Twenty
1052 Words
Sahabi made sure his face was devoid of tears before entering the living room where he found Maryam and Zahra quietly seated.
"Where's Murtala?" he asked.
"He's in the car" Maryam replied.
"Good, let's go" Maryam was about to speak when a scream came from Hajiyas room, Zahra ran towards the door with Maryam trailing behind.
"I said let us go" Both mother and daughter stopped in their tracks and turned to look at Sahabi who's face was hard as rock.
"Wayyo! Ku taimake ni! (someone help me)" Hajiya continuously screamed, she sounded like she was being tortured by God himself.
"But Abba she's shouting!" Zahra said almost crying, she again started walking towards the door.
"Zahra!" Sahabi yelled as a loud thunder following a current of lightning struck the sky, he had never called her by her name before, not even by accident. She turned her shaky gaze to him, he had this look in his eyes. It was nothing like she had ever seen, she started walking backwards, quickly turned around and ran outside with her heart thumping at an unusual rate.
There was another scream, louder than the rest from Hajiyas room then utter silence, her life had been taken. Sahabi looked at Maryam and pointed to the front door, they silently walked outside to the car where Zahra was enveloped in her brothers arms still shivering from the look her father had in his eyes. Sahabi ordered Andrew to drive his family back to their house and asked the driver to wait behind. He alerted the neighbors of Hajiyas demise, he didn't wait to perform her Jana'izah instead asked the driver to take him to the graveyard where Samira was buried.
It was a bit difficult identifying her grave after so many years. Once he found it he salamed and knelt before her. He felt guilty for not visiting her often, he prayed for her whilst shedding tears, he wasn't happy Hajiya died, death was too easy a punishment for her, he wished she had suffered, he wished her death was more painful than the one she got because she was the reason he lost everything and everyone dear to him. He sighed and asked Allah to forgive him for questioning His judgement, he bade Samira goodbye and walked back to the car.
On getting home, Sahabi found everyone in the living room with their bags packed waiting for him.
"I'll meet you in the car" He said to no one in particular, they all got up and headed for the door while the driver took their bags outside.
"Ummi" He called with his eyes glued to the wall, he was ashamed of himself for letting his emotions get the best of him.
"Na'am Abba" she answered, still scared. He waited until everyone had gone out until it was just them in the living room.
"Are you angry with me?"
"No" Zahra wasn't angry at him, she was mostly disappointed at how he handled the situation. She knew her father to be a forgiving man.
"I'm sorry I yelled at you" her father's words caught her off guard, she ran to hug him "I'm sorry I disobeyed you Abba" She knew her father to be a forgiving man and so she knew Hajiya must have done something beyond imagination for Sahabi to leave her like that. He kissed her forehead "Lets go home" they walked hand in hand out of the house, probably never to return again.
✊✊✊
Fadeelah paced to and fro in front of the vanity mirror impatiently waiting for Fadeel to pick her call, his phone had been switched off for the past two days. The last time they talked was when he went to pay Zahra a visit. She didn't want to call Zahra without hearing from her brother first.
"Oh ya Allah Fadeel what happened to you" she heaved "Argh! I've been trying to reach you since...forever" she continued, not letting him speak "Talk to me, what happened?"
"You talk too much wallah" His gloomy voice filled her with annoyance.
"I'm sorry for caring brother" she rolled her eyes. Fadeel sighed making a mental note of his overdue apology.
"Sorry" he repeated countless number of times till she was tired of hearing him apologise.
"Fine, I forgive you" she laughed "So, how did it go?"
Flashback
"To tell you I'm in love with you" Fadeel finally said. Zahras eyebrows slowly married each other as she processed his words. Sure she appreciated his company, face and wouldn't want to see a world without him but she never thought of him... that way.
"Eh?" she burst into fits of laughter, Fadeel not wanting to make a fool out of himself laughed along with her.
"Gotcha. You needed to see your face" he said while still laughing just to make it believable "I actually came to sign some papers and I've been busy with Abbu that's why I didn't visit earlier and I didn't call cos I wanted to see your reaction" he lied. She mouthed and 'O' and moved to sit next to him secretly admiring him as he sipped on his apple juice.
End of flashback
Fadeelah was on the verge of tears when her brother finished narrating the story to her, she wanted so bad to teleport herself back to Nigeria so she could beat the living daylight out of Fadeel and Zahra.
"Fadeel?"
"Yes"
"When you decide to come back, keep a safe distance from me because if you get too close I may just kill you" she smiled to herself feeling overachieved at her wonderful threat, they said their goodbyes and ended the call. Just as the call ended Zahras call came in, Fadeel took a deep breath before picking.
"Fadeelu"
"Zahra'u"
"Where are you?"
"At home why?"
"I would say I need a drinking buddy but we're going to coldstone so let me say I need a licking buddy" she giggled. Fadeel shook his head "You're insane"
"I know. So are you in?"
"Sure, should I pick you up?"
"You know Abba won't let me go out without Andy so I'll meet you there after isha"
"Nine?"
"Eight thirty Fadeel"
"Fine"
"Fadeel! Allah don't keep me waiting"
"Whatever" Fadeel ended the call to avoid Zahras whining.
xoxo hairanumar
- Writer
