Chapter 7 (part one)

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?”