So close, yet so far

12

ABUJA, NIGERIA
10 months later ...

Bilal Maigoro tutted as he held Hauwa's picture in his hand with an evil smirk on his face.
"Like mother, like daughter."
"Sa'eed sure got himself a hot cake." Umar Modi tsked.
"No wonder he's being all possessive but I'm sure he will soon get bored of her and throw her away." Ahmad Yakasai said as he took a huge gulp of the whiskey in front of him.
"And then we can have her." Umar said and Ahmad cackled in a disgusted manner as they shook hands.
"The marriage won't even take place." Bilal said.

The room was thick with malice as Bilal, Umar, and Ahmad continued to disparage Hauwa's beauty, their words dripping with venom. Bilal's gaze lingered on her picture, his mind wandering to the past, to the secrets he kept hidden. The others, oblivious to his thoughts, revelled in their cruel banter.

"Look at her, so naive and innocent," Umar sneered. "She has no idea what's coming for her."

"Indeed," Ahmad agreed, his voice laced with sadistic pleasure. "She's a delicate flower, waiting to be plucked."

Bilal's smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with malevolence. His thoughts drifted to the past, to the events that had transpired fourteen years ago. The memories he kept locked away, hidden from prying eyes.

Just then, the door burst open, and Sa'eed strode in, his face etched with anger. The tension in the room was palpable as he confronted the trio.

"What do you want, Bilal?" Sa'eed demanded, his voice firm.

Bilal's smile never wavered. "Oh, Sa'eedu, dear Sa'eedu.  I see you're still blinded by love. Or is it lust?"

Umar and Ahmad snickered, their eyes gleaming with amusement.

Sa'eed's jaw clenched. "What are you talking about?"

Bilal leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. "I'm talking about Hauwa, of course. Your precious little bride-to-be."

Sa'eed's eyes narrowed. "Leave her out of this, Bilal."

Bilal's eyes gleamed with malice as he gazed at Hauwa's picture. "She's just like her mother," he sneered, his voice dripping with venom.

Umar and Ahmad exchanged knowing glances, their faces filled with cruel anticipation.

Sa'eed burst into the room, his face etched with anger. "What do you want, Bilal?"

Bilal's smile grew wider. "Oh, Sa'eed. I see you're still protecting your precious Hauwa. But you didn't protect her mother, did you?"

Sa'eed's eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about?"

Bilal leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. "I'm talking about the fact that you knew what was going to happen to her mother fourteen years ago. And you did nothing."

Umar and Ahmad snickered, their eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure.

Sa'eed's eyes narrowed before he said, "It was you who did that to her mother and not me so why is my name being included in your stupidity?!" Sa'eed almost yelled out in frustration as his eyes yawed red.

Bilal continued, his voice dripping with malice. "Yes you didn't do anything but you knew I was going to do it and I have evidence. Evidence that puts you at the scene of the crime. Evidence that can be manipulated to show you were involved."

Sa'eed's eyes widened in horror. "You're lying."

Bilal chuckled, the sound sending shivers down Sa'eed's spine. "Am I? I don't think so. You see, Sa'eed, I've been waiting for the perfect moment to strike. And now that you're engaged to Hauwa, I have the perfect leverage."