"Maraba Uba(You are welcome Father)," Amina and Halima sang. They rushed to their father and embraced him.

"Nagode na kyau da 'ya'ya mata(Thank you my beautiful daughters)," he smiled at them.

"Menene kuka saya don mu(What did you buy for us)?" Halima questioned as she clung to her father tightly.

"Plenty of goodies," he answered.

The girls jumped up in excitement and started doing happy dances. I smiled at them. They were so lucky to have both parents who love them.

"Girls, stop acting like little children. You're both sixteen and fourteen years old."

"Give them a break. They are just excited to see me," their father hands them his bags.

"Barka da gida masoyi(Welcome home dear)," Aunty embraced him while he smiled down at her.

He is tall and dark. He Looks better than Papa. Wow, so much love in the air. I feel like the fifth wheel already. I took steps backward until I was out of their view but I could still see them and hear them talk.

"How was your trip(Yaya balaguron)?"

"Alhamdulilah(I thank Allah)."

"Who is she?" her husband asked as he saw me for the first time.

How did he see me? I thought I was out of their view. Aunty motioned for me to come forward. I timidly moved closer to them and greeted him shyly.

"Yeah, thank you. But who is she?" he questioned.

"Dear, why don't you take a bath first, then eat. After which we can talk about her," Aunty offers.

I could feel the tension in the air and the fear radiating from her.
He gave me the "you're not welcome look" and followed his wife to the direction of their room.

I sat on the floor, feeling dejected. What's the worse that could happen to me right now? Get beaten by their father. Aunty turning against me and hating me. The sisters hating me. Their father trying to abuse me like Papa did? I shuddered involuntarily. Thank Allah they didn't have a son.

I got up, dusting my skirt and adjusting my veil on my head. I went into the room I shared with Amina and Halimah. I found them going through the things their father bought for them.

"Oma, have these," Halimah handed me some packets of biscuits.

"Thank you," I replied with profound gratitude.

"Have these too," Amina handed me some dates and sweets.

"Thank you very much," I almost cried, remembering my foster siblings and how we used to share the little we had with each other.

"Oma, come sit with me, can I touch your hair?" Amina asked. She regarded me closely. They knew I didn't like people touching my hair.

The past few weeks I have spent with them, I never allowed them to touch my hair or braid it. I didn't even allow Aunty to touch it. There was one night I was sleeping and Amina thought it was cool to touch my hair. I woke up immediately as if an ant bit me. She removed her hand and apologised but not before I glared at her coldly.

"Alright. Just this once. Both of you can touch it."

They jumped excitedly and began touching my hair.

"Ina son ta gashi(I love her hair)," Halimah commented.

"Yes, me too. It's so soft and long. Does your mother have long hair like yours too," Amina ignorantly asked causing tears to gather in my eyes.

Halimah slapped Amina's arm and scolded her, "Don't be stupid! Have you forgotten? She doesn't like talking about her mother."

"Ah! Oma, I am so sorry. I completely forgot. Please don't cry," Amina begged.

It only made the tears flow than in torrents. I cried myself to sleep that night.

****************************

"I can't believe you brought a complete stranger into our house."

"Shhhh! Not so loud!"

"To live with my daughters. Did you think about the negative effects she could cast on them?"

"What negative effects? Oma is a good girl."

"Indeed! She might be a thief! Or a prostitute!"

"Sani! Stop this! She is not a bad girl. She is a good child. She helps Amina and Halimah with the house chores and even helps me out in my restaurant. She has been a good child these three weeks she has stayed with us."

"Well I don't care! I want her out of my house first thing in the morning."

"Haba! Sani! Where will she go to? She has no where to stay. Please, don't do this."

"Have you stopped to think about the consequences of your actions? What if something were to happen to her? We would be in for it. The police would blame us and probably arrest us. All because of her? No way! She's leaving and that's final."

"Haba! Sani! Sani! Please! Let's-"

"I want to sleep. I suggest you do the same and quit disturbing."

I was pressed at first but after hearing this discussion, my bladder was suddenly free. I raked my fingers through my hair and started panicking. Where do I go to? I am all alone. What do I do. I can't stay here anymore because Aunty's husband would probably make life miserable for me in this house. I quickly went into my room back. I laid on the bed and wished for sleep to come but it didn't. I was so scared of going back to the streets with no food or shelter.
Ya Allah, please protect me.

I didn't sleep much. After fajr prayer(morning prayers performed by Muslims), I quickly packed the little clothes I had into a sack bag and tip toed out of the room. I could hear voices in the sitting room, meaning Aunty and her husband were awake. I decided to leave through the back door.

It was still dark and cold outside but I could still see with the help of the moon that shone brightly. The street was a little busy with men coming from the mosque or little children who had no where to stay. I moved quickly to avoid attention. I was about turning a corner when I overheard a man and a woman talking.

"Was that all you could find?" the woman asked.

"Yes, madam," the man replied.

"We need one more. We need twenty remember. Where's Johnson?" she inquired.

"He is coming. He went to relieve himself."

"I wonder what he takes. My goodness!"

Twenty what? What are they talking about. They sound suspicious and dangerous. I need to leave here immediately before they catch me. I don't want any trouble. I made to turn but hit a wall.
Wall? There wasn't a wall behind me.

"Going somewhere, Angel?" the wall asked and smirked.

I trembled and tried to run away but he clamped my mouth shut with his left palm and held me tight with his right hand. He dragged me towards the man and woman. They turned to look at us.

"Found number twenty," the wall spoke.

"Johnson, took you long enough. Tie her up and put her with the others. Let's get out of here," the woman ordered.

"Yes madam," the wall which was a human  and named Johnson dragged me roughly into a waiting van. He threw me into the back of the van like a sack of potatoes. My body hit the floor hard and I think I broke my bones.

The van started moving. Oh my goodness! What have I gotten myself into...

Assalam alaykum.
Hello everybody.
I hope you're enjoying this book so far.
Do you know what Omaira has gotten herself into this time? Should she have stayed with Aunty?
I would love to know the answers through your comments and also don't forget to support the story by voting and sharing.
I love you all.