Chapter 37

Recap

"Calm your horse, barrister Abdul. I will surely leave your office. But remember your life is as stake, choose wisely. Either your life or money!" He said coldly and walk out on him. Leaving barrister astounded.

It been exactly 3years he lost the twins contact. He has search for them ever since he returned to Nigerian but all to no avail. He went to their house and all the possible places he could find them but

The result was still the same. He can't find them!

He sighed exasperatedly, confused written all over his face. He scratch the back of his neck thinking of everything again. "It been 3years and I still can't find them, then why can't I just hand over the document to his partner as agree in the contrast? Why did I have to lie to him that the kids are still alive? When I don't know about them too Why?" He question himself.

After a while he dial a number and asked the latter to help him confirm any news about the twins his looking for,mean while the latter he call to help him confirm about the twins where about was Alhaji Bala special spy. The latter promise to call back in next 30 minutes time.

The latter will not return back the call until night. He told him the twins are long dead after some month of their parent dead, they didn't live long too because they couldn't bear it. Barr. Abdul foolishly believe him because he trusted him to give him a right detailed for this wasn't his first time.

* * *

She continue sobbing non stop for what seem like a hour. Why is everyone just treating her bad, did she really offend Allah this much? Why? "Why is everything just turning against me. Could I ever have peace of mind in my life again? I was rape, my dad lose all his wealth too, his good was cease, my dad got an heart attack instantly and was rush to the hospital and surgery took place too. I thought that was all to it but I was wrong, Shafiu I saw my best friend making out with my boyfriend! What should I called that, a Betrayed?" She asked wiping her tears with the hem of her veil.

"Is okay khadijah, cry no more please. You've been crying since you got inside this car." Shafiu try to console her.

"Trust me, I didn't really wish for a tears to fall down my cheeks but the sight of it just broke me down, it broke me into pieces! Have become a trash to everyone" and she broke into another series of tears again.

Shafiu gave her time to cry all she want after trying to console her to no availed. He pity her a lot, and at the same time clueless on what to do, she has indeed face a lot but it was all hidden behind her smile. He actually saw her when she was going into the Mansion but could not stop her. He wanted to know exactly where Mina was going to because he felt she's hiding something away from him and he follow her and park just an inches away from the house. She was unaware of it.

Shafiu sighed, he was in pain too. A lot of pain he can't comprehend too, but seeing that lady beside him, he couldn't even think of his own problem again. He really felt sorry for her and wish he can do anything to stop her tears. But how was the question.

She wipe her tears and smile, a smile that hide a lot but yet assuring that she's okay. " I'm sorry for letting you witness this side of me I can't really.." She was still saying when he cut her up.

"Khadijah you don't really have to apologized, is not your fault too, everything just happened for a reason. Please it will all be bygone very soon I promise.

"Thank you shafiu! I'm sorry about telling you what I saw, I know I shouldn't have said that.

"Don't worry, I know about it long time ago so worry not okay! I'm just glad my suspicious got confirm today. So can we be friends? Trust me I won't disappoint you" He said with a smile.

"Sure! She exclaimed.

"I know this is all a fate written and stamp from the Almighty Allah but insha Allah it will be a story one day. I was born and raised on a silver spoon, have never have a taste of what been poor really mean. I'm always against them, I hate their sight it irked me to the core, but today what can I say about my self?" She face shafiu. "What turn around surely comes around, this is a karma. And I have to face them, I surely knows how it feel to be poor and intimidate now. I can never forget when I said someone was stinking because of mere knocking on my car tinted glass" she said and smile. A painful smile though.

"I don't even deserve their forgiveness, the look in his eyes yesterday show hatred, it shows exactly how he hated me. He despite my face. And now I think his the one that sue me to court." She said wiping her tears.

"Is okay khadijah everything shall be fine okay! You don't have to cry. I hope you have your own lawyer aware of it?"He asked and she nodded her head in a No gesture." I don't have any lawyer and I don't feel like taking one. I'm already guilty so why should I prolong the issue again? I will rather let everything go according to their wish if it make them happy.

"Uhm that a strong decision really, will you be fine? He asked.

"Sure, why not. It been a decade I saw the only person have been crushing on. Shafiu I love him, I love him that my heart beat the very first day I saw him, I thought I was just infatuated by his look but I was wrong. I think about him daily, I think about him every night, my feelings for someone that hate me grow every day could you believe it too? And it driving me insane. And that the only way I can see him again.

"This is complicated than I thought. I hope he let it go easily." Shafiu said.

"I hope so too, just pray for me please" she beseech.

"Insha Allah I will. And I hope everything go successfully. Are you ready to go home? " he asked.

"Yes I'm ready and thank you very much for given me a listening ear

"You don't have to thank me, I will try my best to be a good friend with benefit. It was actually really nice to meet you again " with that he roll the car into life and drove her to her house.

* * *

Sitting quietly in a serene place, became one of his favourite place, It gave him peace of mind. He look back at 3years ago, how their uncle chase them out of his house, their aunt never try to look for their where about again, how everyone just shone them away, how they strive by hustling everyday. it was indeed a sad story to tell but all he can say today, tomorrow and forever is Alhamdullilah. They will forever be indebted to this Wonderful family.

Looking back at the good things Alhaji hamza did for them, he don't want to disappoint them but rather make them happy. Fatima confessed her love to him in every way but he couldn't return it back, his feelings toward her seem to be blank and can't say it to her face. He don't want to make her feel bad for he know his not just good for her, but could he tell her that? He possibly reject her. He sighed breathlessly and took a car key beside him and drove to the only one person he can confide his problem too. That person is Mubarak!

He drove inside the house and alighted down from the car. He walk into the new rented flat Mubarak live and knock on the front door.

Mubarak open the door and was surprise to see Yushraf in his house. He ushered him in and lock the door. Yushraf went in and make himself comfortable one on of the black sofa in the living room.

"What the problem this time around you don't look so good?" Mubarak asked just exactly how he knows Yushraf to be.

"Nothing really, I'm just confused about something. It bothers me a lot.

"And what that?

"Khalid sister Fatima, confess her love to me?" Yushraf reveal immediately.

Mubarak felt a tie knot in his stomach but yet try to compose his self" Wow! She did that herself?" He asked surprisingly.

"Yeah she did.

"So what about it, I mean why are you confuse?" He asked.

I don't love her, I don't have any feelings attach, I just saw her as a sister nothing more. But I don't know how to reject her, I don't just know I'm just confuse" He stated.

leave Yushraf to always be bunt with his word. "This is indeed confusing as well and I can't advised you to reject her but rather pray to Almighty Allah to guard you with the right choice, is the only one that can solve your problem.

"Insha Allah, thank you very Mubarak.

"You're welcome bro. So how is preparation about the court" he asked.

"Nothing to prepare, I even saw that girl yesterday. She was with Fatima and one other lady.

"And what happen afterward?

"Nothing really, we just stare at each other. And I thought she will apologised again but she just prove me wrong. And I know she won't even care about the court too, after all it will just be a compensation. Which she already has at the tips of her finger" He shrugged.

"Don't say what you don't know Yushraf, did you still hate her to assume things." He asked.

"I don't hate her neither did I like her, I just said what I believe to be true.

"I never said you like her" he smile.

"And why are you smiling?"

"I'm just picturing both of you as a couple" He response.

What! You must be kidding me right?, I wish you know that girl honestly she's more rude,arrogant, stubborn and a spoiled brat than that of Nusaiba. I'm telling you. In fact I'm leaving I need to breath out some fresh air, this parlour is suffocating me. Have a nice day! " And he stood up and walk out to his car.

Mubarak nod his head, as not to argue further. What he said will unveil soon. " Drive safe and please avoid thinking about her inside that car bro." He teased.

* * *

"Our first meeting doesn't goes well, but fortunately he call me back few minute ago and told me his willing to signed the documents for me after confirming by himself that the kids are no more." And he laugh hard. " How cool did you think that sound" He asked Felix his secretary.

"I'm happy for you sir" he said. His hand balled into fist,ready to punch someone in anger but he was trying to control his self and play his card well.

"You should be, and by tomorrow that company shall be solely MY" he emphasized the last word out and sipped a coffee into his mouth.

"We shall celebrate the good news soon, and wash it with a party of jubilation and success." He said. Sarcastically unknown to him.

"Exactly you're right. We shall celebrate it, C'mon let cheer" he said and the both glass was raise to cheer.

* * *

Finally, the day had arrived - the day Alhaji Muhammad Agogo's only heiress will be a laughing stock and make headlines in newspapers.

She inhaled a sharp breath and muttered some dua into her palm and then rubbed it on face. Her parents were the first to come down from the car. She thanked Shafiu for his immense support, before they alighted the car, together. She wanted to save her parent from coming so as to not face embarrassment from the crowd, but they refused, especially her dad. He wanted to give her his full support and didn't care what the word had to say about them. His daughter still meant everything to him.

Right on cue, his eyes darted towards her, immediately they alighted the car. She was still looking so beautiful in her red jibab, with no make. His heart beat for the first time when he saw someone beside her, she was smiling at him, probably to what he might have said. He looked away immediately. "Like I said before she's still the same!" He thought. And walked towards the court room.

Just as they reach the entrance to the courtroom, Deejah accidentally bumped into someone right before she stepped inside. She had been looking down her feet; different thoughts running through her mind, that she never knew someone was coming." I'm sorry." She apologized, looking up to who she bumped into. And her heart beat, she was shock to see him again. Her instinct told her, he was the one that sued her. Tears slip down her cheeks, before she even got the chance to hold it back.

He didn't wait to see her tears, immediately she apologize he left after a nod." For the first time she apologize for her wrong" Was all he said and walked inside before her.

~ ~ ~

"Miss khadijah, please step into the dock." Barr. Bello said in a quiet tune, motioning towards the wooden platform beside him.

Deejah stepped in. Taking a deep breath, she clutched her hand on the wooden body, tightly. Nervousness washed over her. She could feel every person in the courtroom gazing at her. It made her wish to be swallowed by the floor. Her eyes moved towards her parent's and they smiled at her; giving her their support.

"Miss Khadijah, can you tell this court your full name?" Barr. bello started.

"My name is Khadijah Muhammad Agogo. " she replied.

And there was a hush in the room, Barrister waited for a minute before he continued after he died down

"Do you know Mr Yushraf " The Barr asked, pointing towards Yushraf in the dock

"Yes I know him" She said confidently.

"And do you believe everything he said earlier to be true?" He asked again.

"Yes, everything he said earlier was nothing but the truth." She said and briefly stare at him from the opposite.

Several minute later. The judge state his final judgement.

"Having examined the both parties word without any argument or objection. Miss khadijah is to pay damages to Mr Yushraf, a sum of one million naira in cash. Failure to do that within the next one week, would lead to her been prosecuted.

A lone thread of tear escaped her eyes.