Chapter 13 — Goodbye

Now I know the kind of person Abdullah is, a cheater! And it's high time I bid him goodbye, I can't take it anymore. I sniffed, loading my rockland draggable suitcase with some of my belongings. I really have to go home. I thought.

"Balqis please just open the goddamn door, I can explain everything to you" Abdullah said, banging the door loudly.

I had locked myself in my room immediately we arrived back, I didn't want to be stopped by him from packing up my things. He thought I'd believe it was all a setup, he thought I'd believe in his lies but, not anymore!

"You have nothing to explain to me Abdullah" I said amidst sob. "Everything is crystal clear, so stop denying it!".

"Denying it? And what makes you think I'm denying it!" He yelled back. "Or don't you trust me anymore? Balqis you've really changed, and seriously..."

I pretended deaf ears to his words, and as soon as I was done packing up I walked towards the door with my suitcase. There, I wiped away my tears and heaved a sigh before angrily storming out of the room.

"Wait Balqis..." He tried to grip my hand but I was too quick to shove his hand away, aggressively.

"Don't you ever touch me again" I said, pointing my index finger at him in fury. "Kana jina koh? Don't you ever!". I hissed, and just as I was about walking away he stubbornly grip my hand.

"Balqis please just hear me out for God's sake, wallahi it was all the work of Shaitan; the outcast. But I promise you, it will never ever happen..."

"Again? Is that what you want to say?" I blurted out, extricating my hand from his grip. "See, you can't brainwash me anymore Abdullah. Goodbye!". I pushed him away. And just as I was walking away from him he uttered something that pierced my heart direly, something that made me stopped and glared at him.

"Well then, suit yourself!". He said.

I tried to be strong, not to let him see my tears but I just couldn't help. Tears quickly rolled down to my cheeks, my heart beating so fast! If only I knew what to say to him that moment, but I was speechless. Thus, I shook my head and dragged my suitcase away. I know he'd never try to stop me, I know he'd never take the suitcase away from me and give me a warm hug in tears, I know... I know...

If only he'd just walk to me in tears and beg me not to go, beg me to give him another chance... but he just would never do that. And in tears, I walked out to the main road and stopped a taxi. "Mandela Junction please, opposite..." The old man drove me there gently, he was so concerned about my situation but I just remained silent. He told me to be very strong, and that whatever I'm facing will come to an end someday...

I didn't say a word to him, I only settled him and stormed out of his vehicle with my suitcase. If I wasn't in tears, he wouldn't have said such things to me. So I wiped off my tears lest other people start asking me questions while I walk home. You know, these days when a married woman is seen with a suitcase returning back to her parents' house people will start to think something is wrong, talkmore of seeing her in tears. That's because most of the relationships don't last these days.

When I reached home I met Bala the gateman and, Adamu the gardener who sometimes takes the position of Bello the driver when the latter traveled. Thus, they welcome me with a very sad news...

"Adamu is this one of your jokes?" I asked, glaring at him. If only he knew how angry I was that moment!

"Wallahi tallahi this one is not a joke o Madam, ask Bala na..."

"Yes Ma it's true, Hajiya fell from the stairs yesterday". Bala affirmed.

"Ahh, I thought it's one of Adamu's joke I swear!" I shouted, dropping the handle of my suitcase. "Now where is she please?". I asked with my heart already beating fast.

"She's in Standard Hospital since yesterday". Adamu chimed in sadly. "I can take you there with the car over there, Oga left the key in the..."

"Please lets go". I intruded, almost losing my balance. "But first, take this suitcase to my room. I will be waiting for you in the parking lot, hurry up!".

Adamu took the suitcase to the mansion and returned back immediately. "Lets go Ma". He said, storming into the car. "We don't have much fuel though but we can manage it like that". He added with a broad smile on his face while igniting the engine into action. "But we still need to buy fuel o, lest the car stop and we die in the road".

I didn't utter anything to him, I only hopped into the passenger seat and fastened my seatbelt. Adamu can talk alot, and everything is a joke to him. He doesn't care if someone is dying, he can make joke even with death. According to him, his ancestors were jokers and had joked for a living...

"Madam if this car accidentally stopped in the fast lane, the two of us will die o!". He suddenly uttered, reversing out of the parking lot gently.

"Adamu are you mad? My mum is sick and you're making this kind of joke?". I uttered angrily while staring at him. "When will you have sense please?".

"Sorry Ma". He apologized, and since then he had not spoken until we reached the hospital. He took me to the ward, and there I saw mum... broken!