Three

Here we have the tormented multi-billionaire's nephew, who is also a billionaire himself. He's a workaholic and handsome young widow in his early thirties. He was awarded as the most eligible CEO in the country last year. He is still drowning in past, which only cause him pain and more pain. He appeared to be perfect but his eyes say a whole lot of different thing. But what can he do if he is guilty for everything that torments him.

Khalid who is sitting on one of the exclusive royal cushion in the living room which is very big and well decorated with expensive materials. A simple person can get lost from it elegance, everything perfectly arranged the living room alone shout riches not to talk of the entire mansion. Khalid sat there busy reading a file and his brief case beside him, but he seem to be lost in his thought. His aunt showed up there and sat next to him, yet he remain oblivious to her presence. She stare into her nephew's handsome face, which always remind her of her own daughter. Maryam is a very elegant and beautiful woman, everything in her spelled out pious, her warmth eyes and gentle smile is always so welcoming. Just like her nephew, she also have her own share of trouble which was masked behind that gentleness. Her body seem to be doing her a favor, as she is much older than her looks.

"Are you alright, my son?" she asked but no response. She touches his shoulder making him to look at her concerns written all over her face as always.

"Aunt!" He exclaimed seeing her next to him.

"When did you come here?"

She only smiled at him.

"Are you alright? I have been here since but your mind seem to be somewhere else."

"I am fine, l just came back from work and i am only exhausted."

"You are always exhausted, you have to take some rest. You have to take care of yourself and have peace of mind, you are over doing everything, Khalid. " She said worriedly squeezing his hands lightly.

"I don't want you to relapse, i can't handle that, my son." She added after a minutes of silence.

"Auntie, i am fine and i am not thinking about anything, is just that the new workers in the warehouse are not doing too well, and it frustrate me whenever i go there."

"Hmm, that had been your excuse for the past months, i already master that lines myself, at least make another convincing excuse, i know by now those workers are veterans."

"Ok then, i am hungry, Amor." He cupped her face and put a bright smile on his face not wanting to stress her any further.

"Well, we have been waiting for you." She informed and smiled back at him. She knows she loves more him and always want that smile on him but he is only managing put it for her sake.

The dinning room is also as elegant as the rest of house and exclusive. All the furniture in the room are white and golden, at the other side of the room is a traditional cushions and a soft carpet which is meant for eating traditionally on the floor. One of the walls has a beautiful and very large family photo frame which usually grabs people's attention, it portray the perfect family image which is totally the opposite.

"You see that, khalid. Your uncle and brother are already waiting for us."

"Ina wuni (good afternoon), Uncle." Said Khalid.

"Lafiya lau, How are you, son?" Alhaji Muhammad asked.

"I am good, Alhamdulillah."

"Hey kiddo, put your phone down." Khalid told the youngest member of the family Fahad, who is busy staring at his cellphone.

"Just a minute, bro. I am a reading a post here that khairat posted on Instagram." Fahad excused himself still on his cell phone.

"What did she posted?" Khalid asked.

"It her baby's photo. And the baby girl won't stop looking like everyone in the family."

"Who did she looks like now. " Khalid asked again. Fahad smile grow bigger, not rising up from his phone.

"She look like la........." He couldn't continue the sentence as he felt all their eyes on him. He looked at everyone, and all of the sudden they had this weird expression on their faces, that annoy the hell out of him. He hated the ways his family are. He thinks they are too pretentious, always playing the perfect family when they are not. Being the youngest member of the family he always put up with their adult problems. And their restriction on the name 'Lawisa'. He was more than happy when his sister Khairat named her baby girl Lawisa, which the poor baby is still not called by her name, especially by his parents they have all sorts of nicknames to call her. Which now she is practically called lulu by everyone except him and his sister.

"Sorry." He said in a small voice avoiding their gaze.

"Keep your cellphone down now. And let eat, the food is getting cold." Muhammad ordered softly. He just nodded and do as he was told.

Later after lunch, Muhammad and his wife were sitting in the mini parlor of their bedroom. They were both lost in their own world wishing for how to make things perfect again. Which is not anymore and they felt it's beyond their power.

"I am so worried about khalid. He is very disturbed, and that scare me a lot." Maryam complaint to her husband.

"Hmmm," He takes a deep breath not looking at anything in particular. "He has been like that ever since his wife's death. I am also worried about him, Maryam."

"Alhaji, you knew very well that khalid is not that way over his wife's death only. So many things had happened back then, and that became another blow." She ended with a sigh.

"Maryam, i thought you promise never talk about that again."

"Finally everyone is moving on.

Except my dear son and i. These whole matter got worst because i stayed quiet the other time, and you still want to stay quiet now, haba mana Alhaji." She paused and continue. "And i can't forget what is a part of me." Saying that Maryam burst into tears.

"You see that, when ever you talked about it, it makes you cry. And after that you will start blaming me. I hate to see that sad face of yours." Muhammad sighs, concerned obvious over his aged face.

"Whatever happened we are all responsible for it. Those two girls have went through a very hard test. We weren't able to help either of them. I still can't gather the puzzle to why Fatima left Khalid in Canada and disappeared for months. She only call to said she was okay and not to tell her parents. Those poor girls went through a very hardship, we were so busy in our lives to notice how desperate our children were. Oh Allah forgive us for neglecting them." Maryam's is all wet from tears. Her husband pulls her into a comforting hug patting her back to calm down and she sobbed in his shoulder.

"That's how Almighty Allah planned their destiny. It was bond to happened either ways, and His ways are the best. We can't keep going back and forth blaming ourselves. We were very wrong and we only realized it when it was way too late." He admits with guilt visible on his face.

"We can only pray to Arrahaman for his blessing and to guide my child where ever she might be." He prays and Maryam only sobs and silence take over the room before Maryam speaks.

"Will my child ever come back to me, i want to hold her so badly, will she ever come home, i afraid i won't see my child ever again in this life." Muhammad didn't say a word but hold her much closer to him.

Two weeks has gone by so quickly, with the normal routine in Lawisa and Zarah's lives still the same. It Rains heavily that evening and left a little cold around, so they were laying around their little apartment.

"Mommy, hurry up please." Zarah pleaded to her mother. Lawisa is making them something to drink at the dinnng area, which is also part of their small living room. The apartment contain only two bedrooms and one bathroom and toilet altogether and a small size living room and a kitchen.

"Here you have your hot chocolate shake, drink it up." Lawisa handed Zarah the cup.

"Thank you mommy, should i switch on the telly?"

"Uhmmm, what are we going to watch now?"

"NICKY RICKY DICKY AND DAWN!" Zarah exclaimed.

"You have not do your home work and you are talking about watching the telly."

"Please mommy, lemme watch please, please."

"It start around 7pm okay, you still have time to do your homework, so go and bring your backpack, hurry." They both smiled as Zarah nodded in agreement.

Zarah reached her room, only to scream out her lungs. Which frightened Lawisa and she ran to her rescue.

"What happened, my love?" Lawisa asked as she met Zarah at the doorstep and She hide behind her mother's long legs.

"Momma, there is a big giant spider in my room."

"Did it touched you?"

"No, but it touched all my room." Zarah cries.

"It's ok...shush, stop crying now, you know princesses doesn't cry, right?"

"Nothing is going to happen, you are alright it didn't touch, your skin is good, my love. She said checking Zarah's body and then gives her a comforting hug.

"It touches my mickey teddy." She cried out again.

"Come on love, you are going to end up with a headache if you keep crying."

"Go and watch your cartoon and mommy will clean up your room.Take your bag with you."

"I don't want to touch anything from this room, until it is clean up." Zarah assured her mother in her sweet cute voice and left as if she has not been crying. Few minutes later, Lawisa can hear her laughter from the living room and her lip curve into a smile unknowingly.

"Do you have to come here mr spider, you irritate my baby so much. And now i have to clean everything."

Lawisa keep nagging to herself about too much of insects in the house. Which she is actually exaggerating. As she finished cleaning up she came back to the living room and to find Zarah sound asleep on the sofa. She smiled at her daughter. They said children are blessings, and who said they aren't? She said in her head. She is always content with Zarah.

"You look so beautiful while you're sleeping zarah, and even when you are not sleeping, you are the most adorable little girl." she rubs her back gently to make her wake up.

"Lala, wake up its magrib time and you know, it's very bad for one to sleep at this time." She groaned at first and ask.

"Mommy, have you clean my room?"

"Yes dear and i even used insect killers." She smiled now that she is fully awake. "Now, can we go and pray, Miss Zarah Aliyu?"

"Of course, mommy dear. "

"My dear lord, i pray for my mom everyday, so that she will be more healthy than today and yesterday. And stronger than my daddy. Mom said he is a good man, But i don't know him. Almighty Allah i want you to give my Dad the opportunity to find us. Since mom said he is the only one that can find us. And mom doesn't want to talk about him. I pray she is not upset with me praying for my daddy. Ya Allah keep my mom happy and give her lots and lots of energy, our science teacher said everyone need energy to be strong, and my momma can work hard and stay with me forever And ever. Amin ya rabba."

Zarah usually prays like this every magrib and fajr prayer, because they are the prayers children usually do, but she prays when ever she sees her mom praying. And for zarah that is the opportunity she get to pray for her mom. Since her mom told her that some prayers are said secretly between Almighty Allah and his servant. And not once has she told her about what she is saying in her prayers. Lawisa always wonder what Zarah is asking Allah for. She remember when she was a child she only pray to spend her holiday with her entire family.

"Zarah, i think It is okay now. "

"What is that mommy?" Zarah asked confused.

"Well, your wishes are bigger than this house. " Lawisa jokes while smiling at Zarah who is still sitting on the prayer mat.

"No, momma because you said that we can ask Almighty Allah for anything good we need and that our prayers might take long to be answered, but Allah always answers them."

"Indeed Zarah, and i want to tell you something, come over here let talk."

Zarah sits beside her mom on the bed.

"Zarah, you know you are my baby, right and also my favorite daughter."

Zarah look at her mom and burst into laughter.

"What is so funny, love?"

"Mommy, i am your only daughter, so i have to be your favorite, if not you won't have any favourite." Lawisa nodded looking confused.

"Uhmmmm, is that so, don't act smart with me, you little girl." And Lawisa start tickling Zarah. They burst into fit laughter while zarah ask her mom to stop and she stop after a while. They both were breathing heavily after their laughing episode.

"Mommy, what were going to ask me?" Lawisa grimaced and says,

"Princess, i got carried away and forget what i was going ask you."

"Is ok, momma when you remember you can always talk to me." Lawisa squeezed Zarah in her arms and kiss her all over the face and their another laughter began.

Alhaji Muhammad just arrived at his factory site looking for his nephew and three men walking with him side by side. Just then he bumped into his daughter, he wear a beautiful smile on his face, and she smiled back at him too.

"Abbah!" she exclaimed.

"Alkairin Allah, ( Allah's blessings.) what are you doing here?"

"Good afternoon, Abbah." She greeted.

"Good afternoon and How are you, my dear?"

"I am doing great, I come to check the machandise that arrived yesterday from Thailand and those from our farmhouse, and everything is alright now."

"Well that's good to hear. How is my granddaughter doing?" He asked with his always soft and wise smile. Muhammad is the kind of man you never have to complain about, he use to be a proud father of his five children and he their hero, they used to have very a good relationship between, but things fall apart and all that changed, the change they're all hoping is not forever.

"She is fine, Abbah. I left her back at the company with her nanny."

"Okay then carry on with your work i will check on your brother, i was told he was also here."

"Is okay, Abbah, i will come with you to see him." Said khairat and smiled, but Muhammad smile hold more than just a simple, given the fact that Khairat don't even like to meet with Khalid mistakenly as she blamed him for her sister's heartache.

"I am glad that you are clearing your difference with your brother."

"I have given up already, Abbah. But i didn't lose hope. I knew that no one want to talk about that, but i can't just put a blind eyes to it, and i also can't be blind about having an elder brother anymore. I am sorry for all the trouble i had caused." She apologized.

"Is ok khairat, everything happened for a reason. It is of humans to make mistakes. My brave child."

"Thank you, Abbah."

"You will be always welcome, my child."

"Uncle!" Khalid exclaimed at the sight of his uncle," good afternoon, uncle."

"How are you, khalid?"

"I am fine, thank you."

"Hi khairat!" Khalid greeted not expecting anything, he is already use to Khairat's silent treatment years now and it hurts him a lot. She use to be his baby sister he is always willing to do something for.

"Good afternoon, Ya khalid." Khalid turn to his back to see who is behind him, but no one. To say he was shocked will an understatement, he can't remember when last she greeted or even smiled at him.

"Are you actually......"

"Yes i am greeting you. Did i offended you?" She interrupted him and his lips curve into a fine smile.

"No i am glad my little sister is back, thank you." And he couldn't close his teeth.

"We should have lunch together then." Khalid suggests excitedly.

"No, lets have dinner since today is Wednesday and mamy is cooking for everyone"

"That's good, khair, we are also going for the board meeting now and later we can have lunch and dinner at home, the whole family. Is that alright with you?" khalid asked.

"Yes, it's perfect." She said and Khalid couldn't contain his happiness to as his uncle.

"Invite your husband over for dinner." He added and she nodded yes.

Home sweet home, khairat thought to herself upon entering the large living room of her parent's mansion. They were all overwhelmed seeing khairat and her baby girl. She hasn't visited them that much for the past years, even when she got married and move to the same city with them again, she only come casually and call to greet her parents from time to time, only to fulfilled her responsibilities toward them. She hugs her mother very tightly and let out a snob, only then did she realise she was crying. And that she misses the woman she is hugging so much.

"Mamy, I am sorry."

"Its okay... Shush now. You are my princess, so i am also very sorry."

khairat pull her brother's ears as he come from behind their mother sticking his tongue at her.

"Ouchhhhh" He sighs painfully as if the ears were removed.

"Haba, Yaya khair, don't remove my ears, why are you so jealous of me." Fahad complain still rubbing his left ear. And they all burst into fit of laughter.

"Oh look at my beautiful granddaughter." Maryam says while taking her out of the babyseater. She kisses the baby's forehead.

"How is your husband, my dear?"

"He is alright, mams and he will be joining us for dinner tonight."

"Let have lunch and then we can talk later. " Khalid suggested and Muhammad only stare at them warming up again, knowing that his praying are becoming more effective In sha Allah.

Later they talk and have fun and enjoy each others company. And that laughter that haven't been heard for ages in that mansion, is there with them today. Happiness cross there path too after such along time. khairat connected her iPad to a video call, caliing her eldest sister khadija. To show her what she was missing today.

"Good evening, Ayya!"

"Wa alaikumus salam to you too, where is lulu?" Khadija asked, she always make a big deal about answering a call with salam, which is still not learning or just teasing her sister.

"Amin, Ayyah, She is sleeping. What happened you are looking a bit down?" khairat asked seeing the gloomy face of her sister.

"Khair wallahi, i am so bored here, the children are watching there favourite show in the living room. And the telenovela am watching, is so boring today and i don't have any case to handle. My husband has to travel in this kind of week, ya Allah. What about you little sis?" Khadijah told her sounding frustrated.

"Well, you can only imagine how great i am and where i am now right now."

"Oh sis, don't tell me you have travelled to abroad again. But the curtains behind you are from our home, don't tell me you're at home and with everyone."

"Yes of course, Ayyah, i am at home with mamy, abba, yaya Khalid, Fahad, Faruk and lulu. We are having a big family day without you."

"Mamy! Abbah!" she shout out while khairat show the iPad to them.

"Abbah, this is not fair. Look how sad i am, but you are all there having fun without me. And mamy you didn't even bother to tell me about it. And where is the basketmouth?" She complaint referring Fahad to basketmouth and then continue.

"If you have all tell me about it, i will have flee to Kano today." She said and she mean it.

"Come on, khadija, here i am, thinking you are the eldest bit acting the exact opposite. You are over reacting, you know that, right? Where are my grandchildren?"

"OK mam, you are trying to change the subject. And Abbah won't you say anything. " He smiled at her and says.

"Don't be sad anymore, because we are all happy here."

"Okay then, I am happy for you, at least i know you are all fine and together, Abbah." She call out for her children to come and join her and they rush to the room. They all asked for uncle Khalid, their favorite uncle as he knows best how to spoil them. They have a long night and enjoy every bit of it. Even the moon and the stars witness their happiness. And they all hope for the beginning of something new.