Karkasara, off Inuwa dutse way.

Kano, Nigeria.

2007.

She loved to go out and play with the children in the neighborhood. As young as eight, she could talk a lot and convince someone once it was needed. Young children loved to talk but most of the times they talk unnecessarily, Najma wasn't left behind she talked when it was needed and not needed. Always blabbering like a parrot. When silence's heard from her she must definitely be sick or her Amish was sick or he wasn't talking to her.

Najma was slim and not so tall like girls of her age, she was smart though and had a nice hearing childish voice that people loved to hear. Her mother, Hajiya Aisha was aware of how sweet and slim her daughter's voice was that's why one would never get tired of hearing her endless blabbers.

One day a woman from the neighborhood came to her. Hajiya Aisha was surprised to see her around, the woman was one of those that didn't like to mingle with rich people because she believed rich people were witches or at least their source of income wasn't clean. When she sat and been offered juices and snacks, she laughed and began to state the reason she came.

‘You should make sure you pray for your daughter. She has a sweet voice and you've to be careful once she grows up because you know men. And again evil eye is real. That's my little advice. And the reason why I even took my time to come here is because I heard that your husband is related to the royal family and I know the royales are good people.’ the woman had said and left.

Since then, early in the morning, Hajiya Aisha would placed her hand and prayed protection supplications upon her daughter.

After a little while, maybe the span of three days, another woman came to offer her advice again. She thought they planned it together with the other woman because they were neighbours.

‘This boy, Hamisu, take care of him. He's too beautiful, make sure he doesn't fall into bad hands. Both men and women. His sister, Najma too, put an eye on her.’ she left too, immediately. She didn't even sat down but sure, she carried the goodies that were served to her.

These two incidents sounded off to Hajiya Aisha and because of that she stopped Najma and Khamis from going out. She made sure they were always indoors to avoid people's talk. Because one, possibly there might be someone out there targeting her little babies, two evil eye's real and dangerous.

Now Hajiya Aisha was out to make her hair and she left Najma and Khamis at home together with their maid, Maryo. Her name was Maryam but people in their street gave her a nickname, Maryo.

She lived in a street a little bit away from Najma's house. She didn't USS to spend the night with them but sometimes when there's too much work and it's late, she spend the night and leave in the morning. She's dark girl, tall and slim. People said she came from her village to her uncle's house and then she started searching for houses to work as a maid. It's said that she was a divorcee and was in the city to chase married men hence many women refused to hire her but it didn't matter to Hajiya Aisha. She didn't see any inclination of Maryo towards her husband. Maryo was hardworking and dedicated unless on few days when she complain of illness. She's always staying in her room except she's called out.

She was sleeping in her room, because she'd finished all the days's work and was waiting for Hajiya Aisha to return when Najma sneaked out of the house. Khamis was in his room playing games.

Outside vy their gate, some girls were on a heap of sand- which was brought yesterday by a lorry and was going to be used to renovate a neighboring house- but there, they sat on it top, playing with the soft sand.

Some other girls were digging through the soft sand to find clay beneath it. Others had gotten theirs and were making things like small pots and spoons.

By the other side were some girls, playing and jumping on some drawn lines on the ground. It had rained the last night, that gave them the ability to draw lines on the dry sand.

Najma sniffed the amazing scent of sand and walked to the heap of the sound. The way the girls were playing impressed her.

"Hello..." She said to the girls and made an attempt to sit beside them.

A girl with a parallel tribal mark just below her eyes, by the side of her nose eyed Najma. She's dressed in a different tattered material dress and an ankara sewn skirt. The hand of her dress was torn and large, giving the dress an off shoulder look.

Her legs were dipped in mud and she was a complete epitome of dirty.

"Stay away!" The meany girl pushed Najma aside which made Najma fell on the ground because she was slim and was barely well balanced.

"What have I done to you?" Najma staggered on her feet, dusting off the sand on her jeans. She always asked questions before she react.

"Look at her, I don't play with non Muslims." She remarked, other girls who seemed to be her friends nodded in agreement.

"But I am a Muslim." Najma cleared with a disturbing look on her face.

"You dress like a non Muslim. Jean and shirt, hmm." One of them commented pointing Najma up and down with a smirk.

"Rubbing it on our face that she's from a rich family." Another chided, spiting.

Najma was tongueless for a moment. She let them be, because it wasn't by force to play with them. She went to the other end where there were no girls there. She began digging through and found her clay.

She sat under a tree, a few inches away and began to carve the clay into a human. Few minutes later, she had carved two small beings with their hands entangled.

She used the remaining clay and started carving alphabets until she had finally made the letters that formed the names.

Najma and Khamis.

She placed the letters under the carved beings and clapped her hands in joy which earned her the girl's attention.

They exchanged looks and decided to peep at Najma's work. They did and still the same girl called Bilki pursed her lips.

Before Najma could do a thing, she used her leg and smashed Najma's work. She carried her watering bucket which she used to wet the sand and clay. She giggled and let other girls hold Najma. She lifted the bucket and poured the dirty water on Najma's body. Some of them began hitting her till they bruised her arm.

Najma began to cry and on cue, Khamis was playing on his bike in the house compound when he heard her crying. He dropped the bike and opened the gate then trudged out.

"Naaaj!" He bellowed, seeing her on the ground crying. He rushed and lifted her up.

"They are there!" She pointed at the girls. And when they saw Khamis' burly figure, looking like a strong twelve year old, they ran away in a swift. He didn't go after them. What mattered at the moment was his sister's health. He helped her enter their house and locked the gate.

Then he turned to face her and smacked her nape.

"Mummy said no one should go out but you did. I wish they broke your arm, naughty girl." He pulled her ear in reprimand. He was always the innocent one, calm and reserve. Except with her, he didn't use to talk a lot. His friends said he's like that maybe because he's royal. He didn't live in the royal house, his father was neither a king too so he's just like that. Naturally.

Najma scowled and pouted.

"Amish..." She opened her mouth to complain.

"Shut up or else I will tell mummy that you went out. And guess what? Her new cane will be tested on you." He dragged her to their backyard and told her to wait for him.

He went to her drawer and brought out new clothes for her.

"Use the backyard bathroom and have a bath. Then change to this, I will be by the gate to see if mummy is coming." Najma nodded.

Ten minutes later, she came clad in the new clothing. He took her hand again to their parlor and reached for the first aid box inside an item-board.

He brought out spirit and dipped a cotton in it as he saw the way mummy used to do.

"Shush, don't cry." He warned before he placed the cotton on the bruise. She managed not to shout but she did shed some tears.

When he's done, he put bandage and plaster on the bruise.

"Sorry." He said to her, putting  back everything into it's place. Khamis went out to their compound and wet their mini garden with water.

Right, ten minutes later mummy came back. The first thing she noticed was the wet sand of their mini garden.

"Khamis, what happened there?" She asked once she was settled. Then she saw Najma hiding behind the cushions.

"What are you hiding? Come here." Before Najma responded, Hajiya Aisha shouted.

"Maryo!" Sleeping Maryam luckily heard her and briskly walked to the parlor.

"What did this children did while I was away?" Hajiya Aisha inquired.

Maryo rubbed her eyes and squatted.

"They... They... Didn't do any, any, anything." She stammered because she's been sleeping.

Hajiya Aisha nodded and dismissed her. Her attention was now on Najma who's hiding.

"Hey, why did you change your clothes? What's there on your hand?" She questioned.

Khamis suddenly chirped in to save her because he was sure she would tell the truth and mummy would beat her.

"I and Najma thought to water the garden and she fell on the wet sand and a stone made a bruise on her hand." He explained.

"You don't lie Khamis, don't start today. Najma come here." Najma marched closer.

"Tell me the truth I won't beat you."

"Mummy I went out..." She started narrating. She didn't finish when mummy started looking for anything close to beat her with it.

Khamis held Najma's hand and they ran away from Hajiya Aisha's sight giggling.

When they settled in their play room, she looked at him.

"You're my savior, thank you Amish." She hugged her brother.