Daughters of the Sun , livre ebook

Daughters of the Sun
Noorie Hammond
Austin Macauley Publishers
2020-01-31
Daughters of the Sun About the Author Dedication Copyright Information © Part 1: Early Beginnings Chapter 1 When Time Stood Still Chapter 2 Mina Chapter 3 Barber Chapter 4 The Proposal Chapter 5 Sharief Chapter 6 The Removal Chapter 7 As Life Unfolds Chapter 8 Finding Love Chapter 9 The Departure Chapter 10 The Move Part 2: Broken Dreams Chapter 11 Layla Chapter 12 Friends Chapter 13 Coming Home Chapter 14 Another World Chapter 15 The Return Part 3: Crossing the Lines Chapter 16 Michael Chapter 17 The Opportunity Chapter 18 A Place to Love Part 4: An Act of Love Chapter 19 Coming Together Chapter 20 The Decision Chapter 21 Colour Bar Lovers Chapter 22 The Mistake Chapter 23 Journey to Freedom Chapter 24 The Turning Point Chapter 25 The Upheaval Part 5: Seeking Redemption Chapter 26 Where All Roads Lead Chapter 27 The Adoption Chapter 28 Losing the Way Chapter 29 Changing Times Chapter 30 Empty Dreams Chapter 31 The Overthrow Part 6: The New South Africa Chapter 32 Out of the Ashes Chapter 33 Poppy Chapter 34 Timeless Love Chapter 35 When Darkness Fall Chapter 36 The Second Chance Chapter 37 The Extension Chapter 38 God’s Plan
About the Author
Noorie Hammond was born and raised in Kimberley, South Africa, during the apartheid era. She is an avid reader, short story and poetry writer, as well as an award winner in a short story competition. She is a Literature and Psychology graduate who loves sunsets.
Dedication
I dedicate this book to my late parents, Amina (Amy) and Mohammed Cassim.
Copyright Information ©
Noorie Hammond (2020)
The right of Noorie Hammond to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.
Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.
ISBN 9781528977203 (Paperback)
ISBN 9781528977227 (ePub e-book)
www.austinmacauley.com
First Published (2020)
Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd
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E14 5LQ
Part 1: Early Beginnings

Chapter 1

When Time Stood Still
The winter months were the most difficult times. The days were short and the nights were cold and long. Having to rise at five o’ clock in the dark mornings was extremely hard for a six-year-old.
“Lutchman, hurry up. You and Mina have to go,” said Auntie Mariam. “People buy their fruits and vegetables on their way to work,” she yelled, “and since it’s school holidays, you better pack more as you’ll be out all day.”
Lutchman looked at Mina who was still yawning and rubbing her eyes. “I can go alone,” he said boldly, “Mina does not look well.”
“Uncle will be mad,” admonished Auntie Mariam while fixing her bright-pink scarf tightly on her head like she always did when she was nervous. “Mina does not have any excuse to be lazy. Now, off you go. It’s getting late.”
Auntie Mariam was the only sister of Uncle Cader, who lived with him in the house with their five younger brothers, though they were not around most of the time. Uncle Cader’s wife had passed away many years ago. He was the head of the house and everyone was afraid of him. He was looked upon as a harsh man, yet when he agreed to take Lutchman and Mina into his home after their parents died in an accident, people said he has a heart after all and began seeing him in a different light. More so, that he did not even know their parents but was asked by a close friend who came from the same village in Calcutta, India, where their father had come from. The only part that stuck to his memory was being told that their father was a regal-looking man who resembled King George of England with a dark skin.
Carrying the boxes of fruit and vegetables, they walked down the long winding street to the bus stop to catch the early morning customers on their way to work.
Mina quickly revived and was happy to be with her brother. It did not matter to her if she had to be up early or if she had no time to play with other children or if she felt tired. What mattered was that she was with her brother, the only family she knew and loved.
Lutchman would let her rest in the sun on the cardboard boxes he had flattened and spread in the far corner of the pavement, well out of the paths of people scurrying to their destinations. They only left when the street transformed into a desolate place of crumpled packets, with banana and orange peels and empty cartons which the wind threw carelessly to and fro. Only then would they gather the rest of the fruit and vegetables into the boxes and continue with their door-to-door selling.
The dark clouds hung heavily over their heads in the afternoon. They had not sold much and as the late afternoon approached, they grew anxious. They knew that their uncle would be blaming them for the poor sales. All at once, the storm broke and rain gushed down on them.
They could see no shelter in sight, running with the boxes piled in their arms which eventually tore apart. Vegetables and fruits went sprawling all over the road as they tried to pick up whatever they could salvage. It was all in vain and they ran empty-handed looking for shelter.
“We are in big trouble,” Mina cried fretfully.
“It’s going to be alright,” he tried to convince her.
She smiled at him, her big dark eyes searching his face for reassurance.
“I’ll always take care of you, Mina,” he whispered earnestly.
“We might as well go home now,” he said as he led her out from under the shelter.
The rain had somewhat abated as they made their way home down the streets. Darkness had already fallen when they saw the candlelight flickering from the house as they approached. He felt her hand tremble in his.
How long will it take to grow up? he thought, feeling as if he had been fourteen years of age forever. Time seemed to be standing still for him and he could not wait to be old enough to find work so that he could take care of his sister—to see her eyes light up, to make her happy like most girls her age should be.
“Don’t be afraid,” he tried to comfort her as they drew closer to the house. “Soon, I shall be grown up and will take you away…I promise.”
“Will we stay in our own house?” She looked up at him excitedly.
“Yes, we will,” he replied, “and I shall buy you pretty shoes,” he continued as he looked down at her tiny bare feet.
“And a doll please,” she pleaded, “I always wanted a doll to play with.”
Upon entering the house, the austere face of Uncle Cader was suddenly thrust in front of him. “You are late,” spat out his uncle.
“Did you sell everything?” he asked while looking at their empty hands.
“Th–They got s–s–spoilt in the rain,” stuttered Lutchman.
A heavy blow struck him and he felt as if his face was on fire. “It’s not our fault,” cried Lutchman, quivering, as tears rolled down his burning cheeks, running out through the backdoor into the yard. Mina was close at his heels sobbing bitterly and cowered next to him on the sand.
“Come inside now!” shouted his uncle. “You children have no respect. I don’t know why I took you into my house in the first place.”
That night, they were sent to bed without food.
“Auntie Mariam can’t be expected to wait on your hand and foot at all hours,” lashed out Uncle Cader, still fuming over his lost stock.
Lutchman could not stop the tears from rolling down his cheeks as he lay on his mattress in the small room, which was also Auntie Mariam’s sewing room during the day. He could hear Mina’s muffled cries as she moved restlessly on her mattress. He wanted to protect her but he was just a boy and the dream of becoming a man was too far away.

Chapter 2

Mina
Each day for the last six years, Mina never failed to climb up to the highest branch of the tall palm tree in front of the house to watch the road. She prayed that she would get a glimpse of Lutchman coming back home. And each day, she climbed down dejectedly. Life was never the same again since Lutchman ran away.
At first, she was angry at Lutchman, even said she hated him. She could remember crying for months on end. But now that she was older, she understood. He had promised to take her away, but she knew that had he not leave the house to try and find a better life for them, it could never be possible. She believed that when he was ready, he would still come for her.
“Mina,” called Auntie Mariam. “I want to talk to you,” she said as she sat on a chair in front of the ‘Welcome Dover’ coal stove in the kitchen, fiddling with her bright-coloured scarf and tightening it on her head.
“You will be finishing up with school at the end of this month,” she announced flatly.
“But I’m only in standard four,” exclaimed Mina incredulously.
“You have become a young girl now,” whispered Auntie Mariam.
Mina’s cheeks felt hot and she was sure it was not because of the red coals that were burning in the stove. She remembered how she had thought that she was dying a few months ago when she saw traces of blood on her underwear. She had tried to keep it a secret, but Auntie Mariam had found out and told her that what was happening to her was quite normal to all women.
“As a Muslim girl, it is expected that you stay home now that this has happened,” she continued. She paused for a moment while adjusting her scarf. “You will concentrate on cooking for the family and doing the chores in the house to prepare you for marriage,” she stated.
Mina could not believe what she had just heard. She could not understand what was happening. She was still a child and felt that they were taking away