Bonds And Betrayals

12.

I hated being dressed.

I meant, I had two hands, and I was completely capable of dressing myself. But Abbati always insisted I got dressed by the maids. The maids whose names I never knew up until I left.

They never spoke to me, neither did I. But they came into the attic every morning to bring my bath water, and help me dress after the bath. As though I was incapable.

I was in fact, incapable, according to Abbati.

So now, despite not wanting to, I allowed the two maids to help dress me into a simple free sized ankara boubou. My once straightened hair was slowly curling back again, as it originally was. So I told the girls not to straighten it again. Instead, they wrapped the head tie of the gown I wore around my hair, making it into something like a makeshift bowtie.

I was safe now, right?

They said Bello told them to help me get ready, so even he must think I was incapable.

My eyes wandered around the room once more, as though finding it hard to accept that this was my new normal. My new bedroom.

Beautiful white curtains with a dark blue one in the middle of a large window. A cream colored bed with a dark blue bedsheet. A three settee sofa. A walk-in closet, chest drawers and a mirror. Minimal, yet it was everything I ever wanted. And more.

It gave me comfort. It provided solace.

‘It feels like I am still trapped in the attic,’ I told Ash, as one of the girls sprayed some perfume on my neck.

There were more than ten bottles of perfume on the mirror. I had never had any before, yet, I was being told all these were mine and to choose whichever one I wanted. I chose the one with the fruity scent.

‘You can tell them to stop.’ Ash replied gently.

‘What if they get mad?’ I asked, biting my nails. ‘I don't want them to get mad, Ash.’

Ash sighed. ‘They are here to serve you, Sasha. You can tell them to stop if you don't want them to help you dress. It is nothing to get mad about.’

She was right, yet somehow, I couldn't muster enough courage to tell them to stop.

Finally, after a few minutes of fussing around, both girls moved back, a proud smile plastered on their faces.

“All done, Gimbiya (title for those in the royal family),” they chorused. “If you don't need anything else, breakfast is in the living room and you have guests waiting.”

I stared at my face in the mirror, and while it had nothing besides the powder and lip balm they applied, I looked…different. Better than I had back home. There was something glowy, almost like I was…happy.

Was I happy?

“I have guests?” I finally asked.

“Yes, Gimbiya. Do you want us to send them back?” One of the girls asked. She was the one with a large mole on her forehead, her hair tucked underneath her scarf. The other had no scarf on, and had wavy brown hair.

They were dressed in the same gown I saw them with last night.

“No, no,” I answered quickly as I stood up. “Let's…let's go.”

I wasn't sure what to expect, or if it was a good idea to meet new people. People made me nervous. I was always anxious around the few ones I'd met so far. I found it hard to strike up conversations, even with Arnold back home.

What made me think I should meet new people?

‘Isolation will do that to you,’ Ash murmured.

I sighed. ‘I know,’ I answered, getting more anxious with each footstep we took to the living room.

And I wasn't ready for the sight before me.

A young girl was running round the living room, golden locks bouncing as she waved something in her hand. I stopped in my tracks, shaking my head when one of the ladies wanted to speak.

I wasn't ready yet.

“Please sit still, Nicola. Don't you want to make a good first impression?” A woman spoke, and it took me less than a second to find her sitting on a single settee.

“Everyone likes me, Mama.” The little girl answered.

“Yes. But only when you behave nicely.”

“Do I have to always be nice?” The girl asked, finally sitting down. “What if Uncle Bello's girl isn't nice?”

“She will be nice, Nicola,” the woman answered, rolling her hands. “Careful, don't ruin your dress.”

I decided it was time to step in. I took slow measured steps, leaving the maids behind. I wasn't sure how to strike up a conversation with the woman and the child, because this was all new to me. So I simply wrung my hands around, staring at her.

“Hello?” I finally said, and I winced at how timid I sounded.

The woman quickly stood up, and I realized she was tall. Very, very tall.

“Hello, Sasha,” she had a beautiful smile, her hair in six chunky braids. Dressed in a boubou gown similar to mine, but in a different color, she matched the little girl. “My name is Lois. My husband said you've met already but in case you are unsure, I am Elliot's wife. And this is…”

“Nicola,” the little girl said, extending her hand for a shake. “I am my father's princess, Uncle Bello's sunshine, and Hajiya’s one and only grandchild. Who are you?”

“Nicola!”

“Oh, I remember. You are Uncle Bello's girl.” She frowned. “You are big though, why did he call you his girl?”

“Nicola…”

“It is okay,” I forced a smile, hoping it looks real. “Hello, Nicola,” I squatted to her height and took her hand. “My name is Sasha.” I mean, I was supposed to do that right?

Goodness! How did one act around a child?

She grinned, her two front teeth stained. “I like your name. Mama, why wasn't I named Sasha?”

“Goodness,” Lois murmured, shooting me an apologetic look. “I am so sorry, Sasha. My five-year-old is always hyper.”

“It is fine, Lois. Thank you for visiting.”

“Of course,” she beamed. She smiled so easily, and I couldn't help but wonder how that felt.

“You are so beautiful,” Nicola’s cute voice said, and something warm fluttered in my chest. “Why do you have this on your face?” she asked, her small finger tracing my birthmark.

It felt… intrusive. I wasn't used to someone so young touching my face.

“It's a birthmark.”

“Cool! Can I have one too?”

“I…I don't…I…”

“You can't because you weren't born with it, Nicola. Now, enough with the unnecessary questions. You still haven't greeted your aunt.”

“Oopsie,” she slapped a hand to her mouth. “Kiyi haquri. Ina kwana?” (I am sorry. Good morning).

“Good morning, Nicola.” I answered.

She gasps.

“Is everything okay?” I asked, wondering if I did or said something wrong. After our shake, I didn't touch her anymore. My hands were folded on my lap from where I still squat before her.

“You just greeted me!” She whispered, casting a quick glance towards her mother. “You can't greet me. I am young!”

I gasped too, smiling. But this time, it was real. I never knew I was capable of doing that. “I can't? Oh my, I didn't know that.”

She frowned. “How could you not know that? You are…big. Big people know everything.”

If only she knew…

“That is enough, Nicola. Let her have some breakfast and we can talk more, okay?”

She nodded. “Okay.”

“Bello asked for a picture,” Lois said as I stood up. “Of you when you are all…dressed. Do you…mind?”

I choked on my spit. “A picture? Of me? Why?”

Lois shrugged, smiling. “Maybe he misses you already?” She answered, picking up her red handbag and slipping out a phone.

I never had one.

“It is okay if you don't want to, but I promised him I'd send him a picture once you were ready.”

I swallowed. Bello wants a picture. Why? Maybe he wanted to ask around about me? Or…

“He said to tell you that he needed a dose to hold him for the day.”

Oh…

My face heated up, and I couldn't help the silly smile spreading on my face.

“How…where do you want to…I mean, how are we doing this?”

“Just sit on the sofa and be your natural self. There's nothing to do after that.”

“Okay.” My throat was suddenly parched. I took a seat on the sofa, glancing around the living room for a distraction.

There were two sets of sofas in the living room. Golden and red. A glass centre table, and five doors. One of the doors was the one we came through, the others still a mystery to me. Red and golden curtains covered the doors and windows, with a dining table on the far left. A large television hung on the wall, with what I supposed was a cable attached to it. I can't wait to watch on it.

“You should strike a pose!” Nicola yelled, jumping up.

Now, how do I do that? It wasn't like I ever snapped a picture for anyone.

“Would you like to give me a pose?” I asked Nicola, and she nodded excitedly.

Then she took the seat opposite me, placed one leg over the other and tilted her head to the side just a bit, smiling.

She looked adorable. And I doubt I would look good doing that.

But I was already mimicking her, and without knowing, Lois had snapped a picture.

“All done!” She announced, “now let's have breakfast. We ate nothing because we wanted to have a meal with you.” She explained, leading both Nicola and I to the dining table.

“Oh, look!” She beamed, staring down at the phone in her hand. “He replied! Here, the phone is yours.”

“Mi…mine?”

“Uh-huh,” she nodded, handing me the phone.

I took it with trembling hands, but was careful not to show how new all of these things were to me.

And staring back at me was a message from Bello.

B- ‘Now, there is my Bellis. Safe to say I am salivating from over here? Have a Bello-thoughts filled morning, afternoon, and evening. I’ll see you tonight.’

Goodness! How was I going to survive this man?