136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5Fp76pZTx
Amina picks at her food, her mind still reeling from the strange encounter—or was it a dream?—with Mami Wata. Grandma eats heartily, her sharp eyes occasionally flicking toward Amina, as if she can sense her granddaughter's unease.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXXTNWCwvo
When they finish, Amina stands to clear the dishes, her hands trembling slightly as she stacks the plates and utensils. She's about to leave when Grandma's voice stops her in her tracks.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wIWsZqM40
"Amina, where's my medicine?"
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJlUT1jFT3
Amina freezes, then quickly retrieves the packet of malaria pills from the basket. She hands it to Grandma, her fingers brushing against her grandmother's weathered hands.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXxUCNTtOM
"Here, Grandma. Take two with water."
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tXImoTqZg
Grandma nods, popping the pills into her mouth and washing them down with a sip from the glass Amina offers. She sets the glass aside and fixes Amina with a piercing gaze.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJB9th8eflu
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53Deu4tdNG
As Amina turns to leave, her hands tremble again, the basket wobbling in her grip. Grandma notices immediately.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLMOfa5Nc0
"Why are you shaky?" she asks, her voice sharp. "Are you pregnant?"
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGs9eWT7ItN
Amina's eyes widen, her face flushing with embarrassment. "Aì, Grandma! No! Why would you say that?"
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZgNicb3rB
Grandma's expression doesn't soften. "I saw Emeka leaving your room last night. Through the window."
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACn8DRI2lL
Amina's heart skips a beat. "Grandma, it's not what you think! He just came to talk—"
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9b1v8i34C
Grandma cuts her off with a wave of her hand. "Don't lie to me, child. I may be old, but my eyes still work."
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gA6QsbJsL
Before Amina can protest further, Grandma stands with surprising speed and grabs her wrist, her grip firm and unyielding. Amina flinches but can't pull away.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTOCnpLiFY
Grandma pulls Amina closer, her other hand reaching out to grasp her granddaughter's waist. She presses her palm against Amina's belly, feeling for any sign of pregnancy. Amina stands frozen, her cheeks burning with shame.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0rwFE1hMC
After a moment, Grandma releases her, her expression softening slightly. "You're safe," she says, her voice quieter now. "But don't bring men into this house. Your father is a good man, but he's strict about such matters. Follow his rules, and all will be well."
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiLJVlBbFY
Amina nods, her eyes downcast. "Yes, Grandma."
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBa3dU81Yio
***
Grandma helps Amina pack the utensils into the basket, her movements slow but deliberate. As she hands the basket back to her granddaughter, she looks Amina in the eyes, her gaze filled with a mix of sternness and concern.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDW41sI06P
"Be careful, child," she says. "The world is not as simple as it seems."
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBjzm6QEe2
Amina nods, though her mind is racing. How did Grandma know about Emeka? Did she really see him, or was it something else—something supernatural?
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEgzbgiV1U
As Amina walks back to her family's compound, the basket swinging gently at her side, she can't shake the feeling that something is watching her. The path is familiar, but today it feels different, the shadows deeper, the air heavier.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4v0ul70xpa
She glances over her shoulder, half-expecting to see Mami Wata or the old man from the market. But the path is empty, the only sound the rustle of leaves in the breeze.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAeBbZDUIP
When she reaches home, her mother is in the kitchen, preparing dinner. She looks up as Amina enters, her expression softening.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvXZSJKbNx
"How's Grandma?" she asks.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFSaqNQ2lm
"She's fine," Amina replies, setting the basket on the table. "She ate well and took her medicine."
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5arZzeCiey
Mama Nkechi nods, satisfied. "Good. Now, have you eaten?"
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIk8FsYYRS
Amina hesitates. "Not yet, Mama. I was waiting to get back."
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8viB7tc2uB
Her mother frowns. "You should've eaten with Grandma. A young girl like you shouldn't go hungry. Sit down and eat something now."
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1F1VQpaoa
Amina obeys, serving herself a small portion of the leftover jollof rice. As she eats, her mother rummages through her bag, her brow furrowed.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9InKL3rpW
"Amina, where's the rest of the money your father gave you last night? I only gave you ₦4,000 for the market. Where's the other ₦1,000?"
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx56wF8vehN
Amina's heart skips a beat. The ₦1,000—the same amount she gave to the old man at the market. She forces herself to stay calm. "I... I must have misplaced it, Mama. I'm sorry."
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtI2fe4HrsM
Mama Nkechi sighs, muttering under her breath about carelessness. "Well, keep an eye out for it. Money doesn't grow on trees, you know."
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zWvLpml45
***
As Amina finishes her meal, her mother turns to her with a serious expression. "Before you go, there's something else. Your father's friend's son from Lagos—the suitor—is coming for dinner tonight. He's in town, and he'll be staying in your elder brother's room at the edge of the compound. It's better than him paying for a hotel, and it will give him time to... observe you."
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6X85Xt2eW3
Amina's stomach drops. "Observe me?"
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmWEKocsPV
Mama Nkechi nods. "Yes. He wants to see if you're a good match. If you behave well, the dowry will be higher—more lavish. This is a big opportunity for our family, Amina. Don't ruin it."
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjhzXqUYiD
Amina forces a nod, though her mind is racing. She doesn't want to marry someone she's never met, especially not someone who's being forced on her. But she knows better than to argue.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBsAAUHDbH
"Clean your room and your brother's room," her mother continues. "Make sure everything is perfect. We want to make a good impression."
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDKibSsLCx
***
As Amina leaves the kitchen and heads to her room, her mind is a whirlwind of emotions. She can't stop thinking about the suitor. What does he look like? Is he handsome? She can't imagine marrying an ugly man, not when she has so many admirable qualities. She's intelligent, hardworking, and beautiful—everyone says so. Surely she deserves someone who matches her worth.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg18NC0NO2X
But what if he's rude or arrogant? What if he expects her to be a submissive wife, cooking and cleaning without a thought for her own dreams? The thought makes her stomach churn.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BlfIQ3sSN
As she begins tidying her room, she glances at the talisman in her pocket. It's a small comfort, a reminder that there are forces at work beyond her control. But even the talisman can't protect her from the decisions her family is making for her.
ns216.73.216.238da2
