My New Home

Chapter Twenty-one

Jamal did not arrive from work. I’ve been calling him non-stop since it was past the time he should be home. At first I thought he was working late but when I waited extra two hours and he still did not arrive or give me a call, I thought that something is definitely wrong since I’ve been trying to get through to him unsuccessfully.

I informed his parents of his absence and they began to grow worried as well. They called his friends at work and we were informed that he left work at exactly 4:30 PM and should be home by now. I also asked if he told them he would be branching at a place but he hadn’t said anything of such. By then, we were all panicking.

We checked with everyone he was associated with and went to the next flat to inform them but idris was also missing.

“Could they have gone together?” I asked Hajia.

“I don’t think so. She replied squashing my hope. Idris doesn’t have a specific time that he gets back from work; he might just be running late and would soon be here. We need to be worried about Jamal, this is unlike him, let’s pray that Allah return him back home safely”.

While we waited impatiently, a knock resounded on the door and we rushed towards it to open the door for him but it was only Idris on the other side and he doesn’t seem to notice the tension in the atmosphere but simply greeted us with a stressed smile.

I didn’t reply to his greetings before launching my question at him. "Have you seen or spoken to Jamal today?” I asked.

He looked clueless at first but then brightened. “Yes I have. I was running late this morning so we met along the way and went to work together”.

My mood deflatd, he wasn’t any helpful. He seemed to pick up on the the situation and asked if something was wrong. “He’s missing”. I replied him.

“He might just be running late. He reasoned. You know how unpredictable the nature of his work is. He’ll soon be here and we’ll laugh over this. That was the way he used to be. You know, before he married you he...”

Ameera stepped on his toes in an effort to stop him but I already caught on that he was about to say something, probably reveal a secret about him.

“What do you mean? I asked Idris, turning back to Hajia, I redirected my question. I thought you said it was unlike him, what does idris mean by his statement?”

“He should finish what he started. Hajia replied while avoiding my eyes. I don’t know what he was talking about. Jamal is as honest as they come”.

We’ve all moved together to our flat. Mama who was sleeping already, heard the commotion and came out of her room and we narrated the issue on ground. She was so shocked she almost lost her balance and was gently guided towards the sofa.

“Audhubillaah, she uttered. What has gotten into him again? I thought he was over all these adolescent behaviour. I pray Allah bring him safely”.

I was certain that they’ve hidden something from me and it has to do with Jamal but this is not the right time to discuss that. We would get to the bottom of it as soon as Jamal gets back. By 10’o clock, Jamal was still absent, Alhaji finally left the house and told us to stay in so that he can meet people at home when he get back.

My mind was already conjuring different scenarios. Did his car develop fault? was he kidnapped? so many endless thought followed after and it didn’t help ease my tension.
Mama then suggested that everyone should perform ablution and move to the mosque. She instructed us to observe two rakaats of prayer, on the first Rakaats, we should recite suratul fatha followed by suratul kaafirun while on the second rakaats we should recite suratul fatha as well followed immediately by suratul ikhlaas.