UNDER 168 HOURS [BOOK 1, 168 HOURS SERIES]

Chapter 48 : The Real Struggle

It was the third week since Humaira got arrested. She haven't heard anything from anyone. Just gen, she remembered the Balas.

'How come, they didn't call me even once." She thought and decided to call one of the police officers.

"Yes! What is it?"

"Sorry to disturb you sir, but I need to make a call."

"You must be out of your mind!" He blurted. "Where do you think you are? In your father's house."

"Please sir, just help me this once and I would be forever grateful." She begged, tears were already forming in her eyes again. For the sake of my unborn child.

"Mteeeew! Who send you?!" Her rolled his eyes at her disgustingly and went back to his post.

Humaira fell to her feet, heartbroken. She had never lived a difficult life like this. They are only allowed to drink water thrice a day. And they're only allowed to visit the toilet twice a day too. Life in prison is hell. How is Zainab? How is my baby sister. I feel she's in so much pain now. Or maybe she needs me. I just want to hear her voice. I need to her her voice. She cried bitterly on her palms as she laid down on the cold floor and cried even more.

Meanwhile, Zainab was discharged from the hospital. She only spent three nights and Mr. Abdullahi almost spent #150, 000 on her medical bills. The money for antiretroviral therapy and her drugs alone was so huge. Mr. Abdullahi didn't call the specialist doctor he was addressed to. He wanted to settle all his family issues first and maybe. Only, maybe Amina would help him in paying for her treatment and all that.

It was almost afternoon. Idris begged his dad to take him to the hospital inorder to see his sick sister. After a lot of pressure and pestering, Mr. Abdullahi finally agreed. Idris was super excited, his best friend was coming back home.

***

Later That Evening.

Mr. Abdullahi came home with Zainab. He had taken Idris and Zainab to a eatery for lunch so they came home filled and satisfied. Mr. Abdullahi however has been ignoring Amina. She knows what she did and she had been begging him for forgiveness. She wasn't in her right state of mind and what she wanted was to take Zainab out if the picture. Out of their picture.

She tried to explain why she had poisoned Zainab's cup earlier that morning but her husband wasn't giving her face. What she did was wrong and she needs to be corrected if not punished.

He met the table all set up with his favorite dish. Pounded yam and Egusi soup but he didn't even go there. He walked directly into his room, had a shower and went to mosque. He wouldn't eat her food and she knows it.

It's clear that after all she had done to send Zainab out of her family, she would still come back. It's been three days now, Abdullahi has been avoiding his wife as much as possible but they tried not to let their children know else, it might affect their marriage and relationship even more.

After Isha' prayer, Mr. Abdullahi came back home from mosque. All the children were asleep. Only Amina sat in the livingroom watching a movie on television. She wasn't even paying attention to it because she was lost in thought. All she was thinking was how to win back her husband's heart back. But because she didn't die, that doesn't mean she would still let Zainab live in their house as her own daughter. She never loved her and she never would.

"Assalam'Alaikum." Abdullahi greeted as he entered

"Wa'alaikun Sallam." Waking up from her thought, she replied his greeting.

He didn't look at her. He just walked into the room. The way he treats her these days leaves her even more heartbroken.

"How to approach him? How to face him again?" She thought once more before going inside. He was taking off his clothes in front of the standing mirror when she walked to him, and knelt down.

"My darling husband. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for misbehaving, I know it's all my fault that's why I'm begging you."she held his legs to herself and cried."Please, find somewhere in your heart to forgive me."

"Okay, fine. Please, get up." He held her by the shoulders and placed her on the bed. He sat with her too on the bed and they faced themselves, face to face. It's been a while. He wiped away her tears with his hands and smiled. She liked too.

"You're my joy and happiness, Amina. Either you want me to be a happy husband, or a sad one. It's all in your hands. I know you're angry with me... I'm sorry too."

"No... Not at all Hubby. You shouldn't say sorry because you did nothing wrong."

"Okay, fine."He held her hands in his.

"There's something I need to discuss with you as well. I think you need to know."

Her bright smile faded immediately.
"Tell me hubby, what's it?"

"It's about Zainab." Mr. Abdullahi said and handed his wife a document.

"What?! Subhanallah!! I can't believe this!"

"It's true, darling. But please, don't tell the children.

"She's having HIV?!" She closed the file and looked at her husband. "What would we do?!"

"I don't know what to do... But I think she's a blessing we need to keep."

"Hmm.. A blessing or a curse?"

"What's it again,Amina?! You've started."

"I don't mean to annoy you, hubby." She shook her head. "Just try to look at things from my Angle, then you would understand."

"What do you mean, Wifey?"

"What I mean is... since she came to this house, nothing good had happened. Things are either bad or worse. Her father died because his family killed him. Her mother died while giving birth to her. Her sister is probably going through hell, trying to sponsor herself in school. She got an helper that wanted to fly her abroad. The poor woman got killed just before they travelled. She got sent out by the woman's children. She came here and our sons started fighting. Now look at the both of us? I think this girl isn't ordinary. She's just a piece of bad news that we were destined to care for."

***
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