CAPTIVE

CHAPTER10

dedicated to @zainababdullahilawan

Ignore all errors. I'm going to start editing the whole book from next week In Sha Allah. 

 

 

CHAPTER10

UNKNOWNPOV

Onething I hate about Lagos is the terrible traffic. I groan and hit the steeringwheel. I have spent more than Thirty minutes on the same spot. Being theimpatient person I am, its driving me crazy.

Whatis causing the terrible traffic?

Ihave so many things in my head and staying in one spot alone is not making itany better. So I decide to turn on the radio.

Alittle background noise should make me stop thinking of bad scenarios. I hope.

Itune to different stations. The all have weird programs going on and the signalis so bad the noise makes me feel worse. The minute I decide to give up, aclear audible station comes on.

Imutter an Alhamdulillah and sit back to listen.

It'sa talk show and today's topic was love. That is not what I want to hear. Mostlybeing in the position I am now. I try not to think about Haniyya as I listen tothe talk show. I have this bad feeling in my guts that something is wrong. Idon't know what it is and I just hope she is okay. I mentally scold myself forthinking about her after I decided not to.

Thetalk show ends after fifteen minutes of their pointless chatter. None of themdefinitely know what love is. You never know the real value until you losesomeone you love. First Ammi, Allah yerhama, and then Haniyya. That's thereason why I've made it a point to check if she is okay.

Thereis no way I'm going to lose her. I'm going to fight for her. Fight for us. Ican't face that kind of pain. I just can't. I love her and that's what reallymatters. Isn't it?

Iknow I sound selfish but I love her. I hit the steering wheel in frustrationonce more and press the car horn.

"Control your temper Noor am. Be patient"

That'swhat Ammi would have said. I rest my head on the steering wheel and breathe in andout slowly. A therapy Fatima thought me.

Itbegins to work and I feel better. Then the radio distracts me.

"bomb blast in North Eastern Nigeria.The fatality rate seems to be the highest ever recorded in Nigeria.Investiga......"

Iturn off the radio after that. What kind of person sets a bomb in a publicplace with the sole aim of killing people?

Imutter a silent prayer in my head for the deceased. I look at the time and tomy surprise it is time for Asr already. I am about to hit the steering wheelagain but stop myself halfway.

I removemy cap and throw it on the back seat. It seems like I'm going to be stuck herefor a while. I might as well get comfortable while I wait.

It'sgoing to be a long ride.

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Afterthree hours of being stuck in traffic I finally reach my destination. The houselooks empty but I can smell the scent of tea from the gate so I'm certainsomeone is home.

Iknock softly on the huge gate which is slightly open.

Silence.

Iknock a little harder. Patience..Patience... I am about to know again then I hear the sound of someone runningto the gate.