ORNAMENTS✅

Chapter Fourteen

DASUKI STATE, NIGERIA.
2021.

Enough time had passed. Nabeel was determined to get Umaimah in no less than two weeks. By the way, Eid was tomorrow or the day after. He wasn't trying to separate married people; he didn't want to do that. What he wanted was to reunite a daughter with her mother, who had been longing and yearning for her, while also ensuring the two men involved—his father and Alh. Yabo—didn’t end up at each other’s throats.

He was lying on his bed when his phone began to ring.

“Mum” displayed on the screen. These days, she called rather often, and her voice sounded sweeter, not the way she usually was. Nabeel picked up, but he didn't expect the voice that came next.

“Are you Nabeel, the son of Miss Halima?” A voice asked, a voice Nabeel was belongs to a man, but why was this man using his mother’s phone?

“Yes, I am. Why are you using my mother's phone?” Nabeel asked, not intending to be rude but trying to make sense of the situation. Why would he ask if he was her son? If he wasn't, was he?

“Miss Halima just passed out, and after a checkup by the doctor, we found she has cancer, stage 4 gastric cancer. When we asked her who her next of kin or a close person, that we could contact, she mentioned you. Your attention is needed here.”

“Which hospital?” Nabeel asked.

He nodded and hung up. Cancer? No, gastric cancer? And why hadn’t she told him? Was that why she had been calling him lately, being extra sweet?

Ya Ilahi, Nabeel knew he had to get to the UK, whether he wanted to or not. He quickly dialed his counterpart’s number, and thankfully, it was answered.

“Hey, can I get the next flight to the UK ASAP? Something urgent needs my attention, please,” Nabeel said, hoping he could get a flight soon.

“Mr. Nabeel Shamaki, the next flight to the UK is the day after tomorrow. Had you called earlier, I could have gotten you on the one that just left.”

“Day after tomorrow? No, I can't wait that long! Check other airports, please!” Nabeel said urgently before hanging up. His relationship with his mother wasn’t the best, but she had no one else but him. He had to be there for her.

He rushed out to inform Alh. Shamaki of the situation, and luckily, Nini was with him. Nabeel didn’t bother with pleasantries; the only thing on his mind was getting to his mother right away.

“Abba,” Nabeel said, waiting to catch his breath. “It’s Mum... She... she has been hospitalized. She has stage 4 gastric cancer.”

Alh. Shamaki’s eyes widened. No one would wish cancer on their worst enemy, and despite everything, as Nabeel’s mother and his ex-wife, he couldn’t help but feel bad for her.

“I’m taking the next flight to the UK,” Nabeel continued. “I have to be there for her.”

“Of course,” Alh. Shamaki said, nodding. “If there’s anything, don’t hesitate to call me.”

That statement earned him a glare from Nini.

“Why would Nabeel have to call you when you’re going with him?” Nini said, her voice sharp. “You usually go there to check on Nabeel when he was in the UK; it’s no big deal for you to check on her health now, right?”

Alh. Shamaki didn’t respond, but the look on his face screamed that he didn’t want to be involved with that woman anymore.

“Please, for old time’s sake,” Nini said, trying one last time. “She was once your wife. She’s in a life-or-death situation, and she has no one else. She’ll be elated to see you and Nabeel—the people she considers family.”