UNDER 168 HOURS [BOOK 1, 168 HOURS SERIES]

Chapter 29: A New Home

𝓗𝓮 𝔀𝓱𝓸 𝓱𝓪𝓼 𝓭𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓵, 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽𝓼 𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓵.

~𝓖𝓾𝓲𝓷𝓮𝓪𝓷

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The sky was getting brighter and clearer. It was another Friday morning. Humaira woke up early to pray her Subhi prayer, then recite suratul khaf, as she usually does every Friday. After her prayer, she took her bath and gently folded two outfit into her mid-sized handbag.

It was once her mother's. Now, she's lucky enough to possess such a thing but things are getting out of hand. Perhaps, maybe someone from her father's family had cursed her for long or maybe its just a misfortune she'd brought upon herself.

'Now, Zainab is also suffering from it. What about my unborn baby? Would it be safe after it comes to this miserable life as well? But destiny is unpredictable. Maybe this baby would be the one to break the curse.' She thought with a smile across her face.

It feels like there was a connection between Humaira and her baby already. She wish to have a son, so that, he wouldn't have to go through what she and Zainab are going through. She felt somehow, that it was a baby boy.

Also, Khayr and others were still asleep so she carried her bag and left. About to get to the hostel's gate, she met Kelechi. It was just 7:00 am by the time so, she took was just entering from her usual night vigil.

***

The journey was a rough one as usual. Getting to the motor park and finding a good bus for the journey. The 18  seaters bus she finally settled for didn't stop on the road, but it took another hour to get enough travelers. Finally, she took a motorcycle that stopped her at the front of the house.

It was the silence of their compound that welcomed her. Along with the netty-spider's web hung from every edge and corner of the compound.

Like flowers, dried leaves were scattered on the dusty floor, unswept. The silence still welcomed her in, with no one interfering.

Fifty days ago was just like yesterday, when the doctor gave her 168 hours to save her mother. Now, she lost mother forever. And Zainab... Where is she?

'Most girls my age living with their parents would be struggling to have freedom. Most girls wants to be a bird, carrying the mentality of doing what they like whenever they wished but bow, am I truly free? I never wanted this kind of freedom, its so lonely and terrible.' The thought ruminated in her mind as she walked through.

Humaira brought out the key to the house from the side pocket of the black leather bag she was carrying. All the thought of what she was seeing sent tears to her eyes again but she wanted to be strong. Strong enough to bare all the pain and lonliness.

As it is, crying right now is of no use. She's been crying these past weeks anyways, without a comforter. Its just unbelievable that Dr. Azeezah passed away like that, just an evening breeze. Forgotten.

'The small garden at the backyard must have dried by now. Something we use to feed on has now turn to sand.' Humaira smiled a bitter smile. Its just another nightmare she hope would end very soon.

Humaira unlocked the door, but the heat in the house was what welcomed her as she stepped in.

It was dry season. So, what do you expect?

She quickly opened the windows hanging the already stained curtains on the rotten burglary. The black paint that was once shiny had already turned burnt brown. What stained the curtains wasn't oil or water. It was the excreta of the new occupants of the house... Rats and cockroaches.

The odour was almost unbearable for Humaira, she had to do a bit of cleaning at least.

'Just a month out of this house and it already looks like a year.' Humaira wondered as she picked up her phone and failed Mr. Abdullahi's number.

He picked up almost immediately.

"Assalam 'Alaikum sir. Its Zainab's sister, Humaira."

"Wa'alaikun salam my dear, how are you?"

"I'm fine. I just wanted to inform you that I'm around."

"Okay, that's good. Just come to Zainab's school. I'll take you to meet her from here."

"Alright sir, I'll be there before Asr."

"I'll be expecting." He said and she ended the call.

Zainab's school is about a mile away from their house so she quickly swept the rooms out, washed the plates and took a shower before going.

It was Friday so, most of the students had gone home... Only a couple of hardworking staff and the school's headmaster, Mr. Abdullahi Bala was still around.

Immediately the motorcycle stopped her at the front if the school-gate, she walked into the headmaster's office.

Mr. Abdullahi was already through with the day's work. So, he was just waiting for her arrival.

"Assalam 'Alaikum." Humaira greeted by the door.

"Wa'alaikum salam. Come in."

"Good Afternoon sir."
She entered and she greeted him properly by kneeling.

"Stand up and sit down, please." He spoke softly. Even from his speaking, Humaira guessed that he was a nice man.

"Thank you sir." She sat on the chair in front of him.

"So, how's school? How's studies?"

"Alhamdulillah sir. Everything is going on well."

"Alhamdulillah." Mr. Abdullahi left out a light sigh and looked at this wristwatch.
"It's 3: 45 pm, almost time for Asr. I need to drop you off at my house first." He grabbed his car keys and stood up.

"Let's go then."

***

Words & Translation

- Asr:  Late afternoon prayer offered between 3: 30 pm and 4: 00 pm

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Lets's Note:

Words written in single inverted commers like this 'I miss him' is someone's inner thought.

While words, written in double inverted commers like this "I hate you!" Is someone's spoken word.

Hope its clear, I don't want any misunderstandings, please.

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Enjoy reading  and please, don't forget to press the tiny orange star ★ at the end of each chapter to notify me you've actually read it… So! What are we waiting for! Get ready for this story of family, adventure, mystery and plot twists.