Chapter 41: Chapter 41

ABUJA, NIGERIA. (or is it UAR? hahaha)

"What do we have here?" Alhaji Abubakar Danbazau ask Amir who has brought so many things in a plastic sealed bag and placed them on his desk in the court. It is the very next day after his daughter has been taken away to the jail and they are gathering evidence to get her out of the place the next day when the hearing will begin and hopefully, ends there too.

"I don't know if this will help but there are some things that look quite unusual. At first, we all thought it was a natural death but after this investigation, we've found a lot of things that prove it was not ordinary death. I'm not saying Bushra did it, we were together when it happened so no, she didn't do it. Someone was there with mother in the room before she died. Even if she died naturally, something has happened in that room that we should find out." Amir explained and for a moment, Alhaji Abubakar thought he was talking to a lawyer then he smirked. The boy really cares about his daughter, this should've been her husband helping him but he was nowhere to be found.

"Good, this will have to do for now. I can see handprints, footprints, hair, belt loop... Wait, belt loop?" Alhaji Abubakar stared at the sealed plastic bag where a jean belt loop is coolly sitting, it looks torn while in hurry. What does it mean and for a lawyer like himself, he was quick to ensnare so many scenarios in his head.

"Yes, I also had so many doubts after seeing it. I'm sure my dad never wears jeans and Mika'il wasn't there neither was I, there are no other men in the house. Both Kauthar and Afrah didn't wear jeans since Ramadan started so I don't know where that came from." Amir explained, waiting for the man to solve the puzzle his head is in. It was jumbled since yesterday, he barely had time to rest talk less of sleeping and he is fasting.

"Do the housemaids clean the room thoroughly everyday?" He is still gazing into the plastic bag as if to see whether the belt loop will tell him who it belongs to. This needs thorough investigation, the case might be trickier than it should be. The scenarios in his head is something else.

"Yes, sometimes twice a day because Mom always likes her room clean. That loop should be there when the unusual happened in her room. Someone must've broke in or something." Amir isn't a lawyer but he is trying his best to make sure he helps one way or the other. He wants to be there for Bushra since her husband is not there. He wants her to be proven innocent as soon as possible before he loses his own mind. He can't watch her suffer like that, it aches.

"What about the maid that said she saw everything? I want her there in the court during the hearing and dare she not lie for this shall be the last time she stands on her feet." The great judge narrowed his eyes at the evidence knowing that woman lied or was too paranoid. Whatever it is, she should get her shit together before he lose it.

This is a battle with a father, he needs to set an example that no one should ever try messing up with his family. He won't let the first hearing go without being successful or at least knowing they have the upper hand. If he is going to fight himself, he won't leave the courtroom not successful, it will ruin his image. His daughter won't go back to that dark room, he won't allow that on his watch. Whoever it is that is conspiring against her, he will fight tooth and nail to make sure that person is behind the bars instead of his daughter.

The real culprit shall be punished indeed.

"I will make sure she is there, Uncle. And about Bushra, I'm going to see her now before the visiting hours are over." Amir stood up, he needs to get moving. They weren't allowed to go to her the night before but they have the permission.

"Yes, be there for her please. Thank you so much, Amir. I am so disappointed in Mika'il, really. I never expected that from him, he looks like he's lost it." The father let his eyes roam with disappointment, his son in-law has foiled him in the most cruel way.

"I know, Uncle. Even Dad was disappointed, he don't want to believe that was Mika'il, I don't want to do that too." With that, Amir bid him adieu and left the courtroom and the firm all together to give his ex sister in-law a visit.

When he arrived at the station, he was led to her jail where he met people sitting like a big family. He knew Bushra has people but didn't expect them to jump on the chance of meeting her. Her visiting hours just opened an hour ago when he left the house but everyone is already there before him, it seems like they were waiting for forever and with the connection they have, all of them were allowed inside like a tea party. They make it look like a reunion of high schoolers with the way they are making the place lively.

Fayha, Kauthar, Afrah, Anaan, her brothers and two more girls he don't know are sitting around the neatly kept jail probably because one of her brothers threatened she should be treated well while she stays there. What he didn't like is seeing Bushra still out of it, lost in her own world. Someone draped a hijab around her and inside the hijab, she is feeding her baby. She winced a little, Anaan probably bit her to get some affection from the detached mother. That got her to move and pacify her daughter but she still is so out of it, she was doing it unconsciously.

The one who was supposed to be there isn't, spineless man.

Her neck is bent, eyes still staring far away from the world. Her face has lines, it is so slackened while her lips are downturned. Heat keep on rising behind her eyelids, wanting to force out tears but nothing came out. Apart from that onslaught outcry that called out to him, Bushra still hasn't reacted to anything.

"Hey, guys! Partying?" He grinned then sat down beside Bushra, she didn't look up at him like she does. She would've rose her head and gave him that heart stopping smile of hers, he missed the vibe.

"Yeah, something like that. But the person we are partying for is not with us." Fayha pouted, crossing her arms over her chest giving Bushra stinky eyes. She definitely missed her friend, they would've bickered till their mouths hurt by now.

"Keep that aside. She is coming home with us tomorrow and then we can all have the fun we want." Kauthar cheered, then her attention went to the door where her fiancée walked in with many paper bags. She beamed, taking the bags from him to open the junk food he got for them. "You are the best." She gave him a distant kiss then bit on her burger.

Bushra still hasn't come around, she has finished feeding Anaan.

"I thought she was not supposed to stay in jail as she is still feeding her baby? Why did they take her and why didn't uncle say anything to stop them?" Fayha suddenly asked the question that clung onto everyone's throat. They were lost the day before to notice that something was wrong in the law.

"Dad wants the case to be closed as soon as possible so the sooner they take her with them, the sooner she gets out of here which is tomorrow in sha Allah." Murad answered, his arms wrapped around his younger sister. You can see the tired lines arranged perfectly underneath his eyes and forehead. Everyone around the room looked like they didn't get a goodnight sleep, how could they?

"Where do you think Mika'il went to though?" Amir saw Bushra perked up a little but he knew she don't know what they are talking about. She don't know about her being in jail too, she hasn't said a word nor did the emotionless face show anything to reveal that she knows what is going on.

"I really have no idea. He could go to hell for all I care. And that wife of his, I didn't see her. Did she take him away with her?" Murad answered then questioned again, he don't want to agree to what he is saying. Mika'il has been his friend since forever!

"I feel like she took him to some wizard, wallah. How can brother do that to Ya B? Something is not right here." Afrah chirped with a frown, moving her hands forward to take Anaan but she didn't move, instead, she crawl back against her withdrawn mother. That has never happened, she loves Afrah a lot more than anyone apart from her parents.

Maybe because she missed her mother the whole of yesterday and wants to spend the time with her before they leave again. Afrah's heart ached for the little girl, she is paying the price of her heartless father's crimes.

"There is something spiritual, I don't believe Mika'il will do that too. But then again, we can't judge anyone in this life, it has no balance." Fayha shrugged, her eyes moving to Mujaheed who avoided her gaze.

"Whatever it is, we shall see. He has divorced my sister, demean, debased and humiliated her, I have nothing to do with him. One thing I know is, I won't let him get through with this unscathed. He'll regret ever knowing my sister, I will make sure of that." Murad is still vengeful, his eyes are filled with hatred for his ex brother in-law. The man crossed a line he shouldn't have stared at to begin with.

-

Hanan stood up from the bench ready to leave the gym, she hasn't met that stupid Major since that day and she won't say she wasn't disappointed and also happy about it. She draped a Dolce & Gabbana reefer jacket around her, buttoned it up and made her way out but bumped into someone she hoped he will disappear. She is both thrilled and pissed at him knowing he has changed her since their last encounter weeks ago. Whenever she bumped into someone, she keeps quite and let the person apologize. The helpers in her home will stare at her like an alien because the old her would've given them an earful but she stopped wasting her time. She also realized that it was waste of energy.

Murad actually made her realise that.

"We meet again, huh?" He don't look to be in a good mood so she mulled over her words, yet, something she has never done before. She can't exactly piss an already infuriated soldier, she needs to take the safe side.

"Yes and you still didn't apologize, you can do that now." She gave a small smile, perching her arms underneath her chest. Whatever mood it is he was in, she just want to make him have a little fun and come off the wrathful horse. She don't know where that zeal came from, she hates herself for feeling like a teenager crushing on someone she won't ever have.

"And I won't, don't hold your breathe." He rolled his eyes as if he is just tolerating her presence. She swallowed hard, she wants to leave the place but something is stopping her from doing so.

These days, she don't understand herself anymore, she has changed from the woman she was for the last few years to the real her. The pathetic girl that is always ready to go and cry to her daddy and mommy, she hates. And if that change is because of this man in front of her, she will go far away from him. She can easily get the things in her home so she won't have to go to gym, she just likes being out of the house. The fresh air and zeal for challenge always draw her back.

"Always rude. Well, enjoy your time." She made a move to sidestep him, he wouldn't let her go so easily. He blocked her path, she raise a questioning perfect brow at him.

"I came here looking for you actually." He crossed his arms, his stance intimidating her yet again, way more than the last time because this time, he is not striking light conversations and don't look like he will do so too. He is there for a mission, that is to haunt her.

"Why is that?" She stood thickly, shelving back any fear from her chest and structure, she can't afford to look feeble in front of him, not now or ever.

"Because I am looking for your sister, Mika'il's wife. Don't tell me you don't know what is going on?" After his first sentence, she looks much more perplexed so he had to ask whether she knows about what is going on. She looks genuinely clueless, he don't understand the sisters sometimes.

"No, what is going on and why are you looking for my sister?" She is giving him that look of suspicion, as if he is the one she should give that look to.

"Long story short, their mother in-law, Mika'il's mother has been killed," She don't like how he is making her look like a kid by explaining stuff but she kept quite and allow him to continue, "They have Bushra under custody as the suspect which is all fake because someone is conspiring against her. Your sister and her husband are not yet to be found after they came to see the case. So yes, I am suspecting her to have hands in this." He finished, his eyes fixed in hers, wanting to see any move he don't agree to.

"You can't suspect her of murder! I don't know when all these happened, no one in my family knows. Not even the media broadcasted anything, neither has my sister called me." She hastily removed her phone from the pocket of her reefer jacket to see whether she's missed any message or calls from her sister but none.

"Maybe she didn't want to add you in her mission, well-done. Now you know what is happening, tell your family. I am still suspecting her though, the hearing is tomorrow. If she doesn't show up, I will haunt her down." His eyes narrowed at her as if she is the one who committed the crime, she hates that look.

Her sister is vile and wicked like she is but murder is something out of their reach, they never thought about doing it. Granted, they were going to do so many things that will make Bushra leave Mika'il by herself but she never mentioned murder. Their mother in-law is dead and Zara didn't think it was important to tell them about it and instead vanished with her husband? Even the most stupidest person will suspect them, they can't just dematerialize and make everything easy. She is also trying hard not to suspect her sister, this is a serious crime she don't want to get involved in. She wished she was back in London, she don't want to go through all these.

If her sister did murder this woman, Hanan will severe ties with her, she don't want anything to do with a murderer. Even if she isn't involved, she is very sure her sister knows a thing or two about this case if it really is murder. She could smell rat in the closet, she just can't remove it when she don't know where to locate the exact place it is at. First, she needs to find her sister then settle everything with her and help find the truth.

"I'll tell everyone about it. How is...Bushra?" She looked uncomfortable since she never liked the girl, she can't help wanting to see how she is coping.

She's seen the relationship between the two, mother in-law and daughter in-law hardly ever share something like that. It was unique, the kind of bond every girl wishes to have but don't get. So seeing your mother in-law murdered and getting you accused of that is not something everyone's mental focus can hold onto, no one actually. And from what Murad just said, Mika'il is not with her, it will take a toll on her. Her husband should be there or she'd lose herself into the pits of darkness, he is her only support.

She is not going to side with her sister on this, she's done a terrible mistake and crime. Instead, her heart sympathised to the woman desperately needing her husband but he was taken away from her, right under her nose. Hanan can only imagine what Bushra must be going through, she won't ever let go of this scar caused by her sister. She is not an expert when it comes to psychology but she has been through something horrendous too once upon a time, she knows how it feels.

She can't say hers is worse than this, but it is close to it. Her sister will definitely pay for this, she's touched the untouchable. Three brothers as Majors, a doctor as a mother and a judge as the father, she should start digging her own grave.

"She is out of it, she's lost it completely. It's been more than forty eight hours but she hasn't spoken a word neither has she reacted to anything." He looks sad now, she wants to reach out for him and give him a hug but she can't. She don't have the right, he is also a practicing Muslim, unlike her.

"I know how it feels." Her eyes sting with tears. The bowed spine, hanged arms, staring at empty hands, down turned facial features, she has been through them all too.

"You don't know how it feels seeing her like that, it hurts." He burst out, she jumped on her feet, knowing the man will have mental breakdown anytime soon if he doesn't keep it all together.

"I do, I do, okay? You don't know what I've been through too in the past. Just because I'm called the spoilt brat doesn't mean I am not the one that went through the worst situations. You all just never understand, you always judge people base on what you see, hear and just what you want to believe. The story you have plotted in your head or the mindset you apply on someone you've seen from afar. I've seen something no one should, did something no one should and went through things I don't want my enemy to go through. So yes, I've had my own share of cumbrous times." She burst out too, filled with emotions she's buried deep down for a long time. She snatched her phone from the windowsill and left the gym all together knowing she might cry anytime soon.

That is why she hates talking about the past, she puts the façade everyone should see but that moron of a soldier had to just burst out her sluice.

Murad stared at her retreating figure feeling guilty for what he's done. She is right, people only judge you because they either hate something about you or someone around you. Some do that because they don't have what you have and instead of embracing the fact that they don't have it, they succumb to hating you for no reason. We tend to forget that everyone has demons he or she is fighting, we only focus on what they want to show us. Everyone have a story to tell, their smiles and laughter aren't always the way they go through. It is a farce to keep people from prying, from seeing what they shouldn't so they won't be rendered weak.

Just like Hanan, he wants to find out more about this petite small girl that won't just leave his mind. There is something about her eyes, the vulnerability and innocence that always change his mind against her. She is not whom she seems to be, she has a good story behind her life and he'd be damned if he doesn't find out.