章 82: Thorn Apart
"Go on." Alhaji Usman says. She gently bowed her head .
“I have nothing to say.” She said and remained silent.
"I appreciate everything you have told me here, thank you so much, sir." Justin said Finally.
"I have a night job, so I might not be able to stay again."
What you have said is well received. I apologize for any inconvenience this has given you and your family.
You could have had a fantastic supper full of jokes and laughter if it hadn't been for me. I apologize. I acknowledge that I don't have someone to call mine.
I am also aware of my social standing. I've always known this and resisted being reminded of it.
When I see children with families, I am reminded that I have Allah. And He formed me through humans about whom I had no opportunity to know them.
Never in my life have I felt so close to having a family as I did today when I first walked in and you greeted me warmly.
I felt something I had never felt before as I sat among you, a family, and jokes were being exchanged.
And, strangely, I've never felt so far away from having a family as I feel tonight, despite everything you've said. I just wanted to apologize for interfering with your daughter's life.
But she was a blessing in disguise because Allah used her to make me a better person.
I also appreciate the gift of ten thousand naira every month for food. May Allah bless you.
With all due respect, sir, I believe the little I earn will adequate enough to feed me. I want everyone in this family to forgive me. Thank you very much, sir."
"I appreciate your understanding and patience with me." Alhaji Usman said. "May God bless you." “Ameen.”
Justin stood up. "You haven't eaten much," he remarked, "sit down and eat." Justin put on a brave smiling face.
"Thank you, sir, but I'm fine." He turned to face Hajiya Fatima. "Thank you very much, mum." She simply nodded. She couldn't say anything.
Justin hurriedly left the house, fighting the urge to run but having nowhere to run to.
He walked down the street after passing through the big gate, but his legs felt heavy. It was as if he was shackled.
He was unable to move because his head was so heavy. He started to feel dizzy. He sat on a block next to a building's fence.
The pain had always been there, but it had never caused him to be who he was. Now he felt something sweeping inside of him, beginning with his legs and increasing in strength until it agglomerated in his head and he burst into tears.
He was sobbing uncontrollably. Life had been cruel to him! He remembered how he was treated by the family that adopted him, the horrible deeds vented on him, the extreme sufferings he went through and the psychological anguish he was going through .
But what happened just now topped it all. He was not just humiliated beyond explanation, he had just being torn from the only person that ever meant anything to him. Miss Sunshine, Petra.
HAJIYA FATIMA (PETRA'S MOM) POV
___________________________________________
Hajiya Fatima stormed inside her room, slamming the door behind her. She sat on the side of her king-sized bed, burying her face in her palms.
She couldn't get the poor boy's expression off her mind when her husband siad all those things. Yes, they had to be wary of accepting someone they didn't know anything about, or someone who didn't know anything about themselves.
And learning that he had committed some questionable deeds made it the more important to be meticulous. But there was something mysterious about Justin's brown eyes that conveyed a story.
A story she couldn't understand but that pointed her in the right way. A step in the direction of something about victimization and hopelessness.
She had no idea what it was, but it was there. And she watched the expression he gave Petra as she was about to erupt in rage.
She was the most familiar with her daughter. She recognized the strength in that glance and the chemistry between them.
He instructed her what to do with just a glance, and she got it. He had an effect on her and steered her in the right direction.
She saw something unusual and extraordinary about those kids. What could she possibly do, Allah? As she watched Justin walk away, she had never seen her daughter look so empty.
"Salamu alikum." Alhaji Usman remarked a As he entered, . "Wa alaikum salam, ameen." She responded without raising her head.
"What's the matter with you?" He inquired and took a seat next to her.
“Nothing. "I'm fine."
"I know it's not fine."
"You know then why are you asking?" Hajiya Fatima asked.
He hesitated, took a deep breath, and then placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Empathy is making you blind." He replied.
"You've been more protective of the kids than I have. I'm amazed you're not seeing what I'm seeing."
"I see what you see, but from a different perspective."
"Where did I go wrong?"
"First, you've been receiving information from Aazim and haven't told me, making me look foolish."
I was telling you about this boy, and you seemed fine with it. You invited him to dinner, made him feel at ease, and invited all of your children, including Aazim, before humiliating him." she said.
"I had no intention of humiliating him..." "That's exactly what you did. That is a really ineffective method of correcting things.
Why didn't you invite him alone and speak to him? Why must you humiliate him? she asked.
Have you ever wondered what it's like to be on the street since you were nine years old? And you don't have someone to call your own?
Did you notice how joyful he was in the beginning? That boy needed to be loved. You could have assisted him even if you don't want him around your daughter."
"I did try to assist him. "But you heard when I offered to him..."
“Money? You giving him food allowance after humiliating him in front of everyone? ....”
"Walaykum assalamu alaikum." Muhammad, Petra's elder brother, entered the room.
"Aazim just informed me that Petra appears to have left the house."
“What?” Alhaji Usman inquired.
"I'll go check on her with Sa'eed."
"What's the matter with this girl?"
"Did Aazim see her walk away?"
"Yes," he said.
"We need to get moving." Alhaji Usman exhaled a sigh.
"Hope you heard what he said?" He questioned Hajiya Fatima.
"What exactly do you want me to do?" She responded.
"How dare you say such a thing?" We're discussing our only daughter here!"
"Are you implying that she eloped?" Regardless of what you say, my mind tells me that boy will never push her to leave home. Petra will return."
"This boy seemed to have hypnotized you." Alhaji Usman said.
"Babaa Usman, please." I'm suffering from a headache. I'd want to take some paracetamol and sleep."
He fixed his gaze on her. Everything is happening just too fast. What had gone wrong? This Justin boy was the devil. He merely came to break up this family. We have to fix this once and for all. He stormed out of the room, furious.
Aazim took out his phone and dialed. He was looking forward to what was going to happen next. What a fantastic evening!
"Hello," he said through the mouthpiece.
PETRA'S POV
**************************************
She came to a halt when she saw him. Thankfully, it was him. She could hear his cries as he sat on a block, his face buried in his palms.
Oh no! He was sobbing. It was the most pitiful sight she had ever witnessed.
Who would have guessed Justin would cry like this? She saw the silhouette of a boy who was depressed, rejected, lonely, and depressed.
Her father's words continued to ring through her mind, and she could see the effect on the poor Justin.
Something drifted out of her when she watched how he walked out. She couldn't let him go that easily. She was familiar with Justin. He could leave for good.
She had to creep out and track him down. She ran, went the wrong way, returned, and searched until she found him.
Finally seeing him, she looked at him and told herself that nothing could ever take him away from her heart. They could only take away his body, not his love. Never!
“Justin!” She called. He wiped his tears away with his hand. She snapped. It was right. She was aware of it. But she blew it all away.
She dashed up to him, embraced him, and sobbed on his shoulder. He wished he could shove her away. He'd never been that close to a lady before. Then he remembered that no one had ever affectionately hugged him like Petra did.
He'd never known motherly or fatherly love. Nobody ever showed him love. As a result, he also lost it. He let her hug him as another stream of tears streamed down his cheeks.
"I sincerely apologize, Ya Hayati (My Life)." She sobbed as she spoke. "I'm completely to blame. Please accept my apologies and forgive me and my family."
"Shhhh....don't say that." He stated attempting to maintain control.
"It is me that should be seeking for forgiveness. I arrived and caused a rift in the family. I should not have shown up. I don't have a family, but I understand its importance. I apologize." Justin said with a teary eye.
"No, my dear. Stop claiming that you don't have a family. What exactly am I? Have you allowed them to separate us? Have they shattered the bond formed in heaven?
Have you forgotten how our lives intersected on a star? If you tell you don't have a family, it will hurt my heart even more. I apologize for anything my dad said to you.
They don't know who you are. They can't pass judgment on you." "I can't say I blame them. Man judges by his words and actions. Only Allah can know the heart and intentions of people.
They have the right to keep me away from you. "Can't you see that everyone else has an identity but myself is exceptional?"
"Look, you have an Identity Justin. Everything happens for a reason. You did not bring this on yourself.
Allah has a motive for bringing you into this world in this manner. And He knows who you are. Please don't a llow them to judge you or ruin your spirit.
You made mistakes, but that should not be the end of your story. You recognized and changed your life for the better. Please don't abandon me. Please, my dear. I need you to be brave and strong for me.
I need you to stay strong. Remember everything we planned? Insha Allah, our journey to Aljanna......" She stated.
"I'll never abandon you, Miss Sunshine." He responded. "No matter what happens, never rebel against your parents." They must be respected and obeyed. We should think about it and pray about it. Just keep our eyes on God, and we'll be fine. Justin continues....
Whatever happens to me, please never stop praying for me because I have no one else to do it for me."
"Quit saying that! Please, in the name of God, nothing bad will happen to you. "Do not frighten me, my love."
She clutched him even tighter, sobbing.
********************************
So this is your evil plan, Justin? While on the phone, Aazim said.
“Muhammad! Sa'eed! "I've found them!"
As Aazim flashed his flashlight on them, Muhammad, Sa'eed, and Abdul-Rasheed all appeared at once.
"It was said by Father!" Aazim stated. "He spoke with the wisdom of a wise old man." Muhammad frowned."
"Petra, you moron!" "Get away from that pig!" Muhammad yelled.
"So you have been planning all along to take our sister away?"
"If you think you're a bad boy, think again! We've seen devils!" Sa'eed stated.
"What re you still doing there, Petra?" Abdul-Rasheed became enraged and moved towards them.
He grabbed Petra and pulled her violently, causing her to scream.
"Get him, he is going no where until we deal with him!" Muhammad said.
Abdul-Rasheed smacked Justin on the back of the head with his hard palm.
He fell off the block and was kicked before landing on the ground. Petra yelled.
"Leave him for Allah's sake!" Please leave him alone. He did not summon me." Petra sobbed and yelled.
"Stop talking and shut up your mouth!" Muhammad yelled at Petra before moving on to Justin to join his brother. Kicks. Slaps. Punches. She couldn't take it any longer.
She dashed through them, covering Justin with her body.
"Kill both of us!" She yelled. "Kill both of us!" Sa'eed violently drew her in and then held her.
"Beat the hell out of this idiot!" He stated. Aazim was enraged by her reaction. She appeared to be obsessed with this street hoodlum. This was a bad thing. Then an idea occurred to him.
Petra yanked her hand free from Sa'eed's grip before breaking into a run, screaming and crying. Aazim guessed she was going to seek assistance. He needed to act quickly.
He seemed to have no chance as long as this rogue was alive. He reached into his pocket and took out a short sharp object, a piece of the nail clipper that served as a key holder.
He was going to pretend to be trying to stop them. A sharp stab in a sensitive area would solve the problem.
Nothing was more important to him than Petra, and anyone who stood in their way was a sworn enemy.
It was best if he resolved this now. He approached them.
Slowly, Aazim approached the area where Sa'eed, Muhammad, and Abdul-Rasheed were roughhandling Justin.
He gripped the weapon so tightly that it hurt his hand. He was dead set on finishing this. He couldn't believe she'd still come after him after everything.
What was the matter with her? If the idiot was killed, she'd have to come to her senses.
He joined them, acting as if he was trying to stop them, and then he saw an opportunity. The chest would be an excellent target.
“Stop it! Stop it!” Alhaji Usman’s loud angry voice immediately made them stop.
Aazim turned to see Alhaji Usman coming with Petra who was crying, panting and gasping.
“What the hell are you doing?” He came as the boys were stepping aside, leaving Justin in pains as he lay on the ground wriggling in pains.
Aazim grimaced. What did this girl do? This could have been a perfect chance and the blame would have been on her brothers. She ruined everything.
He wished she could realize that all he was doing was for her good. She had no future with this primary three boy who had undoubtedly purchased a GCE result.
Her future was in his hands. He loved her immensely, and had enough money to give her the kind of life she wanted.
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