Saved by my nightmare (A Nigerian Story)

CHAPTER 53

Abuja, Nigeria
2020

"Hey" Rumaysa said as Maliya walked towards her.

They'd arrived the hospital only moments earlier, and Mrs Kamardeen was speaking to the doctor.

"Hey" Maliya answered back, moving closer to wrap her arms around Rumaysa's slight form.

Her friend had a glow to her face, courtesy all the skincare she'd been doing in preparation for her wedding.

But the brightness of her face did nothing to conceal the blotchiness of her eyes.

Her eyes were red, hollowed as they sunk into her sockets. Her lashes still wet with tears blinked rapidly as Maliya let go of her.

"What's happening" She asked in a throaty voice that sounded nothing like hers.

Her voice was barely audible, hurting Maliya's ears with how much pain it seemed she went through just to get a word out.

"His life is out of danger, don't worry" Maliya said, smiling as she saw the tension roll off her almost instantly.

Rumaysa heaved a breath of air, slumping onto the metal chair tiredly.

"I thought you were coming with some of your aunts?" Maliya asked her, slipping into the chair next to her.

"Yes" Rumaysa said tiredly, a yawn escaping her before she turned to look at Maliya with weary eyes.

"Amina went to lodge a hotel for us, they went with her saying they wanted to pick their rooms themselves" Maliya laughed as Rumaysa rolled her eyes.

Rumaysa in turn smiled at the sound of her friend's rambunctious laughter.

"Kai!" Maliya exclaimed, tears rolling down her cheek.

"Wallah. I'm sure they weren't even concerned about Rayyan, if you see the way they were just gisting and laughing the whole way here ehn, you'd think we were going for some party" Rumaysa said, before sighing.

"They probably just wanted some gist that'll last them till next year. I can almost imagine the exaggerated stories they'll concoct.

On our way here, one of them called her friend to tell her that Rayyan had been shot through the head" Maliya burst into another fit of laughter, joined soon by Rumaysa's chuckles.

"I'm sure by the time the news reaches your relatives in Sokoto, Rayyan would have been 'shot' ten times" Maliya whispered as Rumaysa's chuckles morphed into a full blown laughter.

"Arewa women and their gist sha" Rumaysa mused, smiling as she stared off into the air.

"I'll have to disagree with you Ruma, Yoruba women definitely take the prize when it comes to gossip" There was an open challenge in Maliya's eyes that Rumaysa knew she should ignore.

She could never win an argument against Maliya, the girl was just too stubborn.

"Let's agree to disagree" She finally said, as they both fell into a comfortable silence.

Moments later, Maliya's head snapped towards Rumaysa, who had her eyes closed peacefully.

"Rumaysa?" She called, tapping her lightly.

Rumaysa hummed in response, raising an eyebrow to show she was listening.

"Didn't you come with Adam?" She asked.

Rumaysa's eyes snapped open at that, an emotion Maliya couldn't recognise flickering for the briefest second.

"He was waiting in the lounge but I've told him to get some rest. It's past midnight already and he already drove us down here" She said.