Chapter 47: Chapter 47

ABUJA, NIGERIA.

"An accident took place earlier in the afternoon and the couple spotted inside the car are dead, no bodies found. They were said to be going to court for a case. Please if you know about any of this, call this number or come to the address written below..." Everyone's blood ran cold hearing the news, they have a whiff of who that person could be but don't want to believe what their guts feelings are telling them.

Mika'il and Zara's death...

It was Kauthar who first stood up and went closer to the television to confirm her fears and when she saw that there is no doubt that was Mika'il's car, she fainted. Afrah started crying loudly while Amir keep on staring at the television as if wanting them to tell him it was all a lie, nothing happened. The other occupants of the room keep on saying 'Innaa lillaahi wa innaa ilaihi raji'un, Allahuma' jurni fii musibatee wa' akhliflee khairan minhaa' because this sure is a calamity that fell upon both the families. The mother died and two days later, the son has followed her and his case, there is no body to bury.

"He can't die, please no. I'm mad at him but he can't die, no, no." Afrah screeched from where she is sitting so Bushra stood up from her sit and round up the dining table to gather her in her arms. She is not going to cry for someone she has no relation with, she can at least console the ones that have.

Mujaheed took it upon himself to go help Kauthar off the floor and to the sofa, she is still unconscious. He stared at her, she looks so fragile crumpled into a futile position like that, he could feel the little pain. He's lost so many close friends when they were at war so he could feel the pain of losing a dear one, though he can't compare to the pain the siblings are going through now. He don't even want to think about Malik Masari, the man will almost lose it if he hears about this. They are sure he's heard already, Amir's phone rang out through the room interrupting everyone from their thoughts and their attention went to him.

"Have you seen the news? Is that Mika'il's car?" Malik Masari's strained voice questioned Amir through the phone, Amir could almost feel the pain his father is going through. It is excruciating, tightening and constricting their chests to spit out all the troubles.

"Yes, Dad. That is Mika'il's car." Amir didn't feel tears, they were not coming when he needed them most. Afrah is balling her eyes out in Bushra's arms, his older sister is unconscious because she'd rather be out of it than cry and be out of it while he, he don't know what is going on with him.

The line went dead, everyone was silent, it was so quite that you could even hear the sound of your heart beating wildly inside your chest. No one knows what to say and the atmosphere is way better like that without any noise, everyone living in their own thought. But they can't just be quite when they heard that their brother is dead out somewhere with no one to identify his body or as they say, his hand. The car caught fire before anyone could reach there, there was no time to call ambulance or the police or the fire brigade.

"I think we should go take the remains of their body." It was Alhaji Abubakar who decided to be the bigger person with less emotions and lead the way. The children nodded and the men followed him while the girls stay behind, they are not in their right state of mind and they shouldn't see that horrible view.

On the way there, he called Malik Masari who said he was already there and Alhaji Abubakar had to admit, the man is really strong. He can't picture himself acting strong if that were to ever happen to his family and some might think he should always be ready for death in his family, huh? It is not that easy though, death is terrible no matter how much you are going to see it coming.

Having three soldiers and him being a humble truthful lawyer is just like putting the lives of his family in line, he can't imagine the pain though. His male children are serving the country, he always waits for the bad news whenever they are on missions but thankfully, Allah hasn't taken any away. And by Allah, he had rather be dead when his children start dying for he can't take the pain of it.

When they arrive at the place, they all leave the car to the hospital where the bodies are currently waiting to be identified. There is nothing they need to identify though, that is the body of Mika'il. Amir was the first to go and ask for the hand that is kept inside a plastic bag, bile rose from his throat when he stared at the strong hand of his brother. He searched for the birthmark Mika'il has but didn't find it but the ring Bushra gave him was there, he didn't remove it like he promised he wouldn't.

"This is brother's hand." Amir whispered to the people inside the room, his eyes warily seeing a hand dispatched from a body and burnt beyond recognition. Is that how his brother died or was he dead before the car caught fire? He prayed for the latter though, he can't imagine how painful and agonizing his death would be.

"We shall take it and leave. Thank you and where is the other woman's?" Malik Masari asked the doctor and inspector in a strong voice like he hasn't just lost a wife and son, that is the worst situation any man could ever be in. The sympathy in everyone's eyes is what he despise the most though.

"Her family is yet to arrive but she has her full arm and fingers." The inspectors holding a stick answered, his words stuttering a little as if he's never seen a death as horrible as that. He is a police officer for goodness sake, he should be used to such horrendous sights.

"Where is my sister?" All of them turn around to see Hanan, Jiddah and their stepmother Farhana rushing inside the hospital room they are in. They all look disheveled and have cried to the extent where they eyes are bulging out.

Mika'il's family decide to leave the room and let them hear another news that will make them tremble. But where on earth is the president now when his precious daughter is dead? Oh, right, he has went to Saudi Arabia for medical checkup, how amazing. They keep hearing the women crying inside the room and they shook their heads, that is the problem with women, they could hardly keep their emotions not that they were condemning. Most of them want to cry inside the room, they just don't want to create a scene.

After exchanging some condolences with the family, they took Mika'il's hand and left the hospital and wait for the next day to perform his last rite. The occasion is unfortunate for everyone, too much has happened already and they are not sure if any of them will get a goodnight sleep. Which means for three days straight, none of them got to sleep the best way and healthily. Now, they have to endure the pain of losing yet another one only that this wasn't considered a murder but the body is not full, it's heart wrenching.

"You will be okay, Thar. All you have to do is be there for your siblings and also cry all you want. I know you don't want to cry in front of us, go to the room and cry." Bushes joked a little, her voice light as she patted Kauthar's head who is still not in her right state of mind.

"I don't want to cry. May his soul rest in peace. This is just a test we need to pass, crying won't do us any good." She shrugged like the strong woman she has always been then push her head more into Bushra's knees so she can't pat her head some more. She needs good sleep or she won't look good accepting condolence of her brother and mother.

"You are right. I don't know how I am still not crying or feeling the need to cry, seriously." Bushra bite on her bottom lip, she don't want to cry but she could feel the tears itching to drop down her face any moment. She don't want to cry for a man she don't have any relation with, she won't, she refuse.

"Because you were not together when he died and what he did hurt you a lot that you don't find it right to even cry for him. You feel like he does not have the right for you to cry over his death, I totally understand. But you need to forgive him now that he is dead. Don't forgive him because I'm requesting, do that when you don't feel angry at him anymore so his soul can rest." Kauthar explained, her eyes fixated on her sister in-law who is trying her best not to cry. She could see right through her, she still loves her brother even after everything he did. She can't believe there is love this pure, it makes her wonder what is it she is doing with her fiancée. They don't have the connection, they are just getting married after being together for five years.

"I have forgiven him already, Thar. You know I can stay mad at everyone in the world but not my Maan, he is an exception. I think the news about his death hasn't hit me well or because I didn't see his dead body? I'm not sure why I'm so calm about this, I feel strange though." She whispered her thoughts and concern in the open knowing only Kauthar understands feelings like this for she was close to Mika'il too, really close.

"You love him a lot." Kauthar whispered, her eyes itching with tears too but she didn't let them fall and blinked, she don't like crying, not at all.

"I do, more than myself. I hope he is in better place." She whispered again then her eyes move to Afrah who got tired of crying for three hours straight and decided to sleep. It is already twelve in the night and she don't feel like sleeping at all.

"I came here as soon as I got the news from Aunt. How are you, Thar, B?" Fayha's voice startled them from their reverie and their eyes went to another disheveled woman wearing her pajamas and a silk kimono on top with a Louis Vuitton duffel bag in hand.

"Whoa, what are you doing so late at night? Aunt allowed you out like this and alone?" Bushra questioned, her eyes showing concern while taking in her cousin's body to see whether she is okay and she is. She gets paralysed seeing people driving now, death is everywhere.

"Yes, I'm fine and Mom is here with me too. We are going to Kauthar's tomorrow right?" Her eyes are puffy which means she has also cried but she is putting her big girl panties. Bushra appreciated that for she knows if she sees anyone crying now, she won't be able to take it.

"Yes, we are. Now come and lie down let's cuddle." Kauthar chirped not liking how she is talking as if she is not there. If she is going to show sympathy, she should say it to her face.

"Well, I have brought my clothes just in case, knowing Bushra's won't look good on me and I can't have my fiancée looking at me like an alien while some wannabes dress to impress even though they are coming to say their condolence." She joked, moving forward to keep her duffel and join them on the Queen size bed. All four of them are going to have to squash there for the night, they need each other.

In reality, she hasn't talked to Mujaddad since that day she confessed that she loved his brother but would want them to work out. The man was infuriating, she didn't like how he was talking to her and if things don't work out in few days, she won't go ahead with the arrangement. She'd rather go get someone entirely different and out of their family tree, that'd be better than being in the web of love triangle. The man is handsome but the way he was looking at her like she is some kid or his sister made her mad. If she is marrying a man, he won't act like an older brother, she wants a partner that sees her potential enough to wed her.

"Eh, the girl is already possessive over my brother." Bushra teased remembering when she told her about the arrangement, Fayha wasn't entirely happy and she told her about her crush on Mujaheed so she told her to just follow her heart and wherever it leads her is the right place. She also asked her to pray istikharah, that is the best way to find the answer in conflicted situations like that.

"I am behind you girl, hold him on a tight leash." Kauthar encouraged with a wide grin, her eyes twinkling with mischief. She can't believe the arrangement is going to work, she thought it won't.

"You never know." Fayha shrugged with a smile feeling happy that she lighten up the mood before settling on the other side beside Afrah who grunted and cried a little then went back to sleep much to Fayha's astonishment. She cuddled the girl closer, she might feel safer in her arms.

The next morning, the family all awoke really early and got dressed then leave for the Masari mansion before people start arriving but whom were they kidding, there were already so many cars waiting to take Mika'il's hand to the grave. Tears welled in everyone's eyes at the sight because it makes everything look more real now, especially to Bushra whose tears rush down without her consent.

She chocked on her own spit, her steps halting while her chest is making this painful tug, as if it is about to yank off the strings around her heart. She continued moving inside where she saw Mika'il's grandparents with red eyes, she thought the people were emotionless but guess not, and Gigi who is not crying but cheering at something Bushra isn't focusing on.

"Come here, my dear." Gigi stretched her arms to Bushra who was quick to let herself get enveloped in the older woman's arms. She needed that comfort and only someone who knows how she feels will understand her, she feels like no one does though.

"He might be gone from our lives and sights but not our hearts, keep that in mind." The older woman cajoled, her arms stroking Bushra's arms who suddenly realised something, it hits her harder than anything her entire life.

Mika'il was Anaan's father and now her daughter is an orphan, No!

She screamed in her head as if that will wake her up from the nightmare, this can't be happening. She trembled in Gigi's arms who noticed the sudden change the the forceful emotions overtaking her great granddaughter in-law, she didn't say a thing waiting for her to let it all out. No matter what has happened between them, they were still married to one another until three days ago when everything started going downhill. The world starting circulating rapidly not caring whom got hurt in the process.

"Anaan is now an orphan, Gigi. She doesn't have her father, her Dada. She's been asking for him." Bushra sobbed in the woman's chest, the tears choking her own breath, she started feeling quizzy and uneasy. This is bad, she can't be feeling like this when she is grieving her husband's death, she don't want to lost consciousness.

"She is not an orphan!" Gigi muttered sternly, her eyes fixated on her grandson, Malik who is roaming aimlessly around to get his son's hand covered in the white clothe presented earlier, it's still so early in the morning. She could see the pain, the agony and excruciating torment all over him, he has lost a lot in a matter of three days. Too much has happened, she is afraid he might collapse anytime soon from acting all tough for his children not to break. She admired his strength, he definitely inherited that from her somehow.

"She might've lost her father but she has you, your family, your in-laws and not to forget, she has me. We are all her parents, she is not an orphan. Stop saying that." Gigi continued, taking her eyes off her grandson's retreating figure and focus them on the fragile woman in her arms.

She has heard all that has happened when her granddaughter in-law died, she heard the things Mika'il did that hurt her at that moment. She wanted to haunt him down and make him confess why he did what he did for it was unlike him to treat an enemy like that talk less about someone he's loved. Even if it was Zara that was said to kill his mother, he wouldn't have divorced her and everyone knows that he is only looking for opportunity to be away from her. It doesn't make sense to anyone that knows Mika'il, it just don't sit well and something was amiss.

"Thanks, Gigi, that helps. Now let's cheer up and accept everyone's hearty condolences though most of them want to come and gossip. Let's thank God it's Ramadan, we don't need to cook for no one." She grinned, sitting up but she was still crying making Gigi giggle a little. How can someone cry and smile at the same time, that should be a talent.

And it was one hectic day until another horrid news reach them, someone dying again...