UNDER 168 HOURS [BOOK 1, 168 HOURS SERIES]

Chapter 46: The Results

'Every disappointment they say is a blessing. Why is mine different?! I thought Mrs. Bridget would be the light to guide me through the darkness of life but it seems I was wrong after all.'  Humaira thought as tears lingered down her face, making soft moans escape let shivering lips in pain.

They took her to their station and pushed her into one of their prisons. She met three other dirty looking girls of about her age sitting on the bare ground.

Their hair looked scattered and rough. She tried to greet them as she entered but they hissed at her. It was stupid if her to greet prisoners after all. As if her own worries weren't enough.

Humaira placed her butt on the ground and quitely sat among the ladies.

'Why me of all people? Who would have betrayed me like this? I'm going to miss lectures? Who would help me out of here oh God. Send an angel to help me out of here. I'll be forever grateful. Why would Mrs. Bridget doubt me so easily. Well, she lost 45 million naira... So, I don't blame her. All I need to do is to find a way out. Just a way out...' she questioned herself as she bowed her head, holding it with her left hand.

She felt so sad and dejected. Only tears of regret poured out of her eyes... And thoughts from the past poured through her mind. It's as if things were going from frying pan to fire for her.

'And Zainab. Only God knows what she might be going through right now. But one thing for sure, she wouldn't be suffering like her. She would definitely love a better life with that lovely family. Yes. Definitely.'

***

That Same Morning, At The Bala's...

Zainab was rushed to the hospital. Mr. Abdullahi didn't hesitate to carry her into his car as he hit the road. Idris wanted to follow his dad but Amina stopped him. They waited at home to hear the news.

For some reasons, Amina wasn't at ease. She had poisoned Amina's cup earlier that day so, she knew she must have drank from the cup before serving her husband. That was what probably lead to her passing out but good thing, she won't be able to make it. And that would mean peace and happiness in her family again. At least, if her husband wasn't bold enough to take her out, she knows a better way.

Mr. Abdullahi was reciting silent prayers and he drove Zainab to the hospital. She was already pouring out a white, foaming fluid from her mouth, and breathing slowly. It was as if life her life was gradually leaving her body. He zoomed even faster and went to the General hospital, where he and his family registered.

Getting there, the gate was locked. Mr. Abdullahi had to come down to meet the security men that were available.

"Hope no problem sir? Is there anyone in? My daughter is dying!" He yelled at the top of his lungs.

"No sir, the doctors are on strike since yesterday. No doctor would be attending to any patients as well. Federal government haven't paid them." The security guard explained.

"Subhanallah!" Mr Abdullahi muttered in fraustration and quickly left the sight. He zoomed off again, not bothering wasting any more of his time there. The security officer was still trying to explain why they were on strike  but he wouldn't listen.

He drove off to another hospital instead. It was a private hospital, people Called it 'Good Health' and it's one of the best so far. It's a good thing they opened that day so, Mr. Abdullahi rushed her in. She had already stopped breathing. The nurses took her into a ward so, they injected her with an antidote. They knew immediately that she was poisoned, with what was pouring out of her mouth. They took a blood sample on her as well inorder to run a test. It took a while before the results came out. And Mr. Abdullahi was waiting was the reception. He kept on paying over and over again. Although, he wasn't her real father but he loved and care for her like his own. He had known her for years now but fate brought them together.
'Poor girl. She didn't have anyone in life to depend on. Except Humaira and God Himself.' he thought.

Thinking about Humaira, he decided to call her number but it rang at the police's office where they has siezed her phone.

He dialed it over and over again. But an office came to pick up the call.

"Yes! Who am I speaking with?" He hissed.

"It's Mr. Abdullahi! Please I want to speak with the owner of this phone. Her younger sister is dying."

"Hahahahaaaa!" The stupid police officer laughed. "I guess the elder sister is dying too."

"What?"

"If you like yourself, don't call this number ever again because no one would save the owner." He cut the call and threw the phone into a shelve. Locking it with other thousands of phones. Each, belonging to the prisoners.

"Hello! Hellooo!!" He muttered over the phone befire he realized that he had cut his call. Mr. Abdullahi tried to call the number again but it was switched off.

"What's happening to Humaira? And who was that?" He wondered. Then the doctor called him into his office.

"Sit down sir." The young doctor ordered.

"Thank you." Mr. Abdullahi replied with hope in his heart. With hope that things would be better again.

"How are you related to her?" He doctor started. "Because your names aren't corresponding."

It was clear that the doctor had read her file. She's Zainab Ahmad Sanni and He's Abdullahi Bala.

"Yes sir. I'm her foster father. I adopted her months ago."

"Oh, really? That's nice but... Do you love that young girl the way a father would?"

"What do you mean doctor? I don't understand." Mr Abdullahi looked at the doctor in total confusion.

"I mean.. if you love her so much as you claim? Then why would you poison her?"

"Poison?" His eyes flashed in surprise. This might be Amina's handwork. "I'm so sorry doctor but, I would never poison a child as precious as Zainab. She's my daughter... I wouldn't harm her."

"Okay, I agree. But you know that she was poisoned right?"

"No.. I didn't. But I was suspecting. It would be my wife."

"Your wife? Why would she be against a girl as young as that? That's terrible. That girl is just 9 and you guys are planning to kill her already? Where are her biological parents?"

"They're dead sir. I took her in because she was lonely and homeless. She had no one to care for her and I took that responsibility of taking care of her because I know I can."

"Okay. You know cases like these should be reported to the police station. Because your wife attempted murderer."

"What?! It shouldn't be like this. Please doctor, save my wife and my daughter for me. I don't want to lose them and I don't want any of the to go through any more torture and pain." Mr. Abdullahi pleaded.
"It's all my fault. I left home after I had an argument with my wife. I guess she took the anger on little Zainab, but... I promise to settle this amicably with my wife at home."

"Hmm.. okay. If you say so. I just want to to know something. The life and death of that young girl is in your hands. It depends on what you want but, please... For the sake of her late parents. Don't let that girl suffer. She has gone through a lot already so, settle the case between you and your wife immediately." The doctor advised.

"Okay sir."

The doctor opened a big, brown file with Zainab's name on it. He out on his transparent reading glasses and scrolled through the page.

"We did a lot of check up on Zainab. And here are the results." He took out a deep sigh. "Firstly, she was poisoned. Luckily, you were able to bring her here just a minute before it completely circulated throughout her body. If it was a minute late, she would have died but thank God. She's responding to treatment."

"Alhamdulillah." Mr. Abdullahi muttered.

"Secondly, based on the blood test we took. It showed that Zainab is HIV positive."

***

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