Binta

Chapter Twenty Eight.

"Don Allah Kawu (for God sake uncle) I don't have anything to say to you, and I'm not withdrawing this matter from the court. And who told you that you have the right to walk up to me and give me orders?" I looked at him and a surge of resentment washed over me.

"I'm your uncle and you have to do as you are told or you will regret your actions wallahi" he said heatedly.

"My uncle? The last time I checked I was a bastard I'm not related to you in anyway" I shrieked.

"Binta you must respect me because I'm your family and we must act like one," he snapped.

"I respect my late step father very much that's why i m having this conversation with you because to me you are nothing but a stranger" I retorted.

"Because you don't have integrity you want to drag the family that shields you to court? You are a disgrace. My brother will be very disappointed in you" he said in rage, I could see his hand fist ready to attack his prey but I wasn't scared.

"Seriously you have the nerve to make such statement, after all you have done to this family, you threw your brother's wife out of the house, called his children bastards, striped them off their legitimate right, since his death you gave us nothing but pain. I'm only fighting for a just cause and only peace can stop me. You can do or say anything to me it will only help my case.

"Of course you are all bastards and your mom a whore. I will kill you Binta if you proceed with this case" he threatens.

"My life and death is for Allah alone...you can do me nothing by God's Grace, see you in court" with that I turned to walk away.

"sai na kashe ki...shegiya (I will kill you...bastard)" his insult echo behind me.

"Alas! Uncle I have you on record, so i advice you provide yourself a lawyer." I shouted back as I walked briskly to my office.

********

I watched Binta patiently from my office window as she exchange words with her uncle I could see the emotion that comes with each of them utterance and it's only the grace of God and promise I made to Binta that prevented me from going down to meet her. Unknown to her I have already informed the security at the ground floor to put a watch on her I can't risk her uncle becoming brutal and hurt her. I even gave her a tape recorder to record all conversation I hope she made use of it.

I made my way towards Binta as she approached my desk, when I got closer I was able to notice just how tense she was. Her shoulder was tense and I noticed the unshed tears in her eyes and I bit my lips.

Maybe it not a good idea to try and talk right now, I thought warily.

Just as I was about to turn around back to my executive chair, she spoke

"Don't walk away from me". She said it so softly that I barely caught it. I thought maybe I had heard wrong and she haven't even spoken at all. But the pained tone in her voice made me realize that she had in fact spoken those words to me.

"Seat Binta" I said which she did without hesitation and I joined beside her.