--
“I have heard about you, young man, and I will tell you a little of what I know about this matter. But I don’t think Adebayo Shola can still be alive. However, we should not lose hope of finding the woman you want to marry, because they did not kill the women and small children.
But the main problem is that no one knows where to start searching for them, since this incident didn’t happen yesterday or today—it has been at least seven years.”
“That’s true, Ameobi (which means father in Hausa). I also think about that and my heart breaks, but every day I try to encourage myself.”
Then the old man told him the entire story he knew, exactly the way he had heard it from Muhsin earlier.
“Alright Ameobi, we have heard what you said and we are very grateful. God willing, I will continue searching. If she is truly meant for me, I will find her. No matter how difficult it is, if Leewa is meant to be mine, I will find her.”
“That is good. Keep praying and be patient. Let me call someone to bring you some water so you can drink.”
“Oh no, thank you very much. There’s no need to bring water for us now. We are about to leave and return home—maybe another time.”
Zafaran said this as he stood up. When he stood, Turab and Fahad also stood.
Zafaran put his hand in his pocket, took out a bundle of money and handed it to the old man, thanking him again.
The old man was very happy and prayed for them sincerely, wishing them success.
Zafaran, Turab, and Fahad then left the house, but Zafaran’s heart felt heavy.
“Man Zafaran, you didn’t tell us what you and that old man discussed, even though you know we couldn’t hear what you were saying.”
“Forgive me, my friends. Honestly, nothing has changed from the story Muhsin told me. But for now I can’t explain everything to you. Let’s just go home first.”
Seeing his emotional state, they didn’t want to pressure him, so they agreed to wait until they returned home.
They then went back to the airport where they had arrived and waited for the next evening flight back to Abuja.
---
ONE YEAR LATER
Happiness, sadness, love, attachment, guidance, regret, shame, the revelation of hidden secrets, sacrifice, betrayal, and the revelation of true character.
Within the past year, many things happened.
One of them was the strong love that developed between Fahad Gahees Waasib and Zohal Khalil Girah.
They loved each other deeply, almost as if they wanted to swallow each other with affection.
The great joy in the Waasib family was that Fahad had formally proposed to Zohal, and their wedding date had already been set for four months later.
However, the biggest sorrow in the Gahees Waasib family was about Rukhshanah.
When they took her to the hospital in Bhopal, India, the doctors confirmed that she would not fully recover from the brain condition affecting her memory.
The only possible improvement would happen if she encountered something from her past that she recognized before the illness began.
Doctors explained that the treatment could either help her recover or make things worse. There was no guarantee.
They only use that treatment for severe cases of brain illness—and Rukhshanah’s case was considered very serious because she had suffered a severe injury to her head that affected her brain.
---
On another side, Khulud K. Waasib graduated from secondary school at Busy Brain International School with good grades.
She was admitted into Rony College of Science and Innovation, Suleja, where she would soon start studying nursing.
Leeya was also admitted into a catering school, where she planned to continue improving her cooking skills.
---
As for Turab, he had become extremely famous and respected internationally.
He had become a highly skilled doctor often called to work in dangerous war zones. Despite the risks, he never refused difficult assignments.
Sometimes he was taken directly to battlefields to treat wounded soldiers.
Anyone who saw him might think he was a soldier rather than a doctor.
No matter how severe the soldier’s injuries were—fractures, gunshot wounds—Turab would work tirelessly and pray for their recovery. Many of them healed after his treatment.
Because of this reputation, he traveled frequently—sometimes seven or eight international trips in a single month.
He would never leave until the patient he treated could stand on his own again.
---
However, Turab had a serious problem at home.
His family insisted that he must marry soon.
They wanted him and Fahad to marry at the same time.
“Turab, your father and I have already discussed this with Justice. When he returns safely from his trip, he will visit your Aunt Rahma so we can arrange your marriage with your cousin Ikram.”
Turab was shocked.
“What?! Mum, what are you saying? Me marry Ikram?”
“I swear Mum, don’t even start that. I will never marry her.”
“Fine. If you won’t marry Ikram, we haven’t yet spoken to Rahma so it won’t embarrass us. Go to your father’s friend Gahees’ house and talk to Mayah, since Fannah already has someone she likes.”
“Mayah? Mum, she’s Khulud’s age! What would I do with Mayah? She’s not the type of woman I want to marry at all.”
Mum smiled knowingly.
“Then prepare yourself later and go to Dalah Street to speak with Raudha. She is old enough to marry.”
Turab sighed in frustration.
“Mum, I don’t like Raudha. Actually, I’m not ready for marriage. None of the girls you mentioned—or even the ones you’re thinking about—fit the kind of wife I want. Since I returned to Nigeria, I haven’t seen a single girl who impressed me enough to marry.”
“That’s not your choice, Turab! You must marry. If you don’t choose a woman yourself, we will choose one for you.”
Mum said angrily and left his room.
---
Turab punched the wall three times with his fist before leaning against it, breathing heavily. His eyes were red with anger.
Then he went outside to his garden to calm himself.
As he entered, he heard the sound of a piano playing.
He immediately assumed it was Khulud and thought angrily about how he would punish her.
But when he got there, he saw Leeyana sitting there instead.
He shouted angrily:
“What are you doing here? How did you even know about this place? Tell me, because if I beat you here, no one will come to save you!”
“Please Ya-Turab forgive me! It was destiny that brought me here. I didn’t know you were here. If I had known, I wouldn’t have entered!”
“If you cry again I will beat you. This is the last warning. If I ever see you here again, I will beat you until people think you had an accident. Since you came to this house I have never beaten you—but only because you are an orphan.”
“I swear I will never come here again. Please forgive me.”
“Get out.”
She quickly ran away.
---
Later, Leeya secretly went to clean Turab’s room.
While cleaning, she saw his military uniforms from different countries.
One of them caught her attention—a maroon and green uniform labeled Morocco.
Curious, she took the jacket and wore it.
She also wore his hat, shoes, sunglasses, and wristwatch, which were all too big for her.
Laughing softly, she imitated him:
“Mum, I’m going to Morocco. After finishing the work there I’ll go to Argentina, then Australia. I may be gone for two or three weeks—pray for me.”
Suddenly she heard a voice behind her.
“BRAVO, Dr. Turab K. Waasib. Very impressive.”
It was Turab.
She froze in fear.
---
Turab ordered her to repeat the same acting in front of him as punishment.
When she refused, he threatened to beat her.
Finally, after chasing her around the room, he struck her twice with his belt before letting her go.
Leeya cried deeply but told no one what happened.
---
Later at Rony College of Science and Innovation, Suleja, Khulud arrived at school in a luxury Ferrari F8.
Three stylish girls approached her and introduced themselves:
Amrah Rafeeq Timia, daughter of the owner of the Nigeria Bottling Company
Reemah Rabeel, daughter of the country’s Commissioner of Police
Raudha Maheer Yasar, daughter of the current governor
Khulud then proudly introduced herself:
“My name is Khulud Khattab Waasib. My father is the current Minister of Judiciary and an international businessman.”
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