CHAPTER 01- We Meet Again.
1129 Words

PRESENT DAY FEBRUARY 2018
Bashir couldn't take his mind off the girl he saw today who looked at him like a ghost. He couldn't fathom where exactly he knew her but she looked vaguely familiar.
It can't be her! He chanted in his head.
The eyes. His mind kept repeating over and over like a mantra.
The pity he had for the little girl he came in acquaintance with- Fatimah since 4 years ago turned into something he kept in a cage, locked it and threw away the key.
After that very day four years ago, Bashir along with Mukhtar went to the same place he saw the girl and she was sitting there like the other day although this time around with another girl beside her.
The car had tints and Mukhtar was driving so he asked Mukhtar buy more than 2/3 of what both girls were selling and left. They kept doing this for a week until it was time for him to go back to school.
Mukhtar did so for a whole week after Bashir had left but on the subsequent week Fatimah and her friend stopped coming to that very place. Mukhtar searched for them for two days then stopped as his efforts were to no avail.
Bashir stopped his car close to the girl in brown faded hijab who looked to be about of 16-17 years of age.
He counted to four before climbing down the car.
Like earlier she stared at him with a confused look. She pointed her index finger at him.
"You!"
He raised a brow at her and pointed to himself.
"You're the one. Yes it's you. Why did you leave" she asked furrowing her brows.
How could she recognise him.
It has been four years.
"Who are you?" he asked to be sure.
"The girl you brought groundnut from since that time and you didn't mind collecting your change. I looked and waited for you to be back but you never came. Why did you not wait to collect it. And of all days you're appearing today when It is not with me. Just wait for me to bring it for you. Wait please don't go" she stopped for a minute contemplating on whether to leave him or not.
"I don't know what you're talking about"
"Yes you know wallahi its you. Wallahi bazan yi kaffara ba (I won't unswear)" she raised her voice a bit. "Just wait"
She turned around and opened her purse, took out the money and counted N250. It wasn't enough.
So she turned around to face him "Dan Allah kar ka wuce yanzu zan dawo (Please do not leave, I will be back in a bit)"
"No. Wait" she muttered and he concluded that this girl is nervous, shocked and confused. She looked about and around before snatching the handkerchief in his grasp and running off to the opposite direction leaving him with her tray once again.
At 17 Fatimah is petite lady. She ran home and thanked God that Uwale wasn't around. She went through her clothes and untied a little headtie, then another one from within it before coming in contact with the now old N360 that belongs to the man.
You wouldn't believe that she has had that hidden for four years now.
Thanking God that the money was still valid, she ran back to him with the money in her hand.
Upon seeing her Bashir ignited his car and drove off leaving a frustrated Fatimah behind.
She shrieked at him to stop, running after him. With tears trailing down her face Fatimah turned around and walked to her tray.
With her head between her thighs she let out an anguished cry as more tears flowed past her cheeks thinking of just why this man is haunting her. Agitating her.
After that day four years ago one man that looks a lot like him but slightly darker came to buy groundnuts from her for 7 days until she and Afiyah deemed it creepy that he buys nearly everything belonging to the both of them which made the two girls stop hawking at that very area.
And just November last year, she continued hawking at the same place and now the man is back.
"Now I'm more indebted to him" She muttered to herself staring at the hanky in her grasp.
Fatimah shook her head and wiped away her frustrated tears.
Honestly, the day so far had been a terrible one for her. First Uwale accused her of being pregnant because she found her vomiting earlier when the reason behind it was lack of food since yesterday afternoon. She felt something like a lump on her upper stomach and all the while she was feeling dizzy. But despite her sickness, Uwale beat her and sent her out to sell.
Everything chunked up on her and the fact that this man came today and left without collecting the money hence forwardly made the frustrated tears she had been stopping since yesterday flow rapidly.
She cried for over twenty minutes and used the handkerchief mistakenly to wipe her face.
His scent filled her nose as it came in contact with it and it brought her out of her daydream.
Petrified Fatimah let out a gasp and muttered "What have I done" to herself flinging the hanky away from her as though it was burning her hand.
Slowly Fatimah creeped her hand and took it from the ground.
After selling everything she walked home with the handkerchief hidden in her shirt.
Uwale was still not around and Basira like usual was outside with a man while Musa- Uwale's son nowhere to be seen.
With a relieved sigh Fatimah washed the handkerchief and sat outside fanning it to dry.
She fetched water from the well and took a bath, changed into the pink and blue material that was given to her by Afiya's mother just before they moved out of the slum.
She sprayed the only perfume she had, which was a humrah she brought a week ago and transferred it into a perfume bottle she found in the streets but not before adding a little water in it to make it last before she saves enough for another.
Fatimah took the dried hanky from the window and wrapped his money in it, wrapped two scarfs on it and tied. Then shoved it under a few clothes. The sound of a bang reached her ears before a person's presence surrounded the room.
Fatimah's room or more like an oven is a little store with one window, no space for a mere tiny mattress. All she sleeps under is a blanket and her clothes. All cramped up.
She felt goosebumps rising on her neck.
Not again.
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- Writer
