Amina was sleeping quietly like a baby on her bed having sweet dreams about herself and how her love Life was going to be now that she has clocked Twenty.
There was a knock on the door it was her mother Khadija. Amina quickly stood up to go answer the door for her mother.
" Good morning mother please come inside", Amina said to her mother.
"There will be no need for that my dear. Your father wants to see you right away", Khadija replied her daughter without even trying to listen to more words.
Amina was the second daughter of the sultan's family with two older siblings. Jamila the first daughter them Hassan the First so of the family.
Amina has no idea today been the second week of August will be the worst day of her life not really the worst day, I will say it was the day Amina wasn't even expecting.
Amina sultan quickly took a fresh bath and dressed up to go meet her father in the "Majilis". That's the sitting room in Arabic. On getting there she saw an old man along side with a young fine man whom she assumed might be his son.
"This shouldn't be what am thinking ", She said to herself.
Maybe Amina already knew what that means seeing those two people .
" I pray I don't end up like my sister JAMILA!!!. ", She screamed in her heart
Jamila she was referring to was her elder sister who was also forced into marrying an old cago all for the sake of money.
"Father you sent for me", She said to her father.
" Yes.Amina please sir "Mr sultan said .
Amina quickly sat down and can't wait for the news to be busted.
"Is she the one Mr sultan", The old man asked.
"Yes Alhaji, She is. Let me formally introduce you to my darling daughter", He said.
" Amina meet Alhaji and his son Tariq . Alhaji meet my daughter Amina.
"Wow, you didn't tell me that your daugy was this beautiful ",Alhaji said and they all laughed except for Amina.who didn't join them to laugh.
Mr sultan ordered his servants to bring in shayi, baklava,kunafeh to offer to Alhaji and his son.
Few minutes later when they where done with their meal, It is now time to speak the word to there beloved daughter Amina. They didn't care about Amina's reaction or whatsoever what tgei cared about was the money that's all.
"So Amina , you are wondering why I called you here ", Her father began.
"Hmm-khkh+khkh", Sultan cleared his throats pretentiously.
"There's this parable that say "A tree is known by it's fruit and a man is known by his actions ", Her father said.
The whole room was filled with silence.
"Father I don't understand . Please tell me what's going on here I want to know . mother please tell what's. happening "Amina demanded .
"let me break it down for you my child....", Sultan paused a bit.
"This Young Man sitting right here is your hus...", Amina couldn't allow her father finish his statement. She stood up and ran out of the room and jammed the door so hard behind her.
"As if I already knew this was coming", She said as tears wailed from her eyes.
Amina felt as if the whole world was crushing on her . Everything she had ever dreamt off was falling apart ., her career , education...
At age 20.she is been leaded in the family way as a result of her parents wish.
Amina's parents especially her father didn't believed on anything called education for female children. He claimed that if prefered female been sent to that husbands house instead of sending them to school. To him if was a total waste of time his thoughts were ... it will be the girl's husband's family that would benefit on the education so what's the need of sending them to school I will rather send them off to there husbands house and collect money on their head.
I will say since that day Amina's Life had not been the same she felt very lonely and broken.
On the other hand the Alhaji was furious any having disagreements with her father , Sultan.
"I thought we discussed about this Sultan? What's all the embarrassment... What do you even.take me for ", Alhaji thundered on top of his voice.
"Am sorry sir , you know she is til young ... please exercise some patience I will talk some senses into her", Sultan's pleaded.
"She will come around ",He added.
" You better do because... I reserve my comments ", Alhaji said.
"We are sorry for the inconveniences sir ", Khadija said.
"You better be!!! Tariq let ge the hell out of here .. Mind you mister man if your daughter doesn't come around just return back my money ", Alhaji said finally and left.
After Alhaji and Tariq left . Sultan was really really annoyed with with Amina.
"Where is that stupid girl of her daughter.. Where is your daughter ",He roared at Khadija his wife.
Sultan was a kind of person that if he doesn't have any thing his way as long as money is involved, everywhere will smell of trouble.
.
"Honey , you have to calm down", Khadija tried to beg her husband but it was not working.
"Better talk to that your daughter , I will not loose oppi with Alhaji for anything!!!", He said angrily.
"we will both talk to her please this is not the time for all this "Khadija Said.
Their son Hassan overhead their conversation and was sorry for his little sister. He wished he could offer help but there was nothing he can do about the situation . sultan's words were always the final say. He just watched as his selfish parents argue over the desire for money.
Amina was still in her room Left bin the world of her own. There was no wey she was going to escape this because she already knew who are parents were.
But she promised to find herself out from this predicament.
"I MUST",She said with determination.
****
The atmosphere was so calm and silent. It was only Amina in her room. It was around that 3am in morning when most people where asleep.
"The thought of this rubbish can't let me even close my eyes one bit", She cried silently.
"I now see the reason Jamila hates father so much and never what to even see him . I will never forgive the fact that father sold me out for money...."
"I will not....