UNDER 168 HOURS [BOOK 1, 168 HOURS SERIES]

Chapter 27: Better Plans

Firdausi suddenly grabbed her from behind as she turn. Almost freezing with hypertension.

"You're always in thought, Humaira. What's it again?"

"I'm so broken Firdausi, my sister is hurt. I don't know what to tell you right now but, I'll be leaving school very soon."

Firdausi could read the worries on her friend's face. She knew something was wrong immediately. Even though Humaira tries to hide it.

"Again? Why? What really happened?!" She cried. "You can tell me anything."

Humaira kept quite for a while. She loved Firdausi and trusted her as well. Because she's different. Unlike Zayda and the rest. Its just that, recently. A lot has been happening and its causing a bit of rift between their friendship. Especially this semester.

"You remember I told you Zainab stays with my mum's friend.”

"Yes... Is it Dr. Azeezah, the Yoruba woman?"

"Yes, that one. She died last night. A gang of rubbers invaded into her apartment and shot her. Zainab was lucky enough to stay alive."

"Subhanallah! Poor thing! How can human beings be so heartless and wicked?!"

Humaira looked even more puzzled.

"I don't know what to do right now, but I need to take Zainab to a very safe place. Especially now, and with all of these. The worse part of it is that I have no one to run to."

"You really need to visit your junior sister. I mean, shes too young to suffer at this early stage of her life." Firdausi agreed.
"So what are your plans now? Where are you going?"

"I'm going to study in the library for a while. Then I'll go to the bank to withdraw some money. Would you follow me?"

"No. I really need to go home. I mean, I'm having a serious back pain and I need to rest at least."

"Okay, I understand. See you tomorrow then."

"Yeah, I can't begin to imagine what has happened but I'll advise that you stay strong. For your sister and your unborn child.

"Hmmmm ... May Allah help us through."

"Amin." Firdausi smiled as they parted ways.

***

The next day at school didn't go well as expected. Apart from the roommates wahala, Humaira couldn't keep her mind off Zainab. She just hoped Mr. Abdullahi was a good man and would accept Zainab as his own. Not forever, but at least, for the main time.

'When I graduate from university, Zainab too would have graduated from highschool. Insha Allah, by then, I would have secured a good job in a big firm or gain a better livelihood at least.' Humaira thought as she scattered her dirty clothes on the floor. Trying to select the ones to wash.

It was Thursday evening, so, she decided to do the laundry in order to ease herself from other work whenever she comes back from Abuja. She took out a small schedule of 'Klin' detergent she had left from the corner of her bed.

'Its enough, I'll manage it.' She said to herself again. Humaira was about to take the clothes outside when her beeped.

Looking at the screen, she saw 12 missed calls from an unknown number. Then the call came in again. She decided to pick it this time.

"Assalam 'Alaikum Hummy. You didn't want to pick my calls again, abi?" He sounded really excited.

"Wa'alaikum Salam. Please, who am I speaking with?"

"Subhanallah! Don't tell me you didn't save my number again... Its Mubashir  speaking. I heard what happened to your little sister, Zainab and decided to call. I know you're so busy but I really wish we could meet soon, somehow. Maybe tomorrow."

"I'll be traveling first thing tomorrow morning, Mubby. I'm so occupied right now. I can't meet you."

"So how are you feeling? I just want to hear from you. Its been a while you know?"

Humaira just kept quite, tired of hearing his ranting. It was already getting dark and she haven't started her washing.
'Which kind of guy is this one now?' She hissed at him in her mind.

Its clear that Mubashir likes her but she haven't paid him any attention yet because she feel she wasn't ready. He had asked her out last semester when she just entered the campus as a 'newbee' but till now, she's still avoiding him as much as possible. Especially now that she's holding another man's pregnancy. She's sure Mubashir won't even look at her twice when he finds out the truth.

"I'll really miss you, Hummy. So, when would you be back? I need to spend quality time with you, you know... To know you better."

"Seriously, I don't know about that yet but when I'm back, I'll be very busy preparing for our upcoming exams. I'll have to study hard."

"Maybe after our exams then." He suggested with a very low voice. He must be a bit disappointed but he's getting used to it.

"Yes, maybe." Humaira replied him with a frown but her voice sounds cute still.

"Okay, Good luck with everything. Please, save my number."

"Alright, I will. Thanks a lot for showing so much concern. I'm truly grateful."

"No, its nothing. Just make sure you call me if you need anything, okay?"

"Okay, thank you." She smiled a bit but the simple disappeared almost immediately. "Bye."

"Bye."

Humaira cut the call and hissed under her breath. She knew instantly that its all Firdausi's doing. Maybe she was also a blabbermouth afterall. She shouldn't have told Mubashir anything yet.

Mubashir is a 24 year old, 400 level, law student. He's a the Chief Justice's  son and also the president of her department. So everyone wants to be his friend and his girl but, Mubashir is a good person.

Since the first day he saw her in MSSN, he's been so interested in knowing who Humaira Ahmad Sanni was but she never gave him a chance. She was just avoiding him, just like most girls would but not the girls in ABU, Zaria. He knew Humaira was a rare kind which made him admire her even more.

Firdausi has secretly been helping him get to her friend, Humaira. Even though she herself has been having secret crush on him, She kept and killed the stupid passion within her, all the sake of their friendship.

It is their first year in college. So, fighting or dragging over a guy wouldn't be the right thing to do. And as it is, Firdausi would pick Humaira over Mubashir a thousand times over and over again. Friendship is greater than love.

***

Wahala : trouble

Klin : A type of soap

Newbee: New student.

MSSN: Muslim Student Society of Nigeria. An islamic organization help by students and youths within schools.

***

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