Chapter 9
767 Words
Small Favors
It didn’t happen all at once.
That was the problem.
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It started… small.
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“Can you hold this?”
That was the first time.
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Sakina looked at the small wrapped item in Nii’s hand.
“What is it?”
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“Nothing,” he said calmly. “Just something for a friend.”
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She hesitated for a second.
Then took it.
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“Okay.”
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Nii watched her carefully.
She didn’t question it again.
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Too easy.
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The next day—
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“Can you drop this somewhere for me?”
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Sakina blinked. “Me?”
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Nii nodded slightly.
“I’ll show you where.”
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She smiled faintly.
“Okay… if it helps you.”
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That was all it took.
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Day Three
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“You trust me?” Nii asked quietly.
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Sakina looked at him, surprised.
“Of course I do.”
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A pause.
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“Then do this for me.”
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She didn’t even ask what it was.
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From a distance—
Abu watched everything.
Arms folded.
Face tight.
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After Sakina left, he walked up to Nii.
“You’ve started.”
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Nii didn’t respond.
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Abu shook his head. “You’re using her already.”
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Silence.
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“She doesn’t even know what she’s carrying.”
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Nii’s voice was flat.
“She doesn’t need to.”
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Abu stared at him.
“You said she’s just for money… but this one—”
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“Is money,” Nii cut in.
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But his tone was sharper than usual.
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One Week Later
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It became routine.
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Sakina would come.
Sit with him.
Talk.
Smile.
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And before she left—
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There was always something.
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“Take this.”
“Give this to him.”
“Wait there, someone will come.”
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She never said no.
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Not once.
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“You’ve changed,” she said one afternoon, smiling.
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Nii glanced at her. “How?”
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“You talk more now.”
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A pause.
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“…do I?”
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She nodded.
“Only with me.”
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Silence.
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Then—
“That’s not special,” he said.
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She laughed softly.
“It is to me.”
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Nii looked away.
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Because that wasn’t part of the plan.
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Two Weeks Later
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Sakina walked faster now.
More confident on the streets.
Like she belonged a little.
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She stopped in front of Nii, smiling.
“I did it.”
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Nii looked up.
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“The man you told me about—he collected it,” she said proudly.
“He even said thank you.”
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A small pause.
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Nii nodded once.
“Good.”
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That was it.
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No praise.
No smile.
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Sakina’s smile faded slightly.
“…that’s all?”
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Nii looked at her.
“You did well.”
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Simple.
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But it was enough.
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Her smile returned instantly.
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Across the street—
Abu shook his head again.
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“Ei… this girl.”
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Later that evening—
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Abu walked up to Nii.
“You’ve been doing this for two weeks.”
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No response.
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“She’s running errands for you like it’s normal.”
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Nii leaned against the wall.
Silent.
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Abu’s voice dropped.
“You’re deep in it now.”
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A pause.
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“What happens if something goes wrong?”
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Silence.
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“Or if she finds out?”
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Nii finally looked at him.
Cold.
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“She won’t.”
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Abu frowned.
“You don’t know that.”
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Another pause.
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Then—
Nii spoke slowly.
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“She trusts me.”
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That was the truth.
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And that was the problem.
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That night—
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Sakina lay on her bed, smiling to herself.
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“I helped him today…”
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Her voice was soft.
Happy.
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“I’m useful to him.”
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She hugged her pillow slightly.
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Completely unaware—
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That every step she was taking…
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Was pulling her deeper into something she didn’t understand.
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And Nii—
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He told himself it was just business.
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Just money.
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Just survival.
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But deep down—
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He knew one thing.
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If this went wrong—
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It wouldn’t just be her that got hurt.
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🔥 End of Chapter Nine
- Writer
