UNDER 168 HOURS [BOOK 1, 168 HOURS SERIES]

Chapter 30: A Discussion

𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕙𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕥 𝕠𝕗 𝕒 𝕨𝕚𝕤𝕖 𝕞𝕒𝕟 𝕝𝕚𝕖𝕤 𝕢𝕦𝕚𝕥𝕖 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕒 𝕝𝕚𝕞𝕠𝕚𝕕 𝕨𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕣.
~ℂ𝕒𝕞𝕖𝕣𝕠𝕠𝕟.

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His car was silver 'Opera Zafera'. A mid-sized vehicle that contains the whole family. It didn't look new so anyone would have guessed her must have been using the car for couple of years now. Maybe five years ago.

To Humaira, it was evident that Mr. Abdullahi was a middle class man, trying all in his power to care for his family.

Perhaps, to get an helper like him these days are rare.
'He's willing to accommodate a stranger into his house and treat her like his family...' Humaira thought as she entered to sit beside him.

He uttered 'bismillah' before starting the car which made her conclude that he was a religious person.

Mr. Abdullahi was a man of 46, but he has a chubby body that makes him look 50.

The ardent afternoon sun was still burning in the sky, making the weather even hotter. Mr. Abdullahi's house was another mile away from the school. Finally, he packed his car in front of a white, painted bungalow. Its was a three bedroom flat that he'd completed after the first five years of his marriage with Amina. And Amina was a daughter of a wealthy family. The foundation of their marriage was the evidence of true love.

It was just the first year she got to university when she met Abdullahi. Most girls would have been shy to express themselves in front of a guy. Especially a guy they have a deep and passionate crush for but not Amina. She boldly asked him out but he openly refused. As it isn't African for a lady to ask a guy out, it felt so wrong and improper.

She was like... 'Why would I pretend to be shy for why I truly want? For who I truly need. I love Abdullahi and I tell him my mind, like a mature person would...'

She didn't care what others would say. Like a fairy princess, she just knew he was the one meant for her.

Abdullahi on the other hand sees it rather silly than being mature. He wasn't ready yet and even if he was, she's not the one, meant for him.

Instead of killing the feelings, It grew harder and Amina kept giving Abdullahi reasons why he should settle down with her. He graduated and served, yet, other girls he dated lied and cheated.  They met again and he finally proposed. Her dad connected him to someone who secured a job for him. After which they happily got married.

After service, Amina Immediately got a job in the bank and they lived happily, together. Most girls her with her status would be proud and rule the home over their husbands but Amina was not like that. She helped Abdullahi borrow a loan of #1, 000, 000 and she added a sum of 1.5 million naira to add up for the construction of their house. Even though Amina's parents didn't support her marriage with Abdullahi at first, she supported him with all in her power.

As it is, Amina earn double his salary and she does a lot to assist him. In short, they've just been a perfect couple so far. One good thing is that Amina too had been supportive so far and another good thing is that she love the girls. She had prepared lunch before their arrival. She knows about Humaira's visit so, she set the dinning table ready for them.

"Assalam 'Alaikum." Abdullahi greeted before entering.

"Wa'alaikum Sallam." Amina answered and welcomed them in.

"Good Afternoon ma." Humaita greeted as she stepped in.

"Afternoon, my dear. How are you?"

"Fine ma."

Zainab, hearing her sister's voice from inside rushed out to give Humaira a big, tight hug.

"What took you so long, Humaira? Why did you leave me?" Tears clouded in Zainab's sad eyes.

It was just a week away from each other but it looked like they were parted for a century.

"I didn't leave you, Zee. I would never leave you." Humaira replied her almost immediately, breaking down on her shoulders too, with tears.

The couple just watched the two sisters. The scene was simply touchy, that Abdullah and his wife stared at each other. Abdullahi noticed that the sisters were so close. It was obvious.

Meanwhile, Idris, their last child was peeping from behind the curtains in his own room. Others didn't even notice.

The both of them were like this for a while. Then Humaira cupped Zainab's teary face.

"Don't worry, I'm here now. Everything would be alright." Humaira replied with a smile as they both went to sit.

"I'll be right back, wifey. I need to observe Asr in the mosque." Abdullahi announced in a rush.

"But lunch is ready!"

"Don't worry, I won't stay long. I'll be back soon." He smiled lovingly and stepped out.

Meanwhile, Zainab was so excited. There's a lot she wanted to tell Humaira. Even though they weren't happy news, Zainab felt a lot better now that she's seen Humaira. And Humaira too felt relieved as well.

Amina went to the kitchen to get a cup of water for their new guest. She knew the sisters needed time to talk. She served the water and went to sit in the diningroom, awaiting her husband.

"What did you say happed Zee? How did it happened?"

"Doctor Azeezah and I were meant to leave for Canada very early the next day. We had already prepared everything. Infact, it was their gun shot that first woke me up." Zainab started explaining but tears closed in her eyes. Anyone listening would feel her pain. Humaira was so touched with what she just heard.

"It looked as if it was all planned. Why would this have happened after I left? Why?" Humaira questioned, bursting into tears. It was just so unfortunate that everything happened like this.

"Humaira. I never knew she would died like that. We ate dinner together that night, sis. We prayed isha' together before going to bed. She died protecting me, sis. It was all my fault. I even tried fighting back but they beat me up." Zainab's voice went slim like a silvery claw of moonlight. She tried to hide the pain as much as possible but the more she tried, the more painful it looked.

Humaira, felt so much pity for her baby sister. She shouldn't have witnessed these. Any of these. She shouldn't bear the pain, she just held her from behind, hugging her again.

Mrs. Bala who was sitting in the dinningroon was also in tears but, she didn't interfere in their conversation as she wanted to hear all of it too. Zainab haven't been able to say much even after she had asked her personally. Now watching this, she was snuggling from behind.

"Zainab! Please. Don't utter a word again. Just keep quite. I'll hear the rest later." Humaira tried to shush her.

"Let me talk, sister. Let me tell you all of it. I can't sleep at night, Humaira. I'm having nightmares. Let me say all I want to, so I can forget." Zainab begged as she sniffled in the edge of her cloth.

"Okay."

"And when I woke up... When I woke up, they had already left. I was bleeding from head to toe, I was so weak but I went to check on her in the living room. I wanted to know if she was alive as well. Shey, she would have treated me and everything would be fine?" She nodded her head in bitterness.
"What I saw was her bloody body. She was lying lifeless in her livingroom. I was so scared because she wasn't moving. Everyone was asleep, there was just no one to help. The worse part of it is that... Those guys were sent by Alhaji."

"What? Which Alhaji?!" Humaira knotted her eyebrows in unison.

"Alhaji Musa now." She frowned. "The same Alhaji Musa that ruined you."

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Words and Translations

- Opera Zafera : A car model or brand

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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.