Lost In An Arid Land

Chapter Twelve

The next day came in all its splendour, but Khadeejah found it just as unexciting as the days that make up the most parts of her life.
Wednesday came, with its hidden uncertainty as she set for school oblivious of what it is that waited for her.

Living around lurking danger has become her routine, which had made her extremely cautious of everything around her and today was not different.
She had vividly noticed a certain rickety car, changing its position at intervals as she walked down to school. “Another stalker is sent here again”. She thought to herself as she continued to walk with her same usual pace.

She knew it would be none other than that woman who sent whoever it was to monitor her moves, probably wondering who she meets and what she does so she will know where and how to strike.
She reached school in no time, and made way to her classroom after ensuring she was not followed anymore and making a mental note in her head to not follow the same path while going back.

Given the school had two gates, she would be exiting through the other entrance the same time most students would leave, so she can blend into the group without being noticed.
Playing hide and seek has become her specialty and she had the whole time in the world, so why not?
Jarma had situated himself in front of the school minutes before the usual closing time as he had been promised huge amount of money if he could accomplish his mission.

He waited as students trooped out of the school, unbothered to check because he was sure she always left later than usual. After spending an hour, he decided to come down from his rickety car to check around the school but the look sent by the security made him stop in his trance and he turned around disappointed.
Khadeejah went straight to the park with a nostalgic feeling as she has not been there in a long time, since the incident with Sumayyah and her brother.

Looking towards her usual spot which was occupied that day, she found herself a place that was less crowded and sat there.
She felt this heaviness in her chest as her heart felt constricted with a feeling she can not explain. She was sure she has not felt that constricted in a long time. The last time she felt this scared, with anxiety getting the best part of her was when she held the corpse of Ummul Khair in her hand, shivering with helplessness without knowing what to do.

No, noo she uttered quietly to herself trying so hard to keep the memory from having entrance into her thoughts. She felt her hands shivering, as the book she was holding fell to the floor.
Quickly picking the book, she made her way out of the park, wondering why such thoughts will attack her here, of all places.

She was walking in so much hurry, as her thoughts kept flashing the scene to her eyes, when she heard her name being called to which she turned abruptly.
It was Ya Ibrahim who saw her from the other side of the road where he parked his car to get something. He had just gotten it when he saw her coming out of the park.
Khadeejah, he called as he moved closer to her but the emotions he saw in her eyes sent him in a state of confusion.

She looked back at him without uttering a word, with her eyes speaking volumes of emotions.
She held this coldness in her eyes, as they looked dead and devoid of any feelings or emotions.
Are you alright? He asked her to which she nodded, trying to hide what she was feeling. She was not in the right mood to talk for she feared her weaknesses might end up being displayed on a platter.
What happened to you? You look... He stopped in his statement as he did not know the exact word to describe what he saw. He thought he saw a glimmer of tears in her eyes, but she had blinked it away he was left wondering if he saw it right, or he was just imagining things.

Nothing happened as you can see, and if anything would happen, I am sure it won’t be something good. Nothing good comes whenever I am around, remember? So please take your goodness with you and let me live my life, so I do not rub my bad luck on you. She added, without realising how shaky her voice sounded.

She hated to be seen as weak. She hated it so much that she had worn a mask of facade without being discovered and no one can unmask it, that was something she promised to herself.
Calm down, okay? Take a deep breath. He told her as he could clearly notice the hurt that emanated from her voice. And I am sorry about the other day, we acted in haste without comprehending the situation. It was all a misunderstanding. He explained, trying to make her more comfortable but instead of doing as he said, she turned her back to him and went her way.

Crying is for the weak, and I am not a weakling. She said to herself as she fought her eyes and swallowed back the tears that were threatening to pour.
She had walked a long distance, feeling the serenity that was dawning when she finally realised she was going the wrong way. She felt so thirsty at the moment and decided to cross to the opposite side of the road where she saw a shop.

The road was a scarcely crowded one, as very few people pass through it. Khadeejah! She heard a familiar voice calling her name. Oh my God! Another disturbance yet again, she thought to herself before turning around to come face to face with Aisha.
What are you doing here? Do you live around here? Aisha asked her, trying to liven the mood even though she knew it was almost impossible.
“Another pretender yet again”. Khadeejah thought to herself but said nothing. I actually came here to attend a wedding not far from here. Aisha added again.

It is not as if I care. Why are you even disturbing me? I am not your friend for goodness sake, so please stop all these pretence. You do not like me and you know I am aware of that too, so what is all these formation of familiarity? Khadeejah spewed clearly getting angry.

Aisha stared at her clearly hurt by her words. She knew such would happen, but she still came to talk to her so she would blame no one but herself.
It is not your fault, it is because I came here wasting my precious time to talk to you. But let me tell you something, man is not an island, you will need people in one way or the other.
I know I was not nice to you in any way, but you are also not a nice person in the first place. Placing your arrogance far above anything was the reason why I stopped liking you. Aisha uttered bitterly.

I never asked you to like me in the first place and I have seen the likes of you filled with so much pretence and negativity. Khadeejah replied and turned to continue what she was doing without waiting for a reply.
She had walked close to the shop but the sound of a car that swerved with full speed into the road made her turn quickly. And behold! She saw Aisha lying on the ground, groaning in so much pain as the car had hit her to the side of the road.

She stared as blood gushed out from her body, the sight turning itself into a nightmare of something similar, a scenario playing in her head as her eyes remained fixed on the figure that kept wincing in pain.
She stood there, shivering with so much fear she did not know she had in her. She was seeing a sight she was so afraid of, the sight of blood as it reminds her always of her greatest fear, and her greatest mistake.

Her heart was pounding in her chest, but she could not take her eyes off of Aisha’s body. She knew moving closer was detrimental, but then, she did not have the heart to lose someone to the cold hands of death, once again.
Without letting her thoughts confuse her, she moved quickly to where Aisha laid, with few people forming circles around her, but none of them made any attempt to do something.
The sound of the car revving to life made her turn around as she saw the driver finding his way far away as though his action is not threatening to a soul.

Despite the way her body was shaking, she held onto Aisha as though she was the most precious thing in her life at the moment.
The sight of blood was adding to her fear so much she felt like taking to her heels, but the thought of losing a life was way stronger than her fear.
Aisha, she called with her shaky voice which made her open her eyes weakly as she had already lost so much blood.

I think the state hospital is nearby, let me try putting you on my back. She uttered not sure of what was coming from her mouth. Aisha just stared at her, too weak to utter a word. She used the whole strength in her to pick her up, and placing her on her back as she darted towards the direction of the hospital.

Emergency! She screamed at the top of her voice as she entered into the hospital premises.
The nurses rushed towards her with a stretcher, to which she laid her on with their help and Aisha gave her a look she could not decipher before darkness got the better part of her and she became unconscious and was wheeled into the emergency room.
She stood there, without knowing how long she waited. Seeing as the nurses kept rushing into and out of the room made her even more tensed, submerged in the fear of the unknown.

Ya Allah, please keep her safe. She prayed with the little strength left in her. The nurse that came out at the moment made her feel impatient as she could not wait in more suspense.
Get her family members here so they can make payment for her treatment. We have given her the necessary aid, and the doctor would be here soon. The nurse explained to Khadeejah.
What do you mean, the doctor is not here? She said this time half-screaming. So what on earth has been going on in that room? Child’s play? Do you realise you are dealing with a person’s life? Or do you have no conscience at all? This is a hospital for crying out loud, why would there be no doctor?

The nurse stared at her, probably annoyed with the teenager that was shouting at her but decided to keep her cool. The doctor on duty is not around so we called another doctor. It would do you good to make payment before he comes so that whatever it is will be done quickly. Payment before treatment.

It is not my fault that the rules are like this, if you wanted a better treatment then you should have gone to a private hospital. You can call your parents or make payment over there in case you feel you are generous or rich enough to pay. She concluded sarcastically and went her way.
Khadeejah stood there as anger swept through her. She was too confused to think of the right thing to do as she had no knowledge about where Aisha lived. She also had no one she mingled with in class to extract information from. But suddenly an idea crossed through her mind, the ATM card she was given by her father. And with that thought, she dashed towards the counter and made the payment.

**
Hajiya, Hajiya, Jarma called in a loud voice, as soon as the person on the other side picked.
Hope you have good news? She asked him clearly bored. Of course, I won’t call you just like that.
Hearing that made her adjust her sitting position. Tell me about it.
That girl seems to have noticed we were following her because she did not come out through the usual gate. But then one of my boys happened to have seen her close to the park, talking to a man. He even snapped a picture of them together. I will send it to you later.

Wonderful! You did a good job today. I will pay you double for this for making me smile. At least I can use this as a weapon to sow discord between father and daughter. She said laughing.
Hajiya Hajiya, he praised her again, laughing because of the luck that came with the day, before he ended the call waiting for his money and already planning what to buy with it.