•Hamza

"His name is Safwan. You'll call him when you go back to Abuja. He handles all your mum's businesses. Just tell him I sent you."

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you Aunty B. You're the best. You've made my day." I said while dragging my box as I rushed out the door.

"But don't tell your father or anyone at all. Also you can't tell your mother I'm the one that sent you. I'll speak to her about it on my own."

I smiled in appreciation before making a beeline to my car and throwing my box to the back seat. It felt like I was dying as I drove to the airport.

I drove as fast as I could knowing the speed limit here was 40mph. I took the car back to the car rental at the airport and boarded the plane back to Abuja.

****

I'm finally back in Abuja but I'm yet to speak to this Safwan I'm supposed to be meeting.

He's been on a call for more than an hour. I thought that only happened with the rich men?

I was beyond tired and angry but there was nothing I could do at this point so I told the driver to take me home. I watched in deep thought as the cars drove passed my car feeling like I'd lost a battle. But I knew I hadn't lost till this Safwan has been proved useless to me.

Instead of moping, I decide to forget everything just for this moment to enjoy myself and take a long shower and eat some good food to rejuvenate my energy so I would be able to continue my search.

Upon reaching the house, I find my father in the living room with a man who I'm guessing is a potential investor. I was contemplating whether to go upstairs without interrupting their conversation or stopping to greet him before continuing to my room.

After a few seconds of thinking, I decide it's right to stop and exchange pleasantries so I walk in and go down in a half squat position to greet both men before disappearing after my father introduced me to him as the heir to the family business.

I have to admit I'm flattered but I had other things to worry about now so I message my aunt once I'm in my room then go into the bathroom to take a cold shower.

After coming out, the first thing I do is rush to my vanity table where I dropped my phone and thankfully she has left a reply saying she had given Safwan my number and he'd call me.

I rush and put on a pair of jeans and a polo shirt before spraying my perfume and going downstairs to eat and wait for Safwan's call.

As I descended down the stairs, my phone rang in my pocket, making me extremely elated. Shakily, I picked the call without hesitating only to find out it was a girl I'd met at work who asked for my number so I hung up without waiting a second.

Food that was prepared in this house was prepared in large quantity. You'd think we were planning to cater a wedding. From left to right, I saw different containers filled with delicacies from different ethnicities ranging from the North to the West. The aroma of the delectable dishes filled my nose immediately I entered the kitchen, making my stomach grumble in anticipation to be fed.

I saw ogbono soup with ice fish in the first cooler and eba in the next. Yam porridge filled a container as well as basmati rice, chicken and a wide variety of other foods I didn't bother to check.

Like the 'food monger' I was tagged as in this house, I rushed to drag a plate from the dish rack and took a few spoon fulls of the Coconut rice and placed two chicken laps at the side. I dropped it on a tray and grabbed a glass cup, a piece of cutlery and a large five alive juice box from the fridge and set them beside the plate.

I was feeling too lazy to walk to the dinning table which was just outside the kitchen door so I sat on the stool opposite the counter to enjoy my food there.

A few minutes later, a call came in but I wasn't so excited because I thought it'd be the same girl so I ignored it. The caller relentlessly continued calling till I got pissed and picked it.

It was an unknown number. And I wasn't comfortable with picking calls from unknown numbers but picked it nonetheless forgetting that Safwan would call.

And it was Safwan! We arranged to meet at flavours for more. It wasn't far from the house so I decided to clear my plate before going out. Once I was done eating, I drove to the agreed location.

For a man with such a prim falsetto his stature was quite miniature. He looked snobbish and a frown seemed to be the only thing his facial muscles graced the world with but once we started talking, I found out he was rather amiable.

As we conversed, I couldn't help it to notice the way he spoke with class and a kind of aura that surrounded him. His words also proving he was intelligent but could he help find my mother? I don't know. Bounty hunter or not, today I was going to find my mother!

"Mr Hamza." He spoke up with a smile once I reached his table.

"Mr Safwan. Nice to meet you." We shake hands.

"Nice to meet you too. Hajiya Balaraba has said so much about you."

"Hmmmm." I hummed "I believe you know why I'm here." I didn't like beating around the bush.

His prolonged silence showed he didn't want to give out any information but one way or another he'd have to give me the information I came for.

"You know that my business with your mother is strictly confidential so I'm not comfortable giving away her location but, I wouldn't mind doing it for a little change." He wiggled his eyebrows in a childlike manner.

This foolish man! I'm going to finish his life if he doesn't do what he's supposed to do now. The look I gave him was lethal and with that, he knew where the conversation was headed.

He looked at me apologetically, smiling nervously "I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me. I'm usually not like this. Please don't tell..."

"Save it." I cut him "Just tell me what I need to know so that I can be on my way."

"She's in Niger. But she said she'd be back in a two days. Please don't tell her." He begged.

I didn't answer nor thank him for his help. I just got up and left him there with his mouth agape, looking at me dumbfounded and scared. Mostly terrified since he probably thought I was going to get him fired.

Now, the question is, how am I going to find her in Niger? Yes, it's not as big as Nigeria but I doubt it'll be easy to find her and what did she go there to do?

Another mystery to solve. And another trip to make.

But how will I tell my dad I'm going to Niger without giving him reasons why I want to be there?

But wait, he said she'll be back in two days. Should I wait for the two days or go for a search that could end up fruitless?

I guess I'll wait and see what happens and if she's not back by then I'll be forced to follow her there.
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~Aisha Safiyanu🥀