Heir Apparent: A Nigerian Story.

XXXIV

So Raudah and I decided to pay Muhibba a visit.
And no our husbands don't know but we gotta help them out and not stand in their way, right?

"So? What are you two doing here?" She asks.
"Well you're Najib's wife, he's like a brother and we thought being here and comforting you is the right thing to do"

She shrugs "Let's not lie to ourselves, we were all forced to marry people we don't love and I can't say that after a few months with him that I had fallen in love but I'll admit he was a kind and caring man and he didn't deserve it"

Raudah nods "You must have been shaken up and disheartened"

"Not really, with that Masoud dead first it didn't shock me much. Someone is obviously after the Vassals" she says smiling at us.

I remember coming here after his death, she told me she was shaken up and had to take pills for her migraine but maybe she doesn't remember that incident.

"It might be"

"What surprises me is that you two are together" she looks at Raudah "You gave off that lone wolf vibe but I guess you're as dependent as everyone"

Raudah smiles "Might be the case. How's your cousin, Sadiya?"

She hisses "That incompetent fool?"
We stare at her.
"So you two fought?"

"Why would you think that?" She asks suspiciously.
"You called her an incompetent fool"

She smiles, she probably didn't even notice she did.
"Well you two can go see her yourself"

::

Serti- Capital Of Bandar.

Munir entered his car.
"It's a surprise to see you here dear sister"

Halima rolls her eyes.
"I heard you got married to Uncle Salis's son, is it true?"

"I don't think that concerns you"
He nods "Then what are you doing here in Serti, it's definitely not to see me".

She smiles "Actually it is"
He raises his eyebrows "And why is that? You miss your older brother?"

She shakes her head "Don't call yourself that, you escaped the palace and left me there. I told you long ago, you're not my brother and I'm not your sister or can't you accept that?"

He nods "Your ungratefulness doesn't shock me Halima" he frowns "Then why are you here?"

"What's going on? Does the Emperor want you to be his heir?"
He bursts out laughing "I've been stuck in this godforsaken place for 14years. The only things I hear about the palace is what my maid tells me and it's very much limited and you think Uncle Mustapha wants me to be Emperor, you're out of your mind"

She huffs "I thought the same thing, my father in law seems to think so, he keeps asking so I decided to come find out for myself"

He nods "Can you get out of my car now?"
She smirks "If you're like a prisoner why do you have a car?"

Munir was kept in a house in the outskirts of Serti with the closest house being over 60km away. The place was in the middle of a forest with nothing but trees, lakes, swamps and rivers.

"There's a limit to where I can go. Get out".
She laughs "Seeing you this way makes me feel happy you left me back then. I hope you spend the rest of your miserable life here"

She walks out leaving the door open.

::

"Huda! Wake up!" Amjad wakes Huda up but she groans and covers her head with a duvet.

"Huda, come on"
She groans again "What? I'm sleepy"

"I warned you not to watch too late in the night. Wake up, it's 9am already"
She groans and sits up rubbing her eyes sleepily.

"What is it?"

He sits on the arm chair by the window "Queen Mina asked for us".
"She wants to see us?"

He shakes his head "Just Hafiz and I"
She groans "Then why did you wake me up?"

"So next time you'd listen to me and sleep early. Lazying around isn't something we can afford now".

She nods "Just an hour more"
He shakes his head "Come on"

She sits up "Why do you have to disturb me so early in the morning? I just want to sleep in peace, do you have to be so domineering and overbearing everyday of your life?"

He just stares at her "If that's what you think then Hudayya go back to sleep" he picks up his car keys and walks out.

She lies back down and pulls the duvet.
"Maybe I shouldn't have said that" she murmurs before sitting back up and groaning.

::

Third Person POV.

Munir has been on edge since his sister's visit. Something is going on but as usual he's being kept in the dark about it.

He gets his phone and calls Queen Mina.

Munir you know you can't call.

Why can't I? What's going on?

Your uncle is unconscious and we're not sure when he'll wake up or what his condition would be.

What? Why didn't you tell me?

I think you'll have to come here. We have to make a move now or everything will all be for nothing.

Okay but are you sure?

The doctor is not sure he'll ever wake. He's in a coma.

Does anyone else know?

Just the doctor.

And can you trust he won't tell a soul?

I know he wouldn't, what are we going to do?

Just calm down, don't freak out. Apart from Uncle Mustapha is there anyone who knows about me?

No.

I think Salis suspects it, I'm not sure but apparently he asked Halima.

Did she tell them where you are?

I know she despises me but I also know that she doesn't want me found, I think she's hurt I left her but she doesn't want to be alone. She comes here and talks about how much of a traitor I am but I know she uses every opportunity to see me but at the same time she doesn't want me back there so I doubt she'll tell them.

That's good, we'll set everything up immediately.

Okay.

::