Saved by my nightmare (A Nigerian Story)

CHAPTER 43

Abuja, Nigeria
2020.

" You really need to take a break, Maliya" her sister in law berated, a worried look permanently etched on her face.

Maliya just looked at her and smiled, unwilling to take part in that debate for the millionth time.

Amina had been worried that in trying to save other people, Maliya herself would come down with something.

She'd argued with other over the weekend and now that it was Monday and Maliya was ready to go to the hospital, she was even more frustrated.

"Sister Amina don't stress yourself over that" Amina shot her a reproachful look like she always did when Maliya called her 'sister'.

There was barely a three year age gap between them, and Amina had become Maliya's very close friend and confidante over the years.

Initially, Maliya hadn't been a fan of her seeing how her brothers' relationship had almost been destroyed because of her, but over the years she realised that it had never been Amina's intention to cause that rift.

Moreover, she had given Maliya such a cute nephew.

Said cute nephew was balanced on Maliya's hip, his fist in his mouth as he shot a toothy smile her way.

Maliya diverted her attention from Amina back to her nephew, making funny faces at him.

The boy only looked at her weirdly for a second, and then burst into toothless giggles the next, causing a wide smile to spread across Maliya's lips.

Amina's frown melted the longer she looked at them. Maliya hadn't been much of a baby person before, but ever since Amina had given birth, she'd gradually began to change.

And now, she was wrapped around Mubarak's spit-covered, chubby fingers.

"Muba, I have to go to work now" Maliya cooed, drawing him away from her hips into his mother's outstretched hands.

Once in his mother's arms, he looked at Maliya, to his mother and back to Maliya.

"Aunty Maya?" He gurgled at his mother.

Amina smiled at him lovingly, flicking his nose.

"Aunty Maya is going to the hospital" She said, Mubarak looked at Maliya with a frown on his face.

"Aunt Maya, going hopitu?" He asked.

Maliya laughed softly, moving to place a kiss on his forehead.

"I'll take you to the park when I come back" she said, and a smile spread across his face.

*****
"Good morning" Maliya greeted Doctor Linda as she passed by her in the hallway.

"Good morning Maliya, hope you had some rest during the weekend?" She asked her.

After Maliya answered, and pleasantries were exchanged, she entered the consultation room, glad she had no patients for at least the next hour.

Her phone beeped, and on instinct she drew it out of her purse.

Scanning her messages, something in her deflated as she saw an unread message from a colleague asking if she had reached the hospital.

She ignored the message, knowing Gloria was only looking for someone to gossip with that early in the morning.

Without thinking, she clicked on Rayyan's chat where she'd last sent him a message that she was going to bed the previous night.

He hadn't replied yet, but was online.

A small part of her was anxious for his reply, but a larger part wanted him to initiate the conversation.