•Bilal

"Daddy please can you take me to Wonderland today?" Kauthar asked, playfully dragging the sleeves of my pyjama shirt.

"I wish I could but it's a week day and I have some work to catch up with at the office." I lied, trying to dissuade her from wanting to visit the amusement park.

The truth was that I had to visit the police station with Baba Imran for questioning before I can be calm enough to continue with my daily activities as well as getting Kauthar to enjoy her holiday here.

I poured her favorite cereal, Coco Pops, into a bowl, pour some milk and sugar before handing it to her expectant hands with a smile.

She stirs slowly, walking back to the living room to wait for me. I pick up a piece of toast and my almost cold tea and head to the living room to join her.

We munch quietly on our breakfasts as the news anchor of Channels News, Chamberlain Usoh talks about the kidnapping of Basma El-Nafaty and I listen in on the sentences coming out of his mouth word for word despite it feeding on my anxiety.

He said holding up a cover of The Sun newspaper, "Good morning everyone and welcome back to sunrise daily with your host Chamberlain Usoh and my co-host Ayotunde Balogun. On the front page today, is the story of Basma El-Nafaty who was kidnapped weeks ago without a trace and the nation has been left with worry for her family is in extreme worry."

Ayotunde takes over from there and continues with, "It's been weeks of tears and unfruitful searches for the family and though, they claim it is billionaire playboy Jameel Rufai, they haven't brought evidence to back it up. It is a known fact that he was her ex-husband and without a doubt, had a sour break-up with her—this was something we found out recently as well. The sisters say, they have spoken to her and that she has testified that it is her ex-husband and they say that he spoke to them before hanging up the last time they spoke to her. The family is currently still searching and hoping for her return. I pray the family is able to find her as soon as possible."

I change the channel as soon as he's done speaking to Disney channel and hand the remote control over to Kauthar.

She stood up from her place beside me to hug me, asking, "Daddy why do you look sad?"

"I'm not sad. I'm just tired." I lie but she isn't convinced.

"I don't think so but I know you won't tell me." She huffed.

I took my cup and her bowl back to the kitchen for a rinse before going upstairs to take a bath. Before I return, she also goes up to take a shower and I see her watching tv in a brand new, clean set of clothes.

"Kauthar get ready, we're going to uncle Hamza's house now." I fish for the car keys in my pocket before going to turn off the socket of the tv, "Where's is your veil too? Go and get it quickly, ok?"

She gets up quickly with a smile and rushes to bring it. Kauthar returns with it wrapped around her tiny head perfectly and we go out of the house hand in hand to the car.

I press the  car key and the doors unlock themselves. She pulls her door and I do the same for mine and we sit inside at the same time before I lock the doors and start the engine.

Thirty minutes later...

Gates of the house are being opened by the gateman so I start to tap Kauthar's shoulder. I drive in further and park the car beside Hamza's famous Range Rover Vogue.

We exit the car and head into the house where stop to knock at the main door.

Aaliyah opens the door with a gloomy face that switches to a happier one the moment her eyes land on us.

"Billy!" She smiles, bending down to hug Kauthar, "How are you?!"

"Don't call me that." I deadpanned, walking into her house.

"Ina wuni, good afternoon, aunty Aaliyah." Kauthar greets.

She holds Kauthar's hands gently and takes her into the house and shuts the door.

"Make yourselves at home." She sings merrily with Kauthar still beside her smiling as we follow her to the living room.

We make ourselves comfortable on different couches, chatting ridiculously as if we didn't have a care in the world.

She hands Kauthar the remote to watch tv while we continue with our conversation.

"So where's Hamza?" I questioned once I sensed a little lonesomeness in the large house.

"He's in Egypt."

"When will he be back?"

"He won't be back till October maybe." She explains, "I'll be going back too. I just came back because I have a project to finish here with Yusra my sister in-law and another friend that's been kidnapped. It's just a disaster!"

I sighed melancholy and almost shouted upon realizing who the kidnapped friend was. I knew they were friends but I'd never really seen them together only once, three years ago in a picture on the Vanguard newspaper.

Instead of keeping it a secret, I decide to tell her the latest from how I met Basma at the airport to how I gave her the purse she left beside me and how I'm the second most wanted person in the country after her ex-husband Jameel Rufai.

"Now I have to go to the police station with Baba Imran so that we can clear my name."

"Wow, that must've been bothering you for so long. How's your wife? Does she know?"

"No she doesn't and you won't tell her. She's already acting differently and that's because she saw me reading an article about her on my phone. If she hears this she'll go mad."

"What is your plan now?" She coughs, "Sorry, I didn't get you any food or drinks. I'll be back."

"There's really no need for that, I'm leaving now but you can get Kauthar something." I reply.

"Ok then, I'll pack you something so you and Baba Imran will eat on the road."

I don't argue and she gets up to to and bring all she has offered. Aaliyah brings back some cupcakes and a Ribena for Kauthar and two packed containers. She sits and expectantly waits for me to continue.

"So... I don't really have a plan. I'm just going there to say the truth with the mindset that Allah won't let them misjudge me."

"I think you should also go with someone who has some influence in the country."

I nod, "That's why I'm going with Baba Imran."

"Just be careful. We'll be here to support however we can."

I thank Aaliyah for her hospitality and get off the couch then make for the door after hugging Kauthar and promising her I'll return in the evening. Aaliyah follows behind and we chat in hushed tones about the outcome of my visitation to the the inspector general of police.

A message makes my phone to vibrate for a bit in my pocket but I ignore it till I'm sitted in my car and ready to drive out of Hamza and Aaliyah's lovely residence.

Once outside on the road, I open my phone, read a message I saw from Baba Imran and call him immediately to know where we would meet before heading to the police station.

"Salamu Alaykum Baba Imran. I just got your text. How is your health today? Where do you want me to pick you up from?"

"I don't need you to pick me up. I'll drive to the police station to meet you."

"Ok see you soon."

"Whatever happens don't speak until I'm there."

"I'll just remain by the gate till you reach there."

We hang up at the same time and I turn up the volume of my speakers to enjoy the reverberations Bank on it by Burna boy was giving to my body.

I reach the gates eventually and park a few meters away until my stepfather calls to inform me of his arrival.

He arrives sooner than I think and we drive in together. We stop just in front of the police station and I come out while he motions for me to get into his car as I'm locking the doors of mine.

I do as he requests and get into the passengers sit.

"Ina wuni, good afternoon, Baba Imran." I greet.

"Sannu dana, well done my son, how are you today?"

"Alhamdulillah I'm fine."

"That's good! Now tell me something."

"Yes sir?" I prompted.

"Did you or did you not come in contact with this girl? Do you know her personally? Or is she just a work colleague?"

He speaks so fast that I find it hard to remember all that he's asking but I know how much he hates repeating his self.

Instead I try to remember everything slowly till I can process everything. I answer all that I remember and pretend there was no more to give answers to.

"I... met her at airport on my way to Somalia. Uhhh she... left her purse there and I rushed to give her before she left. That's all."

He sighs, relieved and continues with more interrogation till he's satisfied.

After that we exit the car and head for the entrance. There, we are greeted by a number of the uniformed men—mostly Baba Imran—as we make our way into the inspectors office.

*knock knock*

"Come in." A deep, hollow voice answered.

Baba Imran bends the handle and pushes the door to let us in and the man behind the door welcomes us with a friendly smile.

"Sit, please!" He shakes my stepfather, "Long time Alhaji Imran. How is everything?"

"I'm great. How is work?"

"Work is fine. We're managing." He looks at me for the second time again and speaks to me directly, "young man how are you today?"

I suddenly feel belittled because I was already a grown man and he was speaking to me in that manner but I couldn't complain, I was on a mission to clear my name.

"I'm fine sir. How is the country treating you?"

He laughs and pretends to think whilst stroking his hairy chin, "Let's not even go there. Everyone is just stranded along the lines of poverty and misfortune."

Baba Imran clears his voice, ultimately getting impatient with the cracking of jokes. Maybe he wanted to get this over with, who knows?

"Can we get straight to business?" Baba Imran asks slowly.

"Yes sir." The policeman nods.

"So, I'm hearing that my son here is being suspected of kidnap." Baba Imran begins.

"No, no, no sir. He isn't. The CCVT at the airport just shows that he's the last person she spoke to before disappearing so he's just a suspect and I believe you're here to rule out his name."

"You're getting there." Baba Imran smiles, pulling out a wad of cash from his pocket.

The man smiles and stretches to drag the money, pushes it into a tote bag under his table as if it had legs to run away.

He shakes his head and clears his throat, "Thank you for that lovely gift but I have to do my job and question him."

Baba Imran stares at him,  holding a stoic look and feeling confused. He doesn't say anything and I'm sure he regrets giving away the money because we didn't get what we wanted at the end of the day.

I didn't expect him to offer such an amount to the man but I didn't think much of it because he was trying to help me at the time but really, I had no idea that he's had a corrupt side all this while.

Don't we all?

"Young man, please tell me what happened that day." He spoke kindly now, pretending as if nothing just transpired between him and my stepfather.

"Sir, really I don't know this woman. She just left her purse and I went to give it back to her."

The man scratches at his chin and throws a stick of gum into his mouth, "But why does it show the two of you speaking before she leaves?"

Baba Imran turns to look at me, terrified. Beads of sweat started to form, dramatically covering his headache as a vein on the left side of his head popped out.

"She greeted me briefly as soon she came and sat on the sit directly beside me. We spoke of nothing after that." I shrugged, knowing that I was telling the truth.

"Anything else inspector?" Baba Imran asks.

"No nothing. You've been cleared. If anything we'll call you." He adds, "This doesn't mean we're done though. Have a nice day."

We left the office excitedly, rushing to our cars—even if a part of us held onto his last few words—a new wave of happiness passed through our bodies and left with the bad energy.

I and Baba Imran drove back to Aaliyah's house  where we ate what she had packed for us before taking Kauthar for ice cream with Baba Imran.
_____________________________

This is for you farhaanatu ❤️

I'm considering something and I'm not sure I should do it.

Would you'd enjoy a chapter in Rayyan's POV or not? And if I should do it would you share my books more?

Anyways I'll be thinking about it. Spam this chapter with your opinions and I'll go through them just to make that decision.

Btw who missed me?! It's been a while. I missed y'all even if you may not have missed me.

Eid Mubarak!

This is a little gift for y'all✨ I pray for all our acts of Ibadah to be accepted by Allah.

Please do me a favor. I want to see plenty comments once I wake up in the morning🥺

~Aisha Safiyanu XO💚