C6 SIX

INDO'S POV

It was after two weeks of being hospitalised that I was discharged, throughout those weeks, neither did Aliyu come to check on me nor his family members.

Well, he lied to them that we traveled for honeymoon.

When the doctor announced that I was going to be discharged today, I wasn't happy at all, though I hate hospitals but I rather stay in the hospital than go back to that hell.

After I was discharged it took more than an hour before Aliyu sent someone to pick me up.

The man who I guess was his friend came to pick me up, we greeted each other before he went to sign my discharge papers and also pay the hospital bills. The doctor also didn't forget to tell him the do's and don'ts.

"I have prescribed some antibiotics for her which she will use for six months and when she starts using them, her symptoms will begin to improve, recovery time varies alot and its depends on her general health status, age and how severe her pneumonia is.

She had been diagnose with pneumonia and if her symptoms don't improve in 48 hours or if they get any worst, call 111 or 999 for reassessment.

After using the drugs as prescribed for a week her fever will go away, after four weeks her chest will begin to feel better and she will produce less mucus. After six weeks she will cough less and find it easier to breath, affter six months most of the symptoms should be gone though she may still feel fatigue but after six months she will be back to normal.

When he was done giving the lecture we went home.

On our way home he kept talking and talking, I wasn't really in the mood because my mind was on the demon I was going home to see.

Aliyu's friend kept talking when I zoned out completely, I don't know for how many minutes.

I heard him calling my name, then I turned and looked at him.

"What are you thinking of?" He asked

"Nothing" came my reply.

Was he expecting me to tell him about my marital problems, or tell him that his friend is a demon,or tell him I don't want to go back to that hell of a house, or tell him that I want to end my marriage.

Or the fact that the man I was married to almost lead to my death and is the reason behind my stay in hospital, and throughout my stay he didn't for once came to check on me.

"Indo,you can tell me anything,I know you are trying hard to live with Aliyu. Look, I know who Aliyu is and what he is capable of doing. I'm his best friend and have Tried very hard to make him stop all his bad attitudes but it was if no use. Trust me at first he started changing but later, he got influenced by friends and continued his way ward attitudes. So if you have any problem with him or he does anything bad to you, you can always talk to me please"

I felt like I found a brother.

"Uhmm" I nodded in reply.

Soon we were at the gate of the house, Mal Garba opened the gate and we entered.

I was really scared but I had no option other than to enter the house, we entered together with Aliyu's friend.

They did their manly greetings and they gisted for some minutes before he said his goodbye.

"Use your drugs as prescribed" He said before walking to his car.

I was about to go to my room when aliyu shouted

"Where do you think you are going to"

I turned to look at him but he wasn't looking at me, instead he was operating his laptop, so I thought he wasn't talking to me.

I started to walk away when he said

"Go drop your belongings and come back here"

"Okay" I replied weakly.

I did as he said, I came back almost immediately.

I came back and saw some strange faces standing with the gateman which I later found out are the house helps, cook and the dry cleaners which his mom hired to be helping me while I was away I guess

They where all standing in the living room like statues

I was very suprise to see all of them assembled. Aliyu got up and went to his room, he came out with some envelopes in his hand an kept them on the center table.

"Everyone should carry one envelope" He said. They all did as ordered.

"As from today onwards all of you are not going to continue working here again, the envelope you are holding is your salary as well as your compensation. You can all leave"he said.

"Did we do anything wrong?" One of them dared to ask.

The silence they heard convinced them he wasn't going to say a word.

They walked out sluggishly, probably thinking of how their life is going to be, even though Aliyu had never been good to them for once, they were still willing to continue working here because, that is there only source of income for them and their families and they always receive more than they are working for.

After they all left, he walked majestically to where I was standing.

My heart which was already at the bottom of an ocean sinked down to the earth's core

"There won't be any house help or gate man in this house anymore. You will be the gate man, the house help, the cook and dry cleaner.

Everyday you will wakeup by 4:00am, sweep the entire house, mop and dust everywhere, you should cook three times daily and if I'm going for work you will be their to open the gate at likewise when I am back.

I normally take my cloth to the laundry but now since you are here you will be the one to do the washing and ironing of my clothes every day Understood?"

I understood what he meant that I was now his slave.

"Yes" I nodded my head.

When he wasn't going to say anything again, I turned and was about to go to my room when he shouted at me.

"Did I say you should go?"

Like a puppet I came back and stood in the same position I was before.

"And if you dare tell anyone about this consider yourself dead" he threatened.

I answered with an okay and left.

I went to my room and cried my heart out,crying is now my hobby and part of my daily routine even though I promised myself not to cry anymore.

I kept asking myself if I was a donkey or if I looked like one, because if not donkey who can do all this.

I was crying when he came inside my room and told me I had visitors and I should wash my face before going to meet them,I did exactly as he said.

when I came out of the rest room he had already left, so I wore my hijab and went down to the living room.

I met them talking about only God knows what before all the attention shifted back to me.

"Hello, Good day ma'am" I greeted them trying to act like a normal happy wife.

"Hello" Aunty Jiddah replied.

We exchanged pleasantries and started talking, amidst the conversation she turned to the girl with her. "Maryam won't you greet Your sister in law".

I turned to look at the girl called Maryam and it was his cousin that came with his sister saudah the other day, she looks older than me, may be she's in her early twenties.

"Oh, never mind" I tried to dose off the fire. But,

"Hey" she greeted me with disgust and I knew something was off. I wondered if I came between her and Aliyu.

Nevertheless "Hi, how are you" I answered her, giving her my best smile.

"Aunty let me get some refreshments for you" I stood up to go seeing Maryam wasn't ready to answer my greetings.

"I'll go with you" Maryam followed.

However on entering the kitchen she just stood still staring at me like a witch while I opened the fridge to get some drinks.

"Is it indo they call you or what? "I wounder what yaya alee saw in you, just take a look at yourself"she said looking at me from head to toes

"A poor village girl"she said looking disgusted

"You made a great mistake by marrying my first love and I promise you you're going to leave this house soon"she said snatching the try from my hands and left

She was right though buh I didn't make the mistake, my parents did. As the calm teenager I was I listened as she spoke

I stood there staring at Her till she left the kitchen and I couldn't stop the tears that rolled down from my eyes.

What type of life is this?

His cousin is here threatening me for the mistake my parents made and she too won't spare me.

I mean it wasn't my choice to come in between whatever it is they had between them.