THE LAST INSURGENT

Seven

Isa Hamza came out the car and waited. His caftan was worn carelessly, and he just realised that he had forgotten his cap at home.
The thirty seven year old man was jittery, befuddled and lassitude. It was a few minutes after 10:00PM. He tried her number again but it was now switched off. He had been to Sharada, to the Account Firm only to be told that his wife never came there.

It was late so by the time he went to her place of work, he met only the security guards. He asked for the address of the GM but they asked him to come back the next day because they would do that. It was only after he identified himself he was given the phone number.
He had called the GM and demanded to see him. Now he was waiting outside his house. On his way there, he had called at a police station to give a formal report.
Isa was so lost in thoughts he was not aware that the GM had come out his house and was already standing before him.

"Good evening." The Gm greeted with an extended hand. They shook hands but Isa felt a wave of dislike flowing through him.
" Good evening, Alhaji Gambo. I am Isa Baballiya. I am Beeba's husband.'
" It is a pleasure to meet you. I am highly perturbed and astonished. Like I told you on the phone, I simply sent her to make some corrections on an auditing result which I am supposed to present tomorrow during a board meeting."
" So there is no clue to what has happened? There is no trace of her. Her phone has been switched off, and she did not even get to the place. I am more astonished because you said they left around 3 :00PM."

"Yes. We have on record because they used an official car. This is mysterious. Have you tried his number?"
" His number? Whose number?"
Gambo made a face that made him look more repulsive to Isa.
" Her colleague. The assignment was primarily hers. He is not the driver but he drove the car."
"I don't get your point."
Gambo showed hesitation.

"They are very close and she never feels secured if he is not around. They left together."
"Why did you not call him? I don't even know him. How do I get his number? You ought to have called him, Alhaji Gambo."
"You don't know him? I thought you were kind of related because of their level of closeness."
"Tell me exactly what you are trying to insinuate. My wife is missing Alhaji Gambo."
"I believe they are together. That is why I thought of calling him. I think I have his number. Let me try."

Isa called Mangal.
He shook his head slightly.
"They both switched off their phones."
"Okay, if you are trying to give me the impression that my wife is out there with a man, I would be very angry with you. I trust my wife and if there is anyone I don't trust, it is you because your attitude this night just spoke volumes about you and substantiates what she has been telling me about you."

"Telling you about me? What has she been saying?"
"You know what I am talking about. I hope there is nothing fishy going on here because I will not rest until I get to the root of it. I am beginning to get suspicious."
"I understand how you feel right now......"
Isa left him in a fit of pique.
It was the tthird day Isa received a call.
"Hello."
"Good evening Mr Isa Hamza. We have news about your wife. Listen carefully.

*******************
The room was small, stuffy and murky. The walls were made of steel which told the inmates that it was a shipping container.
There were two tiny windows made at the top. This was the only source of light during day time. This was where Mangal and Beeba had been kept imprisoned for three days.

They had no idea of who their abductors were or why they were abducted. The container was an intermodal container so one part was converted into a toilet with a pit latrine.
"My children...." Beeba whispered, after days of crying."I doubt if I will ever see them again. Only God knows what Abu Haneef is going through."

"Hmmm...."
"And your mother." She said. "I hope they do not tell her."
Mangal heaved.
"I was supposed to transfer her to another hospital which coincidentally not too far from the account office. I wonder how she is doing now."