SHEILA'S AWAKENING ( A Nigeria Story)

A Dinner invitation

Chapter 7
As she arrived at his mansion, she was greeted by Ahmed's friendly father, who showed her to the dining room. Ahmed's mother, however, seemed less welcoming, her gaze cold and disapproving.

As they sat down to eat, Zarah was already there, looking stunning in a red dress. Sheila tried to ignore the pang of jealousy she felt and focused on enjoying the delicious food and lively conversation. She also noticed  Fatima was absent but decided not to ask Ahmed there at the table.However, she couldn't help but notice the way Ahmed and Zarah interacted, their easy banter and playful teasing making her feel like an outsider.

While everyone were busy eating,Ahmed's mother made subtle digs at Sheila, questioning her background and interests. Ahmed defended her, but Sheila felt uncomfortable, she really wanted to leave but decided to stay for Ahmed's sake.

As they finished dinner, Zarah whispered something in Ahmed's ear, and he excused himself, looking concerned , while Zarah also excused herself leaving Sheila with Ahmed's father and mother. Sheila tried to brush off the feeling of unease that settled in her stomach. She told herself she was being paranoid, that they were just going to the restroom or getting some fresh air, but why together?

But as she glanced up from her conversation with Ahmed's father, she saw them slip into the hallway, their bodies disappearing from view. Sheila's curiosity got the better of her, and she excused herself to follow them.
But she turned the corner into the hallway, she was met with a sight that made her heart skip a beat. Ahmed and Zarah were standing in the shadows, their lips locked in a passionate kiss. Sheila felt like she had been punched in the gut, her mind reeling with shock and betrayal.
She must have made a sound, because Ahmed and Zarah suddenly broke apart, their eyes locking onto hers. The look of guilt on their faces was all the confirmation Sheila needed. She turned and ran, tears streaming down her face as she fled the mansion, her heart shattered into a million pieces.

Sheila burst through the front door, gasping for air as she stumbled out into the night. She couldn't believe what she had just seen. Ahmed, the guy she thought she was getting close to, was secretly kissing his so called old friend, Zarah. The same Zarah who had been nothing but cold and condescending towards her all semester.

Sheila's mind raced as she tried to process her emotions.
As she walked away from the mansion, Sheila realized she had no idea where she was going. She didn't even have her phone or purse. All she knew was that she needed to get away from Ahmed and his lies.

Just as she was starting to feel overwhelmed, Sheila saw a taxi driving down the street. She hailed it and got in, giving the driver her address. As they pulled away from the curb, Sheila couldn't help but look back at the mansion, wondering what other secrets Ahmed and Zarah were hiding.

The taxi ride back to campus was a blur, Sheila's thoughts consumed by the events of the evening. She couldn't believe she had almost fallen for Ahmed's charms. But as she stepped out of the taxi and onto the sidewalk, Sheila realized something. She was going to take revenge one way or the other.