NNAMDE AZIKWE AIRPORT,

ABUJA, NIGERIA.

23RD FEBRUARY, 2017.

It can't be! She thought in her head.

Rahma couldn't move her legs. It was like she was stuck as her gaze fell on her. She felt as though she was hallucinating but it couldn't be. Despite what the doctor said about her memory being fuzzy she knew that face. She could recognize that face anywhere.

It just couldn't be.

"Everything okay?" Attorney Zarah Gwalabe asked as she turned to look at her in confusion, her thick, perfectly arched brows furrowing.

Rahma couldn't take her eyes away from her just as much as she couldn't speak. This Zarah's gaze follow her line of sight. And when she noticed what she was looking at, her frown deepened.

"Do you know her?" She asked.

"She looks just as I remembered her" Rahma muttered, afraid if she says it any louder it might turn out to not be true.

"So you know her?" Zarah asked, a spark of hope igniting in her as the thought of an answer to solving this problem has slowly started to come to them.

Before Rahma could reply, her guards had parted enough way for her to walk past the people and out of the airport to where cars were waiting for her outside. That was when she started to doubt what she just saw. So, she looked down and shook her head, "No. She just reminded me of someone" She said, raising her hand to massage her temple.

"Are you sure? Because it kind of looked like you remembered something"

"No, I'm just seeing things. It must be the jet lag" She said, looking at Zarah with a small smile to show how exhausted she is when in reality, she was anything but exhausted at the moment. She couldn't get the face out of her head.

It looks exactly the same.

"Alright then" Zarah muttered not believing a word she said, but deciding to let her off the hook this time. "Let's go, I'm sure the driver is waiting for us outside" She gestured to the exit with her head making Rahma nod.

As the two made their way to the entrance, Rahma's whole attention was on what she just saw earlier. She wasn't paying any heed to her surrounding which was why she bumped into someone, making her hold in her suitcase loosen. So, it fell while the person dropped what was in her hand.

Rahma immediately leaned down to pick her suitcase and apologize to the girl, "I'm sorry" She said, picking up the girl's bag and handing it to her.

"It's okay" The girl muttered whilst holding her bag, almost hastily as she looked behind her just in time Rahma looked up. Her lips stretched into a grin when she spotted her mother and step mother, "Mama!" She all but ran towards her mother's arms leaving Rahma behind.

"Let's go, Rahma" Zarah called out, making Rahma snap her gaze away from the family back to her attorney. She nodded and followed her out, dragging her suitcase along with her.

Rahma led them out to the direction of a car where the driver helped them put their suitcases in the trunk. Rahma wasn't exposed to much cars, or any to begin with so she didn't know what kind of car it was. All she knew was that the car looked expensive and seemed like a Jeep or Prado of some kind. She wasn't sure.

One thing she was sure is that Zarah is rich.

The two got into the backseat, and almost immediately, Zarah had her phone on and typing Allah knows what on it. "Once we get to the apartment, we'll rest since you're tired. You'll need sleep for a couple of hours. I have some errands to run so in case you wake up and I'm not there, just wait and don't freak out" She said, looking up from her phone to look at Rahma who nodded.

She put her hand in her handbag and pulled out a box, handing it to Rahma, "Figured you might need your own phone now" She said just as Rahma took it from her, after thanking her. "I've inserted a new sim in it and installed basically everything you need. If you need anything, just let me know"

Rahma nodded without a word. She knew she would definitely need something. She doesn't know how to operate a Nokia what more this phone that is without a doubt a smart phone. All she could comprehend from it is the Apple sign on the box.

Nevertheless, she didn't say a word. She would figure out how to work with it after she gets the sleep that though she didn't need, was the only source of peace she could get. So, she leaned her head on the closed tinted window and watched the eminent city of Abuja as the driver drove to their destination.

Meanwhile, Attorney Zarah Gwalabe typed the message she had wanted to type since they landed.

~We've landed safely. She's here with me, safe. Your driver picked us up and we're on our way to the apartment you mentioned. I'll drop by after she settles so we can discuss the plan.

And with that, she hit the send button.

~*~

Zarah waited until Rahma settled and was asleep when she left the house, leaving everything she would possible need in case she wakes up before she comes back so she wouldn't stress.

The driver was waiting outside for her, so she got in the back while he got in the driver's seat. "Take me to him" She said leaning back on the chair as she crossed her legs. She had been there before, so she knew it would take a half an hour. However, due to the traffic there, maybe an hour or an hour and a half so she has a lot of time to think of what to do now.

She had taken in a lot of hard cases but this one is peculiar. It needs careful planning and strategizing. And that's exactly what they intend to do until they've helped Rahma get justice she deserves.

As expected, it took more than an hour to reach the house. Mansion would be more befitting to describe the enormity of the house. Every time, she's taken aback by the amount of money the man has. However, being a businessman, she wasn't surprised.

She got off the car, and made her way inside. She met his wife in the kitchen who welcomed her in with a smile on her face as always. "He's in his office, waiting for you"

Zarah nodded with a smile on her face, "Aren't you going to join us?"

The woman shook her head, "I'll leave the planning to you guys. You have my full support. Just let me know if you need anything"

Zarah's smile widen at the woman's hospitality, "Thank you" She said before she made her way over to the study room, or office as they address it and knocked on the door, waiting for his reply before she made her way in.

The first thing her gaze fell on the book he held in his hand, reading it as his fingers flickered to the next page. The book covered half his face, and if someone who doesn't know him came in, he would think he's trying to hide his face or something. But that wasn't the case.

"Sir..." She called out, but that didn't stop him from reading his book.

"Welcome Attorney. And once again, thank you for agreeing to help on this case"

~*~

Ameerah waved at her family as she watched their car drove off leaving her alone in the airport, along with another driver. She wanted to leave along with her family but something urgent came up so she had to branch somewhere first before going back home.

She sighed and made her way over to the car, getting in. "Let's go" She said to the driver, who nodded at her as their eyes met through the rearview mirror. She leaned back on the seat as he drove off to their destination, the hospital she had to go.

It took a while before they reached the hospital, and when they did, she got off the car and went inside alone. She had to ask a couple of nurses for the direction of the office and soon enough, she found herself in the confines of the office of a female doctor, a graduate of BUK three years back.

Back when the woman was a student there, she used to help Ameerah and so, they grew close. To say Ameerah was sad when the woman graduated would be an understatement but she was done with her studies, Ameerah had to find another teacher.

After they exchanged pleasantries, the two went down to business. There was something Ameerah had to ask her about school work, and that was the only opportunity she could ask since the woman is always busy and Ameerah barely had time to travel all the way to Abuja.

"Thank you for this. God knows how much I would've struggled to learn it" Ameerah said, offering the woman a small grin as she closed her text book which she always carries along with her. She didn't take being a final year medical student a joke, she studies whenever she gets the chance.

"You're welcome. Just let me know whenever you need help again"

"In shaa Allah" She offered her a small wave before biding her farewell.

Ameerah walked out of the office, fixing her bag which she had slung over her shoulder in the process as she made her way out to the front door. However, she stopped in her tracks when she spotted a familiar face, walking towards her.

She blinked just as he looked up, a look of recognition crossing over his features. "Doctor Noah" She trailed off, not knowing what to say.

"Ameerah" He smiled, "What a surprise. We meet again"

~*~

Rahma couldn't sleep. All she did was toss and turn on the bed. Closing the curtains, turning off the light, and closing her eyes didn't help. No matter what she did, she just couldn't sleep.

She sighed, pushing the duvet off her body and swinging her legs off the bed. She put on her shoes and opened the curtains before she walked out, making her way to the living room. She sat down on one of the couches, switching on the TV and just absentmindedly watching it. Her eyes might be fixated on it but her mind was far away from the place entirely. Truth be told, she had no idea what channel she switched on.

She didn't how many minutes passed, or hours of being in that position. Her mind was too occupied with the woman she saw earlier. Something about her is stirring something in her. She didn't have a clear view of the woman's face for long but that was enough to convince her that what she saw was correct.

She wasn't imagining stuff. It was real.

"Well, you woke up early"

She swiveled her head in the direction the voice came. Zarah walked in, the sound of her heels being the only sound that resonated round the living room as Rahma had muted the TV, but still left it on. She turned around, leaning back on the couch and throwing her head back, "I couldn't sleep" She muttered, massaging her eye lids lightly with her thumb and index finger.

"Figured" Zarah nodded, offering her a small smile as she sat on the couch beside her; settling her bag and a file on the center table, "Being back in Nigeria for the first time in years must be unsettling for you"

"Unsettling won't even cut it" Rahma said, before she opened her eyes and sat up. She contemplated on what to say next, she wondered if Zarah will give her the answer that she wants to hear. However, if she wanted her to know about it, she would've told her since right?

Zarah watched her up close, noting the silent storm taking place behind the girl's eyes, "What is it?" She asked, snapping Rahma out of her thoughts.

"It's just that..." She fiddled with her fingers, thinking twice about her next words, "Why are we back in Nigeria? The incident didn't happen here"

"Thought you'd ask me that earlier" Zarah said as she crossed her legs, resting her intertwined hands on her thigh, "Like I told you before, I did some research on your case and I found out that the only people you were in contact with before the incident happened were your foster father, his wife and--"

"Wait wait wait...hold up. Wife?"

"Yes" Attorney Zarah said as she extended her hand to pick up one of the two folders she brought with her. She flicked it open, "Wife"

Rahma shook her head as she flicked her eyes shut for a moment, resting her elbows on her thighs. "My foster father did not have a wife" She said, looking up to look at Zarah.

Zarah looked down at the folder, turning it around and handing it over to Rahma, "Yes he did. Her name was Maria"

Rahma's gaze swept over the page, details of Maria filled up the page.

"We couldn't find any picture of her. There's was no school record of any sort so basic information is all we have"

Rahma shook her head again, closing the folder in her hand and keeping it back on the table. "Maria wasn't his wife. She was Noah's nanny. I'm certain of that"

"Who's Noah?"

Rahma raised a brow, lips tilted into a frown, "His son. Didn't you find anything on him too?"

Zarah shook her head, glancing at the file that Rahma kept. "We knew he had a son, but the child passed away two weeks after his father's death. So, there wasn't much to find about him. Although, that's what's bothering me"

"What is?"

"There was no information about this Noah kid. Nothing. By the looks of it, there never was"

"That's impossible" Rahma muttered as she closed her eyes again, feeling a headache resurfacing. "There has to be something" The fact that Noah is apparently dead doesn't seem right with her. She could've believed it but the lack of information on him seemed suspicious to her. Not to mention the fact that there's nothing but basic information on Maria either.

It seemed too good to be true.

"But there's not. Seemed like it was all destroyed" Zarah said just as Rahma buried her face between her palms, thinking of the situation over.

She looked up after a couple minutes of silence, "And you don't find that suspicious?"

"Of course I did" Zarah sat up properly, uncrossing her legs. "And if this Noah is really his son, and Maria is Noah's nanny then that only raises more questions" She said, running her fingers over her knuckles, "Which was why I traced her location. She's here in Nigeria" She turned her head to look at Rahma whose eyes widen slightly.

"Why?"

Zarah shrugs, "That's what I want to know too. But that's where my lead hits the dead end. There's nothing on her here and there's your answer. We're here because the only lead we have is here"

"This is harder than I thought" Rahma muttered, massaging her temples as she cracked her knuckles. She looked at Zarah who has her gaze on her, "What's the plan now?"

Zarah smiled, pulling up the other folder that she hasn't opened. She handed it over to Rahma, "We found you a new identity with that name" She said just as Rahma flicked the pages open, "You'll now be known as Rahma Turaki. We've also prepared a background just in case someone tries to do a background check on you which is highly possible. Now, we start"

"By?"

"By finding out where Maria is hiding"

Rahma's gaze moved away from Zarah to the TV which was still on. Her brow rose slightly, eyes dilating slightly as her lips slowly stretched into a smile when realization dawned on her, "Well, that shouldn't be hard because I just found her"

"Where?" Zarah looked taken aback judging by the way her lips tugged into a frown and her brows knit in confusion.

"There" Rahma pointed to the TV where a footage of the woman she saw from the airport was shown with the caption, 'Famous human rights activist return from her trip to the UK' "That's Maria" She leaned back on the couch.

~*~

Suppp, morning update!

Have a nice Sunday.

Love, Jannah.