Abdulhakeem: may Allah forgive his sins and grant him aljanat firdaus, am so sorry for your loss.
Mustakeemah: (she nodded in tears)
Abdulhakeem: (thinking) people are wicked oh, how can you hide the death of her father from her for two good years, hoping he is still alive to accept her when things go wrong? Is that why she ran away from them? Maybe I should ask her… Mustakeemah, am sorry to ask but why did you run away from them?
Mustakeemah: so am not suppose to run away till they kill me?
Abdulhakeem: Oh no! Not like that but I have told you with different signs to leave that house but you refuse saying you have nowhere to go, but why sudden change of mind by running away during the day?
Mustakeemah: (she break down in tears again) how am I suppose to explain this to you in a way that you will believe me? life is unbearable for me…
Abdulhakeem: ok can you tell me why you left so sudden? Something must have happen.
Mustakeemah: my aunt’s husband borrowed money from his friend so he wasn’t able to pay him back for the past two years… so now his friend demand for his money back so he came to his house few days ago to threatened them for his money but after much pleading he later agreed to trade the money over me…
Abdulhakeem: (confuse) I don’t understand! Are you saying he want to use you as an exchange for his money? How much is the money?
Mustakeemah: 5 million naira..
Abdulhakeem: subhanallah! 5 million naira! (he raise his voice without knowing)
Mustakeemah: you are shouting don’t wake your parents, please don’t land me into more troubles..
Abdulhakeem: am sorry… this people are really heartless! How could they trade you, human being just like them over money? Can you imagine.. please wipe your tears, but first we need to report them to the police for child abuse and human trafficking.
Mustakeemah: nooo!!! Please don’t do that, don’t report them to the police they will win the case and take me back, please I don’t want to go back to that house please (shivering).
Abdulhakeem: (worried to see how she behave) don’t be scared please am here for you, no one will harm you ever again! I promise to find all means to get you out of there.. all I need is more time to think of a solution, although I wish we can adopt you here but my parents are very strict especially my dad, he doesn’t take shit! So please will you stay with us till I figure out a solution? Please.
Mustakeemah: thank you so much (she went on her knees)
Abdulhakeem: no!!! you don’t have to do that, that is not necessary.
Mustakeemah: no let me remin like this, and please can I ask you a question?
Abdulhakeem: (adjust his position) ofcourse! You are free to ask me anything
Mustakeemah: (scratching her palm) why are you nice to me since the first day we met? Like why are you helping me without knowing me?
Abdulhakeem: (smile) honestly I don’t know, I just feel so connected to you in a way that is hard to explain, but I have never question myself on why I do help you not until you ask me now! But i cant stand the fact that someone like you is enslave.
Mustakeemah: I never knew good people exist, I always believe everyone hates me, but you and your siblings prove me wrong, especially you! You are kind, generous with a pure heart, do you know what I wish to call you from now on?
Abdulhakeem: (smiling) and what is that?
Mustakeemah: Angel! The angel that Allah sent to save me and to protect me… thank you so much sir… (she gently rest her head on her knees) do have a good night.
Abdulhakeem: (so many emotional reaction on his face as he began to think so deeply) life is not balance at all, here I am wishing I don’t have a parents and here she is craving for parental love, till she had to value every good moment she had in her life… assuming Allah can grant me a wish, I would have wish she replace one of my sister and become one of us… I need to find all means of helping her, I cant leave her in this country all alone… she might not make it before am back… gosh! I wish I hadn’t apply for this scholarship I would help her a lot… and my parents are not willing to help her…(deeply staring at her as she tried to sleep but she break down in tears again) its ok! Don’t cry… (he couldn’t hold his tears as well) God how can I help this poor girl? She needs help! A lot!
Mustakeemah: (she raises her head up again and began to speak as tears roll down from her eyes) do you know sometimes I wonder if all this that am going through is generational curse?? Maybe my ancestors and forefathers must have been harsh to someone or even people, treating people anyhow… now they are dead am the one suffering it…how am I going to break the curse so the next generation wont suffer the same because atimes I don’t think my aunt is wicked towards me willingly but she once told me what my parent did to her… but sometimes I wish I could go back in time to face my parents and my forefathers and beg them to do good to people because I am suffering for their mistakes… and am sure if they knew about this, they would have change for good because am suffering too much.. this pain is unbearable anymore for me! they should please do good so I could pray for them and not curse them (sobbing)
Abdulhakeem: (he sadly close his eyes in tears) come sleep in my room and I will sleep here, I cant bear to see you in pain like this… please come to my room.
Mustakeemah: no I cant! And am ok like this, besides am used to sleeping on the floor.
Abdulhakeem: but!
Mustakeemah: am fine please I don’t want to be the reason why you have problem with your parents, what ever they don’t like please don’t do it, treasure their presence now before you turn into me.. (she lay on the floor and cover herself back with the blanket) goodnight.
Abdulhakeem: (he angrily get up and walk into his room)
---
DAY BREAK (6:02am)
Idowu: (yawning as she comes out of her room to do her house chores then she bump into her twins sisters trying to close their room door) sister mi good morning.
Twins: morning (yawning)
Taiye: have you pray? Before I report you to mum?
Idowu: yes now, I prayed in my room!
Kehinde: are you sure? You know you are not doing me but yourself if you lie.
Idowu: I swear to God I prayed!
Taiye: ok o! go and do the dishes while we sweep the living room, then prepare breakfast! Hurry up oh! I don’t want to be late for class.
Idowu: ok (they all move to their various duty, but as she got to the kitchen she found the kitchen cleaned up, all the dishes had been taken care of) abi my eye dey pain me ni (she rub her face with her hand) ahh! The kitchen is clean oh! Then who did it? Sister Taiye! Sister Kehinde (she hurriedly head to the living room and found her sisters wondering who mopped the entire house as well) ahhh are you guys the one who wash the dishes and mopped it?
Kehinde: the kitchen is neat too? We are also wondering who clean the entire house and dining table? Wait oh! Where is Mustakeemah?
Taiye: yes that’s true it must be her but where could she be? Lets find her! (they move around the house searching for her until they reach the compound and found her sweeping as well) Mustakeemah what are you doing?
Mustakeemah: (startled) ma! (she bent to greet them) good morning mas, how was your night? I hope you slept well?
Kehinde: (she quickly walk up to her and take the broom from her) what are you doing? who sent you?
Mustakeemah: am only doing my duty here!
Taiye: since when did you become a cleaner here! You are a guest and we must treat you like one… we didn’t send you to do this?
Idowu: sister Mustakeemah, why would you stress yourself to do this? Ehh! This is our duty now.
Mustakeemah: am sorry but its because am use to all this chores that’s why I cant do a day without doing it! It is part of me now so let me do it, besides am almost done self, please give me back the broom.
Taiye: hell no! we are not giving you anything..
Abdulhakeem: (stand by door as he yawn) what exactly is going on here?
Kehinde: big brother! Is Mustakeemah o! we woke up not quit long to do our house chores and we found out she had done everything…
Abdulhakeem: (surprise) why would you do that Mustakeemah? You are a guest here…
Mum: (she also join them) why is everyone outside? Whats going on?
Idowu: (she explain to her) and she insisted on doing the rest of the sweeping..
Mum: ngbo! Mustakeemah! You did all that alone?
Mustakeemah: (she went on her knees immediately) please am sorry ma if that got you annoyed please forgive me, am use to all this chores that’s why couldn’t just sit and watch them to do it,.. please am sorry ma.
Mum: (shocked to see her go on her knees) get up! Please get up! You didn’t offend me now, Infact you impressed me… you see your mate! (referring to her children) before you wake up she had clean the entire house, but as for you three! You will complain today your back tomorrow your hand! you see your mate.. anyway my dear, you did great and am so proud of you keep it up, now get up please… anyway am going back inside..
Abdulhakeem: (he also take his leave as he admire her) indeed a wife material! Just like you wanted mum..
Mum: (she turn to him) what did you say?
Abdulhakeem: nothing! Me say anything? No! (he quickly walk into his room and slam the door)
Mum: (smiling as she watch him) you think I don’t know that you have feelings for this girl?
---
Mrs. Shola: (she wakes up and found her husband fully awake thinking) haha! Babe (she rub her face) you are awake?
Mr. suraj: (not responding)
Mrs. shola: (she get seated) since when you woke up? Are you still thinking? About this girl?
Mr. suraj: just go back to sleep since that’s what you are good at! Mubarak called me last night to remind me that he is coming to get his woman tomorrow and I manage to inform him about whats going on if you see how he shouted at me on the phone and threatened to kill me if I don’t find his woman… how on earth do you expect me to sleep again.
Mrs. shola: (gasp) he said that? To you! This is really getting out of hand oh! We need to act fast… but where on earth can she be? (she get out of bed) let me go and prepare breakfast then we start looking for her again..
Mr. suraj: (not responding but focus on his thinking)
Mrs. Shola: don’t think too much I believe we will surely find her because she doesn’t know anywhere, all I pray for now is her safety till we find her, don’t think my love we will find her.
******************
At the dinning table, Abdulhakeem’s family were busy having their breakfast while Mustakeemah decided to join them.
Idowu: sister Mustakeemah (tapping the chair) come have a seat next to me.
Kehinde: no join us here, here is closer to the food.
Taiye: yes that’s true..
Dad: silent! (he angrily continue eating) I don’t want to hear any words from any of you, where are your manners?
Mum: (smile) come sit next to me instead
Abdulhakeem: (happy to see his mother kindness towards her) thanks mum.
Mum: (she responds with a smile)
Mustakeemah: thank you ma (she get seated)
Idowu: (she put the food for her) I hope this is ok?
Kehinde: add more jor.
Taiye: let me give you from mine.
Dad: (he angrily hit his feet on the ground)
Everyone: sorry sir!
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Later in the day
Mustakeemah’s pov
The entire family went out leaving me behind and I was ordered not to go anywhere till they are back from work and school, the house seems so bored because there is no work to do I have never in my life feel free like this, so unbelievable but that freedom alone is an achievement, I get the opportunity to watch different movies of my choice but I couldn’t get Abdulhakeem out of my head…his sweet talks and kindness is indescribable, with his lovely family especially his sisters such a kind hearted people, I never knew as I was busy thinking and watching a movie, his dad was right behind me until i turn my eyes to his direction which startled me, I hurriedly get out of the couch and went on my knees immediately.
Mustakeemah: welcome sir!
Dad: what are you still doing here? I thought you heard me clearly last night that I don’t want to see you here today! What is still keeping you here? Don’t you have a home? Where are your parents? See how you sit in my house confidently watching my own television? Doing as you like as if is your father’s house? Thank goodness I came early, now get up and take what you brought here last night back to where you ran away from.
Mustakeemah: Sir please am sorry but atleast let me wait here till brother Abdulhakeem get back, please sir….he is all I have.
Dad: did you just mention my son in this? Just because he helped you last night doesn’t mean you are now his responsibility, he is leaving this country soon so better go back to where you come from! Didn’t you heard what I said? I said leave my house! (angrily pointing at the door)
Mustakeemah: (break down in tears) sir please have mercy on me I have no where to go! Please help me.
Dad: I will call the police if you don’t leave on the count of three! 1….. 2…
Mustakeemah: (her cries increases as she put on her tattered slippers) please sir let me wait for him.
Dad: 3! (He angrily open the door and push her out of his house) and I don’t want to see you outside my gate! nonsense! See how she spread her legs on my couch in my own house! Even my kids cant do that, and is not your fault but Abdulhakeem’s fault! He will come back and meet me in this house! What rubbish.
--
During the night
Mrs. Shola: lets enter the next street where this beggars use to stay, we might find her there..
Mr. suraj: I think you are right! Am sure she must be starving… (they reach the street and couldn’t find her there) then where could this witch be? So she want to finally succeed in ruining my life!
Mrs. Suraj: we will find her at all cost… you just don’t worry.