The formal letter, which announced the engagement party in two weeks, felt like a death sentence in Mayan's hands. The mother's happy shout echo around her, but Maya only heard a ringing silence. Mr. Kazeem knew. He knew about Ben. The picture of her phone, an informal moment stolen in the park, was proof. He was not just wealthy; He was powerful, awake and scary thoroughly.
That night Maya couldn't pretend. She locked herself in her little room, the new, expensive curtains her mother had chosen for her to feel like heavy curtains in a cage. Every breath felt like a fight. What would Mr. Kazeem do? Would he hurt Ben? Would he destroy his family if she dared to say no? Her mind spun with terrible thoughts.
The next morning she met Ben before work, her face pale, eyes red from sleep deprivation. She showed him the letter. "It's real, Ben. He does. And he knows about you."
Ben looked at the letter, then at her. His usually calm demeanor was replaced by the ferocity of a rage he hadn't shown before. Although it was out of character for him, Maya, I feel we have no choice but to bring this to an end. We must stop this regardless of the cost and whatever measures it takes.
"What?" She whispered, hopelessness heavy in her voice. "He's everywhere, Ben. He sent a picture. He looks at me. What if he hurts you? What if he destroys my parents, sending them back to nothing? They are so happy with his gifts."
Ben grip on the shoulders. "We're going to figure it out. We'll tell them. We'll make them understand."
But Maya knew it was useless. I don't think Maya's mother has quite realized that her obsession with getting rich has made her forget that the riches of love are more than they can afford.
I also hope that she realizes that the aftermath of the event was a dizzying combination of exhausting preparations and mandatory appearances and not a good thing.
She does seem to be in a frenzy of excitement, but not everyone feels that way. New fabrics were purchased for a special dress for Maya. Her father, usually quietly, seemed to take an easier step, proud of the "blessing" that had come across their family. "You want to be a lady, Maya," her mother would say, her eyes gleaming. "No more struggling. No more worrying about rent or food. All thanks to Mr. Kazeem."
"You want to be a lady, Maya," the mother would say, her eyes shining. "No more struggling. No more worrying for rent or food. All thanks to Mr. Kazeem."
Maya's face displayed a tight smile, but her heart screamed inside. She felt that she disappeared and was just a shell, a nice object to appear. Mr. Kazeem called her almost every day. Mr. Kazeem called her almost every day. He never talked for very long. It was always about the party, how happy she was, or how excited he was about the future. His voice was calm but Maya could sense something hard under there, like he was threatening to take control. She never mentioned Ben. She was too terrified.
One afternoon, Ben surprised her at her desk. He looked definitely. "Maya, I can't just stand by. I'll talk to your mother. I make her see."
Maya's eyes expanded in panic. "No, Ben! Don't! You don't understand how she is. It will only make things worse. He knows about you! What if he ..." She couldn't complete the words.
"I have to try, Maya," he insisted, his jaw. "I love you. I can't lose you like that."
After that evening, as soon as the evening settled, Ben went to Maya's house. He wore clothes carefully, trying to look respectable, hoping to make a good impression. He knocked on the door, his heart became fast. Maya's mother opened her, when she saw her, her face became lightened. "Oh, Ben! What a surprise! "Welcome. Please come in." She was clearly in high spirits, possibly because she thought he was there to offer congratulations.
Ben stepped inside, his eyes were scanning for Maya. I'm just confused. Who does this woman think she is? Ben's got Maya on the brain. He's ready to commit. What more does this mother want? Oh yeah, probably the money. His mother's smile was a bit tightened. "Oh? What about Maya?"
"I ... I love your daughter, Mrs. Okoro," Ben said, his voice is boiled, strong. "We have been together for two years. Ben tried is possible best to expresses is feelings also letting her known he might not have money up to Mr Kazeem but he will make sure she is always happy.
Maya's mother's face gradually changed. The heat dried up from her eyes, turned with a cold, harsh glare. "Love?" She bluffed, his voice was raising. "What is this nonsense about love? Do you think love will feed us? Love will pay for this house?
"But she doesn't love him!" Ben plied, his voice cracked. "She loves me! You force her to this!"
At that moment, Maya went in from the kitchen, drawn by the raised voices. Her eyes expanded in horror as she saw Ben, his face red, his mother's face distorted in anger.
"Mom, please!" Maya cried and moved forward.
Her mother turned on her, her eyes burned. "You! You still cling to this boy? After all? After all, Mr. Kazeem has done? You want to throw it all for this ... This imagination? Are you blind, maya? Are you selfish?"
"I'm not selfish, mom! I just want to be happy!"
"Happy?" Her mother laughed, a hard, bitter sound. "You think you know what happiness is? Happiness is security! Happiness is never worried about where the next meal comes from! Happiness is Mr. Kazeem offers!" She pointed a finger to Ben. "Get out! Get out of my house! You won't ruin her daughter's future!"
Ben was on the ground, the eyes attached to Maya. "Maya, please! Don't do this!"
Just then the front door opened again. Mr. Kazeem stood there, impeccably dressed, a polite, almost entertained smile on the face. He had a small gift box in his hand, as if he just dropped past. His eyes swept over the tense stage, and limped on the legs, and then settled down on Maya.
"Do I interrupt something?" Mr. Kazeem asked, his voice calmly, almost too calm. His gaze held a cold, familiar glimpse.
Maya's mother was corrected immediately, and anger disappeared, replaced by a daunting smile. "Mr. Kazeem! No, no! Not at all! Just ... a little misunderstanding. This young man just left." She stared at Ben.
However, Ben did not move. He looked from Maya to Mr. Kazeem, a defiance of his eyes. "I'm Ben. Maya is ... friend." He emphasized the word "friend" with a subtle challenge.
Mr. Kazeem's smile did not wander, but the eyes narrow almost imperceptibly. "Ah, yes. The one from the office. Maya has mentioned you." The air was really tense. Maya felt that she was caught between two powerful powers and was drawn apart. Her mother pressed practically legs against the door. Her father stood still, watching her feet.
"Maybe," Mr. Kazeem continued, his voice still smooth, "it would be best if you left, Mr. Ben. Maya and I have important issues to discuss. And her family, of course." He looked at Mayan's parents, a subtle nod of recognition and reinforced his position.
Ben looked at Maya, a desperate prayer in the eyes. He wanted her to fight, to run. But Maya was frozen, trapped in the net by fear and commitment. She couldn't risk the family. She couldn't risk him.
"Ben, please," she whispered, her voice barely audible, a quiet claim that he should go, to be safe.
Ben's shoulders fell. He looked at her one last time, a heartbeat understanding that casseroles in the eyes. He knew. She chose the family's safety over him. With a final, painful look, he turned and walked out the door, the sound of it closed as a last farewell.
Maya felt a piece of her soul tearing away. She stood there, numerous, while her mother began to swallow to Mr. Kazeem about the engagement party plans. Mr. Kazeem, his polite smile back in place, handed the little gift box to his mother and then turned his full attention to Maya.
"I would like to discuss your engagement dress, Maya." The hint of triumph was unmistakable, but his voice had the smooth silk texture I'd come to expect. I have made sure a designer will meet you tomorrow. We have to make sure you look ... perfect for our announcement."
Maya felt that a cold fear settled deep in the bones. Golden Cage had just narrowed. She was trapped. But when she looked at her mother's brilliant face, and her father's quiet satisfaction, a new, cool thought began to form. They were safe. But at what price? And what would happen if she tried to release now? The thought of the legs, which went away, his face etched with pain, was a wound that would never heal. And Mr. Kazeem looks at her, always watching. She felt all alone, completely lost.