kaah
ONE MORE Chance of A LIFE TIME
2010
Non- fiction:

Shamsa:


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As life her Fardosa finds the only thing that you can do is to do it for your own good. As she goes through rough times all she needed was her prince charming. Her father who died before she get school diploma. Will she and her love be able to help her family out and will they survive? Let’s find out…. ONE MORE Chance of A LIFE TIME
ONE MORE Chance of A LIFE TIME During her life in Hagardera refugee camp, she never thought that one day she would reside in Canada and able to go to a decent school and have a decent life, but that is now a dream turn to reality. She is about 22 years of age as she goes through this, she was born in Mogadishu Somalia in 1989 as a result of the civil war her family fled to Kenya and settled at Hagardera refugee camp in 1992 where she spent 15 years of her life. She was born from a relatively well-to-do family. Her father Abdi was a school teacher and was the provider of the family while her mother, Halima, was a home maker responsible of their upbringing as well as taking care of the house hold duties of cooking, fetching firewood and other family duties as they arrived from time to time. She had two siblings all of them girls and she was the oldest among her sisters. she was only three years of age when the civiltran erupted in what was suppose to have been her homeland and experienced. She has a lot of them if any are stories narrated to her by her mother. Her name is Fardosa. A name given to her by her mother it has extraordinary importance to her and it's a name she is willing to keep as long as she is a live. Her mother was a good storyteller, especially when she is in a good mood and she enjoyed listening to her for it not only it gave her insight into what life was in the past but also gave her inspirations and aspirations for what is to come in the future. For her mom to tell a story, it will take for a constant coalescing to get her to the mood. Sometimes she had her aim demands which if she met would lead to a good story. For instance during the day when she wants some house hold work done, she would say "if you want me to tell you a story tonight I want you girls to collect a firewood, fetch water, clean utensils and tidy the house". Fardosa and her sisters will do the work whole heartedly and without hesitation for the temptation to hear her stories outweighed the burden involved in undertaking the work. Her stories were so eloquently told that it was totally irestable. Normally she will chose the topic and is girls had no say in that regard. Theirs was to sit relax and listen altentively for she didn't welcomed any interruptions. One night in September though, after they had supper, they sat around the fire as usual, as they looked forward to another story. "what kind of story do you want me to tell you tonight?" she asked. They were quite surprised as this rare opportunity of asking them to choose the storyline was a new thing. "mom" Fardosa said, sleazing the opportunity, before one of her sisters suggested a topic. "please tell us how you and Dad met before your marriage". She hesitated for a moment deep in thought, sighed a bit and then looked at her and said "this is a tough story to tell my dear". it seemed as though there were somethings she didn't want them to know or she didn't want them to remember the glories days of her past life even the fact that she was now living a destitute life in a refugee camp as a single. Mother, whatever the case, she persisted, determined to find the truth. "please mom, tell us the story", she begged. She finally gave into her constant please and begun to tell the story. "Well" she said "I was born in Afmadow Somalia a hundred and twenty rainy seasons ago, a village three days walk from Mogadisho. My father had four wives and my mother was the third. It was an extended family, twenty two children from the four families. I was circumcised at the age of twelve which officially transitioned me from a girl to a woman who was potentially ready for marriage. I used to look after the goats and when i was fifteen, while grazing the goats in the outkits of the village one day, I was approached by two men who appeared out of nowhere without notice. As they approached, men, I ran as fast as my feeble legs could carry me. This was because, strange me could potentially take a woman as a wife and it was a custo marry and perfectly acceptable within the traditions to do so. So the only way to avenge this was to run away. My speed was no match for them for within few minutes they were at my heels. One of them passed me and then stood in front of me. I knew there and then that i lost of the battle as my efforts were fertile. "listen young lady," the older man told me" you can either play it rough and fall for the music or you can do what I say and be safe by the bell". I knew this was not a request but a command. Never the less I was onto ready to give up the fight so easily. "what do you want from me?" I inquired. " I don't know you and you certainly mean no good". In order to soften me a little bit, the older man slapped me in the face so hard that a flush of light passed through my eyes and then everything turned dark as thought i twas the dead of the night. There was zing sound coming out of y ears and I staggered to the ground. I could hear their fainted voices and it got louder as I regained my eye sight and they finally came into full view. The older man started beating me until I could not take it anymore. For fear of being beaten to death, I told him to stop and promised to comply with their demands. They told me that one of them was taking me as a wife and that the only thing they expected was my co-operation. Failure to do so could lead to another round of beating during these days women were treated as objects. They had no say in any matters wether it affected them or not. In short men were their supreme rulers and their words were final. The only thing I could do was present a justifiable case least it may help make them reconsider their determination. "Please let me go" I told them I am only fifteen years old and my parents don't anyone to look after their goats". The younger of the two men was quite all a long, neither interfering nor helping the situation when I was being beaten. "you are the perfect age for marriage" the older one replied. "the size of your breast is ready an indication of your womanhood". if you take me away, my parents goats will be lost and be eaten by hyenas" I told him. "don't you worry" he assumed. "we have a plan for that so I will not entertain anymore nonsense from you, are we clear? "yes". So the older man asked the younger one to take the goats closer to the village which was not far and as soon as he returned it was time to go. I was familiar with this kind of marriage but never have anticipated it to happen to me. At the tender of age fifteen, I was emotionally distort for the simple reason that there was nobody to free me from these men who were literally holding me hostage. Not to mention that I was not able to say goodbye to my parents and siblings. As they took me away, I glanced back at my village one last time knowing this could be my last time to ever see it again. The thought of being in the company of fatal strangers was not only emotionally distressing but mind boggling. I begun to sob uncontrollably until no more tears could come out of my eyes. I could care less the men threatening me for I had nothing else to loose. I preferred to die there and then than leaving my family for good". She took a sip from the cup of tea she was holding and briefly looked at us as if to make sure we were following the story. For just something to say and before she resumed telling the story, Fardosa asked her how possible it was to marry a man they had no romantic relationship and who was to her a total stranger. She looked at her as if her question had no retirance and then said. " "my dear daughter, " the world we lived in those days was not the same as the world of today. "you live in a time where men are beginning to recognize women rights, I where they are not as vacuous as they used to be though, they still have a long way to go, if women are to be equal parties in life in those days the word romance was not in our dictionary if at all we had any. Romance came to us in a violent and vicious way. It was one sided affair. Women were not more than a man's convinience. They were expected to have unwiring loyalty to their husbands. A man was expected to choose a woman by her beauty, altitude and loyalty. Women, on the other hand were stuccoed with whatever man eloped her. He could be fifty years older than her and it would have made no difference. Men were permitted to marry as many as four wives by our religion, but with conditions that they treat their wives equally and fairly. But they usually abuse their power by neglecting the older wives and spending most of their time with the younger ones. The older wives were sometimes reduced to raising the kids without any romantic relationship to their husbands. "mom, her younger sister Asha interrupted, "can you tell us what happened after the men took you away?" "Oh, yeah the men," her mom replied, realizing that the question Fardosa asked earlier diffted her from the story she was telling. "The two men took for a long, tiring walk, we occasionally rested whenever they realized that I was trailing behind, for the first hour into the journey, they didn't say a word to me. they were just carrying on with their conversation from which I could gathered they were from either Mogadisho or were intending to take me there, but I could not tell which of the two men was my husband to be. The younger man was about twenty five years of age. He was tall with a slim build. He was brown, had a well kept hair and was eleen shaven. He was handsome. He wore a pair of blue trousers and a well ironed shirt. He looked as though he was from town. He was quite and had a lot of respect for the other man. The older man man was in his early fourties. He was short, dark with balding head and unkept beard. He had mean look on his face, a man not to be messed with. He had no sense of humour at all. He wore a traditional clothing and had bed sheet wrapped around his shoulders. He wore shoes made of old tires and i could see cracks on his heels. He was well conversant with life in rural areas. I could tell the younger man depended on him for directions. He was some kind of a mention to him. As my fears receded I wondered if this was a dream to be woken up from. My hopes slowly diminished and the reality begun to down on me. As I walked behind them that fateful afternoon, I begun contemplating on my future. I wondered which of the two men was my husband to be. The older man was most likely the one marrying me. For one he was a costumed to town life and neither was he. Secondly he was the one beating and questioning me through out my ordeal. My worry with him was that he was about forty yeas old. Not that he was very old but old enough to be looking for his third or fourth wife. The thought of this sickened me not forgetting the fact that, gibbon the chance, I wouldn't have fallen involve with him. The second man was his early twenties probably looking for his first wife. He was handsome and polite which will make me prefer over the other man. But he looked educated and civilized which made me wonder why he was looking for a girl from the rural area. when he could get a civilized one in town. After careful consideration, I hatched a plan. If it turned out the man marrying me was the younger one, I decided to welcome the idea as this would expose me to town life and my children would get the opportunity to go to school. But if it turned out to be the other guy it was more than likely that I would be the third or fourth wife. i therefore decided that i will risk running away rather be eaten by a lion than marrying him. While her mom was passionately telling the story, Fardosa was beginning to realize that the younger man she described must have been the one she married as the profile matched that of her dad during his younger age. Several times she wanted to surprised her but hold back her emotions for the fear of infuriating her as she didn't welcomed any interruptions. The last she would have done was bring the story to an uprupt end. "Well will continue the rest of the story another time" she said unexpectedly. "It's time for you girls to go to bed. I don't want you to be late for school tomorrow". "please mom", they begged. "please mom, continue until your next destination", Said Fardosa almost immediately. "It's only eight pm," the younger one reminded. "you girls are very inquisitive", she said politely. "Well as we walked on a long dusty road that afternoon, the sun was setting in the western horizon. I was beginning to worry about my family. The ulter shock, horror and disbelieve once they find the goats and realize that I disappeared without a trace. Their first instinct will be, I am sure, that they think I was eaten by a lion. They will be looking for me all night in the grazing field. I could picture the sorrow on my mother's face. Her grit would be totally inconsolable. For she loved me dearly. All this thoughts were going through my mind, when all of a sudden, the men stopped walking. As I caught up with them, the oldest of the two disappeared into the bush on the edge of the road, leaving the two of us standing awkwardly. None of us said something. The moment of silence rapidly. I begun to gasp for air as my breath grew havier and brief moment the older man was gone felt like hours. A women, in those days, was not expected to start conversation. Men usually took the leading role, but these men were so profoundly awkward that we didn't even know each others name, despite being together for the last couple of hours. Suddenly, the young man cleared his throat as if preparing to say something. He looked at me right in the eyes and smilled. I looked down for I couldn't handle his gestures. "Are you tired?" He asked. I said nothing for i couldn't find anything to say. Not even a simple yes. He placed his hand on my chin to raise my head up and I pushed him away with the little strength I could gave. My legs were getting weaker. There were chills going down my spine and I was sweating profusely. My head seemed to be getting bigger and bigger. I have never been so close to a man in my life and I couldn't tell if this was a due to a fear of a man or if it was probably love at first sight or rather a induced love. Fardosa smiled. For reasons beyond my comprehension. I tumbled to the ground and could not stand up despite my repeated attempts. I begun to sob once again. The older manned was nowhere to be seen. He was gone for hours or so I thought. He could have been gone for minutes because a defections wont take hours unless there were some other factors at play here. The young man. Then sat next to me. "Why are you crying?" He asked. He wiped the tears from my eyes but this time I was too parralized to stop him. I could not control any body movement. It was as though my brain lost contact with the rest of my body. "My name is Abdi Ahmed" He said. " I am the man whose future wife, you are destined to be." Then for the reason beyond my conscious, I begun to get compestore. I came back to my senses. my fears vanished and for the first time I was able to talk. "What is your name?" He asked. "Halima", I replied without any hesitation. "Nice to meet you" "Nice to meet you too" I replied. "Have no fears" He assured me, from this moment you are in a good hands". For the first time since the older man left I felt like not wanting him to come back so soon. But my expectation were short-lived as I saw him coming out from the bush soon after. We resumed walking but this time the older man whose name I was told by Abdi was Askar who was leading the way while we followed about twenty steps behind. I was at ease with Abdi and for some reason I was not furious about the beatings endured as this was the norm of those days. That is how my relationship with your father started". They all laughed in unison. "mom, given the norm of those days dad was quite a romantic man, wasn't he?" Fardosa asked. "He was not at all", she said " I was lucky that if i wasn't beaten all the way to the next stop, or worst still raped. Your dad was kind and remorseful. i regret the circumstances of your relationship but i don't regret having married him. Having grown in town might have helped him". "So what happen next asked the young one. To intense their mom to continue the story. "We walked all night. It was a dark rainy night. There were lions and hyenas rouming around the forest. I was not as scared as you dad was as I was accustomed to their presence. But Askar was a worrier who could not be deterred b the presence of wild animals. He knew how to read their instincts. We finally arrived at a village where Askar lived at an hour after sunset and we spent the night there. "Okay time to go to bed now". They didn't want to push her anymore so they all went to bed at their ramshockled tin house. That night as Fardosa went to bed, she couldn't sleep. The story her mom told them left a lasting impression in her. She had a mix feelings about love and life as whole. One one hand she was feeling sorry for her mother for having indured those cruel and in human treatment in the hands of her father. On the other hand she was glad that she finally married her father for without that she couldn't have been her mother and would have probably married to a cruel man. She couldn't make sense of the manner in which she had to leave without saying goodbye to her family. Her mother would always tell them stories involving other people but never has she passionately told of her own life at length so passionately and emotionally. Was she trying to ready them forum their own future and what might be in store for them for nothing much has changed interms of woman right. She begun to wonder what other surprise her mom had in soot for them but would she continue giving them close of this every so after or would she cut it short. As a woman, this stories made her wonder if she would ever trust a man with all their domination mistreatment. She wonder what gaabe them the right to take a woman as one of their property. She vowed that night to study hard at school and delay marriage as long as she could make her mother proud. She slowly drifted away only to be woken up by her mom shortly after. It was already time to go to school. She begun to contemplating what was the purpose of woman creation this life. Is it to be material to man, were they created for the convenience of man. To be treated in whatever way man pleases or were we created as equal partners?. To complement each others life. To live in harmony, cohesion and compassion. To share duties in equal terms. Since none can live without the other. That life will not be complete without the other. certainly God creation of woman is more than for man convince, they were created of worship and certainly God preserved their right and men will she hope be held responsible for their action. Two of her older sisters already succumbed to the same fate as her mom. They just vanished from their life without noticed. she begun to think of their life and could help feeling sorry for them. She hoped their husbands were not so cruel to them. She wondered what her mom would be if the remaining three of them just vanished one by one, who would she be left with?. The she remembered what she told her was a lump or in my thought either due to anger or fear or both. He placed his hand on my shoulder When her father was a life she started attending school. But Fardosa was always worried about her family and younger sisters. Her family went to poor to poorer. They didn’t have anything or any income. Since then Fardosa always wanted to finish her schooling and one day to help her family. She will yearly fill up school bursary so that she will be able to attend school. Since she was grade seven she had the same uniform. Whenever it gets ripped her mother saws it. She had barely any friends to talk to, yet she was always a happy person and says “Hello” to whoever she wants, she never feels bad about how poor they are and how different she was from the other students. Shukri was her closest friend. She gives her old clothes to Fardosa the clothes she doesn’t like. She would be very glad and pleased to have those clothes. Shukri’s family was the richest family in the neighbourhood. Her father died before Fardosa’s father. Her mother was educated woman. They had a big farm, a pharmacy and a wholesale. They own a big house. Her uncle lived in Nairobi the capital of Kenya. Farhaan was her older brother. He was also attending the same school with his sister and her friend. Farhaan was popular in school, he was the one every girl wanted to have. He would always change his uniform. His friends Musa and Anwar would do almost do anything he asks for. They would talk to anyone he talks to and ignore who he ignores. Fardosa and Farhaan were classmates. Since Farhaan was her best friend’s brother, she would say “Hi” to him. Farhaan and his friends never replied her greetings. He hated her for no reason. Maybe because she’s not wearing good uniform, or she was poor. His friends would do the same and ignore her, laugh at her and talk how her uniform and her shoes were old. How she carries her books in a plastic bag. When she gets home maybe there’s nothing to eat for lunch. Fardosa was always strong person she thinks about her two young sisters and her mom. She goes back to her school without eating anything. She would always encourage her young sisters telling them to be strong until she finishes her studies. Her mom will clean up the house, saw peoples clothes so she can earn money, sometimes she gets food from her neighbours. One day Fardosa was invited by her friend Shukri to go to a wedding party. Fardosa felt that she was honoured, couldn’t say no. Early in the morning when she first got the invitation she accepted it but later she remembered that she doesn’t have anything to wear. Then after lunch Fardosa when to talk to her friend Shukri to tell her that she couldn’t come because she doesn’t have anything to wear. When Fardosa approaches, Shukri, Shukri started to tell her how happy she was to have her come along. Then Shukri says she told her mom that her friend was coming along. Fardosa didn’t have the heart to say no to her friend. She says “oh Fardosa you should see the dresses that my mom bought for us, she smiled and says really?” Then Shukri describes how beautiful the dresses were. She was really happy to hear that and was looking forward to attend the special event, then she came home running to tell her mom the news that she got new dress from her friend. Fardosa and her friend were really happy. After school they went to Shukri’s house. The girls took shower designed their hair and look just right. Fardosa felt like a princess. She never wore a beautiful dress since she was born, never wore makeup or design her hair to any style. She looked a totally different person, taller and more beautiful than any girl in town. She has been transformed to different person. People at the party kept staring at her and asking who she was. They were all going to the party at the same time the whole family were going at once. Farhaan was driving his own car with his friends so he doesn’t have to come with his mama. He saw his sister and another beautiful girl just like an angel getting into his mother’s car. He stood for a while just to make sure he has seen someone with his sister. It was right his friend Anwar tapped him on his shoulder and asks about it too. “Let’s find out for ourselves”, he says as they both giggles and pops into the car. Since the party was mostly for women the guys were outside standing at the front to welcome people and watch for the kids that are making trouble and some of them playing soccer to make the kids busy. Farhaan and his friends just wanted to see the beautiful girl that they saw nothing else. They kept sneaking and looking for her as much as they can, yet didn’t know who she was. They thought that she came from another city or new neighbour. Fardosa’s mom came after a while and took her out of the party before he gets to see her. It’s was understandable that she was the oldest and the only hope the whole family have and the only educated person in the whole family. They don’t want anything to happen to her at all. Farhaan ran everywhere in the hall, round and round up and down but nowhere to find the princess. Next morning when they all arrived to school, the girls talked about the party and how fun it was to have each other at the party, Fardosa kept talking about their dresses. When she left to her classroom, Farhaan came up to his sister to and ask who girl that was with her was. It was Fardosa you dummy head” she says and left him standing with his eyes open wide his mouth dropped and couldn’t believe the words that came from his sister’s mouth. He already fall for her, he really wanted to meet the girl of his dream but not the only person he hated all his life in school. He kept hissing and asking his sister over and over again. He was really shocked. He changed himself not talking to his friends, he doesn’t eat food can’t go to sleep and didn’t even go to school for seven good days. There was no a single breeze. His days felt tight no coolness, no flow. Farhaan freeze like a statue. His friends asked if anything was wrong with him but he never gave them satisfied answer. His mom was really worried about his health and all. He could no longer eat well or sleep well. He missed his school for a week. As days passed by, he recovered. His sister came from school going up to her room, he was sitting on the stairs, “you look flying today”, she said as she smiles she went off to her room. He followed her to her room and knocked at her door. “Can I come in?” he said. “yes come on in”, she replies, “so what’s new and what brings you here?” finally talked to his sister and break the news to her that he was in love with the girl he hated the most. “So why are you telling me this? Why can’t you go and talk to the girl for yourself?” she says. “ I want you to do me a favour for me please, I want to know what she thinks or how she feels about me, I want to hear it from her then I can try my best to convince her that I do love her, and she means a lot to me now. Let go what had happen before that was long time and we’re no longer kids, why am I saying this just invite her tomorrow and tell her how I feel about her and we’ll see how she will react. Shukri laughed sarcastically and said, “Okay I got it now somebody was sick because of love? And he loves the person he hated the most? Wow that is what I call l-o-v-e as she spells the words out loud. So who is she?” “It’s… it’s your friend Fardosa. shukri’s mouth dropped and stopped what she was doing as he looks down holding his head. He didn’t want to see her reaction; he knew that she wouldn’t believe him. I know it’s awkward he says but am serious I love that girl I know I hated her but not anymore! So will you do what I have asked for?” “Are you telling me this or it’s just to fool me and you are making this up? “Am not making things up and I wouldn’t say this if it’s not true. So will you help me yes or no? Just answer that.” “Ok I will do it and I will invite her for lunch and you have to understand if she says no because you use to hate her a lot”. “Yes I will understand it, just bring her over and after lunch I will listen to you too talking and I will see what she thinks about us going out. Which am hopping I will not lose this. For the first time I fall in love.” Next morning when she got to school the first thing she did was to look Fardosa all over and kept asking other students if they saw her at school. As she ran side by side of the school compound and the bell for the classes will soon ring in about five minute. She still couldn’t find her. As she was running back to her class they almost hit each other with Fardosa. Hey I was looking for you all this morning where have you been? Anyways I wanted to invite you for lunch don’t go anywhere wait for me I got good news for you” she yells as they both run to different directions heading to their classes. It was finally lunch time and the girls went together Fardosa kept asking about the news but she says we have to get home then I will tell you about it. They ate lunch and came up to her room and started praying salat dhuhri. When they were done Farhaan stood at the door and couldn’t wait till the topic starts. So she tells about it. Fardosa was really shocked she backed off a bit and didn’t know what to say she couldn’t believe the words that was coming out her mouth and she says “No, I can’t do that, your bother hates me off all the students that attends at our school. He doesn’t even bother himself to say hello back whenever I say so and I heard him say in your dreams that’s when I will say hi back and his friends started laughing at me. They even talk about my uniform, saying that am half naked. My pair of uniform I had it for long and it looked like it’s turning to be green instead of being blue. She kept complaining blurted into tears sobbing and sobbing and couldn’t say anything else but time for her to go back to her house. She hold her tight by the arm and says “ look who loves you is my brother, my own brother and if you can’t do anything about it then we can no longer be friends, you have to know that because you can’t just walk away when he is sick because of you. So think about this. Now you can go. She let her arm Fardosa shrugged and told her that her friendship was nothing. It was not worth it for them to be friends; she kept inviting her just because her brother wanted her. That was all and she wasn’t a true friend but a selfish one. And left the house. Farhaan came into his sister’s room as soon as she left, he heard everything she said. He was really mad and wanted to beat his sister up but no time to catch up with Fardosa. “You, you are dead I will come back for you, I was too close till I made the stupidest idea. He went outside to catch up with the crying girl and say sorry at least to her but since he was weak he couldn’t catch up with her he was really tired. She left crying, he says over and over. He ran and screamed her name but no one but his echo. Fardosa ran for a while and sat under a shade of a tree where some people pass by. She lay down on the flat hard ground, on her piece of cloth that she was wearing to school. She kept glancing at the people walking on the pedestrian walk specially those who were talking. This time as looked at the blue sky, the sun was rising, and a soft bright light was bathing the desert trees. Then she lay on her back and started to wonder if what she heard was a jock or it was serious. If when her friend comes to school if they will still be friends and talk to each other? As all this questions run over her mind, the sun is still dropping darkening to purple and she didn’t remembered to go home. She sat up and slumped back against a tree where she wanted to have sometimes to herself and rest, she quietly leaned her head back and closed her eyes, and felt the rough bark of the tree pressing into her scalp. She was quite for some time she felt a shadow that stood between her and the orange light of the sun. She opened her eyes before her standing was Farhaan, her eyes traced over his pale brown features. The softer curve of his lips twisted into smile. He was wearing his favourite t-shirt and his muscles arms shows riding his bike and riding it so fast made him tired and sweaty. How could you run that fast?” he asked. She was quit for some time. “Do you mind if I walk you home? It’s getting darker and your house is a like half an hour walk. She didn’t answer yet. “What is wrong with you?" "Do you mind if I sit? Just say anything” something at least, he says, his voice shaking as if he wanted to cry. She stood up without saying any word and proceeds to leave home. He kept quiet and got off the bike walking with her. After walking for a while he wanted to break the silence and by saying sorry to what had happen between her and his sister. Fardosa just listened to him talking and didn’t have the energy to waste she thought. You will keep talking but it’s not you who have wronged me so get lost and am not your sister’s friend anymore so why do you care if am mad? The next day at school Shukri wanted to apology to her friend but whenever she approaches her she makes herself busy or goes to the other direction. Two days at school they didn’t talk to each other. Shukri felt really bad about her friend being upset and didn’t want hurting their relationship, I shouldn’t say that we will not be friends, what was wrong with me she wondered. The third day at school Shukri went and talk to her she asked for forgiveness and they were friends again. Just to get her trust back Farhaan and his sister kept invite her to their house and never talk about feelings. He kept buying her gifts and his sister too. They will hang out together after school till they can say whatever they want to and eat together. Farhaan and Fardosa were getting closer and closer each and every day. She trusted him and even liked him; he wasn’t so bad at all she thought. His personality and altitude took her anger away. Anwar and Musa never make fun of anyone anymore, they saw how their friend changed and he told them what he had experienced from them. He was no longer the same category as them. Next morning he went to see her. The morning had open with a dirty light which had scarcely become brighter as the ceiling of the clouds lifted. She was wearing dirac, standing front of her house. Birds were singing so sweetly, pleasantly and charming it was early by the break of the day. panes filling the morning with colourless, sunless light. She blinked her eyes and covered them with a piece of cloth and tried to stop her laughter, when she saw Farhaan almost slip from his bike. He was very handsome, and believe me he knew it. He was six feet tall, slim and lighter than her. Her eyes traced over his pale brown features. The softer curve of his lips twisted up into a smile. "Oh my God, what are you doing here this early?" she asked. He came closer and closer like a romantic way. They looked eyes to eyes. Her mother yelled at her name. She went to see her. He ran after her, and had a good breakfast with the family. Their home was a hut woven from grass. Being portable, it served the same purpose as a tent. They built a frame from sticks, and then her mother wove grass mats that they laid over the bent twigs to form a dome. The hut provided shelter for the family, shade from the midday sun and storage for their possessions. At night, they all slept outside under the stars, with the children cuddled together on a mat. When the sun went down the desert was cold. And inside the house was hot. Since they didn’t have enough clothing for each of them to have their own, they used the heat from their bodies to keep warm. Her younger sisters would lie down and look at the stars while their mother would tell them stories. As Fardosa finishes up the last chore of the day by washing the dishes. Her mother is beautiful. People would say that she looked like her mother, Almost every evening, they will go to the dark bushes to have sometime together, Farhaan would slumped back against a tree where they're resting, he quietly leaned his head back and closed my eyes, and felt the rough bark of the tree pressing into my scalp, while she sleeps on his lab. With each passing minute she would say she wants to go home. As the sun was dropping darkening to purple. She never been absent from her house this late. Teaching her how to ride a bike wasn't hard at all he thought, he just wanted to spend more time with her. when they come back to the house their feet looked like twigs that might snap in a hard wind they were covered with sores that would rival a leper. As they kept going to their secret place and teaching her how to ride the bike was really fun, but not so long. One day as she thought she got it and making her believe in herself she started to ride it. After two paddle she was on the ground. She collapsed on the ground with a loud scream. It was a quick and uncomfortable fall. Her eyes scanned the blurry blue sky, as her body couldn’t hold it’s strength anymore. Her black long hair marred with dust, her brown eyes were fading. She was breathing so hard and tears were leaving her eyes. He came running as fast as he could and help her. He grabbed her by the arm, she couldn't get up so he decided he would carry her on his back and leave his bicycle there. He was shocked and scared of her mom that she would yell at him. They stumbled along, tripping over roots. he finally made it home. They saw her younger sisters, lying peacefully on a mat. As soon as they saw him, the ran up to him and threw their arms around his body. We missed you guys" they both said at the same time. Farhaan and Fardosa smiled. "where is mom?" she asked' "She went to the grocery store and she took forever to come back", said the older one. "We were lying down on the ground and watching the blue sky, so nothing else to do i guess". They were sleeping on a small mat and a piece of cloth that they had. Just before mom comes i want to wash the dishes and off to bed, maybe i will feel better tomorrow". They hugged and he left as he was leaving he couldn't let her go. He still wanted to spend more time with her. "I hope you will feel better tomorrow," "yes, i will be better don't worry". He swiped the dust on her clothes, since it's desert in this part of Africa. The sun was already setting and the blue, clear sky was turning darker with every second. " I will be leaving now, get better by early in the morning because i will come see you," as he punched her lightly at her butt. They both smiled and he left. She wash the dishes and cleaned all the staff from outside. Just before her mom got home, she was already done. Even though she was not feeling good she had to do what she has to and finish her chore. Her mother came after a while when she was dragging the kids to the house one by one. "You have to take them to the bathroom so they can pee before they go to bed". "Arr i hate that i have to take them all the way, if her mother would only know that she got hurt she wouldn't tell her to do that, entire she tried to wake them but it just didn't work. Fardosa got better and her knee got healed. Eight months later when they spent a lot of time together, loved each other dearly and cares about each other. He promises that he will help her through her studies. Since Fardosa didn't have anything and on one who will help her, he promised that he early the next morning she woke up from the sound of her mom’s murmuring. First she thought if she was dreaming but then she realized that she was awake, lying down on the flat hard ground, on a piece of cloth. She glanced the blue sky, the sun was rising, and a soft bright light was bathing the desert trees. She remembered when she would wake up every morning; her dad had already prayed the morning prayer (fajr) while waiting for a hot cup of tea. Then she would walk slowly as if she was fully awake she would throw herself on his lap, like someone who had collapsed. He would catch her and allows her to sleep on his lap. Then after awhile he would hold her head up high and point to the sunrise showing her its beauty. "It's for sure that i missed my father", she thought to herself. When still thinking her mother interrupted her, "hello children". Her mother came finally; the young girls ran towards their mother and gave her hug it was abnormal behaviour for kids. "You were all supposed to be on bed by now", how come you're still awake? She asked and they were busy looking for gifts from their mother's shopping bag. "Fardosa get me some glass of water, she said. She stood up and forgot all about her hurt knee and started screaming when she moved it once. "What happened to your knee?" her mother asked. "Oh i was trying to ride a bike when i fall off". You can’t imagine how everything was cleaned, yet she was hurt. Then she helped her mom to light the fire, the young girls collected firewood. Her mom light the fire as her little sister sat on her mom’s lap. Fardosa didn’t tell her mom anything but in fact she was very hungry and she was smart enough to understand that her mom didn’t have anything for her “I know you must be very hungry”, others are younger than you, you have to feed them before yourself Isn’t it?” “No I can still survive as you say, ma. she said politely and she didn’t look at her face, she tried to hold back the pain and tears. Soon everyone gathered around the fire just like before, but Fardosa knew that there was someone was missing. After six months, everything was okay. One day Farhaan got a phone call from Nairobi, his uncle called him and he wanted him to go to see him. Farhaan "Hello uncle, how are you doing?" uncle " I am good how are you doing?, it's been been such a long time. i wanted you to come and visit us i will be paying for your ticket." Farhaan "but uncle is there a good reason why i have to come because i am a little bit busy with the family and the business". uncle " till the day my brother left us i haven't seen you and i want you to meet my family as well". Farhaan "okay uncle i will come down sometime next week", and i will talk to mom about it." uncle “sure then i will wait for your respond." Farhaan "ok, bye". Next day Farhaan prepared to go to Nairobi and see his uncle and his family. But before he left he had to something, he had to get a way to keep connected to his love while he was gone, he showed Fardosa how to send email and read the ones you received. She had to go to the town to get a computer. He was happy and good to go. when he got out of the bus his uncle was there waiting for him at the bus station. "Assalamu Alaikum, big man. You are grown up now, and a responsible guy huh?" They hugged shoulder to shoulder and tap on each other’s back lightly as Farhaan response back. "Wa'aleykum Salam, yes i am grown up since the last time you saw me". After some talks they both headed home. His uncle was driving and keeps teasing Farhaan, on their way home they decided to buy some gifts for the family. They got home and Farhaan's cousin prepared them dinner and some soft drinks while they were both talking and watching TV. Staying a week felt like a year to Farhaan. He really missed his love, he missed the good times they had together. He was always sending her massages some joke ones and love ones which makes Fardosa's day as well as his. Farhaan didn't know that his uncle called him for a reason which was a shocking one to him. After praying at the mosque, on their way home his uncle tapped him on the shoulder and breaks the news to him. Uncle "There must be a good reason why i called you here my son, I wouldn't let you come to Nairobi for no good reason, do you know that your cousin Ubah is about to go?" Farhaan "go where? No I didn't know if she was going? uncle "let me just finish what i have to tell you, she is about to leave, by next month my daughter is going to somewhere North America called Canada. Her process is now concluded and she's just shopping around, nothing else had left for her, except i want you to do something that is really important." Farhaan "what is it? uncle "the question is, can you do it?" Farhaan "uncle you don't have to have any question for what i have to do for my cousin, and i thought that you can tell me to do things without my permission". Uncle " If it’s that way then i don't have to worry about anything huh? What i wanted to tell you is that i don't want to let my daughter go to Canada alone. She doesn't know anyone out there and any brother or father that will help her. I want you to marry her, so you can be her guidance and help her when she needs you. As you said no worries i want you to think about it and you have only a month that you two will marry and move to Canada together. So tell me what do you think?” Farhaan “what about my mom and my family? They don't know anything about this plan and i have to go talk to my mom and sister about it don't you think?" Uncle "Don't worry about anything as long as you are ok with it, I will talk to them". Farhaan “I will think about this and i will tell you my answer by tomorrow" Uncle "No, by today in the evening". As Farhaan he was really shocked and he almost ran out of his skin. He didn't want to argue with his uncle or disrespect him. He was quite all the times it was only his uncle who was talking. He tried to think of many ways to tell his uncle a very good excuse but didn't have any. When dinner was over, uncle called both Ubah and Farhaan to the living room and broke the news to Ubah as well that they will be getting married as soon as they can, so they have to start preparing themselves for wedding because they'll be leaving to Canada in two months. Farhaan was looking sideways to hide his anger and to stop from crying. His whole world came down crashing, but with no sound. No answer that came out of his mouth. The girl didn't care as long as she goes to Canada. His uncle didn't even pay any attention as long as his daughter was happy going to Canada with someone on her side. Next day Farhaan went to the computer place to send a letter to his love one and break the heart breaking news to her. Once he started writing “Hey my love, every single second feels like a minute, every minute feels like an hour, every hour feels like a day without you my world is empty, but I have a really bad news to tell you. When he wrote only those words he receive a call from his cousin and answers the call, when he was done it was only two seconds remaining for him to logout the computer so he sends it without finishing the news. Fardosa came to the computer place and opened her email before she reads it she smiles then feels sad. She replies that she needs to know what was the news and off back to her house, on the way Fardosa starts to think. Didn’t watch the cars going side to side, she crosses the road without looking. She got into an accident a very bad one. The car driver took her to the hospital and the doctors got her info inside her purse. They call her mom to come and the heartbreaking news is that they can’t help her and she needs to be taken to Nairobi where better medication can be served

 
ONE MORE Chance of A LIFE TIME
2010
Non- fiction:

Shamsa:


[
As life her Fardosa finds the only thing that you can do is to do it for your own good. As she goes through rough times all she needed was her prince charming. Her father who died before she get school diploma. Will she and her love be able to help her family out and will they survive? Let’s find out…. ONE MORE Chance of A LIFE TIME
ONE MORE Chance of A LIFE TIME During her life in Hagardera refugee camp, she never thought that one day she would reside in Canada and able to go to a decent school and have a decent life, but that is now a dream turn to reality. She is about 22 years of age as she goes through this, she was born in Mogadishu Somalia in 1989 as a result of the civil war her family fled to Kenya and settled at Hagardera refugee camp in 1992 where she spent 15 years of her life. She was born from a relatively well-to-do family. Her father Abdi was a school teacher and was the provider of the family while her mother, Halima, was a home maker responsible of their upbringing as well as taking care of the house hold duties of cooking, fetching firewood and other family duties as they arrived from time to time. She had two siblings all of them girls and she was the oldest among her sisters. she was only three years of age when the civiltran erupted in what was suppose to have been her homeland and experienced. She has a lot of them if any are stories narrated to her by her mother. Her name is Fardosa. A name given to her by her mother it has extraordinary importance to her and it's a name she is willing to keep as long as she is a live. Her mother was a good storyteller, especially when she is in a good mood and she enjoyed listening to her for it not only it gave her insight into what life was in the past but also gave her inspirations and aspirations for what is to come in the future. For her mom to tell a story, it will take for a constant coalescing to get her to the mood. Sometimes she had her aim demands which if she met would lead to a good story. For instance during the day when she wants some house hold work done, she would say "if you want me to tell you a story tonight I want you girls to collect a firewood, fetch water, clean utensils and tidy the house". Fardosa and her sisters will do the work whole heartedly and without hesitation for the temptation to hear her stories outweighed the burden involved in undertaking the work. Her stories were so eloquently told that it was totally irestable. Normally she will chose the topic and is girls had no say in that regard. Theirs was to sit relax and listen altentively for she didn't welcomed any interruptions. One night in September though, after they had supper, they sat around the fire as usual, as they looked forward to another story. "what kind of story do you want me to tell you tonight?" she asked. They were quite surprised as this rare opportunity of asking them to choose the storyline was a new thing. "mom" Fardosa said, sleazing the opportunity, before one of her sisters suggested a topic. "please tell us how you and Dad met before your marriage". She hesitated for a moment deep in thought, sighed a bit and then looked at her and said "this is a tough story to tell my dear". it seemed as though there were somethings she didn't want them to know or she didn't want them to remember the glories days of her past life even the fact that she was now living a destitute life in a refugee camp as a single. Mother, whatever the case, she persisted, determined to find the truth. "please mom, tell us the story", she begged. She finally gave into her constant please and begun to tell the story. "Well" she said "I was born in Afmadow Somalia a hundred and twenty rainy seasons ago, a village three days walk from Mogadisho. My father had four wives and my mother was the third. It was an extended family, twenty two children from the four families. I was circumcised at the age of twelve which officially transitioned me from a girl to a woman who was potentially ready for marriage. I used to look after the goats and when i was fifteen, while grazing the goats in the outkits of the village one day, I was approached by two men who appeared out of nowhere without notice. As they approached, men, I ran as fast as my feeble legs could carry me. This was because, strange me could potentially take a woman as a wife and it was a custo marry and perfectly acceptable within the traditions to do so. So the only way to avenge this was to run away. My speed was no match for them for within few minutes they were at my heels. One of them passed me and then stood in front of me. I knew there and then that i lost of the battle as my efforts were fertile. "listen young lady," the older man told me" you can either play it rough and fall for the music or you can do what I say and be safe by the bell". I knew this was not a request but a command. Never the less I was onto ready to give up the fight so easily. "what do you want from me?" I inquired. " I don't know you and you certainly mean no good". In order to soften me a little bit, the older man slapped me in the face so hard that a flush of light passed through my eyes and then everything turned dark as thought i twas the dead of the night. There was zing sound coming out of y ears and I staggered to the ground. I could hear their fainted voices and it got louder as I regained my eye sight and they finally came into full view. The older man started beating me until I could not take it anymore. For fear of being beaten to death, I told him to stop and promised to comply with their demands. They told me that one of them was taking me as a wife and that the only thing they expected was my co-operation. Failure to do so could lead to another round of beating during these days women were treated as objects. They had no say in any matters wether it affected them or not. In short men were their supreme rulers and their words were final. The only thing I could do was present a justifiable case least it may help make them reconsider their determination. "Please let me go" I told them I am only fifteen years old and my parents don't anyone to look after their goats". The younger of the two men was quite all a long, neither interfering nor helping the situation when I was being beaten. "you are the perfect age for marriage" the older one replied. "the size of your breast is ready an indication of your womanhood". if you take me away, my parents goats will be lost and be eaten by hyenas" I told him. "don't you worry" he assumed. "we have a plan for that so I will not entertain anymore nonsense from you, are we clear? "yes". So the older man asked the younger one to take the goats closer to the village which was not far and as soon as he returned it was time to go. I was familiar with this kind of marriage but never have anticipated it to happen to me. At the tender of age fifteen, I was emotionally distort for the simple reason that there was nobody to free me from these men who were literally holding me hostage. Not to mention that I was not able to say goodbye to my parents and siblings. As they took me away, I glanced back at my village one last time knowing this could be my last time to ever see it again. The thought of being in the company of fatal strangers was not only emotionally distressing but mind boggling. I begun to sob uncontrollably until no more tears could come out of my eyes. I could care less the men threatening me for I had nothing else to loose. I preferred to die there and then than leaving my family for good". She took a sip from the cup of tea she was holding and briefly looked at us as if to make sure we were following the story. For just something to say and before she resumed telling the story, Fardosa asked her how possible it was to marry a man they had no romantic relationship and who was to her a total stranger. She looked at her as if her question had no retirance and then said. " "my dear daughter, " the world we lived in those days was not the same as the world of today. "you live in a time where men are beginning to recognize women rights, I where they are not as vacuous as they used to be though, they still have a long way to go, if women are to be equal parties in life in those days the word romance was not in our dictionary if at all we had any. Romance came to us in a violent and vicious way. It was one sided affair. Women were not more than a man's convinience. They were expected to have unwiring loyalty to their husbands. A man was expected to choose a woman by her beauty, altitude and loyalty. Women, on the other hand were stuccoed with whatever man eloped her. He could be fifty years older than her and it would have made no difference. Men were permitted to marry as many as four wives by our religion, but with conditions that they treat their wives equally and fairly. But they usually abuse their power by neglecting the older wives and spending most of their time with the younger ones. The older wives were sometimes reduced to raising the kids without any romantic relationship to their husbands. "mom, her younger sister Asha interrupted, "can you tell us what happened after the men took you away?" "Oh, yeah the men," her mom replied, realizing that the question Fardosa asked earlier diffted her from the story she was telling. "The two men took for a long, tiring walk, we occasionally rested whenever they realized that I was trailing behind, for the first hour into the journey, they didn't say a word to me. they were just carrying on with their conversation from which I could gathered they were from either Mogadisho or were intending to take me there, but I could not tell which of the two men was my husband to be. The younger man was about twenty five years of age. He was tall with a slim build. He was brown, had a well kept hair and was eleen shaven. He was handsome. He wore a pair of blue trousers and a well ironed shirt. He looked as though he was from town. He was quite and had a lot of respect for the other man. The older man man was in his early fourties. He was short, dark with balding head and unkept beard. He had mean look on his face, a man not to be messed with. He had no sense of humour at all. He wore a traditional clothing and had bed sheet wrapped around his shoulders. He wore shoes made of old tires and i could see cracks on his heels. He was well conversant with life in rural areas. I could tell the younger man depended on him for directions. He was some kind of a mention to him. As my fears receded I wondered if this was a dream to be woken up from. My hopes slowly diminished and the reality begun to down on me. As I walked behind them that fateful afternoon, I begun contemplating on my future. I wondered which of the two men was my husband to be. The older man was most likely the one marrying me. For one he was a costumed to town life and neither was he. Secondly he was the one beating and questioning me through out my ordeal. My worry with him was that he was about forty yeas old. Not that he was very old but old enough to be looking for his third or fourth wife. The thought of this sickened me not forgetting the fact that, gibbon the chance, I wouldn't have fallen involve with him. The second man was his early twenties probably looking for his first wife. He was handsome and polite which will make me prefer over the other man. But he looked educated and civilized which made me wonder why he was looking for a girl from the rural area. when he could get a civilized one in town. After careful consideration, I hatched a plan. If it turned out the man marrying me was the younger one, I decided to welcome the idea as this would expose me to town life and my children would get the opportunity to go to school. But if it turned out to be the other guy it was more than likely that I would be the third or fourth wife. i therefore decided that i will risk running away rather be eaten by a lion than marrying him. While her mom was passionately telling the story, Fardosa was beginning to realize that the younger man she described must have been the one she married as the profile matched that of her dad during his younger age. Several times she wanted to surprised her but hold back her emotions for the fear of infuriating her as she didn't welcomed any interruptions. The last she would have done was bring the story to an uprupt end. "Well will continue the rest of the story another time" she said unexpectedly. "It's time for you girls to go to bed. I don't want you to be late for school tomorrow". "please mom", they begged. "please mom, continue until your next destination", Said Fardosa almost immediately. "It's only eight pm," the younger one reminded. "you girls are very inquisitive", she said politely. "Well as we walked on a long dusty road that afternoon, the sun was setting in the western horizon. I was beginning to worry about my family. The ulter shock, horror and disbelieve once they find the goats and realize that I disappeared without a trace. Their first instinct will be, I am sure, that they think I was eaten by a lion. They will be looking for me all night in the grazing field. I could picture the sorrow on my mother's face. Her grit would be totally inconsolable. For she loved me dearly. All this thoughts were going through my mind, when all of a sudden, the men stopped walking. As I caught up with them, the oldest of the two disappeared into the bush on the edge of the road, leaving the two of us standing awkwardly. None of us said something. The moment of silence rapidly. I begun to gasp for air as my breath grew havier and brief moment the older man was gone felt like hours. A women, in those days, was not expected to start conversation. Men usually took the leading role, but these men were so profoundly awkward that we didn't even know each others name, despite being together for the last couple of hours. Suddenly, the young man cleared his throat as if preparing to say something. He looked at me right in the eyes and smilled. I looked down for I couldn't handle his gestures. "Are you tired?" He asked. I said nothing for i couldn't find anything to say. Not even a simple yes. He placed his hand on my chin to raise my head up and I pushed him away with the little strength I could gave. My legs were getting weaker. There were chills going down my spine and I was sweating profusely. My head seemed to be getting bigger and bigger. I have never been so close to a man in my life and I couldn't tell if this was a due to a fear of a man or if it was probably love at first sight or rather a induced love. Fardosa smiled. For reasons beyond my comprehension. I tumbled to the ground and could not stand up despite my repeated attempts. I begun to sob once again. The older manned was nowhere to be seen. He was gone for hours or so I thought. He could have been gone for minutes because a defections wont take hours unless there were some other factors at play here. The young man. Then sat next to me. "Why are you crying?" He asked. He wiped the tears from my eyes but this time I was too parralized to stop him. I could not control any body movement. It was as though my brain lost contact with the rest of my body. "My name is Abdi Ahmed" He said. " I am the man whose future wife, you are destined to be." Then for the reason beyond my conscious, I begun to get compestore. I came back to my senses. my fears vanished and for the first time I was able to talk. "What is your name?" He asked. "Halima", I replied without any hesitation. "Nice to meet you" "Nice to meet you too" I replied. "Have no fears" He assured me, from this moment you are in a good hands". For the first time since the older man left I felt like not wanting him to come back so soon. But my expectation were short-lived as I saw him coming out from the bush soon after. We resumed walking but this time the older man whose name I was told by Abdi was Askar who was leading the way while we followed about twenty steps behind. I was at ease with Abdi and for some reason I was not furious about the beatings endured as this was the norm of those days. That is how my relationship with your father started". They all laughed in unison. "mom, given the norm of those days dad was quite a romantic man, wasn't he?" Fardosa asked. "He was not at all", she said " I was lucky that if i wasn't beaten all the way to the next stop, or worst still raped. Your dad was kind and remorseful. i regret the circumstances of your relationship but i don't regret having married him. Having grown in town might have helped him". "So what happen next asked the young one. To intense their mom to continue the story. "We walked all night. It was a dark rainy night. There were lions and hyenas rouming around the forest. I was not as scared as you dad was as I was accustomed to their presence. But Askar was a worrier who could not be deterred b the presence of wild animals. He knew how to read their instincts. We finally arrived at a village where Askar lived at an hour after sunset and we spent the night there. "Okay time to go to bed now". They didn't want to push her anymore so they all went to bed at their ramshockled tin house. That night as Fardosa went to bed, she couldn't sleep. The story her mom told them left a lasting impression in her. She had a mix feelings about love and life as whole. One one hand she was feeling sorry for her mother for having indured those cruel and in human treatment in the hands of her father. On the other hand she was glad that she finally married her father for without that she couldn't have been her mother and would have probably married to a cruel man. She couldn't make sense of the manner in which she had to leave without saying goodbye to her family. Her mother would always tell them stories involving other people but never has she passionately told of her own life at length so passionately and emotionally. Was she trying to ready them forum their own future and what might be in store for them for nothing much has changed interms of woman right. She begun to wonder what other surprise her mom had in soot for them but would she continue giving them close of this every so after or would she cut it short. As a woman, this stories made her wonder if she would ever trust a man with all their domination mistreatment. She wonder what gaabe them the right to take a woman as one of their property. She vowed that night to study hard at school and delay marriage as long as she could make her mother proud. She slowly drifted away only to be woken up by her mom shortly after. It was already time to go to school. She begun to contemplating what was the purpose of woman creation this life. Is it to be material to man, were they created for the convenience of man. To be treated in whatever way man pleases or were we created as equal partners?. To complement each others life. To live in harmony, cohesion and compassion. To share duties in equal terms. Since none can live without the other. That life will not be complete without the other. certainly God creation of woman is more than for man convince, they were created of worship and certainly God preserved their right and men will she hope be held responsible for their action. Two of her older sisters already succumbed to the same fate as her mom. They just vanished from their life without noticed. she begun to think of their life and could help feeling sorry for them. She hoped their husbands were not so cruel to them. She wondered what her mom would be if the remaining three of them just vanished one by one, who would she be left with?. The she remembered what she told her was a lump or in my thought either due to anger or fear or both. He placed his hand on my shoulder When her father was a life she started attending school. But Fardosa was always worried about her family and younger sisters. Her family went to poor to poorer. They didn’t have anything or any income. Since then Fardosa always wanted to finish her schooling and one day to help her family. She will yearly fill up school bursary so that she will be able to attend school. Since she was grade seven she had the same uniform. Whenever it gets ripped her mother saws it. She had barely any friends to talk to, yet she was always a happy person and says “Hello” to whoever she wants, she never feels bad about how poor they are and how different she was from the other students. Shukri was her closest friend. She gives her old clothes to Fardosa the clothes she doesn’t like. She would be very glad and pleased to have those clothes. Shukri’s family was the richest family in the neighbourhood. Her father died before Fardosa’s father. Her mother was educated woman. They had a big farm, a pharmacy and a wholesale. They own a big house. Her uncle lived in Nairobi the capital of Kenya. Farhaan was her older brother. He was also attending the same school with his sister and her friend. Farhaan was popular in school, he was the one every girl wanted to have. He would always change his uniform. His friends Musa and Anwar would do almost do anything he asks for. They would talk to anyone he talks to and ignore who he ignores. Fardosa and Farhaan were classmates. Since Farhaan was her best friend’s brother, she would say “Hi” to him. Farhaan and his friends never replied her greetings. He hated her for no reason. Maybe because she’s not wearing good uniform, or she was poor. His friends would do the same and ignore her, laugh at her and talk how her uniform and her shoes were old. How she carries her books in a plastic bag. When she gets home maybe there’s nothing to eat for lunch. Fardosa was always strong person she thinks about her two young sisters and her mom. She goes back to her school without eating anything. She would always encourage her young sisters telling them to be strong until she finishes her studies. Her mom will clean up the house, saw peoples clothes so she can earn money, sometimes she gets food from her neighbours. One day Fardosa was invited by her friend Shukri to go to a wedding party. Fardosa felt that she was honoured, couldn’t say no. Early in the morning when she first got the invitation she accepted it but later she remembered that she doesn’t have anything to wear. Then after lunch Fardosa when to talk to her friend Shukri to tell her that she couldn’t come because she doesn’t have anything to wear. When Fardosa approaches, Shukri, Shukri started to tell her how happy she was to have her come along. Then Shukri says she told her mom that her friend was coming along. Fardosa didn’t have the heart to say no to her friend. She says “oh Fardosa you should see the dresses that my mom bought for us, she smiled and says really?” Then Shukri describes how beautiful the dresses were. She was really happy to hear that and was looking forward to attend the special event, then she came home running to tell her mom the news that she got new dress from her friend. Fardosa and her friend were really happy. After school they went to Shukri’s house. The girls took shower designed their hair and look just right. Fardosa felt like a princess. She never wore a beautiful dress since she was born, never wore makeup or design her hair to any style. She looked a totally different person, taller and more beautiful than any girl in town. She has been transformed to different person. People at the party kept staring at her and asking who she was. They were all going to the party at the same time the whole family were going at once. Farhaan was driving his own car with his friends so he doesn’t have to come with his mama. He saw his sister and another beautiful girl just like an angel getting into his mother’s car. He stood for a while just to make sure he has seen someone with his sister. It was right his friend Anwar tapped him on his shoulder and asks about it too. “Let’s find out for ourselves”, he says as they both giggles and pops into the car. Since the party was mostly for women the guys were outside standing at the front to welcome people and watch for the kids that are making trouble and some of them playing soccer to make the kids busy. Farhaan and his friends just wanted to see the beautiful girl that they saw nothing else. They kept sneaking and looking for her as much as they can, yet didn’t know who she was. They thought that she came from another city or new neighbour. Fardosa’s mom came after a while and took her out of the party before he gets to see her. It’s was understandable that she was the oldest and the only hope the whole family have and the only educated person in the whole family. They don’t want anything to happen to her at all. Farhaan ran everywhere in the hall, round and round up and down but nowhere to find the princess. Next morning when they all arrived to school, the girls talked about the party and how fun it was to have each other at the party, Fardosa kept talking about their dresses. When she left to her classroom, Farhaan came up to his sister to and ask who girl that was with her was. It was Fardosa you dummy head” she says and left him standing with his eyes open wide his mouth dropped and couldn’t believe the words that came from his sister’s mouth. He already fall for her, he really wanted to meet the girl of his dream but not the only person he hated all his life in school. He kept hissing and asking his sister over and over again. He was really shocked. He changed himself not talking to his friends, he doesn’t eat food can’t go to sleep and didn’t even go to school for seven good days. There was no a single breeze. His days felt tight no coolness, no flow. Farhaan freeze like a statue. His friends asked if anything was wrong with him but he never gave them satisfied answer. His mom was really worried about his health and all. He could no longer eat well or sleep well. He missed his school for a week. As days passed by, he recovered. His sister came from school going up to her room, he was sitting on the stairs, “you look flying today”, she said as she smiles she went off to her room. He followed her to her room and knocked at her door. “Can I come in?” he said. “yes come on in”, she replies, “so what’s new and what brings you here?” finally talked to his sister and break the news to her that he was in love with the girl he hated the most. “So why are you telling me this? Why can’t you go and talk to the girl for yourself?” she says. “ I want you to do me a favour for me please, I want to know what she thinks or how she feels about me, I want to hear it from her then I can try my best to convince her that I do love her, and she means a lot to me now. Let go what had happen before that was long time and we’re no longer kids, why am I saying this just invite her tomorrow and tell her how I feel about her and we’ll see how she will react. Shukri laughed sarcastically and said, “Okay I got it now somebody was sick because of love? And he loves the person he hated the most? Wow that is what I call l-o-v-e as she spells the words out loud. So who is she?” “It’s… it’s your friend Fardosa. shukri’s mouth dropped and stopped what she was doing as he looks down holding his head. He didn’t want to see her reaction; he knew that she wouldn’t believe him. I know it’s awkward he says but am serious I love that girl I know I hated her but not anymore! So will you do what I have asked for?” “Are you telling me this or it’s just to fool me and you are making this up? “Am not making things up and I wouldn’t say this if it’s not true. So will you help me yes or no? Just answer that.” “Ok I will do it and I will invite her for lunch and you have to understand if she says no because you use to hate her a lot”. “Yes I will understand it, just bring her over and after lunch I will listen to you too talking and I will see what she thinks about us going out. Which am hopping I will not lose this. For the first time I fall in love.” Next morning when she got to school the first thing she did was to look Fardosa all over and kept asking other students if they saw her at school. As she ran side by side of the school compound and the bell for the classes will soon ring in about five minute. She still couldn’t find her. As she was running back to her class they almost hit each other with Fardosa. Hey I was looking for you all this morning where have you been? Anyways I wanted to invite you for lunch don’t go anywhere wait for me I got good news for you” she yells as they both run to different directions heading to their classes. It was finally lunch time and the girls went together Fardosa kept asking about the news but she says we have to get home then I will tell you about it. They ate lunch and came up to her room and started praying salat dhuhri. When they were done Farhaan stood at the door and couldn’t wait till the topic starts. So she tells about it. Fardosa was really shocked she backed off a bit and didn’t know what to say she couldn’t believe the words that was coming out her mouth and she says “No, I can’t do that, your bother hates me off all the students that attends at our school. He doesn’t even bother himself to say hello back whenever I say so and I heard him say in your dreams that’s when I will say hi back and his friends started laughing at me. They even talk about my uniform, saying that am half naked. My pair of uniform I had it for long and it looked like it’s turning to be green instead of being blue. She kept complaining blurted into tears sobbing and sobbing and couldn’t say anything else but time for her to go back to her house. She hold her tight by the arm and says “ look who loves you is my brother, my own brother and if you can’t do anything about it then we can no longer be friends, you have to know that because you can’t just walk away when he is sick because of you. So think about this. Now you can go. She let her arm Fardosa shrugged and told her that her friendship was nothing. It was not worth it for them to be friends; she kept inviting her just because her brother wanted her. That was all and she wasn’t a true friend but a selfish one. And left the house. Farhaan came into his sister’s room as soon as she left, he heard everything she said. He was really mad and wanted to beat his sister up but no time to catch up with Fardosa. “You, you are dead I will come back for you, I was too close till I made the stupidest idea. He went outside to catch up with the crying girl and say sorry at least to her but since he was weak he couldn’t catch up with her he was really tired. She left crying, he says over and over. He ran and screamed her name but no one but his echo. Fardosa ran for a while and sat under a shade of a tree where some people pass by. She lay down on the flat hard ground, on her piece of cloth that she was wearing to school. She kept glancing at the people walking on the pedestrian walk specially those who were talking. This time as looked at the blue sky, the sun was rising, and a soft bright light was bathing the desert trees. Then she lay on her back and started to wonder if what she heard was a jock or it was serious. If when her friend comes to school if they will still be friends and talk to each other? As all this questions run over her mind, the sun is still dropping darkening to purple and she didn’t remembered to go home. She sat up and slumped back against a tree where she wanted to have sometimes to herself and rest, she quietly leaned her head back and closed her eyes, and felt the rough bark of the tree pressing into her scalp. She was quite for some time she felt a shadow that stood between her and the orange light of the sun. She opened her eyes before her standing was Farhaan, her eyes traced over his pale brown features. The softer curve of his lips twisted into smile. He was wearing his favourite t-shirt and his muscles arms shows riding his bike and riding it so fast made him tired and sweaty. How could you run that fast?” he asked. She was quit for some time. “Do you mind if I walk you home? It’s getting darker and your house is a like half an hour walk. She didn’t answer yet. “What is wrong with you?" "Do you mind if I sit? Just say anything” something at least, he says, his voice shaking as if he wanted to cry. She stood up without saying any word and proceeds to leave home. He kept quiet and got off the bike walking with her. After walking for a while he wanted to break the silence and by saying sorry to what had happen between her and his sister. Fardosa just listened to him talking and didn’t have the energy to waste she thought. You will keep talking but it’s not you who have wronged me so get lost and am not your sister’s friend anymore so why do you care if am mad? The next day at school Shukri wanted to apology to her friend but whenever she approaches her she makes herself busy or goes to the other direction. Two days at school they didn’t talk to each other. Shukri felt really bad about her friend being upset and didn’t want hurting their relationship, I shouldn’t say that we will not be friends, what was wrong with me she wondered. The third day at school Shukri went and talk to her she asked for forgiveness and they were friends again. Just to get her trust back Farhaan and his sister kept invite her to their house and never talk about feelings. He kept buying her gifts and his sister too. They will hang out together after school till they can say whatever they want to and eat together. Farhaan and Fardosa were getting closer and closer each and every day. She trusted him and even liked him; he wasn’t so bad at all she thought. His personality and altitude took her anger away. Anwar and Musa never make fun of anyone anymore, they saw how their friend changed and he told them what he had experienced from them. He was no longer the same category as them. Next morning he went to see her. The morning had open with a dirty light which had scarcely become brighter as the ceiling of the clouds lifted. She was wearing dirac, standing front of her house. Birds were singing so sweetly, pleasantly and charming it was early by the break of the day. panes filling the morning with colourless, sunless light. She blinked her eyes and covered them with a piece of cloth and tried to stop her laughter, when she saw Farhaan almost slip from his bike. He was very handsome, and believe me he knew it. He was six feet tall, slim and lighter than her. Her eyes traced over his pale brown features. The softer curve of his lips twisted up into a smile. "Oh my God, what are you doing here this early?" she asked. He came closer and closer like a romantic way. They looked eyes to eyes. Her mother yelled at her name. She went to see her. He ran after her, and had a good breakfast with the family. Their home was a hut woven from grass. Being portable, it served the same purpose as a tent. They built a frame from sticks, and then her mother wove grass mats that they laid over the bent twigs to form a dome. The hut provided shelter for the family, shade from the midday sun and storage for their possessions. At night, they all slept outside under the stars, with the children cuddled together on a mat. When the sun went down the desert was cold. And inside the house was hot. Since they didn’t have enough clothing for each of them to have their own, they used the heat from their bodies to keep warm. Her younger sisters would lie down and look at the stars while their mother would tell them stories. As Fardosa finishes up the last chore of the day by washing the dishes. Her mother is beautiful. People would say that she looked like her mother, Almost every evening, they will go to the dark bushes to have sometime together, Farhaan would slumped back against a tree where they're resting, he quietly leaned his head back and closed my eyes, and felt the rough bark of the tree pressing into my scalp, while she sleeps on his lab. With each passing minute she would say she wants to go home. As the sun was dropping darkening to purple. She never been absent from her house this late. Teaching her how to ride a bike wasn't hard at all he thought, he just wanted to spend more time with her. when they come back to the house their feet looked like twigs that might snap in a hard wind they were covered with sores that would rival a leper. As they kept going to their secret place and teaching her how to ride the bike was really fun, but not so long. One day as she thought she got it and making her believe in herself she started to ride it. After two paddle she was on the ground. She collapsed on the ground with a loud scream. It was a quick and uncomfortable fall. Her eyes scanned the blurry blue sky, as her body couldn’t hold it’s strength anymore. Her black long hair marred with dust, her brown eyes were fading. She was breathing so hard and tears were leaving her eyes. He came running as fast as he could and help her. He grabbed her by the arm, she couldn't get up so he decided he would carry her on his back and leave his bicycle there. He was shocked and scared of her mom that she would yell at him. They stumbled along, tripping over roots. he finally made it home. They saw her younger sisters, lying peacefully on a mat. As soon as they saw him, the ran up to him and threw their arms around his body. We missed you guys" they both said at the same time. Farhaan and Fardosa smiled. "where is mom?" she asked' "She went to the grocery store and she took forever to come back", said the older one. "We were lying down on the ground and watching the blue sky, so nothing else to do i guess". They were sleeping on a small mat and a piece of cloth that they had. Just before mom comes i want to wash the dishes and off to bed, maybe i will feel better tomorrow". They hugged and he left as he was leaving he couldn't let her go. He still wanted to spend more time with her. "I hope you will feel better tomorrow," "yes, i will be better don't worry". He swiped the dust on her clothes, since it's desert in this part of Africa. The sun was already setting and the blue, clear sky was turning darker with every second. " I will be leaving now, get better by early in the morning because i will come see you," as he punched her lightly at her butt. They both smiled and he left. She wash the dishes and cleaned all the staff from outside. Just before her mom got home, she was already done. Even though she was not feeling good she had to do what she has to and finish her chore. Her mother came after a while when she was dragging the kids to the house one by one. "You have to take them to the bathroom so they can pee before they go to bed". "Arr i hate that i have to take them all the way, if her mother would only know that she got hurt she wouldn't tell her to do that, entire she tried to wake them but it just didn't work. Fardosa got better and her knee got healed. Eight months later when they spent a lot of time together, loved each other dearly and cares about each other. He promises that he will help her through her studies. Since Fardosa didn't have anything and on one who will help her, he promised that he early the next morning she woke up from the sound of her mom’s murmuring. First she thought if she was dreaming but then she realized that she was awake, lying down on the flat hard ground, on a piece of cloth. She glanced the blue sky, the sun was rising, and a soft bright light was bathing the desert trees. She remembered when she would wake up every morning; her dad had already prayed the morning prayer (fajr) while waiting for a hot cup of tea. Then she would walk slowly as if she was fully awake she would throw herself on his lap, like someone who had collapsed. He would catch her and allows her to sleep on his lap. Then after awhile he would hold her head up high and point to the sunrise showing her its beauty. "It's for sure that i missed my father", she thought to herself. When still thinking her mother interrupted her, "hello children". Her mother came finally; the young girls ran towards their mother and gave her hug it was abnormal behaviour for kids. "You were all supposed to be on bed by now", how come you're still awake? She asked and they were busy looking for gifts from their mother's shopping bag. "Fardosa get me some glass of water, she said. She stood up and forgot all about her hurt knee and started screaming when she moved it once. "What happened to your knee?" her mother asked. "Oh i was trying to ride a bike when i fall off". You can’t imagine how everything was cleaned, yet she was hurt. Then she helped her mom to light the fire, the young girls collected firewood. Her mom light the fire as her little sister sat on her mom’s lap. Fardosa didn’t tell her mom anything but in fact she was very hungry and she was smart enough to understand that her mom didn’t have anything for her “I know you must be very hungry”, others are younger than you, you have to feed them before yourself Isn’t it?” “No I can still survive as you say, ma. she said politely and she didn’t look at her face, she tried to hold back the pain and tears. Soon everyone gathered around the fire just like before, but Fardosa knew that there was someone was missing. After six months, everything was okay. One day Farhaan got a phone call from Nairobi, his uncle called him and he wanted him to go to see him. Farhaan "Hello uncle, how are you doing?" uncle " I am good how are you doing?, it's been been such a long time. i wanted you to come and visit us i will be paying for your ticket." Farhaan "but uncle is there a good reason why i have to come because i am a little bit busy with the family and the business". uncle " till the day my brother left us i haven't seen you and i want you to meet my family as well". Farhaan "okay uncle i will come down sometime next week", and i will talk to mom about it." uncle “sure then i will wait for your respond." Farhaan "ok, bye". Next day Farhaan prepared to go to Nairobi and see his uncle and his family. But before he left he had to something, he had to get a way to keep connected to his love while he was gone, he showed Fardosa how to send email and read the ones you received. She had to go to the town to get a computer. He was happy and good to go. when he got out of the bus his uncle was there waiting for him at the bus station. "Assalamu Alaikum, big man. You are grown up now, and a responsible guy huh?" They hugged shoulder to shoulder and tap on each other’s back lightly as Farhaan response back. "Wa'aleykum Salam, yes i am grown up since the last time you saw me". After some talks they both headed home. His uncle was driving and keeps teasing Farhaan, on their way home they decided to buy some gifts for the family. They got home and Farhaan's cousin prepared them dinner and some soft drinks while they were both talking and watching TV. Staying a week felt like a year to Farhaan. He really missed his love, he missed the good times they had together. He was always sending her massages some joke ones and love ones which makes Fardosa's day as well as his. Farhaan didn't know that his uncle called him for a reason which was a shocking one to him. After praying at the mosque, on their way home his uncle tapped him on the shoulder and breaks the news to him. Uncle "There must be a good reason why i called you here my son, I wouldn't let you come to Nairobi for no good reason, do you know that your cousin Ubah is about to go?" Farhaan "go where? No I didn't know if she was going? uncle "let me just finish what i have to tell you, she is about to leave, by next month my daughter is going to somewhere North America called Canada. Her process is now concluded and she's just shopping around, nothing else had left for her, except i want you to do something that is really important." Farhaan "what is it? uncle "the question is, can you do it?" Farhaan "uncle you don't have to have any question for what i have to do for my cousin, and i thought that you can tell me to do things without my permission". Uncle " If it’s that way then i don't have to worry about anything huh? What i wanted to tell you is that i don't want to let my daughter go to Canada alone. She doesn't know anyone out there and any brother or father that will help her. I want you to marry her, so you can be her guidance and help her when she needs you. As you said no worries i want you to think about it and you have only a month that you two will marry and move to Canada together. So tell me what do you think?” Farhaan “what about my mom and my family? They don't know anything about this plan and i have to go talk to my mom and sister about it don't you think?" Uncle "Don't worry about anything as long as you are ok with it, I will talk to them". Farhaan “I will think about this and i will tell you my answer by tomorrow" Uncle "No, by today in the evening". As Farhaan he was really shocked and he almost ran out of his skin. He didn't want to argue with his uncle or disrespect him. He was quite all the times it was only his uncle who was talking. He tried to think of many ways to tell his uncle a very good excuse but didn't have any. When dinner was over, uncle called both Ubah and Farhaan to the living room and broke the news to Ubah as well that they will be getting married as soon as they can, so they have to start preparing themselves for wedding because they'll be leaving to Canada in two months. Farhaan was looking sideways to hide his anger and to stop from crying. His whole world came down crashing, but with no sound. No answer that came out of his mouth. The girl didn't care as long as she goes to Canada. His uncle didn't even pay any attention as long as his daughter was happy going to Canada with someone on her side. Next day Farhaan went to the computer place to send a letter to his love one and break the heart breaking news to her. Once he started writing “Hey my love, every single second feels like a minute, every minute feels like an hour, every hour feels like a day without you my world is empty, but I have a really bad news to tell you. When he wrote only those words he receive a call from his cousin and answers the call, when he was done it was only two seconds remaining for him to logout the computer so he sends it without finishing the news. Fardosa came to the computer place and opened her email before she reads it she smiles then feels sad. She replies that she needs to know what was the news and off back to her house, on the way Fardosa starts to think. Didn’t watch the cars going side to side, she crosses the road without looking. She got into an accident a very bad one. The car driver took her to the hospital and the doctors got her info inside her purse. They call her mom to come and the heartbreaking news is that they can’t help her and she needs to be taken to Nairobi where better medication can be served
 
ONE MORE Chance of A LIFE TIME
2010
Non- fiction:

Shamsa:


[
As life her Fardosa finds the only thing that you can do is to do it for your own good. As she goes through rough times all she needed was her prince charming. Her father who died before she get school diploma. Will she and her love be able to help her family out and will they survive? Let’s find out…. ONE MORE Chance of A LIFE TIME
ONE MORE Chance of A LIFE TIME During her life in Hagardera refugee camp, she never thought that one day she would reside in Canada and able to go to a decent school and have a decent life, but that is now a dream turn to reality. She is about 22 years of age as she goes through this, she was born in Mogadishu Somalia in 1989 as a result of the civil war her family fled to Kenya and settled at Hagardera refugee camp in 1992 where she spent 15 years of her life. She was born from a relatively well-to-do family. Her father Abdi was a school teacher and was the provider of the family while her mother, Halima, was a home maker responsible of their upbringing as well as taking care of the house hold duties of cooking, fetching firewood and other family duties as they arrived from time to time. She had two siblings all of them girls and she was the oldest among her sisters. she was only three years of age when the civiltran erupted in what was suppose to have been her homeland and experienced. She has a lot of them if any are stories narrated to her by her mother. Her name is Fardosa. A name given to her by her mother it has extraordinary importance to her and it's a name she is willing to keep as long as she is a live. Her mother was a good storyteller, especially when she is in a good mood and she enjoyed listening to her for it not only it gave her insight into what life was in the past but also gave her inspirations and aspirations for what is to come in the future. For her mom to tell a story, it will take for a constant coalescing to get her to the mood. Sometimes she had her aim demands which if she met would lead to a good story. For instance during the day when she wants some house hold work done, she would say "if you want me to tell you a story tonight I want you girls to collect a firewood, fetch water, clean utensils and tidy the house". Fardosa and her sisters will do the work whole heartedly and without hesitation for the temptation to hear her stories outweighed the burden involved in undertaking the work. Her stories were so eloquently told that it was totally irestable. Normally she will chose the topic and is girls had no say in that regard. Theirs was to sit relax and listen altentively for she didn't welcomed any interruptions. One night in September though, after they had supper, they sat around the fire as usual, as they looked forward to another story. "what kind of story do you want me to tell you tonight?" she asked. They were quite surprised as this rare opportunity of asking them to choose the storyline was a new thing. "mom" Fardosa said, sleazing the opportunity, before one of her sisters suggested a topic. "please tell us how you and Dad met before your marriage". She hesitated for a moment deep in thought, sighed a bit and then looked at her and said "this is a tough story to tell my dear". it seemed as though there were somethings she didn't want them to know or she didn't want them to remember the glories days of her past life even the fact that she was now living a destitute life in a refugee camp as a single. Mother, whatever the case, she persisted, determined to find the truth. "please mom, tell us the story", she begged. She finally gave into her constant please and begun to tell the story. "Well" she said "I was born in Afmadow Somalia a hundred and twenty rainy seasons ago, a village three days walk from Mogadisho. My father had four wives and my mother was the third. It was an extended family, twenty two children from the four families. I was circumcised at the age of twelve which officially transitioned me from a girl to a woman who was potentially ready for marriage. I used to look after the goats and when i was fifteen, while grazing the goats in the outkits of the village one day, I was approached by two men who appeared out of nowhere without notice. As they approached, men, I ran as fast as my feeble legs could carry me. This was because, strange me could potentially take a woman as a wife and it was a custo marry and perfectly acceptable within the traditions to do so. So the only way to avenge this was to run away. My speed was no match for them for within few minutes they were at my heels. One of them passed me and then stood in front of me. I knew there and then that i lost of the battle as my efforts were fertile. "listen young lady," the older man told me" you can either play it rough and fall for the music or you can do what I say and be safe by the bell". I knew this was not a request but a command. Never the less I was onto ready to give up the fight so easily. "what do you want from me?" I inquired. " I don't know you and you certainly mean no good". In order to soften me a little bit, the older man slapped me in the face so hard that a flush of light passed through my eyes and then everything turned dark as thought i twas the dead of the night. There was zing sound coming out of y ears and I staggered to the ground. I could hear their fainted voices and it got louder as I regained my eye sight and they finally came into full view. The older man started beating me until I could not take it anymore. For fear of being beaten to death, I told him to stop and promised to comply with their demands. They told me that one of them was taking me as a wife and that the only thing they expected was my co-operation. Failure to do so could lead to another round of beating during these days women were treated as objects. They had no say in any matters wether it affected them or not. In short men were their supreme rulers and their words were final. The only thing I could do was present a justifiable case least it may help make them reconsider their determination. "Please let me go" I told them I am only fifteen years old and my parents don't anyone to look after their goats". The younger of the two men was quite all a long, neither interfering nor helping the situation when I was being beaten. "you are the perfect age for marriage" the older one replied. "the size of your breast is ready an indication of your womanhood". if you take me away, my parents goats will be lost and be eaten by hyenas" I told him. "don't you worry" he assumed. "we have a plan for that so I will not entertain anymore nonsense from you, are we clear? "yes". So the older man asked the younger one to take the goats closer to the village which was not far and as soon as he returned it was time to go. I was familiar with this kind of marriage but never have anticipated it to happen to me. At the tender of age fifteen, I was emotionally distort for the simple reason that there was nobody to free me from these men who were literally holding me hostage. Not to mention that I was not able to say goodbye to my parents and siblings. As they took me away, I glanced back at my village one last time knowing this could be my last time to ever see it again. The thought of being in the company of fatal strangers was not only emotionally distressing but mind boggling. I begun to sob uncontrollably until no more tears could come out of my eyes. I could care less the men threatening me for I had nothing else to loose. I preferred to die there and then than leaving my family for good". She took a sip from the cup of tea she was holding and briefly looked at us as if to make sure we were following the story. For just something to say and before she resumed telling the story, Fardosa asked her how possible it was to marry a man they had no romantic relationship and who was to her a total stranger. She looked at her as if her question had no retirance and then said. " "my dear daughter, " the world we lived in those days was not the same as the world of today. "you live in a time where men are beginning to recognize women rights, I where they are not as vacuous as they used to be though, they still have a long way to go, if women are to be equal parties in life in those days the word romance was not in our dictionary if at all we had any. Romance came to us in a violent and vicious way. It was one sided affair. Women were not more than a man's convinience. They were expected to have unwiring loyalty to their husbands. A man was expected to choose a woman by her beauty, altitude and loyalty. Women, on the other hand were stuccoed with whatever man eloped her. He could be fifty years older than her and it would have made no difference. Men were permitted to marry as many as four wives by our religion, but with conditions that they treat their wives equally and fairly. But they usually abuse their power by neglecting the older wives and spending most of their time with the younger ones. The older wives were sometimes reduced to raising the kids without any romantic relationship to their husbands. "mom, her younger sister Asha interrupted, "can you tell us what happened after the men took you away?" "Oh, yeah the men," her mom replied, realizing that the question Fardosa asked earlier diffted her from the story she was telling. "The two men took for a long, tiring walk, we occasionally rested whenever they realized that I was trailing behind, for the first hour into the journey, they didn't say a word to me. they were just carrying on with their conversation from which I could gathered they were from either Mogadisho or were intending to take me there, but I could not tell which of the two men was my husband to be. The younger man was about twenty five years of age. He was tall with a slim build. He was brown, had a well kept hair and was eleen shaven. He was handsome. He wore a pair of blue trousers and a well ironed shirt. He looked as though he was from town. He was quite and had a lot of respect for the other man. The older man man was in his early fourties. He was short, dark with balding head and unkept beard. He had mean look on his face, a man not to be messed with. He had no sense of humour at all. He wore a traditional clothing and had bed sheet wrapped around his shoulders. He wore shoes made of old tires and i could see cracks on his heels. He was well conversant with life in rural areas. I could tell the younger man depended on him for directions. He was some kind of a mention to him. As my fears receded I wondered if this was a dream to be woken up from. My hopes slowly diminished and the reality begun to down on me. As I walked behind them that fateful afternoon, I begun contemplating on my future. I wondered which of the two men was my husband to be. The older man was most likely the one marrying me. For one he was a costumed to town life and neither was he. Secondly he was the one beating and questioning me through out my ordeal. My worry with him was that he was about forty yeas old. Not that he was very old but old enough to be looking for his third or fourth wife. The thought of this sickened me not forgetting the fact that, gibbon the chance, I wouldn't have fallen involve with him. The second man was his early twenties probably looking for his first wife. He was handsome and polite which will make me prefer over the other man. But he looked educated and civilized which made me wonder why he was looking for a girl from the rural area. when he could get a civilized one in town. After careful consideration, I hatched a plan. If it turned out the man marrying me was the younger one, I decided to welcome the idea as this would expose me to town life and my children would get the opportunity to go to school. But if it turned out to be the other guy it was more than likely that I would be the third or fourth wife. i therefore decided that i will risk running away rather be eaten by a lion than marrying him. While her mom was passionately telling the story, Fardosa was beginning to realize that the younger man she described must have been the one she married as the profile matched that of her dad during his younger age. Several times she wanted to surprised her but hold back her emotions for the fear of infuriating her as she didn't welcomed any interruptions. The last she would have done was bring the story to an uprupt end. "Well will continue the rest of the story another time" she said unexpectedly. "It's time for you girls to go to bed. I don't want you to be late for school tomorrow". "please mom", they begged. "please mom, continue until your next destination", Said Fardosa almost immediately. "It's only eight pm," the younger one reminded. "you girls are very inquisitive", she said politely. "Well as we walked on a long dusty road that afternoon, the sun was setting in the western horizon. I was beginning to worry about my family. The ulter shock, horror and disbelieve once they find the goats and realize that I disappeared without a trace. Their first instinct will be, I am sure, that they think I was eaten by a lion. They will be looking for me all night in the grazing field. I could picture the sorrow on my mother's face. Her grit would be totally inconsolable. For she loved me dearly. All this thoughts were going through my mind, when all of a sudden, the men stopped walking. As I caught up with them, the oldest of the two disappeared into the bush on the edge of the road, leaving the two of us standing awkwardly. None of us said something. The moment of silence rapidly. I begun to gasp for air as my breath grew havier and brief moment the older man was gone felt like hours. A women, in those days, was not expected to start conversation. Men usually took the leading role, but these men were so profoundly awkward that we didn't even know each others name, despite being together for the last couple of hours. Suddenly, the young man cleared his throat as if preparing to say something. He looked at me right in the eyes and smilled. I looked down for I couldn't handle his gestures. "Are you tired?" He asked. I said nothing for i couldn't find anything to say. Not even a simple yes. He placed his hand on my chin to raise my head up and I pushed him away with the little strength I could gave. My legs were getting weaker. There were chills going down my spine and I was sweating profusely. My head seemed to be getting bigger and bigger. I have never been so close to a man in my life and I couldn't tell if this was a due to a fear of a man or if it was probably love at first sight or rather a induced love. Fardosa smiled. For reasons beyond my comprehension. I tumbled to the ground and could not stand up despite my repeated attempts. I begun to sob once again. The older manned was nowhere to be seen. He was gone for hours or so I thought. He could have been gone for minutes because a defections wont take hours unless there were some other factors at play here. The young man. Then sat next to me. "Why are you crying?" He asked. He wiped the tears from my eyes but this time I was too parralized to stop him. I could not control any body movement. It was as though my brain lost contact with the rest of my body. "My name is Abdi Ahmed" He said. " I am the man whose future wife, you are destined to be." Then for the reason beyond my conscious, I begun to get compestore. I came back to my senses. my fears vanished and for the first time I was able to talk. "What is your name?" He asked. "Halima", I replied without any hesitation. "Nice to meet you" "Nice to meet you too" I replied. "Have no fears" He assured me, from this moment you are in a good hands". For the first time since the older man left I felt like not wanting him to come back so soon. But my expectation were short-lived as I saw him coming out from the bush soon after. We resumed walking but this time the older man whose name I was told by Abdi was Askar who was leading the way while we followed about twenty steps behind. I was at ease with Abdi and for some reason I was not furious about the beatings endured as this was the norm of those days. That is how my relationship with your father started". They all laughed in unison. "mom, given the norm of those days dad was quite a romantic man, wasn't he?" Fardosa asked. "He was not at all", she said " I was lucky that if i wasn't beaten all the way to the next stop, or worst still raped. Your dad was kind and remorseful. i regret the circumstances of your relationship but i don't regret having married him. Having grown in town might have helped him". "So what happen next asked the young one. To intense their mom to continue the story. "We walked all night. It was a dark rainy night. There were lions and hyenas rouming around the forest. I was not as scared as you dad was as I was accustomed to their presence. But Askar was a worrier who could not be deterred b the presence of wild animals. He knew how to read their instincts. We finally arrived at a village where Askar lived at an hour after sunset and we spent the night there. "Okay time to go to bed now". They didn't want to push her anymore so they all went to bed at their ramshockled tin house. That night as Fardosa went to bed, she couldn't sleep. The story her mom told them left a lasting impression in her. She had a mix feelings about love and life as whole. One one hand she was feeling sorry for her mother for having indured those cruel and in human treatment in the hands of her father. On the other hand she was glad that she finally married her father for without that she couldn't have been her mother and would have probably married to a cruel man. She couldn't make sense of the manner in which she had to leave without saying goodbye to her family. Her mother would always tell them stories involving other people but never has she passionately told of her own life at length so passionately and emotionally. Was she trying to ready them forum their own future and what might be in store for them for nothing much has changed interms of woman right. She begun to wonder what other surprise her mom had in soot for them but would she continue giving them close of this every so after or would she cut it short. As a woman, this stories made her wonder if she would ever trust a man with all their domination mistreatment. She wonder what gaabe them the right to take a woman as one of their property. She vowed that night to study hard at school and delay marriage as long as she could make her mother proud. She slowly drifted away only to be woken up by her mom shortly after. It was already time to go to school. She begun to contemplating what was the purpose of woman creation this life. Is it to be material to man, were they created for the convenience of man. To be treated in whatever way man pleases or were we created as equal partners?. To complement each others life. To live in harmony, cohesion and compassion. To share duties in equal terms. Since none can live without the other. That life will not be complete without the other. certainly God creation of woman is more than for man convince, they were created of worship and certainly God preserved their right and men will she hope be held responsible for their action. Two of her older sisters already succumbed to the same fate as her mom. They just vanished from their life without noticed. she begun to think of their life and could help feeling sorry for them. She hoped their husbands were not so cruel to them. She wondered what her mom would be if the remaining three of them just vanished one by one, who would she be left with?. The she remembered what she told her was a lump or in my thought either due to anger or fear or both. He placed his hand on my shoulder When her father was a life she started attending school. But Fardosa was always worried about her family and younger sisters. Her family went to poor to poorer. They didn’t have anything or any income. Since then Fardosa always wanted to finish her schooling and one day to help her family. She will yearly fill up school bursary so that she will be able to attend school. Since she was grade seven she had the same uniform. Whenever it gets ripped her mother saws it. She had barely any friends to talk to, yet she was always a happy person and says “Hello” to whoever she wants, she never feels bad about how poor they are and how different she was from the other students. Shukri was her closest friend. She gives her old clothes to Fardosa the clothes she doesn’t like. She would be very glad and pleased to have those clothes. Shukri’s family was the richest family in the neighbourhood. Her father died before Fardosa’s father. Her mother was educated woman. They had a big farm, a pharmacy and a wholesale. They own a big house. Her uncle lived in Nairobi the capital of Kenya. Farhaan was her older brother. He was also attending the same school with his sister and her friend. Farhaan was popular in school, he was the one every girl wanted to have. He would always change his uniform. His friends Musa and Anwar would do almost do anything he asks for. They would talk to anyone he talks to and ignore who he ignores. Fardosa and Farhaan were classmates. Since Farhaan was her best friend’s brother, she would say “Hi” to him. Farhaan and his friends never replied her greetings. He hated her for no reason. Maybe because she’s not wearing good uniform, or she was poor. His friends would do the same and ignore her, laugh at her and talk how her uniform and her shoes were old. How she carries her books in a plastic bag. When she gets home maybe there’s nothing to eat for lunch. Fardosa was always strong person she thinks about her two young sisters and her mom. She goes back to her school without eating anything. She would always encourage her young sisters telling them to be strong until she finishes her studies. Her mom will clean up the house, saw peoples clothes so she can earn money, sometimes she gets food from her neighbours. One day Fardosa was invited by her friend Shukri to go to a wedding party. Fardosa felt that she was honoured, couldn’t say no. Early in the morning when she first got the invitation she accepted it but later she remembered that she doesn’t have anything to wear. Then after lunch Fardosa when to talk to her friend Shukri to tell her that she couldn’t come because she doesn’t have anything to wear. When Fardosa approaches, Shukri, Shukri started to tell her how happy she was to have her come along. Then Shukri says she told her mom that her friend was coming along. Fardosa didn’t have the heart to say no to her friend. She says “oh Fardosa you should see the dresses that my mom bought for us, she smiled and says really?” Then Shukri describes how beautiful the dresses were. She was really happy to hear that and was looking forward to attend the special event, then she came home running to tell her mom the news that she got new dress from her friend. Fardosa and her friend were really happy. After school they went to Shukri’s house. The girls took shower designed their hair and look just right. Fardosa felt like a princess. She never wore a beautiful dress since she was born, never wore makeup or design her hair to any style. She looked a totally different person, taller and more beautiful than any girl in town. She has been transformed to different person. People at the party kept staring at her and asking who she was. They were all going to the party at the same time the whole family were going at once. Farhaan was driving his own car with his friends so he doesn’t have to come with his mama. He saw his sister and another beautiful girl just like an angel getting into his mother’s car. He stood for a while just to make sure he has seen someone with his sister. It was right his friend Anwar tapped him on his shoulder and asks about it too. “Let’s find out for ourselves”, he says as they both giggles and pops into the car. Since the party was mostly for women the guys were outside standing at the front to welcome people and watch for the kids that are making trouble and some of them playing soccer to make the kids busy. Farhaan and his friends just wanted to see the beautiful girl that they saw nothing else. They kept sneaking and looking for her as much as they can, yet didn’t know who she was. They thought that she came from another city or new neighbour. Fardosa’s mom came after a while and took her out of the party before he gets to see her. It’s was understandable that she was the oldest and the only hope the whole family have and the only educated person in the whole family. They don’t want anything to happen to her at all. Farhaan ran everywhere in the hall, round and round up and down but nowhere to find the princess. Next morning when they all arrived to school, the girls talked about the party and how fun it was to have each other at the party, Fardosa kept talking about their dresses. When she left to her classroom, Farhaan came up to his sister to and ask who girl that was with her was. It was Fardosa you dummy head” she says and left him standing with his eyes open wide his mouth dropped and couldn’t believe the words that came from his sister’s mouth. He already fall for her, he really wanted to meet the girl of his dream but not the only person he hated all his life in school. He kept hissing and asking his sister over and over again. He was really shocked. He changed himself not talking to his friends, he doesn’t eat food can’t go to sleep and didn’t even go to school for seven good days. There was no a single breeze. His days felt tight no coolness, no flow. Farhaan freeze like a statue. His friends asked if anything was wrong with him but he never gave them satisfied answer. His mom was really worried about his health and all. He could no longer eat well or sleep well. He missed his school for a week. As days passed by, he recovered. His sister came from school going up to her room, he was sitting on the stairs, “you look flying today”, she said as she smiles she went off to her room. He followed her to her room and knocked at her door. “Can I come in?” he said. “yes come on in”, she replies, “so what’s new and what brings you here?” finally talked to his sister and break the news to her that he was in love with the girl he hated the most. “So why are you telling me this? Why can’t you go and talk to the girl for yourself?” she says. “ I want you to do me a favour for me please, I want to know what she thinks or how she feels about me, I want to hear it from her then I can try my best to convince her that I do love her, and she means a lot to me now. Let go what had happen before that was long time and we’re no longer kids, why am I saying this just invite her tomorrow and tell her how I feel about her and we’ll see how she will react. Shukri laughed sarcastically and said, “Okay I got it now somebody was sick because of love? And he loves the person he hated the most? Wow that is what I call l-o-v-e as she spells the words out loud. So who is she?” “It’s… it’s your friend Fardosa. shukri’s mouth dropped and stopped what she was doing as he looks down holding his head. He didn’t want to see her reaction; he knew that she wouldn’t believe him. I know it’s awkward he says but am serious I love that girl I know I hated her but not anymore! So will you do what I have asked for?” “Are you telling me this or it’s just to fool me and you are making this up? “Am not making things up and I wouldn’t say this if it’s not true. So will you help me yes or no? Just answer that.” “Ok I will do it and I will invite her for lunch and you have to understand if she says no because you use to hate her a lot”. “Yes I will understand it, just bring her over and after lunch I will listen to you too talking and I will see what she thinks about us going out. Which am hopping I will not lose this. For the first time I fall in love.” Next morning when she got to school the first thing she did was to look Fardosa all over and kept asking other students if they saw her at school. As she ran side by side of the school compound and the bell for the classes will soon ring in about five minute. She still couldn’t find her. As she was running back to her class they almost hit each other with Fardosa. Hey I was looking for you all this morning where have you been? Anyways I wanted to invite you for lunch don’t go anywhere wait for me I got good news for you” she yells as they both run to different directions heading to their classes. It was finally lunch time and the girls went together Fardosa kept asking about the news but she says we have to get home then I will tell you about it. They ate lunch and came up to her room and started praying salat dhuhri. When they were done Farhaan stood at the door and couldn’t wait till the topic starts. So she tells about it. Fardosa was really shocked she backed off a bit and didn’t know what to say she couldn’t believe the words that was coming out her mouth and she says “No, I can’t do that, your bother hates me off all the students that attends at our school. He doesn’t even bother himself to say hello back whenever I say so and I heard him say in your dreams that’s when I will say hi back and his friends started laughing at me. They even talk about my uniform, saying that am half naked. My pair of uniform I had it for long and it looked like it’s turning to be green instead of being blue. She kept complaining blurted into tears sobbing and sobbing and couldn’t say anything else but time for her to go back to her house. She hold her tight by the arm and says “ look who loves you is my brother, my own brother and if you can’t do anything about it then we can no longer be friends, you have to know that because you can’t just walk away when he is sick because of you. So think about this. Now you can go. She let her arm Fardosa shrugged and told her that her friendship was nothing. It was not worth it for them to be friends; she kept inviting her just because her brother wanted her. That was all and she wasn’t a true friend but a selfish one. And left the house. Farhaan came into his sister’s room as soon as she left, he heard everything she said. He was really mad and wanted to beat his sister up but no time to catch up with Fardosa. “You, you are dead I will come back for you, I was too close till I made the stupidest idea. He went outside to catch up with the crying girl and say sorry at least to her but since he was weak he couldn’t catch up with her he was really tired. She left crying, he says over and over. He ran and screamed her name but no one but his echo. Fardosa ran for a while and sat under a shade of a tree where some people pass by. She lay down on the flat hard ground, on her piece of cloth that she was wearing to school. She kept glancing at the people walking on the pedestrian walk specially those who were talking. This time as looked at the blue sky, the sun was rising, and a soft bright light was bathing the desert trees. Then she lay on her back and started to wonder if what she heard was a jock or it was serious. If when her friend comes to school if they will still be friends and talk to each other? As all this questions run over her mind, the sun is still dropping darkening to purple and she didn’t remembered to go home. She sat up and slumped back against a tree where she wanted to have sometimes to herself and rest, she quietly leaned her head back and closed her eyes, and felt the rough bark of the tree pressing into her scalp. She was quite for some time she felt a shadow that stood between her and the orange light of the sun. She opened her eyes before her standing was Farhaan, her eyes traced over his pale brown features. The softer curve of his lips twisted into smile. He was wearing his favourite t-shirt and his muscles arms shows riding his bike and riding it so fast made him tired and sweaty. How could you run that fast?” he asked. She was quit for some time. “Do you mind if I walk you home? It’s getting darker and your house is a like half an hour walk. She didn’t answer yet. “What is wrong with you?" "Do you mind if I sit? Just say anything” something at least, he says, his voice shaking as if he wanted to cry. She stood up without saying any word and proceeds to leave home. He kept quiet and got off the bike walking with her. After walking for a while he wanted to break the silence and by saying sorry to what had happen between her and his sister. Fardosa just listened to him talking and didn’t have the energy to waste she thought. You will keep talking but it’s not you who have wronged me so get lost and am not your sister’s friend anymore so why do you care if am mad? The next day at school Shukri wanted to apology to her friend but whenever she approaches her she makes herself busy or goes to the other direction. Two days at school they didn’t talk to each other. Shukri felt really bad about her friend being upset and didn’t want hurting their relationship, I shouldn’t say that we will not be friends, what was wrong with me she wondered. The third day at school Shukri went and talk to her she asked for forgiveness and they were friends again. Just to get her trust back Farhaan and his sister kept invite her to their house and never talk about feelings. He kept buying her gifts and his sister too. They will hang out together after school till they can say whatever they want to and eat together. Farhaan and Fardosa were getting closer and closer each and every day. She trusted him and even liked him; he wasn’t so bad at all she thought. His personality and altitude took her anger away. Anwar and Musa never make fun of anyone anymore, they saw how their friend changed and he told them what he had experienced from them. He was no longer the same category as them. Next morning he went to see her. The morning had open with a dirty light which had scarcely become brighter as the ceiling of the clouds lifted. She was wearing dirac, standing front of her house. Birds were singing so sweetly, pleasantly and charming it was early by the break of the day. panes filling the morning with colourless, sunless light. She blinked her eyes and covered them with a piece of cloth and tried to stop her laughter, when she saw Farhaan almost slip from his bike. He was very handsome, and believe me he knew it. He was six feet tall, slim and lighter than her. Her eyes traced over his pale brown features. The softer curve of his lips twisted up into a smile. "Oh my God, what are you doing here this early?" she asked. He came closer and closer like a romantic way. They looked eyes to eyes. Her mother yelled at her name. She went to see her. He ran after her, and had a good breakfast with the family. Their home was a hut woven from grass. Being portable, it served the same purpose as a tent. They built a frame from sticks, and then her mother wove grass mats that they laid over the bent twigs to form a dome. The hut provided shelter for the family, shade from the midday sun and storage for their possessions. At night, they all slept outside under the stars, with the children cuddled together on a mat. When the sun went down the desert was cold. And inside the house was hot. Since they didn’t have enough clothing for each of them to have their own, they used the heat from their bodies to keep warm. Her younger sisters would lie down and look at the stars while their mother would tell them stories. As Fardosa finishes up the last chore of the day by washing the dishes. Her mother is beautiful. People would say that she looked like her mother, Almost every evening, they will go to the dark bushes to have sometime together, Farhaan would slumped back against a tree where they're resting, he quietly leaned his head back and closed my eyes, and felt the rough bark of the tree pressing into my scalp, while she sleeps on his lab. With each passing minute she would say she wants to go home. As the sun was dropping darkening to purple. She never been absent from her house this late. Teaching her how to ride a bike wasn't hard at all he thought, he just wanted to spend more time with her. when they come back to the house their feet looked like twigs that might snap in a hard wind they were covered with sores that would rival a leper. As they kept going to their secret place and teaching her how to ride the bike was really fun, but not so long. One day as she thought she got it and making her believe in herself she started to ride it. After two paddle she was on the ground. She collapsed on the ground with a loud scream. It was a quick and uncomfortable fall. Her eyes scanned the blurry blue sky, as her body couldn’t hold it’s strength anymore. Her black long hair marred with dust, her brown eyes were fading. She was breathing so hard and tears were leaving her eyes. He came running as fast as he could and help her. He grabbed her by the arm, she couldn't get up so he decided he would carry her on his back and leave his bicycle there. He was shocked and scared of her mom that she would yell at him. They stumbled along, tripping over roots. he finally made it home. They saw her younger sisters, lying peacefully on a mat. As soon as they saw him, the ran up to him and threw their arms around his body. We missed you guys" they both said at the same time. Farhaan and Fardosa smiled. "where is mom?" she asked' "She went to the grocery store and she took forever to come back", said the older one. "We were lying down on the ground and watching the blue sky, so nothing else to do i guess". They were sleeping on a small mat and a piece of cloth that they had. Just before mom comes i want to wash the dishes and off to bed, maybe i will feel better tomorrow". They hugged and he left as he was leaving he couldn't let her go. He still wanted to spend more time with her. "I hope you will feel better tomorrow," "yes, i will be better don't worry". He swiped the dust on her clothes, since it's desert in this part of Africa. The sun was already setting and the blue, clear sky was turning darker with every second. " I will be leaving now, get better by early in the morning because i will come see you," as he punched her lightly at her butt. They both smiled and he left. She wash the dishes and cleaned all the staff from outside. Just before her mom got home, she was already done. Even though she was not feeling good she had to do what she has to and finish her chore. Her mother came after a while when she was dragging the kids to the house one by one. "You have to take them to the bathroom so they can pee before they go to bed". "Arr i hate that i have to take them all the way, if her mother would only know that she got hurt she wouldn't tell her to do that, entire she tried to wake them but it just didn't work. Fardosa got better and her knee got healed. Eight months later when they spent a lot of time together, loved each other dearly and cares about each other. He promises that he will help her through her studies. Since Fardosa didn't have anything and on one who will help her, he promised that he early the next morning she woke up from the sound of her mom’s murmuring. First she thought if she was dreaming but then she realized that she was awake, lying down on the flat hard ground, on a piece of cloth. She glanced the blue sky, the sun was rising, and a soft bright light was bathing the desert trees. She remembered when she would wake up every morning; her dad had already prayed the morning prayer (fajr) while waiting for a hot cup of tea. Then she would walk slowly as if she was fully awake she would throw herself on his lap, like someone who had collapsed. He would catch her and allows her to sleep on his lap. Then after awhile he would hold her head up high and point to the sunrise showing her its beauty. "It's for sure that i missed my father", she thought to herself. When still thinking her mother interrupted her, "hello children". Her mother came finally; the young girls ran towards their mother and gave her hug it was abnormal behaviour for kids. "You were all supposed to be on bed by now", how come you're still awake? She asked and they were busy looking for gifts from their mother's shopping bag. "Fardosa get me some glass of water, she said. She stood up and forgot all about her hurt knee and started screaming when she moved it once. "What happened to your knee?" her mother asked. "Oh i was trying to ride a bike when i fall off". You can’t imagine how everything was cleaned, yet she was hurt. Then she helped her mom to light the fire, the young girls collected firewood. Her mom light the fire as her little sister sat on her mom’s lap. Fardosa didn’t tell her mom anything but in fact she was very hungry and she was smart enough to understand that her mom didn’t have anything for her “I know you must be very hungry”, others are younger than you, you have to feed them before yourself Isn’t it?” “No I can still survive as you say, ma. she said politely and she didn’t look at her face, she tried to hold back the pain and tears. Soon everyone gathered around the fire just like before, but Fardosa knew that there was someone was missing. After six months, everything was okay. One day Farhaan got a phone call from Nairobi, his uncle called him and he wanted him to go to see him. Farhaan "Hello uncle, how are you doing?" uncle " I am good how are you doing?, it's been been such a long time. i wanted you to come and visit us i will be paying for your ticket." Farhaan "but uncle is there a good reason why i have to come because i am a little bit busy with the family and the business". uncle " till the day my brother left us i haven't seen you and i want you to meet my family as well". Farhaan "okay uncle i will come down sometime next week", and i will talk to mom about it." uncle “sure then i will wait for your respond." Farhaan "ok, bye". Next day Farhaan prepared to go to Nairobi and see his uncle and his family. But before he left he had to something, he had to get a way to keep connected to his love while he was gone, he showed Fardosa how to send email and read the ones you received. She had to go to the town to get a computer. He was happy and good to go. when he got out of the bus his uncle was there waiting for him at the bus station. "Assalamu Alaikum, big man. You are grown up now, and a responsible guy huh?" They hugged shoulder to shoulder and tap on each other’s back lightly as Farhaan response back. "Wa'aleykum Salam, yes i am grown up since the last time you saw me". After some talks they both headed home. His uncle was driving and keeps teasing Farhaan, on their way home they decided to buy some gifts for the family. They got home and Farhaan's cousin prepared them dinner and some soft drinks while they were both talking and watching TV. Staying a week felt like a year to Farhaan. He really missed his love, he missed the good times they had together. He was always sending her massages some joke ones and love ones which makes Fardosa's day as well as his. Farhaan didn't know that his uncle called him for a reason which was a shocking one to him. After praying at the mosque, on their way home his uncle tapped him on the shoulder and breaks the news to him. Uncle "There must be a good reason why i called you here my son, I wouldn't let you come to Nairobi for no good reason, do you know that your cousin Ubah is about to go?" Farhaan "go where? No I didn't know if she was going? uncle "let me just finish what i have to tell you, she is about to leave, by next month my daughter is going to somewhere North America called Canada. Her process is now concluded and she's just shopping around, nothing else had left for her, except i want you to do something that is really important." Farhaan "what is it? uncle "the question is, can you do it?" Farhaan "uncle you don't have to have any question for what i have to do for my cousin, and i thought that you can tell me to do things without my permission". Uncle " If it’s that way then i don't have to worry about anything huh? What i wanted to tell you is that i don't want to let my daughter go to Canada alone. She doesn't know anyone out there and any brother or father that will help her. I want you to marry her, so you can be her guidance and help her when she needs you. As you said no worries i want you to think about it and you have only a month that you two will marry and move to Canada together. So tell me what do you think?” Farhaan “what about my mom and my family? They don't know anything about this plan and i have to go talk to my mom and sister about it don't you think?" Uncle "Don't worry about anything as long as you are ok with it, I will talk to them". Farhaan “I will think about this and i will tell you my answer by tomorrow" Uncle "No, by today in the evening". As Farhaan he was really shocked and he almost ran out of his skin. He didn't want to argue with his uncle or disrespect him. He was quite all the times it was only his uncle who was talking. He tried to think of many ways to tell his uncle a very good excuse but didn't have any. When dinner was over, uncle called both Ubah and Farhaan to the living room and broke the news to Ubah as well that they will be getting married as soon as they can, so they have to start preparing themselves for wedding because they'll be leaving to Canada in two months. Farhaan was looking sideways to hide his anger and to stop from crying. His whole world came down crashing, but with no sound. No answer that came out of his mouth. The girl didn't care as long as she goes to Canada. His uncle didn't even pay any attention as long as his daughter was happy going to Canada with someone on her side. Next day Farhaan went to the computer place to send a letter to his love one and break the heart breaking news to her. Once he started writing “Hey my love, every single second feels like a minute, every minute feels like an hour, every hour feels like a day without you my world is empty, but I have a really bad news to tell you. When he wrote only those words he receive a call from his cousin and answers the call, when he was done it was only two seconds remaining for him to logout the computer so he sends it without finishing the news. Fardosa came to the computer place and opened her email before she reads it she smiles then feels sad. She replies that she needs to know what was the news and off back to her house, on the way Fardosa starts to think. Didn’t watch the cars going side to side, she crosses the road without looking. She got into an accident a very bad one. The car driver took her to the hospital and the doctors got her info inside her purse. They call her mom to come and the heartbreaking news is that they can’t help her and she needs to be taken to Nairobi where better medication can be served

 

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