Echoes of Agony

Chapter Twenty Eight

Once Zaytun drove out of AbdulJalal's parking spot, she let it all go. She cried loudly as she hit the steering wheel of the car until her hands turned red from the impact. She was so overwhelmed with everything that was going on. She couldn't contain her emotions any longer as she drove faster, not even knowing where she was headed. The rush of feelings was eating her alive. She felt dumb, so stupid for trusting AbdulJalal. She had really thought he was changing for the better, but she was wrong. He had been mocking her and disrespecting her in the most humiliating way.

What had she even seen in a man like him? Why had her heart fallen for him out of everyone? Zaytun didn't know. The heart was dumb, she guessed, because there was no other explanation.

She stopped the car because she knew that if she continued driving in that state, she would cause an accident. Once she parked, she started to cry again, loudly, letting all of her tears run down her hijab. She knew that she was breaking down and that she couldn't breathe. Her chest hurt from all the crying. She cried even more when she remembered that she was pregnant with AbdulJalal's child, and that the child would never know the love of both parents. That realization broke Zaytun even more as she touched her stomach.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she kept repeating again and again.

Zaytun had been deeply pensive before this. She had actually thought of leaving everything behind when the time came. She had hoped it would be right before her baby was born. Then, even if she didn't have the chance to meet her baby due to medical complications, she was sure AbdulJalal would love the baby. In case she was lucky enough, she and AbdulJalal could raise their baby together with love and affection.

But how foolish had Zaytun been?

That was how she came to the realization that she needed to take charge of her situation and not let his actions control her. It was time for her to stand up for herself and her unborn child. She would not tolerate any more disrespect or mistreatment from him. If he was unwilling to take responsibility for his actions and show genuine remorse, then she would walk away from the relationship and cut off all contact.

Zaytun knew that she was not alone in her struggles. She was surrounded by supportive friends and family who would uplift her and encourage her to stay strong. She was sure that by standing up for herself and taking the necessary steps to protect herself, she could create a positive future for her unborn baby. In order to do that, she needed to get out of Nigeria.

~

A week later

GIST WORLD:

"DIVORCE AND AFFAIRS: The CEO of the Sani conglomerate seemed to be in a difficult situation. His wife, a girl from the Babakura family, had sought a divorce. A very trusted source revealed that in the past months, Zaytun Babakura had asked for a divorce, which was granted to her due to her husband's affairs."

LABARUN AREWA:

"Fitaccen mutumin da ya fi fice a jihar Borno, AbdulJalal Sani, yana fuskantar wani muhimmin mataki ne saboda bukatar saki daga diyar Babakura daya tilo, da kuma fitaccen mai fafutukar kare hakkin mata....."

ABC News:

"This news has become the talk of the state. The marriage of two elite families has just ended; it didn't last for a year."

"The news has raised many questions among the public. With Zaytun on the way to change her fate, there is bound to be pressure on her, right?"

"The obvious answer would be yes."

"Zaytun Babakura."

"Zaytun and AbdulJalal..."

"NAGAJI DA LABARIN MUTANEN NAN!"

Meanwhile, Lubna was frustrated and threw her phone on the couch. She was angry that every page was only talking about how brave Zaytun was.

"I failed to understand what's so amazing about that girl," she said as she sat down next to the person on the couch.

"It's AbdulJalal's wife. You don't know how Alhaji Sani is burning right now. Wow, Zaytun is indeed brave," the man replied, amused by her reaction.

"There's nothing brave about her anyway."

"More than you, though."

"Oh, come on. A woman who can't see her husband with other women is so stupid. I would not demand much from AbdulJalal. He had all the rights to see me."

"You're the same, though. You cheated on him with me and even have a son together."

"You know very well that was a mistake, and until the day my son was born..."

"Our son," the man interrupted her.

"I wasn't aware that he was yours. I thought he was AbdulJalal's."

"I'm glad he's mine. I love children, unlike AbdulJalal. Oh, when are we telling Ja'afar that I'm his father?"

"I don't know, okay? I'm being forced out of the country because of a girl like Zaytun."

"And Laminu?"

"I will fly somewhere safer. That man ruined all my plans. He told AbdulJalal everything once he was caught, like the big loser that he was. I hate my life."

"We framed him and lied about him; I would react the same. Thank God he hasn't reached us yet."

"He will eventually. I know Laminu. So, free advice: fly away while you can, Zubairu."

"Nah, a man never runs from another one."

"I still don't understand how AbdulJalal found out that I'm not pregnant."

"You're talking about AbdulJalal Sani, a very powerful man from a powerful family."

"If that's so, why haven't they stopped the news of that girl being petty and throwing them under the bus? Now everyone knows, and the news of the divorce is all people are talking about. Look, even BBC Hausa News is reporting it now. Kai Zaytun innan, I wish she would die."

Lubna's desperation was evident as she threw things around the house and kicked her luggage, which she had packed for her trip.

"I love AbdulJalal. I love him so much that I can't just give up. There will never be another woman who could love him as much as I do. I know for a fact that whatever he's feeling towards that stupid girl is nothing but delusion. He loved me, only me, all his life. He will come back to me like always, and I will be ready to open my arms when he does," Lubna said as she cried.

"I don't know if that will happen," Zubairu said.

"It will happen. He will always be mine, just as I am his. There's no way he's in love with Zaytun. That girl is weak and stupid. AbdulJalal doesn't like weak and stupid people. She's ugly too. I hate her so much. I hate her. I hate her," she screamed. "I'm not going to leave. I'm going to stay here. I can't go away from AbdulJalal and leave him with that girl. Zubairu," she reached out to Zubairu, who was looking at her weirdly, "Zubairu, you need to find me a way to stay here. I can't. I love AbdulJalal. I can't leave. Please, Zubairu, I'm begging you."

"Maybe if you get on your knees and beg harder, I will help you," Zubairu smirked.

Lubna shot him a glare. "Are you really doing this?"

"Well, I will get in trouble myself if I help you. So, it's better if you make me beg as a form of payment."

She inhaled deeply and got on her knees, facing Zubairu. "Please help me, please, Zubairu."

"Beg more."

"Please help me stay here. Please, I beg you. Please, please."

"I always wanted to see you beg like this in front of me, on your knees, crying, but," Lubna looked at him at the 'but,' "to be honest, I don't think I can help you stay in Nigeria. Look, Sani can find you even if I hide you under my grandmother's grave. So, the best thing to do is to go where he ordered you to go."

"Gidanku."

*

We're almost done here, we have a few chapters left which will be published on Friday!!! Hope you're all excited for it. Can't wait to see you. Byeeeeee!