****

"Assalam 'Alaikum." He greeted with a vibe of excitement in his voice.

"You're Humaira right?"

She just nodded her head to reply him yes.
"Ummm... I was thinking we should spend time together. You know, to know each other better and perhaps become friends. Take this." He hands her a souvenir.

Star gasped to it as if she just won a lottery ticket.

"I want to take care of you, Humaira. Only if you give me a chance. I'll do anything for you whatsoever. All you have to do is to just name it."

The way he spoke reminded her of Alhaji Musa. They were all the same disgusting things... Shameless men.

"Sorry for the disappointment but I am not interested. I wasn't raised to be a slut, if you'll excuse me please."
Humaira rolled her eyes at him and. stood up with anger burning down her lungs. She turned her back at him, throwing his souvenir away as she walked upstairs.

"Humaira! Come back here!" Star commanded but she didn't even answer let alone turn back. Her eyes danced at the direction as she watched her friend in disappointment, dashing into her room.

"I only came to check on you Humaira! Have I done something wrong?" Alhaji Tanko muttered emotionally rather disappointed.

Humaira felt a little restless and bursted entered her room, locking up herself again. She knew she would have to face him one day but...
'Is he jobless? Why is he after me?' A voice cried in her head.

Only if she had a way, she would have smatched his old brains to the wall. "That old fool." She muttered, breaking down into tears again and letting that anger flow through her body but she tries to hold the feeling back. It's just too unbearable as the thoughts still sent goosebumps crawl on her skin.

Disgusting.

She stared at Hadee that was still playing with his toys. He didn't even know if his mother was sad or not, he was just arranging his toys in accordingly in a ruler order and shaking his head from side to side in a crazily, robotic manner while Humaira kept on crying.

"Don't worry Alhaji Tanko. I'll talk to her." Star begged as she led him to take a seat.

"Is she alright? She doesn't look happy at all to meet me. Is it me or is it something else?" Concern plastered his face.

"Don't worry about her. Humaira is just shy. She's new to all of these but don't worry sir. I'll try to convince." Star faked a smile just to cheer him up.

An awkward silence reigned in the room for a while. Alhaji Tanko took one more gulp from the cup of wine before him and then stood up.

"I just wanted to know her more and spend a quantity time with her for now. It's not as if I'll take her into an hotel room to spread her legs. I'm not that hungry for sex you know?"

"Don't be angry Alhaji."

"No... I'm not angry. I just wondering why she's mad at me."

"Ummm... Actually, Humaira has been through a lot. I'll explain it to you gradually but... she's a mother of one."

"What? Are you serious?" his eyes widened, flabbergasted.

"Yes, Alhaji Tanko. It's a long story. A past that she's willing to leave behind." Star explained vividly, trying to make things clear.

"She should be ready to accept new things then, that is; if she wants to leave the past behind. So there's no rush. Was that why she was acting strange? What is she scared of exactly?" His last words ended with a a soft snicker.

"It's a long story, I'll explain it to you gradually sir... Probably, when next we meet. I'll suggest you exercise patience with my friend... Or you can have some nice time with me if you want." She moved closer to him, showing him her sexy legs.

The Alhaji rolled his eyes at her and burst out into laughter.

"Star girl! Star girl!!" He praised as she kept blushing to his words.
"I've heard a lot about you... And I must say, you're legendary when it comes to this business but please. You're not just the one."

"What?" Her smile dropped.

"Yes Star. I need someone that would take care of me. Somebody reserved. Someone new and timidly beautiful... Someone like Humaira. I think she's the one I truly want."

"Awwwwn..." Star meowed and moved away from him a bit. "You're making me feel rejected but... Okay, I'll look forward to our discussion."

"It's no problem, let's meet tomorrow evening at my place." Then he took a brief glance at his rolex wrist watch. "I'll be taking my leave now. Star girl... Take care." He gave her a hug before leaving.

"Habaa! Are you going to leave your girl like that?" Star rolled her eyes at him as if she was annoyed. Pouting her lips out and giving him a ridiculous look.

He smirked at her words and let out a small smile before seeing his right hand into his side-pocket, handling her a big bundle of new naira notes.
"Help me talk to her, please."

"Okay Alhaji."

"I'll be at 'Emerald Suites' just in case."

"Okay, sir. Thanks for everything." She happily counts the money and puts it in the side pocket of her jean, bum-short, accompanying him to his Big black Range-Rover HSE parked in her compound. His driver drove him out of the compound as Star locked the gates going back to check on Humaira that was still killing herself in tears.

Knock! Knock!! Knock!!!

Star knocked on Humaira's door.

"Open this door right now before I do something you don't expect!" Star fired. She could hear Humaira silently sobbing from inside.

"Wait! Are you crying?... Like seriously?!.. what is wrong with you, Humaira!!"

Her silent whimpering lingered in the air.

"Just open this door right away. I need to see your face!" Star fired again.

Humaira was tired of her noise, she pulled the door open. Quickly wiping away the tears with the back of her hands and stopped crying for a while. She went back to seat on the bed looking freaking pale and worried.

Star stood before her staring at her in confusion. She was puzzled and couldn't understand what made Humaira cry at the first place, when she was the one that disappointed the guest.

"Why are you crying now, Humaira? Who beat you? Ehn? You just made me look like a fool in the presence of a respectful man like Alhaji Tanko. I'm really disappointed and pissed off right now... And you're here crying."

"I'm not just strong to accept any of these. I'll blame myself till the end of my life, Star... I just can't do it no matter how hard I think about it." Humaira murmured as a solemn tear rolled down her cheeks while her lips quivered in fear. Her mind was clouded in the fog of regrets.

With these, Star's high eyebrows came down as she felt pity for her friend.  She sat next to Humaira on the bed and gave her a soft, side cuddle.

"It's okay, my dear. I don't know what exactly you might be going through but I understand what it feels like taking a life style as dirty as this one. It's not as if I'm also happy doing it but hopefully, I'll get my own prince charming one day.... I'll definitely leave this job. It's not the best in the world but it's what I have to do in other to survive." Stars voice shivered a bit as she admitted.

She knows definitely, it won't be easy for her but she had to do it no matter what.

"Let me tell you something... That Alhaji Tanko is a very good man. He's one of the owner of Audu Tanko Oils... The famous one you use to hear about and he's also one out of the ten most
wealthiest man in the whole of Arewa." She persuaded.
"Apart from that... Alhaji Tanko is an ambassador of Nigeria in Dubai. You should be grateful he came to meet you at least. Its been 3 years since I've started this work but I've been dreaming to catching a big fish like Alhaji Tanko. He's very nice, gentle down to earth. He is just have urges and needs because he's human. Just like me and you, Humaira."

"What are you now insinuating?" Humaira jerked, thoughtfully. "That I sleep with a married man outside marriage? That I become a prostitute? A slut?"

"It's almost a year now. Alhaji Tanko's wife went to Tokyo to stay with their daughter and do business. She did not even come home for once. She said she won't be coming home." Star went to grabbed Humaira's hands and knelt down before her. "Please do this for the people you love and give them hope to live a better life as well. You being a bird of sacrifice isn't too bad, right?" She asked, staring into Humaira's eyes. Humaira stared back in the same confusion.

Her mind went back to how wretched her mother's house looked the last time she visited. How her sister, Zainab must be coping with the Bala's. And lastly... How Hadee's future would ever look if she keeps struggling like this. Being a bird of sacrifice for the people she call her family isn't a big deal.

"I'll do it, Star. I'll meet him." Her lips shivered to the vibration of the words that just came out of her mouth. As if they were too heavy for her but she said it, with tears slowly lingering down her cheeks. Thinking about the new decision, a great tremor overtook her thin body.

"Fine then." Star smiled with tears filling in the empty space of her eyes. She hugged Humaira tightly with a fulfilled smile and muttered to her.

"I'll give you an address to meet him during this week. I know it's not easy... I know it's not right but you're doing this for a purpose, right?"

"Hmmm..." Humaira muttered and sniffed while star smiles.

****

168 HOURS LATER...

It was just about sunrise... She woke up to the sound of shower coming from the bathroom, eastwards.
The room was dark and cold, due to the air conditioner. There was a sweet saint to strawberry and rose flowered scent in the room, that which Humaira truly loved. The bed too was very soft and comfy. Humaira was was in 'Emersld Suites Hotel' with her new catch, Alhaji Tanko.

Although she doesn't look happy at all, she was just there thinking about what sin she's committed against herself. And what sin she's about to commit. If God would ever forgive her, for he is the Most-Forgiving. In a red shiny, silky nightgown, Humaira walked to the bed. She laid gently with Alaji Tanko as he stared into her eyes, hungrily. As time crept by, they got intimate throughout the night. It was her first time since the last 15 months, when the incident between her and Alhaji Musa happened.

She wasn't sure if this was the right thing to do but she was already in it...

Just then, a hand touched her cheek and she shivered to the touch.

"What are you thinking of this early morning, my lady?"

"Nothing." She faked a smile as if she was truly happy.

"You're the most sweetest thing I've seen, Humaira. I had so much fun throughout the night. All thanks to you." He spoke with so much sincerity.

Humaira couldn't even look at him. She just blushed shyly and looked away.

"Umm... I'll be going for a brief meeting in South Africa tomorrow morning but I'll be back before weekend." He smiled, taking his Eco Bank check book from the stool beside the bed.

He opened it and wrote a check for her, handling her the slip.

"Take this Humaira. I know it's small but... Manage it till I come."

Humaira gently collected it and stared at the amount he just signed with disbelief. "Five hundred thousand naira?"

"Yes, my dear. It's all for you." His grin widened across his chubby cheeks.

"Thank you so much, sir! I'm truly grateful!" Tears prickled down her eyes as she stared at her highest payment ever received.

"Don't cry, my dear. This is nothing compared to how much I want to spoil you with riches." He hugged her softly as she already started thinking of how to spend the money.

First... My little Hadee would be able to receive proper therapy. I'll be able to pay my school fees without going through so much pain and difficulty... I would finally be able to send Humaira some money and probably pay her school fees myself. And lastly... My mum's house. I'll have to renovate it and reconstruct something worth living in but... Would mother be proud?

***
Words and Translations.

-Arewa: Northern Nigeria.