Immediately, the attention of the workers outside turned to the scene. Everyone stopped what they were doing and watched in shock as Maryama cried out in terror, “Please help me, he’s trying to kidnap me! Don’t let him take me, please!” No matter how hard she tried to pull her hand away from DG M. Malik’s grip, she couldn’t — his hold was firm.
The reason no one stepped in to help was because they had never seen DG M. Malik even notice any woman among the workers before, let alone touch one. This was the first time, so they simply stared, convinced something unusual must have caused him to act this way.
Maryama’s fear grew worse than the reader could imagine. He headed straight to an office with her, pushed her inside, and locked the door. She screamed for help again, but he opened another door inside the office — a storage room — and she froze. Her heartbeat raced as she stepped inside, shocked at what she saw.
The entire room was filled with portraits of her — all drawn by his boss whenever he dreamt about her. She stared at the walls, her fear mounting. Malik studied her face, compared it to the drawings, and confirmed to himself that she was indeed the woman in them. With a trembling voice, he pleaded:
> “Help me save my master’s life. Come with me to meet him.”
Maryama stepped back in terror, trembling even more after seeing her face sketched so many times. Malik continued:
> “My master has been searching for you for a long time. He’s deeply in love with you — real love. Please marry him, or he might lose his life. If you reject him, I fear the worst.”
When he reached for her hand again, Maryama quickly moved back, shaking her head in panic. She accused him of being delusional, insisting the woman in the paintings must be someone else who only resembled her — maybe even a supernatural being from his dreams.
Maryama’s Defiance and Escape
Maryama told him bluntly to regain his senses, calling him a fool who didn’t value a woman’s dignity. She declared that Allah would judge him for touching her and shaming her publicly. When she tried to leave, he followed, determined not to let her go. In a flash, she turned and slapped him twice in quick succession — tass! tass! — leaving him stunned and holding his cheek.
Furious, she warned him never to touch her again:
> “My body is valuable — don’t you dare lay your filthy hands on me.”
Malik dropped to his knees, begging her not to leave. But Maryama stormed out, locked him inside, and faced the stares of onlookers, tears running down her cheeks. She feared they might think he had done something worse to her.
In a state of panic, she ran out of the workers’ compound and quickly caught a car to Oshodi Under Bridge. She decided she would never return to that workplace — she would rather find a different job entirely. She continued on her journey until she caught another vehicle heading to Agege. When she finally got off at Capito Road, she still felt unsettled, the image of her likeness in those paintings haunting her mind.
At Home — Confessions and Advice
At home, Maryama was greeted warmly by her mother (Umma) and her mother’s friend, Ladi. They exchanged pleasantries, and Ladi commented on how much Maryama had grown. The two older women began discussing marriage prospects, with Ladi suggesting that Maryama would be a good match for her son. Umma teased her about wanting an “affordable” wedding, warning that Maryama deserved a man with means.
Later, Maryama’s aunt came out and found her crying. Alarmed, she asked what had happened. After some comfort, Maryama explained everything — the attempted abduction, the locked office, the portraits, and Malik’s insistence on taking her to meet his boss.
Her aunt, half amused, suggested it might just be that the boss dreamed about someone who looked like her. But Maryama remained shaken, vowing never to return to that office. Her aunt reminded her that she might not have a choice if the company called her back, advising her to pray before leaving home each day.
Gradually, through conversation, Maryama began to relax. She also asked about her father’s whereabouts, saying the house felt empty without him. They continued talking until her mood lightened, though the memory of the day’s events still lingered in her heart.
Description
The Incident with DG M. Malik
Immediately, the attention of the workers outside turned to the scene. Everyone stopped what they were doing and watched in shock as Maryama cried out in terror, “Please help me, he’s trying to kidnap me! Don’t let him take me, please!” No matter how hard she tried to pull her hand away from DG M. Malik’s grip, she couldn’t — his hold was firm.
The reason no one stepped in to help was because they had never seen DG M. Malik even notice any woman among the workers before, let alone touch one. This was the first time, so they simply stared, convinced something unusual must have caused him to act this way.
Maryama’s fear grew worse than the reader could imagine. He headed straight to an office with her, pushed her inside, and locked the door. She screamed for help again, but he opened another door inside the office — a storage room — and she froze. Her heartbeat raced as she stepped inside, shocked at what she saw.
The entire room was filled with portraits of her — all drawn by his boss whenever he dreamt about her. She stared at the walls, her fear mounting. Malik studied her face, compared it to the drawings, and confirmed to himself that she was indeed the woman in them. With a trembling voice, he pleaded:
> “Help me save my master’s life. Come with me to meet him.”
Maryama stepped back in terror, trembling even more after seeing her face sketched so many times. Malik continued:
> “My master has been searching for you for a long time. He’s deeply in love with you — real love. Please marry him, or he might lose his life. If you reject him, I fear the worst.”
When he reached for her hand again, Maryama quickly moved back, shaking her head in panic. She accused him of being delusional, insisting the woman in the paintings must be someone else who only resembled her — maybe even a supernatural being from his dreams.
Maryama’s Defiance and Escape
Maryama told him bluntly to regain his senses, calling him a fool who didn’t value a woman’s dignity. She declared that Allah would judge him for touching her and shaming her publicly. When she tried to leave, he followed, determined not to let her go. In a flash, she turned and slapped him twice in quick succession — tass! tass! — leaving him stunned and holding his cheek.
Furious, she warned him never to touch her again:
> “My body is valuable — don’t you dare lay your filthy hands on me.”
Malik dropped to his knees, begging her not to leave. But Maryama stormed out, locked him inside, and faced the stares of onlookers, tears running down her cheeks. She feared they might think he had done something worse to her.
In a state of panic, she ran out of the workers’ compound and quickly caught a car to Oshodi Under Bridge. She decided she would never return to that workplace — she would rather find a different job entirely. She continued on her journey until she caught another vehicle heading to Agege. When she finally got off at Capito Road, she still felt unsettled, the image of her likeness in those paintings haunting her mind.
At Home — Confessions and Advice
At home, Maryama was greeted warmly by her mother (Umma) and her mother’s friend, Ladi. They exchanged pleasantries, and Ladi commented on how much Maryama had grown. The two older women began discussing marriage prospects, with Ladi suggesting that Maryama would be a good match for her son. Umma teased her about wanting an “affordable” wedding, warning that Maryama deserved a man with means.
Later, Maryama’s aunt came out and found her crying. Alarmed, she asked what had happened. After some comfort, Maryama explained everything — the attempted abduction, the locked office, the portraits, and Malik’s insistence on taking her to meet his boss.
Her aunt, half amused, suggested it might just be that the boss dreamed about someone who looked like her. But Maryama remained shaken, vowing never to return to that office. Her aunt reminded her that she might not have a choice if the company called her back, advising her to pray before leaving home each day.
Gradually, through conversation, Maryama began to relax. She also asked about her father’s whereabouts, saying the house felt empty without him. They continued talking until her mood lightened, though the memory of the day’s events still lingered in her heart.