SECOND CHANCE

2

                *_Leaving home*__

Her uncle smiled mischievously, very happy that she accepted his offer. “ Well, it’s a simple job you know. You will be taken to a big house in the city where you will work as a house help. They will feed you and take good care of you but you must make sure you do anything you are told, no matter the consequences. You will be paid monthly, I will tell Dillaliya Larai to be sending the money here so that I help you save it for your mother’s treatment. When we have saved enough then we will take her to the hospital. Now go home and pack your things, leave your mother to me I will convince her to let you leave.” He ended still smiling.

The poor girl nodded her head and went back home. She met her mother laying on a mat at the varender.

“ Inna how are you feeling now? Have you eaten?” she asked her mum.

Inna opened her eyes gently and held her daughter’s hand. She smiled a bit then started saying; “ Alhamdulillah Amaanee. Yes I’ve eaten the remaining last night left over. What did Aunty nurse said?”

Amaanee was quite, she can’t tell her mum what happened and she can’t lie to her. Inna smiled and said; “ I told you she won’t change her mind, haven’t I? Don’t worry Allah will surely bring us a way out inshallah” she ended hugging her daughter tight.

Amaanee wanted to tell her mother what transpired at her uncle’s place but she couldn’t summoned enough courage. She went into her room and started packing her torn old clothes in a small bag.

“ Assalamualaikum! Hassatu how are you feeling today?” asked uncle as he sat beside Inna on the mat. Inna Hassatu smiled and said; “ Alhamdulillah Malam Tanko. How is the family?”

“ All fine, just look at you for God sake. I offered to marry you but you refused, you have a wonderful body any man would want but here you are wasting it. Are you the first person that lost a husband? Ali was my brother as well but that didn’t stop me from going on with my activities and that doesn’t mean am not mourning for his death. Hassatu I love you…” he was interrupted by Inna Hassatu that said;

“ Haba Malam Tanko I’ve told you severally am not marrying you. You have four wives already, don’t dare mention loving me again!”

“ Alright am sorry, I won’t say it again I promise but you know I really love you. Am here because I found a place where your daughter will be working and earning salary every month. They will take good care of her plus good money.” Malam Tanko said.

“ Over my dead body should my daughter go into prostitution. Haba Tanko will you have agreed if it were to be your own biological daughter! This girl is an orphan for God sake Inna Hassatu said as tears roll down her cheeks.

“ Hassatu it’s not prostitution, she will be taken to a big house in the city where she will serve as a house help. Come on, how do you think you can cater for your needs plus you need to see a doctor. I promise you no harm will come to her please” Tanko said.

“ Assalamualaikum haba Hassatu! Wealth is following you and you are running away. It’s a big fortune for your daughter to be a house help. The house is very secured, they will send your daughter to school and many more. Just trust me” said a woman whose headtie was tied at her forehead.

“ Dillaliya are you sure?” Inna asked Dillaliya Larai still not sure whether to agree or not.

The two kept laying to her about the work which at the end Inna had no choice but to agree on a condition that no harm should come to her daughter and she agreed reluctantly. She called her daughter and told her what her uncle proposed, Amaanee agreed without hesitation.

Malam Tanko said he will be back in the morning to take Amaanee to the car park and he left together with Dillaliya Larai.

That night Amaanee and Inna couldn’t sleep. Inna kept advising her daughter on how to be a good girl, guard her chasity and many more.

Amaanee promised her mother that she will make her proud.

The next morning, Malam Tanko came as early as 6:00am. He had to drag Amaanee out of the house because she held her mother very tight and was crying with all her heart.


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