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The next day, at the appointed time, Zakiyya was relaxed, it was as if she had forgotten the appointment. I said to her 'Ke(meaning you) you are forgetting something. Shouldn't we be somewhere? 'No, I don't think it is a good idea. What if Hajiya finds out! I don't think I will be going. Besides he may be lying about liking me, why will he just like me?' "We are going, even if I have to drag you by the neck. Think about it. Let's just go and see what he is up to. As for Hajiya she still calls you Halima or Maryam, I don't think she would notice. Don't know how to break it to you but you are the least of her interests" "I still don't think it is a bright idea" she murmured She was used to being bullied and pushed around all her life. "Get ready" my pushy self said. I manage to to sufficiently bullied her into going. She wore her veil and followed behind me as we crept out.

We now work for a new Hajiya. We all call her Maama. Maama was a different breed. She seem to always forget our names, I could swear it is intentional. She calls us with whatever name that comes to her mind. You just have to answer her. The worst was that you could cannot decipher who she is calling. We had to guess. Today, she called me Delu and I politely said 'it's Ladi' this seem to made her angry and amused at the same time. She called people of her household and told them about what I did. She now said "See this clown, from today onwards we are going to call her 'stick'" And so, I came to be known as stick while Zakiyya enjoyed the numerous other names that came to Hajiya's mind. Hajiya was not mean per se. She just treat us like semi-human beings. Mostly ignoring us and doesn't care what we do with our lives. We were allowed to go out. Most times she sent us on errands in the late night. Maama has a hell of an appetite, sometimes we

Jamila told Kandala to come with her daughter to the station the next morning before she left. Villagers were hovering over Kandala while she explained everything to them. She felt assured of a definite victory. Justice will finally be done. Now that ever body knows the truth and Malam Dogo punished, her daughter's name will be cleared she thought. What she failed to understand was that, even if that happens the villagers will still stigmatize Zakiyya. Something she came to understand when it was too late. The next morning, Kandala, Zakiyya and Hamisu set out for the station, In a way Hamisu was proud of Kandala's actions and tacitly approve of them. They reached the station and met Malam dogo's family who looked at them with resentment. They simply walk pass them and went to the counter. The police questioned Zakiyya and her parents. After that they were asked to leave. The police promised to call them if they were needed. Kandala and Husna trusted the system

Kandala was unaware of what was happening. She was busy washing a pot, when she decided she needed more ash to scrub. She went to where her firewood stand was. She heard soft sobs. At first she taught her ears were playing tricks on her. But the sobs continued. She walked to their reception (zaure). She held the most disgusting site. There was Malam Dogo, his shorts pulled down, he was on top of Zakiyya, he cuffed her small hands in his large ones. He was busy, and did not hear Kandala. Kandala shouted. He tried to shush but She carried a stick that was beside them and started hitting him, while she cried, wailed and shouted for help. Malam Dogo managed to escape and ran away. Kandala, took her two kids and set out for her in laws house. She was too shaken to explain what had happened. She was speaking incoherently. After a few minutes, she regained her composure and narrated what had happened. Enraged, her father and brothers in law, set out for Malam Dogo's house. Malam Do