7

After they were done eating, they left Jibril’s house and went to their friend’s house, bintoto. She was their friend in secondary school and she got married a year after their graduation. Her parents were not being fair to her, Dalia thought. She was a year older than bintoto but she already has a baby. And she was married her cousin whom she doesn't love. The thought of it irritated Dalia and it made her have a thought that marriage is not for her. 

She hissed softly as they walked to bintoto’s house. “What?” Amrah asked her. “Nothing, just thinking of how binta ended up with that loser,” she spat. Amrah smacked her shoulder, “he is her cousin and its none of our business.” Dalia shrugged off and nodded, “you're right.”

Dalia was about to step in when she heard noises coming from inside. “Wait... can you hear it? Its binta. Is he beating her?” Dalia whispered as they slightly opened the entrance door. Amrah peeped but didn't see anyone around the compound. “Must be coming from her room or something,” Amrah spoke gloomily. 

They heard a loud bang from the door before they heard footsteps towards the entrance door. He furiously opened the door and paused when he saw the two of them. He walked away without uttering a words to them or glancing back. They exchanged looks, hoping it wasn't what they thought it was. “Let’s go in,” dalia said, holding Amrah’s hand. 

They met their friend sitting on the carpeted floor, hugging her knees. They exchanged looks again. “Salamu alaikum, bintoto,” dalia spoke softly. She raised her head slowly and looked at them. She quickly rise to her feet as she wiped her tears. “Dalia, Amrah, you're welcome. please, come sit,” she ushered them in. She tries to rub away her wounds. 

“Binta what happened? Look at the wound on your face and hand,” dalia spoke, looking at her face to her bruised hands. “It’s nothing... I...” She paused, unable to think of a lie because there was no possible way they would believe anything but the truth. “He did this to you? I thought he loves you,” Amrah spoke when she finally found her voice. She was beyond amused. 

“My baby is awake, excuse me please.” She hurriedly left the living room and entered her room to attend to the baby crying. After she had fed her, she came back to the living room with the baby. Amrah scooped her away from bintoto before they all settled down. She stared at the blank space as she placed her hand under her chin while her elbow on her lap. 

Dalia and Amrah exchanged looks, unable to utter a word to Binta. As much as she tried to hold it in, as much as she tried to hide her pain from her friends, the pain came out like an uproar from her throat in the form of a silent scream. The beads of water started falling down one after another, without a sign of stopping. “Why didn't you report him to your parents, Binta?” Dalia asked her but didn't get an answer. 

After a while, she started speaking, “I’ve tried everything to get away from this bastard but nothing is working. There’s evidence all over my body that he’s maltreating me but my parents aren’t doing anything about it because my father is working under his father and if they dare ask him to divorce me, that would be the end of our feeding.” Desolate tears ran from her unblinking eyes and dripped steadily into her blouse. “If only my grandfather was still alive...” She buried her face in her palms, feeling her warm tears. 

“There must be a way out of this, you don’t deserve to be living this way,” Amrah stated. “I don’t see a way out of this, Amrah,” she smiled as she spoke. “Why is he doing this to you? I thought he married you because he loved you?” Dalia inquired. This has discouraged her more to ever think of getting married soon or ever. “I thought so too... then he changed after just two months and it was because I rejected him so many times and his mother dislikes me right from day one.  Sometimes she comes here, rains insult at me, that my daughter isn't his daughter, I’m a prostitute.... Just so many things happened within this year and I can't do anything about it.”

“This is... I don’t even know what to say,” dalia murmured as she thought of a way to console binta. “Can you believe that I've even tried running away?” She contend as she chuckled. “It was a stupid thing to do,” she added and averted her gaze to them. “Enough about me please, how are you guys? Dalia I heard you moved to abuja? How’s everything there?” She spoke briskly. She didn’t wanted to look depressed. Dalia and Amrah didn't actually know what to say or do. 

Dalia stood up and moved closer to her friend. She knelt down on the carpet and held binta’s hands. “I don’t even know how or where to start with but I know you're not happy being with him. Everyone has his own type of Qadr; some are happy, some are not, some are even at the hospital sick but whatever your case may be or whatever kind of situation you'll find yourself in, just remember that there’s someone out there with much worse situation than yours. And Allah will never leave you like this, in sha Allah. We will be praying for you.”

Even though Dalia’s words wouldn't bring the end of her sorrow, it was all she needed to hear. She looks at Dalia like the fire in her eyes has been dowsed with ice water. “Thank you Dalia,” she mouthed as she gave Dalia’s hand a like squeeze. “It’s all I needed,” she added before hugging her friend. 

“How did you guys enter? He didn’t see you? He doesn't allow me to have visitors at all.” She tapped her fingers nervously on her knees as she peered at them. “He saw us but he didn't say anything,” Amrah answered. Binta’s eyes bulged out before she hid it with a smile. “I hope you won't be in trouble,” dalia spoke holding her hand. 

Soon enough, Binta heard the entrance door open and slammed shut, its creaking noise bringing a chill to her spine. She scrambled up to go check who it was, but before she reached the door, he entered the living room, sending daggers to the two them. “Who are these two? Why are they in my house? I thought I’ve warned you about having visitor?” 

Her hands trembled and her eyes water as she tried to speak. “We have to get going now, binta. See you some other time.” Amrah handed the baby to her before they calmly left the house felling sorry for their friend. 

They walked back home in silence, both engrossed in their own thoughts. “You see one of the reasons why I am afraid to get married; marrying the wrong man,” dalia started. She exhaled as her heart skipped a bit whenever she thought about binta. “Yes, but binta’s case is different. She was forced to marry him,” Amrah reasoned with her and she nodded in agreement. “But still, she doesn't deserve to live that way. He's a complete monster, a bastard,” she riposted through gritting teeth. “Easy there, Dalia. He's someone’s father and husband, you shouldn't be cursing him that way please,” she reminded. 

Dalia hissed softly and quickened her pace. It was passed asr already and she knew muhsin would come pick her up soon. After they’ve reached home, she prayed asr and chatted with her mother about what happened till a boy informed them that someone was looking for dalia. 

“Don’t keep him waiting dalia, go get your bag and go. May Allah bless you.” Her mother urged her to get ready. She hesitated before sluggishly getting on her feet and entered her room. She wondered why he didn’t atleast come in and greet her mother. She came out with her bag and slipped into her hijab. She bade her mother goodbye before walking away together with Amrah accompanying her out. “When are you going to visit us again?” Amrah asked as they reached out of the house. 

“I don't know exactly, till daddy gives me permission to. Maybe before I start my registration which is in two months.” 

He quickly walked over to her to claim her bag as he greeted them. She looked at him in awe before she replaced it with a smile and answered his greetings. “I thought that handsome man was coming back to pick you. What a waste of time,” Amrah lamented. Dalia gazed at her in disbelief, “so you accompanied me out just to see him? He is married don't forget, nidai babu ruwana.” She opened the front door and entered. “My regards to his so called wife, tell her her co wife sends her greetings from Kuje,” Amrah spoke jokingly before closing the door for dalia. 

Dalia laughed heartily and shook her head. The driver asked if they could leave and she responded. They drove pass binta’s house; her sadness came rushing back all at once. 

She exhaled and closed her eyes. If only she had a way to help the poor girl, she would, without hesitation. Binta was a nice girl, and she deserves every happiness life could offer. But, dalia was in no position to question Allah’s doing for he is the best planner and she believed everything was just a matter of time. 

**

“Alhaji, why do you always ask muhsin to do things that concerns that girl? I mean why him? Don't you even think he might sometimes be busy with work or something?” Amira’s mother was fed up about the matter. She dared to ask her husband why he does that all the time. 

Daddy kept his spoon on the plate before he took a sip of his water. “What do you mean, hajiya? What’s wrong with what I do?” He inquired as he focused on her unpleased expression. “When she's going to their village he is the one to drives her and go pick her up, now about her admission, you gave him full responsibility of everything concerning her school. This is highly inappropriate!” She spoke brusquely. 

Daddy chuckled softly and shook his head. He raised his head and glanced at her. “You clearly know if I had a son, he would be the one to do all of the things for me. And muhsin’s father and I are like brothers, therefore, I take muhsin as my own son and he takes me as his father. For once, this boy has never showed any signs that he’s tired and you should be grateful because he's married to your entitled daughter.” He finished speaking and gently pushed the chair before rising on his feet and walked away. 

She looked at his retreating back, aghast. No one sees what she’s afraid for in the future. With her daughter being careless and entitled, anything could happened. She hissed and also stood up from the chair and left the dinning room. 

She walked into the living room same time Dalia was coming in. She smiled when she saw mommy. “Mommy, I am back. Good evening. I hope I met you in good health,” she spoke excitedly. “Welcome back. We’re fine here. Hope your mother is doing okay,” she retorted nonchalantly as she crossed her hands behind her back and gazed at dalia from head to toe. 

Her smile disappeared while she swallowed hard. She nodded slowly, “ye-yes she's doing great.” She massaged her arm nervously, head ducked. “Very well then. You should head in and rest before it’s time for dinner,” she stated before walking away. Dalia watched her retreating back and sighed. She shrugged off her thoughts and headed to her room.