HIS LAYLA ( #COMPLETED)

CHAPTER 3

"Good morning" , they greeted in unison.
"Good morning" my dad responded, i didn't even notice the moment he got behind me because i was taken aback by the presence of police in our house.

" Are you Mr Abdullah Osman?"
My dad responded in a shaky voice, saying yes he is

" You are under arrest for the murder of Mr Umar Yakubu , the accountant of the O&G Company you work at ..You have the right to remain silent , otherwise whatever you do or say will be used against you in the court of law". The black skin police man said to my dad after he pulled out his police card with a warrant of arrest , then he instructed his colleague to put a handcuff over my dad's hands .

" Darling who is at the door?". My mom yelled from the kitchen, oblivious of what is going on but within few seconds she came rushing out because she got no response.

" Subahanallah! NO! You people can't do this, he is innocent I swear !, let him go please." My mom cried out in tears as she run towards my dad and held onto his back .

" Habibti (Dear) its okay , Allah is watching and He knows am innocent of the accusations being laid against me, please take very good care of yourself and Layla, we will meet soon okay, for now i have to Follow them because i have to obey the law" my dad sadly but calmly said to my mom as he gently pulled himself away from her grip and walked out in handcuffs with the police officers.

My mom fell on her knees and wiped so loudly and bitterly, she couldn't control her self .

I stood still, rooted to my spot by the door trying to process all that was happening for a split second and a tear just trickled down my cheek from my eye. My dad "No", i whispered to my self then hurriedly went to hug my mom ever so tightly as we wept together, after a moment, i managed to ask her
" what is happening mom?, why did those mean police men take dad away like that...what did dad do?".

"Oh my princess, you are too young to understand, maybe someday i will tell you all about it. Come lets go pray to Allah Almighty . He is the only one who can help us " I simply nodded my head and went with my mom to offer nafla( a voluntary prayer) as we prayed and wept to Allah.

It is two weeks now since dad got apprehended by the police. my dad is to appear before the court for the final verdict from the judge, mom n i have been visiting dad till now.

"Hurry, hurry hon, we will be late for the hearing " my mom yelled at me from downstairs, i was still getting ready so we go to the court as today is the last day in which the judge will declare his final judgement to decide my dad's fate.
My mom n i have been so anxious and worried from the day dad left the house with the police men. Mom barely eats, she gets sleepless nights, i catch her crying at night and i go console her but i end up crying too because we know this isn't fair and we miss dad so much, we just want him back and everything should go back to normal just as it used to, but we have placed everything in the hands of the ALMIGHTY and have also surrendered to Him, we know He will help us due to the fact that He is the most merciful.

"Am here now mom, lets get going" i briskly got down the stairs as i said to her. We left home and arrived at the court an hour later.

In front of the court was quite a busy one, it was crowded with people, i see lawyers in their uniforms and others in casual wears.

Mom held onto my hand so tightly as we ascended the flight of stairs leading into the courtroom, i see the main judge Seated at his sitting position at the judge bench, my dad sat next to his lawyer, they sat opposite the judge behind a wooden table, oh my poor dad, he looked so worn out and sad, i wish i could just run to him as usual and hug him, kiss him and tell him not to worry everything will be alright, Allah got us.
We sat on seats reserved for spectators at the back, luckily my mom and i had the front sit amidst the rest of the crowd gathered here to also listen to the court final verdict , Few seconds later, i heard mom sobbing, i just squeezed her hand to let her know am here.

The verdict was announced by the judge as all allegations being laid against my dad for the murder of their company's accountant were proven true beyond reasonable doubt, all this while mom wouldn't stop crying and i too.

" Mr Abdullah, the court has found you guilty beyond reasonable doubts and you are hereby sentenced to death by hanging".
So said the cruel judge at the end of the court hearing before he hit the gravel signalling the end of the court hearing then stood up to leave.

"NO!!!!" my mom screams out so loud and fainted right at the spot.
I stood still, unable to move, i feel i am suffocating, am i also dying, NO this cant be happening , my dad was in tears as he stood up from his seat accompanied by the two police men. he was given few minutes to talk to his family being my mom and i, my dad is an orphan and only child, so he had no parents or close relatives around. Meanwhile my mom was rushed to a nearby hospital by an ambulance.

My dad walked closer towards me and knelt down in order to get to my level of height, as i wasn't that tall and gave me a big tight hug then whispered into my ear
" My baby girl, always remember Allah and know that His is watching and still got our back, hold onto all the Islamic principles i have taught you, know that daddy is innocent and I love you and momi so much than my own life, Please do take care of your self and momi okay, ...Promise me".

"No, no, no, daddy please dont leave us , i can't do without you, we cant do without you,  i want to follow you daddy " i said to my dad in full tears after he pulled back to watch into my eyes, we both stared at each other for a brief moment with a mixture of overwhelming feelings. I quickly hug him again

"Leave my daddy alone!!" I angrily yelled at the two police men standing behind dad awaiting to take him for execution.

"please be strong for momi my princess, i love you" my dad said to me as he gently pulled away from my grip, then stood up to leave

"DADDY!!!" I screamed my lungs out in tears as i had my eyes fixed at his back, disappearing through the exit with those police men.