So close, yet so far

30

ABUJA, NIGERIA

Two days had passed since Hauwa left with Mama, and Sa'eed felt like a part of him had been ripped away. The silence in the house was deafening, and every room seemed to echo with Hauwa's absence. Sa'eed missed her terribly, and the weight of her absence was crushing him. He felt like he was drowning in a sea of despair, and he didn't know how to keep his head above water.

As he lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, Sa'eed couldn't help but think of Hauwa. He missed her bright smile, her infectious laughter, and her warm touch. He missed the way she used to curl up beside him at night, the way she used to whisper sweet nothings in his ear. He missed everything about her, and the pain of her absence was almost too much to bear.

Sa'eed tossed and turned, unable to sleep. He knew he had to see Hauwa, to hold her in his arms and tell her how much he loved her. He couldn't wait any longer, and so he made up his mind to go to Kaduna and visit her. He would leave as soon as possible, and he wouldn't rest until he saw Hauwa's face again.

Just as Sa'eed was about to get out of bed, he heard a knock on the door. It was Safar, and she looked concerned. "Ya Sa'eed, are you okay?" she asked, her voice soft and gentle. "You look like you haven't slept in days."

Sa'eed rubbed his eyes, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over him. "I'm fine, Safar," he said, trying to sound calm. "I just miss Hauwa, that's all."

Safar's face softened, and she looked sympathetic. "I know how you feel, Ya Sa'eed," she said. "I miss her too. Why don't I come with you to Kaduna? We can visit her together."

Sa'eed's eyes narrowed, unsure of Safar's motives. But she looked so sincere, so concerned, that he couldn't help but trust her. "Okay, Safar," he said finally. "Let's go together."

Safar's face lit up with a smile, and she looked relieved. "Great, Ya Sa'eed," she said. "I'll start packing. We can leave as soon as possible."

As Safar turned to leave, Sa'eed couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. Safar seemed too eager, too enthusiastic, and Sa'eed wondered what her true motives were. But he pushed the thought aside, focusing on the fact that he would soon see Hauwa again.

Little did Sa'eed know, Safar had an ulterior motive for wanting to accompany him to Kaduna. Mama had told her that Hauwa was starting to get better, that she was no longer hallucinating or forgetting people like before. And Safar knew that she had to act fast, before Hauwa fully recovered and exposed her sinister plan.

As Safar packed her bags, a sly smile spread across her face. She was going to Kaduna, and she was going to make sure that Hauwa didn't recover. She was going to inject her with the drugs again, and she was going to make sure that Sa'eed never suspected a thing.

The thought sent a thrill through Safar's veins, and she felt a sense of excitement and anticipation. She was going to Kaduna, and she was going to take care of Hauwa once and for all.

As Safar and Sa'eed finished packing, they headed to the Mato mansion to bid the family farewell. Safar had graciously offered to stay behind at Sa'eed's house, helping with cooking and household chores until Hauwa's return. Sa'eed had grown so accustomed to having Safar around that he had begun to regard her as a sister, and the rest of the household staff had followed suit, often forgetting that she was, in fact, his cousin.

Upon arriving at the mansion, they were greeted by the warm smiles of Mami and Adda Bahijja, who were eager to see Sa'eed off. The atmosphere was filled with a mix of excitement and concern, as the family was well aware of Sa'eed's eagerness to reunite with Hauwa.

They arrived at the airport and made their way to the private jet, Sa'eed's anticipation was palpable. He had always been a man of action, and the thought of being reunited with Hauwa had him practically bursting with excitement. The Mato family's private jet, adorned with the family crest, stood waiting on the tarmac, its engines humming softly as the pilot performed the final pre-flight checks.