Chapter six

She ran with all her might scared shitless. The night was already dark and quiet with no sign of a soul outside. She turned left and right for help but no one was outside to save her from the dog chasing her. Her legs were becoming weak with each step she took.

The dog was a few inches close to her when a car came speeding indirection with the tires screeching The car finally came to a halt and the man driving the car quickly came out of in worried for the terrified girl. That was when he saw the giant dog just a few inches away from her with his tongue out ready to have a bite of her flesh.

She ran to hold his hand tightly " please save me " she was terrified.

The man only nodded then took the stick not far from where he was standing. He went forward to drive the hungry dog away.

" he is finally gone, now you've got nothing to be scared of " he smiled charmingly at her.

She raised her eyes to meet his but was surprised to see that his face appears blurry to her. Before she knows it she screamed in fright.

" kalthum....kalthum... Kalthum" Basma called out as she saw her sister sweating profusely in her sleep. She was shaking badly.

" Kalthum wake up"

"help me! Help me! Help"

" calm down Kalthum it's just a dream," Basma said to her in concern

Kalthum sat upright, she looked around the room " where are we? "

Basma furrowed her brows " you don't remember? "

" Am I supposed to? "

" yes, Kalthum. You fainted when you met sir Faisal. "

" sir Faisal? Who is he? "

" You don't remember anything? For sure?" this got Basma alarmed " maybe I should call the doctor back"

Kalthum rubs her head slightly " you don't need to. I remember everything now. please don't tell me he didn't give us the job? "

A smile spread across Basma's face " of course we still have the job. He only requested to have a word with you when you wake up "

" oh"

" yes oh. This got me thinking, have you two met before? Because I don't understand why he was shocked upon seeing you!. Let's not forget that you fainted too "

Kalthum swallowed " of course not we haven't met before. Maybe I resembled someone he knew and about me fainted, have you forgotten that I was sick when we left home? I'm sure it's that sickness that made me fainted"

Kalthum knew she should have just told her sister the truth but something in her didn't want to tell her. Faisal was the same mysterious man that helped saved her from the hands of Halima at the hotel.

" oh ok. " Basma said but not believing

" so now what? Are we going to start work now or what? "

" The senior nanny said I can start tomorrow whereas you should at least rest for two days before you can start working" Basma explain " this got me wondering "

" what? "

" I'm still confused at why Sir Faisal shouted the word 'you'. It was as if he had seen you before or maybe you've done something he doesn't like "

Kalthum rolled her eyes " please don't think too much about it. I'm sure he made a mistake because I've never seen him before. Believe me"

" I hope so" Basma said with an eye rolled

" excuse me? What do you mean by 'I hope so?' would it be a bad thing if I had met him before? "

" Stay away from him cos he is mine" Basma wanted saying but didn't " I didn't say anything of such. I just don't want us to lose this job that's all"

" We won't "

" I pray so"

***

Faisal taps their feet rapidly. Why is she here?. Would it be too bad if he decides not to give them the job?. He doesn't want to be labeled as a wicked soul so he wouldn't do that to them.

But on another thought, the girl is a prostitute! And having a prostitute here in their home is a bad idea. A totally bad idea.

Maybe he should just send only her home and leave the elder to stay behind? He sighed. This is just too complicated for him.

" son you're still here? " umm Rasheed asked as she entered the study room.

" yes Nanny "

" What got you all worked up? Don't tell me it's because of the young lady who fainted? "

" something like that"

She nodded then came forward to sit opposite him " tell me about it son. Is she someone we shouldn't trust at all? Because to me, from what I witnessed earlier, it looks like you two have met before "

" yes we have " he answered not even denying it

" ok" she nodded for him to go ahead

" do you remember the lady I told you about, the one I met at Auwal's hotel?"

She nodded " yes I do. The young lady you told me about, the one who was prostituting herself right?"

" correct. Just guess who that lady is"

She looked at him with a brow raised and then the realization came to dawn on her " don't tell me that young lady is the same one as the one who just fainted!"

" of course she is the same person "

" ya, Allah!. She is too young to do that"

" that's what I thought too" he folded his arms

" so now what? What will you do about her now?" Umm Rasheed asked

" I thought of sending her away. Wouldn't want to regret hiring her in the future " he told her

Umm Rasheed shook her head " No, no, no I don't think you should do that. That will be too harsh on her after we accepted her service and now you want us to reject her?"

" Then what do you suggest  I do then? "

" let's have her work for us and whenever we see that she had started misbehaving then we send her packing " umm Rasheed suggested

" isn't it the same as sending her packing now before she even tries to misbehave? "

" Just do as I say son" she rubbed his back " let's try her out"

" I'm only letting her stay just because of you Nanny," he told her

" Thank you son"

" But I still have to have some words with her."

" Should I get her for you? Already the doctor has left. He told me she is now in good condition "

" ok" he nodded " please get her for me "

"All alright " umm Rasheed left

***

The two sisters arranged their room. They unpack their boxes. Both have chosen their bed since there are two beds in the room. The room is nice and also conducive. It hasiia ts a bathroom too. It was far better than the rooms in their own house.

" Kalthum please pass me my handbag"

Kalthum who was sitting close to the said handbag stretched her hands to carry it. As she was about to pass it to Basma, she hit her hand on the headboard and the bag fell on the floor, spilling the contents inside in the process.

Kalthum bent down to pack it and then came across something shocking.

Basma quickly collected her bag from her sister's hand " don't go through my things "

" I can't believe that you'll never change Basma. I thought we've come to an agreement that you'll end all dirty acts"

" yes and I've stopped "

" Then what is a condom doing in your bag for Allah's sake? Are planning on sleeping with someone here? "Kalthum couldn't believe this. Upon all, she had to go through just to save Basma. The worst is that she was even blamed for her sister's actions. People now think she is the prostitute when the actual prostitute was Basma.

" please stop making a deal out of this. I forgot to burn it before we left home " Basma defended herself

" Give it to me, I'll burn it myself." Kalthum stretched her hands out to her elder sister

" It seems you've forgotten something. You don't get to talk to me like that, I'm still your elder sister " Basma reminded her

" you'll only get the respect you deserve the moment you stop all ish behavior. I'm sick and tired of it. I have always had great expectations from you but you disappointed me the moment I found out that the sister I love and respected isn't who she claims to be " Kalthum cried out

Basmahatess putting her sister in this position " I'm sorry. I'm so sorry "

"Please can you now give me the pack of condoms? I want to be the one to burn it. By doing so I'll have a rest of mind.please." she stretched out her hand again and Basma complied this time.

A knock on the door interrupted

" who is there?" Basma asked

" it's I umm Rasheed "

Kalthum quickly hid the pack of condoms in her box to burn it later.

" oh OK the door is open"

Umm Rasheed entered and was glad to see the two already settled " I see you two have already unpacked" she smiled warmly

" yes ma we have " Kalthum answered with her own best smile

" well that's good then"

" I don't know whether to ask but what brought you here? "

" oh yeah about that. Faisal asked me to get you"

Her heart begins to pound " but why? Did I do anything wrong? "

Nanny studied her. She kept wondering if she is playing the role of pretense or if she is worried that she did something " I don't know dear. I guess you'll find out when you see him"

" OK then"

Basma touched her arm" don't worry you'll be fine" kalthum nodded appreciating Basma's efforts of making her feel better.

" let's go then," she told umm Rasheed who then led the way.

Umm Rasheed tried raising a topic but the more the topic is raised it ends immediately. She wanted to know more about this young girl. The story about her being a prostitute is Just so hard for her to believe. Yes, Faisal witnessed when it happened but that didn't still say something happened between her and the man she was with at the hotel. This young lady looks innocent.

" Uhm, so Kalthum have you ever been in love " well that's the first thing that came to Umm Rasheed's mind. Wouldn't blame her.

Kalthum was surprised that this old lady was asking her about such a question " well, let's just say I haven't met the right person and another thing is I'm not ready for any relationship as of now. I want to be done with the school first and relationship comes next "

" oh wow! " an impressed umm Rasheed said, " so you mean to say you've never been in a relationship or you've been in one but the men aren't just your type?"

Kalthum chuckled " I've never been in a relationship. Quite alright I've been asked out by many but I just didn't see myself as someone ready for any commitment" "

"Hm. You surprise me with this. Young girls nowadays don't even think as you do. They classify people like you as old-fashioned. "

" I just want to be my type of person. I want to do things because that is how I want it not how people want it "

" well, that's good for you. I've seen cases whereby a lot of girls sell themselves for money. This action is caused by their want for flashy things just because their parent can't afford them. They then tend to sleep with men for the money"

Kalthum mind went back to Basma. This is actually what Basma is doing with her life too.

Umm kalthum noticed how quiet Kalthum has become. She then began to wonder maybe what Faisal said about her was true " are you okay Kalthum? Did what I said to offend you "

Kalthum was finally brought out of her trance "huh? of course not. I just remembered something doesn't mind me "

" Alright, if you say so," said umm Rasheed " we are here "

They made a stop

" won't you come inside with me, " Kalthum asked as umm Rasheed was about to leave

Umm Rasheed chuckled " don't worry Faisal won't eat you raw. I have things to do in the kitchen"

"oh okay"

" and by the way Kalthum,

" yes? "

" It was nice talking to you" umm Rasheed smiled warmly at her

" Same here" Kalthum returned the smile and then entered the study room.