AYLA (the girl of charms)

" papa I can't go" Ayla said to her sick father who was lying helplessly on the mat " You mu...st go" Ayla's father spoke lachrymosely "I can't live you here papa" "My daughter you should know by now that my days are numbered. You've to go to further your education" "I don't even know these people you want me to live with" " Segun is a very good friend of mine" Ayla's father coughed" I once served his father when I was still young. He will take good care of you" "Papa I'm scared" "You don't have to be scared. you've to be scared for yourself and your future" Ayla's father sighed " I'm so sorry I won't be with you for long. I'm so sorry I will leave you alone in this world at this your young age but I pray that my God will protect you" " Papa why are you telling me this. You will not die" Ayla assured "Segun and his wife will come pick you up tomorrow. So go get your things ready" Ayla did as instructed. She went into her room to package her clothes and other items she will need in the city. She made dinner as always and dished her father's food on a tray pan with a cup of water. On getting to the living room where her father was laid, she noticed the weird position of her father and decided to wake him to have his dinner. She slightly tapped his arm multiple of times but there was no response then she shakes him more harder but he was not giving any sign of response. She became scared and alerted her neighbours. Luckily for her, Arizona, the native doctor was available at that point of time. He came to the living room where the other villagers were gathered. Arizona touched Ayla's father's chest and looked at the poor Ayla " Your father is dead" He said in a solemn voice. The villagers gasped in shock after hearing that. Ayla remained positive, she didn't believe her father was dead, she went close to him and started shaking him vigorously and calling out his name. The villagers had to stop her from doing that " Ayla" Funke, one of the recognized food sellers in the village, grabbed her"I'm so sorry for this terrible incident but the youths will have to take your father to bury him tomorrow" " No. You're wrong ma. My father is not dead" Ayla said trying to ignore the truth " I know this is hard for you" Funke said" But your father would be happy right now if you remained strong for yourself" " I'm scared" Ayla sobbed " well would you come to my house to spend the night?" Funke requested as Ayla nodded in response. ******************************* Spending the night at Funke's house was a stressful one for Ayla. First, she can't handle the fact of her father's death and how she will continue to live as an orphan for the rest of her life. Second, she had to deal with the every moment quarrel between Funke and her husband. This made her had a sleepless night. *********************** The next day, Segun and his wife came to take Ayla to the city.They sympathized with her regarding her father's death. Segun promised her that he won't delay to take her to a good school when they get to Lagos. Finally they got to the city without any delay. The car was parked in the compound and before anybody knew it Segun was embraced with a big hug from his last child, Deborah. Segun addressed Ayla to all children in the living room. "This is Ayla" he said, touching her shoulders " Oh! Is she our new maid?" Kayode, the second child, said " No she's not." Segun corrected " she's our friend so she'll be living with us from henceforth" " How old are you?" Lola, the first child, asked " I'm fifteen" Ayla answered softly " Well I am nineteen so better know your limits" Lola said as she left to her room " Don't mind her" Mary said " Um where am I going to put my bags?" Ayla asked " I can help you with that" Naomi flashed as she helped Ayla convey her bags to the room " Dad why cant she be our maid?" Kayode questioned " We don't need a maid. You all can handle the house chores yourselves" Mary said. ********************** Ayla won't say she loves living with the Segun family. She got series of problems with the children especially Lola,who thinks she is all and all. Apart from being troubled or given chores bigger than her capabilities, Ayla was so worried about what Segun promised her. She got the feeling that he might want to turn down their deal since he has never made mention of it and what really annoyed Ayla was that Segun's children attended high ranking schools which of their school fees is triple the times Segun would use to enroll her to a government school. That didn't hurt that much because she remained positive and kept on hoping she will go to school. Ayla was more like a stranger in the home; she was rejected and denied. No one was willing to pay attention of how she felt. Naomi was acting kind of friendly but she stopped after Lola told her that she should stay away from Ayla. Kayode,on the other hand, was always fond of trash talking Ayla and treating her as a house help. Ayla found his behaviour repellent and repulsive but she didn't express it; She carried on with being normal. That particular evening, everyone was sitted in the living room doing some kind of mild chore. Lola and Kayode were on their phones as usual talking and chatting with their opposite genders while Naomi was helping Deborah with her assignment. Ayla thought this could be the best time to have a discussion with Segun about her academics. She slowly walked towards him. " Uncle Segun" She called, feeling shy. " before I came here,you told me I will attend a school without any delay" " And?" Segun asked " It has been one month already and I haven't been enrolled to any school" " So my dad owe you a sponsorship" Lola cut in " That's not what I meant" Ayla tried to explain " So what do you mean? Do you deserve to go to school?" " Why are you saying that Lola?"Ayla said, softly "I was not born like you guys doesn't mean I don't have to go to school" " See you already said it! You are not like us! You're just a poor, unfortunate, wretched village girl. You don't deserve life itself!" " Lola that was mean" Naomi said as Lola shut her up "Yeah! You're not part of our relations yet you keep on eating our food" Kayode said Ayla just stood there here hearing all their insults and reacting to nothing Mary sighed" Honey" She said to Segun " I think we should let the poor girl go.Our children don't like her" " You're right."Segun nodded " Ever since Ayla came here, my business has been crumbling and I kept on losing money" Sir please" Ayla knelt to the floor," I don't have any other place to go. Remember I am an orphan" " So then go to the orphanage home. That's where you belong" Lola said " I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused to your family but please let me stay" Ayla begged as she ignored Lola "You're nothing Ayla! You're a guther girl and if I were you I would have just slit my throat with a knife" Kayode snapped " Mummy I don't like Ayla" Deborah said as she sat on Mary's laps Ayla started gushing out tears. She couldn't bear it any longer, she was insulted more than her expectations " Cry b***h!" Lola said "I'm not a b***h!!! Ayla bellowed. Immediately the lights went out and the building started crumbling. They were all scared and held each other. The crumbling became worse and the buildind was quaking as if it wants to collapse. After ten minutes, the lights became restored and quake calmed. Everything restored back to normal. All eyes on Ayla, There was no doubt that the crumbling wasn't triggered from Ayla's voice. " You witch!" Mary said, terrified " It was not me ma, it must have resulted from a natural disaster" " Shut up you lying witch!! That quake came from you" Lola said as she moved distance away from Ayla's position " That's it! I've just about had enough of your presence in my family". "Kayode" Segun called " Go take her belongings and throw them out of the compound!" Kayode did as commanded without any delay. He threw Ayla's belongings in the street. " Your things are outside witch" Kayode said as he dust himself. " Say that again and I promise you in the next three seconds you won't have a tongue!" A thick, deep voice projected from Ayla's mouth; that wasn't Ayla speaking, she wasn't in control of her speech. She quickly closed her mouth being surprised of the words that just ejected from her vocal cords. " Mu..mm did you hear that?" Kayode questioned, trembling like someone who is going to pee in his pants " I did!" Mary affirmed" Ayla is not a human, this girl is beyond our imagination. Honey did you hear what she just said?" "Ayla get out!!!!" Segun commanded aggressively " Sir please. That wasn't me. I'm sorry for what I said. It was a slip of tongue" Ayla begged " Kayode throw her out" Segun commanded dramatically Kayode immediately gripped Ayla's hand and threw her out of the compound. " Why are you guys like this?" Naomi said as she angrily went to her room ************************************ Ayla cried all night, she didn't know where else to go. She was scared as she might be kidn*pped by the hoodlums so she went to the highway and slept under the bridge.