42

She looked at him when he was done eating and handed him a bottle of water. He drank the water and looked at her with an unreadable expression on his face. “What do you want to talk about, Ais…Humaira?” His tongue almost slipped, but he knew the new Aisha so much to know that he had to be careful when he was around her.

Her eyes cornered him and Abba smiled nervously at her, “What? Are you trying to charm me into answering the crime I didn’t commit? Believe me, Humaira, I wasn’t the one that killed your boyfriend, but I know I have no way out now.” He hung his head down and looked at his fingers.

Humaira heaved a sigh and shook her head at him, “I know you aren’t the one that killed Rafiq, that’s why I’m here.”

He shot his head up and looked at her, “You know, right? I found him dead when I entered the house, Humaira. I couldn’t wash away from this crime but I found him dead just like you entered and met him. I know I followed behind you the night before he was killed and I was glad that I finally know where you lived. If only I knew, I wouldn’t have gone to the house.”

She sighed and looked straight into his eyes. If not because they were in a serious conversation, she would’ve laughed at his messy beard. “You just have to answer a few questions, Psycho. How did you get into the house?”

“I found it opened, even the living room door was slightly ajar.” He answered, trying to brush off the name she called him.

“You haven’t seen anything suspicious?” She asked, and for a split second; Humaira looked as though she was a lawyer.

He shook his head before he nodded his head abruptly. “I saw a car driving away immediately as I walked into the driveway.”

“What kind of car is it? Can you tell its plate number?” She asked with utmost excitement, looking at him eagerly to hear what he had to say.

“It was a black Mercedes, I’ll have to think about the plate number,” Abba spoke and pinched the bridge between his eyes. He wished he can recall.

“I’ll send my lawyer to you tomorrow, he’ll guide you for the court sitting. Make sure you don’t forget even the tiniest information.” He nodded his head and she called the policeman that was standing beside her car and he got out of the car.

“I’ll see you in court.” She said briskly and drove back home, that night she spent it thinking about the dots she was yet to connect. The black Mercedes he said was the car Dawoud had, but she didn’t want to raise her hopes high and be disappointed at last. She woke up the next morning and went to Daddy, she had exhausted the money in her account and she needed some to pay for the necessary investigations to be carried out for this case.

“What do you need money for, Humaira? I sent you a huge amount of money not long ago.” Daddy looked up at her and met her amber coloured eyes that were filled with the quest for something he couldn’t decipher.

“Daddy, just trust me this one time, please. I need this money,” she spoke while walking behind him, he was about to leave for a business trip. She knew he would stop her the moment he heard about her attempt for a proper investigation for this case.

Daddy turned to look at her and sighed, if Humaira wanted f=something from him, she can pester his life with all her being. “I’ll have my secretary send it to you. You should be safe, Aisha. I don’t want you involved in anything that’s a crime.”

She nodded her head and smiled, “You have my words, Daddy. Have a safe flight.” She hugged him and planted a smooch on his face.

As soon as Daddy left the house, she left to her room and called Barr. Bassam and asked him to be at the police station so he could take some statements from Abba and he should send her two detectives, she needed to go back to the crime spot and have the detectives investigate the house and its surroundings. She got into the bathroom and thought about Abba as she showered. She couldn’t wait to get him out and have the real culprit behind the bars.

❃

He was brought to the meeting room and Abba was surprised to see Nuriyya seated with legs crossed as she waited for him. His lips broke into a smile as he sat down on the chair opposite her and looked at her. “Nuriyya, I didn’t expect you to be here.” He said and fixed his eyes on her.

She scoffed and looked at him, she handed him a card and he collected it. “What is this card for?” He asked and turned the card on his hand.

“It’s my wedding invitation card, you’re invited.” She spoke casually as though what she did wasn’t capable of crushing down all the walls Abba had built in his heart. The card fell from his hand and he looked at her, unbelievably.

“What do you mean, Nuriyya?” He asked with a breaking voice and he felt a painful knot tied up in his chest. He wished she was only joking and she was there to apologize for all she did to him.

“Just like you heard me, I’m getting married to my cousin next week. If you’re able to, you should come please.” She stood up to leave when Abba took hold of her hand and stopped her mid-track.

He was shaking his head vehemently, staring at the card and her face that looked ever radiant. “You can’t do this to me, Nuriyya. I need you now more than anyone else, please don’t do this to me.” His voice was breaking but he was brave enough to stop his tears from cascading down his cheeks. Rather, his eyes had turned to the colour of blood and his heart was pounding at an unsteady beat.

She walked back and sat down with a mischievous smile on her lips. “Do you know how I felt the day you told me you were getting married to Aisha? I felt like I was undeserving of this life. All my world came crashing down and I nearly lost my life. Why? Because I loved you to the point I lost who I was. And you didn’t think of me worthy to be your wife that’s why you get married to an innocent and decent girl that had no man’s hand on her. How dare you deflower me and think you can go away with a decent wife like Aisha? I made you do what you did to her so I can be able to build a rift between you guys. I was successful because you were so foolish to divorce a girl like Aisha. I know she was the right girl for you, but I wanted to destroy your life by destroying what is between you and Aisha.

Don’t be so surprised just because I’m getting married, Abba. I’m doing what is the best thing for me and going to the man that deserves me and loves me not just by the pleasure he gets from me and the perfect curves and cleavages of my body. He loves me for who I am, despite being dirty from loving you. Deal with it, and get the punishment you deserve for playing with the lives of two innocent girls.” She turned back on her feet and walked out of the police station.

Abba had never felt this stupefied and taken off guard all his life. He watched as Nuriyya walked out of the room and he was being led back into his cell. Some hours later, he still couldn’t wrap himself around the words Nuriyya had uttered and the painful news of her getting married to him. He had plans for them, he wanted to marry her days after he got out of this cell and have himself washed away from this grievous sin. But now…

“You have two visitors.” The officer’s voice cut his bridge of thoughts and Abba sluggishly walked to the now opened door and he was led to the visiting room. The wedding card still laid on the floor, untouched. And he quickly averted his gaze from the sight.

He saw Nasir with a man that looked like a Barr. And instantly Abba recalled what Humaira said about sending her lawyer and he guessed he was the one. Nasir stood up and hugged him before he patted his back. Abba wanted to cry out his pain but held back his tears. They shook hands with the lawyer and Nasir explained to him that he met him when he entered the police station and they were sent together in to see him.

“I’m your lawyer, my name is Bassam.” Barr. Bassam introduced himself and Nasir introduced himself to be the younger brother of Abba.

It was Barr. Bassam that briefed Nasir about what had been happening and Nasir nearly fainted when Barr. Bassam said Abba was being charged with murder. He was expected that he killed his girlfriend’s boyfriend. His girlfriend as he claimed. They converted and Abba told him the plate number that he raked his brain all night in recalling. Nasir was relieved to hear that there was a 75% chance of putting the culprit behind the bars and having Abba regained back his freedom.

Barr. Bassam left after he had collected all the useful information he needed and advised him of the dos and don’ts of the court. What he should say in the court when being fired with a question, what he shouldn't say and everything. Nasir looked at Abba when Barr. Bassam left and asked, “Are you sure you don’t want Baba to know about this? Abba this seemed like a very dangerous case.”

Abba shook his head stubbornly and answered. “I’m sure, Nasir. No one should know apart from you please.”

Nasir squirmed on the chair and asked the question he knew would be the hardest for Abba to answer. “Abba, where is Aisha? I need to see whether she’s fine or I’ll make some arrangements to take her home.”

That took him off guard, and he watched as Abba’s expression changed and looked even more sad and remorseful. “I’m tired of hiding this from anyone, Nasir. I divorced Aisha with three talaqs and right now she isn’t living in my house. It has been months actually, three months before Firdausi gave birth to Farha.”

I’ve divorced her with three talaqs. That’s the only sentence Nasir seemed to grasp from what Abba spoke because he knew the rest already. But he wondered why Aisha kept this from him and everyone in the house and kept acting as if she was truly married. She didn’t want him around her and hardly spoke to him whenever he came back home to spend the weekends. She acted as the barrier between them had only worsened not even for a moment had she let him know that Abba had divorced her. That too with three talaqs?

“But why? And where do you think she lives now?” Nasir wanted to strangle Abba till he couldn’t breathe anymore. Remembering the horror things Aisha said he did to her over the time she had spent with him. This monster of his brother was eating the dish he cooked for himself. He was paying for his crimes.

Abba brought his hand's un a pleading gesture and Nasir swore he saw tears glistening his eyes. “Nasir, please you shouldn’t tell Mama or anyone. I know where she lives, she even came here yesterday. Even though she seemed to have changed her identity from Aisha to Humaira, she’s still the same. It will take only a few words to have her come back home with me. Don’t even let Mama know that I contacted you, I’ll tell her all when I’m back home.”

“I think I should go and rest, I’m heading back to Kano tomorrow. Make sure you come back home as soon as you’re out from here. With Aisha.” Nasir patted his shoulder as he walked away. He couldn’t weigh the words of Abba, they were just too heavy for him. I’ve divorced her with three talaqs. Those words were the happiest yet the saddest words he heard in a very long time.

Abba watched him walked away and he stared at Nasir’s retreating before he took a final glance at the invitation card that laid on the floor before he walked away.

❃

The court sitting was neither a success or a failure, and the hearing of the case was adjourned until two weeks. As usual, whenever Humaira came, Abba was brought out to his car, today she got down and asked them to take a walk around the building. It was large enough for her to ease her mind off. She noticed he hadn’t been saying anything even if she asked him and only sighed as an answer.

“Hey, Psycho, what’s wrong with you?” She asked as she turned around to have a proper view of his face.

Abba looked at her and smiled, how life changed. It was Aisha that was now calling him a Psycho and he had nothing to do about it. He couldn’t even dare to. “ Why do you call me a Psycho?” He asked, in an attempt to run away from her question.

“Because you are now. You being a Psycho is what got you in this situation you are in. How could you call yourself my husband when I don’t even know you and the day you said that was the second time I saw you. That’s psychotic you know?” Her eyes were sharp and as usual, her sophistication was in no match with his old Aisha even though with the jesting tone that was laced on her voice.

He chuckled and shook his head, “Do you mean it when you say you don’t know me, Humaira? Or perhaps you’re suffering from amnesia due to the fall from the stairs?”

She turned and their eyes met. Humaira shook her head with a pout visible on her lips. “I have no record of being amnesiac. And also I can’t remember my doctor or anyone from my family helping me to gain back my memory. I don’t know you, and I mean it, you Psycho!” When she laughed, he saw the old her in her. He saw the Aisha in Humaira. The innocence, only the innocence that rarely made an appearance.

“Stop giving me that look! I’m not the one you know! I’m the heiress of A & H, how can I marry a Psycho like you?” She took steps backwards and before she was able to know where she was walking on, her heels moved in the wrong direction and she nearly fell when Abba held her by her waist.

“Be careful there, Heiress. If not, this Psycho won’t be able to catch you again.” He uttered with a playful tone and Humaira stared intently into his eyes. Abba held her gaze too, as intently as she held his and she felt as his eyes began having a slow tour around her soul.