CHAPTER 1

“Farida! Farida! Where is this girl?”

“I am here maami.”

“Oya go and bath quickly so you can help brother Ade run some errands.”

“Maami, please I don’t want to work today, I am very tired.”

“If you don’t work what will we eat? If you do some work for him we will be able to eat bread this morning and amala in the afternoon.”

“Ok, ma.”

Nine-year-old Farida went to shower and get ready for the day’s chores. She was to help him sweep his room, wash plates and run errands for him. She would have preferred to play with her friends since it was a Saturday but then what will they eat if she doesn’t work. She got ready and resumed her work.

“Brother Ade good morning. Do you have any work for me?”

“Farida my wife how are you? I always have something for you. First, you will wash plates; they are not much. After that, you will buy bread and beans that we will eat before we clean the room.”

“Thank you, brother Ade,” Farida replied excitedly.

After food, Farida washed the plates and wanted to start cleaning the room but Ade stopped her.

“Farida come and sit down. Sit beside me. You don’t need to do any more work today and you will get good money. You just make me happy and you will get all you want”

“No more work? Thank you, brother. But what will maami and my brothers eat?

“I will give you N500.00 to give them today instead of N100.”

“Brother Ade thank you. That money will last us 3 days.” She replied excitedly

“I know. I want us to play a game.”

“What type of game?”

“I will be the daddy and you will be the mummy.”

“Oh, you want us to act drama?”

“Yes. And do what mummy and daddy used to do. You will remove yourclothes and lie on my bed and I will remove my own and we will sleep together.”

“Ok.”

She removed her clothes and laid on the bed. She was excited lying on the bed because at home she and her brothers sleep on the mat. Even the mattress maami slept on was not as comfortable as this one. She had been tempted to jump on it but because she does not want to offend brother Ade she did not. Today, she is lying on the bed and acting drama with Brother Ade. She was very happy.

Brother Ade closed the curtains of his room, locked the door and turned on the television before removing his clothes and joining her. They lay down together and then Brother rested his hand on the tiny mounds on her chest. He fondled her nipples and she became uncomfortable. She tried to remove his hands but he told her to relax and enjoy it, it was Mummy and Daddy play. He then extended his hand to her pants and stuck his finger inside her vagina which made her cry out in pain.

“Don’t shout!” uncle Ade scolded.

“But it is paining me.”

“I won’t do it again. Did you like how I touched you?”

“No, I did not. I want to go.”

“Wait now. Come here” he hugged her “I am sorry. Let me touch you in a way you will like it.”

“Don’t touch me again.”

“Ok, my dear. I love you. You cannot tell anyone that we are acting Mummy and Daddy drama here. Apart from the money, I will give you money for biscuit, sweets and chewing gum.”

“Will you give me brother Ade?”

“Yes, and if you allow me to touch you without telling anybody, I will buy things for you any time I come back from work. You are my wife.”

“But itpained me.”

“This time it will not pain you. And you will also touch Daddy.”

“Wear your clothes and go and buy biscuits and sweets and come back. I will wait for you.” He said giving her N10.

“Ok, let me go quickly.”

She went, bought the things and came back really excited. She would eat all this by herself.

“Eat your biscuit and allow me to touch you. It will not pain you I promise.”

He laid her on the bed. While she ate, he struck his manhood on her genitals. He did this until he was satisfied. “This was a start,” he said to himself “with time I will be able to penetrate.” He cleaned her up, reminded her that it was a secret. He gave N500 after she had finished eating and she left. She kept their secret.

Every evening he comes home, he will call Farida, give her orange or apple or puff puff or sweet then proceed to play Daddy and Mummy with her. Gradually, he started getting her to touch his manhood. She would hold it in her small hands and he will direct her on what to do. This excited him very much. Then he started inserting his finger into her vagina. He used Vaseline to ease her pain. She endured it because of the treats. She enjoyed her treats. He had bought her silence.

CHAPTER 2

One fateful Saturday, brother Ade hurriedly did the house chores before Farida came so he would have more time with her. She came in and met bread, eggs, butter and sardines. This was luxury to this little girl. He asked her to undress so she won’t stain her outfit and then prepared the breakfast for her with rich and creamy beverage too. She was served like she was being fattened for the slaughterhouse. She enjoyedthe meal. It was a hearty meal. He put on the television and increased the volume louder than before. He made her touch him the way he taught her. Then he fondled her breasts. He laid her on the bed and fingered her with the Vaseline. She was used to it now and wasn’t scared any more. What happened next she didn’t expect. He was on top of her, used his hand to cover her mouth and then penetrated the little girl. She passed out from the pain but it did not stop him from going on. When he was spent, he sprinkled water on her to revive her. She started crying. He tried to pacify her. He gave her yoghurt to stop the tears but it was beyond treats. He begged her to stop crying, cleaned her up and gave her painkillers and a sleeping tablet. She continued crying and wriggle in pain. He asked her to dress up and lay down on the bed and sleep to ease the pain. His heart was racing. He hoped she won’t spill the beans. He wondered what will happen if she does. He was so frightened; he squeezed ten pieces of N100 notes into her hand and took off.

Farida woke up alone in his room. She felt something in her hand. She saw the N1,000 he had put in it. This will make maami happy. She left the room. She couldn’t walk properly. The pain was excruciating. The way she walked was a giveaway. Mama Joy was washing in the courtyard. She watched Farida as she walked out of the room. She knew something was wrong and asked her.

“Farida, wetin do you?”

“Nothing ma.”

“Why you dey waka like that?”

“Nothing.”

Farida refused to say anything because Mama Joy was the compound gossip. She wouldtell everyone what transpired and call her names any times she passes. She didn’t get along well with maami and she would use this to insult her. Farida didn’t want that.

Ade surveyed from a distance. Ade wanted to know what happens if they find out from a safe distance. He would not like to be attacked by his compound people. He had left with his certificates and some other sensitive documents in case they decide to burn his possession. He saw Mama Joy interrogating Farida as she left the room. The woman never minds her business. He had compensated Farida very well. He was really scared but was glad she didn’t say anything.

When Farida entered her home, her mother immediately sensed that there was something wrong.

“Are you ok? Why are you walking like that?”

“I am fine ma. Take, Brother Ade gave me N1,000.00 today for my work.”

“God bless that man. This will tide us for 4 days if we manage it well. Go and take your bath. You must be tired from all that work.”

She went to take a bath and returned to the room. Her private part still ached, she could not wash it well and could not close her legs completely. Why did Brother Ade do this to her. He made her promise not to tell anyone. He also promised to buy her suya when he comes back later tonight. She made up her mind not to go back to Brother Ade’s room again. Any chore outside the room she can do but she will not enter into his room again.

Ade waited until quite late and nothing happened. He bought the suya he had promised Farida earlier. He came to her house and gave it to her. He whispered to her that he was sorry and it won’thappen like that again. Farida was numb; she was no more interested. She handed the suya to her mother and went inside to lie down. He was worried about her. He knew she would get better after some time. In the meantime, he had to appease her somehow.

After the incident, whenever he calls her to his room, she refuses to enter. She would run errands for him but would not enter his room. He was worried. How would he pacify her? She was too scared to enter his room. He devised methods to lure her and for the first time, he realised how strongwilled Farida was.

On Saturday morning, maami sent Farida to Brother Ade to work but she refused to go. She asked why and she told maami she did not want to act drama anymore. A confused maami asked her,

“What type of drama do you act with him?”

“He said I should not tell anyone. It is Mummy and Daddy play. The last time we acted the play, he wounded me. I don’t want to act the drama again.”

“How do you act this drama?”

Farida narrated to her mother from the first day to the last all the activities they engaged in during the drama. She told her the things he bought for her to buy her silence. Her mother was shocked. Men are mean. It was condition that forced her into this life. Now look what happened to her daughter. Why was life so cruel? Why was fate so wicked? This was their only source of livelihood. Farida was bringing in way more money on the weekends than she gets from the work she does. What should she do? She thought about it for the whole day. Such things are not exposed. It will be a stigma on Farida andother men would want to take advantage knowing she was now open. She didn't want that life for her daughter. Ade will be taught a lesson. He had to pay for what he had done. She knew she had to be more protective of Farida now. They would use the incident to their advantage. She wouldnt work for him but he will keep paying her until she was satisfied.

That night, she called her daughter and talked to her about.

“I am sorry my daughter. You have become a woman so quickly. This is the way of the world. We will use it to our advantage.”

“How maami?”

“You will tell brother Ade that your maami is asking questions. She wants to know what happened in his room. That the compound people are talking about it. He will be afraid and give you money not to talk.”

“Ah maami! What if he touches me again? It was very painful; I don’t want him to do it to me again.”

“He won’t. He will be too afraid to do it again.”

“I don’t want to do drama with him again. Please maami. Tell him I don’t want to act mummy and daddy with him again.”

“Don’t be afraid. You will not act drama with him again. Just tell him what I said.”

Maami’s idea worked. Farida told brother Ade that maami was asking questions and people are talking in the compound. He took her into his room and begged her not to tell anybody what he did. He gave her N2,000 so she could keep quiet. Maami used the defilement of Farida to make money for the family. Whenever she greeted brother Ade, she will eye him and give him a knowing look; When they are in a meeting, she deliberately calls his name and looks at him with disdainwithout saying anything. Ade, out of fear, will call Farida and give her money. Farida didn’t need to do chores to get money. This was way easier.

Maami also refered to as Iya Farida was the last wife of Alhaji Abubakar. She was barely 15 years old when she was given to her husband as a gift. She was in S.S. 1 in the government girls’ college when the marriage took place. She had other plans for her life but her father insisted that she gets married to Alhaji. Alhaji was older than her father but she didn’t have a choice than to obey him. She was wife number four. He had to divorce one of his wives to be able to marry her. The night of the wedding, Alhaji forced himself on her. It was the most painful and disgusting experience she had ever had. She watched him snore fast asleep after the act wondering what she was doing with a man old enough to be her grandfather.

She was made to ‘service’ him every day except the days she was “unclean”. By the next month, she was pregnant. Alhaji was very happy and allowed her to rest during the pregnancy period. She begged Alhaji to allow her to continue her education; she wanted to have WAEC at least. That was when she received the first beating from her husband. Alhaji beat her to a pulp, raped her and locked her in the room. She stayed there for three days surviving only on water before he allowed her out. He warned her that women do not have ambition in his house.

She delivered her first child, it was a baby girl. Alhaji called her Farida. After the delivery, Alhaji requested for her almost every night. She conceived again not long after.

One night,Alhaji sent for her and she sent word back that she was not feeling well. Alhaji was angry. He came to her room and saw her shivering in bed with her daughter. He descended on her. He beat her, punching her face and stomach. He then had his way with her and left her there. By morning, she was half gone. Her bed was soaked with blood. It was the cries of her baby Farida that drew the attention of the other wives. She was rushed to the health centre. She had lost the baby and almost lost her life. The doctor asked her who beat her in this manner. She confessed it was her husband. The doctor advised her to leave the marriage. The next beating, she might not survive it.

She visited her parents and complained to them. Her mother told her to bear it and try not to provoke her husband. She said, “Matter between husband and wife are not discussed with a third party. Stay back at her husband’s house and endure”. For how long was she to endure? The man was mean to her. He only desired her body and nothing else. He never talks to her or discusses anything with her. After some time, she accepted her fate.

The doctor put her on a daily pill so she doesn’t get pregnant so soon after the miscarriage. She continued with the pill after she had finished the initial set. Her husband and his wives were illiterates. She was the most educated of all of them. She worked on improving herself. She made sure she read a book or any other material on a daily basis. She didn’t want to lose all she had learnt.that night for a future yet unknown.

CHAPTER 3

On the road to Lagos, Iya Faridathought about her future as the night breeze hit her hidden face. She covered the twins with a blanket because it was cold. She had worn Farida several layers of clothes to protect her body. She fed the children that night with heavy meals so none of them would wake up and complain of hunger. She was lost in thoughts and didn’t feel the leaves of plants by the road side slap her face as they drove by. She had her children with her; that was all that mattered to her. The doctor said the money she had on her was too small for her to survive comfortably in Lagos. It would last her only six months. Well, she would get to Lagos, meet with the doctor’s friend who promised to help her get accommodation, a job and then live a quiet life with her children. She was worried that Alhaji will come after them. She had to get a place where he won’t be able to find her. They said Lagos was big so it fitted perfectly into her plan. He didn’t know about her relationship with the doctor so; he would think she was still in Ilorin.

Lagos was a different ball game altogether. It was not what she expected. She was able to secure an accommodation but the place was barely habitable; she lived better in Alhaji’s house. She had no choice; it was all she could afford. She moved in with her children. The doctor’s friend gave her some used furniture and cooking utensils for starters. She was grateful. Getting a job proved even more difficult. Her lack of education, deformity due to the abuse stood in her way and she couldn’t work very far away from home because of the children. She took up odd jobsto make some money. Farida took care of her brothers while her mother worked.

Iya Farida and her children adapted to their life in Lagos. She set out every morning to clean schools, surroundings of offices and hospitals. She changed her outfit and went to the market to carry “load” for people that came to make purchases. She did this till 3:00pm then she buys food for her children to eat and goes back to work. This was her daily routine. She was hardworking and dedicated. She did not want a situation where she had little or no money to fend for her children and had to resort to begging or be forced to go back to Alhaji.

In a few months, due to her hardwork, she had saved up some money to start petty trade. As she was about to take a breath of fresh air, robbers attacked the house she lived in. It was a regular occurrence in that area but she was unaware. She lived in a dilapidated face me I face you building in Mushin very close to Mushin market. Such attacks were common. As the robbers were moving from room to room, she gathered her children together when she heard the noise. She tried to hide all her money then she heard someone stamping on her door trying to open it forcefully.

“Who is here? Show yourself or we will start shooting.” The robber announced immediately he came in.

“It is me. I am here with my three children.”

He flashed the torchlight at her. In her desperation to hide her money, she did not consider making herself decent as she had only a wrapper tied across her chest. The robber sized her up. She was young and beautiful. The scars were not visible in the dark.

“Where is your money?”

“Here.”She handed over to him all the money she was trying to hide. She saw the look in his eyes and she just wanted him to leave immediately.

“Come here.” She obeyed using her frame to block her children’s view.

“Open your wrapper.”

Her worst fears had just happened. With tears in her eyes, she spoke very steadily, “Farida, you and you brothers should lie down and sleep.” She waited for them to obey then she opened the wrapper for him.

“Come here.” He ordered her. He threw the wrapper away, forcefully bent her across her cupboard and as he was about to defile her, he heard screams and scuffling. He released her saying, “I will be back.”

That began her nightmare. His promise to return made her paranoid. Why would she be constantly raped by her husband and then a robber also wanted to do same to her. Was she cursed? She feared for her children. She didn’t want them to see her being violated. She decided to move out of the house to a safer place. The robber took all her money. She needed to raise money urgently. She worked harder than ever. She worked from dawn to dusk every single day. She did all types of jobs just to get money.

Eventually, she found a house. She helped a woman carry her load(goods) to deliver to her customer in a small estate very close to Daleko market. A particular house on the street caught her attention. After dropping the load and collecting her money, she walked to the building and entered the compound. She was very impressed with what she saw. It was a storey building of 20 self-contained apartments. The landlord lived in the next building. He had built a small room and parlour apartment in front of the compound which wasreserved for the caretaker. She saw that it was empty. She knew if she approached the landlord the way she looked, he would not listen to her. She left with resolve, she would give him all she had saved and work even harder to get more money and pay for the apartment.

She worked harder than before and made some more money. Armed with her plan, she went to see the landlord on a Sunday morning. She wore her best clothes and covered her scar. He agreed to see her which was a plus for her. She greeted him and explained to him she was interested in the apartment.

“I fired the thieving caretaker. I intend to get a new one. I am not renting it out.”

“I am ready to be a caretaker and still pay some rent. I will take care of your compound, ensure it is neat every day. I will get the tenants to pay their bills and keep their surroundings clean. Anyone you have issues with, I will help you resolve. I need accommodation for myself and my three children. I need a safe place and this place is safe.”

The landlord looked at her closely. She was young and beautiful although she covered her face with a shawl. He could keep her there and have her work for him in every way. She mentioned three children.

“Where is your husband?”

“He died when the twins were born and the family abandoned me.”

“O ma se o. It’s a big pity. Pele. I think you should see the place you are interested in.”

Most of the tenants had gone to church that morning, so there were very few eyes on them. He opened the door and led her in. She looked around the place and loved it. The room had two large windowsfor cross ventilation and a back door that led to the bathroom, toilet and kitchen. This was heaven compared to where she was living currently. She was excited. There she brought out N2,000 she had saved and went on her knees saying,

“Baba, this is all I have. I want you to hold it so I can work some more to be able to afford this place. Robbers have been attacking us and we are not safe. Please, baba mi. Help me.”

The landlord looked at her and could see the genuine plea in her eyes. He responded, “Well, I can give you this place for free if you want. I will employ you as the caretaker to take care of the property. But you must do something for me in return.”

“E se sir. Whatever you want, I will do oh. I promise you. If I can get this house; half of my problems will be solved” she replied excitedly.

“You are a fine girl. Since you no longer have a husband, I can help do what your husband was doing for you.” The landlord suggested.

“Ah baba! How can you say that? How much is the rent? I will pay but I can’t do what you are asking. I can wash for you, clean your house, cook if need be but I cannot share the same bed with you.”

“Why? I am still an agile man. I can go many rounds. Instead of you to give it to boys that cannot help your situation, give it to me exclusively and I will take care of you and your children. You will not need to work, I promise you” he said reaching out his hand to grab her but she jumped out of it in time. Her shawl fell and he saw the scar ofher face. “Why do you cover your face? The marks are not bad. I like them. I can make you very happy.”

“Baba, please, I can’t do this. Give me time to raise the money and give you. Tell me how much rent I should pay and then I will get the money.”

“The rent for that place is N15,000 a year. If you can raise the money, I will allow you to stay. I will not collect money small small and I will not collect agency and agreement fee. If you change your mind, I am ready. Just knock on my gate and ask for Baba Juwon and I will answer you.”

Iya Farida wondered what kind of luck she had. She was really sad that the man wanted to take advantage of her. Other men tried to do same too but she had always refused and focused on working hard for her children. Her children were the most important people in her life right now. She went back to working very hard. After three weeks, she was only able to save N2,000. It was glaring it would take even longer to raise the money.

CHAPTER 4

A few days after her encounter with Baba Juwon the landlord, the tenants in her compound were summoned for an urgent meeting. The compound got a letter from armed robbers telling them they would be paying them a visit in two weeks. As the letter was read, Iya Farida’s heart began to beat very fast as the robbers specified what they wanted. They asked for a special meal to be prepared, the specific amount of money they expected to collect and women who would “service” them. This threw the compound into a panic. Some of the tenants moved out immediately. Iya Farida was stuck; she had nowhereto go.

The week of the intended visit by the robbers, Iya Farida begged a danfo(commercial) bus driver to give her shelter in his bus at night so they could hide from the robbers. The man agreed but wanted something in return and made it clear what he wanted. She left him and went to the head of the touts popularly called “agberos” to help her secure a place in the market where she could sleep with her children at night. He found a place for her. She arranged the tables in the stall, used their clothes as a mattress on the floor and used a wrapper as a bedsheet. She used the tables as a shield. She took old mosquito net to cover around the tables to keep mosquitoes away. Then she went to get her children.

That night, as they slept, Iya Farida heard someone stagger towards the stall. The person stopped and urinated in the gutter nearby and then staggered back to their stall. Obviously, the person was either drunk or high on marijuana. She was worried about the safety of her children who were sound asleep. As the person got closer, the person called out to her. She immediately recognized his voice; it was the head of the touts. She knew she and her children were not safe anymore. She quietly woke them up as he was calling out for her. She packed their things and through the side of the stall, without making much noise, she escaped with her children. She went back to the house with them. Sleep eluded her as she watched guard over them. She was scared but she felt safer there than at the market.

As the day began to dawn, she thought about her situation. All the men she had encountered wanted thesame thing from her. Most of the women were not willing to help her; they only gossiped about her which she didn’t bother her'. She had three children to protect, what should she do? She weighed her options. Just to sleep at night, she would have to be regular 'food' for the danfo driver and the head of agberos who are still young and agile. If she stays back in the house, the robbers will rape her in the presence of her children and to the knowledge of everyone in the compound. This will bring shame to her and her children. But if she agrees for Baba Juwon, the landlord, the man is old, she would have accommodation and her family will be well taken care off. She had to make a decision and quickly too.

The next morning, she found herself in the Baba Juwon’s house. He asked her if she was ready to pay for the house. She explained to him she still had no money and narrated what happened in the compound.

“Well, my offer is still open. If you want the accommodation, it is available under my terms. I will take care of you and your children and in return, you will take care of me.”

“How do I take care of you?” she asked.

“Anytime I send for you, you have to answer me. You will do whatever I ask” he replied while winking at her and raising an eyebrow in a lewd way to drive home his point.

“Sir, I work. I leave home very early in the morning and come back home very late at night. I cannot be at your beck and call. I am saying this so you will not say I did not keep to our agreement and throw me out.”

“That’s not a problem. Howmuch do you make a day?”

“N1,000 sir”

“I will pay you for the days I want you.”

Iya Farida smiled. She made just N500 a day and here she was getting a N1,000 for doing nothing. She could put the boys in daycare with the extra cash so Farida can start school. She believed she made the right decision. Instead of having sex with different men that would even take from her like Ronke in the compound did, it was better to stick to one man and hide it as much as possible.

Iya Farida was now living the life. She moved her belongings into their new abode. Baba Juwon installed burglary proof on the doors and windows to make her feel safer. He renovated the place and painted it. He gave her his old furniture to use. He gave her an old television set he had so her children could be entertained when she was not around. She could see that her children were happy. Everything was looking good.

Baba Juwon was kind to her. He never treated her like her husband did. She was already used to being maltreated or forced to have sex so she was expecting the same treatment from her new lover but he was different. He was gentle and wanted to please her. He was also very generous. Whenever he travelled to his home state, Ondo state, he bought foodstuff for her which kept their tummies full for a long time.

She fulfilled her promise. When she was introduced as the new caretaker, some of the young men who were tenants saw an opportunity. They were surprised that she was very strict and rigid. She took very good care of the property. She swept the compound herself every morning. She ensured contributions for electricity bill are made and thebills paid timely. All complaint about the building were made to her while she channelled the complaints to Baba Juwon during their “private” time. She gave him less work which made him glad.

She lived there happily for three years. She wrote GCE so she could at least have her WAEC. She passed. She got a job as a teacher in a nursery and primary school. The salary wasn’t much but at least her children had the opportunity to attend the school for free. She was more confident and lost her village ways of talking and dressing. She was now exposed. Baba Juwon was getting jealous with the men that he observed around her especially male tenants. She assured him that she had nothing to do with them. He didn’t really believe her but he had no proof she was dating anyone of them. After some time, he learnt to trust her.

Several months after Iya Farida had settled down. on a Sunday morning which was her rest day, she heard a loud knock on her door. Farida answered the door and ran back in visibly frightened. She couldn’t respond to her mother continuous enquiry of who was at the door due to the fear. Iya Farida went to check herself and was shocked to see Alhaji, her husband, and her father. She became dizzy instantly. How did they find her? Who told them where she was? There was only one person she ever disclosed her whereabouts to and the person was supposed to be trusted. It was only her sister she had been sending letters to.

“Open this gate immediately” her husband bellowed at her.

“Iya Farida, is this you?” her father asked. “We thought you were dead. Please open let us talk.”

She didn’t have a choice but to open the burglary andlet them in. She knew the day won’t end nicely. She feared more for her children.

“You took my children away from me Iya Farida. You stole my money and my children so you could come to Lagos and start ashawo business. How market now?” her husband asked her. She could see the anger in his eyes. She didn’t answer him.

“Iya Farida, pack your things and those of your children, you are coming back to Ilorin with us.” Her father emphasized.

“I don’t need her; I only came for my children. She is an ashawo, a prostitute. How could she afford to live in this Lagos if she was not selling her body? I don’t want it again. I just want my children especially the twins.” Her husband replied.

Iya Farida knelt down before her father to appeal. “Baba mi, I almost died the last time he beat after you talked to him. He wanted to have sex with me in the presence of my daughter. I knew it was a matter of time before he kills me. I have a job; a good job. I am teaching in a school here and my children are attending that school. Please baba mi, I don’t want to go back with him. Allow me achieve something in my live.”

Her husband laughed at her words and then reminded her, “You were given to me; I didn’t come for you. You cannot be returned to your family. Since you have started prostituting then I will use you to make money.”

“Haba Alhaji, why would you say that about your wife? I shouldn’t have told you about our discovery then. If her mother hadn’t found the letters, will we be here today? Be patient with her. Let us resolve this and take her back.” Her father replied.

“Baba mi, Iam not going back. He cannot take my children.” She insisted.

Alhaji descended on her as she spoke to her father. He threw blows at her body. She shouted while her children wailed at the torture their mother was facing. The chaos attracted the tenants in the compound; they gathered in front of her room. A tenant went to call the landlord. When the young men in the compound saw Alhaji beat Iya Farida, they came to her rescue and without asking questions beat him up. Her father watched in shocked amazement while his in-law was dragged out of the apartment and taught a bitter lesson. A man cannot beat a defenceless woman in the presence of other men. It was no proof of his manhood.

The commotion in the compound attracted Baba Juwon to the scene. When he was told what happened, he invited the Police. They picked up Alhaji and took him to the Police station. He was charged with assault and was locked up for a week. His family members and Iya Farida’s father met Baba Juwon to appeal for his release. He asked them to come back the next day after much begging.

He summoned Iya Farida who had been avoiding him. He needed to understand all he had heard from those who came to beg for the man’s release. She was terrified to see him but knew she had no choice. Immediately she stepped into the room, she fell on her knees. She cried as she confessed to Baba Juwon who Alhaji was and her reason for running away.

She concluded by saying, “He beats me till I am unconscious and then rapes me and leaves me for dead. When I realized that I could die from the constant beating, I ran away from his house.”

“Why didn’t you tellme? It is a taboo for me to sleep with a married woman. Do you want me to lose all my fortunes? Why did you do this?” he replied angrily.

“I am very sorry. I had to hide our identity. Please Baba Juwon, you can see what this man is capable of. I want him to divorce me and free me. If you can help me achieve this, I will be forever grateful.”

Baba Juwon thought about the situation hard and long before deciding. He was upset at her deception but on the other hand, he could understand why she did it. If it was the last thing he would do for her, then he will help her regain her freedom from an abusive husband.

The cell at the Police station had not been fair to Alhaji. The inmates beat him up for attacking a woman. He was made to serve the president of the cell. He was ready to do anything to leave. He had his regrets. He would have just collected the boys and left but instead he decided to teach Iya Farida a lesson. He just wanted to leave and erase his visit to Lagos from his mind as a bad dream.

Baba Juwon went to the Police station and gave Alhaji a condition.

“I can leave you to rot here in the cell. Ilorin is not Lagos. You might be a strong man in Ilorin but here, you are a nobody. You assaulted a woman openly. I don’t care if she is your wife but it is assault. She can file a case against you. But if you don’t want that, divorce her right now and I don’t want to see you anywhere near my property again. If you agree, I will release you immediately but if you refuse, I willtransfer you to Federal SARS and accuse you of armed robbery. You won’t see your family again.”

Alhaji didn’t need to think too long about it. He was quick to accept the condition. He divorced Iya Farida and wrote an undertaken never to come near Iya Farida or the children again. Iya Farida’s father was so disappointed that he disowned her and offered Alhaji his other daughter in exchange but he declined saying, “I don’t want any child from you. Is it not the girl that was hiding letters from us you want to give me? I am not interested. Keep your children. Because of them, I spent how many weeks in the cell. I will never forgive Iya Farida for what she put me through”

That was the end of it. Alhaji and his entourage left Lagos for Ilorin. Baba Juwon was Iya Farida’s savior once again. With a joyful heart, she went to thank him and he expressed his disappointment at her.

“What you did could have cost me everything I have. I had to go for cleansing. You should have told me; I would have understood, and still have given you the house. But it is okay now he has divorced you. Never you lie to me again. I will protect you as much as I can”

That was good news to Iya Farida. She was happy the issue had been resolved amicably. She still did some work for him at home but he hardly called her into his bedroom anymore. She was not needed to render such services. It created shortage in their lives. He was no longer giving them the perks that come with her servicing him. She talked to him and begged him to forgive her but he refused to reconsider. She had to take up extra jobsto meet up. Some days she worked very late in the night selling by the roadside. She still performed her duty as a caretaker.

Baba Juwon fell ill. He had been diabetic but had managed it for a long time. Iya Farida had helped keep the diabetes level down when they were still together because she forced him to obey the instructions of the doctor. Months after their separation, he relapsed on the instructions and his sugar level was dangerously high. To worsen the situation, he had an injury on his right foot which refused to heal for a long time. His children came together and took him abroad for treatment. He was there for about two years and then news got to them in the compound that Baba Juwon was dead. It hit Iya Farida hard. He was her benefactor and was very good to her. She wailed uncontrollably when she heard it.

After the burial, the children called the tenants together for a meeting. The tenants were informed that the house will be managed by a lawyer and he would attend to everything concerning the house. The tenants told them there was a caretaker who had done a good job for years now. They advised that the lawyer works hand in hand with Iya Farida as she knows everything about the house. The lawyer said he was going to quit her from the care taker’s room and bring in his own person. The tenants refused saying she had handled the job very well all these years and she should be allowed to continue. The children agreed but the lawyer had a wicked plan in mind.

Three days later which was a public holiday, thugs came into the compound carrying sticks as weapons. They tried to paste eviction notice on the doorsof the tenants. They barged into Iya Farida’s room dragging her and her children out. They proceeded to throw out all her belongings. She had rice on fire when they came and they threw both the food on the fire and the stove outside. The hot rice poured on Iya Farida but she didn’t notice the damage it had done. Luckily, the fire quenched before the stove landed.

Iya Farida’s cries were wasted where they were because it was a Sunday and the compound was almost empty until a Police officer and the vigilante group of their areas came to the house. Apparently, the tenants who were left in the compound couldn’t stand the injustice being meted out on their caretaker and called the Police and vigilante in their area. The thugs stopped their task.

“Who sent you to remove this woman from the house?” the head of the vigilante asked.

“The lawyer did. He said she had been asked to go but she refused” the thugs answered.

“Where is the eviction notice? Is it your duty to evict anyone? Where is the court judgment giving the lawyer such right? Call him here immediately.” The police officer instructed the thugs.

“He must come here immediately. If he doesn’t come, both this house and the landlord’s house will be destroyed. You better call the landlord’s children too, otherwise, their inheritance will be destroyed as they destroyed this woman’s property.” The head of the vigilante added.

Iya Farida tried to stand up but she noticed she couldn’t. When she was dragged out of the house she had hit her leg and scratched it on the floor. She couldn’t support herself with her right leg. She became scared when she notice blisters on her face and her hand. They had swollen. What could have happened? It was then shenoticed the rice grains on her body.

Iya Farida was rushed to the hospital. The vigilantes were so angry that they wanted to burn down the Baba Juwon’s house. The security quickly contacted the children as the lawyer who gave the instruction refused to show up. The children arrived in the nick of time. They quickly resolved the issue. They never instructed the lawyer to evict anyone. They also had agreed that Iya Farida remained as the care taker. The lawyer wanted to use intimidation to have his way but it failed woefully as the neighbourhood stood with Iya Farida.

Iya Farida stayed for several days in the hospital as her face and hand were scarred from the boiling rice water landing on her face and hand. Her ankle was twisted in the process of throwing her out which developed into a fracture.

Late Baba Juwon’s children came to visit Iya Farida in the hospital bearing gifts. They paid all her hospital bills and also assured her no one would chase her out of the house. Her twisted ankle required her using clutches which they provided for her. Unfortunately, the ankle never went back to normal and affected the way she walked because she couldn’t afford physiotherapy.

Life took its toll on Iya Farida. She had to depend solely on her teaching as she couldn’t carry load on her head which she used to augment her meagre salary. She had a roof over her head and did other menial jobs which her condition enabled her to do. Sitting in a place made her put on excessive weight which made movement on the ankle very difficult. She had help from just one source; her daughter 

Farida and now Ade decided to steal her joy. She had plans for him.

CHAPTER 5

A new tenant moved into the compound.

Christopherwho preferred to be called Chris

claimed to be a bachelor and worked as a clearing

agent at the port. He was light in complexion and

in the eyes of most of the tenants, very handsome.

He was tall, averagely built and had a gap tooth. All

the ladies in the compound were interested in him.

They dropped by his room to collect one thing or

the other. Before long, fights began in the

compound.

Iya Farida the caretaker called for a meeting about

the continuous fights in the compound.

“Oga Chris, is it that you enjoy the fights amongst

these girls? Why don’t you choose one girl and

leave the rest?”

“Iya Farida, I am not dating any of them. They are

just neighbours. Let any of them come out and say

I have ever touched her or kissed her before. I

haven’t. I have a girlfriend, she is at university.

When she comes, all of them will leave me alone. I

don’t have any interest in them”

“Have you heard him? Mothers here talk to your

daughters. They are the ones throwing themselves

at a man who doesn’t want them and they are

fighting a lost cause. He is not interested in any of

them o. Ladies, have you heard? If you go and meet

him you are an ashawo, a prostitute. Leave the man

alone”

There were laughter and grumbles but the matter

was settled. Everyone departed to their apartments

while talking amongst themselves. Iya Farida had

dropped a bomb which didn’t go down well with

some of the ladies involved but then what could

they do?

Farida, now twelve going on thirteen, was fascinated

by Chris. To her, she was the most handsome man

she had ever seen. She had feelings for him.

Whenever she saw  him, she shied away. Farida was

dark and had never seen a very light complexion

guy before except the ones who had different

shades of fairness due to use of inferior bleaching

cream. Bro Chris was very clean. His complexion

wasso shiny that she admired it. When he smiled

at her, her heart melted and she ran away. He

always dropped something for her and her brothers

anytime he clears goods from the Port. He brought

back toys, plates, biscuits, pasta, can foods, drinks,

chocolate, clothes, slippers, shoes and so many

other things. He gave other neighbours too but the

bulk was always to them because he liked maami.

Farida had begun to run errands for other people

apart from the tenants. She goes to the market and

buys things for them. She washed clothes, swept

compounds and got paid. Her brothers joined her

to work too. Their income over the weekend tided

them until the next weekend. Public holidays were

also a blessing. The new income had helped them

a lot. Maami started house lesson in the

compound. Her pupils came three times a week.

This was another source of income for them too.

Chris asked maami if she knew anyone who could

help him with cleaning his house for a token.

"Farida cleans for people. Ask that useless Ade,

Farida used to clean for him before he got

married.”

“Why did you call him useless?”

“My dear, you won’t understand. Tell him I said he

is useless”

“Ok, ma. So, what can little Farida do for me?”

“Let her work for you tomorrow then you will know”

“She can come. She should come by 10am. Let it

be 10am please, I don’t wake up early on

Saturdays”

“She will be there”

When maami mentioned it to Farida, she was

reluctant to go. Her reason was the way she felt

about the man but maami thought it was because

of what happened with Ade.

Eventually, maami taught Ade a bitter lesson. She

summoned him to her room and in the presence of

Farida warned him never to have sex with her

daughter again otherwise she will call the vigilante

group for him and make sure they burn him alive.

He was also to continue paying Farida for her work.

"Anytime she’sin your room and the curtains or the

door are closed she will raise alarm for the

compound people to gather and call you a rapist".

Brother Ade was scared for his life and never

touched Farida again. Any young girl that goes near

his room, Iya Farida will shout at her to leave there.

She didn’t want what happened to Farida to happen

to anyone else.

She also had a conversation with Farida. “You are

now a woman. You became a woman too early but

it doesn’t change anything. Do not allow anyone

bribe you into using you like Ade did. Do not enter

any man’s room and allow him shut the door. Tell

him to leave it open, your mother is watching. In as

much as I refused to do anything against Ade, I

want you to know that it is because of your future.

Nobody needs to know what happened; it is our

secret. But when it happens again then we are the

fools. If anyone touches you in a way you don’t like,

my child, shout for the whole neighbours to gather.

He will never try it again. From now on you will be

wearing mainly trousers; before they can remove the

trousers, people have gathered. No matter where it

is please, my dear, shout”

That year, Brother Ade got married. Ten months

after the wedding, his wife had a daughter for him.

During the naming ceremony, Iya Farida walked up

to and said in a low voice, “I do not want to curse

this beautiful baby girl but if at anytime you touch

any small girl like you did my Farida, men will rape

your daughter continuously even in your presence”

Brother Ade was startled by her words but quickly

regained his composure. He began to make plans

to leave the compound before his sins find him. It

took him several years to leave.

Farida was smitten by Chris. She loved the way he

looked and smiled at her whenever hesaw her. He

was her first crush. She talked about him to her

friends in school that they came around to catch a

glimpse of him. They were not disappointed. She

was to start work with him with him the next day,

how would she cope.

Farida was worried about meeting with him one on

one and being alone with him while she did the

household chores. Early the next morning, she got

ready and wore her best clothes to his house. It

was about 7:00am she boldly knocked on his door.

There was no reply. She knocked severally before

she heard someone grumble and then the door

opened. Brother Chris was topless and had on only

shorts. He had several black curly hairs on his

chest. She thought she would faint at that sight but

surprisingly, she kept a straight face. When she

looked at his face, he didn’t look happy to see her.

“I thought I told your mother you should come by

10:00am. Why did you wake me up from sleep?” he

asked.

Farida calmed down inwardly and said, “By

10:00am, the sun will be out and most people

would have occupied the lines. I might have to go

to the market for you and the freshest items are

best bought in the morning. If you give me a list of

things you want me to do, I will start from the

things that wouldn’t disturb your sleep”

Chris looked at her. He could see she was quite

sharp. She was also very beautiful even more

beautiful than her mum. She was still a small girl

but she was tall for her age and a bit robust. She

was a black beauty. This was the first time he was

observing her. He liked her. He asked her to come

in and take the instructions.

Farida was marveled when she entered his

apartment. Her crush on him vapourised and was

replaced by the apartment. No wonder all the ladies

wanted to kill themselves over him. Heoccupied a

room and parlour self-contained. He had a blue

light in the parlour. The walls were painted white

with gold shimmery designs. He had a big fluffy

brown rug on the floor, three bin bags, a round

glass centre table. She was shocked to see a room

divder which was white and coffee brown in colour.

It housed a 27” coloured television, a stereo, a CD

player, and loudspeakers. The door to his bedroom

was ajar. It had red light. There was a massive bed

on the side of the wall with an equally big mattress,

there was a blue rug on the floor and by the side a

wardrobe. She couldn’t wait to get in to investigate

further.

“Sit down. I can see you came prepared” he said

pointing at her notebook and pen she had in her

hands. “I needed you to help me clean up the

house and wash a few things for me as I send my

clothes to dry cleaner. You can go to the market for

me. Can you cook?”

“Yes, sir. I can cook very well”

“I am not too sure of that but I wouldn’t mind you

making stew for me and maybe something simple

like Egusi soup. Can you make that?”

“I can cook any soup. My friends are Igbo, Calabar,

Hausa and I help their mothers cook at home so I

can cook. Trust me”

Truly, she was sharp. He told her to write the list of

things she would need to cook and clean so she

could buy them at once. He estimated she would

be back after an hour so he could nap a bit more.

Farida was back in 40 minutes. She stayed outside

and prepared everything she would need to cook.

When she was set, she knocked again. Brother

Chris responded grudgingly but this time he made

himself decent. She entered into the kitchen first.

She tidied up everywhere including mopping the

floor. Then she put the meat on fire and started

workingin the sitting room. She opened the

windows and door before she started. She was

working and cooking. Brother Chris watched her in

amazement. She swept the rug in the parlour and

cleaned the room divider and all the electronics.

She used soapy water on the windows, left it to dry

and then used old newspaper to shine them. She

took out the things for washing and soaked them.

She changed the bedsheet and pillowcases and

asked for a replacement. She poured harpic into the

toilet and continued her work. Before 11 am, she

was done with everything including the cooking.

The quantity of soup and stew she made with the

money he gave her surprised him because he gave

more to other ladies and he would only get half of

what he got and not even as tasty. She boiled rice

for him to have with the delicious stew she made.

He was so impressed by her that he gave her

N2000 and asked her to go with some soup and

stew.

“Maami, you need to enter brother Chris house. It is

very fine. His kitchen is like the kitchen we watch

on telly. He has something that holds plates,

another one that holds knives and another one he

hangs his frying spoons and kitchen spoons. His

cupboard is not like our own. Each one has a door.

That is where he put his fine pots and some plates

that have a cover. They are very beautiful. He put

his foodstuff in another side. The rice he eats is not

like our own. The bag is like semovita bag but the

colour is brown” Farida went on and on. She was

impressed with what she saw. Then she told her

mother, “One day, maami, I am going to live in a

big house and have everything brother Chris has and

more. Even Nkoyo that is living in a flat doesn’t

have what brother Chris has. Maami, I want to be

very rich”

“It is my prayerfor you my daughter. I want you to

be very rich. That is why I push you to work hard in

school so you will get good jobs and make plenty

money”

“Maami, you went to school, how come you are not

rich?”

“I didn’t finish school that is why”

“I am not looking at going to school to be rich.

Aunty Chioma is always going for interviews, she

still hasn’t gotten a job. I want to marry a very rich

man. I will be his only wife. He will take very good

care of me; not like Alhaji. He will be young,

handsome educated and very rich. He will make me

happy”

Maami was perplexed at her daughter’s heart

desire. That wasn’t what she wanted for her. She

calmly tried to make her understand. “My daughter,

it is not as easy as that. Ok, what will you offer

him?”

“My beauty of course. He will not be able to resist

me”

“Farida, what beauty? See you, you are fat. You eat

too much. You refuse to rub cream on your body

every morning and night as I instruct you. Look at

how white your legs are. You walk around on bare

feet, look at the sole of your feet how chipped they

are. Apart from that, if he is educated and you are

not then you do not match. Can’t you see the men

that come for Chioma? See the cars they come in

and how they look. They know she is educated but

you, you have nothing to offer but the beauty only

you can see”

Maami’s words left Farida sleepless. Farida

pondered deeply on her mother’s words. She knew

she had something apart from her beauty. She was

hard working and she learnt things very fast. This

should also be a plus for her. But she realized her

mother was right. She was twelve and didn’t take

care of herself. She was going to be a teenager in a

few weeks and she still dressed andbehaved like a

child. Maami made them rub ori (shea butter) on

their body to moisture it but she hated the smell

and the way it made her sweat. She and her friends

spent most of their saved money on buying things

to eat and show off when they went to school. She

resolved to change all that. If she wanted to attract

a very rich man, she had to take better care of

herself, wear clean uniforms and socks, always

make her hair neatly every week and stop eating

junk so she could lose weight. She also resolved to

walk to and fro the market instead of taking a bike

(motorcycle) as she does. She didn’t want to rub

ori. Auntie Chioma uses very nice cream, soap and

body spray. She always smells nice. What she

would do is to negotiate with her. She will work for

her and in return, she would buy her a nice cream

and soap. Her school bag and sandals were

tattered. They did not suit a girl who wants to

attract a rich husband. She decided to talk to bro

Chris concerning them. He could see at his place of

work. This long vacation, she will spend less time

with her friends and more time working to make

extra money to transform herself. Also, she had to

study hard. She will get maami to help her with her

academics. She was going to be writing her Junior

WAEC examination next session so she needed to

sit up. She had it all planned and mapped out.

Farida put all her plans into actions. Immediately

after her examinations, she went to all her

customers and mapped out the time she would

work for them. It helped her know how much she

would make in a week. She earmarked how much

goes to her contribution at home while the rest went

to her saving which she put in a wooden ‘kolo’ also

called the piggy bank. She met brother Chris and

talkedto him about the school bag and sandals.

“What is your size and those of your brothers? I

have a customer importing school items, I can get

some things for you. What else do you need? Water

bottle, math set, pencil holders? Just name them, I

will get them for you once his goods arrive”

“Brother Chris, God will bless you. I will work for

you for free for …..”

“No, you don’t have to. I am getting them for free.

He is bringing them for sale and I am entitled to

some as his clearing agent. Once his container

lands I will bring for you. What is the colour of your

school sandals?”

“Brown sir”

“No problem. You will cook Ogbono soup for me

tomorrow. You can cook it at your house and bring

it when I get back. I enjoyed the last one you

cooked”

“Thank you, sir. I will collect the money in the

morning”

Farida was ecstatic. She was going to get new

sandals and school bag. Even mathset and water

bottles. Her brothers too will have new school

things. She was excited but contained it in order to

keep it a secret for now. She didn’t want others to

know about it and then disturb bro Chris for the

same thing thereby jeopardizing her chances.

Next was her uniform. She went to check the price

of the material in the market; it was affordable. The

sewing was the problem. So, she went to the tailor,

told her she would come every morning to sweep

her shop and then come in the evening to help run

errands in exchange for her to make uniforms for

her brothers and herself. The woman was amazed

that such a young girl could come confidently with

such an offer. She agreed, she took her

measurement and the measurements of her brothers

who were entering JS1. She told her the number of

materials she would need for two sets. She swept

the shop every morning and stationed her brothers

at theshop to run errands for the woman. She took

up extra jobs and within two weeks, she was able

to buy the materials.

She needed soap and cream. Auntie Chioma was a

nice lady but she was also snobbish. Farida had to

look for a way to get her attention. She observed

that Chioma stared at Chris whenever she saw him.

It used to prick her heart but now she knew what

she wanted, the rich husband wasn’t brother Chris.

If getting Chioma close to him will get her what she

wants then she would use it to penetrate Chioma.

She hacked a plan. She approached Chioma.

“Auntie, brother Chris likes you. He said out of all

the ladies in this compound it is you he likes best”

“Are you serious? Farida did he really say that?”

“He did. He said he likes the way you behave. You

mind your business and you don’t quarrel with

anyone”

“Chris said that? Anyway, he is right. I am not on

their level now”

“I said let me tell you”

“Thank you”

“Do you have any work for me to do for you?”

“I don’t have. I just got a job I am managing now.

The pay is small but it is better than nothing”

Farida thought for a while. Then she said, “I will

ask bro Chris if he can find work for you since I

know he likes you”

“Will you? If you help me, I will give you whatever

you want”

“Whatever I want? Is that a promise?”

“It’s a promise”

“Ok. Consider it done but you must keep to your

promise”

“I will”

Farida waited for bro Chris outside the gate to

come back from work. He was surprised when she

dragged him to a corner to talk to him.

“Farida, what is it?”

“Brother Chris, I need a favour from you”

“Is that why you had to wait outside? What is it?”

“Sister Chioma needs a job and I know you know

people that can employ her”

“Does she really needa job? I was under the

impression she was comfortable”

“She’s not o. She needs a job and she said she

would have asked you herself but she’s shy. Since I

am close to you. she begged me to ask you”

“Ok, I know a maritime company that is recruiting.

Let her give you her CV, I will submit it for her. She

should have come herself”

‘She is shy. I will get it”

“Is that all?”

“That’s all for now”

“Farida, you can disturb. I will do it for you”

Farida jumped excitedly to sister Chioma’s room.

She requested for her CV which she gave her with a

look of curiosity. Farida took it to brother Chris. To

her it was mission accomplished. She just had to

wait.

Sister Chioma came to their house three weeks after

to thank Farida. She got the job and she was very

happy. She wanted to rush out when Farida stopped

her and reminded her of her promise.

“I remember. So, Farida, what do you want?”

“I want a good bathing soap, cream and body

spray. You will buy them for me. That is all I want.”

Iya Farida was dumbfounded at her daughter’s

request. “Farida, how do you make such demands

because you helped someone?”

“Maami, we had a deal. I am not asking for too

much”

“Truly, you are not asking for too much. Tomorrow,

I will get you the soap, cream and roll on. You

don’t need a spray for now. They are not expensive.

I will also buy you packs of sanitary pad so you will

stop using tissue paper. I can see you are

becoming a lady and you are self-conscious. I will

gladly supply you the items every month. You are

like my younger sister”

Farida’s joy knew no bounds. She ran and hugged

sister Chioma. She was happy she understood and

didn’t back down on her promise and to always

supply them made her even happier.

When Chioma left, maami called Farida and asked

her what happened. Sheexplained how she used

brother Chris to get a job for sister Chioma and they

agreed she would do anything for her if she

succeeds.

“Did you use a rich husband to do this?”

‘No o, but I need those things to attract a rich

husband”

Iya Farida was speechless. Her daughter baffled

her. She still didn’t get the message. She was still

transfixed on getting a rich husband. If attracting a

rich husband would make her lose weight and take

better care of herself, then she would not

discourage her. She never knew there was more to

come....