THE BILLIONAIRE'S DAUGHTER

CHAPTER three

This chapter is dedicated to hiishah_. Happy birthday girl. May happiness and love never cease in ur life. (Ameen).

I glared at her. She smirked then stuk her tongue out at me but was immediately replaced with a frown. I didn't say a word but noticed all her movements and actions.

"What made you cry?". She asked lookin serious. I shrugged and reply "the usual". "Am sorry dear, be patient everything will soon be over". She consoled. "Let's go to the market together and please cheer up". "I will in Shaa Allah. Let's go please". I dragged her hand as we headed to the market.

"Give me 50 naira vegetables please". I said politely. Thank god Danjuma was not there. The man gave me the vegetables in a black nylon and we bought pepper, meat and some tomatoes then headed home.

"So tell me what happened".  Khadija queried. "What happened where?". I asked pretending not to know what she's talking about. "Stop acting dumb, you know what am talking about". I rolled my eyes. "You also know what happened, just the usual talks". "Don't tell me that miss, I need details. What brought about "the usuals". Tell me everything". "Amebo will kill you one day. Come and force it out of my mouth. Naughty girl". "Big head, I should have known you won't tell me". I shrugged and she hit me on my arms.

"Ya salam! What was that for?". I asked. My hurts badly that girl's palm is soon painful wallahy. I sometimes wonder how a soft hand hurts that bad when she hits you. "It was for you been naughty and calling me amebo".

She stuck her tongue out and I chased her. She ran for her dear life. I kept chasing her until my toe hits a stone which I didn't notice. I fell down and injured my elbow and knee. My knee was badly hurt but the elbow just had some few scratches. The items we bought at the market were also on the ground, the sand kissed each and every part of them. I started wiping, not because of my injured knees but for the spilled vegetables.

Khadija rushed to my side and helped me stand on my feet, dusting my dirty clothes. I told her not to worry about me but how to get the vegetables washed and I was already late. Iya will punish me for returning late and now this. Tears kept gushing out.

"Common Nusaiba be strong, let's go to my house so we'll wash it and then you rush homs". "No Khadija am late already, just let me go home and face my punishment". "No I can't let you go just like that. That will be double punishment for you. Please stop arguing and let's go wash this things". "No I can't go to your house. I'll be heading home straight. Thanks for your help". "But I caused all these in the first place. Let's share the punishment then". "No you will do no such thing. Stop been stubborn and go home".

I collected the items from her and walked home. I couldn't walk properly because of my knee. Khadija held my hand. "Khadija you wouldn't like to add to my problems, will you?". She shook her head indicating no. "Then please let me go. In Shaa Allah I will be fine. See you later". I waved at her with a smile and walked away.

On reaching home, I met iya sitting on a stool. "What took you so long?". "I...I.. I.....". I stammered. "You what?. You were with your lover ko. You forgot about my message and was with your boyfriend instead. Hypocrite. I will teach you a lesson today". She walked towards me with a whip and I couldn't run. I just stood there like a statue. She flogged me and I cried pleading with her to stop cause it hurts. But she didn't hear my please and continued whipping me. All my siblings came out lookin at us without making an attempt to save me.

Abba sallamed and entered the house. He pushed her away from me and carried me from the floor. Wiping my tears. Gwaggo held my hand and sat me down on the mat sprayed in our compound.  She gave me water and I gulped it down. My cries subsided but the tears just wouldn't stop.

"Haba Mariya, what has she done to deserve such beating. Fear Allah fa Mariya. Don't forget He's watching everything you do. Be careful with dunya. It's just an illusion. Do good always. Stop maltreating this innocent girl. A word is enough for the wise". He walked to towards us, and sat down beside me.

"My daughter am so sorry about all these. All I want from you is to be patient. Everything will come to pass in Shaa Allah. May Allah bless you". He concluded and stood up to leave, then I held his hand. "Abba please I will like to go with gwaggo for a few days". "A few days kuma nusaiba?, you know no one likes you there too". "I know abba but at least they will only call me names but no one will mal treat me like this. Am sorry to say abba but I prefer living at gwaggo's house than my father's house. Please permit me to go". "Hmmmm. Okay my child you can go. May Allah bless you". "Ameen". I wiped my tears and stood up to start packing.

I packed my clothes neatly in a small box and dragged it out. I met gwaggo already set to leave. I bid Abba goodbye and headed to iya's room but Abba stopped me and asked me to go. He claimed that saying goodbye to her will be of no use. I nodded in agreement. Abba walked us to the park and we boarded a bus to small market, umaru majigi road. bida local government, Niger state. I left without telling Khadijah I know she'll understand when I explain to her. The bus took off after some minutes and we arrived at gwaggo's house after a 30 minutes drive.

To be continued.....

Maryam366