LIFE OF ARWA(ON HOLD)

. 23

But i want him to be brutally honest with me, i don't need any tricks

"Ina saad?"

"Saad ya rasu."

He didn't hesitate to tell me the truth, and i appreciated that but then it felt like the world stilled

I honestly didnt know what to think at the moment

My mind was blank

Sa'ad

I looked at him waiting for him to say something

To tell me it was a joke, but deep down i knew he wasn't joking

"Ya rasu an hour ago. No one wanted to face you and tell you."

Is that it?

Thats the end of saad's life

Yesterday was the last time i am ever going to speak to him?

That was our goodbye?

"Im not going to stop you from crying. You need it."

He probably saw how dry my eyes were

I wasn't crying. I myself didnt know why. All i knew was i wanted to see sa'ad

I ignored him and stood up, picked up the folded hijab that was placed on the prayer mat next to him

I handed him the hijab and he understood what i meant

I couldn't wear it without help because of my hand

"Take me to the hospital."

"They're at home. Mama is waiting for you downstairs."

I turned to leave when he held me back

I knew he was going to ask me how i was feeling or if i was okay?

I wasnt

I answered him before he could speak

"Im not okay."

He sighed and led me out

Mama, khairat, hauwa, were all looking at me with tears in their eyes as i walked downstairs

From there everything was a blur until i was standing in front of the house

Dagaske sa'ad is dead

Everywhere was choked up, there was no space, cars and people were everywhere

Someone held my hand and helped me inside

There was wailing from different angles

We walked into the main living room as they greeted the people there

I couldn't say anything to anyone until i saw fatima

She hugged me releasing all her weight on me making us stumble down

She was crying so much that i didn't even know what to say to her

I hugged her back and kept patting her until someone helped us up, and walked us to their dad's living room

I held unto fatima's hand as we entered the room

Sa'ad

He was laid on the floor covered in white cloth leaving only his face open

No tubes, just cotton wool in his nose

Sa'ad

My gaze was fixed on him only when someone helped me down

I turned to see umma looking at me with bloodshot eyes

Her only son

She held my hand with tears and i squeezed it back before i turned back to him

He was looking like the old saad, very healthy. And i could swear there was a small smile on his face

It looked as if he'll open his eyes when i call his name

I turned to see ya bilkisu walking in, she looked at him for some moments before she lost consciousness.

Ya amira and ya hafsat held unto each other crying, fatima and ya khadija doing the same

Then abba who was seated near saad's head on a stool

"Kuyi hakuri. And keep praying for him. Thats what he needs most. We have to take him now."

His words just made the cries louder

Umma, whose hands were in mine turned to her husband in tears

"Just five more minutes, dan Allah."

"The fixed time is running out, yau friday, its already zuhr. And everyone is here already. Kiyi hakuri."

She turned and placed her head on my shoulders letting the tears fall freely

"Kuzo, lets pray for him."

Different prayers were said before they started covered his face completely

Shikenan sa'ad?

He was lifted and placed in the makara, before some men carried him out

Some people kept saying some prayers for him

"Allah ya jikan ka Muhammad saad. Allah ya sa ka huta. Allah ya sa can ya fi nan. Yalinka na gari ya bika."