CHAPTER 02- At First Sight.
1141 Words

SHE FELT GOOSEBUMPS RISING ON HER NECK.
OH NO. FATIMAH MUTTERED TO HERSELF.
NOT AGAIN.
He attempted to touch her hand but she snatched it out of his way. With a glare she stared at him thinking of what to grasp this time around.
"I will slap you if you think of hitting me again" Musa growled.
"Then you should leave me in peace" came her shaky voice.
"I would not. Unless you give me what I want" he added walking closer.
"No please. Just leave me alone. I have nothing to give you i swear"
"Oh yes you do" he muttered swiping his disgusting tongue over his lips while staring at her body.
In her head, she aimed at how she would make a dash for the door but he completely obstructed her way.
She grabbed the rail of the non existent curtain and hit his head with it, hard. Catching him off guard.
Musa knew better than to scream so he groaned and fell as the impact was very hard, enough to make him faint. Fatimah drew his tall body out of the room and into the compound all the while trembling in fear.
With a sigh she leaned her body on the door and sat down. Tears streamed down her face one by one as she remembered the first time he tried to do something to her.
FLASHBACK
In a light slumber Fatimah felt the door of her room creaking. Thinking it was Basira or Uwale she abruptly changed her position into a sitting form. What she saw made her mind go black.
Musa- Uwale's 24-25 year old son stood by her door with a look that she recognised as mischief on his face. Usually and normally it was hatred shown to her but this expression scared her more.
What is he doing here? She asked herself.
Two steps made him reach her and she clasped the only large stone she could find in her hand, the one she piles clothes on to make it comfortable for her to use as a pillow. He came closer and she aimed straight at him before throwing it straight to his neck.
He made a sound and moved forward to grab her but it was as though she was empowered with a new strength Fatima mustered all that she could and used her knee to hit him at the place where the sun doesn't shine.
The impact of the hit made him faint instantly and shocked, Fatima ran out of the house. She looked around and noted the absence of Uwale and her daughter. In a haste Fatimah ran back to her room where the man was still laying unconscious.
END OF FLASHBACK.
Deja vu!
She could clearly remember how she drew his legs out of the room and made sure to dodge him for a week. Until today.
Fatimah let the tears fall freely with no attempt to wipe them.
••••••••
Bashir sat in his car thinking of Fatimah. She had changed a lot after 4 years.
Well what did you expect?
He felt intrigued by her. Compelled to make a move.
Then why did I not wait for her? He asked himself regarding his actions today and four years ago.
Shaking his head he turned his engine off and walked into the house so that he could get a good sleep to brush his mind off the face that appears whenever he blinks.
"I'm going out. You in or not?" Mukhtar asked.
"I'm crashing" Bashir replied.
With a shrug Mukhtar walked away leaving the other man to his thoughts.
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A week passed with Bashir visiting Fatimah's sitting place without her noticing and she looking around for that particular white car. Unbeknownst to her, he has been coming in a Blue one- his mother's car.
Today, Fatimah sat there with little remnants of what she's selling crying her pain off.
Musa went to Uwale and reported Fatimah, saying that she's a p********e and is trying to r**e him.
Ironic.
Uwale drew her out of the house catching the attention of passers by before she began shouting.
"Jama'a shegiyar nan karuwa ce (This bastard is a p********e). She's trying to force my pious son to have s*x with her! Last week she aborted a child and now this" people stared at Fatimah as though she was a leach while others stared at Uwale who was rambling, shouting, all in all acting like a mad woman.
All her life, Fatimah has never been this humiliated. She's used to Uwale beating her in front of people sometimes until she's unable to get up but all her life she had never been humiliated like today. As she was walking here people gave her space as if she was diagnosed with HIV & Aids. Even Jamilu the only man that shows her care sneered at her when she walked towards him to ask for biscuit on credit. He shooed her off like an animal making the people around laugh at her.
Fatimah merely pursed her lips and walked away but not before thanking him.
Bashir stared at the tears that were flowing down her face and furrowed his brows. Without thinking of the consequences he stepped down his car and his feet guided him towards her.
"Assalam alaikum" he greeted.
She nodded unable to answer as her head was between her legs. The scent of his perfume engulfed her making her rapidly raise her face to his, to be sure it's him.
Her red eyes stared into his with so much emotion that Bashir felt like strangling whoever it is made her cry like this, to death.
In silence he handed her a handkerchief which she hesitated in collecting. He dropped it on her laps and sat beside her.
It was until her sobs managed to subside that she used her hijab to clean off the tears. "Use the hanky" he muttered.
She did as she was told and used the hanky, Bashir stared at her side view and took in her facial hair, the sharpness of her nose and her cheek bones. He could pinpoint the color difference from the skin close to her ear compared to her face. Sunburn. Her chubby cheeks as of four years ago were now non-existent.
Bashir took his eyes off her as soon as she caught him staring.
"Sorry I'm not with your money and the other handkerchief wallahi I'm not a thief but I promise to always be taking them with me here everyday so that I would give it back. Including this one" Fatimah spoke. Her eyes on the handkerchief.
Her voice was melodious. A sound he wouldn't mind hearing for the rest of his life.
And at that moment Bashir came to a conclusion that he fell in love with her AT FIRST SIGHT.
•••••••••
- Writer
