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July 15

"Hello?"

Halima gasped out loud when Kemi's wailing came to her over the phone. She scrambled up from the bed and ran to wash her face as Kemi cut the call immediately after speaking.

Just as she pulled a brown long sleeved bubu over her head and as she picked out a black scarf, her phone rang. She walked to where some of her lefe boxes were stacked over one another and picked the phone to put on her ear.

"Summayah?" Summayah sighed.

"Did you hear what happened to Kemi?" Summayah answered lowly that she was already driving there. Halima asked her to call the moment she reached Kemi.

As she picked her handbag and slung it over her shoulder, she remembered an Aaila lip gloss she bought over the weekend and rushed to put it in her bag. Then she crept out of the house so as not to wake anyone, her father had returned from his trip the previous night.

At the gate, she ordered an Uber and waited inside till the driver called her that he was around and when she got into the cab, she silently prayed that things would not be as bad, because it would break Kemi even further.

"We're here ma'am." Halima nodded, paid the driver and waved at him as she shut the door. He had been silent throughout the trip. He seemed to know that she wanted to just be by herself.

Immediately she crossed the road into Kemi's complex, Halima raised her hands and put them on her covered head in sadness. She couldn't even speak. She could only mutter Allah's name as she walked into the building.

At the steps, she met some policemen talking to a security guard who was visibly shaking. Halima greeted them in surprise and climbed the stairs.

When she reached the store, Kemi was crying silently, casually lying on Summayah's arm as she spoke to another set of policemen. One of them shut his notebook and sighed.

"Ma'am. We will find those who did it. Don't fear. We can see that this is a case of pure target and we will get to the bottom of this. Don't fret." Kemi nodded and some more tears spilled from her eyes.

"Halima. I'm done for. I am done for." Halima went to her friend and put out her hands to hug her. Kemi went in willingly, sobbing painfully. Halima's heart hurt at the broken sounds Kemi was making.

Kemi got out of  Halima's embrace and walked to a side mannequin. The dress was formerly a white iro gown. It was ripped to pieces in the middle. Kemi held the gown and cried bitterly.

Summayah was the one who reached Kemi first. She pulled Kemi off the shredded clothes and walked her back to the chair. "Where did they get the material of the cloth?" She asked palming Kemi's back to calm her. Trust Summayah to find solutions immediately.

"I don't know. But I can ask my mother to go to idumota in Lagos for me today." Summayah bit her lip in concentration. "Let her go. I know someone who is coming to Abuja tomorrow. We'll ask them to bring it. Don't worry too much." Kemi nodded sadly and sank into chair in despair.

Halima got up, folded the arms of her blouse and began picking the shattered glass, Summayah found a broom and dustpan and swept all the smaller glass pieces.

"Let me call the glass company. They promised to change any section of the glass that broke before six months. I just spent two months." Kemi's tearfilled voice reached them. Summayah got up, dusted her hands and walked to squat in front of Kemi.

"Go make all those calls, rest and get ready to sew till you drop. Because I know the owner of that dress would be dreaming of wearing it already, let's not disappoint them." Kemi nodded and walked into the backroom.

"This is so callous." Halima nodded tiredly. She wondered how anyone would just target a start-up shop just to scare her. But as she took a heavy piece of broken glass outside, a thought planted itself and took root in her mind.

Could Captain be responsible? But he didn't remember Kemi did he? She shook her head as she walked back into the store.

Time would tell, but whoever it was, they would not be let off easy.

****

"You'll come visit me whenever you like. Besides, Jariyah and Lubna are going to always be there. You liked them didn't you?" Safeenah nodded eagerly at Halima's question. She flashed her elder sister a wide smile. Halima smiled slightly. Before going to pick Safeenah from the party she had gone to, Kemi had called to tell her that she had safely delivered the dress.

"Will he beat you?" Halima's eyes widened and she stopped. "Why would he?" Safeenah shrugged. "Husbands beat their wives when they don't listen to instruction." Halima's heart lost several beats and she calmed herself before finding a way to inform Safeenah.

"No one. Especially not the man who swore to love and protect you is allowed to beat you." Safeenah arched a brow. "What about neighbor neighbor whose husband beats?" Halima's mouth slightly dried. Their next door neighbor had been enduring beating from her husband for a long time.

"He's a bad man. That's the only explanation." Safeenah sighed and they kept walking. When they passed a turn into their street. Halima encountered  Salisu's sisters. Both elder sisters.

But as they drew closer, Safeenah gasped. "Anty." She called Halima eagerly. But they reached Halima and Safeenah before she could talk.

"See the latest amarya." Halima wanted to smile, but she didn't understand the tone they said it with.

"Excuse me?" She asked, hoping they would clarify.

"Amarya that is seecond hand and won't even see her pure white gown to wear again. What a shame." Halima's brain calculated it in seconds. These fools had gone to Kemi's shop?

"What white gown?" They both looked at each other surprised. Halima decided to dish it to them. "I'm not wearing a white dress and even if I decided to, its not your business." They both began to walk away but Halima handed Safeenah's party pack gift to her and asked her to sit on a large stone by the side of the street.

She owed Kemi what she was about to do. They deserved it done to them properly.

In a flash, she grabbed Salisu's eldest sister. "You were the one who went to my friend's shop to destroy things?" The visible shaking made Halima smile. She landed one slap, a deft slap to the back of her hijab covered head and another knock to the head. The younger sister turned in surprise.

"Halima are you crazy?" Halima scoffed, she reeled the sister in, slapped her really hard. Kicked her to the floor and beat her all over with her slippers. In the process she poured some sand into her mouth. She got up and adjusted the skirt she was wearing.

The sleeve of her blouse wss torn but she didn't care. She glanced back to check Safeenah. But in that split second she turned back, someone slapped her neck. Halima grabbed the hand and viciously put it behind the person's back. Her squeal of pain made Halima smile.

"Let this be the last time you or any member of your family will touch me again. If not, get ready for the worst. I'll not hold back." She picked her slippers and adjusted her scarf, walked away with Safeenah behind her.

"Anty." Safeenah breathed in wonder. "How did you know it was them?" Halima laughed harshly.

"They were gloating too much. I just put it together." Safeenah nodded proudly. Halima rolled her eyes and flexed her left hand.

It was amazing to take charge for once.

*****

Hey guys,

How are you all doing? I'm good.

How's it going on your end? May this whole thing end soon oo. I need to get back to school.

So, I began a new book. No it's not a story. It's a book of rants and bants(I get to shake tables🙋🏽‍♀️😂😂) I've updated my first chapter.

Who else enjoyed Halima's character here. I loved writing it too.

Alright, see y'all soon.

Thank you for 60k.

TheOmoope.