Flaming Home! (Episode Eight)

Anas’s Point of View

Where is Najwa?

It’s three days! Three days of fear and uncertainty…three days filled with high hopes that Najwa will return home…but no, I still haven’t seen my wife.

Najwa has been missing for three good days! I wish I had stopped her from stepping out of the house…I wish I had wrapped my arms around her and convince her that all would be fine…we would start our life afresh and get back on our feet again.

I’ve spent these three days running around and checking all nooks and crannies of the mega city for my wife. I’ve paraded the police station more than five times a day and called Yasmin repeatedly to inquire if she has seen Najwa. I’ve also called Barakah to inquire if Najwa had been to her house.

Despite Barakah’s denial, I’ve explained to the officers that Najwa was on her way to Barakah’s house…and she never returned. They have searched her house and invited her for questioning…but it all balls down to nothing.

Najwa is still missing! I haven’t set eyes on my wife for three days! I’m sprawled up on the living room floor, staring at the ceiling and remembering the great moment I had with Najwa before she left the house.

We admitted our love for each other, snuggled up and kissed passionately. My beards are unruly and uncombed and my face is a mess. Around me are boxes of stale pizza. I feel downcast and hopeless. It seems like the world has ended for me.

“Why are you so sad? It’s not like you love each other.” Sahadat is saying as she walks into the living room.

She has missed most of her continuous test. Sahadat has been crying since she got back from school three days ago. Her eyes are red and swollen from constant cry. In fact, we spent the night crying on each other’s arms and praying for the safe return of Najwa.

I scratch my rough beard and glare at her in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“You are always fighting and insulting yourselves. Why are you sad that mom is missing?”

Najwa, see what we’ve caused. We’ve portrayed a bad image in the presence of our daughter.

“We do not have hate ourselves, Sahadat…”

“What of the ‘I hate you!’ ‘I hate you too’ screams you yell at each other? Dad, I’m going to my room.” Sahadat says in tears as she storms out of the living room.

My world has truly ended. First, I lost my job. Second, I can’t find my wife. Now, my daughter sees me as a bad father.

“Baba Sahadat!” a voice calls from outside.

I grumble in irritation. I am sick of receiving visitors and answering the calls that wouldn’t end. None of them has a solution to my problem. All they say is, “Take heart and remain patient. She will be fine.”

Will that bring Najwa back?

“Who’s there?” I scream at the door, realising that my mouth reeks of a foul odour. I haven’t brushed my teeth nor had a bath since yesterday.

“Mrs. Susan, your neighbour. I need to see you urgently.”

I schlep towards the door, hoping that she has good news…maybe Najwa has been found. Maybe Najwa is even with her.

In a hurry, I open the door and raise my eyes in anticipation. Mrs. Susan is putting on an extra-large t-shirt and holding the wrapper that is almost drooping from her waist. She is alone. Najwa is nowhere to be found.

“Where is Najwa?” I ask impatiently.

“Baba Sahadat, I have no idea where your wife is. Please can I come inside?” she says, eyeing me suspiciously.

“Okay,” I mumble, watching as she holds her nose while surveying the living room. “I know this is very hard for you…but you have to be strong for Sahadat. I believe that Najwa will come home soon.”

“When? If she is being kidnapped, shouldn’t we have received a call from the captors? I will sell all I have in my possession just to make sure that she returns home.”

“I understand how trying this moment is for you. Where was she going on that day?”

“She was going to her friend’s house.”

“What if she had an accident on the way…and they can’t trace her family members to claim her b…”

“Stop there Mrs. Susan. Najwa is alive and I’m very sure about that. I can feel it.”

“Okay oo. People sha! They can do anything just to make someone unhappy. We have many bad belles in town.” Mrs. Susan is saying with a frown.

Barakah…she can do anything…but would she go to the extent of harming Najwa?

“Excuse me, I need to go somewhere.”

“Okay…if you need any help…breakfast or anything…”

“Please, let Sahadat stay with you till I return.”

“Okay, that’s fine.”

“Thank you.” I reply hastily, jostling towards my room to grab my car key.

***

Barakah opens the door at the first knock. She is dressed in a red-long flowing gown and she is smiling broadly. “Welcome Anas.” She winks at me as I enter the house. “Have you finally accepted?”

“Accepted what?” I glare at her in confusion.

“That we get married and start a family. Najwa is nowhere to be found. Maybe she got fed up of everything and decided to flee. This is the perfect time for us to be together irrespective of what others think.” Barakah says as she walks towards me.

I move away and sneer at her. “I’m certain you have a hand in Najwa’s disappearance. You look so happy and relieved. If you are truly her best friend, you would be worried about her safety.”

“I know you’re as relieved as I am that Najwa is nowhere to be found. You don’t love her.”

“I do love my wife. And for your information, we settled our differences before she left the house three days ago. To confront you! Barakah, where is Najwa? What did you do to her? Did you harm her? Where is she? I need to see my wife!”

“I have no idea where she is. If you would excuse me, I’ve got important things to do inside. Shut my door when you’re ready to leave.” She blurts out, walking out of the room with a deep scowl.

A/N: Hey readers! I guess you've been fine.😍 I'm sorry for the late update. Work has been stressful and Lagos traffic is getting crazier. Thanks for your patience!!!💕💕

Don't miss out on the previous episodes:

Episode One

Episode Two

Episode Three

Episode Four

Episode Five

Episode Six

Episode Seven