Heir Apparent: A Nigerian Story.

XLIV

I stare at him unbelievably "So what? You're agreeing with them? You think he'll do that?"
"Boy, it's not about what I think. He was accused and he didn't say anything about it"

"Accused? By who?"
"Alhaji Musa"

Alhaji Musa is one of the court's members but everyone knows him popularly as being Alhaji Hammad's boy. The man literally made him and I think he feels forever indebted.

"So—"
He nods cutting me off "—It has Alhaji Hammad's name written all over it"

So?
Is this what Amjad and his father have been planning?
A way to put all the blame on my father?

"I'll sort all this out" I say.
Uncle Awwal shakes his head "This is out of your control, you're a boy and this is something you can't handle. If you do, then it would mess up your entire family and the ones that aren't here yet".

"So I sit and do nothing?"
"Pray but I'll do all I can, I promise. He's like a brother and I can't let him perish". He walks away.

I immediately call Amjad.

Where are you?

I just left my father's house, why are you asking?

My father was just apprehended.

What? Why?

Shouldn't I be asking you and your father?

What's that supposed to mean?

I know you two had something to do with it.

Look, don't blame my father and I for something your father did.

It was Alhaji Musa that's accused him. My father can't end like that.

I'll be there soon.
He hangs up.

::

I kept pacing around in my office.
"Hafiz?"

I turn around and see Raudah, she looked bothered.
"What's wrong?" I ask.

"I heard about Baba"
I shake my head "Nothing I can't handle".

My relationship with Raudah is complicated. We are husband and wife, we eat, live and sleep together but there's still a lot of formalities between us and I think she's a bit frightened of me. Maybe she doesn't realize I don't care about what she did in the past. Things have gotten way to messy for all that to matter.

I huff.
"What do we do?"

I shake my head "I don't like you tangled in all that mess"
"Why not? I want to help out"

"No, I don't think you need to. Getting involved will put you in harms way"
"And it's fine for you to?"

I nod "It is"
"Amjad let's Huda help"

I stare at her "I'm not Amjad, am I?"
"But you like it when she helps"

I stay quiet.
Honestly, I do.
She's smart and every time she helps it makes me appreciate her more, someone who's willing to risk everything just to make things right. I always found her honorable.

"You see, you're quiet. Let me help this once"

I stare at her.
"With what?"
"Huh?"

I scoff "The reason Huda is always in the middle is because her friends were the ones involved"

She looks at me, offended "They were my friends too"
I smirk "Where they? I'm not talking about the title friends, I've been hearing about them but not from you. Everything they found out they trusted to Huda but not to you, why is that? Because she's smarter? Because we all know that isn't the case being the top of your class and all".

Her eyes were already filled with tears.
I felt bad.
I was hurt and I hurt her, she didn't deserve it.

I huff.
"I'm trying my best. I—really am" she sniffles "I know I wasn't the best back then and I know they're not here anymore but I don't want to continue living like this. It was hard enough living all my life left out and now that I'm trying to make it right I'm still being treated like a pest"

She wipes her tears away.
"I know you still like her and I don't care but you shouldn't treat me like I'm vermin"

I stand infront of her, hovering over her "You don't have to be here because I know you don't want to. I'm also not criticizing you for staying home so—do as you wish but I really don't have time for this right now".

::