Due For Inheritance (D. U. I)

Chapter 1

AbdulAhad is the contractor but Aaqib is his most trusted son and Personal Assistant number two, so he travelled with AbdulAhad on every journey and also helped in making decisions and this has caused a rift within the family but they've learned to live with it.

After extra thirty minutes that Aaqib has loaded their suitcases in the trunk and turned on the ignition of the car, AbdulAhad walked out of the house in his perfect attire. He opened the passenger side and slipped in slowly as if they didn’t have a long journey ahead of them.

Immediately he entered the car, the scent of his perfume almost choked Aaqib. He has never witnessed his father dress personally but he can bet that after AbdulAhad finished taking his bath, he poured his perfume all over himself like taking a second bath, otherwise there’s no way one would smell this strongly of perfume. Like all other times, he bit back his retort and kept to himself. He does have a filter on his mouth which is one of the qualities AbdulAhad admired in him. If it were his other sons, they would have told him so many times why he needed to cut down on his excess use of perfume.

The security man opened the gate and the journey started in earnest. In just thirty minutes, they were already at the outskirts of Kwara State. From years of travelling around the country, Aaqib has become an efficient driver who loved his driving and if you were not used to his driving style, it’s either you pour out all the content in your stomach before you reach your destination or your heart almost get caught in your throat.

“Sir, I hoped you’ve drilled it into the memory of our workers that there shouldn’t be any funny delay this time around if they don’t want to be laid off”. Aaqib started, to make the ride a bit lively.

“Isn’t that your job? Why do you ask me if I’ve done your job for you”. AbdulAhad countered.

“But...but you said I shouldn’t interfere in it again which was why I stepped back”. He stammered.

“You also should have realized that that I said that in the heat of the moment. I thought you knew me well by now”. He replied.

“I’m sorry sir. I trust them to do a perfect job under my supervision. There’s no cause for alarm”. Aaqib assured.

“Who said I’m alarmed? If you do a poor job, I can just replace you. It’s not like you’re any special. AbdulAhad jabbed. He suddenly turned his head to face Aaqib with mock horror on his expression. You don’t think you’re irreplaceable, do you?”

“I’ve never thought that for once sir”. He replied even though he was seething inside. AbdulAhad can be very crude and insensitive. If he laughed with you in a minute, he would be quick to remind you that next time, he would be laughing at you and not with you. He also takes joy in turning what is a good atmosphere into an unbearable one. If Aaqib had known, he would have kept quiet. Moreover, he should be used to AbdulAhad’s styles but no one is immune to hurtful words.

Aaqib was still quietly reeling in rage while the cause for his discomfort has dozed off. Three hours later, they’ve reached Suleja and all that was left was to locate the hotel they reserved and that was when he suddenly noticed a sand truck coming straight towards them. He blared the horn loudly but it seemed the driver of the truck was sound asleep on the steering wheel. He kept driving forward and would hit them if he didn’t find a solution quick. He swerved to the other lane in a hurry and didn’t notice another oncoming  trailer that was about to overtake. Alas, he couldn’t decipher which of the vehicle crashed in first. All he knew was that the car was moving at a very high speed towards the jungle and he had no control over it. AbdulAhad was also screaming loudly but he doesn’t have the time to tend to him, he was busy shouting Subhanallah over and over wishing for a miracle to save them from their state. The car eventually halted but then none of the occupants was in a state to exit the car without any help. Aaqib looked towards AbdulAhad who has stopped shouting altogether, he wanted him to be quieter but not this way, he saw smoke rising out of the bonnet of the car and silently panic-prayed. “We’re already burning in the car. Ya Allah! Do not let Jahannam (hell fire) ever touch us again”. Just before they were totally consumed by the fire, the door suddenly opened and Abdulahad tried to get him and his unconscious son out of the car but he didn’t get far before the car totally engulfed in flame and he also lost consciousness.