Mustakeemah: (pick the call) hello sir; good afternoon sir.
Mustapha: what was the guy discussing with you?
Mustakeemah: nothing sir, I swear nothing.
Mustapha: am definitely sure his mouth was moving so better speak up now or else.
Mustakeemah: sir I swear we didn’t discuss about anything, he just helped me to spell my name nothing else sir please.
Mustapha: ok then, check out the deliveries and do all I instructed you to do, and don’t try to do anything messy, or try to run away because whether you like it or not you are mine forever, fry those chickens and beef (end call)
Mustakeemah: (touch her chest as she exhale softly) so like this now, am getting married to a stranger; why me? why me! (she sadly close her eyes as she place her head by the wall) this is real hell..
*************
The next day
Mustakeemah’s p. o. v
I thought all these was a nightmare and I wish they could all fade away, he failed to take my life and continue to place burden in my life am I not pleading enough? Just make all this happening right now a nightmare so I can wake up; am tired please am tired.. suddenly I heard a knock at my door i quickly get up without hesitation to open the door but to my greatest surprise it turns out to be my aunt and her husband stand by door as they open their open their dangerous teeth smiling at me, I didn’t realize when I fell on my toes in shock to see them, I began to stammer on the floor, I really knew am dead as I set my eyes on them, am so dead today! I wanted to wish for the ground to open and swallow me but I know that’s never gonna happen because Allah never hear my cries, all I could do right now is begging for mercy and asking for their forgiveness but then I realize that cant work on them either, I didn’t even notice tears is already gushing out of my eyes like a tap..
Mrs. Shola: no no!! dear don’t cry .. we are not here to harm you; we just came to thank you for saving us from shame; you really did a great job by running away from us to his place, we are so sorry for how we treated you all this while atleast now you are living a life you’ve always wanted under a big mansion like this.. see your room larger than ours and the amazing part you are getting married to him, oh my goodness! Now you are making me jealous.. come here honey (she help her get up while Mustakeemah is still shivering) come have a seat while I dress you up for your day….(smiling)
Mr. suraj: latest bride indeed! See how she is shining, fresh babe! You should really thank us for changing your life for good, living under this huge house is a blessing… gosh my wife even envy you… honey please get her ready the Alfas are waiting for the bride (laughing) make her look so beautiful, I also heard the makeup artist is down stairs… I will direct her to your room soon ok? Please excuse me while you get her ready for her day (he winkle at her and slam the door)
Mustakeemah: (speechless and began to think) did he just winkle at me? I remember that winkle! He reminds me of that night heeee…… (panting heavily and also feel so uncomfortable to see her aunt sit next to her)
Mrs shola: now get up lets dress you up.
Mustakeemah: (stammering) ma please!! Don’t worry I can do all that myself;
Mrs. Shola: come on! This is what we are family for, this is the only way I can show my gratitude to you for saving my family from shame and besides am the only family left for you, so don’t push me away; none of our family give a shit about your existence so act normal before I change towards you, not like I give a shit about your existence either so cooperate me or you regret it… am I making sense?
Mustakeemah: yes yes ma! Am sorry ma.
Mrs. Shola: good! now get up and remove those rags you wear and put this on, (gasp) oh my goodness! This dress is so pretty and lovely, he bought this for you?
Mustakeemah: (look down sadly)
Mrs. Shola: (yelled angrily) am talking to you witch answer me!
Mustakeemah: yes ma!!
Mrs. Shola: hmmmm I love the dress, the dress wont suit you but am sure it will suite me for sure (place the dress on her body) gorgeous! I love it… too bad you are gonna make this dress ugly when you put it on…hmmmm anyway lets not waste time your groom might be waiting..
*****************
Few guest were present in the house seated as they gather to unite the couples, they all notice the bride wasn’t smiling at all, she was the only person unhappy at the reunion, the groom was so happy and smiling so bright that Mr. and Mrs. Suraj were wondering what type of potion did Mustakeemah fed him, but they overlook all that and join them to jubilate and celebrate their reunion.
After the ahkid Nikkah the part time maid whom was employed for the event served the guest food while the photographer is busy taking pictures of the guest and the couples.
Mr suraj: my in law lets take a picture together with your bride now.
Mubarak: of course my in law of course! Baby come here lets take a picture with your family.
Mustakeemah: (she sadly walk up to him as he held her waist while the photographer takes their pictures from one position to another)
Mr. suraj: alright then how about I snap with the bride?
Mubarak: of course! My love.. snap with your uncle.
Mr. Suraj: (as he move next to her while the photographer is busying taking their pics he began to rub her from the back while Mustakeemah tries to takes some step far from him but the photographer insist for the picture to look nice they need to stick together but that didn’t stop him from playing dirty with her untill Mubarak also notice his actions)
Mubarak: that’s enough of the pictures, (he drag her closer to him) I guess that’s the end of the ceremony am I right honey? We need to rest besides the guest are leaving so… you guys should leave as well while the maid clean the entire house am I right mr. Suraj?(angrily staring at Suraj)
Mr. suraj: ofcourse my inlaw, uhmm honey we should get going but please my inlaw don’t forget our discussion on the phone its urgent.
Mubarak: no problem is it not the 2 million I promised you? Don’t worry you will receive the alert soon..
Mrs. Shola: thank you so much sir we shall take our leave now, (she drag him and wave goodbye) lets go! (whisper into his ears) what else do you want? do you want him to change his mind? (slam the door)
Mustakeemah: (on her feet staring at the floor)
Mubarak: so now we are left alone! Welcome to my house my wife… I now have every right over you both Islamically and financially… c’mon lets go inside and discuss better.
**************
Few days later…
Mustakeemah’s pov
Cleaning makes me happy and overwhelmed; the fact that the house is clean because of me is one sided happiness for me, I enjoy house chores than any other work I felt so addicted to it till the extent I sing joyfully while cleaning the house, you guys must be wondering why I never feel sad or unhappy anymore.. well, I have accepted my fate ever since my husband married me but! We are not acting like a couple in the house, although he is caring and I have received several beaten from him that I almost lost my life till the extent we now have a family doctor who come to treat me when ever he hits me… am just recovering from the one that took place last night when he requested for intimacy and I rejected him, he beats mercilessly and make his way… but now I felt no pain anymore, my body is use to pain that whenever he hits me I cry and wipe my tears then move to the next thing with or without bruises… my life couldn’t get any worse than it already is…infact I never hope nor pray for freedom anymore, all I just wish for is death very soon… he turned me into his sex toy and I must comply with him at anytime and if I fail to obey him, I know whats coming for me.. I never pity my life nor pray for a miracle anymore, life goes on with or without pain.
We ve been married for 3 months now and the scars on my body increases that the delivery men noticed, but anytime they asked me whats wrong all I could say is am fine, and to be honest am fine because my body is used to everything, he knows there is nothing I can do to him, he knows I have no one and when I say no one I mean no family to come rescue me.. no friends to come save me. he is all I got now, I looked more miserable than before.. I fell sick like 5 times during those months and i get immediate treatment.. I could remember the very day I begged the doctor while he was treating me, I begged him to kill me with something… maybe poisoned drug or deadly injection.. but he declined, I begged for help so he can save me from this monster but the day I realize he was being paid for not exposing him was the day I give up on humanity… I don’t cry anymore, I receive my daily punches and swallow the pain, used as a sex toy and enslaved at the same time, he always address me as his maid to his visitors because he was ashamed to call me his wife due to my miserable appearance as if its my fault for looking this way, I was way beautiful than I am now, thanks to him….there is no difference between me and a rag.. my face look older than my age; most of his visitor thinks am in my thirties not knowing am below 20.
Sometimes I think about my angel and pray he come save me but now I have given up on him as well, he didn’t bother to look for me.. I didn’t hear from him anymore nor from his siblings… I am a lifetime slave to this monster, I clothes him, I choose what to wear for him, I put on his shoes, I cook for him, I clean the house for him, I satisfy him sexually which is a must but the worse part he gives me pills after sleeping with me, I never imagine what it was until he announce it to me that he is not ready to be a father… sometimes I look at him like I should strangle him but I cant, besides who is ready to have a child with a monster like you, I don’t want to give birth to a monster either… so even if he forgot to give me the pills I will remind him, but always threaten me not to ever expose him to anyone… but these days that doesn’t move me anymore, I have accepted my fate long time ago that am stuck with him for the rest of my life and nothing can save me from him, enough of those fairy tales life of thinking a prince will come save me one day.
*********************
Bolanle: (barge into the house) everyone am home! Where is everybody? Hello! (she drop her luggage) mom! Dad! Where is everybody?
Ayomide: (run out of her room to embrace her) big sis! Welcome home?
Bolanle: Ayo! How far now? How school? How is the preparation for your jamb? Aren’t you going to school today?
Ayomide: that’s not important now, Infact I came home to prepare breakfast for mom and Olumide, I don’t even know how to prepare it, just watching online show on how to prepare jollof rice.
Bolanle: where is mom and dad?
Ayomide: ever since you left olumide had been sick and admitted into the hospital, I was in coma for some weeks before Allah restore her back to life and was discharged but few weeks ago she fall sick again.
Bolanle: (gasp heavily) why what happened? Whats the cause of her sickness?
Ayomide: no one knows not even the doctor can diagnose the cause of her sickness, infact ever sine Mustakeemah left this house, life had been so unbearable for me.
Bolanle: (gasp) where is Mutakeemah? Did mum sent her away?
Ayomide: not really but she ran away from home and ever since then she was nowhere to be found until but I heard mom telling dad some days ago that she is fnally married to someone I have no idea who that person was.
Bolanle: oh my God! They finally succeeded In ruining her life, please Ayo! Do you know where she lives now? Do you know the man’s house?
Ayomide: no I don’t know, see I need go get back inside, I have a lot to do, see how messy the house is.. I just cant wait for them to get a new maid.
Bolanle: (panicking) oh my God! What have they done? Do you think olumide is sick just like that? That’s the reward of their bad deeds towards Mustakeemah! Don’t you get it? I have watch somethings like that In a movie.. who knows who is next? Don’t worry I know what to do now (she pick her phone and dial their number)
Mrs. Shola: hello my angel! How are you?
Bolanle: hello mom! If you and dad did not come home right this instant I promise you will kill myself.. I am holding rat poison right now! I give you less than 5 minutes to come home now or else! That’s the end of me!
Shola: (shocked) what are you saying? Bola! Don’t do it! Ok am coming, oh my Goodness! She cut the call.
Ayomide: (Drag the phone from her ears and end the call) what are you doing sis? Are you ok? Do you want to add to their pains? I just told you Olumide is at the hospital now you are increasing the pain? What kind of a child are you?
Bolanle: you just watch! Today this house will not contain us all, they must pay for their evil deeds… because if they don’t suffer it we will… just watch and see..
*************
Mr. suraj: (driving fast) are you sure that’s what she said? Oh my God! What happening in our family?
Mrs. Shola: hurry up! Please nothing must happen to my child oh! (crying as she continuously dial her number but not reachable) Bolanle! Please pick the call please don’t do this to us please okomi! Drive fast now.
Mr. Suraj: am driving just keep dialing her number! Don’t stop… why Is this car slow like this? I will overtake it oh.
Mrs. Shola: just do it please hurry up!
Mr. Suraj: ok ok!! (as he tries to overtake the car not knowing trailer is at the front blocking the road, which lead to their car accidentally hit the trailer as they shout for their lives )Watch out for the next episode!!!