DERAILED✔️

23~

"You came to visit me, and you've been shedding tears" Abdallah smiled as he spoke, "I've told you, I don't want to see a drop of tear from eyes again", he folded his hands against his chest as he looked directly into her eyes with his lips curved into a smile.

Nadia was seated opposite Abdallah, with a dilapidated wooden table between them. The prison warden gave Nadia ten minutes to talk to Abdallah after getting on her knees to plead to him. It has only been two days since Abdallah's arrest, but it felt like forever.

"How will I not cry?" Abdallah was shocked by Nadia's sudden outburst, "look they have even given you an orange shirt to wear like you're really a criminal" she blubbered pointing at the orange T-shirt he was putting on that had 'prison' in block letters scribbled on the chest area,

"The clothing I'm wearing doesn't matter, the most important thing is that I still look handsome" he smirked, "or don't I?",

"you do but-",

"no buts I'm handsome, that's it",

"stop making me smile, I don't want to smile" she said hitting her legs on the floor repeatedly,

"Common you look extraordinarily breathtakingly beautiful when you smile" Abdallah declared reducing the tone of his voice. Nadia finally gave in to the smile she tried her best to hide,

"I miss you" she mouthed, but he read her lips perfectly,

"I miss you too" he replied only moving his lips also,

"I need to tell you something Abdallah" she declared biting her lower lip to prevent her cheek from forming a rounded contour due to how hard she was blushing,

"I'm all ears, I guess it's serious since you called my name" he said bringing his head forward,

"I ..." she fidgeted with her fingers before she continued, "I love you Abdallah" she sighed as she anticipated his reply. He kept quiet, staring into her eyes. Their pupils dilated as they stared into each other eyes,

"I know" he laughed loudly,

"what?, is that your reply?" she squeezed face, though there was still a small smile lingering on her face, "I'll surely get back at you" she said showing him her pinky finger,

"time's up" the prison warden shouted trudging towards their direction. Abdallah held Nadia's hand in his,
"take care of yourself" he said in a serious tone,

"I promise to get you out of here soon insha Allah" Nadia declared holding the edge of the table with her two hands,

"I trust you" he smiled. The warden cuffed his hand, dragging him by his bulky arms, Nadia waved at him slowly as he was being dragged away. He turned his back at intervals, throwing her his signature smile until he disappeared into a small door.

****

Alhaji Umar, Nadia and Idris sat on the centre mat in Idris's living room. They were determined to at least draft out a tangible clue. They wanted everything to end, they were eager to return to their normal lives where they won't be scared of someone plotting their fall.

"Bismillahi rahmanir rahim (in the name of Allah, the beneficent, the merciful" Idris prayed holding a red pen in his hand, he kept the pen on the A4 paper that was lying in their middle, "uncle hope you came with the letter?" Idris asked as he broke his knuckles and cracked his neck,

"yes it's right here" Alhaji Umar said removing a white envelope from his blue kaftan shirt, placing it close the A4 paper,

"OK let's start and insha Allah we will make it" Alhaji Umar prayed causing Nadia and Idris to mutter 'Ameen' in unison.