The Quest For Freedom

The dusty harmattan wind was here again, twirling through the streets of Lagos, stinging Adesewa's eyes. She had hidden and stepped out with some of her maids to the market. "

"Are you alright, my Princess?" one of the maids said with concern and fear. She had been against the princess following them to the market, but Khadija said they would make it quick; after all, there was no way they could talk the princess out of her wish.

All the maidens in town wished they were in her shoes as the Princess. Still, she felt more like a prisoner in her father's mansion, as she wasn't allowed to leave to anywhere, she was given the best of food, clothing, and all she had to do was wait till she was ripe enough for marriage. Still, Aisha wasn't ready to spend the rest of her life from one prison to another, because marriage sure sounds like another to her.

Adesewa covered her face with her scarf, leaving a space open for her eyes, so she could capture all the scenes. This wasn't her first time hiding and fleeing the palace. Khadija gave her the courage the first time, and since then, she had continued, every chance she got. The smell of akara, plantain, and suya wafted through the air, the market women calling out, advertising their wares with sweet tongues. Aisha moved through the crowd as her maids followed close by, getting what they needed. It was already getting late, so they moved back to the main road where their car was parked.

As she turned a corner, a black SUV screeched to a halt beside her. Before she could react, two men in black masks grabbed her, dragging her into the vehicle. The doors slammed shut, and the SUV sped away, leaving the maids who had pursued after the SUV without success and the market in chaos behind.

Adesewa was in shock, her mind wandering what this was all about as she struggled against her restraints. How did they know she was a princess, or was she mistaken for someone else? She thought in fear. One of the men, a bald, muscular figure with an ugly scar above his left eyebrow, held her down while the other, a slender-looking man with a wicked glare, spoke over the phone.

"Yes, we have the princess. We'll get our demands met, or she'll pay the price."

Adesewa gasps as her eyes widen in realization of the gravity of her situation. Her father, the king , had many enemies, but she never thought she would ever be a target. It dawned on her the reason her father had been so protective of her.

The SUV stopped at an abandoned building on the outskirts of the city. Aisha was dragged out and thrown onto a dirty mat at one corner of the room.

The scar-faced man, who seemed to be the leader, sneered at her. "You will stay here until your father meets our demands. Any attempt to escape, or do anything funny... " He drew close to her with a pause, red eyes, with the smell of cigarettes oozing out of his breath. The gesture sent a chill down Adesewa's spine. She had been held hostage; now she wished she hadn't been too stubborn and mischievous and had stayed indoors as requested of her.

Meanwhile, in the palace, all the maids knelt in front of the king, faced down and shaking like a leaf blown by the harmatan wind. The King received a call from an unknown number. A distorted voice demanded a hefty ransom of 100 million naira and the release of Iku, a high-profile prisoner, in exchange for Adesewa's safe return. Oba Adeyemi's face hardened as he listened, his mind racing with strategies to rescue his daughter.

Adesewa was put through the most. She couldn't eat the food they had brought for her, with the fear of it being poison, her mischievous quest for freedom has led her to more than she asked for. But she found solace in the quiet moments when the leaner man, Abdul, would sometimes glance at her with a flicker of humanity. She began to wonder if there was more to him than met the eye.

As days passed, Adesewa's father worked tirelessly with the authorities to track down the kidnappers. Khadija was discovered to be an accomplice after strict questioning and investigation. They had threatened her family.

The night of the planned rescue, Adesewa overheard the kidnappers arguing. Abdul seemed hesitant about what they've gotten themselves into, but the scar-faced leader was hard-hearted and walked out in anger. Aisha sensed an opportunity and pleaded with Abdul, "You don't have to do this. Let me go, please, and I will make sure my father shows you mercy."

Abdul's gaze lingered on hers, and for a moment, Aisha thought she saw a glimmer of hope. But the leader soon interrupted them with his entrance once again, this time like someone escaping from something.

The sound of sirens echoed from outside; the police surrounded the building. The kidnappers panicked and fled in different directions, and in the chaos, Abdul freed Adesewa's tied hands and legs. He walked her to the exit, his hands in the air in surrender.

Adesewa's father rushed to her side, embracing her tightly. As they watched the captured kidnappers who had fled earlier being taken away, Abdul was among them. Aisha's eyes met his, and she asked that her father allow her to talk to him.

Aisha approached Abdul, who stood handcuffed and defeated. "Why?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Abdul's gaze fell, and he mumbled, "My sister was among those your father imprisoned. I was blinded by anger."

Adesewa felt pity for him. "My father may show mercy, but it's up to him to decide. You showed me kindness in captivity; maybe there is a way for redemption for you."

The harmattan wind still stung, but as Aisha walked away with her father into the car, she felt a mix of relief and worry.

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