Chapter 50: Chapter 50

She kept staring at the phone, hoping to see a different name not Taheer's. She want someone to tell her it's all a joke. Someone that will collect the phone and look back at her with a smile, hushing 'This isn't real, Hayfah'.

She prefer tears than the bleeding in her heart. She want to pour out the pain, not to feel it and bury it. She knew_the definition of a halcyon life was never meant for her.

"Rayhan, I need to go and see Maami," with that, she stood up and walked out of the room_with dry eyes and a bleeding heart. The words he used hurt more than anything. Was this a new catastrophe in her life? Even Hamma Taheer calling her a whore?

"Assalamu Alaikum," she prayed and entered the room trudgingly.

Maami, whom was re-arranging her wardrobe turned as she heared Hayfah's husky yet; muffled voice. With a caring smile on her lips_she answered back and motioned for Hayfah to come and sit right beside her.

Hayfah walked over and sat down, there wasn't an iota of tears on her face_but she knew her face screamed pain. "Maami, my Abba is sick and also admitted into the ICU unit_I want to go and see him tomorrow," she slurred, feeling as the pain is slowly tearing more portions of her heart. All she could think of is that; is Abba taken care of? What if he would be abandoned like in old times? Who's paying for his treatments?

"Subhanallah! Hayfah what happened to him? Ya Allah, may he be well soon_don't worry dear; Insha Allah he will be well," Maami sympathized and engulfed Hayfah into a broad motherly hug.

"Thank you, Maami_I pray so," she whimpered and rested her head on Maami's shoulder. And that's how Hayfah ended up sleeping in Maami's room_due to Maami's persistence_claiming that she knew Hayfah would never be okay if she's alone in her room.

Immediately after she prayed her subh prayer; Hayfah went to her room and packed up her clothes_and that's when it dawned in her-she have to tell Adyan, even if she wouldn't-to the personal Adyan, she have to tell the CEO Adyan. She brought out her phone from her handbag and entered the message app_but kept staring at it; not knowing what to write.

She knew it, whenever she place her hands on the coffins of her keyboard_the pain in her heart is the first thing she used to pour out. She has no choice but to write whatever life has in store for her.

~Good morning, Adyan. How have you been and how's life treating you? I guess it's treating you good. I'd be glad for that. I've received a text from Hamma Taheer saying Abba is seriously sick that he even got admitted into the ICU unit; so I'll be leaving today. Pray for me, Adyan. Pray for my Abba_he's my life also.~

She tried so hard in blocking out her emotions,she doesn't want anyone to get into her heart and have a glimpse of her burning heart. Placing the phone aside, she stripped off her clothes and trudged into the bathroom; bathe and exited.

There still wasn't tears in her eyes; she alone knows how she's hurting inside. She was walking zombie-like, as if an egg was placed directly on the crown of her head.

She finished all she would do and was finally out with her trolley trailing behind. She met Maami arranging the dining table and greeted her before slumping on one of the chairs. Hayfah knew this cold feeling beneath her chest was new to her heart, she was used to pouring the pain; not feeling it only.

Maami served them their breakfast and they ate silently. Hayfah looked at Rayhan that was watching a disney cartoon amd spoke "Rayhan? Get up and dress properly_we're going to be late."

"Hayfah, come let's go to Daddy's living room_he wants to see you," Maami said and stood up, guiding Hayfah towards the said room.

They entered and found him sitted on the sofa watching the morning news. Hayfah greeted him and made herself comfortable on the lush carpet_with eyes glued on it.

"Hayfah, your Maami told me that you'll be leaving today; I pray that he will recover soon Insha Allah, and I wish you a safe journey. Don't leave your work hanging for long." He was so calm and tender. He brought out a huge amount of money and gave it to her.

Hayfah collected and thanked him profoundly_she knew she'll surely need that money at home. They bid everyone adieu before they left the house. Hayfah closed her eyes as the morning air wafted her skin_she wished it can glide through her soul.

They dropped Rayhan off, and that was when she started throwing tantrums. Hayfah had to promise that she will be back before she even noticed she isn't there_before Rayhan finally walked into their school, and she, in the park.

***

As she walked towards their home; she felt as if this was her first time coming to the house. She entered the house with a salam, but there wasn't anyone that would answer her back.

Hayfah directly went to their room and kept her trolley before she walked out of the house. She doesn't have the slightest idea of where Abba is taken. She knew it's definitely General hospital, but how would she find him there? Taking the risk, she took a cab and drove to General hospital.

On her rescue, she saw Hamma Taheer around the premises of the ICU unit. Walking hurriedly towards him_and felt her heart constricting as his words stroked her heart. She gulped the chord of bitterness in her throat and kept walking.

"Good morning, Hamma Taheer," she greeted haltingly, afraid of what might be his answer_considering how they're all treating her lately.

"What is good about the morning? When a whore is all your sick and dying father kept asking about?!" He clamoured, flashing her the looked that screamed hatred and disgust.

She was taken aback by his words. This was surely not her brother. The one that promised to be by her side in hardship and ease. "Hamma Taheer, what are you saying? Who are you referring to?" She whimpered, but there were still not tears on her cheeks. She was as dry as an empty well in a sahara.

"What I'm saying is that; you, the whore of our house is the only person our sick father is asking for! Is it so hard to understand? Or the whoreship had even got the understanding in your brain?" He bellowed, glaring at her. He made a loud hiss sound and walked back to where Abba's room was_they were not allowed to enter the room at once; but one by one.

Hayfah was stiffened on her spot. She wanted her brain to atleast assimilate what he said but couldn't. Laboriously, she felt her legs dragging her to where Hamma Taheer and whom she doesn't want to believe is Umma sitted on a woven mat.

They were finally clear to her pain drunken eyes. She gulped back, and her body shivered with fear as the look Umma flashed her.

She squated down and spoke with a trembling voice "Good morning, Umma. How is Abba feeling?"

Umma let out a scoff, so this girl even have the effrontery of coming back, and even have the gut to ask her how her pathetic father is doing? So wow of her.

"A shameless whore like you doesn't even deserve an answer from me_but that pathetic heart broken father of yours. You're a shame to the family, shame on yourself," Umma tattled, flaring up her hands in a disgusting way. Shooing Hayfah towards Abba's room.

"Umma, by Allah I'm not a whore_trust me; even for once," Hayfah slurred, looking at Umma with beseeching eyes.

Umma infuriatedly stood up, and the next thing Hayfah heard was a loud striking slap on her left cheek-followed with another on the right. "What's your definition of being a whore?! Living in a guy's house; all in the name of serving doesn't named you a whore? Spending nights in clubs and being high on beer couldn't make you a whore? Having to abort numerous pregnancies isn't whoreship! Tell me Hayfah, what's the meaning of a whore in your dictionary?!" And before Hayfah could answer her, she pushed her hard that she felt on the door Amna just opened so she could come out of Abba's room.

All world frenzed, as Hayfah's eyes landed on her frail and fleshless father_whom was being on the life saving machine_with different wires adjoined to his body. She felt when Umma's loud resonating smack hit her back, but that's the least she could care for. What matters the most was her Abba, the one she's living for_without him; she would've been long died.

She was still on the ground, with half her body inside the room. Her both palms were supporting her slackened body_and that was when tears of melancholy made their ways to her eyes in a rush.

Slowly, she stood up and walked directly to the bed, where Abba had his eyes clenched shut_breathing painfully. She slumped on the ground beside him with a thud, and took his free hand in hers_how he felt cold and lifeless shattered her heart.

"Abba," she whimpered, feeling as the tears she had been hoping to cascade since yesterday were coming out in a rush.

"Abba, even if you can't talk, I know you can surely hear me. Abba please forgive, Abba I want you alive and healthy_life would crumble me alive without you by my side. Abba..." she was nearly loosing her sanity. She just wants him to open his eyes_so she could tell him all that had been in her mind; she could share her secrets with him.

Slowly, Abba began squinting his eyes with so much pain. He was sure he heard the voice he had been longing to hear, and trying to move his hand; he felt it in the grisp of the hands he would like to assume it's Hayfah's.

"Hayfah," he croaked painfully, feeling how the words glided through his paining lungs before they erupted out.

Hayfah snapped up her face from his hand and unto his pale face. A painful smile curved it's way to her lips, and she stood up and sat on the chair beside the bed; so she could clearly see his face.

"Abba, it's Hayfah; how are you feeling?"

He coughed excruciatingly before he wriggled his lips into a lopsided smile. "Alhamdulillah! You're really here; Hayfah? But Amna said you've scared all ties between us_that you would never come back to me-that made me fall sick completely. Hayfah where have you been? I know what she told us wasn't true; but I want to hear you as you tell me the truth_Hayfah," Abba muttered and broke into silent tears. What Amna told them was a hard blow to his already frail heart. He spent days and nights thinking about Hayfah_and that made him completely sick.

Hayfah's eyes dilated, and a gasp escaped her lips. It now makes sense. She was sure Amna told them she was a whore in Abuja; and all that Umma uttered. Would she ever forgive her? She caused this upon their father because of some selfish reasons of hers.

With tears streaming in oceans, she looked at Abba's once beautiful face that now looked empty. He naturally has a long thin fulani nose_and was extraordinary handsome. But all that was left on his face was only a long thin bone she wouldn't like to refer as a nose. Her Abba wasn't himself anymore.

She tightened her grisp on his hand and spoke "Abba, you've always being my saviour_you've always believed me without even asking for the truth. Abba, wallahi whatever she told you was completely a lie. She cooked up the story for her seflish reasons. Abba wallahi I'm not like that."

He knew. He knew she would never be like that, he have trusted her more than he could trust himself. But what was eating him up was morethan just the uncertainty about the truth. It was a long hidden guiltiness that was recently sent ablaze in his heart. And he wasn't sure wether she would ever forgive him_nor did he knew how to unravel the rest of the mystery to her.

"Hayfah," he slurred, it was so hard and painful when he talks_but he had to. "Would you ever forgive me?"