Mason Studied the debris, and the close environment. Don, Maya, Roberto, the pilot, and three other henchmen were there. “Abbass did not die.” Mason said.
“He is alive. We will pick it from here.” Maya moved forward. She had an idea as she always does. What could Mason do without this smart lady? “When did the crash happen?” She asked.
******************************************
It has been three months since Petra started working with Floxy Global services and she was contemplating leaving the place. Why? Jubril would not give her breathing space. He was crazy over her and her love for Justin kept growing even in his absence.
To make matters worse, Jubril reminded her a lot about him and it hurts her the more. At a point, she had to investigate him. She found out that he lived with his parents as he claimed and had two elder sisters who were all married.
The eldest, was living in Saudi Arabia with her husband, while the second daughter lived in Jalingo with her husband too. Jubril was twenty six years old from his certificates.
His blood group and genotype was different from that of Justin. They were not related, their similarities was sheer coincidence. Another drama erupted when Maraah began to threaten her, calling her all sort of names.
She even threatened to get Jubril sacked because her father was the chairman, board of directors. It sounded funny to Petra. “What is the blizzard in a teacup all about?” Petra had said angrily one day.
“What is wrong with you? I am not dating him and he is not dating you so where does the problem lie? How do you fight over a man that says he is not into you? And you are fighting a woman who is not into the man you hope will date you?
Can’t you see that something is wrong with you? You better come to your senses before they think you are going barmy.” Those words hurt Maraah but she sat down to think about it.
Jubril never really gave her a chance, he said they could not be lovers and she still hoped something will come up. Now she felt more relieved that Petra was not interested in him. This pacified her and she relaxed.
Now Petra sat in the little garden at the backyard, her face resting on her knuckles. She was still trying to assure herself she was not dreaming. She was summoned by her father that morning, and he asked her to sit down.
She sat on the edge of the sofa while he dropped the daily newspaper he was reading. “May Allah bless you.” He began. “Ameen.”
“I am so proud of you.” He went on. “And time has shown that you have grown more matured. I used to tell your mum that.”
“Thanks to Justin,” she thought. “You are my only daughter and you know how much I love you. There was a point in time when you must have thought I was thwarting your joy. The time I tried to stop your relationship with that boy.
Now you see the wisdom of the elders. We did not know him, or anything about him. He even jeopardized your life and ours. We nearly got killed. You were too young to understand then…..”
“I will never grow then because I will never understand.” She said in her mind.
“Now you are a fully grown woman, and a graduate.” He continued. “Every parent’s dream is to see their daughter in her marital home. I really want to see you get married before I die.
I want to see your wedding day and you seem not to be thinking about it. Aazim showed a lot of interest and his father spoke to me about it but I made him understand that you seem not to be interested. Aazim was present when I said it.
I told the father how I tried, what happened and Aazim confirmed it. I even allowed you to go and work with him just to give that chance but…you were adamant. I would not force you into marriage if you don’t give me a reason to do that.”
“….if you don’t give me a reason to that?” she marked those words. So there was still a possibility of doing that.
“He was very understanding.” He continued. “And we forgot about Aazim’s proposal. A few weeks ago, some people came to seek permission from me, to allow their son seek for your hand in marriage. I did not mention it to you until I made my investigations.
They are good people and the boy is very responsible. I got back to them that I have given him permission. The rest remains between you two. I will not force him on you but he has my consent.” Petra felt her head banging.
Se was trying to sound calm, like he was given her liberty but she feared his final decision. She was confused. She did not know why she felt Justin was alive. She felt his heart beats, his breath even though it is from afar. She felt he could pop up soon or later and she wanted him to be the first, and the last, if wishes were horses.
“I asked him to come and see you today, I guess he would be around later so please wait for him.” She nodded.
She dared not tell him she was not interested and it would be worse if she told him she was waiting for Justin. She nodded. “Thank you Father. May Allah chose what is best for us.” He did not say Ameen on time. He could not ask why she said that, it was a prayer but…..he sensed something. “Ameen.” He said.
As she got up to go out, he said, “you will chose between him and Aazim. I think whoever you chose or I choose will be the answer to your prayers. We don’t know what is good for us. Allah does. Thank God my daughter understands that.” She said nothing but walked out.
She had gotten the message. She felt like bursting into tears. “Petra.” She heard her mother’s cool voice. She turned to see her standing behind her. “Come to my room now.” She followed her mother to her room.
Immediately she entered, she burst into tears and embraced her mother. It took a few minutes to calm her. “Stop crying and be strong.” She said. “I know what your father told you. I need you to listen to me. Whatever we do, prayers should be our guide.
I understand your plights, and fears. I know how you feel and what you have been going through. I am a woman and I was once a girl. You never opened up to me, thinking I will not understand with you, but a mother knows her daughter.
Remember I was with you when you fell in love with that boy. Allah knows there is no boy I love to have as your husband like him. That is your wish and mine. What is it is not what Allah destined? What if we are all wrong? We don’t know if he is dead or alive.
Even if he is alive, he is nowhere to be found or seen. Remember I spent a lot of money for his search. You know I cried a lot before and after he was shot.
The boy is full of mysteries. We have every reason to be skeptical but my heart felt love and compassion for him. It is over three years now. I want to see you get married.
I am not going to force you, but give the boy that is coming a chance. I did my investigations. If I am to advice you, get married to him because I know you don’t have anyone else in your mind.”
She remembered Jubril. No! Jubril would have only made things worst. He reminded her of Justin and she could never let Justin out of her life. She wiped tears off her eyes.
“I trust your judgement Ummi (mum).” She said. “I have made up my mind. Let him come, I will marry him, whoever he is.” “Do not talk like that.” She said.
“You are making it look or sound as if you are being forced and capitulating to intimidation. I feel you will come to like him.” “Okay, ma.” She said.
“I will go and wait for him.” She got up and left the room. She went into her room and cried for almost an hour. She lay there, thinking of her days with Justin, the best moment of her life, and one she would never forget. After a while, she made up her mind on what to do.
Now she sat in the garden waiting. She could see the gardener doing his job happily. She wore a simple gown and veil. A few minutes later, the message came: he was around.
Her heart sank. She wondered who he was, or what he looked like. Did she even care? Would that change anything? She got up and walked out of the garden, down to the back door and entered the living room where she found him sitting.
Petra was stuck for a while, then moved and the salam mumbled from her mouth. He replied.
“Jubril, you?” She said and sat down. He smiled, looking so elegant in his sky blue brocade. This guy had taste when it came to dressing and he knew it.
“Surprised?” he asked
“How dare you?” Petra said
“Relax, I am not here to…..”
“Wait.” She wove him stopping. “Sarah.” she called.
“Ma’am.” Sarah answered. She was their teenage house help.
“Come with us.” she said to the girl and to Jubril, she said, “come with me.”
She led him back to the garden and asked Sarah to sit afar from them.
“Nice garden.” He commended.” I love gardens.” “It was you all this while?” He nodded.
“I am sorry if I took you by surprise but Petra, I am so much in love with you it drives me crazy. And if what I have done is crazy, please forgive me because it is the effect of my feelings for you.
It has never been like this with me……” “Excuse me, Jubril. I appreciate your feelings for me and do not think that I despise you. You are a good man and deserve something good.”
“And I found not something good…I found the best.” He said.
“I am not the best……for you. I may be the best for someone else but definitely not you. I like you and feel you don’t deserve me.” Petra responded.
He paused, as if short of words. “Petra, from the day we met, I noticed your taciturnity. I saw the glitter of pains in your eyes; I noticed the curiosity, doubt, and inquisitiveness. I felt I could help.
I wanted to be part of your life and hoped you will give me the chance. Please tell me what wrong you see in me that do not make me deserve a chance.” She shook her head.
“I am sorry I did not offer you a drink.”
“I am okay.” He said.
“I will tell you, Jubril.” She said.
“Remember the first day we met, I called you Hayaati?”
“I remember.” He responded.
“About four years ago, I met someone. I am going to be straight with you, do you promise to keep this with you?”
“I promise.” He said.
“I met this guy who was just a year older than I. Our point of meeting was not too good and I despised him from the start….”
“Point of meeting?”
“That part needs no details.”
“Okay.”
“And fate brought us together and gradually, we fell in love. Our relationship lasted just a few months, but shaped my life forever. He was the best thing to ever happen to me.
He was the one who taught me mathematics, and improved my educational orientation, my etiquette, and love life. He was a guy misunderstood by the world, a star in disguise and a guy with the heart of gold.
I was caught up with him in his room for two days and he did not molest me. He was a victim of circumstance, a guy with sense of humour, and slaphappy approach to life, a rare genius and someone who deserved love.
I was the only one he trusted….”
“Wait…did he not have a family?” he asked
“No details about that.” She said. “But I was the one he trusted and opened up to. You said I was using past tense when talking about him. Yes, he promised not to leave me.
He promised to be with me on my graduation day. He said he was going to wear a suit but he left. They took him away. They shot him and he fell into water…..”she was now in tears, “they are so wicked. He did not deserve that. He was not the type to be treated like that. He was a light to the world.
They crashed my life. I never saw him again. We searched for him. My mum spent a lot, searching for him or his dead body, we never found it. He is believed to be dead but…I feel he is alive. I feel his heartbeat, his breath…he told me that our hearts met on a star and I believe it.
Our love was made from above and sent to earth. We had something, something beyond words. I was crying over him when I saw you. I thought it was him, and ran after you but no. Why do you think I hate it when you call me Miss Sunshine? That was what he used to call me and only he deserves to call me that. I called him Hayaati.
I hate calling your name because it sounds like his. I was so curious because you remind me a lot about him and it hurts. I can never forget him, or stop loving him or give his love to someone else. I can never!”
He handed a brand new hanky to her, she wiped off tears. “I was waiting for him. I was willing to wait for more years but my parents are onto me……”
“Shhhh..” Jubril was now emotional. “I understand how you feel.” He said with a tears accumulating in his eyes.
“From what you just explained, he loved you so much he would not be able to stay away from you. You said he was shot, and no details but he trusted you. He would have found a way to reach out to you….if he was alive.”
“I know but I just feel him. You can’t understand it.”
“I do.” He said.
“No, you don’t. I feel it…... Justin lies beneath my heart. The deepest part and most secured part. He cannot be uprooted. Nobody understand what we feel for each other…not even us.
I have no reason to say that but I feel him being alive deep down my heart.”
“Please give me a chance.” He said and She shook her head.
“I better marry someone else other than you…..”
“I will give you what you want.”
“You can’t.”
“Try me.”
“I have two conditions…….if you can, then I will marry you.” She said. He paused, fear written on his handsome face.
“Name them.” She wiped off tears again, took in a deep breath then looked at him.
“ One: when………….”
**********************************************
MERCY POV
“ Let it go, dearie.” Mercy said excitedly. “This is a welcome development. I know you will get over it. That guy is sweet, lovely and will definitely make you forget and move on.
I am not expecting you to believe me now, but I am glad to hear this.” Petra did not argue. She was tired of doing that. She owned her heart and understood her feelings better than they did.
“The guy took me by surprise.” Petra said. “I never expected it.”
“I pray and feel it is for the best.” Mercy said. “Now, we don’t know who is getting married first between you and I.”
“I pray it should be you. Maybe Justin will come back before then.”
“Tab! This friend of mine is hell bent on sticking to the guns. Have you thought of it that even if Justin was around, Father would still not accept him? You deserve to be emotionally free my dear. Let it go, let it go and fly like a bird, swim like a fish and you enjoy your short life…..life is too short to spend in a moody state.
How have you guys been relating at work, I mean you and Jubril?” Mercy asked.
“We keep a distance but act normal. Not the lovey dovey stuff you expect.” Petra said. “I don’t hate him. It’s just that Justin had taken the space.”
“You will have to do something about that space he took because your husband, the real owner of the space is coming soon….” “Okay dear.
How is our ango?” Petra asked.
“Alhamdulillah. He wants it before October…we are still thinking about it.”
“I feel mine will be around next year. I hope so. May Allah choose what is best for us.”
“Ameen,” Mercy said, “oops, he calls again. Let me hear what he has to say.”
“Just drop my call and answer him, I won’t complain.” Mercy laughed and ended the call. “Assalamu alaikum.” Petra heard immediately the call ended.
“Ameen wa alaikum salam.” It was Maraah. She came and sat down at the table Petra was sitting at in the restaurant. “So this was your plan, huh?” Maraah began.
“What plan?’ Petra asked.
“The last time we talked, you assured me you were not into Jubril.” She said.
“You lied to me, bitch! You tricked me and made me relax.” She said.
“Who said I am into him now?” Petra asked.
“I am not a fool. You keep claiming you are not into him but you let him meet your parents and now a date has been fixed for the wedding.” Petra smirked.
“How can a date be fixed for my wedding and I don’t know about it?”
“You will try until you fall into your grave. Are you denying that you did not send him to your parents?” Maraah questioned.
“Why are you asking me this? Why not meet him. I have no truck with you. You have no right to be insulting me. I did not know when they planned and went to my house and if you can make them cancel it, and get married to him right now, you will be my greatest helper.” Petra said.
“I don’t know the point you are trying to make by acting like you are been forced. I am a woman and I see the impact he has on you. You pretend not to love him, trying to act like you don’t care yet the chemistry between you is vivid. Both of you are ingrates. My father owns this company and employed you both, only for you to stab him behind him….” Maraah said.
“Did he employ him so he could get married to you? Was I employed so I would say no to him? What are you talking about? You talk as if it is only your father that has a company in the world.
I let you say some things without replying back because he thought me to be calm not because you are the so-called heir to the company. I hope you do not cross the line. I got my kind of craziness too.
Why do I need to lie to you? You think I am scared of you? Okay, I love him and it was I who begged him to marry me, and asked him to go to my house and I even chose the date and we are getting married. Satisfied?” Petra yelled softly in annoyance.
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