LAURA

CHAPTER SIX

Laura POV:
Today is Monday four days to the day my life will turn into a living nightmare. I have cried to the extent that tears have stopped coming. I tried talking to my father again but he did not give me listening ear. he only said I should stop been ungrateful but should thank Salisu Danger for wanting to marry me.

Speaking about Salisu Danger, he came to the house two days ago. I did not even know he was in the house until he came into my room. I was so scared and tried to tell him to go outside but he ignored me and sat down beside me and when I tried getting up he held my hand. To say I was scared was an understatement.
I tried removing his hand but he was so strong.
'amarya ta {my bride} are you scared of me} he said while touching my face.

'salisu please leave my hand you are not suppose to be in this room' I told him while still trying to move away from him

'haba Is it me you are talking to like this, you should be thankful that I love you so much if not I would have had you to my satisfaction today and nobody will stop me' hearing him said that brought fresh tears to my eyes and I was very frightened

'but don't worry on Friday you will be officially mine to do what I want so till then I will give you time' he continued will still trying to hug me.

His phone rang, stopping him from doing what he was planning to do to me. He answered the phone and after sometime said Ganinan zuwa { I am coming} angrily.
He stood up and headed for the door but turned back to look at me 'Amaryata sai jumma'a {my bride see you on Friday}' he said while giving me a sinister smile.

I don't know how long I cried that day just for having a ten minutes encounter with him I wonder how I will leave the rest of my life with him.

After magrib prayer I was reciting the Quran when I had Abba calling me. I closed the Quran and went to answer his call.

I met him and his wife sitting on the mat and surprisingly I saw Inna sitting on a chair beside them. I cannot remember the last time Inna came to this house maybe before my mothers illness.
I squatted beside Inna and said 'Abba you called me'
'yes your grandmother came here with a suggestion that you should follow her to her house for gyran amayra { bridal grooming} I wouldn't have agreed but your anty here said it is very good so I am allowing you to go to her place and on Friday you should come back before noon because after noon the marriage will be tied' he said.
You cannot imagine the kind of joy I felt that atleast I will be spending my last days before the marriage with inna.

'lets go to your room so I can help you pack what you will need' said inna while indicating I should stand up.

It was anty voice that stopped us from moving when she said ' what do you mean she should pack'

' do you want her to go naked in my house or are you trying to say she cannot pick few clothes she will wear' Inna said to her with disdain.

'ok she can carry what she wants afterall my brother said he is buying her new clothes. I don't even know what he sees in her' she said the last part lowly but everybody heard her.

'Laura pick only three set of clothes and hijab' said Inna while looking around the room. I know she is thinking of the time this room use to be Umma's . I told her I was done packing what I will need into a viva bag.
Inna then ask where is my WAEC result and secondary school certificate. I brought them out and gave her. She hide them in her hijab before ordering me to follow her.
I wonder what Inna wants to do with does papers but I did not ask her. I bade my father farewell before going but the only thing he told me is to come back early on Friday before noon.

Inna opened the lock to her house but when I entered it looked different it seems like some of the things in her room where missing. Her bed and mattress were missing along with many items of the room including her kumbo [brass pots used for decoration] that she loves so much.
'Inna where is everything your room looks empty' I asked her.
'I sold everything' she gave me a short answer
'but why' 'because I had to buy you things to take to your husbands house I know I will replace it later you are more important than anything I have'
Tears filled my eyes. I hugged her and said ' thank you my inna you have done everything for me I wish I was marrying a different person not Salisu I would have been very happy'
Inna wiped my tears 'don't worry I will do anything for your happiness you are all I have got. I promise you'