"People will always talk behind you , make sure to give them an interesting topic".
Anonymous.
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Anas knocked on the door of Nawal's hostel and patiently waited for her roommate to open the door.
The door instantly flew open , revealing a tall yet curvy beautiful lady. Her coffee brown eyes fitted her radiant melanin skin. She looked older than Nawal but she was still a beauty.
Anas' eyes roamed around her body before he met her gaze.
He could tell she was a Nigerian, unlike Nawal.
"And you are?"... she was expecting to see Nawal not this man.
"A client, who came to file a complaint"... Anas started his acting.
"Oh my, come in sir"... She ushered him in.
"Halim by name and you are?"... Anas lied about his name, just incase she wants to expose him. He knew who she was but just decided to act dumb.
"Nasha"... she smiled.
"My dear Nasha, Aren't prostitutes suppose to perform their duties?"... he asked and Nasha simply nodded in response.
"Well I am sorry to say but Nawal isn't performing her duties or rather... job. Is she not a prostitute or has she quit?".... Anas held a serious face as he spoke.
"No she has not quit"...Nasha spoke as she began to think.
"It came to my notice that you were brought here recently to supervise Nawal because she does not return home with money for the past 4 years right?"... Anas asked and Nasha nodded in responses
'Nawal doesn't return with money like before and she doesn't dress like the way she use to. She now dresses decently, could it be that she let herself get carried away?'...Nasha thought.
"I am not the first person she has done this to. For the past 4 years , she has denied everyone that came her way and you want to know why?"... Anas feigned anger.
"Why?"... Nasha was curious to know.
"She is seeing someone and he isn't even close to her class. He is a poor man with nothing to offer her other than lies "... Anas hissed.
Nasha gasps... 'That explains everything. The constant smiles , the decency, the lack of money. Nawal is slacking off. I will deal with her'.
"They are even together as we speak"... Anas stated making Nasha stare at him.
"This is bad. Can you take me to them sir. Please"... she pleaded.
'Here I was , thinking of a way to convince you to come with me. You didn't have to plead, I was going to take you to them either ways'.. Anas says inwardly.
"Okay, let's go" ... Anas said and Nasha followed him.
Soon they made it to where Asad and Nawal were.
Anas eyes widened as he saw them trying get intimate while Nasha stared at them with utmost disgust.
'So it's that flour guy from the other day'... Nasha thought.
"Don't make a sound. Let them be for the night".... Nasha told Anas.
"Okay"... Anas whispered.
"I know how to deal with her. This poor man won't know what hit him"... Nasha stated.
*****
The following day, Asad finished from classes early and went to meet Nawal at the library.
They were going to study together.
He bought a pack of chocolate on his way and a rose.
He got in and his eyes dropped on a man and ... Nawal?
He rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn't dreaming then he checked again.
The man was freely kissing Nawal and Nawal seemed to be enjoying it.
Asad's heart suddenly sank in at the sight of everything.
The gifts he bought for her fell to the ground as he stared at them.
He was too shocked to do anything.
The duo turn to look at Asad.
"You are interrupting us boy.." Nawal was the one that spoke.
"Interrupting? Boy?"... Asad was surprised.
"Yes... can't you see we are in the middle of something"... the man spoke.
"Nawal what's the meaning of this?"... Asad asked.
He was surprised that he was calm.
Maybe it's because his mind has not finish processing what he just saw.
"Excuse me"... Nawal got off the man she was with and walked up to Asad.
"Have we met? Do I know you mister?"... she asked as though they have never met.
Asad became speechless.
"I..I ... Aren't you my ba—"
Asad was caught off Nawal.
"Your what?... please don't ever in your life associate yourself with me. I don't roll around with losers..." she glared at Asad and started walking away.
Asad pulled her hand and stopped her in her tracts.
He pulled her close to him and forced her to look at him.
She avoid his gaze as he stared at her.
"Was it because of yesterday's kiss? I am rushing our relationship? If yes then I am sorry. Please don't treat me like this, let us sort things out"... he apologized but Nawal did not respond.
"Hey... look at me please"... It came out as a plea from Asad's mouth.
"You are the only I have. I am sorry if you are mad at me my baby"... he pleaded with her.
He could feel his heart bleeding as he spoke.
He was scared that she would leave.
She was the only one who took her time to heal him and bring him out of his darkness.
She showed him the way to the light and now she wants to leave?
"Please... I ... I love you"... Asad said hoping Nawal would stay.
Nawal gazed at him with an unknown emotion for a split second before her eyes turned cold .
She then pulled out of his grip.
"Love my foot. I don't know you , I don't deal with loser of your kind. You don't have money , you don't have a house of your own. You don't even have a life so why on earth should I stay with you"... Nawal stated.
Her words pierced Asad's heart like a stab in the heart and she said it right to his face without hesitation.
"I don't need your love . I don't need you either. Money boy!.... Money is what I am after"... Nawal spat.
"When I saw you going to the bar , I thought you had hell of money and that's why I was nice to you but when I found out that you didn't even have a life , I was beyond disappointed".... Nawal stated.
"I am a prostitute dear. I get under men's trousers for their money and leave and you weren't willing to give me any so why on earth should I stay?"... she asked Asad who was in pain.
Pain that he had finally healed from.
"I... I..." Asad heaved a sigh as he lowered his cloudy gray eyes that we're getting glossy.
"I know you are just saying all this. You aren't like this Nawal. I have seen the real you"... Asad said.
"You don't know me , you just know my name"... Nawal replied.
"I will get the money if that's what you want. Just... just stay with me... please".... Asad stated , gazing at her when he said the last part.
He then went on his knees and picked up the flower for her.
"I know I am a poor man and I don't have much to offer but I promise I will become better for you and for me... I promise to become better for us. I promise you the world. Just don't leave me Nawal . I take God's Name beg you my love".... Asad was in tear as he spoke.
He knew it wasn't manly like of him to cry in front of a lady but he could help it at this point.
He felt like she was all he had.
"Nawal, quit listening to this loser and come let's get out of her"... the man she was making out with spoke.
Nawal turned and faced the guy she was making out with and smiled.
"Sure thing honey"... she stated as she walked away from Asad who was still on his knees with a flower in his hand.
Nawal intertwined her hands with that of the man she was making out with and they both exited the library, leaving Asad with not only a pained but also a shattered heart.
His shoulders dropped and he allowed himself sob freely on the library floor.
'Was I living in a fantasy all this while?'
***
Anas watched the way Nawal walked out of the library with that man and the way Asad sobbed freely like a child.
He watched Asad with pity as the night went by.
Asad didn't bother standing up or leaving the library, he just stayed still .
Anas thought he was dead for a moment.
He had to go and check up on him to make sure he is still alive.
"Asad?"... Anas called out but Asad seemed lost.
"Asad get up, we have class"... Anas stated hoping Asad would get up but Asad remained silent.
"Asad"... Anas groaned and tried dragging a lifeless body up.
Asad stood up with Anas' support and just walked out of the library.
His hair was ruffled and his eyes had a darker shade of gray.
He felt like his life was crashing down and his heart kept on bleeding.
He felt like ripping his heart out because the pain was too much for him to handle.
He felt like he was dying but he was still breathing.
Anas watched Asad pass his hostel and went straight to the riverbank.
The one where he had his first encounter with Nawal.
Asad did not hesitate to jump in making Anas scared.
'I have to do something, if i let him die, big boss will kill me'.... Anas started panicking.
Anas quickly jumped in and pulled Asad out of the water.
Asad was unconscious as he laid on the wooden floor.
Anas placed his hand on Asad's heart and relief washed over him when he heard Asad's heart beating.
His heart beat was slow but at least he was still alive.
Anas then carried Asad and took him back to his hostel to rest.
Asad was awoken by Kamal in the middle of the night.
With a confused gaze , Asad pushed Kamal away.
"You were crying and calling Nawal's name in your sleep"....Kamal pointed out to Asad who remained silent.
Silence that began to grow within him again.
Soon Asad started acting like his old self again.
Cold , void and empty.
He stopped attending classes and was always found in the bar , drinking away his pain.
He avoided going out during the day cause he didn't want to run into Nawal with some guy again.
And he stopped going to the library too.
That was her new place to go and make out with other guys.
Everyday , he would sit and ask himself .. 'Where did it all go wrong?'
And sometimes , he would call her on his phone in his drunken state and cry to her to come back but she would always reply him with insults.
After another sleepless night, Asad walked out of the bar in a bad mood.
He went back to his hostel and started breaking things .
He started shouting and tearing things apart.
First his parents then his uncle and now her too?
He just wanted to die but each time he tries, someone always saves him.
He was tired of it all.
He broke his last wine bottle on the floor and just sat there , thinking about his miserable life.
***
Nawal was leaving today and wanted to see Asad one last time.
He was nice to her and all but she can't stay even if she wanted to.
What sadden her was the fact that he was the only man who genuinely cared about her and loved her and now she had to leave.
She walked to his hostel and met the door wide open with broken furniture all over.
Her eyes widened as they traced the broken furniture and it led her right to the person breaking all the furniture in the room.
It was him.
Asad.
He sat at the edge of the room , broken wine bottles surrounded him. His fists had a dark shade of red on it, slowly dripping down and staining the wooden floors.
She couldn't see his face because his hair covered it but she could hear his breathing, it was uneven.
He was panting.
"Asad"... she called out softly but got no response.
"Asad..." her voice was a little bit louder but he remained silent , as if she wasn't even there.
"Asad, please answer me"... it came out as a plea.
"I didn't mean anything I..." she was caught off by Asad who stood up and stepped on the broken glass bottle on the floor.
The glass piercing into his feet letting his blood stain the floor.
He seemed undismayed as he walked.
"Asad what are you going?"... she gasps as she heads towards him to help him but he puts his hand in front of her as a barrier.
"Don't..." he warned.
"Perhaps everything we shared was not important to you but it was everything to my cold fragile heart"...
Nawal could only stare with sad eyes.
"I love you Nawal... now tell me, is it a crime to be loved in this messed up world?".
"It's not what you think Asad."
"To hell with you and what you think"... His cloudy gray eyes were back to being not only void but also cold. Just like his demeanor.
He walked closer to her , the broken glass kept on entering his feet but that was the least of his problems.
He could bare the pain.
It was not as bad as what he felt in his heart.
"Stop it, you're hurting yourself"... she tried to help him but he pushed her away causing her to fall.
"Why would you care, didn't you say I had nothing to offer you"... he narrowed his eyes as he jerked her up.
Her nostrils immediately picked up the smell of liquor as he pulled her close to him.
Her heart racing as she stared into his dead looking eyes.
"You have nothing to offer me as well, you're so ungrateful that one man can't satisfy huh?"... Asad felt the bang in his heart as his spoke.
"You're are can't be satisfied right? You're so desperate that you even pay guys money to sleep with you. You disgrace me. You're a disgrace to your gender. Knowing that you're a prostitute shatters me, and knowing that you derive pleasure from other guys pleasing you drives me crazy"... he moves closer to her and whispers the last part to her ear.
Nawal eyes became glossy as she listened to Asad.
He then moves back and stares at her . She released a sigh she didn't know she was holding . "What ? Should I continue? Is that what you want? For me to touch you, for me to feel you and then what? Dump me and watch you go to another man and dope him as well?.... Oh you bloody whore".... Nawal felt a lump in her throat as the tears threatened to fall.
"One of the biggest mistakes I have made so far is letting you into my life. You are just a bloody whore Nawal. You just wanted to use me. You just wanted to show me your fake love and support just to throw me back into the mud".... He ran his bloody fists through his hair.
"I... I hate you. God!".... His hands never left his hair. He stepped backward as he spoke, letting new set of glass pierce his already bleeding feet.
Nawal simply watched him in tears, she let her water works flow down freely.
"I just don't hate you .... I hate everything that has to do with you. I hate your gender. They are just so messed up. Envious, wicked and cruel".... He said, remembering his Aunt Karima.
Nawal was silent, crying in the inside and outside.
"Can you see how my feet are ? Can you see how they are bleeding? It looks painful right?"... Asad jerked her up again.
Nawal struggle to nod through his jerk.
"The pain ... can't be compared to what I feel inside my heart. Just when I thought everything was going to be alright, reality hit me and now I have you to thank".... He released her and heaved a sigh.
"Looking at you drives me crazy, I hate it but more than ever I hate you. I hate you Nawal! You are the true devil disguise as an angel. You're a green snake under the green grass and I pray all people like you will never live to see the light of another day"..... Asad's tone was getting louder.
"Asad..." she tries to reach out for him but he slaps her hands away.
"No... don't you ever! Make the mistake of calling my name again. Hearing it come out of your mouth irritates me. I don't want to talk to you anymore. I don't want to look at you anymore . I want you out of my life and don't ever come back"... he shouts and that was enough for Nawal to leave the room .
She had enough.
Her heart was to heavy to contain more of his poisonous words.
She walks back to her apartment in tears. His words were like a mantra in her head . She couldn't seem to get it out of her head.
Nasha takes notice of her when she was near and smiles.
"I knew you would go back to him and come back to me in tears"... Nasha pulled out her luggage by the trolley handle and walked towards Nawal.
"Let's go"... she then ordered.
Nawal held pleadingeyes as she stared at her. " I..I want to make things right with Asad before I go please. Just give me a week Nasha"... Nawal rushed out her statement, her voice was brittle from crying.
"I won't repeat myself"... Nasha ignored Nawal's statement. She held the trolley handle of her luggage and walked towards the parking lot.
Nawal stared for a while before forcing herself to pull her luggage towards the parking lot as well.
They halt a tricycle and got in then went straight to the airport.
They took the next flight to Abuja and arrived sooner than expected.
Nawal cried all the way through while Nasha was eager to meet Mr Kasim and report Nawal.
After Anas reported Nawal to Nasha, Nasha forced Nawal to end everything that was between her and Asad.
She made Nawal kiss that guy and say all those words to Asad and she wants Nawal to still get punished for slacking off on her job.
Nawal's heart began to race as they arrived in front of Mr Kasim's mansion.
Nasha had an evil smirk on her face while Nawal felt like she was going to explode into new set of tears.
Hurting Asad had made her unstable and Nasha forced her to sleep she with a lot of men within this past few weeks.
The guards let them in and led them straight to the living room.
They both sat on the carpet and waited for Mr Kasim's arrival.
They were served with small chips and refreshments and shortly afterwards Mr Kasim arrived.
"Alhaji(sir)"... they both lowered their gazes and greeted then sat down.
"Nasha... Nawal. What brings you here?"... He was curious to know.
"Alhaji(sir), I came to complain about Nawal"... Nasha spoke as she glared at Nawal.
Mr Kasim nodded as he listen to what she has to say.
"Nawal has been slacking off , she does not perform her duties as a prostitute again because she was seeing someone. I talked to her times without number to stop but she refuse to listen. She even said to hell with you"... Nasha added her own lies by the side.
"I see"... Mr Kasim stroke his chin and pretended to be in deep thoughts.
"Get me the cane"... Mr Kasim told Nasha who didn't bother to hide her smile.
Nawal looked at Mr Kasim with pleading eyes when Nasha returned with the cane.
"You may leave Nasha. Extra money will be sent to your bank account for your hard work and supervision"... Mr Kasim stated making Nasha smile.
"Thank you Alhaji(sir)".... She curtsied and left the living room. Closing the door behind her.
Mr Kasim rose to his feet with the cane and walk towards Nawal.
"Alhaji(sir) please have mercy on me"... she went on her knees and cried out. Her eyes were already swollen due to crying the whole day.
Mr Kasim said nothing as he neared her.
He crouched down to her level and enveloped her.
Nawal's body stiffened at first but calmed down and she hugged him back and cried on him.
"Shhh... my child. It's alright"... his voice was low as he spoke. He stroke her golden hair gently to calm her down.
Her breathing was uneven as she tried to calm down.
"Nawal, you are to big for me to be flogging you. I hope you know that"... he stated when she was calm. He loosened himself from the hug and rose to his feet.
Nawal nods in response.
"Stand up, I will hit the chair and you will shout in response. Let it look like I actually flogged you"... he explains and Nawal nods in response.
Mr Kasim did as he said and Nawal made sure to shout as if it was real.
Nasha who was passing by heard shouting and went to eavesdrop.
She leaned her ear against the door and heard Nawal shout.
'It's good for her. I pray he doesn't stop flogging her'.... She thought as she left the place.
Certainly satisfied with Nawal's misery. Unknown to her , it was just an act.