Suspicious, she blocked their path and asked, “Who are you people, and what do you want here?”
Politely, Sadiq responded, “We’re here to see your mum.”
Jehan sized them up disdainfully and said, “From where to where? What do you want with her?”
Realizing she was speaking in broken Hausa, Sadiq asked her to switch to the language she was comfortable with. Jehan rolled her eyes and continued in broken Hausa, “Go back. Mum doesn’t need you.”
Yusuf was furious at her attitude, but Sadiq calmly explained their purpose, “We’re helping your mum look for your sister.”
Jehan scoffed, “Dirty boys like you helping my mum? Please leave before I lose my patience.”
Her audacity left Yusuf fuming, but Sadiq remained composed. Mum came out at that moment, and Sadiq explained, “Mama, we couldn’t find Rimsha.”
Mum began to cry, and Jehan snapped, “They’re lying, Mum. How can they say they didn’t see her?”
Sadiq advised Mum to be patient and suggested that they resume the search the next day. Mum reluctantly agreed but was clearly distraught.
Jehan, indifferent to the situation, declared she was hungry and needed to withdraw money to buy food. Mum pleaded with her to stay and eat at home, but Jehan refused, insisting she needed something better. Mum gave in and allowed her to go but asked her to wear her hijab, which Jehan ignored.
—
By 1 AM, everyone was asleep except Mum. She sat on her bed, weeping uncontrollably over Rimsha’s disappearance. Her mind was plagued with questions: Where is Rimsha? Is she safe? Has she eaten? Who is she with?
At 2:30 AM, unable to bear it anymore, Mum performed ablution and began praying, pouring her heart out to Allah.
