SECOND CHANCE

13

Revelations

“Let me tell you my story, Amaanee.” Cokali finally said, parking the car by the road side. 

“What could your story do to make me change the way I look at you?” Amaanee asked not sparing his face a look.

Cokali smiled and said; “ Look, I know we have not been very good friends, but the least you can do now is listen and by the time I’m done, you can go ahead and judge me the way you wish. But if you insist, I will keep quiet and take you home without further explanation”. 

Being very curious, she gave him an encouraging response by nodding her head. He sighed with relief, smiled softly and started; 

“My real name is Umar Farouq. I’m the third born to my father’s five children, but the first to my mother’s three children. 

My mother is the second wife of my father’s two wives. The first wife gave birth to two male children, Zakir and Mahfuz.

The two brothers made our home a living hell to my sisters, and my father never said a word to them. They beat them, starved and raped them. I was never allowed to intervene because they will join hands and beat me up, force me to stay outside for a week. 

We have no one to turn to and nobody to ask for help from. My mother came from a very poor background, none of her relatives will be able to take us in. 
We tried once but the consequences was brutal and devastating. 

Life changed when I met Jakadiya one day after I fought with my brothers and they shut me out of the house. She was passing through our neighborhood in search of a girl. She stopped by and asked me so I showed her where to find he girl.

She thanked me and asked what I was doing outside, after all, it was heavily raining that day. I wanted to hide my problems, but the girl I helped her found knew everything about me and so she told her all she knew about my family drama.

She pitied my situation and offered me a job. Out of desperation I quickly agreed without asking what it might take. 

Jakadiya took me into her home as her own younger brother when I was of 17 years of age. She gave me the name Cokali so as to cover up my real name which is part of the rules of working with her. 

In just a year, I was able to make enough money to rent a house and moved with my mother and sisters. I was also able to get them into a good school which none of us had the previlage to attend while we were in our fathers house.

Despite all these achievements, my two elder brothers did not let us to rest. The only way to make that possible for us was for me to strike a bargain with them, which I did. We agreed I will be giving them 30 thousand naira each, monthly. Any month I fail to pay them will result in them going to our house and raping my sisters. 

The house I went to is my father’s house. One of my sisters called and informed me that Mahfuz has raped her this morning. I was shocked because I knew we had a deal, and we had been living in peace for 3 years now. 

That was why I had to rush there to inquire from him, and he did not give me any compelling reason. I was very upset. We fought, and I said I will not pay any of them a dime anymore, and I will stop buying food stuff for their house. They should deal with their own lives henceforth. I warned them, If they dare set foot in our house again, I will have them arrested.

Amaanee, I’ve tried for God sake! I fend for them. I took care of all their bills not minding how they kept treating us for years. My father never cared to say a word to any of them, worst of all, their mother. She never cared at all, she claims my mother was behind our father’s poverty. 

You see Amaanee, all of us you see here are earning money to care for our families. We are all here for our families. I know you are doing this for your mother, but please understand this; you have to be strong and brave. Whatever we do here doesn’t matter. If not, you will not be able to assist her even a little bit.”

He finally concluded with a deep sigh at the end.
Amaanee was speechless. She never imagined Cokali to be in deep trouble like this.

Here she was thinking
she has a problem, but hearing such a revelation from him made her realized that her own is little.

“I’m sorry Umar. I didn’t realize your life was also as messed up as mine. InshaAllahu we will find a way out and I promise to put in my best to contribute my own quarter.”
He smiled and started the car engine.

************************************

Inna Hassatu couldn’t believe her eyes. “What the hell were you trying to do in my house, Baffa Audu? What have I done to you to deserve this? I thought you took me as your younger sister? How I wish my husband were alive to witness all this”. she bursted in to a heartwarming cry. 

Hanne held her tight trying to console her. Baffa Audu was sweating profusely like a Christmas goat, lost of words.

“You better have a very good explanation for this your disgraceful behavior. Are you going to start talking or you want me to beat the hell out of you, you good-for-nothing fool!". Shouted Malam Buba. 

Baffa Audu started pleading that they should let him go
Seeing that they don’t have such intentions, he sat properly and began; 

“ Hassatu I love you. I’ve been begging you to marry me, but you kept turning me down. I tried all I can to make you mine for years, including plotting mischiefs that will make your husband divorce you, conspiring with Tanko to poisoned your husband that led to his death, but you still refused to marry me.

Tell me what else do you want me to do so that I will have you as my wife. Please marry me! I beg you Hassatu! The seer said I will never be wealthy again if I don’t marry you.”

Inna Hassatu couldn’t believe her ears; “ You killed my husband. You poisined my husband! Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un!” She slumped and fainted right there.

Edited By Mr MZ💜.