This is based on a true story but the names and certain scenarios have been changed. My birth was a result of the relationship between a cult leader and a naive Muslim girl. This is my mom's story. She has no idea I'm posting this and I'm not telling her till the book is finished.

Chapter One
She knocked on the door again and this time James was the one that opened it. He stood in the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest, blocking her entry as he gave her a questioning look. 'I just want to talk to him.' She pleaded, ignoring how pathetic she sounded. She'd already lost what remained of her shredded dignity by standing outside his door for the past few hours, knocking and begging to be let in like a deranged person.
'You know I won't lie to you Faridah, he doesn't want to see you. I thought he made that clear by throwing you out.'
'Please James, talk to him, he listens to you. You know I can't go back home, not with the baby...'
'Yes, the baby.' A voice cut into the conversation, and James stepped out of the way for a tall guy to walk out the door.
'The baby I told you to get rid of. The baby you stubbornly decided to keep. I told you to choose between me and the baby, and you chose the baby. So why are you here?'

Faridah stared at him for a moment, too stunned by the fact he'd actually come out to see her to be able to speak.
'It's your baby Ahmed, how can you say such a thing. This is your responsibility.' She said, when she finally got her voice back.
'I've said it before and I'll say it again, I don't want that baby. I have plans Ridah, dreams, ambitions. That child will destroy all of that.'
'And I am the one who has no ambitions? I am the one who has no dreams? It's my future that will be ruined!'
'That's exactly why I told you to get rid of it!' He snapped, then sighed as he struggled to maintain his composure. 'Look Ridah, your father is an Alhaji, he's built countless mosques, he's respected throughout this state. Think of him. His reputation. All he's worked for.'
'Oh so now the excuse is my old man. Before it was your family, yesterday it was me. A minute ago it was your ambitions, now it's my father. I wonder what will be next.'
'Get out of my compound Faridah.'
His voice was deadly calm, and it scared her. 'Ahmed...'
'Get out.'

She looked at him, really looked at him and past the pretty face for the first time since she met him a year ago. Ahmed had never been the poster child for goodness. His childhood was not a privileged one like hers.
She'd witnessed firsthand the nonchalance his parents exhibited towards him. He was different from his brothers, who everyone expected to become governors and ministers. From childhood, everyone expected Ahmed to fail. He had that look of a born troublemaker. And deep disregard for things happening around him. Suddenly she understood. He saw the baby as something that would make him fail. A stumbling block that he was determined to remove from his way.
She saw the boys quietly standing by, waiting for his orders. The boys she'd been laughing with just a few days ago. Now they looked at her like she was a stranger. She looked up at the boy she loved, searching his face for even the slightest sign of tenderness. His eyes were as unexpressive as stone. The tears fell down her cheeks in torrents and she turned around and ran.

I'd be back.

Try to space the conversations by paragraph, I mean 'enter'.

...

yorhmienerd:
I'd be back.

Try to space the conversations by paragraph, I mean 'enter'.

Noted

Wow. Men rili are heartless

Chumzypinky:
Wow. Men rili are heartless

You have to be heartless to be a cult leader

Chapter Two

'So what are you going to do now?'
'I don't know Ziba. I have to go back to school, and I'll see him there everyday. I don't even know if my father will not kill me.'
'Oh come on, you're his favorite child, he won't do anything to hurt you.' Her friend waved her hand in a don't be silly gesture.
'That's the problem.' Faridah set down the mug of hot tea on the bedside table. 'I'm his favorite child, and I have disgraced him in this manner. Even Aminatu, who goes out with only the clothes on her back, disappears for months at a time, and then comes back with Ghana Must go's full of belongings, has never come home with a child.'
Her friend scoffed. 'Aminatu would get rid of such a problem immediately. We both know that sister of yours is only one step above being a prostitute.'
Faridah scowled at her friend but she knew it was true. Her 16 yr old sister was the black sheep of the family. Her latest fiasco was when two months ago, she was sent to boarding school so she could be disciplined, and also to distance her from her friends but she scaled the fence and escaped. They hadn't seen her since. The first time she did such a thing, their father sent a search party to look for her. Now that they were used to her disappearing and appearing, no one even batted an eyelash.

'I'm going back to Kaduna tomorrow morning.' Faridah announced.
'Why?'
'I came to Lagos because of him. I've tried my possible best to make him accept the baby but he refuses to take me back until I get rid of it. How much further must I degrade myself for him?'
She had cried her eyes out last night, and now they were puffy and red rimmed. But she was still pretty. Too pretty. Ziba thought. And that was the cause of her problems. Ahmed wouldn't have gone after her if she wasn't so pretty.
'Why are you looking at me like that Ziba?'
'Nothing.' She managed a smile for the girl's benefit. 'Here I was planning a shopping trip for us, and you're leaving tomorrow.'
'I'm sorry Z, but school starts in a week and it'll take more than a few days to resolve this issue. I would have loved to stay but I can't.'
She sounded genuinely apologetic, and Ziba forgave her instantly. 'It's not your fault Faridah, it's the fault of that idiot. I'll take you to the park myself tomorrow ok?'
'What would I be without you?' Faridah asked smiling.
'Absolutely nothing.' And Ziba meant it. Her too good friend would have been a trouble a lot more times if it wasn't for her. And this baby was proof.

Ziba went away for a few months and got back to find her best friend pregnant. But as she watched the fair skinned beauty make herself comfortable on the bed, she realized her speech about the error of Faridah's ways would have to wait. Right now the girl needed a shoulder to cry on and not someone to list out her faults. She would do that later, when the sting of Ahmed's betrayal was not as fresh.
They cuddled together after putting a Van Vicker movie in the DVD player. Faridah stared at the actor in awe. 'He's lucky I'm in love with Ahmed, or he'd have had a crazy fan girl on his hands.' Ziba nodded her consent. 'Make that two crazy fangirls.'
They laughed, and for that moment there was no unwanted pregnancy and no Ahmed. For that moment everything was perfect.

LitQueen:

You have to be heartless to be a cult leader

nice dear. I never knew you could write this way. I absolutely love it. Its well spaced and well punctuated, ride on gal

Chumzypinky:

nice dear. I never knew you could write this way. I absolutely love it. Its well spaced and well punctuated, ride on gal

Aww thanks. Coming from you I really appreciate it.

Let me watch this.......tell me something good will come out of that gang leader, abeg. I need him to straighten up

jagugu88li:
Let me watch this.......tell me something good will come out of that gang leader, abeg. I need him to straighten up

He might.

LitQueen:
He might.

next update please

Faridah stood outside the massive black gates that led into the estate. Ziba had finally let her go after a very emotional goodbye. She had a travelling bag in each hand and she knew she was only delaying the inevitable. Her father's house was behind those gates, two streets down in the private estate her mother complained was a waste of money. She walked up to the gate and pressed a buzzer on the wall by the side, a security guard in a smartly pressed uniform walked out. 'Yes, how can I help you ma'am.'
'I live here. I want to get in.'
He scrutinised her expensive outfit. 'Name?'
'Faridah. Faridah Abdullahi.'
He went in to no doubt check his list and call her parents. The names of all the family members of the 30 families living in the estate were in the record. The small gate slid open and she walked in. 'I'll help you take your bags.' The gateman said but she shook her head. 'Thank you, but I can handle it.'

She walked away before he could protest. As she approached the smaller gates that sheltered the duplex she'd spent half her life in, the doors swung open and a short, dark girl jumped on her, making her drop her bags in surprise.
'Halima get off me!' Faridah shouted as she stumbled and almost fell due to the added weight. Her sister laughed and held on tighter and then another body jumped on the both of them and they all crashed to the floor in a tangle of hair and limbs. Faridah scowled at the both of them when she got up and adjusted her hijab. They gave her innocent looks. 'We heard you were coming and we missed you.' Halima said.
'So you both decided to jump on me, when you know you each weigh more than sumo wrestlers.' They giggled and she smiled grudgingly at them before she heard her mother call her name.
She curtsied in greeting. 'Nigbia ma.'
'Abbey.'
'Oso.'
'How was your trip? I hope Ziba is ok.'
As far as her parents knew, she had spent the last two months with Ziba.
'She's fine uwome, she sends her greetings.'
Her mother nodded before ushering her inside, ordering her sisters to bring in her bags.
'Where is dad?'
'At work.'
'Today is Saturday.'
'It was an emergency.'
The curt tone told Faridah that was the end of the conversation. 'Take a shower and rest. Halima and Jemimah will handle dinner.'
Faridah nodded and made her way up the stairs to her bedroom.

When she came down for dinner, her father was seated at the head of the dining table. He looked tired, and the bags under his eyes were more prominent than ever. It made her worry. Her father was a man who took pride in his looks. The resemblance between them was very clear. Her mother was dark but Faridah got her fair complexion from her dad. And her eyes and lips.
She snuck up behind him and put her hands over his eyes, he smiled. 'Faridah.'
She giggled and moved her hands to his shoulders, giving him a massage. He sighed. 'This is why I missed you.'
She laughed and went to sit on one of the chairs as one by one her sisters and brothers filed in. Four in all, minus the missing Aminatu. Hassan gave her a tight hug that had her struggling to breathe, but Murtala as usual, looked displeased at her presence.
Her father led the prayer, and just as they were about to dig in, there was a knock on the door. There was confusion as no one had called to report any visitors. All the same, Hassan went to open the door, and came back smiling, Aminatu at his heels.
'Hey people.' She said cheerfully as they all stared at her.
'Was I missed?'
'Amina.' Her mother was the first to speak. 'Where have you been?'
'Oh come on ma, no how are you Amina? Are you okay Amina?'
'Amina.' Her mother repeated. 'Where have you been?'
The tall, chocolate skinned beauty rolled her eyes as she plopped down on a chair. 'I've been around.'
'Aminatu that's not an answer. You ran away from the only boarding school in town that was willing to take you!' Her father snapped.
'Please dad, you seriously didn't expect me to stay in a school full of prissy, judgemental Christians, did you?'
'Aminatu you've been driven out of five boarding schools. Do you want to ruin your education?'
'All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, haven't you heard? I only have one life dad, and I intend to live it to the fullest. Besides it's my life. If I ruin it how does that concern you. We can't all be perfect like Faridah and Jemimah. Abeg Halima give me food.'
They spent the rest of the dinner in silence. Occasionally casting furtive glances at Aminatu.

The word perfect haunted Faridah's dreams. She dreamt that Aminatu was laughing at her, calling her father to come and see what his perfect daughter had done. She woke up sweating and she spent the rest of the night staring at the ceiling and cursing Ahmed.

Bae, did u say this is a true life story?

Chumzypinky:
Bae, did u say this is a true life story?

Yeah.

LitQueen:
Yeah.

ur mother's?

Chumzypinky:

ur mother's?

Yes

LitQueen:
Yes

wow. So u're muslim?

I tink m gonna follow dis writer any refreshment?mum chumzy i hail oo i came to dis thread cos i noticed u were reading too

Chumzypinky:

wow. So u're muslim?

No. If I finish the story you'll understand

LitQueen:
No. If I finish the story you'll understand

alright. Update pls

harameede99:
I tink m gonna follow dis writer any refreshment?mum chumzy i hail oo i came to dis thread cos i noticed u were reading too

hahahaha, welcome on board dear

Chapter Four

'Hi Faridah. How was the holiday?'
'It was fine.' She replied as she put her clothes in hangers and arranged them in her wardrobe. 'How was yours?'
'Hmm, boring and mosquito infested.'
'Really?'
'Yes oh. I swear I am never going back to that village again. No electricity or tap water, no internet connection. It's times like that I wonder how our ancestors survived. God forbid.'

Faridah laughed. For the past two years, she and Catherine shared the small dorm room. It had two beds located at either side of the room, two wardrobes, and one bathroom. They were polar opposites, the main difference being that Catherine was a Christian. She was bold and talkative as opposed to Faridah's most times quiet and shy nature. Plus she was the greatest critic of her relationship with Ahmed. She'd always told her it would not end well, but Faridah had ignored her.
Classes had started two days ago, but Faridah arrived this morning. Catherine was in all her classes though, so she would just borrow any missed notes from her. 'How is Ziba?'
Everyone on campus knew Ziba. Her brother was the ex leader of the cult Ahmed now headed. He'd passed on the position to Ahmed when he graduated. 'She's ok.'

They were on their way to their first class when a guy walked up to them. 'Faridah, long time.'
'No see.'
'You weren't in class yesterday. Hope you're ok?'
'I'm fine. I actually got here just this morning.'
'Oh. I just wanted to apologize you know, for you and Ahmed.'
'What?'
'The whole school's heard about you guys breaking up.'
'Really?' Faridah asked blinking back tears. It was one thing for her boyfriend to break up with her, but for the whole school to know about it, that was humiliation at it's finest.
'I was wondering, since you guys are no longer an item, would you like to go out with me on Saturday?'
Before she could answer, a body stepped in front of her, effectively blocking Stanley's view of her.

'No, she would not like to.'
Stanley looked annoyed. 'Look bro, you're not Faridah's mouthpiece.'
He was suddenly grabbed by the collar and lifted two feet into the air. 'Did you just talk back to me? Have you lost your mind?!'
Faridah smiled as she recognized the guy hauling Stanley up like a sack of onions. 'Ahmed.'
He didn't answer. Just kept on glaring at Stanley.
'Take it easy guy, I was just asking her out.'
'Uh oh.' Catherine said. Stanley had just made Ahmed angrier.
'Oh, and what makes you think you have any right to ask my girlfriend out.' He emphasized the word girlfriend and Faridah frowned in confusion.
He'd broken up with her when he found out about the baby.
'Ahmed, put him down.' He ignored her again and focused his attention on Stanley.
'I don't want to see you talking to her, near her or even breathing in her direction.' He spat at Stanley before throwing him to the ground.
'Same goes for the rest of you.' He addressed the crowd. 'Faridah is my girI and I swear to Allah I'll slit the throat of the next guy who messes with her.'
He walked away while they all stared at him.
'Testosterone driven idiot.' Catherine whispered to her and she laughed. But it was forced. She didn't understand him. One minute he was driving her out of his house, and the next minute he was declaring her his property in front of the whole school.

harameede99:
I tink m gonna follow dis writer any refreshment?mum chumzy i hail oo i came to dis thread cos i noticed u were reading too

I hope you like the story. Any criticisms and corrections will be sincerely appreciated.

Hubby TheBlessedMAN, u'd better anchor this arena oo

Lady litqueen,so u are writing dz kinda story here nd u didnt even bother 2invite ur team-mateeaz nt gud oooo.dz story resemble wetin go make sense die.nastynic,coman see ya broda ahmed.ride on babe!

Lankyannie:
Lady litqueen,so u are writing dz kinda story here nd u didnt even bother 2invite ur team-mateeaz nt gud oooo.dz story resemble wetin go make sense die.nastynic,coman see ya broda ahmed.ride on babe!

I'm sorry. It won't happen again. Welcome.

Chumzypinky:
hahahaha, welcome on board dear

tnx ma anytin for d girls?

LitQueen:

I hope you like the story. Any criticisms and corrections will be sincerely appreciated.

i luv it bae nd as for me no criticism so far m nt a writer buh anytun chumzypinky say i follow

Lankyannie:
Lady litqueen,so u are writing dz kinda story here nd u didnt even bother 2invite ur team-mateeaz nt gud oooo.dz story resemble wetin go make sense die.nastynic,coman see ya broda ahmed.ride on babe!

LitQueen,
I Would Have Giving Ya A Kiss For This Dope Piece But The Kiss Is Meant For Lankyannie

Sup Honey??
Thanks For The Mention
Plus
Tell Me If Any Stupid NL Boy Is Trynna Talk With Ya
Nd I Promise To Administer The Ahmed Treatment

harameede99:
i luv it bae nd as for me no criticism so far m nt a writer buh anytun chumzypinky say i follow

lol. Ardent follower. Nothing for d girls oo. I have nothing but the word of God for u

Chapter 5

Faridah scowled as she stared at herself in the full length mirror that occupied a section of the wall in their small room. 'Catherine, do you think I'm getting fat?'
The said girl poked her head out of the bathroom door and gave her a once over. 'You're still pretty.'
'That's not what I'm asking Catherine. I'm getting chubby and I don't like it.'
'Well maybe if you exercised more and didn't spend all your free time sleeping, you'd lose a couple of pounds.'
'I don't spend all my free time sleeping.'
'You do. I even said I was going to ask you if you've been bitten by a tse-tse fly.'
'I've not been bitten by anything. It's probably just the stress of school finally getting to me.'
'Are you sure?'
'Of course. What else could it be?'
Faridah was suddenly glad Catherine was in the bathroom. Ziba had told her on countless occasions she was a very bad liar because she would turn red whenever she wasn't saying the truth. And with her complexion it was very visible. 'Ok. If you say so.' Catherine's voice was muffled and almost incomprehensible because she was brushing her teeth.
There was a knock on the door and Faridah hurried to put on a shirt.

The guy she saw through the peephole made her pause before opening the door. 'James?'
'Hi cuz,' he gave her a bright smile that was supposed to be reassuring but just made him look constipated.
'I was just passing by, and I decided to check up on my favorite cousin.'
'I thought Aminatu was your favorite.'
'She's second place. Can I come in?'
She gave him an unimpressed look. 'Who did you offend this time?'
'Oh come on please Faridah, three guys are after me.'
She sighed and let him in and he locked the door quickly and bolted it.
The shower turned on in the bathroom and they stood there for a few moments, awkwardly staring at each other before James broke the silence.
'So, I saw the whole drama Ahmed acted the other day, warning the whole student population off you.'
'I know right, I was so confused. But maybe he's finally realized we're meant for each other, and he'll take responsibility for the baby.'
James snorted. 'Don't get your hopes up. Besides, you should be glad he wants nothing to do with the child.'
'And why is that?' Faridah sounded astonished. 'He's the father.'
'Can't you imagine what it would be like for a child to grow up with Ahmed as its father?'
'His or her father, James. Not its. It is for animals.'
'Stop giving me English lessons Faridah. Him or her or it, Ahmed will not be a good father to any child.'
'You don't know that. You always assume the worst of him...'
'Because I know him! I introduced you to him remember? And I regret it every single day.'
She pursed her lips at his outburst and didn't say anything.

'Look Faridah,' He sounded frustrated.
'Do you know why Kamal chose Ahmed to lead?'
'No.'
'We were given tasks. Ahmed was the only one who was able to complete them. Seven students, murdered in their sleep.'
She looked away. 'You've killed people too.'
'Yes, I'm not going to deny it. But I at least have an excuse, I do what I do under orders. As for Ahmed, he gives the orders.'
'People can change.'
He chuckled. 'The sooner you realize Faridah, that Ahmed is not the good guy here, the better for you.'
Their heads swiveled to the sound of the bathroom door opening. Catherine came out with a towel around her chest. Then she saw James and squeaked, running back into the bathroom.
He bit his lip to suppress laughter. Then he pulled Faridah into his chest and pressed a kiss to the top of her head, holding her tight. She clung to him just as tightly.
'I may not say this a lot Ridah, but I do love you. And it would kill me to see you hurt. Ahmed is an inferno. And when you play with fire, getting burnt is inevitable.'