Chapter 35: Chapter 35

Tehzeeb was just turning her head from her Umma's lifeless body to her father's own. She was confused, she don't know what to actually do. She's just too numb to comprehend what is going on. Khady seeing the state in which Tehzeeb was quickly stand up from Umma side and went to Tehzeeb  side "Tehzeeb" Khady said shaking her numb body to get any reaction from her but got none, the doctor seeing the condition in which they were quickly asked the nurses to pick Umma up and lay her down on the bed which they abide by his order and get into action and that was what brought Tehzeeb back to her senses before she quickly rush to Umma side "Umma please not you too, don't leave me in this heartless world all alone. I promised to be obedient" Tehzeeb said before she walks back to her father's corpse "Baba Dan Allah Ka tashi Kar ka wuce ka barni(father please stand up, don't go and leave me alone), please Baba stand up so that Umma will open her eyes and know your just playing a prank on her" she walks to her mother's side "Umma get up have talked to baba and he promised to wake up, so please open your eyes so that we can go home" she walked back to her father's body "Baba get up and scold me, get up and tell me the way of life, get up and tell me you love me. Baba don't do this to me. Please wake up so that Umma will wake up too" Tehzeeb was just moving inbetween her parents lifeless body while Khady was covering her mouth to stop her self from crying out loudly because of the way she's seeing her friend. The doctor and nurses were busy trying to save Umma Cox she have stopped breathing. Tehzeeb was getting out of her mind she was behaving like a lunatic that made Khady to cry more vigorously

"Khady tell them to wake up, tell them I won't disobey them again. Tell them have changed. Please say something to them so that they will wake up, it's seems they don't believe me but I know they will believe you" Tehzeeb said shaking Khady that was busy crying because she couldn't hold it any longer, she's worried of what might happen to her friend

"Shhh Tehzebb it's okay, nothing is wrong with them, they're just sleeping and will wake up soon" Khady said in tears but she tries to say something to make her friend feel better

"I knew it, I knew they were sleeping, you see even you know they're playing prank on me" Tehzeeb said before she turned "Umma Baba wake up already even Khady knows you're playing" Tehzeeb was getting higher and higher. Finally the doctors could get Umma's pulse back, the nurses that were in the theater were in tears because of how they saw Tehzeeb. The doctor could not take it anylonger so he grabbed Tehzeeb shoulders

"Just stop it. Stop it already" he shouted "aren't you a Muslim, don't you believe in destiny or what. Do you have better plans for him than that of Allah. Every single damn thing in your life is written down and most go accordingly. It's can only be delayed but can't be changed. So just get hold of yourself and pray for your father. It's your prayers that he needs right now not your tears. Can't you see your mother's condition? Did you want her to get worst or die just like your father?" The doctor said while Tehzeeb shake her head from side to side "then behave and get a hold of yourself or have you forgotten the verses in the Qur'an that said "Walanabluwannakum bishay-in mina alkhawfiwaljooAAi wanaqsin mina al-amwali wal-anfusiwaththamarati wabashshiri assabareen

(And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient,

[Al-Baqara:155]" and then the next verses said

Allateena itha asabat-hummuseebatun qaloo inna lillahi  wa-innailayi rajiAAoon

(Who, when disaster strikes them, say, Indeed we belong to Allah , and indeed to Him we will return.

[Al-Baqara:156]. So just say it Inna lillahi wa-innailayi rajiAAoon so you will feel at peace" the doctor said lowering his voice when he sees that Tehzeeb was coming back to her senses and tears started to stream down her face, she was having difficulties to breath but she keeps supplicating before she walks back to her father lifeless body gradually. The doctor asked Khady to follow him out which she did

"I want you to call some one, so that we will know what to do with the corpse"

"A..arm let me call my father" Khady said stammering because of the way she was crying. The doctor was about to leave when Khady stopped him "do.. doctor, how about Umma will she wake up now?" She can't help but to asked

"Don't worry she's out of danger and will wake up any moment, she just had an attack" the doctor said reassuringly. Khady pick her phone and called her father to inform him about what happened, immediately he picks the call she told him and burst into another set of tears before she ends the call and walk back to meet Tehzeeb who was busy starring at her father's corpse without taking a second glance to look at her mother. They were still in that position when Khady's father burst open the theater door and stay rooted to his position without being able to move because he still couldn't believe what his daughter told him but seeing it in reality now brought tears to his eyes that he quickly clean the tears, so that he will not look volunerable. He need to be strong for them. The doctor walk to his place and exchange some pleasantries before he asked him to get the paperwork, so that they will release the corpse to them. Khady's father did everything before the corpse was taken to the ambulance waiting for them outside already.

Tehzeeb was torn in between what to do, either she stays with her mother or she followed her father's corpse to bid him her last farewell. She was about to take a step when Umma jack up from the bed "Inna lillahi wa-innailayi rajiAAoon" that was the first thing that came out of her mouth before she started looking everywhere for any sign of her husband corpse when the doctor notice her behavior he talks "the corpse was just just taken out of here, and they are on there way going home" without saying anything Umma quickly get up from the bed to walk out to catch up with her husband dead body. Tehzeeb was just staring, with the help of Khady Umma and Tehzeeb were taken to the doctor's car since he insisted to take them home and attend the Janaizah

Upon there arrival Umma quickly went out of the car without anyone's help Tehzeeb tailing behind her. "I want to bath my husband" Umma said immediately she saw Mallam Tanimu Khady's father which he look at her before he sighed and tell the others which they agreed. Umma and Tehzeeb entered inside to bath Mallam Audu together. Tehzeeb and Umma bathed and dressed Mallam Audu trying there possible best not to cry because it's not good to cry on the deceased. After everything Tehzeeb brought her Qur'an out before she started reciting it on her father, she drop the Qur'an and prayed"Allaahum-maghfir lahu warhamhu, wa 'aafihi, wa'fu 'anhu, wa 'akrim nuzulahu, wa wassi' mudkhalahu, waghsilhu bilmaa'i waththalji walbaradi, wa naqqihi minal-khataayaa kamaa naqqaytath-thawbal-'abyadha minad-danasi, wa 'abdilhu daaran khayran min daarihi, wa 'ahlan khayran min 'ahlihi, wa zawjan khayran min zawjihi, wa 'adkhilhul-jannata, wa. 'a'ithhu min 'athaabil-qabri[wa 'athaabin-naar].[O Allah, forgive him and have mercy on him and give him strength and pardon him.

Be generous to him and cause his entrance to be wide and wash him with water and snow and hail. Cleanse him of his transgressions as white cloth is cleansed of stains. Give him an abode better than his home, and a family better than his family and a wife better than his wife. Take him into Paradise and protect him from the punishment of the grave [and from the punishment of Hell-fire]" she continues to pray

["O Allah, Your male slave and the child of Your female slave is in need of Your mercy , and You are not in need of his torment . If he was pious then increase his rewards and if he was a transgressor then pardon him.."] Tehzeeb didn't know when she started crying

Mallam Tanimu Khady's father come in and told them it's time for him to be taken to his final destination after the funeral prayer. Immediately he was taken out Tehzeeb get up to follow them but collapsed and passed out

Hajiya Kaltumi, Gogo Ramatu, Deedee and AA were all seating in the parlour gisting when Hajiya Kaltumi asked Gogo "hope you're hearing from Tehzeeb? Two days I did not see her" Hajiya Kaltumi asked

"Gaskiya (truly), I did not hear from her and am bothered to" Gogo Ramatu replied

"Maybe we should call her and see" Hajiya Kaltumi suggested

"And who is this Tehzeeb that you both always talk about?" Hadiza asked

"It's the girl I told you about that work in my shopping mall" Hajiya Kaltumi answer

"Oh! The girl you told us about, I want to meet her because the way you and Mama always talks about" Hadiza said since she don't want to bring Aisha's topic because Hajiya Kaltumi warned them not to speak about Aisha because of Gogo Ramatu. AA was just keeping quiet listing to them without saying anything, his bored of his room and Hajiya Kaltumi asked him to come and seat with them by force if not he could have gone back to his room

"Son you're not even saying anything, then what is the essence of seating here with us?" Hajiya Kaltumi said to AA that was just seating mute in the parlour

"Babe what did you want me to say now" Ashafa said. And before Hajiya Kaltumi could reply him she heard Gogo Ramatu saying "Inna lillahi wa-innailayi rajiAAoon" tears streaming down her face

"What happened? Why are you crying?" Hajiya Kaltumi asked a bit panicked that made all of them to stand up and walked towards Gogo Ramatu, she didn't say anything so Hajiya picked the phone "Salam Alaikum"

"Gogo ya tafi ya barmu, Baba ya mutu( he have gone and leave us, Baba is dead)" the person on the other side said because she thought it's still Gogo Ramatu that is still on the phone. Hajiya Kaltumi end the call immediately

"Inna lillahi wa-innailayi rajiAAoon" Hajiya said which made Hadiza and Ashafa more worried "marmie what happened, who died?" Hadiza asked worriedly

"Tehzeeb father is dead" she said finally which Hadiza and Ashafa said Inna lillahi wa-innailayi rajiAAoon at thesame time "Son get the car key, Hadiza go and bring out your hijab and bring my own let's go" Hajiya Kaltumi said quickly "and son change your clothes so you will attend the Janaizah" Hajiya Kaltumi said going to Gogo room to bring her Hijab. Ashafa and Hadiza ambled out at thesame time which Hajiya Kaltumi collected her hijab and asked them to leave immediately, she hold Gogo since she was not in her right state of mind due to the shock of the news

Immediately they arrived they ambled inside and at the same time the body was being taken out for the prayer, they walk inside and was searching for Umma and Tehzeeb when they saw Khady shouting help, Hajiya Kaltumi immediately walk there, but seeing Tehzeeb in that condition she asked Hadiza and Khady to bring her out so she would be taken to the hospital while Gogo should stay with Umma.

"Son give me the car key" Hajiya Kaltumi said immediately she saw her son

"Marmie what happened?" He asked

"No time for question now, just give me the car key"

"Okay I will drive" he volunteered

"I can drive attend the prayers and meet us in the hospital"

"You can't drive in this state marmie" Ashafa said worriedly

"Just give me the damn car key and stop complaining and join others for the prayer" Ashafa reluctantly give her the key because he don't want to argue with his mother. Hajiya Kaltumi collected the car key and asked them to put Tehzeeb inside before she drive off directly to the hospital

"Please doctor safe her" Hajiya Kaltumi said in tears, seeing Tehzeeb like this makes her heart more fragile, Khady was in tears too, it's was only Hadiza that was trying to control hers so she could answer the doctor's question. Minutes later the doctor walk out "she's safe now, it's not something complicated" the doctor said and show them to the room. Hajiya Kaltumi and Khady quickly move to Tehzeeb bed and hold her hands "please wake up dear" Hajiya Kaltumi whispered. Hadeeza knows her mother had a soft spot for people, but she thinks Tehzeeb own is different she wonder why but she's not complaining because she knows Da na kowa na(child is for everyone).

Tehzeeb have been in the hospital for three days now which Hajiya Kaltumi and Khady take turn to stay with her since Hadiza have to go home because of Nawal and the food that her mummy and Khady will eat. They were all praying for Tehzeeb to wake up soon

Tehzeeb moved and open her eyes before she closed it back because of the brighteness in the room,she gradually open her eyes again to adjust to the light, she tries to stand up but the sharp pain she felt by the left side of her head made her to realize that surely she have lost her father "sorry dear" she heard a familiar voice said and she turned her head to see where she was but to her ultmost surprised she was in the hospital then she recall the last incident before she passed out "shhhh it's okay dear take it easy" Hajiya Kaltumi said and help Tehzeeb to seat up "sorry for the lost dear, May Allah magnify your reward, and make perfect your bereavement, and forgive your departed" Hajiya Kaltumi said in condolences to Tehzeeb

Tehzeeb was about to talk but could not get her voice to cooperate with her, so Hajiya Kaltumi hand over a cup of water to her which she collected and drank small before returning the cup, with her raspy voice she speaks "how long have I been out?" She couldn't keep her self from not asking

"Three days" comes Hajiya Kaltumi short reply which Tehzeeb open her eyes widely not believing what she heard

"What?" She asked in disbelieve

"Yes dear, take it easy on yourself"

"What of Umma?" She asked panicked

"She's fine, don't stress yourself out, you're just regaining your strength. Am coming let me get the doctor" Hajiya Kaltumi walk out to call the doctor which they came back together and met Tehzeeb crying, but they didn't stop her because they know she need to let it out. The doctor discharged her which Tehzeeb was grateful because all she wants was to be in the embrace of her mother, she need to feel her warmth to calm her burning heart

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O Allah forgive our living and our dead , those who are with us and those who are absent, our young and our old , our menfolk and our womenfolk. O Allah, whomever you give life from among us give him life in Islam, and whomever you take way from us take him away in Faith . O Allah , do not forbid us their reward and do not send us astray after them.

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