chapter forty three

I got really along with Ahmad for the past few weeks. There is no a single day that pass without us talking on phone. If he didn't call me,I always call him cos it has became something like obsession to me.

I haven't told Maya about it and the dumb her doesn't notice the frequent calls. Maybe she thought is uncle Haroon. I was planning to tell her anytime soon but just not yet until I confirm if Ahmad and I are really a 'thing' which I'm positive we are. Tho,he hasn't say anything about that.

"Khair! Khair!! Khairrrrr!!!" Maya shouted my name jolting me out of daydream about marriage.

"What? I'm just like five centimeters away from you but you just have to shout."

"OK we are skipping all our classes for today." She said as if it means nothing.

"Uh,I don't understand." I raised both brows cos I can't raise one.

"I'm speaking English girl. I said we are gonna skip classes today." She repeated.

"May I ask why?!"

"We are going out."

"Ha! Ha! So funny,now get ready for school." I said in a bored expression.

"I'm not joking wallahi. If we go to whatever we are going to,I will tell you why we have to  miss school. Omg I'm so excited." She giggled.

"No no. I have to know. Why will I skip full five lectures just because of silly things. Impossicant." I shook my head continuously

"Nerd!"

"Call me whatever you want I'm not going." I smiled sweetly and she became angry.

After glaring at me for 2.5 seconds, her face instantly softened and she walked to where I was standing. She knelt down in front of me and grabbed my leg.

"Pls  we have to go. I beg you in the name of God. Pls pls pls pls...." She said with pout and moistened eyes. I sighed and lifted her up.

"Ok. You won. What time are we going and most especially where are we going?" I questioned and she squealed.

"In the next two hours and you will see if we get there. I promise you its not a club." She said with a smile that made me smile.

"Alright."

........

"Let's get going then." Maya said and went out. I closed the doors and went out too. She drove us to God knows where with that smile never leaving her face.

"Here we are." She announced and packed her car. We alighted from the car and went inside the eatery.

It was a small casual eatery with bright lights everywhere.

"Thank God its not a club if not, you will be in your grave now." I said to Maya and she laughed.

We ordered our food and started eating it. Halfway through the food,a girl stood at our and as I looked up at her,I saw Stephanie. I happily stood up and enveloped her in a hug.

"Stephanie I mussed you." I said breaking the hug.

"I missed you too"....." Uhm,Maya is it ready?"Stephanie said turning to Maya.

"I don't know cos I haven't checked. Can you do that pls?" Maya requested

"OK will do." Stephanie answered and I just kept staring between them.

"Excuse me. I'm in oblivion here!" I stated waving my hands furiously.

"Don't worry your life,you shall know soon. Very soon dear." Maya said tapping my shoulder.

"OK mum." I rolled my eyes.

Stephanie giggled all of a sudden and walked to a door that I didn't notice there.

After we finished eating,a call came into Maya's phone but she ignored it standing up.

"Let's go." She said stretching her hands to me.

"Woah! Woah!! woah!!!. You made me miss school just for us to eat in an eatery?" I asked her in surprise. Surprise that contains anger.

"Well,kinda but that's not all." She said with a smile. I took her hands and she led me to the door Stephanie went into earlier.

Everything was pitch black inside and I held to Maya strongly.

"Er Maya, if you're planning on killing me,there are better ways to do it. I will prefer anything but darkness,hell no!" I said with pure fear. I'm a  nyctophobia person.

I was trying to pin my eyes on anything.... Anything at all when the lights flickered on. Immediately it did, people shouted "happy birthday!" And I almost turned deaf. I looked around and gasped at the surrounding. I turned to look at Maya in bewilderment. She has this wide grin on her face. Up till now,I wasn't able to form a coherent sentence.

It was my birthday but I totally forgot about it. And I suppose to have took some hints in all that's happening today from Maya's odd behaviour and the secret conversation between her and Stephanie but the dumb me just couldn't. I face palmed myself internally. I remembered people were waiting for me to at least say a thing.

"I.....I.... This is so wonderful and.....thank you guys. I'm honestly out of words." I said with my voice breaking. I looked around again to see the people present. Stephanie and Maya were the only people I know there. There are more like ten people and I wondered where they came from or knows me from.

"Khair don't cry. This is the least we could do for you." Maya said hugging me.

I forced my tears back but when everyone there started presenting there wrapped up gifts,I couldn't hold the tears of joy anymore. I have never in

my wildest weirdest dream think I will have this kind of unexpected birthday surprise cos mainly my dad forbids it.

Stephanie dragged me to a seat where makeup stuffs are. Okayyyy?!

"I don't understand." I said to Stephanie but she just put her finger on her lips shushing me.

A lady came and started doing my make up. I couldn't try to tell her to make it simple. I don't even know why I'm doing the makeup.

In less than 20mins,the lady was done and I think she did a really nice job.

"Bring them in." Stephanie shouted and the door flung open. Maya entered with a trolley on which a freakin' cake was majestically relaxed on. A man entered right after Maya. He was holding a camera.

"You look gorgeous." Maya complimented in a whisper.

"How,why,when did you do all these?" I asked in a whisper also.

"Stop gossiping and let's devour the cake. I mean let Khair cut the cake." Stephanie said too happily.

I cut the cake,ate it,drank the drinkables,snap millions of pic and danced to our satisfaction. To say this was my best day will be an understatement.

After three hours,the celebration was over but my smile was not over. I was smiling to the extent my cheeks hurt but can I stop? No.

Everyone went away leaving only me,Maya and Stephanie.

"How did you two came up with all these?" I asked.

"It was actually this your bff here. All thanks should go to her. Flora wanted to be here but she had a little problem of hers so she couldn't make it. Tho she sent me with a gift to you." Stephanie said her own part with smile.

"Awwn. You guys are so.....loving." I said slightly hugging her.

"And these people,who are they?" I couldn't help but ask.

"We hired them." Maya answered casually.

"What?!" I shouted as a form of gasping.

"No like hired hiring. They are all employees of this cafe so? What's the big deal?" Maya shrugged.

"You know you don't have to do that right and well,what can I say beside thank you a thousand times." I smiled hugging her.

"I gotta get going. I'm sorry I can't stay longer cos..." Stephanie started but I cut her off.

"What are you saying? You spent like four hours here,waste your energy and you're apologizing for going? Pls." I said to her getting up to walk her to the door.

"Thanks. And may all your wishes come true." She said and left.

"I'm so tired and just want to go home." I said sighing sitting back on my previous seat.

"We would soon go home. Let me just get something done. Do you mind sitting at the main restaurant?" Maya asked

"Sure." I said, got up and head to the restaurant. After sitting there for ten minutes more,Maya came and sat in front of me smiling brightly.

"What suddenly happened?" I questioned her narrowing my eyes in suspicion.

"Nothing. I just want to show you my hand." She stated and brought out her right hand. Right above her arm was a writing. I squinted my arm to get a better view of the inked writing.

I gasped realizing what it was. I grabbed her arm forcefully and bore my eyes into it.

"You wrote tattoo on your hand?" I whisper-yelled.

"Yeah. Don't you like it? See what I wrote. Isn't it cooooool?" She cooed.

"Khair." I read aloud what was designed on her hand. My name was perfectly written on her hand with a black and red ink. It was so beautifully beautiful.

"Why? I actually like it but have you forgot it is haram?" I told her.

"Seriously?" She widened her eyes.

"Stop acting as if you don't know about it." I rolled my eyes.

"I swear by Allah I don't." She answered a little bit shocked.

"OK I have tell you now. Hope it will clean soon and....."

"Its permanent." She confessed.

"Way to go girl." I clapped my hands for her.

"Stop being sarcastic. Do you know why I write it?"

"That's exactly what I wanted to ask you."

"Firstly, Khair means goodness in Arabic so I literally wrote goodness on my hands. Sensible right?" She said as if she has achieved the most greatest thing in life. She was expecting me to say something but I just kept staring at her.

"Joy killer. Anyway,then secondly, I wrote it because that's your name and you're my best friend and I love you so very much and its your birthday. So this is your birthday gift." She said and opened her hands for a hug.

A happy smile creepily made it's way to my lips. I hugged her in an uncomfortable manner because of the table between us.

"I love you too Maya."

She smiled and said "you said you want to go home. Do you have any means or you will wait for me until I'm done here and that will be in the next three hours."

"Impossicant. I can't wait for three hours here. Beside, what are you still going to do here?"

"Take care of things here of course then I..." Her sentence was cut short when some girl holding a notepad came and whispered something in her ear.

"Gotta go." She stood up hastily and waved at me.

"Ok." I said and brought out my phone.

'Uncle Haroon suppose to call me. He always does that when my birthday arrives.' I thought to myself and shrugged.

I logged in my Whatsapp and started receiving congratulatory messages from those who cared. I posted the decent pics we took earlier. Not seeing uncle Haroon's message made me thought negatively.

I checked my SMS messages and saw uncle Haroon's messages. Oops.

Hey there baby sis.

How's studies, everything and everyone over there?

I wanted to be the first to wish you a very happy birthday

So happy happy birthday sis

May all your wishes come true.

I'm busy and that's why I couldn't call. So call me anytime you get the chance.

PS I will give you your birthday gift when you're back in Nigeria.

I finished reading his messages and checked the time he sent it. Exactly 12:00am. Uncle Haroon is just simply sweet.

A call came into my phone and it was Ahmad. I almost fall down from the chair cos of happiness.

"Salam alaikum." I said immediately I answered the call and placed it on my ear.

"Wa alaikumus salam. Khair you offended me." Came his calm voice.

I frowned and tried to remember how and when I offended him.

"Er,I don't get you?"

"Today's your birthday but you couldn't tell me and we are friends. I just saw the pics you posted." He pointed out.

"It totally skipped my mind. I'm so sorry." I apologized sincerely.

"Okay anyway,where are you?" He asked.

"At a cafe,miles away from fambrini's cafe. Don't ask me the name cos I don't know."

"OK I won't. Just wait for me there. I will come and pick you up."

We said bye to each other and hung up.

After a while,I went outside and that was exactly when Ahmad was coming out if his car.

"Birthday girl." He smiled at me.

"Hi"

"Let's get going." He said and we both entered the car and he drove off to God knows where.

"Where are we heading to?" I asked in eagerness that I tried not to show.

"Wait and see." He smirked and I giggled inside.

"Who's disturbing my peaceful moment?" Ahmad muttered to himself and brought it out from his pocket. He handed it over to me.

"Check who's calling."

"S Luke." I called out.

"Geez." He closed his eyes and gripped the steering wheel. He parked the car by the roadside and collected his phone.

He dialled a number on his phone,probably the S Luke person.

"Yes!.....why now?... Can't it be postponed?... OK I will be on my way." He cut the call and muttered incoherent words to himself.

"What's wrong?" I asked worriedly.

"I got a call from work and some stupid meeting just have to come up at the wrong time. I'm sorry that I will have to cancel..."

"You don't need to apologize. Drop me here and go attend your meeting before you run late." I assured him.

"Do you heard what you're saying? Drop you here? Hahaha you must he joking. I will take you home."

"The meeting...."

"Shhhhh. Let me do what I have to do." He said and started driving again.

No words was exchanged again until we were at home.

"Thank you Ahmad."

"Don't mention. I will call you later okay?"

"Okay byeeee."

"Bye"

I entered inside the house and went straight to bathroom. I took a long relaxing bath. After that,I went into the kitchen not to actually find something to eat but to just stare at the food stuff in there.

In the process of studying the food stuffs,I noticed a paper on top of the gas.

I went forward and picked it.

Hi its me Maya. Pls turn over. The message read.

And I turned the paper over seeing another sentence. What kind of thing is this?

Walk to the fridge. The message continued.

Okayyyy?!

Wanting to find out what all these is about, I walked quietly to the fridge.

I saw another piece of paper on top of the fridge.

OK now that you might be reading this,go to the parlour and check the center table. Don't be annoyed,that will be the last paper.

I still carried myself and walked to the parlor with cautious steps.A paper was actually there lying comfortably on the center table. I picked it and read aloud this time. "You see this number below, call it and tell the person you're ready. Trust me pls."

Tell the person you're ready. Ready for what? For joining cult? What is Maya up to?

I called her number but her phone was switched off. The house started turning creepy to me.

How am I going to know this is Maya and not some sort of burglar entering out apartment and try to trick me into their world of evil.

But guess what the foolish me did, I found myself automatically copying the number on my phone. My brain was shouting at me to stop but my mind objected.

I dialled the number and placed the phone on my ear.

The person picked and my heart began racing. I wait for the person at the other end to start speaking first.

"Hello? Khair.?" Came the voice of a male unsure.

"Who's this?" I asked with shaky voice filled with nothing but fear.

"Is this Khair cos it sounds like you." The person said.

"Yes its me."

"Are you ready?" He asked

"Yes." I replied without thinking. I closed my eyes and face palmed myself.

"Okay I'm on my way." And with that he hung up.

Sweat trickled down my back. I sat on the couch waiting for whoever is coming. I tried calling Maya again and still, her phone was switched off.

A knock at the door made me stood up at once. I looked through the window but couldn't get a good view of the person.

"Who's there?" I asked

"Its me Khair. Open the door and let's get going." A familiar voice I recognized said.

I opened the door and my eyes bulge out.

"Smith?!" I exclaimed with utmost surprise.

"Why are you acting as if you've never seen me in your life only in your nightmares? I suggest we should be out of here now." Smith said.

I followed him outside and entered his car. I'm not sure if my sense of reasoning is still with me or not.

"Do you mind explaining what all these are about?" I asked.

"Don't worry. We will soon get there." He said and gave me a sinister smile. I gulped and focus on the road not saying anything further.

After ten minutes drive,we arrived at a place that was eerily quiet. We got out of the car and Smith led the way.

We stopped at a plastic door,I don't know if its plastic or not but it looked like it. The door was large,too very large and tall.

"Where is this place?" I asked fidgeting with my finger. I was expecting him to answer me but he didn't and that made me looked at him. I found him making a call to someone.

Waiting for him frustratedly to finish his call,before I got a chance of asking him questions again after he hung up,the large plastic door started opening gradually upwards.

After three agonizing minutes of watching the door,it finally opened and revealed a dimmed room.

"Shall we?" Smith asked with the evil smirk.

"Huh to where again? Don't tell me its inside this dark place." I said in between nervous laughs.

"We are going in there. As Maya said,trust her and trust me too." He said slowly so that I could digest that in my head.

After he saw I was ready to go in,he started walking and I followed him. We entered the place and it was darker than I thought.

I wanted to ask why are the lights not on but I couldn't say that when bright lights magically on themselves.

My mouth was hung open seeing where we were. It was an extra large garage where varieties of vehicles were kept. Even the vehicles I didn't ever imagine would be in existence.

Trucks,jeeps,limousines,buses,sleek expensive cars and whatnot.

"Er Smith?!" I called him wondering if he knows where we are. He held my hand and walked me to a part of the garage. I didn't care about him holding my hand cos I was focus on looking at the exhibitions in the museum of cars.

"Happy birthday Khair." Smith said and handed me a gift card.

"Thank you." I smiled at him.

"OK let's leave." He said pointing at the door. I looked at him unbelievably. We came to an extraordinary garage just for him to give me a gift card? He must be on weed.

"I don't understand we are leaving." I said trying not to showcase my sadness.

"Just joking. Take." He said and handed me a car key.  I looked at it with widened eyes and mouth.

"Your car is right here. Turn to you left." He announced and I turned still not able to close my mouth.

A brand new Audi car exactly as Maya's but white in colour was smiling at me. I don't know if it was brand new or not but I don't care.

"W.....j....y...." Out of all my vocabularies, that was all I could come up with.

"Happy birthday again Khair. A gift from Maya to you." Smith said and took out his phone from his pocket.

"Done." He simply said in the phone and put it back in his pocket.

A call came in my phone almost immediately and it was Maya.

"Happiest birthday bestie." Maya shouted in my ear and that was when tears of joy started displaying themselves on my face.

"Maya?" I managed to say and I could swear she was smiling.

"You must be crying I know so whenever you come back home,we shall talk. Bye." She said and hung up.

I entered inside 'my car', oh my God I'm so proud to call it my car and hugged the seat. I probably looked like a village maid that moment. I thanked God several times and blessed Maya.

I don't know why I'm overreacting over a car but never did I imagine myself driving a car of my own.

Words can't explain my happiness right now.

After my lame celebration and joy,I went back home and gave Maya the tightest hug of her life not forgetting to thank her greatly.

"Its not a big deal. And beside you're my sister from another parent so stop thanking me for buying you a simple car." Said Maya.

She's indeed a sister from another parent.

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