Chapter 83: Chapter 83

"I'm so stupid. I feel so wrong right now but I'm not going back. I can't believe Humaira risked all of that for my sake and I agree with her. Yes! Maybe I'm responsible for Hadee's kidnap but God knows I tried my best. So all these years, she knew Alhaji Musa was my father but she hit it away from me." She sniffed and wiped away her tears with the back of her hands.

"But who cares? That man's existence is a curse on its own. I don't know how it happened but I'll never be his daughter. We are nothing alike and we'll never be. Ugghhh! My life is just a mess right now. Thinking of it, I just realized. Humaira has been a father and?mother to me but... Maybe I'm not as good as I think I am. She had been through a lot already and I'm going to help her find Hadee but first, I'll have to visit Habeebah. I know she would help me through all of this." Zainab stopped a taxi going to Maitama, the place where Habeebah lives.

'I'll spend a while with habeebah before leaving going to Ekiti. I must find my niece and being him back to his mother. If I'm able to find him, I hope Humaira would be able to forgive me and I'll be able to forgive myself. But as for now, I can't even face her. I don't want to.' The thoughts were playing on Zainab's mind when they got to Maitama. Lost about Habeebah's house number, Zainab borrowed a passerby's phone to dial her contact but it wasn't reachable.

'Subhanallah! I must have forgotten my phone at home!" Zainab cried. "What would I do now? How would I get her and I have nothing on me to go back home. I didn't think before leaving, I just left! It's all my fault and I blame myself. I'll just hang around." Zainab walked through the pavements watching the beautiful buildings and walking around like a lost bird.

***

Night came and Zainab was still stock somewhere on the street. It was cold and busy but... No one talked to her. No one knew the poor orphaned girl with bitter memories. Zainab kept exploring the place but, she felt sad an hungry, roaming under the cold night like a bat.

'I and Humaira used to be very close. I don't know why but all of a sudden, she looks like a changed person to me. Our relationship is not like before... Ever since she came back from Zaria things aren't the same. I should be happy, I should be very happy and?excited. I've always wanted to live with her as my sister and guardian but I feel so lost in between. I wonder if it's because we didn't meet 5 years ago or it's because she's a mother now. I feel she loves me less, why am I greedy about this?"

Lost in thoughts, Zainab wanted to cross when the road when a flashy red, Naruto swift swerved to hit her hard.

Zainab didn't know that day would run out to the the worst day if her life, as if she haven't been through enough. She wanted to cross over to the car park, find a taxi going to Gwagwalada even though there was nothing on her; she hopped to find a way, now this. The car stopped as the driver parked swiftly, rushing out to her.

Zainab fell unconscious to the ear-busrting car horn and eye-gleaming headlight that blinded her sight just that moment. Her vision clouded as she suddenly passed out.

"Fuck!" He guy cursed as he watched blood pouring out of her lifeless body. "What would I do now?! Shit!" He cried once more.

In no time, passerbys gathered the scene. They watched with scared faces as her blood painted the cold, tiled floor. Khalid, the guy that mistakenly hit her looked so confused. Behind him, other cars stopped as they slowed down, forming a holdup on the road.

"What happened?" An elderly man asked as his eyes caught the young, unconscious girl on the floor.

"Is she dead? What are you doing watching her?" The man asked in concern.

"I don't know! I didn't see her... It was just an accident!" Khalid tried explaining.

"You should take care of the mess you created!" The man hissed. "Rush her to the hospital immediately, there's no time!"

Although, Khalid didn't want to, he had no choice than to take her into the passengers seat. As if he wanted to go somewhere important but the incident stopped him. He was just pissed up by all of these.

"Follow me, let's take her to my hospital!" He old man instructed, as they made a U-turn to the hospital where the elderly man worked.

***

Waiting impatiently in the reception room, a short, fair complexioned nurse came to meet him with a paper in her hand.

"Hey Mister, you need to fill this form sir." She showed him but he didn't collect the form.

"Umm...I was actually going somewhere before I bumped into her. She's just a stranger and I helped. I mean.. I'll have to leave right away." He explained.

"What? You can't just leave her like this! You brought her here didn't you?"

A frown finds its way to the nurse's face. She felt bitter by hearing his words.

"Fuck!" He hissed beneath. "I'm so screwed!"

"What?! What's that?" The nurse asked him in a low voice, her confused eyes searching his face.

"Just give me the form." He jerked. The nurse handed it to him and rolled her eyes at him.

'How irresponsible? Mcteeew!' She mentally hissed at him and walked away.

Khalid started filling the form, not knowing what her name, age or address is. He felt so pained as hated himself for what had happened.

Khalid submitted the form with only one question answered; Sex: female.

He didn't bother writing his contact or anything as he didn't want to have any thing to do with her.

"What a badluck?" Khalid hissed out of the hospital and drive back home. The elderly man whom was a doctor took care of her, making sure that she's attended to.

Pain strike through Khalid's head as he drove back home.

"Oh God! What the hell have I gotten myself into?!" Khalid hissed as he got into his car. "I just hope she doesn't die, whatever! I don't want any blood on my head. Imagine the idiot! She got into the road just like that, making me feel guilty over her own mistake. What's my business? I'm going home and I'm never coming here again. I've helped her enough, haven't I? I should be at the club now enjoying my life but I end up coming to the hospital. Fuck! I'm going home!"

Khalid turned on the engines and reversed back before steering into the road. It was already 10:00pm by the time.

Ring! Ring!! Ring!!!

Ring! Ring!! Ring!!!

Khalid's phone kept on vibrating but he didn't pick. Everything about the accident pissed him up, it's as his his brain was boiling at the moment.

"That girl is just a spoiler! Fuck!!" He hissed once more before looking at the screen of his phone.

The name,?'King D' was boldly written in capital letter but he hissed immediately he saw the name. As if he would drive himself to paradise, Khalid sped up, overtaking most if the vehicles on the road. King D, called over and over again, forcing khalid to pick up the call.

"I'm not coming today okay? Plan changed!" Khalid started as he put on his earpiece, fixing the earbuds into his ears.

"What?! But we've planned for this for long now. Especially now that you're back to naija."

"Damn! Something happened today my guy! I'm not in the mood right now. I'm so fucking pissed about engaging myself into such."

"Lord of Wealth!" David hailed. "What happened?"

"I accidentally hit someone on my way to the club.?I had to rush her to the fucking hospital!"

"Awwww! Is she a girl? How pretty is she?" Curiosity laced David's voice.

Shut up motherfucker! She's not my type of girl okay, so don't even dream of it.

"C'mon, you can introduce me to her now. If you're not ready." David joked over the phone.

"Whatever! I'll see you tomorrow, okay."

"Okay. Bye."

Khalid takes the earpiece off his ears, as his eyes were fixed to the road. He pressed a button on the satnav as music started playing. He increased the volume a but, driving faster into the road.

Khalid is a 20 year old, spoilt, rich kid with the bad boy, I-don't-care vibes. A Nigerian born in America, Kahlid is the only child of his billonaire parents.

Well, he just came back home to Nigeria after his studies from Oxford University, England. And today; Khalid, as spoilt as he may be had no option than to take unconsious Zainab to the hospital. All on his schedule is to enjoy life in Nigeria or a while before he goes for his master's in India.

Also, his buddy, David also known as 'King D', has been Khalid friend for a couple of months now. The Maikuddi's, Khalid's parent had to introduce him to a son of one of their closest friends so, David is just like a family friend. It's been a months now since since Khalid cane back to Nigeria but all on his mind is to live life till fullest but Zainab ruined his plan for the day. He'd planned to check every club in the city of Abuja before leaving for his masters. The thoughts were playing on his mind when he suddenly made a swerve to his street. Finally getting home, the authomatic gate opened as he drove in.

The compound looked executive and the tall mansion looked like a beautiful mountain in it. Still pissed, Khalid patched his car at the parking lot and walked inside.

"Where are you coming from?" A voice startled him.

Khalid turned to the living room and saw his mum scrolling through her phone.

"Hi mum." He greeted. "You're not yet asleep?"

"Yes, I was worried about you."

"But mummy... How many times would I tell you that you shouldn't worry about me." He emphasized. "I'm no longer a baby you know."

"Yes I know my love, but I'm still your mother and I care. I'm so excited that you're back home but only God knows what's happening out there."

"I know Mummy." He smiled but his smile dropped almost immediately.

"Is everything alright?" She asked. "Hope?there's no problem?"

"No mummy." Khalid tried to hide his feelings

"You're my son, Khalid. Talk to me."

"Ummmmm... I had an accident earlier today."

"What?! Au'dhubillah! How did it happen? Hope you're not injured?" She asked curiously.

No mum, I'm fine. He rubbed this face, anxiously. I mistakenly hit a passerby.

"What?! How is that possible? Hope he's alright?"

"She's a girl mum... But luckily enough, I rushed her to the hospital on time."

"Subhanallah! We need to check on her first thing tomorrow morning and... Have you contacted her family?"

"No... Not yet mum. She was just alone, I have no idea about her name or where she lives."

"Don't worry my dear. I'm here with you. Hopefully, we'll find out tomorrow."

"Okay mum." Khalid cuddled his mum into a warm hug, then he gently pulled away.

"I'm so tired, I'll be going to bed now. Good night."

"Good night my dear." she smiled at him, noticing the frown on his face was he walked upstairs.

A smirk finds its way to Mrs. Maikuddi's thin lips as she watched her son go into his room.

***

The wall clock chimed 12:00 a.m and Zainab is not yet back. Humaira stared at the food she managed to prepare, hoping that he sister would comeback after the argument but she didn't. A drop of tear lingered down Humaira's tired face. She couldn't understand why. Why Abu of these is happening to her. First, she Hadee got kidnapped now this?

'Where on Earth could Zainab be?' This question kept playing in her mind like memory from the past. Humaira couldn't help but to remember how happy the three of them were, a month ago. She had tried looking for her at the Bala's house but Ibrahim and Isah sent her away. Idris wasn't around. She bet those two hates her with passion for what she did a two months ago. Well, she left there without feeling an ounce of remorse for any of them... It was all their fault this was happening.

Humaira couldn't think straight. She had to come back home with the hope that she would meet Zainab at home but she met nothing. Just then, Humaira realised that she's alone. Lonely in the house that she built. Despite all her effort to make things work and make life a better place to live, everything ends up being ironical.

Staring at the food before her, Humaira couldn't eat. Yet, sleep seems unbearable.

'I'm so ruined! What even made Zainab leave home in the first place? Humaira questioned herself, thinking about what had happened earlier that day. Maybe it was my fault. I shouldn't have slapped her but she was saying things that she shouldn't. Imagine Zainab calling me a prostitute... I feel so belittled already. It was my fate to go through such, yet... I'm not appreciated. I'll have to report to the police first thing tomorrow morning.' Humaira concluded and went to ablute. She did ta'ajud

'Oh Allah, I know I've sinned. I know I've done a lot of wrongs I've regretted and still regretting. I'm a lost servant that needs your help. Oh Allah, guide me through the right path and make me a better person. Save and protect my precious son, Hadee and my lovely sister, Zainab wherever they are. Only You knows and understands.' Hot tears dropped out of her eyes as she broke down in tears again. It felt so painful that Humaira's mouth went sour. She cried and whimpered bitterly, hoping the Lord would accept her prayers and things would finally be as it was, two months ago.

Prostrating in Sujud, Humaira let out all her feelings to the Almighty. With endless tears flowing through her eyes as the emotions clouded through her mind. Humaira stayed in this position for hours until... Sleep engulfed her.

***

With a sharp, supdden gasp, Humaira jerked up from sleep as her eyes opened to the brightness of the day.

"Au'dhubillahi Minna shaytani Rojim! Subhanallah!! That mustn't happen! My Zainab... I can't even protect you as well?" She breaks down into tears from the nightmare she just had. Humaira dreamt that Zainab got involved in an accident and died.

***

Words and Translations

-Ta'ajud: Vigil, night to morning prayer

-Sujud: A prayer position where one bows, in the position of placing the head on floor. Prostration.

-Audhubillahi Mina shaytani Rojim: I rebuke myself from Devil, the cursed one.

-Subhanallah: Glory be to God.

***