Haidar Jega
When I had rudely chased Lailah out of my house. I didn't feel happy, I felt like a bad person and couldn't sleep throughout that night. So I had to make plans to make things right. I knew I had feelings for her but I was denying it because I didn't know if they were genuine. I had to perform isthikhara and I felt at peace with my feelings for her. I knew she would be living in the morning so I had to call the president to make sure no flight leaves till the afternoon. And that was done real quick.
Yes, I had confessed my feelings to her. She was staring at me in bewilderment while I spoke though. She didn't say a thing. I turned to Nailah and stared at me calmly and then she smiled. "Lailah I'll miss you, I hope you take good care of yourself. I'll come to visit you from time to time." I said. I immediately engulfed her in a hug. "You don't need to say anything Lailah, I just wanted you to know how I felt that's all," I said. I broke the hug and stared her in the eyes.
"I know you might never love me in return, but I'll just continue to love you until I can understand the fact that you don't feel the same way for me," I said. She was still acting numb. I turned to her mum and said "It was nice meeting you madam," I said her mum and then turned to Nailah. "I'm sorry about all that ever happened." I simply said to her she smiled.
I then turned around and walked away. Lailah did not utter a word to me. I wanted her to at least say something but she just stood like a statue and just stared at me as though trying to download what I had said. I didn't go out with my bodyguard, well I was done with that shit. I left Jamal at home, I'm sure he isn't aware that I'm even out.
When I got to the parking lot, I sat in my car. I was waiting for Lailahs flight to take off, or was I just having hope that she'll come outside? Well, it got to be that.
Thirty minutes passed, I checked my phone and the message from a worker from the airport popped in. The flight has taken off and she went in. He messaged me. I signed deeply and then buried my face in my palm. I had to accept the fact that someone like Lailah cannot love. She's as hard as stone and I knew the only feeling she had towards me was simply pity. She pitied the fact that my father had died and that my life was still being threatened. She simply doesn't just care. I had to find peace with that.
I ignited my car and zoomed out of the airport. I drove at full speed. I didn't give care In the world what would happen? I drove back to the palace and I got there really early. I took calm strides back to my part of the palace. I hadn't moved into the king's part yet. I just decided to remain in my house for now.
When I got there, I saw the door open which was weird. "Jamal" I yelled the name of my annoying bodyguard.
"Jamal!" I yelled again. I walked further into the room and lo and behold. Jamal's body lay In a pool of blood with a bullet to the head.
"Inalilahi wainalilahi rajiun!" I yelled out loud. "Jamal! Oh my God," I was breathless.
"Would you shut up your stupid mouth!" I heard a familiar voice say from behind me. I turned calmly and came face to face with the devil himself. He was pointing a gun at me.
"Zubair?. What is all this?" I said In astonishment.
"It is what you are seeing you, idiot!" He said.
"But we are brothers, how can you do this to..." he cut me short.
"We are not brothers, You are my stepbrother. That's a big difference." He said.
"Why are you doing this?." I asked.
"Why am I doing this? Is that even a question, okay I'll answer you then." He said "All my life growing up, I've had to watch you and mukhtar get all the praises, mukhtar was easy to kill but you! I do not understand why God would not just let you die!" He yelled. I just stared at my brother who I have grown to love all my life say he killed my big brother.
"And you killed our father as well right?" I asked him.
"No, I didn't kill your father alone. We did" He pointed towards the chair where I saw my mother's husband seated majestically on.
"Father?." I said.
"Don't you dare call me that!" He said in a hushed tone.
"Why are you guys doing this? Inalilahi wainalilahi rajiun, you killed your dad?!" I yelled.
"He is not my father!" Zubair yelled.
"What?" I was confused at this point.
"Yes you heard right, Alhaji Zakariya is my dad. Not that stupid old man" I punched him immediately after he said that.
"You are a bastard!" I held his neck tightly. I choked him but then I felt a gun on my head. I turned around to see some other man pointing a pistol at me.
"Don't shoot him. Let that his girlfriend come here first!" I heard My stepdad say.
"What girlfriend?" I asked.
"That Lailah Dawud Khalid. It was funny seeing her with you, I thought she would not return to Nigeria again." Mr. Zakariya said.
"So you are the bastard that killed her family huh?" I asked and a sly smile formed on his face.
"Yes and I'll kill her as well. Her and her mother, sister, and Brother. I'll kill them one by one" He said like the Animal he was.
"Well, I'm sorry to burst your bubble. You might as well just get killing me over with because Lailah should be across the world by now. She'll not come" I found myself laughing crazily. That only made them angry and Zubair landed a slap on my cheeks.
"She'll come, I trust Lailah." Mr. Zakariya said.
"I said she was..." I got cut short when I saw Lailah running through the door with her hands in the air.
"I'm here, let him go you bastard!" She said the minute she walked in. I stared at her and make her way toward me.
"What are you doing here? I thought you bordered the plane." I said.
"And let you die alone, no way that's happening," she said.
"Zakariya I'm here now. You can shoot me but let Haidar and my family out of this" she said.
"You've gone mad Lailah. Zubair you can take the damn throne If you want it. Just let us go, and we won't ever expose you" I said.
"You think this is about the throne?" I heard my stepfather say.
"This is about getting revenge. After your father's betrayal, I vowed to end his entire family. You and Haidar's" He said. I didn't understand how my father betrayed him.
"My father never betrayed you by exposing your evil act. He only tried to save his country from a devil like you!" Lailah said.
"Watch your tongue child," Zubair warned.
"Don't you dare call me a child? You think If you kill us you'll get away with it?" Lailah asked.
"Yes. I will, just like I got away with killing your father. It was unfortunate that you didn't die." He said to Lailah.
"It wasn't, God doesn't want me dead that is why. So that I can end you!" She yelled.
"Not if I end you first," He said.
"We'll end each other and rot in hell!" She yelled.
"Enough of the talking. Haidar Aliyu, say your last words now." Zubair pointed his gone at me from where he stood.
"Don't fire it, you haven't killed anyone and can still change. Zubair doesn't be like him, he's a devil!" Lailah tried to reason with him while I watched the show before me. She stood before me immediately as a shield. I tried pushing her away but she was firm.
"Shut up Lailah!" Zubair yelled loudly. He positioned the gun and the next thing I heard was the firing of four bullets.
Kpooooo
Kpooooo
Kpoooo
Kpoooo
It was Lailah, she immediately shot Zubair, my stepfather, and the man who had pointed a gun at me earlier. My stepfather was shot in the arm, while Zubair was in the leg, and The man was shot in the shoulder. But then four bullets were fired. I looked at Lailah who stood before me. Her eyes were fixated on the entrance as she fell to the ground. A whole lot of soldiers rushed in and soon gathered around the scene.
But Lailah had fallen to the ground with blood dripping from her neck. "Lailah!" I yelled. I squatted before her as she struggled for breath.
"You'll be okay I promise," I said. I tried picking her up.
"No, no. It's time for me to die"
She said breathlessly.
"Stop saying that. Someone come and help us. You'll be okay Lailah." I yelled.
"Haidar," she called my name. "Meeting you has been the best thing that has ever happened to me and I want to tell you that I love you and I can't wait to see you in Jannah again In sha Allah !" She said breathlessly. She held my face before taking in one last long breath before her eyes closed.
"I love you too! Lailah!" I yelled. I shook her but her body was stiff. Her pulse wasn't there any longer. Could this be the end? I let out a scream as tears cascaded down my eyes.
"Lailah!!!!" I yelled.