Chapter 33

Days turn to weeks and weeks turn into a month. It been exactly three month already, just in a blink of an eye, Alhaji Muhammad agogo became nobody again. His mansion, company, and cars are all collected to refund the loan.

Life was getting harder with each passing of the day, he wish the surgery was not successful at all. He wish to be in his early grave than to face all the embarrassment he felt now__ indeed just has love is not a bed or roses same goes to life too, it is never a bed of rose. Power is something that ends someday, just like life. It is always conquer by a bigger power someday." He thought and sip a bowled of water with so much pain. Not an internal pain but a pain worst than that__ emotional pain, it constricted deep within his soul. His daughter called jolted him out of his thought.

"Dad" She called again. "He uhm snapping out of his thought and facing her.

Dad have been calling you severally but you were so lost, you didn't even notice my entrance. Dad why can't you just let it go. Have faith for once please everything happen for a reason there is nothing we can do to stop it when it been written upon us." She stated getting pissed off with her dad attitude

Dad please be thankful in every situation you find yourself in, my last days at school was a torture and exams were approaching then, there was nothing I could do about it, I became a laughing stock at school, people laugh at me at every moment they sighted me, they mock me, I can't even start mentioning what I face in school back then dad, I never told you any of it so you don't get worried and blame yourself. It was painful dad but I was able to endure it till my signed out day." Tears stream down her face as she remember those horrible days back in school.

I know and believed that one day everything will be alright, this is just a little of our own medicine, it is a karma! I wish I had listen to mum from the beginning instead of you, I wish I had follow mums steps rather than yours, I wish I could rewind the clock back to been my odd self, I wish " She trailed off. Her voice breaking as she cried.

Hajiya Rukkayah who has been eavesdropping behind the door came forward and lean her shoulder for her daughter to cry on. She couldn't entirely blame deejah for how she talk to her dad__ perhaps he will get it right now that his daughter said it to his face. " Is okay khadijah, cry no more." She said trying hard to stop her tears from falling.

"Mum it was so painful to endure, and to just make everything worst Mina distance herself from me. She sa...id she have to...to st..op walking with me because she can't endure been embarrassed or walk with a pe..nu..ry like me anymore" She kept stammering as she remember what her best friend said to her face. She never believed Mina to say that to her face without feeling any remorseful about it but just as it said life is indeed full of surprised__ your best friend who you share everything with today can be your enemy tomorrow.

Mum I'm astray, dad lead me astray. Please forgive me, forgive my every steps,forgive for everything have ever done to you, mum please forgive me for every tears that ever fall out of your eyes because of me, forgive..." She was cut off with a tight hug. "Say no more have truly forgiven you a long time ago, I will never hold a grudge at my child." Tears cascaded down her eyes seeing her daughter this way.

Thank you mum, I promise to change forever and will also make your wishes come true. I will look for them and asked for their forgiveness, I will start joining you in kitchen and I will get married when I find a good suitor immediately after My NYSC " She wipe her mum tears with her palm.

Hajiya rukkayah was speechless, she curve her lips into a smile and ruffle her daughter's hair happily.

* * *

She pack her clothe inside a trolley, it been solely three and a half year she visited her country. Ever since she lost her immediate brother, she lost it in her to visit her country, she don't crave for home again for it will bring back the sad memory. Losing her brother suddenly was a big tore on her, she never new it will affect her just has it did. She was paralyze for over two years immediately she came back from Nigeria. Everything became afresh when she returns back, her Blood pressure got higher and result into a stroke that make her bedridden for over two years. She was strongly advise not to travel by flight for a year or more by there doctor.

Her older brother baban bashar only visited her once and never did again. They only talk on phone casually. The only people that visited her often was his wife and son bashar. She has never heard from her other nephew and niece Yushraf and Reedah her brother twins ever since she returns after a week of their parent death. Baban bashar never give her a satisfactory answer of them before. He only said their fine and nothing more.

She couldn't stand it anymore and discuss it with her husband, he gave her his full support to go ahead,to visit her home country for he knows he can't stop her this time around. She has already inform maman bashar of her coming and plead with her to keep it as a secret from her brother.

Her flight was schedule to take off at exactly 11pm in the night.

Noor barge into her room without salam " Mum where..." She was saying when a knock on her head shut her up.

"How many times do I have to warned you to stop barging into my room like someone been chased, if you can't say a simple salam before entering my room then stop coming. Now get out of my room " She pointed toward the door sternly.

"I'm sorry mum_" Sorry for yourself. Noor went out of the room "Asalamu-alaykum" She said, waiting for her mum response before entering in.

"Wa'alaykum salam, come in" She gesture.

She went inside the room and sat down at the edge of the bed and stared at the trolleybus. " Mum you're traveling?" She asked in disbelief.

"Yes I'm travelling, I should be in Nigeria by tomorrow evening insha Allah. They didn't tell you about it" She asked in surprised.

"Nobody told me about it mum. But mum I want to come with you, it been long I went to Nigeria.

"I know but this is very urgent, insha Allah were all going together before the end of this year when I set everything right. okay!

"Yes mum, hope all is well.

"Yes Noor everything is fine Just pray for me to land safely, okay!

"Yes mum, insha Allah I will keep praying for you to land safely and also come back sound in health." She stated.

~ ~ ~

"I just have bad feelings about the twins I don't know if there safe. Have not heard from them for long, and I felt terrible about it, I feel like have betray my brother trust. I'm I not too selfish for not checking on them since then?" She asked facing her husband.

"Please stop saying that, okay" He warn with his hand both on his wife shoulders." listen carefully I know were you're coming from but believe me non of this Is true and you're not selfish as well neither betray your brother. Remember your condition too, your health, you're just healing from the wound. You always asked of them too and they always tell you there fine, it mean you care, a day never pass you in this house without their name been slip out of your lips. Please stop seeing yourself as a bad aunt okay" he reassured her and she nodded her head. He wipe her tears with his thump and Caresse her affectionately.

He took the trolley and wrap his hand on her back and came out to the living room together and met the children waiting already.

They all manoeuvre to the parking lot and drive out of the mansion to the airport.

* * *

Aunty hafsa was extremely happy, she couldn't wait to see her sister in law after a year or more she mean a lot to her__Finally she can now travel on her own. That was a good news.

She asked the maid to arrange everywhere neatly especially the guess room and they should also change the bed sheet, center rug and curtain. Different variety of food were been cook by the maid.

She amble to the living and met her son so engross that he never notice her coming in. She called in a high pitch voice and bashar snapped out of his trance. "What making you lost this way bashar" She asked worriedly.

"Mama" He called.

"Yes talk to to me, what wrong, why in deep thought?"

"Mama did you want to know what wrong with me?" He asked raising his eyebrows. And she nodded in affirmation. " Go on" She assure.

"Have not heard from my cousin's for the past three years I left Nigeria and anytime I tried calling their number is always not rechargeable. I went to kano too and met the house lock five month ago. I'm just worried I don't know if their doing fine.

"Hmmm" Aunty Hafsa uhm

"I also asked about them from your father,I asked him to bring them back to Lagos so they could stay here with us and he said he did just that but they refused. They said there okay staying in kano. Since then anytime he called is either they reject his call or ignore it so he stop calling and the last he try calling in my present the number was not rechargeable, they block your fathers line or perhaps all our line. They might think your father is after there inheritance who knows." She shrugged.

"That so bad, mama are you really sure of what you're say?" He asked in disbelief.

"Of course I'm sure, your fathers word not my" She emphasized

"Uhm okay! Allah is in control.

"Insha Allah. Hope you're aware of your aunt coming down to Nigeria koh?

"Which of my aunt?" He asked

"Aunty salamatu in Canada " She whisper

"Oh my god! Maman Noor is coming to Nigeria? I can't believe it. Wow it been long she visit. Hope she can now travel?

"Yeah Alhamdullilah she can again"

"I'm happy! But wait mum is she coming together with Noor too? He asked curiously.

"I'm not sure, I doubt if their coming together. Why did you asked" She asked, gazing at her son immensely.

"C'mon mama stop starring at me, I just asked because I care." He said getting up before another question.

"What about others did you asked if there coming too?

"Mum I know Afzal will still be busy with school while Ya Hafiz work won't let him but Noor she has nothing doing, she's done with her school last month." He try defending his self.

"Uhm okay."

* * *

Just like yesterday it been exactly three month they went back to school and their exam was fast approaching just a week to go and Yushraf will be graduate. That thought alone was enough to make him happy, he can't just wait to start earning for his self and his twin sister, he felt vulnerable seeing them as burden to others.

"Asalamu-alaykum" Reedah walk into his room.

"Walay-kumul salam, Baby sis" he tease

"And who is babysis? Huh!" She asked with a glare.

"So how are you? Since you abandon your brother."

"Well I'm fine and I never abandon you, after all Fatima called you 24/7 right.

"How is preparation for the upcoming exam's? " He asked changing the topic

"Ignoring my question right, okay! I will let is slide for now. Alhamdullilah I'm preparing well but I'm sad you will will be done soon while I have extra year to go still. I will miss my coming here, I will miss you, i will miss us" She said sadly

"Don't worry, anywhere they post me to for my service I will relocate to back Abuja, here just to be closed to you. I promise!

"Awwwn! can I ever stop thanking Allah for blessing me with a twin brother like you? Thank you very much Yushraf. May Allah continue to protect us from shaytan and also guild us to the right path always.

"Aamin Amin, insha Allah.

"I will start going now, I have a lot to do just came to check on you before you start saying I abandon you again. Here is some baking I did enjoy bye" She peck his cheek and sauntered out of the room even before Yushraf could react.

He open it and was mesmerized with the cupcake his sister made, he can't believe Reedah has change a lot and can even bake now. "Wow is this my Reedah" He asked him self astonishingly.

His phone was vibrating on the nightstand so he wrap the cake's back and went forward and pick the called. " Asalamu-alaykum Abba"

"Walaykum salam, Yushraf how are you, and how is school and preparation for exam?" He asked all at once calmly.

Alhamdullilah Abba we are preparing good.

"Masha Allah that great, Before I forget the reason why I called__I've talked to Barr. Sadiq, my lawyer and he's already handling the case. The writ of summon shall be delivered to them tomorrow or next, insha Allah.

"Okay Abba, thank you very much we really appreciate.

"My regard to Reedah and make sure you convey my to her as well" He said and hung the called.

He drop his phone on the nightstand and exhale a long breath he was holding. " It's not too late to stop Abba from withdrawing that case" He thought.

But then he remembers everything again, the slap, prison and worst of it Reedah__How his sister was slapped from a girl not up to her standard, the insult, lost of womb, her maid." All this flashback into his mind and the hatred grow like a stab on his chest. He can't forgive her! She was behind their every tears that ever fallen five month ago she made their living a hell. Reedah was right, they can't just let it slide.