CHAPTER ELEVEN

Lota slept like a log after the intense

lovemaking session she had in the

morning. by the time she woke up, it

was already 1 p.m. Her whole body aches

like she has been run over by a train and

her stomach feels empty. She sat up

and looked around the room but Kamsy

was nowhere to be found. She quickly

stood to go to the bathroom but

everywhere swayed and she almost

fell so she quickly sat on the bed. A few

minutes later she gently stood and

walked into the bathroom because she

was pressed. Coming out of the bathroom

her eyes sighted a piece of paper on the

table. She walked up to the table, picked

up the piece of paper, read what was

written on it, and smiled. On the paper

was written, "When you wake up, put on

the dress I left for you on the couch,

there's a debit card underneath the dress,

pick it up, go down to the restaurant, and

order for anything you feel like eating.

One more thing, remember your manners

while eating. Don't get carried away by

the taste of the food. Atikah will find you

there and take you shopping. Remember

my initial warning. Mind what you say and

don't make friends. Love you, K." Reading

that piece of paper changed Lota's day as

she kept smiling and daydreaming. She

couldn't believe that Kamsy just said that

he loved her. She read that paper about

seven times before leaving the suite.

   Lota walked into the hotel's restaurant

and decided to have something light so

she placed an order for one a glass of

juice and some steaks. Even the glass of

juice was too much for her as her stomach

felt full because of Kamsy's note which

she had read earlier. While she was

eating and daydreaming, a young lady

walked up to her and said, "hello I'm

Atika and I guess you must be L." That

was when Lota looked up to see a

smiling beautiful and young face staring

down at her. Excuse me, you said I must

be what? "I'm sorry but isn't that your

initial? I was told to meet up with a lady

named L, so I can take her shopping and

you fit the description that I was given

because I rarely make mistakes. Or have

I gotten the wrong person this time?"

You said you are Atika right? "Yes, I am

Atika at your service."  Then you've got

the right person. "Yes I know because I

rarely make mistakes and that's the

reason I still have my job and my head

on my shoulders. I'll walk you through

the details while you eat, so we won't

have any misunderstandings at the end

of the day. I've been asked to pick out

your clothes for you. You won't question

anything I pick up for you as you only

have to try them out and I'll be the

judge about whether they fit or not."

Well Atika, is there any need for me to

go with you? Since you'll be doing the

picking of the clothes and the judging.

I'll suggest I stay back and you go alone,

pick up the clothes, and bring them to

me. Because I can see that you have

turned me into a glorified mannequin

who shouldn't question anything she

has been given and just wear them.

Those are the qualities of a mannequin

or don't you agree with me? "You can

call me Tika and I'm sorry if the words

I said came out the wrong way. I was only

trying to state the instructions that I've

been given. I never meant to insult you in

any way." Lota laughed within her and

said, "dear Tika, you think you have a

smart mouth right? I will waste your

precious time I'll make sure you get

bored way out of your mind." While

Lota was thinking of ways to frustrate

Tika, the girl was fascinated by the young

lady sitting in front of her who looks like

they could be of the same age and she

envied this girl for living in such luxury.

Tika hated her own life while comparing

it to that of Lota. "Why is my life upside

down and filled with sorrow she asked

herself. Here I am letting a girl who I

believe I'm older than, order me around

because I'm poor". On the other side

of the table, Lota was looking at Tika

out of the corner of her eyes and seeing

the girl's carefree attitude made Lota

remember her past life. The life where

she was free and could mingle with

anyone she felt like, the one where she

had friends and admirers. She looked

down at her nails and said, well I can't

turn back the hands of time neither can

I change my fate, so I have to stop

gloating, be grateful for what life has

given me, and move on. She looked up at

Tika and caught her staring, so she asked

"why are you staring at me?" The other

girl looked guilty after being caught in

the act. Ahe laughed nervously and said,

I wasn't really staring at you, it was just

 coincidence." Okay since you said you

weren't staring at me, I'll believe you.

What is this area called, and do you live

around here? "I'm sorry L, I wasn't paid

to answer questions. I only have one job

and that's what I'm here to accomplish.

If you truly want to have a conversation

with me, I think you should trust me

enough to tell me your name." Well Tika,

if I remember properly, you said you were

paid to do just one job and I don't think

knowing my name is part of your one job

 description. So, I think it will be better if

you just do your job and get out. I thought

that we could be friends because we look

like we could be of the same age but I

don't know the reason that you have been

sarcastic and hostile towards me since

you arrived. If you are so angry about your

life, I just want you to remember that

everyone has problems and they don't

go around troubling others with them. I am

not the reason your life is the way it Is, so

don't take it out on me. "L, being sarcastic

and hostile towards you wasn't my intention

and I don't hate my life. Rather, I feel you

are the frustrated one. You are the one

being all bossy and cranky. I also thought

that we could be friends when I first

arrived but you never gave me a chance.

Rather when I say one thing you turn it

around to mean another. With such an

attitude, how am I supposed to approach

you? My life is pathetic enough and I

don't need you to rub it in my face." I'm

sorry Tika, It's complicated and I can't

tell you my name. For today, we can't be

friends but we might meet somewhere

else in the future and there we can be

friends. For now, just do your job and I'll

do mine. So, can we leave now?

"Of course."

  They came out of the hotel where a car

was waiting for them, got into the car, and

in 15 minutes, they arrived at a mall

called "The HANGERS." As Lota was

walking around, she kept wondering

why such a beautiful place will be named

THE HANGERS. Such a boring and creepy

name don't fit a place like this she said

within her. Tika came close and said "do

you know why this place is called

hangers?" No I don't. "Well, history has it,

that this place was the spot for hanging

criminals and witches back in the day

and that's the reason after this mall was

built, it was named THE HANGERS.

Rumour also has it that if you stay in the

mall till midnight, you will hear strange

voices and footsteps but won't see

anyone." Stop creeping me out Tika. So

why will people in their right minds

come to shop in such a haunted place?

Tika burst into laughter and said, "come

on L, don't tell me that you are scared."

Me scared? Why should I be scared of some

 faceless ghosts who I don't even believe

exist. "Then, why don't you put it to the

test? You stay here till midnight then we

can find out if the stories are true."

Really? Do I look like fear looks good on

me? Since you are the one who knows

the story, I guess you should be the one

to stay in the mall till midnight so that

you can be sure if the stories you're telling

a true or not. If the stories are true you

won't have to tell people that "Rumor

Has It This Place is Haunted anymore".

Your new story will now be changed to,

I have witnessed it. So you see, that's the

beauty of witnessing something. "Why do

I have the feeling that you truly like me?

For you to suggest that I stay in the mall

that is rumored to be haunted till midnight,

wow! That's a special Kind of Love you

have for me. I guess it's the new definition

of loving your neighbor." After hearing

Tika's words, Lota began to laugh, but

her laughter was cut short at the

moment she remembered what Kamsy

told her, that she wasn't supposed to

make friends and that he has someone

watching her. She immediately stopped

laughing like a robot that was powered

off and said, I need to go back to the hotel

early,  so can we do what we came here

for? Tika turned around,  looked at her,

and just nodded her head. Within her,

she knew Lota is not who she's trying to

portray. She knew there was something

wrong but L doesn't want to talk about it.

While they were walking to the clothes

section, she spoke without looking at

Lota. "I don't know who you are but I

have a feeling this is not who you are.

Look at you, just a while ago you were

happy, carefree, and laughing but now all

that joy has disappeared for reasons I do

not know. Are you being threatened or

abused by someone? You don't have to

be afraid, you can tell me. There is a

women's Right Group around here and

they can take up your case. All you need

to do is speak up." This Woman's Right

Group of yours, can they fight the rich

and powerful? "Come on L,  this group

even takes up the government. If they

can fight the government of this country

and win, who is the rich and powerful

that they can't win against?" Tika you and

I seem to look like we are of the same

age, which might be true, but I think that

we have seen the world on different levels.

What seems possible to you is impossible

to me. There are more horrible things

lurking in the dark than the ghosts

haunting this mall, which you don't know

about and I pray you never know about. I

know you envy my life and wish to live like

me but Tika, never wish to be like me

because my life is complicated and

uncertain. Please I don't want us

discussing this matter anymore. And you

are wrong for thinking I'm being

threatened or abused because I am not.

I'm only in love with someone who I hope

to love me back in the same way I love

him. That's the reason sometimes, it

seems like I'm lost because actually I'm

lost in love and fantasy. "Okay L,  I won't

intrude anymore. I just hope that you're

telling the truth and not letting someone

treat you like you are less than a human

being because you are in love with him.

I just want you to know that many ladies

in abusive relationships don't speak up

until it is too late. I am living the way I

am today because I lost my mum when

I was much younger through an abusive

 relationship. My mum never spoke up.

She loved my dad too much to leave him

and today, where is she? The same man

she loved too much, sent her to the

afterlife. I am not saying this to scare

you, I am only saying this to let you know

that you have a choice because even

slaves, escape from their masters." After

Tika said her bits to Lota, she walked

away and started picking up clothes for

her. Most of the clothes looked beautiful

but what Lota did not understand was

why Tika picked up some dresses big

enough for two people to wear for her. She

couldn't be quiet about that so she had to

ask. "Why are you picking up dress meant

for a pregnant woman for me?" "I've told

you before L, I am only doing my duty. I'm

following instructions." Instructions from

who Tika? Don't worry L, you don't need

to know." Oh, I see. Keeping secrets now

right? What happened to all the talk

you've been giving me since, about me

telling you everything? you want me to

tell you everything about my life but

when it gets to your turn, you're keeping

secrets from me and telling me I don't

need to know. That's no problem, you

can keep your secrets to yourself, I don't

care. After that conversation, Lota went

back to being quiet and trying out every

clothes she was given. She did not

bother standing in front of the mirror to

see how the clothes look on her because

she has given up on having any

conversation with anybody. They all seem

chatty at the beginning but when it comes

to giving her answers, they become

different. Sade kept hiding things from

her and saying, I can't save you from your

fate. I can only do the best I can for you.

Now, even Tika who seemed friendly is

also keeping secrets from her. She just

sighed within her and said, fake people

everywhere. After shopping, the

attendants carried the bags to the car

while Lota followed behind them, but

Tika didn't. Immediately Lota got into the

car, it drove off and that was the last

time she saw Tika or heard anything

about her. At the other side of the mall,

Tika walked up to a lady, gave her a

recording, and said, "she's trying to be

strong. This minute it's like she wants

to tell someone who cares to listen about

her story and the next minute, it's like

she's remembering the warning and

doesn't want to talk anymore. I did my

job and tried getting her to talk. When

you listen to the recording, you'll hear

the stories I made up just to get her to

say something but she said she was in

love and not being abused or threatened.