Taking long strides forward, he crouched down to her level and leaned his face in, his breath fanning her face. A look he gave her froze her spines though she’s the least bit intimidated by now
“What…what do you want?” She stuttered, he was now close to her, dangerously close that she was terrified he’d try something. Her heart was thrumming like a wild beast inside her ribs
“I don’t know mhm maybe you?” He made a thinking pose, his forehead creased as his brows almost hit his hairline
She backed away when he tried to touch her “What did i ever do to you Kamalu?”
“Mhm you better warn that little boyfriend of yours, reporting me to the village district was not the best idea” He says darkly as he trails his hand on her shoulder, making his way to her arm. Her tears intensified as she realised he was trying to do to her, again. The last time he tried to do a thing like this was when she declined his love and threw a few curse words at him, he got aggravated and tried. Fortunately for her, she was clever and when his friend tried to trick her into entering his room, she just managed to get away. God knows how many girls Kamalu raped, ranging from small girls to teenagers. She couldn’t think of anything more to do, her brain was not communicating with her body so she bit his finger, hard.
He winced in pain and by his expression she knew it hit him hard “Fiesty now are we?” He clicked his tongue and added “You’re already trapped, no one to run to little girl, no one to help you and as for me…” He paused moving his lips to her ear, he was intentionally brushing his lips against her ear “Well i do whatever i please” He stood up from his crouching position and laughed like a maniac
“I don’t think you do” She replied, her voice hoarse probably from crying. He looked into her eyes as if daring her to say another word. She used that as a distraction to kick him hard right where the sun doesn’t shine. She scurried past him and banged the rusted metal door open, almost prying to door frame from it’s root. Thankfully he le! the door open a!er his dramatic entrance, how dumb! She couldn’t even recall to pick her calabash as she ran, her heart beating thunderously against her chest. She ran like her life depended on it, well it did right now! People gave her wierd looks as if she was a mad woman or she was an escapee from a mental asylum, but she didn’t care as she kept running till she reached her mother’s hut. She saw her mother sitting cross-legged, picking dirt from beans.
“Mami…” She panted, her breaths heavy. By her ragged breaths Mami knew something had definitely striked
“What? What is it? What happened, where is the calabash?” She asked in one breath, confused as to why Noor was panting
“Mami..h-he c-came a!er me again” Her tears subsided, she hugged her mom tightly
“Oh Allah! He won’t get away this time I’m reporting him to the village district” Her mom said, voice promising. Noor was telling her all that happened when Adda barged into the hut, Marwa trailing behind her.
“Hmm why wouldn’t she get raped, a!er all she does is follow men around” Adda said and Marwa smiled in satisfaction. Why is this woman so heartless? Isn’t she a woman a!er all, isn’t she scared the same thing can happen to her daughter. How can a woman be so merciless? By Allah she won’t get away with it, God will repay her
“Why would you say a thing like this Adda? My Noor doesn’t follow men around” Mami replied quietly her voice vanishing into thin air
“Oh yeah, Marwa saw her with her own two eyes” She informed looking directly at Marwa and she gave a curt nod as a reply
“Mhm i will not say anything bacause you caused this upon yourselves. A bar kaza de cikin gashinta( a hausa proverb said when you do not intend to speak out a secret)” Adda remarked and they le! the room. They stood in front of Adda’s hut and laughed to the brim. A laugh that speaks contentment and achievement. A laugh that speaks evil
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
“Hmm are you ready for phase two?” Adda looked at Marwa with an arched brow, the corner of her lips tilted in a sinister way
Marwa adjoined thier palms into a high five as she lsughed heartily “Oh i so am”
“Do you think he did it?” Marwa added as she rolled her lips into a thin line
“I don’t think so, I’m so going to kill Kamalu” Adda said and sent Marwa to go call Noor a while later
What are these two up to? •
Noor leaned against the clay wall to take a small nap, she didn’t flutter her eyes close for a millisecond when she heard Mami bellowing her name from a far distance
“Naam Mami, gani; here i am”
“I was thinking maybe you should stop hawking, i don’t think Kamalu would stop till he ruins your life” Her palm came in contact with her forehead as she released a long deep sigh
“But Mami how are we going to survive them, you know this is our only source of income” She replied biting her lower lip in anticipation, this is their only source of income
“You know when your Dad died, when the inheritance was shared i got the cows, i think i will continue rearing them and when the time comes, I’ll sell them. And since you can plait, i was thinking you should start it as a business” Her mom explained
Noor beamed in happiness “That’s a great idea Mami”
“Noor Adda is calling you” Marwa cut short thier conversation throwing glares their way. She glared at Mami but she didn’t acknowledge her, Mami just shook her head disapprovingly
“Okay I’m coming” She went inside Adda’s hut and got down to her knees. Adda always has this aura around her that Noor couldn’t fathom
“I heard you’re calling me”
“Yes. Take this money” She brought out some squeezed notes from her wrapper “It’s A thousand naira, take it to Inna Mairo it’s for last two month’s thri!”
Noor pursed her lips “But…but”
“But what!?” Adda had snapped her head up, daring for her to utter a single word. Knowing fully what she’s capable of
“Mami said i shouldn’t go out again, a!er what happened earlier”
“I don’t care! Ni na aike ki; am i the one that sent you? You brought this upon yourself. Now stand up and go get your Kallabi; scarf and get going!” She shouted harshly and Noor sighed, what other choice does she have? None!
“T-tohm; okay” She stammered, grasped the notes in her palms and headed out. Marwa came into the room shortly a!er Noor le! and Adda signalled her, giving her a look that says ‘Go do your job’
Noor came to pick her scarf, she told her mother that Adda sent her, and her mother told her to be patient once again. She came back to pick the money but it was not in sight, she looked around for it but nowhere to be found, she’s in deep shit! She went back to Adda’s hut and the first thing she said was
“Uhm Adda did i leave the money back here?” She asked, already frightened by Adda’s response knowing fully what it’s gonna be
“No, you went along with it” She replied as she narrowed her eyes “You lost it didn’t you?” She asked again and Noor punished her lower lip by biting it so hard in nervousness. Even the look she sent her way made her legs give in and sent chills down her spine
“N-no i w-was j-just…” She stuttered and Adda gave her a harsh glare, again
“Wallahi Adda i just le! it to go get my scarf but then it was nowhere to be found” She voiced out, her lips trembling in fright
“Warr;come” she ordered. Noor hesitated before she reluctantly took a step forward, a look of utter horror laced her features
“I said come!” She hollered and with reluctance, Noor moved forward as soon as Adda grabbed her arm, her nails were digging into Noor’s skin. Before she could decipher what was happening, a striking slap on her le! cheek came through. Another resounding slap on her right cheek brought tears to her eyes. Adda beat her up like she never did, and there was no one to save her. Mami went to feed the cows so she wouldn’t even hear her pleas
“Now you will pay me back the money you’ve lost” She declared and Noor nodded
“Tafi ki bani wuri; get out of my sight!” She shouted. Noor le! in a hurry, her face bright red from all the slaps she recieved. She went back to h
er mother’s hut and cried her heart out, cried her pain and agony away. The melancholy that’s buried deep within her? Why her? She always asks herself. Why does she have to su”er so much in the hands of Adda and no one has done anything about it. Noor couldn’t stop herself but fretting over the matter, why would her aunt of all people abhor her do much?
Long a!er Noor was gone, Marwa came in and a snicker escaped her lips
“Mhm wallahi Adda a cikin mugaye ke number one ce; amongst the wicked people you’re number one” Marwa said as they burst out laughing
“Kice dai mune number one ai ba ni kadai bace; just say we are number one, it’s not just only me” She gu”awed and added “Where is the money?”
“Here it is” She handed her the money “No you will now keep it since i have extra” She waved her fingers dismissively
“Now all we have to do is get to that so called boyfriend of hers. Oh well the ball is now in your court and i know you’ll make me proud” Adda placed her palm on her shoulder and shot her an encouraging smile
“Oh i will definately make you proud Inna, i learned from the best” Her words made Adda grin, not even the slightest bit remorseful she raised her daughter this way
“Hmm Adda you’ve never told me why you hate Mami and Noor so much, any story behind that?” She asked with so much curiosity in her eyes
“It all started long time ago when…”