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                   *_Surprise!*_

Amaanee felt the pain but she didn’t bother to look up because she had already recognized Dillaya's voice.

Dillaliya raised her hand to give her another slap but was stopped by Jakadiya that said; “ Don’t dear lay another finger on her, fool!”.

Dillaliya was surprised at how Jakadiya showed her anger, she quickly pulled back and sat on the couch without uttering a word.

“ Amaanee darling what happened? Why are you back early? Did you two fightt? Tell me what happened?” Jakadiya asked calmly in a motherly manner.

“ Nothing Jakadiya, she only told me to leave.” Amaanee said. She felt that saying the actual story is not part of what Islam taught her. “What happened to Hajiyan Dadi can happen to anyone. It’s better I don’t disclose it to them, they might laugh.” Amaanee thought.

Jakadiya didn’t believe Amaanee but the way she saw her face made her let the sleeping dogs lie. She turned to Dillaliya and shouted; “ What the hell brought you to this place without a new package!”.

Dillaliya Larai couldn’t utter a word especially after seeing the way Jakadiya is fond of Amaanee. She felt if she say anything to upset Amaanee, she will be in trouble.

After Inna Hassatu left Tanko and Dillaliya, the two sat and planned to destroy Amaanee’s reputation by sending someone to rape her. That’s the main reason she travelled all the way, she wanted enquiring whether she was disvirgined or not then she was told that Amaanee was taken to a filthy rich woman. But she was disappointed when Amaanee came back safe and sound.

“ I came to check on Amaanee’s performance, her mother sent me.” Dillaliya lied.

“ What did her mother told you?” Jakadiya asked feeling that Dillaliya was laying.

“ That.. that... that she.. she missed her badly and wanted to know when she will be visiting her” Dillaliya said scared of what Jakadiya might do if she figured out she was laying.

“ Anything else!” Jakadiya snapped. “ No Jakadiya but her uncle also sent his regard” Dillaliya said.

“ You may leave then! I don’t want to see your face without a new package, you hear that?” Jakadiya said frowning.

“ Alright I will take my leave now, goodbye Amaanee” Dillaliya said leaving the room without hesitation.

Jakadiya sat with Amaanee and discussed their next move on how to gain more money. She didn’t bother pressurizing Amaanee to tell her what actually happened.

“ Jakadiya Sharpshooter is back! She has returned with a new car and new boxes, she’s coming in right now” Santala announced happily.

Amaanee watched as boxes were brought in one after the other. She fixed her eyes to the entrance waiting to see who Sharpshooter was.

“ Jakadiya! Your baby girl is back! Am back from London!” A lady in her middle twenties came in shouting.

Amaanee couldn’t believe what her eyes saw, she’s pretty sure it’s not a dream. She silently mentioned her name; “ Sabrina.”

Sharpshooter looked at Amaanee from head to toe then said; “ What the hell are you doing here Amaanee!”

“ Do you two know each other? Where? When? Who?” Jakadiya asked surprised.

“ She’s my cousin, can’t you see we look alike. What brought you here Amaanee?” Sabrina asked praying in her mind that it’s not what she’s thinking.

“ The same thing that brought you here Sabrina. Am just coming back from my first job.” Amaanee answered still surprised on how her cousin ended up being a prostitute. From the way she looked she seemed happy with what she does.

“ Why Amaanee! Why this dangerous work? Of all the things you were supposed to choose why this specifically! Who the hell brought you here!” Sabrina shouted.

“ Dillaliya Larai but your father was behind it. I thought you are a student at a university, what happened?” Amaanee asked curiosly.

“ My father the stupid fool. Of all what your father did to him he still decided to destroy your future. He thought he was smart, he used your father’s money to send me to school. I am a student, a very attentive one but by the time I mingled with rich friends I felt the money was not enough to cater for my needs and I was directed to Jakadiya who helped me out. I’ve never regretted being part of it, that’s why I never care to go home but only send money to my mother.” Sabrina answered cheerfully.

Amaanee couldn’t believe her ears. The man that wanted her life to be miserable didn’t know his own daughter is doing the same thing. “That’s a big surprise!” she thought.

Jakadiya looked at both of them. She felt sad that Amaanee was the victim here because Sabrina chose to join them but Amaanee looked physically unfit and innocent.

“ How’s Inna Hassatu?” Sabrina asked after some minutes of silence. “ She’s terribly sick the last time I saw her. That’s why am here, I want to make a lot of money to take her to a good hospital. The hospital in the village said it might be witches that wanted her dead.” Amaanee said remorsefully.

“ Which hospital? That small maternity home opened by a retired midwife that died two years back. Who told you that place is managed by trained personnels? That woman people kept calling Aunty Nurse is a mere Village Health Worker (VHW). Her only qualification was primary certificate. How can she be a nurse! A trained nurse never insults her patients, she talk to them in an understanding manner that make them feel safe. If a nurse tried all she could but the patient didn’t recover she writes down a referral letter and give the patient directing him/her to a higher facility. A trained nurse can never your mother was sick because of witches.” Sabrina said feeling proud at how Amaanee was risking her life for her mother.

“ How did you know all this?” Amaanee asked surprised. Sabrina smiled and said; “ Hey, am a big babe and a university girl sis. I asked my father once and he told me the whole story and I compared with hospitals in town when I went for abortions how mordenized they look.” Sabrina answered smiling.

Jakadiya smiled and said; “ Yes hospitals in town are more wonderful and you will get optimum care”.

The three were engrossed in their discussion when they heard Cokali’s voice calling Jakadiya.

They all headed to the entrance and saw a girl which is not more than 10 years laying on the floor looking lifeless.

“ What happened Cokali! What happened to Umaiyah!” Jakadiya shouted running to where the girl was laying.

“ Alhaji Naira is a ritualist Jakadiya!” Cokali said feeling devastated.

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