Chapter 41

Finally sheriff was done with the investigation as he promise three days ago. The rapist was arrested immediately and after a lot of persuasion and beating he open up without hesitation and reveal his accomplice to be Mina. "Like he stated earlier Mina was the mastermind of deejah rape." Sheriff thought.

He dial deejah number for the third time before she pick up." And why are you disturbing me with your call" She asked curtly, immediately she pick.

"I'm sorry if am really disturbing you. If you don't mind, can you please take a little of your time and come down to police station at city?" He asked.

"And what for if I may asked."

"The rapist has been sue and the accomplice?I think You should come down and see for yourself" He said, feeling disgusted at the sight of the person he watch from that far angle__Mina

"I will be there in 30 minute time" She said and ended the call.

She call shafiu and inform him about her earlier conversation with sheriff and he promise to come and pick her immediately, she should get ready.

In the interrogation room after Mina was arrested. She remain stubborn and hellbent, she acted I don't care even when she was interrogated, without any remorse or guilty. She was still adamant to her previous word.

A detective in charge of her interrogation became furious with her habit and stamp her hand on the wooden table hard" For the last time, answer my question clearly Miss Amina Haruna, were you the one that send that young man there to rape Miss khadijah Muhammad Agogo?" She asked pointing directly at the man who was handcuff in a corner stain all over with blood.

"Like I said earlier, I never send him to rape her I only asked him to get me a picture of them together let me blackmail her boyfriend sheriff with it, and it work. After I send the picture to him." She shrugged.

"Why? Did you even know what you put her through" detective asked, feeling the pain.

"That non of my business, I never asked for that" She said rudely.

"I see." Detective stood up and command them to arrest her too. " You're under arrest for been an accomplice of Miss Khadijah Rape. Please throw them inside the cell. Miss Amina is to spend 8 month with hard labor inside the cell while the Rapist is 20 years with hard labor imprisonment." She commanded and left in anger.

"No noooo, this can't happen to me, I can't be arrested, let me goo" she beseech. Her lips started to tremble as she burst into tears.

They alighted down at the parking space of the station and she called sheriff and inform him of her arriver.

Within a second he came outside and lead them inside. The surrounding reminded her of when she came together with Mina to bail Yushraf out. It make her feel guilty again even though she has been forgiving, the image of everything still haunted her.

She was drag out of the cell together with sadiq who has became helpless. A tear of agony string down his cheeks. He regretted everything, but money and lust pushes him toward it.__had I know was now his last option.

Just on clue, Deejah sighted Sadiq, the man that rape her, Tarnish her image, her dignity, make her dirty, unwanted to herself. The sight of him disgusted her to the core, she felt the pain of that very day again, how heartless the man standing in front of her look miserable with stain blood which suited him the most. The excruciating pain she past through will never be comprehend to what he feel now and will feel in future. Not even his body been cut into pieces will make her ever forgive him. He deserve to die in jail. She walk past him with so much hatred, she didn't even spare him a glance.

Finally the mastermind of it was dragged out like a piece of cabbage, she was still struggling to be free, her eyes was still darted on her hand which was cuff.

Deejah was still waiting for them to approach, as she watch anxiously who could have ever done that to her with out an atom of pity.

She couldn't believe her eyes immediately she saw her best friend been drag while she kept struggling.

She know she as done a lot to her she can never forget but this was just too much to believe. She thought she was just hallucinating. She shook her head violently not wanting to believe her eyes but the reality is what she saw. The stink of betrayed She felt at the moment hurt, it hurt so much that she have to clutch her hand on her chest tightly. Her heart was bleeding internally and she couldn't help it. Tears fall down her face. She now realized what she felt for her before was not a betray, but this was just out of word. This was the true definition of a betray.

"Deejah you have to believe me, I didn't send him to rape you, I never did. I only asked him to get a picture of you together so I can blackmailed sheriff and win his heart" She uttered abruptly.

Deejah was shock at her revelation, but composed herself" Why?" She asked.

"Deejah I'm sorry, I was so blinded by jealousness, I'm sorry please get me out of here please. I promise to change" She Cry.

"I'm glad your selfishness and jealousness get you the best result. I can't believe is that man you've been chasing was still the same man that sue you" Deejah retort and walk out on her. She was so badly hurt, her dislike for her was just something she couldn't comprehend too. The pain of betrayed was just so unbearable that she choose to just leave the scene.

Outside the station, she waited inside the car and cried like tomorrow won't exist again. The tears was not of pain, it was not of a rape or what she went through. The pain was that of a betray, A betray that was from nobody but someone you trusted even more than your mum, someone you could tell anything and everything and think you're more safer. Someone you could trust even if your mum was shedding tears for you.

Indeed this world is nothing, it is only a glamorous, place empty."

Sheriff came closer to her" I will never forgive you for blackmailing me and drugging me just to have sex with you. You're a disgusting human being. I pity your family!" He exclaimed and left.

Tears beam down her face as she realize everyone is going to leave her. She turn to her last option" Shafiu I know you love me and will not want anything to hurt me right? Please take me out of this place not even my mum will help me please" She beseech as tears rolled down her cheeks while the nose was also running too.

"Love you? That was in the past, I will rather help a murder to survive than to help you. You disgusted me more than anything in this world. I can't even believed you're the one standing before me hopelessly today. You're a shame to everyone today. Finally the life you've choose to chased get you nothing but a regret. I pity your future. I live you in peace today, tomorrow and forever! And am glad not even your parent will help you out" He said and follow suit.

Nooooo please deejah get me out of here Pleaseeeee" She kept pleading but unfortunately it fall on deaf ear as they never listen or even turn back to look at her again.

~ ~ ~

"Is okay, khadijah I know is very painful and no amount of word could subsidies what you feel right now but can you just stop crying and let it go? She doesn't worth your cry, please." Shafiu soothed her.

"Shafiu you don't understand what I'm feeling right now, the pain is so hurt. I...I never expected this from Mina that why it hurt" She stammer. Tears trickle down, even as she talk.

"I know just let it go. Anything bad that ever happen to us is never expected. Just live everything to your lord and you will see what will happen, insha Allah!

"Thank you, very much for your advised, I thoroughly appreciate all your effort may Almighty Allah reward you." She sniff and wipe her tears.

She was about to lock the car door when sheriff came forward and knelt down." Khadijah I'm sorry for all I put you through." He pleaded.

"Sorry for what exactly? For calling me a whore? For judging me too quick? Or for sleeping with her? Tell me" She flare up angrily, folding her arms together on her chest.

"I'm sorry, I was not in my right sense after she drugged me, and my jealousness made me blind that I judge you too quickly, though I went to your house but it was lock, I'm sorry I called you a whore, I never mean too but I was so hurt that I thought is the only way to get back on you. Please forgive me, even if you can't accept me back.

"Have forgiven you, now excused me please. I have to go" She said curtly.

"Thank you very much, you don't know how this mean to me. I really appreciate your understanding. And I'm glad you find it in your heart to forgive me, I won't push you to accept me back again for I know I'm not worth to be your man again. I pray you find a righteous man who will love you and make you forget all your sorrow and past." A tears trickle down his face even as he smile.

She was overwhelmed by sheriff sincereness, she couldn't reply him, just nodded and lock the door. Not like she still as any feelings for him but the memory of the past flow into her mind. She pity him afterward.

* * *

"Welcome sir, please have a seat" detective Yusuf gesture to Yushraf and Khalid immediately they came in.

After the pleasantries, he told them everything about the interrogation and how Alhaji Bala confesses all his deed, how he sent one of his gang to drive a trunk and make it look like accident, how the car hit your twin sister, and lastly why he stop chasing you people was because he sent a gang to killed you both and the gang later return and told him he did the job perfectly. Which he believe to be true so he have him killed too.

"Innalilahi wa'ina illahi raji'un! I can't believe all this. What type of hatred did he really have for my family to want us dead? All for what? Company which was sorely my dad own from the beginning, but because of the trust he has for him they run it together and yet this what he can repay him back with?" He asked, still astounded. Not letting a tear fall out of his eyes, his not worth it.

"What his punishment?" Khalid asked, his eyes was bloodshed.

"The offender shall be sentenced to confinement at hard labor in the prison until the punishment of death shall be afflicted." He declare

"Uhm that good. Can I see him for a brief?" He requested.

"Sure."

He asked the police to bring him to his office and few minute later he was throw toward Yushraf feet.

"The life you've been chasing will soon make you split your own blood on the ground. Mark my word I will never forgive you, even in the here after you shall still pay for your crime" He said.

Alhaji Bala his self has become nothing but a pity. His whole body was sore from all the beating and severe punishment. He has been wishing for nothing more than a death penalty as any moment from now. At first he wish he can escape or be bail out but all was not avail and the punishment he received everyday is becoming unbearable.

He kept quiet with his head low, his nose kept pleading and one of his ear was cut off during the interrogation.

"Please take him out of my sight" Yushraf stated.

That was how he was taken back to hell.

Later on, they left and went back home. He felt so relief, that finally their safe, their parent could now rest in peace and his father sweat couldn't go astray again__ His company, house,cars.

Tears stream down his face not knowing how to stop it, he let them flow freely, as he stare through the window.

"Yushraf let it out, for once and stop hiding it. Cry as if I'm not here with you please" khalid said.

And that was all it took for him to cry. He cry like a baby who just got the news of his parent death.

Khalid only park the car aside and went out of the car, letting him have that moment for himself. He pity him a lot and wish he can just take away all his pain." Tears trickle out of his eyes too.

* * *

"Reedah, Yushraf is calling you down stairs" Fatima imform

Are they back" She asked.

"Yes their back." She said and Reedah left the room and descend down the stairs.

"How did it go?" She asked immediately she sat opposite them. She could vividly see how his brother eyes was red.

"Alhamdullilah everything he said was just exactly what the lawyer told us before. He shall be sentence to death soon." He said.

"I'm glad. Are you okay" She asked.

"Of course I'm okay, something just got into my eyes" He lied." Here are the documents of Abba belongings." He said. His eyes was teary.

"After your service you should go back to the company and set everything on the track." She advised.

"You need to make Abba proud please" She beseech. In time like this, Reedah always choose to act more strong for Yushraf heart was fragile than it look.

"Insha Allah."

"Your friend flight hasn't land yet" She asked, Khalid who was expecting a friend from another country.

"He just call now. I should go pick them up" He said and stood up." let me leave you guys to rest a little I will be back with them." He said.

"Okay, we will set the dinning before you arrive" Reedah said.

"Thank you." Khalid respond.

"Yushraf won't you like to eat anything " She asked.

"Don't worry I'm okay for now, is Abba around" He asked.

"Yes he just came back."

"Let me go and meet him then" He said.

"Sure."

Fatima walk in and asked Reedah why Yushraf look that way. She told him everything and show her the documents of their father.

She sympathy with them and help her set the dinning table for Khalid visitors.

* * *

They alighted down the car and Khalid lead them inside the main house so they could greet his family.

Fatima was the first to welcome them follow by halima and hauwa. They gesture for them to come in afterword. Halima went into their mum's to informed her while hauwa called on Reedah.

Hajiya was the first to come out. She welcome them as while.

Reedah came out and behold it was her cousins sitting just a few inches away from her, she rub her eyes swifty and stare at them again. Was she dreaming? She thought.

"Noor? Hafiz" She called out.

They both raise their face up and saw the person they came all the way from Canada to look for. They were both shocked.

"Fareedah?" They called.

Noor stood up and ran toward her, but before she could engulfed her into a hug Reedah already stop her." Don't you dare come any closer toward me" She dare.

Yushraf came out of Abba apartment and was shocked at the sight he saw. He know how Reedah could lose control at any moment. So he move forward to her and drag her with him toward kitchen.

"Reedah why will you disgrace them like that? Why don't you hear them out first before taking action, Why? Why most you do this." He asked.

"Yushraf why are you so lenient? Why is our heart so different? Why should I asked them again, when it obvious that they left us because we have nothing? Why" She asked, and cried on his shoulder.

"You think my mum will ever leave you people like that? You think she know anything happening to your life? Mum as been crying day and night for the past 3 years she lost her brother, she was bedridden for over a year immediately she left Nigeria that very day. Her life as not been the same again and doctor advise her not to travel yet. It was two years later she was able to travel and she came back to Nigeria because of you people, but uncle jaafar told her you both said you don't want anything to do with them again, that you want to stay on your own. Because you both thought he will used your inheritance." Hafiz narrated.

"Innalilahi wa'ina illahi raji'un" Reedah exclaimed and everybody ran to the kitchen.

"As you surely know mum, she didn't believe any of it and search for you people but all to no availed. And sadly she returned back to Canada, always thinking of you people, she thought she has betray her brother trust and she always felt guilty. That why we promise to come down to Nigeria our self to look for you people. And we told Khalid who happen to be my friend that we are coming to stay with him since mum warned us not to let our uncle know about us been in Nigeria." He said tears trickle down his face well Noor was on the tilted floor crying too.

Everyone was taken aback by Hafiz narration.

Reedah lift Noor up and hugged her tightly letting the tears to flow. While Yushraf and Hafiz did the same.

"Finally they're united again" Hajiya whisper to Fatima happily wiping her tears too.

"You all should be tired, now come to the dinning and have something please" Hajiya utter and everyone agree.

* * *

I can't believe uncle jaafar said that against us. Could you believe three month after Abba and Ammi departure, we were asked to pack out of house due to the fake loan they said abba took. We travel to Lagos to stay with him but he chase us out that very day and said he despised seeing our face again. He throw money at us to leave his house. And since then we have been struggling and suffering. Life has not been the same for us, until I met Khalid who help us. That was how he narrated everything to his cousin together with Reedah.

I can't believe all this, why didn't you inform Abba's lawyer from the beginning things started changing" Hafiz asked.

"You think we didn't? Uncle jaafar asked us to stop it after we told him about the loan. He said it was true, our dad own a lot of loans. You see we don't have a choice than to just let go, after all his our dad closest person" Yushraf shrug.

"uhm you've indeed gone through a lot, I can't even believe uncle jaafar did all this and even his family member did not know any of it. He lied to them as well." Hafiz said.

"Even bashar his son has been searching for you both wallahi" He always tell me how he as missed you both in his life." Noor said.

"I wish we can just tell him, but how? when his father despised us" Reedah reply.

I'm just happy we've finally find you guys wallahi. Mum will surely book next flight to Nigeria insha Allah.

"No no, Reedah should follow you to Canada, I should've come too but I will be resuming camp next tomorrow, but insha Allah I will immediately I left camp." Yushraf concluded.

"I will wait for you in Canada then" Reedah said." Noor let go to our room, we need to catch up let leave them too. Wallahi I miss you alot" She said and they left together.

* * *

"Deejah are you okay?" Her mum asked her again.

I'm fine mum, I just can't forget how she betray me, I wish I never befriended her, I wish I follow your advised when you told me you don't like her around me." She said.

"Is okay khadijah, she's not worth your tears, just let her be. At least she as regret her action too already and her parent will not bailed her out, you know her mum is no nonsense woman.

"Yes mum, thank you."

"So you're leaving next tomorrow for your camp" are mum asked.

"Yes mum insha Allah."

"How will you cope there? I only have 20,000 in my account. And I know it won't be enough " her mum said worriedly.

"Mum don't worry, I still have my savings" She smile.

"Is that not what you used to pay for this rent khadijah" Her mum asked.

"Yes mum, but I still have some I save and remember I will be collecting monthly allowance" She said, just to stop her mum from worrying.

"If you say so dear, I will missed you so much" she utter sadly.

"I will miss you too mum, just take care of yourself and dad please. Insha Allah I will always send you 60% of it" She beseech.

"You don't have to khadijah we will be fine, just be careful, and avoid staying in a lonely place, make sure you're always call home.

I just wish we could deploy you back but we don't have the means to. Please stay safe and always be prayerful khadijah, don't let the past repeat it self" she warned carefully.

"Yes mum, I will be insha Allah. I promise" She said.

"I love you" her mum said and hugged her

"I love you too mum" She reply.