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Basma quickly got up " I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't have entered your room like this "
Kalthum waved it off " you're inside already. It's not a bother. So what are you doing here? "
Basma rubbed her neck slightly " I came to have a word with you"
" With me? " Kalthum raised a brow
" Yes with you. Please listen to me "
Kalthum heaved a sigh then told her to sit " so what do you want to talk about? "
" About us"
" Look Basma you don't have to do this. I've already forgiven you so what else"
" I need to talk to someone and that person is you Kalthum. I need to take things off my chest "
Kalthum told her to go ahead
" It all started when I was in ss2. I met this group of friends that I wish I never met before. I was transferred from my former hostel to this new hostel where I came encountered with this clique. They were very popular back then. They were four in numbers, Aisha ,miracle, grace and fatima. Back then, they were my seniors "
" They were very popular back then that people speak highly of them. They were called the expensive chicks . Unfortunately for me, they were my neighbors because all our bunks was in same roll. Whenever they are together, they always try to have a conversation with me and I was this shy girl that everyone always laughed at. Kalthum, if you can remember vividly, my actions towards you changed after I came back home after a break given to us when I was in ss2 "
Kalthum nodded in agreement " true"
Basma did a boarding school while kalthum was a day student in another school.
"This ladies never for once laughed at me, infact they tried to make me their friend. I thought it was just a normal thing that your seniors want to be a friend. I latered became close to them not until this fortunate day when I found out their real reason for becoming my friend.
" There was this guy who was our head boy back then, his name is LawaL and he was a ladies man. Almost half of the girls in the school fell inlove with him. He really was a sight to see. I won't deny it, even I myself had a crush on him . Imagine my surprise when this expensive chick told me something I've never imagined. They told me lawal has been crushing on me ever since. I thought they were lying at first not until one of them called him with a phone and handed the phone over to me to speak with him. Although phones were not allowed but this ladies still squeezed in one "
Basma heaved a sigh then continued " He told me his feelings on the phone. He told me how long he had wished to talk to me and seems not to have the courage to do that because he was scared of rejection. I could remember vividly how I kept giggling like a normal secondary school girl. I instantly feel inlove with him. He was just so good with words Kalthum.
" we began to-date for about three weeks. Some of my mates were jealous of me. Some will always send me this hate look anytime they see lawal and I together and stupid me will be so happy because he chose me. I fell so deeply in love with him kalthum. I even grew jealous whenever other girls crush over him. Stupid old me " Basma shook her head sadly
" Then one night, this expensive ladies woke me up around 11pm. They wanted me to follow them to a party. I declined but they insisted that I should go because LawaL too will be there. Upon hearing Lawal's name , the urge to go became stronger. "
Kalthum listened attentively " but how did you people go out of the hostel? I thought the securities are always there to guard the gate?"
" yes there are securities but this ladies paid them off and they allowed us to go. Those girls were too smart for their liking. We went to the party and truth be told, I saw LawaL. I remembered how happy I was to see him. The ladies left me with him as they also went to dance with some of their male friends.
" Lawal pulled me to the dancing floor. We danced. He tried holding me in places I don't like, I tried pushing him away which actually annoyed him but he didn't show his annoyance. Then the next thing I know was that he excused himself saying he wanted a drink. Hearing him say that also reminded me of how thirsty I was. Then I told him to also get me a drink. The smile on his face widen that night, I should have suspected something but I didn't . I was crazy in love and innocent "
" Lawal came back few minutes later with my drink. I didn't even think twice before emptying it down my throat."
" please don't tell me he spiked the drink " kalthum asked with racing heart.
Basma wiped a threatening tears " yes he did. The drink was spiked. I began to feel dizzy then lawal offered to help me to a room where I can sleep the dizziness off, according to him. Truth to his word he took me to a room and lay me down on the bed before I know what was happening, he was on top of me Kalthum. I tried pushing him off but he didn't budged. I screamed but no one could hear me over the loud music. When he saw that I was resisting alot, he then hit he on the face not one, not twice but thrice Kalthum. I felt helpless, I was weak, he over powered me. "
" He had his way with me kalthum. LawaL raped me multiple times. That day I wished I was dead. I felt so dirty to the point that if there was a knife close to me at that time, I would have killed him and killed myself too" she broke down in tears
Kalthum was also crying after hearing this. She quickly went to sit beside Basma. She rubbed her back gently.
" I'm so sorry you had to go through that . But why didn't you report him? "
" No one believed me. LawaL came from a very rich family and it seems his father was also one of the sponsor of that school. That time, I really don't want to disturb mom and dad. I know they will be so pained if they knew what happened to me. Then I just decided to keep shut"
Basma wiped her tears painfully " I'm over it "
" But what about your friends, the ladies you came with? Did you tell them what he did to you? "
" Infact that was what broke my heart the most. They didn't even feel a little bit of remorse over it. They acted as if they already knew what was going to happened that night. Infact that was when they started to withdrew themselves away from me" Basma explained.
" They are wicked "
Basma shrugged " lawal didn't talk to me since that night and the expensive chicks also avoided me like they don't know me. I was heart broken Kalthum, I had no one to talk to at that time. I kept it all to myself. That incident changed alot of things about me which I'm not happy and proud about."
" I'm so sorry you went through all that "
" it's not your fault. Anyways, they finally graduated and till today we haven't been in contact with each other. I just don't understand Kalthum, I don't know why I'm not lucky with men. I thought LawaL will be the last bad guy I'll meet but it didn't stop there. Those that I later met only wanted one thing from me and that was sex. Sometimes I even thought it's my way of dressing. If you noticed, some years ago I tried changing my dressing style just maybe a decent guy will come my way but it never happened. "
" I rejected alot of this guys because of what they ask from me which I couldn't give them. Then lastly I came across Bashir, the first thing that came to mind when I first saw him was that he is good looking and nice. I thought I've found the right man Kalthum. I swear I wasn't prostituting my self around. Then this day, what I thought will never happen actually happened. Bashir asked for it too and that was when a switch turned inside of me. I then concluded that if that was what it takes to keep a man them I'll do it. "
" Then we planned to meet at that hotel. I have already given up on myself. I was ready to do what it takes to keep a man no matter what they asked for. "
Kalthum couldn't believe her ears " so you mean you were ready to sleep with him even though you know he was married? "
Basma nodded as tears pulled down her face " yes. I saw nothing wrong with that at that time. I was so stupid. I should really be grateful to you because you were the person that actually stopped me from committing another grave sin that day in the hotel."
" So are you trying to tell me that you have never slept with any other guy except for lawal who raped you? "
Basma nodded " yes."
" Then what about the condoms I saw you with at the Dantata's house?"
Basma bowed her head down in embarrassment " I came with it thinking if i started dating any of the Dantata's son, they might ask for ,you know " she couldn't say the word.
" Subhanallah Basma . Why did you turned yourself that way? You have me to talk to and you never did. Infact I want to know why you hated me so much? What was my own in what had happened to you? "
" I was so jealous of you Kalthum. You have many admires and not once have you ever given them a listening ears. I was so angry that why can't my own be like yours. I just wanted someone who loves me wholeheartedly but it was hard to find that kind of person. You are everything I'm not Kalthum. You're beautiful, smart, and innocent . I always felt insecure when we are together. I hated it when people say you're more likeable than I am. I was just so tired of rejection that I began to put all my frustration on you. I decided to make it my aim to make you suffer. I'm terribly sorry kalthum. I've wronged you alot "
Kalthum couldn't believe her ears " I'm totally speechless right now wallahi. I never knew you felt insecure because of me! I should be the one feeling insecure Basma. Have you seen yourself in the mirror? I always admire your beauty Basma that sometimes I wish I was as beautiful as you. Hearing this from you is just really surprising. You downgrade yourself too much which is why you find it hard to love and respect yourself ya Basma. How do you expect people to love you if you don't love yourself? Things are not done that way. "
Basma sobbed " I don't know what to do Kalthum. I'm tired of feeling this way. Please help me love myself again. I want to become my old self again. I'm tired of this new Basma. I'm tired of this wicked Basma. I want to be good again"
Kalthum smiled happily at this " I'll guide you in every step you want. I also want my old sister back. I really miss the old ya Basma and I want her back "
Basma chuckled lightly
Aunty Suwayba who has been eavesdropping moved away from the door with eyes filled with tears.
***
Habib watched the people who called themselves their parent with a hard look. They already knew why he was here.
" habib, son"
" Stop it mom" Habib cut her off " I guess you and your husband are now happy. You've achieved what you all wanted all along. Faisal is out of the house so now what? You're over the moon right? Why can't you two sit down and try correcting your mistakes. When will you realize that your children needs your apologies for all the time you've missed to spend with us. You were never there everytime we needed you and it hurts Alot. I guess after the twins also leave the house then maybe you'll finally realize your mistakes"
" We are still your parents Habib and you don't get to speak to us like that " Alhaji Dantata scolded
Habib shook his head disappointedly " This is one thing with you two. You never accept it when you're wrong "
" of course we realized that now son. We know we've wronged you and your siblings and we want to make everything better " hajiya Basira said sadly.
Habib raised a brow " you think sitting in one place will make everything work out? I guess you still have a lot to learn about becoming a parent . I really don't know why I'm even telling you this. It's all on you if you finally lose all your children. I'm out of here "
Habib turned around and left without turning back. We was done with them.