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Part 1
Sumy stood up in shock, staring at her older sister Meenah. Honestly, she had only spoken her mind and hadn't intended to start a fight. Pretty interjected, "Sumy, to be honest, you started this provocation. Why would you compare her to that useless maid, claiming she is more beautiful than Meenah?" Meenah threatened, "Leave me alone with this disrespectful girl, I will smash her mouth right now..." Seeing that their argument was escalating into a full-blown physical fight—as Sumy was already stepping up to grab her sister, retorted, "Go ahead and smash my mouth and see if I don't pull out your teeth right now too"—Hajiya quickly stepped between them to calm them down. "Haba, my babies, what is there to fight about here, huh? You too, Sumy, you did wrong. Why would you say some cursed girl is more beautiful than your sister, if not to provoke her?" She turned to Meenah and said, “Forget about her, Meenah, she is only teasing you, do you hear? Rest assured, as long as it's that witch of a housemaid, I swear I will dismiss her by the end of this month. Who is she to be competing in beauty with my daughters? Leave the bastard alone and go get ready for your birthday party so you won't be late.”
Through these reassurances, she pacified her daughters, and they went upstairs. Pretty remarked, "I hope to God today won't be the last time we attend our party," to which Sumy laughed and said, "Wallahi, that's very true." Hajiya sat in deep silence, lost in thought after her daughters left. Aneesah's beauty sometimes astonished even her; the girl was so beautiful she looked like a fairy. She wondered if the girl had been planted there as a plot against her, just as Pretty and the others suspected. However, she was determined to bring an end to everything. If God willed, this would be Aneesah's last month in the house. She could go find another household to serve; Hajiya was ready to let her go, even though she acknowledged that the girl was highly competent, exceptionally clean, and above all, an excellent cook. Smacking her lips, she resolved in her heart, *I will order them to bring me a mature, ugly woman so that my mind and my children's minds can be at peace.*
She loudly called out to Aneesah, who was standing in the kitchen. Aneesah had finished all her chores for the day but was too afraid to approach Hajiya to ask for permission to leave. Hearing her name, Aneesah rushed out, stumbling, and knelt before her, saying, "Yes, Hajiya." Hajiya smacked her lips and glared at her with pure hatred, looking as though she wanted to strangle her. She said, "If you like, come at dawn tomorrow because you are going to cook a grand meal for my son who is returning from Holland. You will make him fried rice with a little plantain, offal and chicken pepper soup, and then prepare a cream salad for him. Furthermore, make him couscous with egg sauce, and finally, prepare a high-quality ginger drink. For my daughters, make macaroni jollof with mutton and a little fish pepper soup, since that is what they prefer. I hope you aren't daft and have understood everything." Aneesah replied, "I understand, Hajiya." Hajiya barked, "Get up and get out of my sight then. If you like, don't show up early tomorrow and see the nasty side of me." Aneesah quietly stood up, wished her a good night, and left the house.
Part 2
Ammi shook her head slowly and said, "You won't be able to handle it, Aneesah, let's just go." Aneesah gently pulled her hand away from her mother's grip and said, "I can handle it, Ammi. Just go home, I'll be back." Without waiting for her mother's reply, she quickly left the spot, followed the path Hajiya had taken, and entered the house while reciting prayers silently in her heart. She found herself in a massive living room filled with luxury and comfort. *Oh Lord! This is paradise on earth,* she thought. She looked around the living room slowly, her heart pounding. It felt as though she wasn't even in Nigeria. What kind of wealth was this? Truly, some people were enjoying this world. She was at a loss as to where to go; the living room was empty except for the humming of the air conditioner and a delightful fragrance filling the air. She stood there for about ten minutes observing everything, though she recognized some items from her paternal uncle’s living room. She heard slow footsteps descending the staircase and fixed her eyes on the stairs, waiting to see if it was Hajiya.
Instead, a beautiful girl, who didn't look older than her, walked down dressed in pajamas. The girl rubbed her eyes and stared at her in surprise. Aneesah looked away. The girl arrogantly asked, "Who are you?" Aneesah remained silent and did not say a word, merely giving the girl a specific look. The girl quickly turned around and went back upstairs, returning shortly after with her mother. Hajiya said, "Oh, she is our housemaid, Pretty." Hajiya walked downstairs condescendingly and said, "My baby will show you around the house and point out all the chores you will be doing, and you will start right now." She called Pretty and said, "Come down, baby, and show her all the house chores." The girl walked down, twisting her face in disgust, and said, "Mom, she has to wash my clothes first before doing anything else, because I no longer understand this washing machine, and Iliya doesn't wash them properly; his ironing is totally crazy." Hajiya replied, "Go quickly and bring out the clothes so she can go to the tap near the garden to wash them. Bring Sumy's clothes too, as I think she has laundry as well." Pretty asked, "What about Meenah's?" Hajiya replied, "No, you know how she is, she might say she isn't ready. Just bring yours and Sumy's." Pretty quickly turned and ran upstairs, while Aneesah just stood there watching them. Hajiya also turned and went upstairs. After about ten minutes, Pretty returned with a huge pile of laundry and threw it down in front of her. Aneesah stared at the clothes. Pretty said arrogantly, "And look here girl, make sure you wash our clothes very well. Once they are dry, iron them for us. Also, don't you dare mix my white clothes with other colored clothes, because if they stain, wallahi, you will buy me new ones." She turned, swaying her body, and went back upstairs. Aneesah muttered, "Hmm, the power of God." She shook her head, picked up the clothes along with the bar soaps and detergent powder that had been thrown at her, left the living room, and went searching for the garden. She found it with great difficulty due to the massive size of the house. Finding buckets and large washing basins there, she turned on the tap and began washing without wasting time. She did not finish the laundry until around one o'clock because the clothes were overwhelmingly numerous; surprisingly, some didn't even look like they had been worn. After hanging the clothes to dry, she went through the money she had found in the pockets of the trousers and English wears, which she had been setting aside. Counting it all up, it amounted to five thousand five hundred naira. She smiled. *Such is life,* she thought. Taking the money, the leftover bar soap, and the detergent, she went back inside the house. She almost bumped into Pretty, who was now fully dressed up in a top and trousers, wearing sunglasses and a small veil, ready to go out. Pretty gave Aneesah a disdainful look and tried to walk past her. Aneesah said, "Here is this money, I found it inside your clothes." Pretty turned, looked at the money Aneesah was holding out, and with a sneer on her face, said, "What the hell do you want me to do with that? Why didn't you just throw it into the waste bin?" She hissed and walked out of the house. Aneesah watched her leave in astonishment, then went to the dining area and left the money there. She didn't know what to do next since Pretty hadn't shown her around the rest of the house. Gently, she walked upstairs, stood in the corridor, and began calling out greetings softly while examining the row of rooms. She stood there for about five minutes before the door facing her opened. Hajiya came out and shouted furiously, "What! Are you out of your mind? Who told you housemaids are allowed up here?" Feeling somewhat frightened, Aneesah replied, "No, Hajiya, I finished the laundry and didn't know what to do next." Shouting, Hajiya retorted, "Whatever it is, didn't you see the bell downstairs to ring?" Aneesah turned quietly to go back down, but Hajiya added, “Didn't even your tiny brain tell you that you should be putting on the afternoon lunch by now?”
Part 3
Aneesah returned home that day completely exhausted, having spent the entire day working like a machine. Ammi, who was sitting in the courtyard preparing to perform ablution for the Maghrib prayer, stood up quickly upon seeing her and said, "I have been so worried, Aneesah. I was wondering where you had gone. Didn't she say you would be leaving the house by five-thirty? How did it get to Maghrib time? Did you walk back on foot?" Aneesah forced a smile and said, "I couldn't find a commercial vehicle, Ammi, but I left the house right at five-thirty." Ammi said, "Oh, I see. I just realized I forgot to give you transport money. Did they give you some over there?" Aneesah simply nodded, even though she hadn't been given a single naira, nor had she expected it. Ammi said, "How kind of her, may God reward her. Tomorrow I will give you money before you leave. Earlier, Jamila's mother gave Yusuf five hundred naira." Aneesah said, "How kind, we thank God, may God reward her with goodness." Ammi then asked, concern evident on her face, "So, how do you find the job, Aneesah? It isn't too difficult, right? Please don't deceive me and hurt yourself; tell me the truth, she isn't overworking you, is she?" Aneesah forced another smile, despite her whole body aching from the intense labor, and said, "I told you, Ammi, the woman is nice if you know how to behave around her. And the work isn't difficult, Ammi." Ammi replied, "Alright then, Aneesah. May God help you and bless you." Aneesah said, "Amen, my Ammi," and then stood up, went into the room, and changed out of her clothes.
The next morning, Aneesah left home very early to reach her workplace on time. Despite this, Hajiya insulted her harshly, acting as though she was about to beat her, complaining that Sumy and Pretty had been waiting for her to arrive and make their breakfast. As Hajiya scolded her, Sumy joined in, even calling her a wretched, poor girl's daughter. Aneesah entered the kitchen quietly with tears rolling down her cheeks, contemplating the cruel nature of the people in the house; she had arrived at exactly seven-forty in the morning, yet they treated her with such hostility. Within thirty minutes, she finished preparing their breakfast and arranged it on the dining table. After they ate their fill, she returned to clear the dishes and continued with the household chores. At afternoon, she prepared a delicious meal of macaroni jollof with chicken and a coconut drink according to their orders. Afterward, she went out with the driver to the market to buy ice fish and offal, as she was to make pepper soup for them in the evening before leaving. That day, she wasn't able to leave the house until six o'clock.
This was how Aneesah continued to suffer in the house, facing different forms of humiliation every single day. She spent every day crying at the house because Hajiya would go as far as slapping her. Furthermore, the eldest daughter, Meenah, harbored a deep hatred for her and watched her every move closely; if Aneesah made a single mistake, Meenah would pour insults and abuse on her. Aneesah could only bow her head because they forbade her from making eye contact with them, or she would kneel down. Despite everything she was facing in the house, she refused to tell her mother. She constantly pretended everything was fine, despite losing a drastic amount of weight. Her only hope was to work for two months to save up money for her WAEC examination fees and then move on. However, whenever she received her wages at the end of the month, domestic problems at home would completely consume the money, because sometimes they would go to sleep without eating anything unless Ammi sent Yusuf to the neighbors to eat. This situation made her begin to give up on her education entirely, reasoning that as long as this job provided them with food to put in their mouths, it was enough. Despite the terrible waste of food she witnessed in the house where she worked, she never once took any food to bring home. Sometimes she would spend the whole day at the house starving and would only eat when she returned home, because they did not offer her food, and she never took what was not given to her. When Hajiya eventually noticed this, despite her arrogance and cruelty, she would ask if Aneesah had eaten after she and her children had eaten their fill. Aneesah would say no, because she didn't even taste the food when she finished cooking it. This prompted Hajiya to set aside a separate plate for her, decreeing that once everyone—including the security guard and the dog in the backyard—had been served, Aneesah should serve her own share. Aneesah thanked her, stood up, and left.
On the day Aneesah completed two months and one week at the house, she was in the kitchen doing the dishes when Hajiya called out her name loudly, "Aneesah!" Whenever she screamed her name, one would swear she was the one who named her. Aneesah rushed out and knelt before her, saying, "Yes, Hajiya." Hajiya glared at her and said, "So you could hear me, you lunatic, yet you ignored me?" Aneesah shook her head and said, "Please forgive me, Hajiya, I turned on the tap, which is why I didn't hear you." Hajiya shouted at her, "Is it that your ears are defective, or is it just sheer disrespect?" Aneesah remained silent. Hajiya said, "Get up and get out of my sight before my temper worsens, you bastard. Later on, you will hear what I have to say to you when my heart calms down." Aneesah stood up quietly and left the room with tears in her eyes. As soon as she left, Meenah said, "Wallahi, I hate this girl, Mom. She doesn't look like a maid at all. I don't even trust her; wallahi, maybe she was sent to this house or she is part of a plot. Just look at her, she is so beautiful and fair. I don't see any sign that she has ever done manual labor before." Sumy added, "Tell me about it! Yesterday when I was looking at her closely, I realized you can't compare her to anything except the glow of skin bleaching." Meenah stood up furiously and said, “What did you say? Are you implying you are beautiful? Wallahi, this housemaid is a thousand times more beautiful than you.”
Part 4
Hajiya delivered a staggering slap to Aneesah, kicking her furiously. "In your mother's name, what kind of an animal are you? Are you mindless, spilling the drink all over his body like this, you evil girl?" As for Haydar, he quickly stood up, left the spot, and went upstairs. Aneesah cried bitterly while apologizing to Hajiya, explaining that it was an accident, but this did not make the woman leave her alone. She slapped her to her heart's content until she grew tired, then yelled, "Get out of my sight, you lunatic!" With great difficulty, Aneesah left the living room, her head spinning. Stumbling into the kitchen, she leaned against the fridge and wept softly. Realizing she could not bear standing up, she opened the door leading to the garden, sat down, buried her head in her knees, and continued to cry out of sheer frustration. What kind of a miserable life was this? She had been crying there for about fifteen minutes when she felt a hand gently touch her shoulder. She looked up in fear to see who it was, and her heart nearly leaped out of her chest upon recognizing him. He sat beside her, looking at her. Terrified, she moved away and tried to stand up to leave, but he caught her. In a panic, she pushed his hand away and said, "I am ruined! Sir, please hide my secret, for God and the Prophet's sake, I beg of you." He refused to let her go and said softly, "Sit down and listen to what I have to say." She looked around frantically in fear and said, "Please, I said for God's sake." He widened his large eyes at her and said, "Not until you listen to me first." She slumped to the ground beside him because he still hadn't let go of her hand. Tears streaming down her cheeks, she asked, "Don't you fear God?" He shook his head slowly and said, "I do fear Him." He then pulled out a handkerchief, held her head with his hand, and began wiping the tears from her face. She quickly turned her face away to stand up, but he quickly moved closer, wrapped his arm around her neck, and continued wiping her face. She was deeply terrified because nothing like this had ever happened to her before. She tried to break free, crying out, “I am ruined! What is the meaning of this, sir?”
Just then, they heard Hajiya’s voice from the kitchen asking Pretty where Haydar had gone. Pretty replied, "Mom, I am looking for him too. Up until now, he has refused to give us our souvenirs. And as for that girl, she hasn't served the food yet; even the worms in my stomach are starting to eat my stomach lining." Hajiya called out her name loudly and forcefully, "Aneesah!" Aneesah pushed him away with all her might, her voice trembling as she said, "Innalillahi! Oh my God, please protect my secret, for the sake of the Messenger of God." He let her go, stood up quickly, walked around, and headed toward the garage. She also stood up quickly, opened the kitchen door, and walked in, where she almost collided head-on with Hajiya…
Part 5
Aneesah finished getting ready by six-thirty to leave the house. Ammi, who was still sitting on her prayer mat, watched her with surprise. "Are you in your right mind, Aneesah? Where are you going this early in the morning?" Aneesah sat before her mother, looked at her, and said, "I explained it to you, Ammi. They are having guests today, and I am going to cook a large amount of food for them. That's why she asked me to come early." Ammi glared at her and said, "And that's why you are leaving before it's even seven o'clock? What's wrong with waiting until seven? You haven't even had breakfast." Aneesah replied, "No, Ammi, I must leave now. The guests are arriving early." Ammi said, "At least drink some pap before you go." Aneesah said, "Oh, my Ammi, I am not hungry. Besides, when I get there, they do give me food, wallahi." Reluctantly, Ammi gave her transport money and prayed for her safety, and Aneesah left the house and headed to her workplace.
When she arrived, everyone was still asleep. She did some sweeping, dusting, and mopping everywhere, then prepared breakfast and set it on the dining table before they woke up. Afterward, she began cooking the meals listed for her the previous day, utilizing the groceries available in the fridge. She didn't finish cooking until around eleven o'clock, even though she used two gas burners and an electric cooker. Once finished, she cleared the breakfast dishes from the dining table, greeted all the family members, and began arranging the newly cooked meals on the table. She placed the ginger drink in the fridge to cool. While wiping down the kitchen, she heard their car arrive. Pretty ran inside laughing and calling out to their mother to come see their brother. Hajiya rushed out, met her son right at the doorstep, and embraced him joyfully, saying, "Wow, my son! How was your journey?" He, however, frowned and said, "For God's sake, mom, let me rest, I am exhausted. And these girls just got up and followed me to the airport like crazy people." Meenah smacked her lips slightly and said, "You should at least be happy people are glad you're back. Wallahi, Mom, he has
