A large bus loaded with passengers drove into the premises of Abuja Airport. The driver braked sharply, making the passengers exclaim in shock.
“Driver, please slow down; you’re carrying people, not animals. This reckless driving is useless,” one woman among the passengers complained.
The driver, visibly irritated, turned to her, speaking angrily.
“Madam, please excuse me. This is how I drive. If I hadn’t hurried, you would have missed your flight.”
The woman fell silent, realizing he was not a polite man. The man in front of the driver began insulting him in the typical manner of bus station quarrels before turning away to find a parking spot.
Meanwhile, a young woman at the back of the bus raised her head from between her knees after the sudden brake made her hit her head against the metal of the seat in front. She wore a green hijab like the rest of the passengers and had a face mask on. Though her facial features were hidden, her striking hazel eyes, framed by full eyebrows, drew attention.
The woman beside her kept glancing at her, puzzled by the quiet sobbing she had been doing since boarding. Her heart felt heavy like stone; her emotions felt numb. Painful memories made her tears unstoppable, and she pitied herself deeply. Questions plagued her—did she have a hidden defect? Was she abandoned? She couldn’t make sense of her life both now and in her earlier years.
When the driver parked and opened the bus doors, the male passengers exited first, followed by the women, all wearing green hijabs and carrying backpacks. They formed a queue. One man addressed them:
“Here are your passports. This is your ticket everywhere. If you lose it, it’s your problem, not the agency’s. Your flight will land in Jeddah. If you run away and are caught, the agency will not take responsibility.”
He began calling names.
“Sabeha Dalhatu—who is Sabeha Dalhatu?”
The girl timidly raised her hand.
“Madam, I’ve been calling your name. Don’t you know we’re in a hurry?”
She quickly lowered her gaze and approached him, her hands trembling with sweat. He muttered, “Looks like she’s from some deep village. Be careful so you don’t get into trouble.”
His words pierced her heart. She realized her life had lost meaning. Her mother, the only person she had in the world, had sold her off. She didn’t even know why her mother had connected her with these people.
The Flight to an Unknown Future
The man led them into the airport, where their luggage was checked before they entered the waiting room. The young girl sat next to the same woman she had shared a bus seat with.
The woman went to buy a meat pie and bottled water. People’s eyes followed her; she was clearly familiar with the place, having traveled to Saudi Arabia for domestic work several times before. She had noticeable facial marks, gold teeth, and the bold look typical of Saudi women.
She sat beside the trembling girl, who had lived a sheltered life, interacting only with her mother, grandmother, and uncle. Seeing her pity-inducing state, the woman offered her a meat pie. The girl accepted it with both shaking hands and whispered, “Thank you.”
“Your name is Sabeha, right? Are you going for work too?” the woman asked. The girl nodded uncertainly.
“Which agency brought you here?”
“The same one,” Sabeha answered.
“Don’t be scared,” the woman advised. “Fear can cause problems, especially since people there don’t trust strangers—especially if you’re Black.”
Sabeha thanked her again, feeling a little relief. She ate, not because she enjoyed it, but because she hadn’t eaten all day.
When their flight was called, they boarded a small, low-cost aircraft. With the woman’s help, Sabeha found her seat. Her stomach churned; she knew she was headed to a world where she knew no one, with no idea what awaited her.
Saudi Arabia – Tahlia Street and the Taheel Empire
Tahlia District in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is one of the wealthiest areas in the country. It is home to royal families, top officials, and the rich elite. Owning a property there is a prized inheritance, often passed down through generations. The district boasts luxury malls, major companies, five-star hotels, and high-end restaurants.
Taheel Group, one of the district’s major companies, was founded by Taheel Abdullah Tajuddeen and is now run by his children. The family holds 75% of the company’s shares. Taheel Group supplies malls across Tahlia, Riyadh, and Dammam, collaborating with brands like Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Ralph Lauren, and Giorgio Armani. They also own TG Banks, ranked among Saudi Arabia’s top five banks.
The Taheel Residence on Tahlia Street is an enormous, modern mansion—larger and more exquisite than most homes in the area. Its gates, adorned with royal gold decorations, mark the opulence and status of the Taheel family.
Description
Turbulent Arrival at Abuja Airport
A large bus loaded with passengers drove into the premises of Abuja Airport. The driver braked sharply, making the passengers exclaim in shock.
“Driver, please slow down; you’re carrying people, not animals. This reckless driving is useless,” one woman among the passengers complained.
The driver, visibly irritated, turned to her, speaking angrily.
“Madam, please excuse me. This is how I drive. If I hadn’t hurried, you would have missed your flight.”
The woman fell silent, realizing he was not a polite man. The man in front of the driver began insulting him in the typical manner of bus station quarrels before turning away to find a parking spot.
Meanwhile, a young woman at the back of the bus raised her head from between her knees after the sudden brake made her hit her head against the metal of the seat in front. She wore a green hijab like the rest of the passengers and had a face mask on. Though her facial features were hidden, her striking hazel eyes, framed by full eyebrows, drew attention.
The woman beside her kept glancing at her, puzzled by the quiet sobbing she had been doing since boarding. Her heart felt heavy like stone; her emotions felt numb. Painful memories made her tears unstoppable, and she pitied herself deeply. Questions plagued her—did she have a hidden defect? Was she abandoned? She couldn’t make sense of her life both now and in her earlier years.
When the driver parked and opened the bus doors, the male passengers exited first, followed by the women, all wearing green hijabs and carrying backpacks. They formed a queue. One man addressed them:
“Here are your passports. This is your ticket everywhere. If you lose it, it’s your problem, not the agency’s. Your flight will land in Jeddah. If you run away and are caught, the agency will not take responsibility.”
He began calling names.
“Sabeha Dalhatu—who is Sabeha Dalhatu?”
The girl timidly raised her hand.
“Madam, I’ve been calling your name. Don’t you know we’re in a hurry?”
She quickly lowered her gaze and approached him, her hands trembling with sweat. He muttered, “Looks like she’s from some deep village. Be careful so you don’t get into trouble.”
His words pierced her heart. She realized her life had lost meaning. Her mother, the only person she had in the world, had sold her off. She didn’t even know why her mother had connected her with these people.
The Flight to an Unknown Future
The man led them into the airport, where their luggage was checked before they entered the waiting room. The young girl sat next to the same woman she had shared a bus seat with.
The woman went to buy a meat pie and bottled water. People’s eyes followed her; she was clearly familiar with the place, having traveled to Saudi Arabia for domestic work several times before. She had noticeable facial marks, gold teeth, and the bold look typical of Saudi women.
She sat beside the trembling girl, who had lived a sheltered life, interacting only with her mother, grandmother, and uncle. Seeing her pity-inducing state, the woman offered her a meat pie. The girl accepted it with both shaking hands and whispered, “Thank you.”
“Your name is Sabeha, right? Are you going for work too?” the woman asked. The girl nodded uncertainly.
“Which agency brought you here?”
“The same one,” Sabeha answered.
“Don’t be scared,” the woman advised. “Fear can cause problems, especially since people there don’t trust strangers—especially if you’re Black.”
Sabeha thanked her again, feeling a little relief. She ate, not because she enjoyed it, but because she hadn’t eaten all day.
When their flight was called, they boarded a small, low-cost aircraft. With the woman’s help, Sabeha found her seat. Her stomach churned; she knew she was headed to a world where she knew no one, with no idea what awaited her.
Saudi Arabia – Tahlia Street and the Taheel Empire
Tahlia District in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is one of the wealthiest areas in the country. It is home to royal families, top officials, and the rich elite. Owning a property there is a prized inheritance, often passed down through generations. The district boasts luxury malls, major companies, five-star hotels, and high-end restaurants.
Taheel Group, one of the district’s major companies, was founded by Taheel Abdullah Tajuddeen and is now run by his children. The family holds 75% of the company’s shares. Taheel Group supplies malls across Tahlia, Riyadh, and Dammam, collaborating with brands like Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Ralph Lauren, and Giorgio Armani. They also own TG Banks, ranked among Saudi Arabia’s top five banks.
The Taheel Residence on Tahlia Street is an enormous, modern mansion—larger and more exquisite than most homes in the area. Its gates, adorned with royal gold decorations, mark the opulence and status of the Taheel family.