Chapter 29

They were at the dinning table everybody eaten their food in peace. Alhaji hamza shettima was also not left out today, he came back home early today because it was Friday. Reedah was feeling uncomfortable with intent gaze Khalid was sending her way, she kept blushing and could hardly chew on her food.

Yushraf" Alhaji hamza called.

Sir" He respond.

I heard you guys will be returning back to school on sunday, is that right? He asked.

Yes sir" He reply.

Stop been all former with me please, I'm like a father to you" He beseech.

I'm sorry" Was all he said.

Both of you should meet me when you're done eaten " he said and retire to his living room.

~ ~ ~

After they were done with eaten, they went toward Alhaji leaving room. " Yushraf I'm nervous " Reedah voice out. "Honestly speaking I'm nervous as well too but I'm sure everything shall be alright. Okay! So quit been nervous" He said " like wise you too" She said and punch his arm teasing.

Yeah I know right" He said tightening his hold on her assuring her with a smile.

They were at the front door. They said their salam and got in immediately they got a reply.

They leisurely walk in and greeted him again. He gesture them to seat down on a couch but they refuse and sat down on the floor instead.

So how much is your Schools fees? I heard you school in Nile university Abuja"He asked.

Yes Abba, we are on scholarship" Said Yushraf.

Really that impressing! Can I know about your parent? He asked again.

Their late three years ago Abba." Yushraf stated.

I'm sorry for your lost, may their soul continue to rest in peace."He said calmly.

He remove his spectacle and gaze at them closely. What your fathers name" Was all he asked again.

Uhm" He hmmm.

C'mon! You're all part of the family already, now speak up.

His Alhaji Imam Sufyan" He uttered.

What? You mean the real Alhaji imam the billionaire? He asked again in disbelief.

Yes" was all came out of their mouth.

* * *

It been exactly three day since deejah got missing and was yet to be found. Detectives have also been trying their possible best in searching for her but all to no avail. All they get every time a detective came was still the same news. Alhaji Muhammad Agogo also higher some private investigators but all was still the same. He was so desperate to see his only daughter back. And all the news about is daughter is always the same. He could not eat nor sleep or even think straight again. He has been searching all over the town him self too.

Praying mat and Qur'an has been Hajiya Rukkayya companion ever since her daughter got Missing and her family absent since yesterday with heartbreak of not able to find Khadijah before their flight was schedule. They wanted to cancel it until further notice but Hajiya Rukkayya refused because of Hajiya check up which was tomorrow. The couples were also drifting apart gradually. They hardly spare each other a minute. Hajiya Rukkayya surrender and give faith to Almighty Allah, if it was a challenge she was ready to face it by Allah's will.

It was already 8pm. And no news was heard yet. She kept turning on bed sleep refused to come and she was having some bad feelings like her daughter is not safe wherever she is. She stood up from bed and went to the bathroom and did her ablution. She came out of the bathroom and lay her praying mat down,wore her hijab and said her prayer. She prolonged her sujood pouring out her heart to the Almighty Allah, the All knowing and Seeing. She kept crying non stop because of what she was feeling in her heart, she remain in sujood for a while praying for Khadijah safety in wherever she is.

* * *

She park her car roughly in front of the station and quickly ran inside toward the reception office like a lunatic breathing heavily.

Welcome madam, what brought you here at this hour of the time? Any problem? A police man at the reception asked gazing at her intensively.

She explained everything and was given a slip to have her signature print on it while they went ahead and call Mubarak Abdulmajeed. His cloth were handed over to him and a slip was given to him to have his signature stamp too.

~ ~ ~

Immediately they where out of the station. He asked the question he was daring to asked." How is Nusaiba? He asked calmly.

She's fine" Aunty Asmau reply. Guilty washing all over her face.

Alhamdullilah! I hope she has recover? " He asked, different emotions rising inside of him.

Yes" Was her only respond before she open her side door and asked him to get in.

No" he rejected quickly.

Why?" She asked.

I rather walk on my own than to be pick by a heartless human being like you" He remark and walk out on her.

She was astounded, every efforts to speak up was futile. She press her hand on her forehead not knowing what to do next. She couldn't blame his word because it was exactly the truth, if only she could rewind the clock back and do the right thing then she won't have face this insult or any humiliation from this young man now__ is too late already!

She raise her face up and couldn't see any sight of Mubarak again. She face palm herself and quickly make a mental note to search for him before he go far. She swiftly drove her car out of the station. Not faraway she sighted him again and drove behind him, she hong and Hong but Mubarak did not even spare her a glance. She came out of the car and block his way immediately. Kneeling in front of him she try apologizing for what they did and was cut-off immediately.

"Woman can you just get out of my sight please"He beseech.

"I'm sorry Mubarak, At least just hear me out before you judge" She said wiping away her tears.

"That was all I asked for seven month ago" He retorted back angrily." Now get out of my sight" His blood was boiling in rage and was getting out of control. He exhale a sharp breath and decide to walk out first.

At least let me drop you home please" She beseech again.

He watch the woman antics with a humorless stare" You called that a home? A home where I'm not wanted? A home where I could never be trusted? A home full of hatred and bad memories? Oh God! By Allah I will rather remain homeless than to step my foot in that house again. I forbid that house from my soul." He shrug and vanish into the dark street.

She became speechless,eyes blinking severally in shock, her mouth wide agape, throat dry up, her leg became stiff from kneeling. She heave a sighed and stood up quietly and walk back to her car. She drive out of the street slowly with heart full of disappointment.

* * *

Pacing to and fro inside her room, she couldn't keep calm anymore. All her effort to try the Ameer number was futile ever since the day they send her the pictures she requests." What have I done" she question her inner self, because she has forwarded those pictures to sheriff to confirm his suspicious already.

That was the reason behind all this plan and nothing more. All she ever send him to do was to just snap a picture of them together even if he has to blackmail her and nothing more "Ya Allah please bring her back safe" She prayed.

* * *

He was walking alone on the lonely street, not even knowing where to go, because he vow not to return back home again and will only go once and pack his stuff. His heart was bleeding with a lot of emotion rising, nobody ever care about him! All he has now are friends who supported him and his colleague at office who kept checking on him time to time. His father never visited him or even know if he was still alive or not. And his only maternal uncle probably did not know about his where about too. He will surely look for Khalid and Yushraf Sufyan just as he promise them when they visited him yesterday.__ not knowing he was going to be release the next day self.

He kept walking on the lonely street and stop on his track when he heard a shuffling move, though it was not clear but can still be heard. He walk toward the side of the bush and his suspicious was immediately confirmed when he heard another series of cry. He walk deeper into the bush and saw a figure laying on a grass. He became scared. Worried lace all over his body, he wipe away the sweat forming on his forehead and touch the figure. It was a lady, she look so vulnerable, her mouth was gagged effectively making her to restrain her speech, while her leg and hand were both tie making her body to be unmoved. She could barely look up at him, her body was so exposed that he have to remove his shirt and cover her with it.

He quickly remove the tape around her mouth and she started coughing nonstop because her throat has been raw for days. He went further and untie both her hand and leg. Though she kept struggling to move until he assure her he was only helping her.

Immediately he untie her. She heave a long sighed and fell unto his arm making him more scared. He shake her whole body, but unfortunately she was not responding neither was she breathing.

Mubarak was dumbfound and restless. He was so confused and didn't even know what to do next, just on clue his eye sighted something shinning on the grass and he move closer and pick it only to discover it was a clutch bag. He pray to find anything useful inside and quickly open it. Luckily he saw her phone inside and pick it instantly. He quickly switch the phone on and went through her contact.

He went through her favorite and dial the one save with daddy immediately. " Please pick up" he beg internally.

After the third rang he pick up. " Hello!

Assalamu'alaikumu! uhm I'm sorry I don't know how this might sound to you, right now your daughter is with me lying lifeless inside a bush I think she need__" He was cut-off instantly.

What? Where is she right now please? He yelled tears rolling out of his eyes uncontrollably.

At the bush near police station." He replied and could feel how his heart ache with the sad news. Perhaps they've been looking for her" He thought.