The city of Johannesburg

In a city in Johannesburg, South Africa, its exactly 6:00pm, Tamar was getting prepared for a disco party as she was invited by her friend, Alice. Tamar was only 20 years since she was introduced to the party system life at Johannesburg. She had to fend for herself since her parents died in an accident. She had no relative in the city and her friend who she graduated together with from the college had lured her into prostitute business. Tamar has travelled far and wide for her business, she has gotten many contract to meet with different men, CEOs of companies and business men.

She loved her job and wishes to still travel more.

That evening, She was on her way to the bathroom when she remembered her favourite song " Love me the way you can " ,she had always wanted a beautiful life but she soon realised that all the men she had encountered are married and some are engaged therefore, there was no chance for her as a second wife, and no one was ready to have her as a girl friend either. She sang with Joy together with the singer, she vowed that night to win the heart of her next client. As she was still bathing, her phone rang, it was Alice, her friend. She wanted to remind her of the party and also to keep to time. "Hey, baby, we have got the nicest and hot guys coming down to the party tonight, hurry and wear your best outfit " Alice said. " what sort of outfit" Tamar asked " baby, the one that dude bought for you on your last birthday, that gown seem great "Alice replied. She quickly jumped out of the bathroom and rushed in search of the beautiful peplum pink gown she was gifted with. She looked at herself in the mirror, smiling, then a thought flashed through her mind, as her face expression changed. She remembered when her parents bought her a beautiful gown for a beauty pageant, she had won the pageant competition and was awarded. Tamar was indeed beautiful and brilliant but everything had changed in the past few years back. Pom pom, she was shocked by the horn of the car because she was already lost in her thought. " Alice, Is that you" she tried to shout ,but her voice went faint as if she has been crying earlier. Tamar wasn't expecting any answer though, she walked down the wooden entrance door as she slowly opened the door, standing before her was a very tall man of about 6.2 inches. She was surprised that morning as she wasn't expecting any visitor, as she was about to request for an introduction from the young man, she heard a voice calling her name from a far off. "Tamar my baby" ,it was Alice. Alice came close ,greeted the young man and because she was a forward person, she didn't waste time asking why he was there that evening. The young man introduced himself as Claire. " I am here to see the most beautiful lady in this city " Claire said." Well, no one bear such name here, this is ...." as Alice was about to say the next word, Claire interrupted " Tamar, Tamar they say she is, I am here to invite her over" ,Claire turned to Tamar and asked " you must be Tamar, the most beautiful and sweet lady I was introduced to, may I host you please " . To Tamar, Claire sound good, unlike the other men she had met earlier. Alice quickly drew Tamar aside to speak to her. " this party, you have to attend, kindly tell your so called Claire to wait till tomorrow, I can't afford you missing the beautiful moment at the party tonight and besides I am not ready to gist you" Alice said. "Therefore, do yourself a great favour by coming with me" Alice added.

But Tamar felt reluctant to go , she loves the way Claire talked and would like to be with him for the night. " Don't tell me you are actually suspending this party because of a man who is just here for fun, he didn't come for love Tamar",Alice said. Tamar explained that she had Earlier changed her mind initially and now she doesn't feel like going. She wanted love again, she wanted a new life and she feels she can have it with Claire. Alice left her angry, she told Tamar that she was going to met with other ladies who were interested. " you are only going to miss the bunch of money we will be given, and it can't be compared to the token this your Claire will give you" Alice said as she leaves. Tamar returned back to where Claire was and told him she was ready to go with him. Still on her pink gown that she wore that night, she went inside and did some make up on her face. Claire stood outside while waiting for her. They left to an hotel in the city of Cape Town ,they Lodge there for three night.

In One of night, Claire decided to ask Tamar the reason she accepted his offer instead of Alice. Tamar explained how she remembered when she won the beauty award and her parents was proud of her. She told Claire about how she was introduced to the business and how long she had started. Claire told her he could help but he would be away from the country soon, he promised Tamar to return back to help her. Notwithstanding, he told Tamar to leave the business and focus on something else. Although, it was not easy for Tamar but she struggled to promise him. The smile on Tamar had returned after many years ,for the first time in many years, she felt joy, she was happy to have followed Claire earlier. They soon departed from the hotel, Claire paid her for the service and left the country immediately.

As soon as Claire dropped Tamar at her apartment, he drove off. That was when Tamar remembered she didn't exchange contact with Claire, but she believed she was going to meet him again." I will pray that this love shall grow, I will pray that he comes back to me again " Tamar said as she smiled to herself.

Tamar woke up early that morning and all she could think of was Claire, she wanted him to return back to South Africa soonest. She was happy that her plan to end the prostitute business will soon end. She called Alice the next day to inform her of her return. " Hello Alice, baby, I am now in love ,I will be getting married soon" she said as she showed her gap teeth. Alice told her she would be coming over to have a strict talk with her senses because according to her, Claire is just one of those guys who end up disappointing ladies.

After two hours, Alice arrived at Tamar apartment. As she got to the wooden door, she badge inside, pushing the door with force, she didn't knock. Tamar was shocked at her behavior and wasn't pleased. " Alice, is anything wrong with you " Tamar asked. " sit down, let me orient you well about the foolish mistake you just made thinking you won a trophy ". Tamar sat down and adjusted herself, ready to listen to the story. " Babe, how could you believe the lies of that guy over what I say, not all that glitters are gold so they say, this man won't come back, I can bet my business and all the men I have with it", Alice said. The room was silent for two minutes before Tamar burst into laughter, she laughed for 60 seconds while Alice was wondering what was wrong. " dear Alice, well this is just to inform you that I am out of the so called business you lured me into, look for girls for your business, and even if Claire doesn't come back, I will survived" she bluntly told Alice and stood up, she told Alice to leave her house and never returned. Alice left but before she did, she confidently told Tamar that she will soon get into trouble and seek for her help.

The moment Alice left, Tamar thought about it too, she wondered why Claire also didn't remember to ask for her contact since he would be away for a while. She still remembers the scent from his t.shirt that night as she cuddled her self close to him at the hotel. She believed that he will soon be back. " I will wait, I will wait for this love of mine to return and take me out of this" she said to herself.

With the money Claire gave her, she established her self in a business and also looked for a job as a sale market in the city of Johannesburg, she wanted Claire to be proud of her, she even wanted to relocate a place where memories of the past won't hunt her, but she then remembered that her apartment is the only way Claire could find her. She took a step to visit the manager at Pride Supermarket, she wore one of the old wears she had before she was introduced to the prostitute business. This one was decent enough, as she put on the cloth that morning, memories again flashes back suddenly, right there, she believed help has come for her. She quickly dressed up and left for the supermarket job. As she got to the junction of where she lived, she was shocked at the way people stare at her, they were definitely surprised at her new wears, Tamar was a lady who could dress half naked before she lives her apartment, she was known for that and that was the only way she could attract men to herself. She shamefully left the street quickly so as to attract side talk. While others were gimmicking and laughing, some were asking themselves about her sudden change, some even said maybe an angel had visited her the night before. As Tamar got to the Supermarket, she wasn't allowed to enter because everyone knew her and wouldn't want her to cause commotion, she told them her desire to work at super market and promised to be hardworking. " this is not a hotel or a disco party, we buy and sell here,we work here miss, here isn't for you" one of the workers said. Tamar tried to explain her reasons for coming to work with them but they all turned deaf ears to her, for the first time in many years, tears flowed out of her eyes. Some of the workers mocked her " That job is the best for you, not here, or do you want to sell yourself here" one of them said. They had disgustingly told her the Supermarket wasn't meant for people like her, some of them were even scared to let her work because they thought she would take away their husband. At that point, Tamar left quickly with tears in her eyes, she got home and the first thing that came to her mind was to call Alice, Alice has been a good friend to her though she knew the prostitute business wasn't for her. She called Alice and explained all she went through that day, Alice reminded her about what she said the other day, she knew somehow that Tamar wouldn't survive alone without her. She however, forgived her and told her to leave her apartment to hers for some days. Hurriedly, Tamar picked some few wears and left to Alice apartment. Alice was the only one she could rely on as far as she still remain in the city of Johannesburg.

Its been a month now, Claire didn't show up and Tamar was ready to continue her business after Alice had counsel her. She started forgetting everything about him and believe what Alice said. But as she was about getting ready for the first night with her client after a month break, she didn't feel alright, she felt weak and wanted to throw up, Alice told her to try and be fine inorder to meet up with the old man waiting for her at the hotel. As Tamar tried to take a walk out, she collapsed on the ground. Alice quickly rushed her to their nearest clinic.

The nurse who attended to Tamar was a very good woman, about 40 aged, she was plump and short and she had the best smile. She promised Tamar that she was going to be alright but she Tamar wanted to know the reason she had slumped earlier. The nurse told her that she was a month gone. " Nurse, what do you mean, I can't believe I am pregnant " Tamar said. Alice rushed in to the room as she heard Tamar screamed. "What happened " she asked. Alice was told that Tamar was pregnant and would need a lot of rest. " remove the baby, we don't need it" Alice said. " How can I take the life of a baby at this stage, why not allow the baby girl to live " The nurse advised. Tamar was surprised how she knew it was a girl since they haven't done scan yet. With a smile on her face, the nurse held her hand and said " my daughter, many ladies like you have been here, and I just have told them the sex of the baby they are expecting, I see it as a gift from God. If you allow this child to live, she will bring you wealth and joy and that which you desire shall come to you" the nurse said as she leaves the room. " we don't need this baby for anything, besides, your clients is still waiting, remove it now so you can attend to him" Alice said. Tamar needed some more time to think, she knows the child belongs to Claire, she touched the surface of her tummy and felt Claire back to her, she knew Claire was still alive somewhere but wondered why he hasn't come back to her. She wanted a good life but she doesn't know how to survive herself without Alice, and since she couldn't get any job around rather than being humiliated, and nobody was ready to patronise and buy from her,she decided to terminate the child. But she was told that the nurse who had attended to her earlier has signed out for that evening, and the person in charge at the moment cannot conduct the termination without the consent of the doctor. But she told Tamar to come back the next day as the nurse who attended to her would resume. She had a superior position and was capable to conduct the termination even without the doctor's permission. So , Tamar and Alice left and decided to return the next day. They cancelled their meeting with the client for the next day. As Tamar lied down that night still contemplating on her decision,deep down she didn't find at peace terminating the child, she wanted to keep the child as a reminder of Claire. She refuses to eat that night. Alice then gave her some conditions, she said if they were going to keep the baby, then she would be sold immediately or used as a medium to make money from their clients. After much thought, Tamar rejected the latter condition and opted for the first one. She knew that she was going to see her baby again, thereby selling her inorder to establish herself in business, if possible, leave Johannesburg for good to a country no one knows about her, then come back for her daughter. She wanted to collide with the nurse who attended to her about it, she knows that the nurse was nice and that she would find a good buyer for her or even buy the baby herself since she said the baby will bring her wealth and change everything about her. She decided to keep Alice away from her decision because she knows Alice might not support it, she even planned to go to the clinic herself. With this idea Tamar had, she was relieved a bit ,she decided to eat and sleep for her to wake up early inorder to prepare for the next day discussion with the nurse. Little did she know that, what will change her life for the better was just around the corner.

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It was night months already, Tamar water did broke and she knew it was the set time for delivery. She was rushed to the clinic and after 24 hours of labour, she delivered successfully and it was a baby girl, just as the nurse has said months back. The baby was welcomed with a smile, she was very beautiful and she looked so much like Claire, she picked his eyes and round shape of face. She was indeed very beautiful to behold. Alice didn't carry the toddler but requested that she was sold immediately, infact she had already brought the buyers herself.

It was Alice friend Jennifer who resides in Dubai, It was in the plan of Alice to kill two birds with a single stone, she wanted to sell the child to someone she knows who is also into the prostitute business with her but in another country, she had plans that as soon as the girl clocks Seven, she should be given out to men in exchange for money which should be sent to her immediately. Jennifer aggred and paid Tamar off, she wasn't allowed to carry her own baby for long, but she was able to give her a name, April. She prayed that they shall meet again. Tamar was in tears as April was taken from her.

She returned back with Alice and they both continued their prostitute business, but Tamar told Alice that since she knows Jennifer, she would like to Hear her daughter voice once she begins to speak. " Tamar, forget April ,she is not coming back, focus on your job ,and guess what we have got the best fish in town, the son of the president of South Africa, he is coming to the party tonight " Alice said. Tamar wasn't interested, she made up her mind to search for her daughter later on.

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Six years later, Back at Dubai City, in UAE, Jennifer did took care of April, she has grown to become very attractive like her mother Tamar, and she looked very well like Claire. Though, April grew up among prostitute but she didn't buy to such idea, as little as she was, she knew what was right and wrong. She has a friend who was three years older than her, she lives opposite April, it was her who oriented April about it, she taught April how to read and write since she wasn't opportune to go to school, Sara did like April and so she took her as a friend and sister. Sara was also smart enough to know that April was bought and will soon be used as a means to make money, so she decided to take a step by talking to her parents about April, she wanted April to be adopted by her own parent but they refused though they were ready to help April get a foster parent. They reported the case to the human right agency at Dubai and the case was interviewed, they found a foster parent for April, It was Mr and Mrs Smith, who have been seeking for a child for 40 years, they were happy to have her as their own, they gladly welcome her into their new home, signed a contract with the agency and took April faraway from Sara. Although Sara was happy that April is free from them but she didn't know that there are still more hurdles ahead.

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Back at Johannesburg, Tamar was already worried about April, she has gotten news that April has been given out to a foster parent, she didn't know them and didn't know how to confront the agency since she was in her right sense when she sold April. " baby girl, chill and relax, April is fine wherever she is, I promise, so enjoy yourself " Alice said. Both Alice and Tamar were already getting older in age and body, they needed someone to continue working for them, so they tried to recruit some ladies to their team while they supply the men for them, they get paid and was okay with it. Tamar didn't know what to believe, she just wanted her April back. She was able to save some little money, she then left to her own apartment, ever since she found out about her pregnancy, she hasn't been to her apartment, she had only went to pick some few clothes for her business. This time ,she left without informing Alice. On getting to the apartment ,she saw a paper wrapped between the gap in her wooden door. She looked around incase some one was watching her, she took the paper, unwrapped it and it read thus " Hello Tamar, I have been at your apartment for the past few months since I arrived from Los Angeles, where I went for my business, I am sorry I didn't come back all this years for you as promised, I hope you have a good life now? I hope to see you again someday. From Claire " as she read the letter, she staggered backward while the paper freed itself from her hand,she picked it up to know the year he has written it, behold it was last two years. And since it now six years plus, she knew that Claire would've remarried, she regretted ever staying with Alice, though Alice had been of help but just didn't know why she abandoned her own apartment.

She search through if he had included his contact but he didn't. She wondered again why he didn't Atleast include his contact. She was disturbed, still she went ahead to pick her things and left for dubai in search for April. She got a flight ticket to Dubai ,the moment she got there, things changed. She didn't know Jennifer location because Alice had hidden it from her, she only knew that Jennifer resides in Dubai. " I will stay here in Dubai, start a good business and keep searching for April" she said to herself. Atleast, she is in a country where no one knows her story or her past, she decided to start a new life again. She managed to lodge at the hotel close to the airport with the little money left with her. As she got to the hotel and was about to pay for the night, she was attracted by a man of age 40 thereabout who also pretend to have seen her some where. They talked but Tamar didn't share with him anything about her past. He claimed that he came to dubai for a business trip and has been lodging in the hotel since he arrived, he also said that he is a divorcee but his children lives in the US. He wanted Tamar to be his friend, though Tamar just wanted to forget about Claire and find April, she wanted a new life, she managed to tell the man that she has a daughter who she is looking for in Dubai. The man paid for her room that night. They both exchange contact but after the night, Tamar told him she would be leaving to continue her search for her daughter. The man insisted that he was ready to rent her an apartment in the city of Dubai. She was grateful and that same day, Tamar got her own apartment. The room was well furnished with an expensive sofa chairs, a room decorated with Air conditioner, a kitchen and a well equipped bathroom. Soon enough, the man also got her a job as a supermarket attendant, Tamar was doing very well as she continues her search for April. Soon enough she fell in love with the man, Pascal, they became lovers and pascal also begin staying with Tamar in the apartment he rented for her. He showered Tamar with love and care that Tamar soon forgot her reasons for coming down to dubai, she only believed her daughter would be fine wherever she was.

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