"Freedom" Someone screamed laughing hysterically, some of the girls were crying. Asma'u's eyes were as wide as saucers. She couldn't believe she was lucky enough to make the list. The fact that Hafsat didn't make the list made her believe Yaya Ahmed had nothing to do with it. Oh poor Hafsat! She'll be so disappointed, she thought sighing softly.

"Thank you Jesus!" Another inmate screamed jumping up and down. A small smile appeared on her face seeing how happy the girl looked. The girl probably had her family members waiting for her. Unlike her who had no one at all. Thoughts on how she'll survive Lagos for the mean time swam through her head.

Begging!

Who was she kidding, this isn't Kano! She's heard inmates tell stories how Almajiris were banned from Lagos. She's also heard how mad people are the only charity cases in Lagos, mad people aren't allowed to roam freely, they end up being picked up by psychiatric workers. She shook her head violently trying to get the image of dressing as a mad woman out of her head. That wasn't even an option. She couldn't afford being hijacked by psychiatric workers!

Warden Adunni's help!

Being a house help wouldn't be that bad. Besides, the woman adored her as it is. She sighed softly when she remembered how warden Adunni had prisoners to help around her home. She wouldn't want to hire her, besides, being a burden to anyone is the last thing she wants to be.

A sales girl!

She smiled at this idea. That's the only bright idea she had been able to come up with, who would go about asking about your past for a sales girl job? She would simply lie, although she knew truth is the base of any fruitful relationship........

"Let's go" Cobra screamed running towards the exit, she didn't even allow Asma'u pick up her books from where she had kept them. She was laughing hysterically as she ran outside with Asma'u trailing behind. The gates were opened and screams filled the air. Their families, media personnel filled the place, Asma'u shook her head dejectedly. The government had to show off! They needed to show everyone the goodness they've done, indeed politics is a dirty game.

Cobra had tears trailing down her cheeks when she saw her twins and her mother. She hugged them tightly as they all cried together, she noticed different inmates hugging and crying with their family. Her attention was drawn back to Cobra, who was pretty much sobbing loudly. Asma'u felt her heart swell in happiness as she watched the display of affection. Her heart broke into pieces knowing no one was coming for her, her feet voluntarily dragged her away from the happy families, she turned back wondering where she would go from here, she wasn't going to miss prison, not wanting to be ungrateful to God, she did have a roof over her head there. A tear escaped her eyes even though she tried really hard not to let it drop, her eyes had a plan of theirs as she started crying hard. She sniffed and wiped her face as her body raked from her cries. She was already turning peach red, her complexion was changing totally. She avoided media personnel who were trying hard to get interviews from ex inmates. She kept wiping her tears, hoping it would stop, but it didn't.

"Hey! Where are you going?" Cobra said snatching her hands, without looking at Asma'u's face she dragged her back to her family for introductions. Asma'u had successfully wiped her tears and swallowed the lump in her throat as Cobra was making the formal introductions.

"She's so pretty. Thank you for being my daughter's friend may Almighty God bless you" cobra's elderly mother said cupping Asma'u's cheeks. Asma'u didn't mind the woman's wrinkly hands as she snuggled closer for a hug, she could really use a hug. The woman embraced Asma'u, she sniffed and inhaled deeply enjoying the warmth that came from the hug.

"These are my daughters_ Amina and Aisha. They're in the university" Cobra exclaimed giddily. Asma'u blinked multiple times. The names she mentioned are Muslim names. Is Cobra a Muslim? She's never seen her pray! "Stop shining your eyes like that and say Hi" Cobra cautioned staring at her two lovely daughters, who waited patiently for Asma'u to beckon on them from a hug. Asma'u introduced herself to the girls who were quick to engulf her in a hug, after unwrapping their hands from her body, they greeted her shyly, which she responded to.

They started catching up about their lives while, Asma'u stood dumbfounded smiling at Cobra, her daughters and her mother. They were cracking family jokes, asking how an aunt, uncle and relatives were doing. Asma'u wondered where Cobra's husband is. He must have moved on with his life. Asma'u sighed watching the four women laugh heartily.

For the second time Asma'u excused herself to go wallow in self pity, most ex inmates and media personnel were still very much around the prison premises, so it was still pretty crowded. She walked further away from Cobra and her family.

"Saint! Where are you?" She heard Cobra yell. She was quick to find a spot by the gate to hide her self. She didn't want any pity party from Cobra. She knew the woman needed time with her family, being in a prison for almost 20 years is a lot of time. She believed she'd be intruding, so she hid behind a pillar by the gate. Cobra yelled and yelled her name. She even asked some prisoners around but everyone claimed not to have seen her, because they were all engrossed in their family reunion too.

"Mercy maybe she's gone" cobra's mother stated seeing how worried she looked. "But she does not know anyone in Lagos. How could she have left just like that? No goodbyes. No nothing!" Cobra stated still looking around.

"Let's go home mummy. We have a lot to catch up on" Aisha said intertwining hers and her mother's hand. Cobra kept checking and turning around hoping to catch a glimpse of Asma'u, but she didn't, with a heavy heart, she left the prison premises with her family. Asma'u came out of hiding when she was sure Cobra had left. Suddenly, a wave of loneliness hit harder than before. She started panicking! Where was she going to go now? She started sobbing. Why didn't she follow Cobra? No matter how bad she's intruding, she'd have roof over her head at least. She wondered how she's been so stupid.

Sitting on a medium sized rock by the gate, she placed her head between her thighs crying her eyes out. No one cared or even notices her to ask what was wrong with her, she sank further into her thighs crying harder, she's never felt so alone. She's been crying for a few minutes, yet it felt like eternity. She could hear laughter and squeals from people around, she did notice some ex inmates leaving on their own, she was sure they had somewhere to go to for them to leave just like that. A tap on her back made her look up, Ahmed's inquisitive stare, made her sit up, and she wiped her crimson face as she sniffed. Ahmed became alarmed.

"SubhanaAllahu! Asma'u, are you okay?" Ahmed said crouching to her level. He had been held by traffic that was why he couldn't come early. Out of frustration had he left his mother and Bala in the car, boarded a bike, Warden Adunni had called saying she couldn't find Asma'u. He couldn't bear to stay in the traffic so he decided to get ahead. The prison premises was halfway deserted, spotting her on the rock wasn't a problem.

Apparently, Warden Adunni had asked a guard to tell Asma'u to stay behind, when Cobra had snatched her hands screaming like a banshee, the guard hadn't been able to catch a glimpse of Asma'u among the media personnel, families and ex inmates who were to too happy to collect their belongings they had come with. He relayed his ordeal to Warden Adunni, who asked him to go check again. He didn't put much effort to finding her; he went back with the same results causing the older woman to panic. Asma'u had runny nose because of how hard she was crying, her eyes were puffy and red, she had tears brimming down her cheeks, her face had reddened from countless attempts to wipe her face. She looked all shades of terrible in just a short span of time. She snorted trying to stop her runny nose, but ended up having mucus run down her nose. Ahmed didn't flinch; instead he brought out his handkerchief and started wiping her face.

"You shouldn't cry. You look like a tomato" he commented concern lacing his features as he wiped her nose, he ordered her to blow her nose, which she did obediently, then he wiped it and handed the handkerchief to her for future use. He picked her up, dropping her on her feet before holding her hands as they went into the prison to meet warden Adunni in her office.

"Saint what happened to you? Why are you crying? Did someone hurt you? I've looked everywhere for you, where did you go to?" Warden Adunni asked twirling Asma'u around to see if she's injured or not. Asma'u shook her head in a sideways motion; she wouldn't be able talk, without bursting into fresh cries. Warden Adunni handed Asma'u a bottle water to calm the poor girl. She took two gulps before placing and securing the lid on bottle water. It was then; Asma'u started wondering why Ya Ahmed was here, being naturally shy she couldn't ask either warden Adunni or Ahmed why he was here. Warden Adunni explained that she had been searching for her that made Asma'u's heart swell, so she wasn't alone after all. "Ahmed is here to take you to his house" Warden Adunni said making Asma'u frown. Why would he take her to his house?

"Assalamualaikum" they heard a woman's voice, Asma'u answered turning to the door. Her gaze met with an elderly woman who looked rich from all angle. She walked in with poise, Ahmed had quickly offered her a chair, where she lowered herself on taking a look at the office.

"Welcome ma" Warden Adunni greeted. She answered calmly with a smile, before turning her attention to Asma'u.

"Good Afternoon ma" Asma'u greeted nervously. She didn't know who the woman is, if warden Adunni is referring to her as "ma" it meant she's important, but wait! Yorubas refer to everyone as "ma" they're just too respectful. She felt it her bones that the woman is actually an important person.

"Asma'u, she's asking you how you are" Ahmed called her attention. Asma'u had zoned out completely, thinking how respective the Yorubas are, she didn't hear Hajiya Ruqayya asking how she is.

"I am fine ma" Asma'u answered embarrassingly. She could see Hajiya Ruqayya's face contoured with disapproval. She didn't bother about it because she does not even know who the woman is, so her approval is the least of her problems.

"Asma'u, this is my mother" Ahmed said smiling at her. She peered at the woman for a moment, she did look like Ahmed. She felt relief wash over her, if he brought his mother along, it meant she wasn't going to stay with him alone in his house.

Asma'u smiled a little. "You look alike" Her comment made both Ahmed and his mother smile. She watched Asma'u like a hawk, she didn't want to bring back home a nuisance, no matter how hard she tried to see something faulty about Asma'u, and she couldn't find anything. She wondered how such an innocent looking girl ended up in a prison cell.

"Since you were lucky enough to make pardoned list, we know you don't know anyone here. Ahmed decided to have you help his mother around their house, pending when you would want to go back home" Warden Adunni explained without actually telling Asma'u she was never convicted in the first place. They needed her to be the one to open up.

"Thank you so much. May Allah reward you; I am so happy you've agreed to take me with you. I promise to be loyal........"

"It's okay Asma'u. If we don't help each one another, the world will be a cruel place" Hajiya Ruqayya said finding herself liking Asma'u for being grateful. Asma'u started crying much to everyone's dismay. If someone had told her she'll be free days ago, she would have laughed really hard. She found herself kneeling down in front of Hajiya Ruqayya, she placed her hands on the elderly Woman's knee. "May Allah wash away what ever problems you're having, may Allah bless you, for taking pity on me. Thank you so much ma. Thank you very much Ya Ahmed, thank you" she chanted allowing her tears to flow freely.

Hajiya Ruqayya quickly helped her up, tears trailing down her own eyes too. She's never come across a person so humble ever before. She's never come across a person who shows so much emotion over a favor.

"I will never ever make you regret this decision ma" Asma'u said beaming at the older woman.

....................

Asma'u watched the buildings and cars in awe, today everything seemed special and interesting, and unlike other times they go for community service, today held a special giddy feeling. Everything felt like an amazing art, the buildings, the cars, the buses and the lighting gave her a feeling of euphoria, she held her books tighter. Hajiya Ruqayya watched as Asma'u had her face pressed on the car window. She could feel the joy radiating from the girl's body.  Bala honked by the gate startling Asma'u who was quick to sit and compose herself. Hajiya Ruqayya smiled.