Chapter 7: Chapter 7
09: 59 p.m
Wednesday Evening,
Humaira met him packed his huge black, Toyota highlander behind the hotel. She had been waiting for him about a minute ago, so they could go in together.
He pointed to her, indicating she should come into his jeep, so he took her inside. He was wearing an expensive looking dansiki (native wear) with a black, shiny shoe to match. Humaira was in her usual flowing gown and veil, wrapped around her body. He took her into a room he had booked for earlier that day and asked her to wait a bit, so he would discuss with the hotel manager personally on the issue. And she agreed.
***
30 Minutes Later
Humaira was surprised to see that he came in with the same briefcase.
"So?Here it is!" He said happily, handling her the briefcase.
"Thank you sir, I'm really grateful." She jumped over it.
"I'm glad they kept this first me. The manager was a really nice man. He said he's has been trying my number but it wasn't reachable. They were going to return it back to me anyways and here it is. It's a good thing you can back to tell me about the missing money else? How would I have known?"
Alhaji Musa then paused for a while.
"I'm feeling pressed, Humaira, wait for me. I'll be back in a minute." He walked into the toilet.
"Okay sir." Humaira answered and smiled at the money. Finally! The money is in my hands again. One. Million. Naira!
Humaira's eyes caught the wall clock. It was just 10:45 p.m. There was still time and she hoped to get home before midnight.
Just then, she walked to the window to get the view of how beautiful the city is. And for a moment, she imagined if only both her parents still alive, how fortunate would she have been? She wouldn't have gone through any of these?Just maybe Alhaji Musa would treat her better now that they have nobody. She couldn't help but to think about how nice and concerned the Alhaji was, just now.
Just then, a hand swiped through her face, blocking her nose with an hanky filled with glue. And she unconsciously inhaled it.
***
9:30 a.m.
The Following Morning,
A view just before sunrise, resembles like a sunset. But the difference is vast, as it is fills with a hope of rays. From blue to yellow, from yellow to black, and from black to blue again. The beautiful sky cleared as it was morning.
Silent quivers escaped from her breath as the ray of the early morning sunlight brought her back to life. When Humaira opened her eyes, her mind absolutely went blank.
In a huge surprise, she noticed where we was?On the bed in the hotel room.
Her breath wasn't very clear as her whole body aches. A sharp pain strokes through her whole body as she felt wetness in between her legs... She felt used again! And this time, she was let alone. Humaira knows Alhaji Musa had done something again. Slowly and sadly, she managed to walk into the toilet to clean up herself.
As she stepped out, a voice whispered in her head?"The Money."
Her weak eyes widened in fear of loosing it twice. She searched the whole room but the black suitcase was nowhere to be found.
"What happened? How could this be possible?!" Her face once again stared around in confusion, lifelessly.
It was just then she realized, Alhaji Musa had raped her again, leaving her with zero naira.
Confuse and broken, Humaira cried for hours before going back home. She had spent all on her. She had tried everything possible but failed. Now, it's no doubt that, she would have to drop out.
***
About Humaira
She's actually wider than she seems and looks but sometimes, she acts stupid. Always believe that that luck finds her on every situation e.g , how she easily
gets jobs, free lights from strangers, help from friends and most of all, admission into ABU, Zaria.
To her, all these ends when Alhaji Musa drugged and ravished her?She's been misfortunate ever since then. It's like a curse that would never wash away. She blames herself for everything.
***
Unable to tell what had happened. Unable to figure of what the 'beast of man' had done to her. Unable to report to anyone, the police or her sister. Even for the second time, she had no proof. Anyone she tells this to would definitely call her one name?STUPID!
Yes! She was stupid indeed. Getting home, Zainab was already worried. Humaira that left last night just came back 12:30 p.m in the afternoon.
"What happened sister? Why did you stay so long and.. Where is the Money?" Zainab questioned her sister, wondering why she looked so lifeless and weak.
Zainab grabbed her hand and led her to seat on an old, torn mat. It was one of the most valuable things in their house.
"Sis! Is everything alright?"
"I'm so sorry Zainab. I'm sorry I couldn't bring the money back with me. I'm sorry for being a useless sister to you?I'm sorry for disappointed you again." Humaira muttered as tears steamed down her weary, swollen eyes.
Zainab felt so emotional and immediately held her elder sister in a soft hug.
"What happened sister?What aren't you telling me?" Zainab console too, with uncontrollable tears gathering in her eyes. "Please stop crying, I'll always be proud of you no matter what."
"It started with mum's death, now this?How can I drop out so early, it's just my first year. Why am I so unlucky? What would I do now?'' She cried even harder.
Zainab held her face and wiped way Humaira's tears with the edge of her faded wrapper. As she was already crying too.
"Don't worry sister Humaira, everything would be fine, I promise.?There's always a solution to everything problem. There would definitely be a solution to ours."
"Really?" She asked sniffing her nose.
"Yes, this isn't the first problem we're facing so how can you give up so easily? How can you be so weak? Don't forget, we're in this together, sis. We would always be together."
"What hopes did you have left, Zainab or?Don't you have any advise for me this time?" She stopped weeping for a moment, searching Zainab's eye for answers.
"Have you forgotten what Splash said in Suratul Bakarah? Quran 2:117 ?
Badii'u s-samawaati wal-ardi wa iza qadaa amra, fainna maa yaquulu lahu kun fayya kun.
(God Almighty praised Himself by saying; He is the Originator of the heavens and the earth, whenever he decides a thing. He only says to it, "Be" and it is.)
So why are you worried when everything in this world is predestined by the Creator of all.
You must accept in good and bad, no matter when or how long. Where is your faith sister?"
Humaira went silent for a while, digging on what her eight years old sister had just said.
"I've never been so humiliated in my life, Zee. Not like today?And I find out that I'm so weak and helpless and alone."
Zainab held Humaira hands again.
"Then don't panic because you have Allah. And with Him, you will become better again.. Only with Him, you'll get help and be strong again. You'll become weak only if you give breaking down like this."
Then, she paused for a while and sighed heavily. "Where ever mum is now, I'm sure that she would be protecting us. Luck would soon be ours very soon, Insha Allah. Perhaps, I'm thinking we should get?involved in prayers and fasting. What do you think?"
"Yes, that's a good idea, Zee. You're very brave even during this time."
"This time would surely come to pass. I've always known that that good-for-nothing Alhaji Musa is just a wolf in sheep's clothing. Allah would give us justice no matter what."
"Amin!" Humaira muttered, finally feeling better with Zainab's soothing words.
They were like water, quenching the fire in her soul.
"We have no one left not except Allah and each other."
"Yes.. Wait!" Zainab jerked. "What about doctor Azeezah. ''Can't we meet her and discuss these issues stuff hand?"
"Yes, that's true. But I didn't hear from her since mum's death. And she didn't visit us too. How come I never thought about this?"
Well, I guess you're the beauty and I'm the brains." Zainab joked.
Humairah got a smile. It was a precious smile, that Zainab cherished so much. Always seeing Humaira happy is Zainab's wish. Making her successful is her dream.
Now that things seem to be more difficult they have to be by each other's side by never before.
It didn't take two seconds before Humaira's smiled faded away. She was going through hell and it us this stage in her life that needed an helper or a Guardian-Angel that would lighten her way. An accidental and a comforter that would support her through.
I really need to visit Doctor Azeezah today and explain things to her. I would meet her this Evening, when she comes for her Night Shift. Humaira concluded. Her heart and mind, finally being at rest.