Chapter 38: Chapter 38

ABUJA, NIGERIA.

"W-what are you saying? Can you repeat that now?" Zara move closer to Mika'il and put the phone right close to his ear after listening to what the maid is talking about.

"Bushra murdered Hajiya in cold blood, Madam. She just started yelling for help after making everything clean while trying to act innocent. Madam, you need to tell Mika'il to come down here as soon as possible before she lead people astray. I saw her killing Hajiya myself!" The woman shrieked from the other end and Zara let out a victorious smile. That isn't what she planned but it turned out to be much greater than that.

She only sent Fuzail there to give her mother in-law a warning because she didn't like how she spoke to her earlier, her pride is getting crushed all in the name of something called love. She has tolerated enough from Mika'il, his family and his wife so this is time for some action, she needs to keep them in check. Starting from her mother in-law, the woman should learn how to love her or it won't end well for them. Her next target would've been Bushra Amani Abubakar Sadiq Danbazau but she don't have to do anything anymore, her husband will do that by himself while she watch from the sidewalk with her popcorn.

When she thought it was never going to work out for them, it worked beyond where she has pictured it to. Her initial plan is to only warn her mother in-law first and if she doesn't listen, she will just injure her but never kill her. It only means one thing, Fuzail killed her mother in-law in cold blood but Bushra was the one who was found in the crime. Life is just perfect. She wouldn't have appreciated Fuzail killing her mother in-law knowing her husband will be disoriented and she don't want him like that when she is close to achieving her goal of having him by her side.

If Bushra is going to be accused of this murder, then she is definitely going to give Fuzail what he wants in life which is her. Even if it is just for one night, she is going to do it for the joy he has brought her life and how easier he made everything for her. She won't have to do anything to the woman again, she is already done for. As soon as this maid gets to say it in court, everyone is going to believe since there are no cameras inside the rooms and the maid might've been lurking around to see Bushra inside the room holding the dead woman. She shouldn't have been too concerned, poor poor Bushra.

Even her father won't be able to save her, this is a murder case!

She will do her own part knowing Mika'il will not believe what is said against Bushra at first, that is where she comes in the game. This is the place where her words are going to work sharper than Cupid's arrow, she won't let this chance slip off her fingers without fighting tooth and nail. If there is any chance of Bushra and Mika'il getting separated, then this is it and she'd be damned if she don't work through with it. Her stepbrother murdered someone, the least she could do is make use out of this crime. She won't let her stepbrother's effort go to waste, this will come in handy.

"What the heck are you saying? Are you out of your mind or intoxicated?" He yelled into the phone like she has expected it, she didn't let that get to her. His yells and red eyes won't discourage her from going through her plan, it is going to motivate her actually.

"I'm serious, Sir. I heard Hajiya yelling and when I arrive, Bushra was standing atop her. I am also afraid and don't want to believe but that is what I saw with my own eyes, Sir. Everyone is now inside the room and Mr. Masari is on his way here, you should come too." The woman kept rambling like a mad woman, he could tell that the death affected her deeply. She has been working with them for a long time, losing someone in the family must've ruined her head too. He could only imagine his siblings and father now.

Some might think Zara paid this woman to call and tell her all these but she didn't call no one, she didn't even know the woman has her number, they only talked once and she said she was her fan, that was it. The number isn't even saved, she just answered the call thinking Fuzail changed his number yet again like always. Because according to him, people always want to talk to him two four seven.

The woman was quick to tell her that her mother in-law was murdered, she couldn't believe her ears. Her mind went straight to Fuzail thinking he has been caught murdering the woman then she mentioned Bushra standing around the crime and so on. She was so happy they weren't caught, a little sad about her dead mother in-law then ecstatic knowing Bushra will be in trouble.

"I'm coming." He called into the phone and ran out of the room without waiting for her. With a victorious smile, she hung up the phone and took her veil then ran after him. She will make sure to succeed, she is born for success not failure, this time will be no different. She has prayed the night before for this to be a success, it shall be.

Besides, it is Ramadan, the holy month!

"I know you don't want to believe the housemaid but I totally agree with her, not because I'm jealous of Bushra. It is possible something happened between them and it lead to this happening by mistake. I know she is not a violent person but this, I can't believe she'd go to this extreme. She went there to reconcile like you'd said, didn't she? Then why did she kill the woman that clearly loves her more than a mother would? I really don't understand but it is only believable that she killed her. Oh, my God, what has she done?" Zara is now talking to herself while mumbling knowing fully well Mika'il is listening to her with small side of his brain, it will work later.

"...I feel disgusted at the mere mention of her name now, I don't like her anymore. I was actually thinking about living peacefully with her but now, I loathe her. How can someone be cruel to kill your mother even by mistake? A woman so loving, soft and cheerful. I feel like removing the food I ate from my stomach, it is unsettling." She peered at him to find him tightening his hand on the steering wheel, just what she wants. Riling him up slowly will do the trick surely.

Maybe this is the plan, to work with it slowly.

"I want to go there and see everything myself, I'm still in disbelieve. Sometimes innocent faces don't do the trick, they can be the most evil ones around us. Besides, the witches don't hold brooms neither do they wear tattered hats, they are always the most beautiful." She closed her eyes in exasperation seeing that he is not listening to her anymore. He is only facing the obsidian surrounding, not bothering to look her way.

The sky is ominous and dark, thunder clapped loudly as if mourning the death of Hajiya Khadija too. A woman loved by everyone, friends and family all lurking to be with her just for a day.

Upon arriving there, Mika'il didn't leave the car and only stared at the police car surrounding their home while people hassle around. His eyes are distant so she put her hand on his shoulder and gave him a squeeze, sometimes that works too. People to think they are all alone in the world but placing your hand on their shoulder will make them feel safe, the feeling of belonging and not lonely. He also tensed before he opened the car and left her inside, she sighed and dismounted too with a motive with each step.

In few days, he won't be able to leave her side even if he wants to so she will let him roam around the world for the time being, he shan't get too much freedom in awhile. This is her giving him the best gift before she takes that freedom away from him. He should enjoy this while it lasts, she hasn't planned.

"Son, you arrived just in time. Stop them from taking Amani, they are being irrational. I told them she won't do that but they are hellbent on taking her with the because clearly, all evidence are pointing to her. Stop this rubbish, I can't deal with it. I need to be with your mother." His father ranted looking like someone who has just lost his senses, Mika'il could feel that he did.

But how is he supposed to stop them from taking a criminal under custody?

"You have lost your wife not your brains, Dad. If they feel like she committed this crime, then she did. Evidences won't be against her had it been she hadn't done anything, I can't stop them. I got a call that she killed mother, someone saw her killing her so how I'm I supposed to stop them?" He let out a sadistic chuckle, his eyes brimming with tears, his hands moving through his hair which he forgot to cut as he usually goes there with Bushra.

"The culprit shall be punished." With that, he left his father looking flabbergasted and his wife featuring a smile of triumph. It is taking all the wheel powers inside of her not to yell out in joy, the day couldn't have been any better.

"I'm sorry about his behavior, father. I think he is not able to cope with the lost of his mother and wants to blame it on someone. I will go and see what is going on and I'm so sorry for your loss. May her soul rest in peace." The man didn't even raise his head to look at Zara as she ramble, he is facing his son's retreating back in shock.

He gave Mika'il's back an incredulous look, his mouth slackened to the ground. His posture suddenly stiffened from the lagged one he featured, muscles tensing. There is this heavy feeling in his stomach, tightening it to the point of pain. Something terrible is going to happen, and without a doubt destroy so many lives.

Well, this is just the beginning father in-law, Zara thought before following her husband with bounce to her steps. Everything is in chaos inside the house, the maids running like headless chickens but the children of the house are nowhere in sight. She knew where they are going to be, inside their mother's room so she made her way there. She was there only twice but she knows about all the crooks and nooks of the house in that first visit so she was able to sneak Fuzail inside and out without going there.

"She didn't do anything, Mika'il! Why are you acting like a possessed man? This is Bushra we are talking about not any other woman!" Zara heard his sister's voice, Kauthar yelling at her husband, she didn't care. She has done what needs to be done, she is going to start watching the show from there so she stopped at the door watching everything transpire inside.

There is somewhere restricted inside the room, probably where the woman was killed and the police are also inside trying to look for more evidence. Bushra is sitting on the floor like she doesn't know what to do or what she is even doing. She is mumbling some things to herself, she looks like a hobo Zara once saw outside her home begging for money. She has no tears in her eyes nor are there trails of them running down her face, she is emotionless like a statue dropped on the floor. Zara just chuckled inwardly, this should be fun!

"I don't care who she is. If she is the one who killed mom, then she should serve the punishment. And tell her to stop pretending after killing my mother, I won't forgive her." Zara is surprised so was everyone in the room, they couldn't believe what he is saying. All of them believe that is is not Mika'il standing in front of them but someone different, like an imposter asked to pose as Mika'il.

"Brother, you are not yourself right now, you need to calm down. Think of this with cool head, mom won't want this." Amir furrowed his brows at his brother, giving him a look that an elder brother should give the younger but their tables turned.

"Don't you dare interfere in this, Kiddo." The glare he sent to Amir shut him up, he glanced at his sister in-law who is oblivion to what is happening around her. She has been staring into space, where their mother was lying minutes ago lifeless.

Thirty minutes after Bushra left him in the living room to go see their mother and interrupt her time with bathroom, he heard a battle cry from her and he rushed to her rescue thinking she fell or choked on something. The excruciating pain in that cry is enough to bring everyone out of their rooms, the maids and servants all around the room. In less than a minute, everyone is inside the room and then someone called police, they don't know who did it but they heard sirens outside and the police came in like they own the place.

"We heard that a murder took place here. Please move away from the corpse, we need to investigate." They furrowed their brows in confusion, not understanding why they are calling their mother's death murder. There is no blood neither was there any struggle in the room, everything is in place. This is a natural death, they didn't believe the police one bit.

"We don't know who called you here but there is no murder that took place here. If you can leave now, we want to go through with her final rites." Amir stepped forward and acted like the man he is, their father isn't back from the hospital and Mika'il was getting brainwashed.

After he had iftar with them, he left for the hospital because of some emergency surgery. They called him after finding their mother's corpse lying on the floor in their sister in-law's arms. It was a horrible sight and they weren't given the chance to mourn and grieve over their mother's death before the police arrive, cutting their last moment with their mother short.

"A maid called because she saw when everything happened, we are not leaving without fully investigating the matter." The police refused, they couldn't do anything even after their father came back, they were hellbent on digging into the matter.

Everyone was waiting for Mika'il to arrive so he can save his wife from their claws but he turned out to be a different person. He wants his wife to be punished for something she hasn't done!

"I hate you, Bushra Amani. I don't want to see your face ever again in my life, I hate you." Mika'il is in tears while whispering those things to her face, she is not looking at him. Her eyes are distant and emotionless, she didn't know when he arrived there or that he is kneeling in front of her.

"Brother, leave this place before I do something we are going to regret." Amir couldn't take it anymore, she is grieving but the man is heartless to even see that.

"Yes, I think it's better if you leave right now. Mother will be so disappointed to find out you are taking the case of her death further than it should be. I hope you find peace in blaming someone else." Kauthar shook her head, her eyes showing nothing but the disappointment she feels and the look of disgust. She is featuring a bitter smile, slowly shaking her head.

He doesn't care though, his wife killed his mother, he won't forgive her for this. Maybe that is why his mother didn't want to see her, because she threatened to do something bad. The question here is, why would Bushra threaten his mother with anything on earth when she loves her like her own mother? His mother warned him, she even hung up the phone when she heard Bushra's voice in his phone, it should've alerted him that something was wrong but no, he trusted her more than he did himself.

He won't let her escape this murder, he will make sure she is punished! There might not be blood or sign of struggle but it didn't wipe away the fact that she killed her and a maid saw her doing so! She will regret ever doing that to him, her father won't be able to help her through this too, he can do nothing, he will make sure of it. If it is money, he will pour them out like water to make sure she gets what she deserves!

"You are blinded but I am not, she is going to be punished. If she is done with the charade, tell her about this. I have no relationship with her, I have divorce her." He left the room, pushing Zara out of the way and she raise her arms in mock surrender gazing at his retreating back while smiling mischievously.

'Omo, this just made my whole life easier. That's why I love that man.' She thought inwardly, staring at his figure rushing down the corridor then Amir's that followed him to give him some batshit beating only to be stopped by their father.

"This turned out greater than I expected. I should go to Fuzail and give him all he wants." She grinned maliciously, this is the time she has been waiting for.

Bushra Amani, your game is over!