The shady vermin

8

We sure had the time of our lives, we had a nice time with the Ubayds, everyone enjoyed themselves. After we finished our little celebration rave, we were helping them clean up. Then suddenly there was thumping sound from their back door, like someone was pounding something. The sound baffled everyone, but more surprisingly was that it didn't stop. So I decided to check it out, and Ubayd followed behind, while the women took positions where they could see whatever or whoever it was. As I got closer it felt strange, it was like there were people, but why? visitors use front door. As I got closer, the sound got louder, everyone was quiet, tensed, as I was about opening the back door, I could hear Nabila calling my name, I'm sure she was trying to stop me, but I then I proceeded with opening the door.
"Saleeeeem!" screamed as I turned to the already ajar door, there was a man in my front with a 2mm Kolibri pointing to my forehead. And all within seconds, before Nabila's scream ended, the trigger was pulled, and everything went blank.

I immediately woke up, jumped out of my bed and landed face-down on the floor. Alert I was for some seconds, but after some deep breaths, I could hear Nabila calling my name and knocking the door to wake me up. "It was just a dream or was it a premonition" I thought to myself. I checked my phone, "2nd October...8:24" it read, I sluggishly go up, and I went on and got ready. After we got ready, assembled, and went on to the court. We went with Ubayd to his office, got everything ready, and as soon as a clerk notified us that it was time for the sitting, we came out and headed straight for the courtroom. Right before we got in, Imran stopped us, and asked to speak with Ubayd and I. He had a smile on his face, "how are you two doing?", as he shook hands with Ubayd, then turned to me and gave me a firm handshake too.
"I see you got a pack full of witnesses, oh my, oh my" as he mockingly chuckled. "Tryna win the case by all means, yeah?", he quickly cleared his throat, and as he raised his head, his countenance changed completely. A stern look, and one raised brow, while we stood expressionless.

"Well, let me be straight with you guys, you're not gonna win this case. You have the means to win it, and you should, if I wasn't the opposing attorney. Anyway, my client has an offer, that if you go in without a fight and let us succumb, you're not going to serve any prison time but only pay for damages, else you get locked up and pay. Though at both ends, lose the properties. The choice is yours, 'cus we paid the judge". Then he stretched his hand and I stretched mine, and we shook hands, even though my body was not acting right. He then tried to shake Ubayd, but Ubayd snubbed him.
"Either way, I get paid", he suddenly loosened his stern expression and patted Ubayd's shoulder, before he turned and walked into the courtroom.
"What do you suggest?" Ubayd asked me.

"We proceed as planned", I declared, then I walk away and headed to the courtroom.

Some minutes later, the court preceded. And just in, Baba Nasiru's wife was called on to the stands as a witness. Took a stand, and Imran began, "I swear that the evidence that I shall give shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God." And she followed, "I solemnly affirm that the evidence that I shall give shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth".

"Mrs. Nasiru, where were you in the afternoon of February 6th and with whom?"

"With my husband and his brother, at his brother's house".

"Tell us more please"

She narrated, "I and my husband went to see his brother, as he was really sick. He admonished us, and spoke to us about his fear, of a shady vermin in the family. One who didn't belong, but will forcefully make it so, because of the vermin's nature, it can't thrive outside, because of it's natural societal handicap, so only inside house. So it'll steal and do all it can to thrive and to survive. At the end, he transferred all his properties to my husband, because he felt the vermin would steal the ones in her name".

"And who, is this...vermin?" Imran prompted.

"Saleem the ILLEGITIMATE", she boldly said. And the court was mute, you could hear a pin drop from any position.

"Well that almost settles it", said the judge as she adjusted her glasses with her index finger. "Mr. Ubayd? Anything?"

"Yes,Your honor, I do have something", he adjusted his suit. "Your honor, l have a witness". And there was sudden buzz in the audience, before the judge called for order.

A lady appeared at the entrance, and as she moved into the court, I stretched and noticed that it was the maid, just like my dream. "Was it really a dream, or a premonition, or it is just a dé jà vu", I thought to myself, but I could only hope and be patient to see what came next.

Ubayd stated, "I swear that the evidence that I shall give shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God." And she followed, "I solemnly affirm that the evidence that I shall give shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth".

"Introduce yourself to the court please" Ubayd started.
"My name is Rahma Abbas" she replied
"And I worked for those two" pointed at us, and lowered her head.
"Worked? Meaning you no longer work there...Why? What happened?"
"I stole their things and betrayed them" with a softer voice of shame. And the court buzzed again.
"Order in my court" the judge demanded, then nodded to Ubayd to signal his continuation.

Ubayd while adjusting his buttons and seemingly more pumped, "Rahma, do you know that man?" and he point at Baba Nasiru's direction.
In agitation, Imran stood as he proclaimed, "Objection! Your honor, what has my client's personal life got to do with the case?"

And the judge nodded in affirmation, "Mr Ubayd, be straightforward and show us the relevant of this witness".

"Yes your honor" Ubayd then turned to the maid girl. "Can you please tell the court about your relationship with him and exploits you both partook?".

She sighed, and then started, "Well, that man used to ma-"

"Objection! How is this not arbitrary?! Your honor!" Imran fuming to the judge.

"W-Well he is right, this is arbitrary to the case, the statement is void and hence no other witnesses shall be brought", said the judge. "Mr. Ubayd, your client is facing two years in prison plus fine", she added. And the courtroom began corroding with gasps and exclamations from every angle. And Ubayd stood, perplexed, I couldn't even tell what he was thinking, because clearly with the situation at hand, we had lost.

The judge began, "Well, on that account I find Mr. Saleem guilty of fraud, battery and defamation by slander. He will serve thre-"

"Your honor, I'm sorry for not saying this earlier but, my client can't serve jail time, as he hasn't fully recovered from a fatal accident he had, which as a result affected his mental health and put him in a coma". Ubayd proclaimed, as he walked up closer to the judge looking at her face squarely. She then tilted her glasses with her index and middle fingers, then paused as she pondered for some seconds.

"Well, in that case, he will pay extra fine and be put to community service. Then the court also gives full possession of those properties to Mallam Nasiru". and she brought the session to its end, while I sat, in disappointment. I couldn't even look or talk to anyone, all I thought of, was that I had failed. I had failed Nabila, I was thinking of how she'd feel, maybe anger, disappointment, because I couldn't even imagine the pain she was probably going through at the moment. While I was sitting, dreading the moment, and in fact the day itself, I got a little tap on my shoulder, and upon snapping out of my thoughts and raising my head, I saw Ubayd, standing over me. "Get up, man. Let's go", and then he took my hand, and he pulled me up so I'd stand. As I stood and started walking, my legs were suddenly sinking into the ground, and everywhere was bubbly and shaky. I felt pain in my chest, as if my heart was stabbed and clenched at the same time, as my head got heavier by the second.
"Saleem! What is it?! Are you okay?! Saleem!" I could hear Ubayd say, as he was holding me from falling, and shaking me to pull me together. My heart raced as my chest tightened; it felt as if the center of my head — right behind my nasal cavity was being pulled. A sound roared through me as my hands went tingly as I couldn't breathe, and what looked like black clouds pressed their way into my vision.