Saved by my nightmare (A Nigerian Story)

CHAPTER 52

Kaduna-Abuja ( on air), Nigeria
2020.

Maliya's nerves were all over the place as they approached Abuja, her mind on the other helicopter flying somewhere near the one she was in.
The one on which Rayyan was.

"We're close now ma'am, we should be landing any minute from now" The man who piloted the helicopter said, smiling.

He had been very polite towards her since she entered, suspiciously polite.

His smiles, talk and his way of engaging her since she'd boarded the aircraft hours earlier had all screamed his interest.

Unfortunately, she had way bigger things on her mind.

She glanced at her phone, groaning when she saw it was still booting.

The annoying thing took hours to boot!

She'd only put it off earlier because it was about to blow up with the number of calls that were coming through.

On one hand, there was Rumaysa who was meant to be getting married in two days. Maliya couldn't pick her call, already sensing how distressed she was from the tens of messages she'd sent to her.

The girl had left Kano with her mum and a few other family members that had been in their house for her wedding preparations.

On another, she had both her brothers coming back from the UK that same day, she'd only just sent them a text each, briefing them on what was going on.

They'd probably only see the messages hours later after they landed.

Maliya had suspicions as to why Zahar was coming back home seeing how close Rumaysa's wedding was, but she had a sinking feeling in her gut that he was too late.

Between the complex relationship her brother shared with her best friend and Rayyan's condition, the doctor felt utterly hopeless.

Her priorities however, were clear.

Rayyan first; every other thing later.

"Ma'am please fasten your seat belt, we're about to touch ground" the air force officer said to her, the teasing smiles gone as he concentrated deeply on the array of buttons and controls Maliya knew nothing of.

Maliya was in awe at the officer's drastic change in aura. She had to admit, when he was being serious, he was remarkably handsome.

'Astaghfirullah' she thought, a silent reminder by the more focused part of her mind.

When had she become this crazy? Like a wanton little lady that belonged in the streets!

First, she was oogling an injured man when she was meant to be treating him and now, she was silently regarding a stranger creepily.

Granted in the former, she'd had years of anticipation to give her action sufficient motivation. However, in the latter, her actions were purely primal, animalistic dare she say.

Soon enough, Maliya was able to push all her thoughts aside, focusing on the descent of the helicopter as they landed on the Empire hospital's helipad.

Stretchers were on standby, and the minute they landed, Maliya could see Rayyan being wheeled away as the helicopter which had landed minutes before has took off once again.

Her steps quickened as she followed the nurses who'd gained a headstart, she could see them in the distance, wheeling the stretcher into the E.R

Maliya's gut plummeted as she sat on one of the waiting chairs outside the door of the E.R