SECOND CHANCE

5

         _*_SECOND CHANCE*__

“ Innalillahi wa Inna ilaihi raji’un! This is just a nightmare nothing more. Hmm! Ya Allah keep her safe wherever she is right now. It’s better I perform ablution and pray for my daughter” Inna Hassatu said wiping sweat off her face.

Inna Hassatu's condition has worsened since the day her daughter left. She hardly walk for more than 2 minutes without stopping to catch her breath, she has thined due to her illed health and malnourishment.

She cries anytime the thought of Amaanee crossed her mind. She misses her only daughter and her beloved husband.

Malam Tanko  didn’t care to check on her since the day he took Amaanee.

It’s been two weeks now but no word about the welfare of her daughter, neither did Dillaliya nor Malam Tanko came which is beginning to make her have thoughts of horrible events that might have possibly happened to her daughter.

Inna Hassatu decided to pay Malam Tanko a visit herself, with the little strength she had.

“ I beg you to fear Allah and let me go! Please don’t harm me! I will do anything you ask but please let me go first! No! Don’t put your finger in there please, it hurts! Cokali it hurts! Somebody help! He’s hurting me!” Amaanee screamed at the top of her voice, she screamed more when Cokali inserted one of his fingers in between her thighs.

He laughed and joined thier lips to a kiss, which prevented her from screaming any more.

“ It’s enough Cokali, get up! Test is over. I said test is over! Let the girl go, I thought I told you not to put a finger in her, haven’t I?” Jakadiya said the moment she stormed in to the room and started pulling Cokali away from Amaanee.

Cokali refused to get up until Jakadiya gave him a hot slap on his cheek and said; “ You will explain the rest to Hajiyan Dadi if you dare disvirgined her. You know how she craves for virgins! You fool! Get out of here and make yourself useful somewhere else!”

Cokali wanted to defend himself but Jakadiya didn’t give him a chance to say a word. He had no choice rather than to leave.

Jakadiya took Amaanee to the bathroom herself and made her sitz bath then she left her to scrub her body.

When Amaanee came out she found a set of new clothe at the edge of the bed, which Jakadiya told her to wear.

Amaanee wore it without a word but she couldn’t lie down when Jakadiya asked her to.

Jakadiya smiled and said; “ Don’t worry dear, no one will hurt you I got your back. If you want I will spent the night here with you”.

Amaanee quickly nodded her head and they slept together.

In the morning, they two had breakfast together. Amaanee felt safer with Jakadiya around, although she still fears her due to the series of beating she has gotten from her.

“ Am sorry for how Cokali treated you last night dear, he was a fool.” Jakadiya began the moment they were done with breakfast.

“ You see dear, I was once like you. Young, religious, I memorised the holy  Qur’an when I was 11years old, defensive all the time but from a very poor background. In a day we barely secure a single meal.” She continued in a brittling voice.

Jakadiya streched her hands and held Amaanee’s hands so tight, then she continued speaking with her eyes full of tears;

“My father was a handworking man, he had a small farm which  he used to take care of us but  that wasn’t enough because we were many, we were a family of more than 20 . One day, Baba had a terrible accident on his way back from the farm. He was taken to a hospital nearby but we couldn’t afford the bill, which stopped the doctor from attending to him. Being the eldest I asked all the people I thought they might be of help but all refused to give out a single penny. We tried selling our belongings but we still couldn’t reach the required amount.” She wiped the tears rolling down her cheeks and continued.

“  A friend of mine came to visit and I told her what was happening, she smiled and blamed me . I asked how could she blame me and she said I  could just sell my body in exchange for the money that can take care of Baba’s bill. I told her that it’s against the teaching of islam and she smiled saying that she knows  but who can stand and pay for our bills? I was quite and at the end she convinced me that she will connect me to someone and I agreed reluctantly…” 

“ What about your mom? “ Amaanee asked in a thin voice.

Jakadiya smiled and; said “ She died during childbirth. My father’s other wives didn’t care about his condition.”

Amaanee only nodded her head, letting Jakadiya to proceed narrating her story.

“  Dijama took me to a rich man’s house which was in our neighborhood. When she left, I told him I’ve changed my mind but he didn’t give me a listening ear and he raped me. I cursed the day I met Dijama, he didn’t care to ask how I was but just threw the money on me and said if I want more he can give but only if I can agree to be his mistress. I left without saying a word, yeah the money he gave me was triple tge amount of the hospital bills but I hated him from that day. I paid for the bills and my dad was treated as required. With the rest of the money, I bought food stuffs but soon the money finished and I had no choice rather than to go back to that rich man’s house.”  Jakadiya looked at Amaanee’s face and chewed kolanut.

“ The rest of the story is for another day Amaanee. I want you to know that for you to have something you must work for it. No one will help you if you ain’t ready to help yourself. Hajiyan Dadi pays well, am sure with the money you can take care of your mother’s bill at any hospital. I did what I did to save my father even though I know what I did was wrong but I had no choice. Am giving you a second chance for you to make things right. You can choose to save all the money you get then at the end you can sponsor yourself for schooland more, please don’t let me down, don’t let your mother down.” Jakadiya ended hugging Amaanee very tight, she just couldn’t explain why she loves the girl, she still hated herself for beating her.

“ I promise you that I will not let you down, I will do all I can to get enough the money then I will quit. Thank you for telling me your story.” Amaanee said hugging Jakadiya tighter.

“ Good girl, so what do I start lecturing you on?” Jakadiya asked happily.

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