CHAPTER 2: The pain of life

CHAPTER 2: The Pain of Life

Asha continued cleaning the large house where she was working that day. Her hands were tired, and her back ached badly, but she kept sweeping and arranging things quietly. She worked as fast as possible to avoid being shouted at again by the house owner.

Sweat rolled down her face while countless thoughts filled her mind. Since morning, her heart had not been at peace.

Suddenly, her phone started ringing.

When she checked, she saw Lela’s name on the screen. She quickly answered the call.

“Hello, sister…” Lela’s voice sounded angry.

“Yes, my little sister,” Asha replied softly while wiping the table.

“Why did you leave only two thousand shillings on the table? This money is not enough for anything!”

Asha went silent for a moment. She already knew her younger sister would never fully understand the reality of their situation.

“I’m sorry, Lela… that’s all the money I had left.”

But Lela refused to calm down.

“Next week is my birthday. I’m turning nineteen! I want a beautiful phone, new clothes, and a real party like other girls. I don’t want a poor birthday!”

Those words pierced Asha’s heart deeply, but she still forced herself to remain calm.

“Don’t worry, little sister… I’ll try my best.”

“You always say that!” Lela replied angrily.

Asha took a deep breath.

“Go to Mama Fei and ask her to lend you five thousand. I’ll pay her back when I return.”

After saying that, the call ended.

Asha stared at her phone sadly before continuing with her work.

A few moments later, the house owner entered the kitchen with an angry expression.

“You girl! Instead of working, you spend all your time on the phone?”

Asha got startled.

“I’m sorry, madam…”

“Sorry for what? Hurry up and finish cooking! After that, clean the inside properly.”

Asha quietly lowered her head and continued working without saying another word.

After many exhausting hours, she finally finished everything. Her body felt weak with exhaustion, but she still gathered the courage to ask for her payment.

“Madam… may I please have my money?” she asked politely.

The woman looked at her coldly.

“I’ll give it to you tomorrow.”

Asha froze for a few seconds.

“But madam… we agreed you would pay me today.”

“I said tomorrow! What’s the problem?” the woman answered harshly.

Asha felt tears gathering in her eyes, but she forced herself not to cry. She did not want to appear weak.

She left the house silently, too tired even to speak.

As she walked slowly down the road, her mind was filled with worries about Lela, house rent, and tomorrow’s food.

Lost in her thoughts, she almost got hit by a speeding car.

“Hey! Be careful!” a man inside the car shouted.

Asha quickly stepped back in fear.

“I’m sorry…” she said shyly.

The car drove away while Asha held her chest tightly, trying to calm herself down.

Later, she managed to collect some small debts people owed her and got a little money. She used it to buy a few things that Lela liked.

Night had already started falling when Asha began walking home, exhausted and hungry.

Suddenly, a voice she feared stopped her.

“Asha…”

When she turned around, she saw John standing there with several of his friends.

John walked closer with a wicked smile.

“Why do you keep avoiding me? I love you.”

Asha tried to walk away.

“John, please leave me alone.”

But John grabbed her arm tightly.

“Tonight, I’m not letting you go.”

His friends laughed while surrounding her.

Fear slowly entered Asha’s heart.

“Please let me go…” she begged while trembling.

During the struggle, part of her dress tore slightly.

Asha began crying in fear.

Suddenly, a deep angry voice was heard behind them.

“Aren’t you ashamed? All of you attacking one woman?”

A tall young man appeared out of nowhere and immediately started fighting John and his friends.

After a few minutes, John and his group ran away angrily.

The young man quickly removed his shirt and covered Asha with it.

Asha was still trembling while tears rolled down her cheeks.

“Thank you…” she whispered softly.

“Where do you live? Let me take you home,” the young man said gently.

But Asha slowly shook her head.

“I’ll go by myself…”

The young man looked at her carefully before speaking again.

“It’s dangerous. They might come back and hurt you again.”

Then he paused for a moment before adding,

“Aren’t you the same girl I almost hit with my car earlier today?”

Asha looked at him with surprise.

“Yes… it was me. And thank you for saving my life today. I don’t even know what would have happened to me…”

Suddenly, she looked down at the groceries she had bought for Lela. Some of them had fallen and gotten ruined during the struggle.

“I don’t even know what I’m going to tell my sister now…” she said sadly.

Asha slowly continued walking.

But the young man followed behind her.

“Please… don’t follow me,” Asha said quietly.

“I just want to make sure you get home safely,” he replied calmly. “I’ll walk behind you from a distance. Once you reach home, I’ll leave.”

For the first time that night, Asha smiled softly.

And without understanding why, her heart began to feel something new… something she had not felt in a very long time.

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