AMAL: hope

CHAPTER SEVEN 🌊🌊.

*Sometimes you have to play dumb for smart reasons*.

AMAL.

    Today we live topmorrow we die, what is the meaning of life. I laugh looking at home my life changed just within two years of my mother's death, may Allah have mercy on her beautiful soul  I should have expected it but why am I finding it hard to believe, since I know the kind of stepmother I have, a wicked one for that matter. I drop the transparent rubber on my head which contains half of the tofu (awara) we were sent to hawk, if we don't finish our sales that day, the punishment is unbearable, imagine after walking under this hot sun of Sokoto, with a worn out slippers, making more than a hundred meter trip to and fro to fetch water for your so called stepmother and going to bed hungry after cooking for them, that is if she is in a good mood, good mood indeed, I can't bring myself to let Jummai bear all this punishment, so instead of me to sell I push Jummai to go and sell and I end up receiving the punishment.

  " Awara." A car owner said stopping at my front, I quickly jerk up from my thoughts and rushed to the car since, Jummai was no where in sight, maybe she is with her peer mate as I stood up and was about to reach for the front, only for the rear door of the car to open and I was grabbed into the vehicle, my intended scream turned into a muffle as the car zoomed off, this is broad daylight kidnapping, Ya Allah, I called out upon my Lord as my kicks continued in random direction, I felt a sharp sting, like that of a termite and I struggled harder but miraculously my strength failed me and I gave in to darkness.

   *****

I tried opening my eyes as the became more heavier than a fifty litres gallon, I heard muffles and slow talks around me. Where I lay or sat I don't even know was hot and stoney, my waist down to my legs hurts so much that I had to pretend numb so as not to feel the pain. My head ache like a massive dangote trailer had ram into my head, I groan and tried to stand up but a pain shot through my pelvic area up, it was some painful that I had to muffle in a scream, my vision became clearer as I looked around me, even though I was dizzy, I saw people surrounding me none making an attempt to help me.

  " Talatu." I heard a familiar voice called before I could know who was that, I fell into numbness and passed out.

******

  I woke up in a place that was familiar, I looked around trying to find out where I am the ground wasn't cold or hot, it was in a bearable and familiar condition, I tried to sit up but a pain shot me back.
  " Talatu, don't stand up, you are injured" my six years old sister said as she made me lie down back.
How did I arrive here, was I dreaming, but the pain I felt around my pelvic area told me I wasn't.

   " Jummai what is happening to me, how did I get here." I ask my sister. She came closer to me as if she was about to tell me a huge secret.

   " It was Mallam Audu that brought you here and I also had him mentioned that you were raped." She whispered into my ear, I thought that was all until she dropped another nuclear missile. " They are finalizing your wedding with him because he said nobody can marry you cause men sleep with you so he said he is doing you a favor by marrying you." She whispered what and I repeat again what that bastard, I remember when I was pushed into the car I remembered seeing him, yes Mallam Audu was amongst them, I covered my mouth as the truth came in, no, I will never marry a rapist, no, what have I done to deserve this, I kept on weeping, I need to leave this hell on earth.

  " Should we run away." a feeble hand wrapped around mine, I looked at my sister as she looked back at me with teary eyes. " I don't want you to marry Mallam Audu." She wept. I rubbed her head, as she choke on her sobs.