Chapter 37: Chapter 37

Her limbs started relaxing; as she registered the face before her wasn't there to harm. Instead; she pulled the person into a hug, crying profusely. "I almost got raped, Maami," she slurred, her strained voice could break a heart.

Maami lifted her, her tears amalgamating with the heavily dripping rain. "Hayfah, it's okay. I'm here for you now. Let's get to the car, Rayhan almost gone mad because of you," she placated and guided Hayfah to the car, holding her shoulders firm.

They get to the car and hopped in, when Hayfah's gaze fell on a distraughted Rayhan, whose eyes were red, face fluffy and tired from crying. She hugged her so tight and heaved a sigh of relief. "Addah Hayfah, I thought something happened to you. Why didn't you called Malam Halliru? And your phone was switched off. Don't repeat this again please," Rayhan whimpered, she was still in Hayfah's embrace.

Hayfah kept patting her back, until her sobs became silent whimpers and sighs. She closed her eyes and leaned back on the seat, her limbs felt scorched, her heart isn't responding for a minute. She have had enough for a day.

The rain was now subsiding, only small droplets dripping on earth. They all hopped out of the car, Hayfah's eyes weren't something to look at, they were bloodshot and could soon be spitting blood.

"Hajia Hayfah, Allah ya kiyaye gaba (May Allah protect you next time)," Malam Halliru prayed. She just nodded her head with a fleeting smile on her lips, as they entered the house.

"Go and take a bathe, I'll bring your food myself," Maami patted her shoulder sympathetically, her eyes were also red; as she wiped away a strand of tears that rolled down her cheeks.

Hayfah nodded, she was so strained to even talk. Rayhan's hand was still in her grisp, as she walked over the staircases, before Maami's words halted them in track.

"Come here, Rayhan, Adda Hayfah needs some time alone," Maami said and pulled Rayhan to her side, motioning for Hayfah to just leave.

She smiled at Rayhan before walking over her room, Her sanctuary. When she entered, she dropped her bag on the floor and walked over the bathroom. She came out with a fresh and clean water dripping from her body. Her long hair was covered in a white fluffy towel.

She clad herself in a dark purple material sewn into a boubou, blow dried her hair before she wrapped it into a light purple veil. She slumped on her bed, not that she's sleepy, but her eyes couldn't stop paining, her limbs ached to the extent level, she knew she needed some rest____only if her mind would give in.

"Assalamu Alaikum," Maami entered the room with a Salaam, holding a tray full of scrumptious meal.

"Maami." She smiled weakly and sat upright.

Maami dropped the tray on the bedside drawer and scooted beside Hayfah, taking her shaking and cold hands in hers. "Hayfah, you need some rest, here--eat your food and sleep, we'll talk about that later," she spoke softly, a motherly love was laced on her voice, as her eyes pooled with tears. She couldn't want to imagine the pain Hayfah might be going through.

Hayfah crinkled her forehead and stare at the tray beside her before shaking her head. "I don't think I have the appetite, Maami," she spoke with utmost genuineness.

Maami held her hands and squeezed them lightly, smiling ruefully at her. "Hayfah, I know you might need to pour it out of your mind; I can see from the pains beneath your heart through your eyes--say it out dear," she spoke softly, as a strand of tear rolled down her cheeks.

Hayfah burst into tears and hugged Maami tightly "He made me stayed longer than usual, he hated the sight of me, he called me names and humiliated me, Maami. Then when I was out, it was already thundering and rain was falling lightly. I called Malam Halliru but there wasn't a stable network, then my phone died.

I kept walking on the long dark and empty road, the rain drenching my cloth--it was so hard and scary; Maami. Then I began feeling as if there was someone following me, I scolded myself of being paranoid and kept walking, only to be circled by a group of thugs. They carried me to an uncompleted building, and tried to rape m--me." She couldn't continue anymore, her voice was coming out in hiccups, tears drenching her cloth's and Maami's shoulder. She would soon lose her sanity.

Maami patted her back, drawing soothing circles on her back "It's okay, Hayfah, Allah is with you. You shouldn't continue, eat and rest," she palcified, breaking their hug slowly; so she could feed Hayfah. Though she was curious about who was the one that made Hayfah stayed longer than usual.

Hayfah looked up, her face was all red, she looked scorched. "No Maami, I have to pour it out. I kept crying and shouting out for help, then from no where--I heard punches being thrown on the thugs, a fight outbreaking between whom I imagine to be my rescuer and them.

I took that as the time to escape, I kept running until I couldn't anymore; my limbs couldn't carry me any longer. That's why you found me sitted on the edge of the road crying.

I hate him; Maami, I seriously hate him. He was the only person that made me feel worthless throughout my stay here. I was used to being ridiculed and humiliated; but this just hurts more--for it risked my life as a girl." She broke down in tears again, clutching more onto Maami's hands that were in her grisp, crying profusely.

"Who is he?" Maami couldn't help but ask, albeit she didn't understand Hayfah's last sentence of being used to humiliations.

"My boss. The CEO of Alkaad group of companies. His name is Kassim Aliyu," Hayfah answered, wiping away her tears, his name disgusts her.

"Then you have to stop working there, I can't stand you being hurted, Hayfah," Maami spoke through gritted teeth and stood up "Let me go and call Daddy, he should start looking for somewhere else for you, eat your food and rest before I come back."

Hayfah held her hand, "No need, Maami; I have to report to the camp for the two weeks stay there. Don't tell Daddy please, he will feel guilty of taking me there, I'll be fine--Insha Allah," she conjectured, her lips curving into the beginning of a rueful smile.

"I'll think about it then, just eat and sleep okay?" Maami patted her head and walked out of the room; wiping away her tears. She could see a shattered woman through Hayfah's eyes.

Hayfah almost forgot she isn't living with her family, the love Maami showed her today is thousands times the love Umma showed her through her twenty two years of life. She smiled; a genuine smile and dug into her food--pushing away the thoughts of what happened today. It felt good to know how it feels, getting mother's love.

***

They got tired of roaming through the streets of Abuja; looking for the almost raped girl. Seeing how Adyan knitted his forehead in confusion and wrath; they all knew not to talk about going home--for he's hell bent on looking for the girl.

"Adyan, don't you think you need to rest? Since she's harmless now; let's head home dear," Dad spoke with his usual serene voice, patting Adyan's shoulder from where he was sitting in the back.

"Yes Amore, you need to rest please. Turn the car let's go home," Mom chirped, concurring to what Dad had said, for she too was afraid to utter it first, she knew Adyan so well to know he wouldn't back out soon.

"Yes, Adyan--let's go home, since she's safe now. I'm famished, and you must be knackered," Kassim uttered too, seeing how he ignored their parent's talk.

Adyan only clenched his jaws and tightened his grisp on the steering wheel; not uttering a word. It was when Kassim yelled that he should drive home, that he turned and gave Mom the 'We have to talk' look. She knew what it meant, so she nodded her head lightly at him.

They arrived at home, when the mosque adjoined to their house were already praying their Isha prayer. They hopped down and headed towards the mosque, they have to pray Magrib Salah and Isha together.

They prayed together and walked towards the house, that's when Adyan's phone beeped. He took it and read out the text, it was a message from Mom, making an unexpected smile curving his lips.

The message reads:

Don't ruin our day by not smiling, Mi vida. You look like an ugly tired monkey by not smiling.

They entered the room with a Salam, Mom ran towards him and hugged him tight, as if they weren't together when he was taken from the airport.

"Welcome back, Mi vida, I'm soo happy today. Now; go and take your bathe, them come out and eat dinner," she pinched his smiling cheeks, taking his hands towards the room.

Dad and Kassim let out a grunt "Do I have an eye problem; or am I sure that we went to the airport together with this woman? See how she's acting all giddy," Kassim's annoyed voice echoed through the confines of the room.

Dad grimaced, pouting at Mom and Adyan's staring eyes "That's what I'm thinking about, Kassim, as if we too aren't tired and famished. He's back, let's brace ourselves for further differentiations," he made a puppy face and slumped down on the sofa, taking off his glasses.

"Uhm...they're jealous. Let's go," Mom sticked out her tongue at them, dismissing them with a hand wave--as they walked towards Adyan's room.

They stood infront of the room, with Mom's smiling face making Adyan more curious than ever. "Close your eyes, until I say you should open them...okay?" She instructed, lifting up his hands towards his eyes.

"Am I safe?" He asked, chuckling softly.

She smacked his shoulders and replied "Just do as I say, don't you trust your Sorella again?"

He did as she said, and they entered the room together. A scent of bakhoor hit his nostrils, he inhaled deeply and almost opened his eyes; but knowing so well that she would nag about it for the rest of their lives: he didn't. She guided him to the sofa and made him sat down, before she sat beside him.

"Your new room!" She squealed, making Adyan dart open his eyes--a gasp escaping his lips.

It was renovated into a black and stripes of ash room. Even the furnitures were changed to black and ash. His bed was positioned on the far end of the room by left, by it's right was the way through his walk-in closet. By the right side of the room were the resting sofa and a reading table. A walk on the east will lead you to the bathroom. Adjacent to his bed at the other end of the room was his electronics set, everything in the room was perfectly arranged and looked luxurious.

"I love it, Sorella!" He shrieked and hugged her tightly, kissing her forehead.

"Now, that's my boy. Do quick and take a shower, we have a lot to catch up," she smiled at him, and kissed his forehead before walking out of the room.

Adyan smiled and walked over the bathroom, taking in the scent deeply. It was good back home; but what he saw had never left his heart even for a second, he tried and acted normal because of his Sorella, he couldn't miss the chance of getting his Mother's love.

He bathe and wore a black V-necked shirt, and a black sweatpant; before walking to the dinning table--where he met his family all freshed up waiting for him. He smiled at them and they began eating their foods.

The dinner was over, after a little chat in the living room; Mom dragged Adyan to his room-saying they need a little catch up to do-ignoring Dad and Kassim's yelling about her dumping them because of Adyan.

Once they were in his room, they sat on the sofa-Mom's curious eyes on him made him whined, saying "Sorella, why the look? As if I've grown horns."

"It would've look beautiful on this thick skull of yours. Now...spill, and don't you dare say it's nothing-for nothing would make you act like you did earlier," Mom said, fixing her unshaken gaze on his handsome-yet; glum face.

His face slackened, the glint of happiness in his face vanishing into a thin air-upon reminiscing how he met them, hands grazing on her body. He closed his eyes, "She was the girl we rescued!" He slurred, his own words slicing his throat and tongue before erupting out.