"For all we know, they could've gotten wrong information and it wasn't her who booked the flight."

Sultan El-amin kicked the table of water and glass cups to the floor and abruptly stood up. "Does that matter? Tell me, does it?"

The woman-his wife, jumped back, her strong facade fluttering.

"Abin da nasani shi ne, your daughter-your imbecile daughter is toying with everyone! Most especially her own life!"

"Our daughter!" The woman yelled, not having it in her to take the insults anymore. "She is our daughter! With all her mis—"

"Sit down, Fadimatu!" The man roared, inching towards the woman who let out a cry of frustration but did as ordered. He pointed a shaking finger at her. "Don't talk to me like that. It's your fault! Do you hear me? Fault naki ne. You shouldn't have left her alone that Friday. You know how your daughter is. She will-"

"Just like her father..." although she didn't mean for it to come out that strong, it did. She tilted her head to glare at him, her teeth shaking and clanking against each other and her body heaving up and down. In disbelief, she asked, softly-almost inaudibly. "And it's my fault?" Then her voice hitched higher, "Was i the one who got her married out of the blue? To a stranger! Baka san yaron ba, baka san komi ba! You didn't get their blood checked or care if she likes him. Just you and your impulsive and selfish decisions to punish her, save your reputation, and unite with another royal family in nuptials. You did this! It's your fault!" It was not enough, so she got on her feet, straining her arms to stay down as she vibrated in anger and hurt.

In a staring contest, the old man expected the woman to back down. She always does.

Then, why wasn't she this time?

He let out a scream and picked the half-broken glass cup from the floor, aimed it at nothing in particular, and flung it. It crashed into the wall and he gritted his teeth as he lunged at her.

With force, he grabbed her shoulders and shoved her down until she thumped on the couch.

Face red, eyes constricted, he bent to her level, his index at her face and his voice rough, he cautioned. "Don't ever speak to me like that again! Kina jina?"

She gave no response, just her heavy breaths and her legs shaking.

He didn't like that, so, he grabbed her chin up to meet his eyes and released her when he did just that.

In a firmer voice, eyes red and scaring the crap out of her, he repeated. "Don't speak to me like that again or else, zan sake ki and you're never going to see these kids and I'm going to find Laila and send her to her husband and make sure they all cut ties with you. A fami?"

The first set of waterworks glided from her left eye down her brown skin as she nodded and answered with a trembling voice and lips. "Y-yes. Mi fami. (I understand.)"

He pulled back, straightening and smacking his hand over his face, his other rested on his waist.

Subsequently, a cry that was kept abay so hard made it out. Then it was 2. And then more came as the woman buried her face into her palms and cried her anguish out.

***

"Where are you, Laila?"

Laila scoffed, taking large gulps of whatever before shaking her head. "I think it's best if we keep the location hidden for now...unless you want daddy suspecting anything and forcing information out of you."

She heard a loud sigh from the other end and she followed, sighing louder than him while moving her weight to her next feet and gliding her empty arm over her backpack strap for comfort.

"You're right. The rest already found my cover so it's only a matter of time before he does too."

Her eyes swelled in interest, "Who are the rest?"

"Qannen ki mana. And that man and his brother."

She moved until she sat on a woody bench in the less crowded part of the restaurant. "Modibbo da Muslim?"

"Kinada wasu qanne ne?"

She shook her head, then smacked her forehead at her silliness. "Nikam, what's the guy's name?"

"Who?"

She crinkled her nose, pushing her glasses up with the act. "Obviously the man who Daddy married me off to."

"Oh...Sunan wawan wai Sudais."

Instinctively, she responded. "That's a shit name."

Shehu let out a loud howl and the sounds of wind graced her before his voice. "Laila!"

"What's his full name?"

"Wai Idris Mamman."

"Even shittier."

"Hmm. Very arrogant. Thinks he's all that."

Laila narrowed her eyes at nothing and carefully asked. "You seem to know a lot about him."

He scoffed, "What i know is that he has Modibbo and Muslim on his side, garorin yara. And that he gives a good punch and as much as i hate to say this, he is good with computers."

Laila gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in remembrance that her siblings had always been snitches, it shouldn't move her. However, something caught her attention. "He gives a good punch? What happened?"

The line went silent for long seconds before her brother was explaining, again. "He was was pissed when we didn't find you in the airport and accused me of tipping you the news. I got angry and pounced on him..."

"Then?" She urged, "What next? Did you beat him? You guys beat each other?"

"You want the truth?"

Laila nodded, "Yes...of course, i mean!"

"To be honest if they hadn't pulled him back, he'd beat me to a pulp. Hell, snap my neck at once."

Laila didn't know how, but, she threw her head back and for the first time in weeks, she let out a genuine laugh.

"It's not funny, Laila. He is a commissioned officer. A captain, military fa."

That did the trick, her laugh hitched, and so did her mouth. She froze, a hundred thoughts juggling her head at once.

When she was composed again, or at least she thought she was until she spoke. "Captain what? MILITARY?"

"Yes." Her brother affirmed, "he is confusing. Doesn't seem to be working with them though and if he is, he is on some break de."

She nodded, humming. "Ok, thank you, Shehu. I really have to do something."

"Are you going to tell me what it is?"

Her lips coiled down, her head shaking. "No."

"Ok. Be safe. Get some rest and clear your head. I know you don't want Mami to know but she is very worried. You can't run forever, you need to come back soon. Kin gane?"

"Yeah." Then she hung up without delay and placed the phone into her backpack.

She took some time to clear her head as he said.

Gathering herself, she pulled the hijab from her forehead until it almost covered her eyes.

"Do you have Caprisun?" She asked the cashier woman.

The woman stared at her for a few seconds, her expression neutral, then shook her head. "It's not a kid's restaurant."

Okay, rude.

Laila hissed, she could be rude too. She turned around and exited the restaurant to be met with busy roads.

For January, the sun was melting her from head to toe. Her ankle-length hijab didn't help as well.

She stood by the roadside, anxiously waiting for an empty rickshaw that was taking forever to show.

From her side view, she saw movements but ignored them.

Then, the movements got closer and so did a scream.

Laila's wide eyes swayed from her right to her left just in time for her to catch the sight of a kid, running excitedly towards her and bending towards the busy roads.

Instinctively, she yelled, "No!" And ran towards the kid.

Her scream heightened at the sight of an over-speeding car leaning towards the pedestrian's side-the kid's side as she dropped the large backpack that was outweighing her.

Her heart missed a beat or 2 as she grabbed the kid just in time for the car to whip past them. She flew the kid in the air as she leaped out of the way.

A sound, hard, clear hit her ears and in less than 5 seconds, the pain was spreading across her body.

She winced, groaning at the pain as she rolled on her side and tried to hold the kid up, steady.

Soon, a clique of men was closing in on her, 1 grabbing her backpack for safekeeping, 1 grabbing the kid from her hold and 1 grabbing her from continuously rolling.

Her less sore arm flew to hold the back of her head, where the rear mirror had hit her and she instantly winced, falling back from the pain but the man held her arms and prevented her from that.

Strings of languages, Nupe, flew back and forth but all she cared about was getting to her backpack to take some goddamn painkillers.

She revived her hand to touch the injured area in her head. She winced but realized she wasn't bleeding. That was a relief.

She attempted to stand but the man held her back. She turned to him, a wry smile falling on her dusty face. "I'm fine, thank you."

"Are you sure?"

She nodded, "Yes," Then scanned the group of people around her. "Where's the boy?" She turned to the man she could swear she saw picking up her bag. "And, my bag?"

The man's eyes swiped across the group before he stood up, ushering them away. "Thank you, thank you. She's fine. She's fine! Where is the man with her bag?" He circled, nobody claiming to have it.

Laila's body immediately emerged from that, body already starting to vibrate in fear. "No!" That backpack was her entire life and she couldn't start to think about what she'd do if it went missing.

"Here." A man pushed the group of people who weren't helping and just staring at her bag and handed it to her

She thanked him and stumbled forward which made the group disperse further.

She met the sight of a woman on her knees, hugging the little kid and that had her dimpling up.

Kids weren't her thing, to be honest. Most of the time, she hated them. They were annoying. But that didn't mean they deserved to be hurt either.

With a genuine smile, she limped to the duo.

At the sight of Laila, the woman clasped the kid's hand and stood up, inching towards Laila.

Laila returned the woman's appreciative smile with a wry smile as she dropped the backpack on the floor, it was becoming too heavy to carry especially with her head feeling like crap.

In a jiffy, she felt arms wrap around her thighs. She looked down at the kid who was smiling up, dimples similar to hers but smaller, as he held onto her and lifted his legs from the floor to dangle in the air and use her as his swing toy.

A genuine, fatigued smile spread wider on her lips, she chuckled lightly when she realized picking up the kid who looked to be around 5 was a bad idea, especially with her head. Instead, she bent and enveloped the little man in a bear hug.

"Tell the anty thank you." The woman ordered the kid and the kid pulled out of the hug.

Cheesy with all little teeth out, the boy exclaimed, bringing his hand up for a high five. "Fenk you hanty!"

Laila looked up at the woman then back to the kid and high-fived him. Or let him high-five her considering she had the larger palm. "You're welcome, kid. What's your name?"

"Umal!"

"Umar." The woman corrected and explained further. "He has a problem with pronouncing the letter R."

Laila gasped, "Oh! You're Umal? Well, i am Alima. I can't pronounce the H letter too!"

The boy gasped, eyes going wide. "You can't? But you're big! How old are you, hanty?"

"I'm 24."

The boy turned to the woman behind them, "My mommy says i am 5 and a big boy!"

"Okay, okay." The mum inched forward, grabbing the kid's hand. "You talk too much," Then she directed her next words to Laila, "Thank you so much Ma. Umar got out of my sight and decided to practice his PHE classes I am so sorry you got hit. Forgive me, please."

Laila shook her head, finding it hard why she wasn't yelling at the woman for her carelessness. Maybe it was because of the kid? Nonetheless, she brushed it off. "It's okay."

The kid proceeded to scan Laila's face with intrigue until he dipped a finger into one of her dimples and proceeded to smile to show her his. He pointed at his dimples. "You have dimple, hanty! You look like me. My mum says i have dimples too!"

Laila nodded and threw her head back to laugh. "Ye-yes! We look like each other because we both have dimples!"

"Okay...we have to go now. The city is not safe in the evening, we'll find a rickshaw and be on our way."

Laila nodded in understanding as she rose with difficulties and winces, then strapped her backpack to her right arm. She needed to go back to the hotel from her favorite local restaurant too, it was dangerously inching to Maghreb.

She waved at the kid, "Bye." She then remembered something, "Wait," She maneuvered the backpack closer to her chest and removed a brand new 1000naira note, and handed it to the kid. "Here Umal, your mommy should buy you candy."

The boy looked between the note, Laila, and his mum without making a move to take it.

Laila understood where the boy was coming from. Every Nigerian kid was told since before they could run not to collect things from strangers. She shook her head, chuckling. "I mean no harm."

The woman looked to be in a dilemma but eventually nudged the boy's hand. "Take it, Umar."

He raised his small hand and took the note from Laila before examining it in confusion.

"What do you say to the anty?"

The boy smiled up, jumping. "Fenk you, hanty!"

"You're welcome."

Laila watched in amusement as the kid twisted and hid while struggling before he placed his open hand out. "Take my sweet, hanty."

She let out a loud laugh at the gesture, then shook her head. "No, you keep your sweet kid."

"No, please. It's little. But he is a kid, please take it."

Laila inhaled and nodded, then raised a hand to stop the empty rickshaw heading to them. She bent and took the candy off the boy's palm and put her hand out for a handshake. The kid got the memo and shook her larger ones. "Thank you, Umal. And, that's your ride."

The woman thanked Laila again and settled into the rickshaw with Umar.

Laila put the candy in her backpack's pocket and smiled at the rickshaw slowly driving down the road.

"Huh. Who knew-"

Laila's words were cut short as a bang along with an explosion had her closing her eyes and tumbling harshly on the road.

Her hands flew to uncomfortably cover her ears. Screams and heavy footsteps were what yanked her out of her state of shock once again.

With profound energy, she rose her upper body to see nothing but vehicles, people up in flames and parts. The smoke came from the intensity of the explosion spreading above and towards her before the chaotic background sound tuned in.

"Bomb!"

"Bomb!

"Bomb!"

"Umar!" She wailed, rising to her feet and stumbling forward. She met head-on with someone running towards her-running away from the scene, so hard, that she felt a crack on her forehead.

The man screamed, grabbing her as she struggled against his hold, "Bomb! Are you blind? Run!"

Thanks to the sympathetic nervous system, her body accessed the fight-or-flight mood as she stumbled back with difficulty people hitting and tumbling unto her in the process of running.

Despite the pain in her head, she let out a scream in anger and frustration, stupid unplanned tears falling down her cheeks as she turned and ran to nowhere.

But, at least somewhere away from the explosion.

Laila didn't know what she was doing or where she was headed. She just ran until her subconscious deemed it enough.

She came to an abrupt stop and tumbled forward to her knees. She caught herself from falling face on by unanticipatedly stationing her palms on the ground.

After a few seconds of breathing, she lifted her head to look at the lightly dark sky. She released her head as a particular kid crossed her mind.

Laila tilted her upper body back and let out a strangled, ugly cry. She lifted her palms to cover her mouth as she closed her eyes and bit the inside of her cheek while shaking her head.

No. No. No. please. It can't go wrong like this. Please.

Was the kid dead?

She glanced back in hopes of seeing the kid right there.

She didn't.

She fell to the dirty ground and curled into a ball, eyes closed, tears falling and breath held.

When she felt sand in her mouth, she gagged and instinctively spit out, while rising and grabbing her throat over the hijab.

Faintly, Laila heard screams and clanks of metal.

She frantically searched the area to find it empty. Houses were arranged throughout the peak her eyes could find.

The sounds got louder and everyone in their right senses would know that didn't sound peaceful.

Loud voices, hard footsteps, and sounds of metal clanking approached her faster.

She couldn't see well, she brought her hand up to her face to find it empty. She had lost her glasses somewhere.

If she made it out alive, she'll get another one.

For now, she wasn't trying to die like a cow on Eid.

Laila groaned loudly as she stood on her dirty boots and bolted to nowhere.

She ran and ran but realized the estate looked too big to make it out. How did she lose guard and stumble into the place anyway? Where was everyone she was running away with?

She found herself on the front porch of one of the houses and banged the door. "Hello! Help!" She whimpered in pain, glancing behind every second for anyone coming.

A figure peaked through the door and scorned. "Go away! They'll kill you, you're Muslim!"

This was a religious conflict?

She banged the door harder. "Please! Let me in!"

Faintly, the person from the other side yelled again. "No! Go away!"

It was no use begging anymore, she went down the porch just in time to see a few men marching forward.

"Kill everyone you find outside!"

"Kill them!"

Laila shook her head, running and glancing back every second as she climbed another house's porch.

She banged the door and begged, this time, her voice cracky and throaty. "Hello! Please, let me in! Please, they'll kill me!" She banged on the door harder, sweat and tears dripping and mixing on her face. "Please, don Allah! Help me! You need to help me!"

"Leave, please!"

She was glad to hear a woman's voice. She shook her head, banging harder. "Wallahi i am not one of them, i just need to hide and you need to help me," she banged harder, adding, "Please."

She raised her arm to bang the door again and the door abruptly opened, impelling her hand to stumble.

An old woman, dark and short grabbed and pulled Laila into the house, then locked the door.

She hastily dragged them through doors until they made it to a warm old room that smelt like mentol and herbs.

The woman wrapped and pushed her down to sit on the floor. Then, she sat opposite her.

Breathlessly, she popped a question. "Who are you? If you're here to kill me, God will punish you."

Laila shook her palms desperately, her head in sync. "No. No. No. i promise i am not. I am just a girl who is trying to survive."

The woman narrowed her eyes for a minute before sighing.

Laila understood the woman's dilemma. They were in an era where you couldn't trust anyone.

She surged forward making Laila jump back at the suddenness.

"I'm not going to hurt you. You are bleeding." She motioned at Laila's face.

Agape, her hands surged to inspect her face, and indeed, she tilted it back to find blood on her fingers.

"You didn't know?"

Laila glanced at the woman while shaking her head.

"Let me get you something." The woman groaned as she stood up which responsively made Laila's palm fly towards her.

"No, please. Sit down. What if they hear movements and enter the house?"

The woman's wrinkles heightened along with a small smile. "No, child. They only touch people outside."

Laila tilted her head to the side, blinking fast with her aching eyes. "So...it's like a curfew?"

"Yes." The woman nodded, walking away.

Laila let out a deep breath.

In. And. Out. Laila.

You're okay. You're fine.

When the little pep talk settled in, she un-strapped her backpack. She thought of removing her hijab but decided against it. Don't get too comfortable Laila.

The woman came back with a bowl and a towel.

"Take off your hijab, you must be sweating." Laila did so without further ado.

The woman proceeded to take care of Laila's wounds. Which was just around her temple, her upper arm, and some blood from the back of her head.

The woman asked Laila's name and she told her, excluding the surname part. Laila didn't need to ask the woman her name, it'd be rude so, she'd just call her with respect.

The old woman briefed her; A fight between the Muslims and Christians of Niger state broke out 3 days ago over something vague. So, each day, violent youths from both religions come out at 5-6 pm to fight each other. If your ass was found outside from 6 pm to 6 am, you seeing the lord almighty Baby. As such, the woman made it clear she'd allow Laila to stay the night but she had to get going the next day.

The woman offered her to shower which Laila gladly agreed to and changed into her pajamas. She took some painkillers and sleep aids before hugging her bag to dreadful sleep on the mattress set on the floor.

With one thought in her mind, Exhaustion got the better of her and she drifted into a deep, nightmare-filled slumber.

Umar, did you make it?

***

Laila's uncomfortably shifted from side to side, making noises from her throat as she stretched her fingers. She balled and un-balled her fist to deal with the slight ache in her body. Huh. As if that would help. Rolling to her side, she felt a hard wall. She bounced back, almost as if it burnt her to crisps before slowly opening her eyes to the naturally lighted-up room.

Her eyes squinted at the light intensity while surveying as she covered her yawn.

It clicked. Yesterday really wasn't a nightmare. Well...technically it was but a real nightmare.

She almost got sent to her lord, twice. Wow.

She groaned, throwing her hijab cover over her head to wiggle like a child.

"Are you okay?" The old woman from the previous day enquired.

Laila let out a scream before freezing. Oh...she had company.

In between yawns, Laila nodded and affirmed. "I am. Thank you for letting me stay. I'll forever be grateful."

Coming to Minna was a big mistake on her path and she'd rectify it. She just needed a bus.

The woman nodded, "it's okay. " then ushered Laila to get up as it was 8 Am already, take a shower and get going.

Laila did that; took a quick shower kneaded her pajamas and Himar into the backpack and dressed up in a T-shirt, denim trousers, her face cap, and shoes.

She took some painkillers, pulled out some cash to deposit into her wallet, strapped it around her wrist, and dragged her long sleeve down to cover it.

Damn, what time or day was it?

Laila dipped her hand into the side of the bag and felt her fingers brush her phone and...something squishy.

Her mind dipped.

"Take my sweet, hanty."

She let out a loud laugh at the kid's gesture, then shook her head. "No, you keep your candy kid."

"No, please. It's little. But he is a kid, please, take it."

Laila inhaled and nodded. Then rose a hand to stop the empty rickshaw headed towards them. She bent and took the pink candy from the boy's palm and put her hand out for a handshake. The kid got the memo and shook her larger ones. "Thank you, Umal. And, that's your ride."

Laila let out a loud breath, hugging the candy and her phone to her chest. She stared at nothing, swaying her head as her chest heaved up and down.

If you didn't make it kid, i hope you're in a better place.

She sighed and tucked the candy in her front denim zip-up pocket and zipped it. She then brought her phone up to look at the time...and date.

8:27Am, Wednesday, 16th January 2019.

Okay, not bad.

Laila strapped the backpack to her thorax and slightly groaned at the heaviness before pocketing her phone, then took a deep breath, bracing herself.

Out the doors, she found the woman on the floor of the small lounge as she stared at the news on Tv, zoned out.

Laila willed her feet until she was kneeling at a safe distance from the woman.

"I'll be going..." she took the woman's wrinkly hand in hers, gently swaying it up and down, "You can't imagine how grateful i am. You are one of the rearrest people on earth. Thank you. Thank you so much!"

The woman waved it off and offered Laila food, which she politely declined.

Laila placed a stack of 20 thousand naira into the woman's hand. The old woman gasped, blinking between Laila and the money. Before Laila could stop it, the woman broke into tears while showering blessings on her.

Laila's expression softened. She never claimed to be a good person, but she wasn't a monster with no feelings as people thought too. She was human, trying to survive by all means possible.

She waved it off, just in time to catch the newscaster's compelling words.

"Doctors of the renowned Bawa teaching hospital of the federal republic of Nigeria, Abuja have reportedly called it quits on their indefinite strike as they adjudicate with new terms with their board of directors at their recent meeting in their headquarter branch, Abuja, Yesterday, Tuesday 15th January 2019. Normal activities are to resume on Friday, 18th January...details follow shortly..."

"Lela!" The woman nudged Laila who flinched. She recognized the suspicious look on the woman and waved it off with a fake laugh.

The woman showered blessings to a zoned-out Laila.

When she yanked herself back again, she asked the name of the district and how to get out faster considering she did not know that part of town.

The woman escorted Laila to the door, briefing her on the direction.

BTH doctors just couldn't help but fuck her up further, didn't they?

She walked slowly as she fiddled with the straps around her chest to give her some air to breathe. She was beginning to hyperventilate, that was for sure.

She clasped her shaky fingers to her chest, then to her mouth to cover her trembling lips and try to blink back her tears so she could get a better view ahead.

Her legs wobbled and threatened to fail but she kept going, one foot at a time, one foot at a time. She rose her eyes to the empty red sand road and glanced back to see how far she had gone.

On spur of the moment, Laila let out a wince as she felt a heavy object connect with the back of her head. She winced, letting out a scream just in time to feel her backpack drag down her arm. She let out a louder wail, catching herself from completely falling face down on the ground.

A soaring grumble rose from her throat as she felt a kick at the side of her stomach. Losing sight, she fell at the impact and thudded her head, eyes closed as sand flew all over her.

She spit the sand in her mouth as she struggled to surge up, eyes flying open at the faded thumps of footsteps.

"Theif!" She yelled at the boy who ran with her bag.

Laila stumbled, rising to her feet and letting out a grumble in anger and frustration. She placed a palm over the area she got kicked.

Her empty arm shot forward as she attempted to run.

Keyword: Attempted.

It failed. She failed.

At the abrupt pain that shot from her leg, she lost focus, her legs cracking as she dropped. She made a move to stand up again, but decided against it, concluding that the boy who had just ruined her life had disappeared and she couldn't do shit.

She stayed down, curled up on the red, sandy, and empty road for God knows how long before making a move to get up. She grabbed her face cap to dust the sand off her body and limp her way to the busy roads.

It took longer than usual. Well, it was supposed to. She just got her ass kicked by a boy.

But, she at least had her wallet, phone, and...candy.

Hopefully, they'd keep her going.

She ignored the weird looks and boarded a rickshaw to the bus station.

As she boarded the empty rear of the Bus back to Kano, Laila felt her eyes prickle with tears at her dilemma.

You can't go back home just to get thrown into the lion's den, Laila.

You can't stay here because it would mean giving up your dream and giving so many people the satisfaction of your failure, Laila.

So, Halima, what's it gonna be?

Yeah you got me, I'm begging for votes and comments🥺