Nur almost face palmed when Humairah told her to go on, everything in her was earnestly praying that her sister recognizes her internal struggle and spare her for today but luck wasn't on her side as her sister's curiosity kept her awake and alert and unfortunately, blind towards her desperate signals.
Something in her told her to simply refuse to continue but the urge to finally let it out, the desperate need of a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on seemed to override her common sense as she changed her sitting position making herself more comfortable to continue her story.
"When our families heard the news, they were elated. Amar's Mum even offered to come the next day and only changed her mind when we promised to return as early as possible. She was so happy to have a namesake, I remember her demanding for pictures and videos every now and then, we had sent not less than 20 pictures and videos of Nusaiba in a span of a week. We stalled telling them anything about the baby's genotype, Amar said it will be better if we tell them in person when we got back which I agreed to.
I was discharged a week later and a month later, we were on our way back to Nigeria, a beautiful blessing in our arms and her medications prescribed by the doctor with us.
" If I thought Amar's mother was elated over the phone, then seeing her in reality had surpassed my every imagination, I had never seen her smile so wide than I saw her that day, she held on to Nusaiba, never letting her go, even Ummah kept on teasing her but she didn't mind, later when the excitement had dropped, we gathered the whole family and told them the problem at hand, it was a pin drop silence and when Amar was done, I refused to even raise my head to look at anybody, having no desire to witness the sympathy in their eyes but suddenly, to everyone's surprise, Amar's Mum stood up still clutching Nusaibah to her bosom and spoke up,her voice low but firm.
"Sickle cell isn't a death sentence and to think that you named her after me, we are strong women, my dearest will make it, I am sure of it."
Her resolve seemed to be infectious as everybody began to chip in their own words own words of assurance and told me to take extreme care of the baby, that she needed my undivided attention, which I readily agreed to give, anything for Nusaibah or as Ummah nicknamed her, Amal meaning Hope.
2 days later and a grand naming ceremony was held for her. It was the talk of the town after all, it was the naming ceremony of the Imam's first Grandchild.
Nusaibah was a princess even in the eye of the crowd. No matter who it was, carrying her wasn't allowed at all, anybody who wasn't a family member was only allowed to see her and rock her cot. Ummah personally thought it was too much, but Amar's Mum wasn't taking any chances. I understood her and in fact took her side to some extent agreed with her. So as my own contribution, I made sure I was always with Amal throughout the whole event.
One week later, Ummah left following Abbah who had taken his leave immediately after the naming, you were in boarding school, if not you would have remembered the whole event. Anyways, in the night, the day Ummah left, Amar's Mum called me to her room.
"Nur, I called you here so that we can join heads and protect Amal, I want you to know nobody can protect Amal more than her mother, you have to provide her with your undivided attention and this is why I have decided that you will defer the session, I've talked to Amar, tomorrow he will go and do the necessary procedures." she spoke calmly and firmly that I couldn't form words from my mouth, the only thing I was able to do was form a small smile and nod.
If I am going to be sincere with my feelings, I didn't like how dominating she was, fshe was totally right, nobody loves a child more than his mother, but couldn't she have just asked for my opinion for courtesy's sake?
Soon, she dismissed me and I retired to bed where I found Amal peacefully sleeping in her cot next to my side of the bed, as I gazed at her innocent face, I felt pride, sympathy and love all at the same time. I could leave anything for her, I knew she was worth all I had, so with that sole thought, I smiled to myself strengthening my resolve to be my child's mother, rock, friend and doctor.