Chapter 32

I woke up in a familiar bed, I frowned looking around the room. The blue walls? The Messi signed Barcelona shirt hanging on the wall? What was I doing in England? The townhouse my parents rented whenever they were coming to see me, to be precise. My hand drifted down my body and I sat up instantly when I realised there were no stab wounds. I pulled the shirt up and the skin was smooth, no blood, nothing. I stumbled out of bed towards the mirror, nothing... even the head injury was gone. Nothing was making sense. I looked out the window, when the door opened. I whirled around to see mama walking in with a smile on her face

"What's wrong Abubakar, you look like you've seen a ghost?" She joked

"Am I dead?" I asked her, my voice shaking.

she frowned sitting on the bed, patting the space near her. I approached her cautiously, my mind going to the last time I saw her.

"I'm not going to hurt you Abubakar, besides I am not upset with you anymore. Sit, let's have a little chat" she assured me. I nodded and sat near her. I suddenly felt like a little boy under her gaze. She had a sad smile on her face as she cupped my cheek.

"You've grown so much" she whispered. "I miss you mama" I whispered back as the tears filled my eyes. "We miss you too". I couldn't help but scoff at her words. "Maybe you do but not baba, he hates me." I murmured.

"Now he puts words in my mouth" my head shot up and I gaped at my father who was seated on a chair facing us. "Where did you come from?" I asked. He shrugged "Does it really matter?"

I sighed, my shoulders falling. "It doesn't. Nothing matters anymore. I failed and I'm dead" I muttered looking away. "And who said you failed?" Mama asked. "The judge rejected my application. Yasmin isn't going to be with me. If that isn't failure then I don't know what is."

"What do you think would have happened if you didn't take her home that night?" Baba asked. I frowned shrugging "she would have died or something as bad would have happened to her." "And now what's going to happen to her?" He asked. "She'll get adopted by a family" I replied. "So tell me Abubakar how did you fail? He asked "You saved her from what would have been a miserable existence, that's not a failure, that's far from it."

"let's not forget she also saved you. You were going down the wrong path and she helped you. Just look at you, you've changed so much. You've become the man we always dreamed and prayed you'd become." Mama added smiling.

I thought of all what they said and I still couldn't help the sadness and pain I felt.

"But I wanted her with me."

"Abubakar not everybody who comes into your life is meant to stay, some are just there long enough to teach you the lessons you needed and when they are done, they leave." Mama explained, her hands covering mine. I blinked back the tears not wanting to accept it.

"So I should let her go? I should forget her?" I asked my voice choking up at the end. "Never, never forget her but yes you have to let her go Abubakar." She replied wiping the tear as it fell down my cheek. I looked at baba's hand on her shoulder.

"I miss you two so much" I said staring at them. "We miss you too Abba na" she moved closer me, pulling me into her body. I buried my face in her neck, inhaling her familiar scent of oud and vanilla. "It's time to go back now" she said. I nodded pulling away. Baba placed a hand on my shoulder and smiled. "I'm... we are proud of you Abubakar. May Allah protect you from all ills."

The room filled with light then everything went dark.

*****************

I groaned opening my eyes, the first thing I noticed was the pressure around my abdomen. I looked down and saw a white band wrapped around my torso. The door opened and a gasp had me looking up.

"You're awake. Oh my God. Alhamdulillah." Najma cried rushing towards me as the door opened again.

"We were so worried" she said holding my hand. "Wha... Thank God you're not dead" Khalifa said sighing in relief approaching us.

"You've got to stop scaring us like this. It's like you attract danger."

"I should get the doctor" Najma said exiting the room.

"How are you feeling?" Khalifa asked sitting on the chair next to the bed.

"I don't even know man. What happened?" I asked.

"Well we got a call from the hospital, you had been involved in an accident, turned out it was way worse, you had been stabbed." He explained.

"I remember being stabbed and then going to my car, driving, I also remember the crash and a lot of smoke." I whispered.

The door opened and a middle aged man walked in followed by Najma.

"Hello Abubakar. My name is Doctor Mike, How are you feeling?" He asked.

"Okay, I guess"

"Well, you are quite lucky the stab wounds were deep and the knife missed your organs and vital arteries. We were able to stitch the entry points close. You inhaled a bit of smoke but were able to flush it out of your system, your head wound was mostly superficial, it required a bit of stitching, apart from that, everything is alright, however we'll keep you here for a day or two just to monitor you. You'll be in pain for a few days, try not to strain yourself." he said while checking my vitals. He left us after that.

"My security guard" I said

"Don't worry, he's okay." Najma replied. I sighed in relief.

"How long was I out?" I asked. "A day and a half." Najma answered.

"Does Hajiya know?"

"Yes. She came, she was really worried. Khalifa drove her back home. I'll call her and let her know you're awake."

I knew they were all waiting for me to ask about her, I wanted to but I stamped down the desire to.

Let her go Abba.

We talked for a while before they left, leaving me to my thoughts. My mind drifted to my parents.

We are proud of you Abubakar

For the first time in weeks, a genuine smile crept onto my lips

**********************

I had never been so happy to see Hajiya, Najma had brought her down to the hospital the next day.

"Thank Allah you are alive. I was so worried. Never scare me like that again. If you notice anything off you call the police, you don't go trying to find out what is wrong, are you listening to me." She scolded.

I hid the grin trying to take over my face and nodded.

"Yes Hajiya."

She sighed taking a seat. "You had me worried, I thought I was going to lose you like I did your parents"

"Don't worry, you're stuck with me" I said squeezing her hand.

"Thank you for everything Hajiya, for standing with me when others didn't, for believing I could take I of Yasmin when others didn't."

"Oh Abba, you are my blood. I will always stand by you." She said wiping the tears that eacaped.

"I had a dream while I was unconscious." I whispered. She leaned closer "What was it about?"

"Mama and Baba, Hajiya they were proud of me. They were happy with me, with what I did. With Yasmin with everything."

She smiled stroking my hair. "We are all proud of you Abba. I just wished Yasmin was with us"

I squeezed her hand and gave her a small smile.

"Not everyone is meant to stay in our lives permanently Hajiya"

She smiled "You sound so wise"

I smiled back at her. She didn't stay long, they left after an hour. Najma had brought me books to keep me occupied, I was in the middle of reading one when I fell asleep.

I woke up feeling a bit sore. I groaned wincing.

"Take it easy Abubakar"

My whole body stiffened, I opened my eyes staring at Baba Mohammad. I expected to feel the usual rage towards him but I couldn't find any.

"What are you doing here?" I asked exhausted.

He took a seat, smiling at me.

"I came to see how you were doing."

"How did you know I was here?"

"I have my sources" he replied.

"By sources you mean my grandmother"

He chuckled shaking his head. "No. I have other people who watch you for me."

"That's comforting" I snarked.

"Don't be like that Abub..."

"No offence Baba Mohammad, I know you won't come down here just like that so what's your reason? What do you want?" I asked tired of the conversation.

He sighed sitting up.

"I have the people who assaulted you in custody. Turns out you were home at the wrong time. There had been a series of armed robbery around and you caught them in the act." He explained.

"Thank you."

"A question if you don't mind"

I rolled my eyes but nodded.

"Why didn't you come to me when you were in need of money to take care of Yasmin?" He asked.

"The same reason you'd have given me if I had approached you." I replied.

He nodded before getting onto his feet.

"Get well soon Abubakar" he said walking to the door. "I expect you in the office first thing in the morning after you get discharged."

"Last time I checked you don't own Platinum Insurance" I drawled.

He smirked opening the door.

"I wasn't talking about that job boss."

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A/N

Ahhhhh!!! This chapter brought tears to my eyes ngl!!! Abba got closure and he got his company back 💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽

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Sarah xx