chapter fifty eight

Third person's POV

Ahmad, who was sitting on a chair close to Khair's bed was praying silently as he held Khair's hands.

"Khairee!" He called as he sensed Khair's movement.

He kept his eyes on her face,eager for her to open her eyes.

"Innalillahi!'' Khair groaned as she tried to change her lying position.

"Khairee!" Ahmad called again,a smile evident on his face as he saw her eyes fluttering open.

He stood up and pressed the red button above the bed to summon the nurses.

Before two minutes,a nurse came in and asked Khair some questions which she didn't answered.

"I will call the doctor." The nurse informed and went out.

"Khair say something." Ahmad urged worriedly.

"Should I...." Ahmad started but got cut off because of the entrance of the doctor.

The doctor checked Khair's vitals and everything before writing on his notepad.

"Doctor, what is wrong with her?" Ahmad curiously asked.

The doctor sighed before replying "it's nothing serious actually. It's just the fact that she keeps fainting every time it happens."

Khair turned carefully to look at the doctor.

What the hell does he mean?

She kept fainting when what happened?

She wanted to ask all that questions but her mouth couldn't move.

"Pls,just make sure she's not alone. She has to stay with someone, not just anyone but a trusted person." The doctor told Ahmad and he nodded.

"A nurse will lead you to my office whenever you're ready." With that,the doctor left.

"Khair, how are you feeling now?" Ahmad asked and Khair managed to nod.

"Can you try to say something?"

Khair shook her head negatively.

"Just try babe."

"I...what...God!" Khair stuttered and started coughing. Ahmad's eyes widened in fear and he rushed to get her a cup of water.

"Sorry. For forcing you to talk." Ahmad guiltily apologized.

"Its not your fault." Khair smiled.

"You can talk?" Ahmad acted shocked and Khair gave him the 'seriously' look.

"So...what was the doctor talking about?"

"Just about your....illness,disease? I don't know."

"Elaborate. The doctor said I keep fainting when it happens. When what happen?"

"Uhh...where will I start this from? Okayyy sooo...uhmm..."

"Ahmad just say it."

"You will be having frequent hallucinations. What happened recently, of you seeing Maya was all hallucinations."

"Wh..what? But...I saw her in her human form,like she was really real." Khair panicked.

"Calm down khairee. Maya is not even in San Fransisco again. And you remembered when Haroon turned evil and even hit you with something? All that wasn't real. You know that yourself right?" Ahmad convinced and she nodded her head.

"Now let me go and meet the doctor."

"But...I will be alone." Khair stated worriedly.

"You will be fine joor. I'm not staying there forever. It won't even take up to thirty minutes. Just try to rest your brain for now." With that,Ahmad left.

Khair's eyes roamed around the room in search for anything suspicious. She released a sigh of relief when she saw nothing. She kept her head sideways and her eyes on the curtain.

She kept staring at the curtain and it started forming a scary image. She didn't take her eyes off it despite her beating heart until the curtain totally changed into something else.

"My Lord!" She exclaimed and teared her gaze away from it with pounding heart. She shut her eyes tightly waiting for Ahmad to come back and keep her company.

Meanwhile, as Ahmad stepped out of the room,he saw the nurse standing patiently by the door.

"Sorry ma'am. I kept you waiting." He apologized sincerely.

"Never mind. Let me take you to the doctor."

"After you please."

The two walked to the doc's office and Ahmed went inside. After telling him things to do and not to about Khair for over ten minutes, the doctor dismissed him and Ahmad went out of his office.

On his way back to the room Khair was kept in,he met uncle Haroon.

"It's about time." Ahmad simply said.

"You know I have to see her plane takes off first but now I'm here." Uncle Haroon said.

"Hmm. Let's sit here first." Ahmad suggested and they both sat down.

Ahmad started off by telling Khair's uncle everything the doctor had told him.

"So apparently,Khair can't return to her house for the main time cos of the constant hallucinations." Uncle Haroon finally stated after Ahmad finished telling him everything.

"Obviously." Ahmad scoffed.

"So...what are you suggesting?"

"I would have suggested she stay in our apartment but...." Ahmad started but uncle Haroon cut in.

"Stay in your apartment? That's not possible. She will be the only female there."

"That's exactly what I wanted to say you just didn't let me finish my statement."

"OK sorry. Go on."

"I just need two days more before we go back to Nigeria soooo I wanted to ask her if she have any trusted friend she can stay with within these two upcoming days."

"Did you just say friend? You can allow Khair to stay in so called friend's place. Seriously?!" Uncle Haroon snapped.

"I said trusted friend,not just any friend." Ahmad defended himself.

"Screw trusted. Isn't it her trusted friend that betrayed her in the most painful way cos of one crazy crush she had on you?" Uncle Haroon said in not so happy voice.

"Let's just ask of her opinion. This one that you're talking as if I don't want the best for her also." Ahmad grumbled.

They both got up and walked in the room.

"Khair?!" Uncle Haroon called when they met her in the room with tightly closed eyes.

"Open your eyes. Its us." Uncle Haroon added.

Khair slowly opened her eyes and breathed out heavily.

"Thank God." She whispered and sat upright.

"What happened that you closed your eyes like that? Did you perhaps see anything bad again?" Asked the concerned Ahmad.

"I saw worse than what you are thinking." Said Khair.

"What did you see?" Ahmad and uncle Haroon asked in sync.

"I was just looking at the curtain and it suddenly morphed into an evil looking gateman carrying an evil bunny on his head." Khair explained shuddering as she thought about the image she saw.

"What? How did you even know it was a gateman?" Ahmad laughed.

"Why are you both looking at me like that?" Ahmad said when he saw that none of the two was founding what she narrated funny.

"Its not funny." Uncle Haroon bluntly said.

"Yeah. It isn't." Khair supported.

"But wait,how do you know?" Khair asked uncle Haroon.

"I use to see same thing whenever I stare at the curtains for long." Uncle Haroon admitted.

"And trust me Ahmad, it is no where near funny."

"Wow." Ahmad exclaimed.

"You two have lots in common." He added and silent took over.

"Okay...errr...Khair" Ahmad called.

"Yeah?"

"Ok,so you see about what you are going through at the moment, I mean the hallucinations. The doctor said its best if you are not left alone. Like,you should always have someone beside you." Ahmad explained.

"Since that your house is empty,your aren't going back there. Ahmad would have said you should stay in their apartment but it is all fill up with males. I don't know where else you can stay. Do you have any trusted friend you can stay with, for just two days before we go back to Nigeria?" Uncle Haroon asked taking the discussion from Ahmad.

"Do I have any friend to begin with?" Khair asked herself.

"Stephanie is my friend but she's not here in SF. I don't have any." Khair told them.

"But how about that Pakistani girl whose name you said was the hardest ever?" Uncle Haroon asked and chuckled silently upon remembering how Khair always complain of the girl's name and why her parent will give her such a hard name.

"Fathona....." Khair trailed off drifting into thoughts about the day Fathona visited her at the hospital.

Flashback

"...just how bored can I be?" Khair said to herself after lying back on the bed immediately she accompanied Stephanie and her brother outside.

Before she could think of an answer to herself, she drifted off to sleep.

Some minutes she can't count later,someone woke her up.

"Ma'am." The cop that woke her up called.

'I love how respectful the polices of this place are unlike my dear Nigeria....' Khair thought.

"Another person from your school is here to see you. She said her name is Fath..Fatho..llyo..Fathollyo... Sorry ma'am. I can't remember her name again. It's quiet long." The cops said and Khair was trying as much as possible to hold her laugh.

"You mean Fathonallyona?" Khair corrected.

"Yes yes. That's what she called herself. Should we let her in?"

'Should they really let Fathona in? She was kinda evil. She posted a fake pic of me and Ahmad on the media.' Khair thought.

"We can send her back if you want ma'am." The cop suggested.

'....She came to my house unexpectedly yesterday and pleaded with me to take her to you. She said she has a lot of confession to make to you. I told her to tell me but she said no,it was personal. I told her to go and I will call her if I get to know the hospital you're in...' That was exactly Stephanie's statement.

Stephanie told her Fathona has a confession to make her so why shouldn't Khair let her in?

"She can come in." Khair finally said after thinking about what Stephanie said.

If Fathona was coming to hurt her in anyway, she better drop that thought cos she was surrounded by securities.

"Khair." Came Fathona's voice which was surprisingly gentle.

Khair's eyes was just following Fathona's movement until Fathona found a chair and sat down facing Khair.

"Khair." Fathona called again.

"Khair at least answer your name." Fathona said tears welling up in her eyes.

"Yes Fathona. What brought you here?"

Fathona ignored her question and asked Khair of her health.

"I'm fine Alhamdulillah." Khair replied her anyway.

"I...uhm...Stephanie might have told you I was coming." Fathona started clumsily and Khair just kept quiet.

"Khair I'm very sorry. I'm sorry for everything. Its not my fault and still my fault at the same time. Since the last day you came to my house and declared our friendship over,guilt was eating me up. I know I hurt you and you don't deserve it but I was selfish and a die hard fan for money." Fathona started crying.

Die hard fan for money? That almost made Khair laugh but she didn't.

"I'm sincerely sorry Khair." Fathona apologized again.

"I don't get it. You have been apologizing, for what exactly? Did you do anything wrong?" Khair asked feigning innocence and ignorant of what Fathona was apologizing about.

She very well knew exactly what Fathona did. How can she ever forget the pictures Fathona posted?

"Gosh! How useless and dumb of me to betray this Angel? She has already forgot everything I did to her." Fathona whispered to herself but Khair heard it.

"I will tell you everything Khair." Fathona finally summoned up the courage.

"I'm listening." Khair urged. She was actually very curious and eager for whatever Fathona would say.

"I have always wanted to be your friend. After gathering my confidence, I told you I wanted to be your friend and you agreed straightforwardly. I was surprised and happy. Never thought it will be easy. I swear to you Khair, I came with a very clean heart and hope to learn from your lifestyle until Maya....Maya came and brainwashed me with huge amount of money." Fathona explained trying to make her voice audible through her hysterical sobbing

At the mention of Maya, Khair's heart palpitated and her eyes widened.

Curiosity was driving her insane to the extent she held Fathona's hand and urged her to go on.

"She met me in the library and told me to always follow you around if not,you will stop being friends with me. She fed me lies about you been a proud girl who don't give a shit about people. I instantly believed and wanted to do as she said. The goodness in me reminded me that it will be bad if I follow you around everywhere so I told Maya that. I told her I can't be invading your privacy,even if it will cost my friendship with you. She tried to convince me but I stood on my ground until she brought out huge amount of money from her bag. She said she will pay me to invade your privacy and she will give me more money if I do as she says. I don't even know how she got to learn that I loved money too much. Anyway,I collected the money and agreed to work for her. Imagine her giving me twenty thousand dollars in a go. Khair I'm very sorry." Fathona cried more.

'Wow! What the fudge?! So Maya had been targeting her since forever? The hell?!' Khair thought.

"I supplied her with every information about you. The more I supplied,the more she gave me money that boosted my trust in her and I use every opportunity to squeeze information out of you so that I can tell her. So was what happened the day that you were going to meet Ahmad's aunt. You remember how I kept forcing you to tell me the address of the house and the restaurant you were going to,I told Maya everything. Even after you warned me not to come and spoil your date night for you,I did. I came but it was Maya that paid me to do that. Those pictures, she was the one that took them and posted them. She sent me to you just as an object of distraction and blame should be put on me later. I was such a stupid idiot."

"The day you came to my house to blame me about that picture,I almost told you the truth until I saw Maya's message on my phone threatening me not to tell you the truth. Her threats were frightening and I knew exactly what that girl is capable of. She's a devil in human form. I didn't deny that I posted those pic and that's how our friendship crumbled that day. Immediately you left my house,Maya came out of nowhere and told me not to tell anyone about what transpired between us. She threw fifty thousand dollars at my face to mute my mouth and that did the magic. I didn't bother to warn you of how dangerous Maya is. I'm super sorry Khair. I hope you will forgive me." Fathona finished with a cough.

Khair absentmindedly tapped her back in comfort as tears streamed down her face.

"How can I be sure that you're not paid again to make this confession to me?" Khair asked simply not believing Maya could do that. But a girl that kidnapped her and shot her uncle because of a man,what else can she not do?

Fathona gave herself off by saying she loves money. So maybe,just maybe she was paid by another person again to say all what she said.

"No Khair believe me. I have seen the dangers money can put me in so I have simply stayed away from it and I prayed to Allah to reduce my love for money. I can swear with Qur'an that everything I told you is nothing but the truth."

"Visiting hours will end in three minutes. You need to leave ma'am." The cop interrupted.

"Khair pls forgive me." Fathona begged and Khair simply nodded.

"I wish you speedy recovery and I pray the Almighty protects you from all evil." Fathona prayed and Khair felt warmness in her heart.

Fathona has truly repented. The girl that hardly pray for the wellbeing of herself was now praying for another person.

"Thank you Fathona. Till we meet in school." Said Khair.

"Oh. I didn't even tell you. I'm not going back to school again. In fact, I'm going back to Pakistan and this is sadly the end of my educational career." Fathona sadly said.

"What why?"

"I'm getting married."

"But you can still continue your education if you get married. You have come this far and its simply so bad of you to stop. Just two more years and you will graduate." Khair said sincerely worried.

"Continue education while you're married? That has never happened in our family and I definitely don't want to be the first person to start that. Like,my mum can kill me if I even bring up that idea. I'm given just three months to get acquainted with my husband. Then wedding will take place after two months." Fathona explained.

"So you are telling me your wedding is due in the next five months?"

"Exactly."

"I don't know if I should be happy or sad for you. This is simply an annoying arranged marriage but I pray it should be the best for you. I wish you two blessed union and blissful marriage."

"Thank you Khair. You're the best. I gotta go. Byeeee bhabie."

"Take care."

And that was the final statement she got to say to Fathona.

She watched the cops talked to Fathona but her mind wasn't in what they were saying.

Fathona should be telling the truth because she saw the cops and still went ahead to talk about Maya.

Unknowingly to them, the cop inside the room was recording all their conversation.

More evidence to use against Maya.

End of flashback.

"You have said Fathona and kept quiet for three minutes. What are you thinking about?" Uncle Haroon asked Khair as she sighed.

She haven't told uncle Haroon about Fathona's visit to the hospital. Only Ahmad knew of it cos he was the one dealing and handling the case of Maya and smith. Ahmad even listened to the recording of the conversation between her and Fathona himself.

"Fathona's not a good idea. She's in Pakistan right now." Khair told uncle Haroon.

Ahmad's phone rang and he excused himself to pick the call.

"God! All these while that we were racking our brains,I just forgot I have an aunt here." Ahmad said as he came back from picking his call.

"Aunty Halima?" Khair asked.

"And who's that?" Asked Uncle Haroon.

"That sweet porridge you ate when you were in the hospital,did you think it fall from heaven?" Khair sarcastically asked.

"Ohhh okay. That's perfect."

"Let's get going then." Ahmad said and they all went out of the hospital not after the nurse checking Khair once again.

Ahmad dropped Khair at presidio heights and drove back to their apartment with uncle Haroon.

"I can't wait to see mum." Khair smiled to herself as she lied down on the super comfy bed. Within few minutes,she drifted into a dreamless sleep.

.....

Maya's POV

"Ughhh." I groaned in pain as felt slight ache in my head.

"Ma'am, how are you feeling?" A voice asked and I turned to look at the hotel's receptionist.

"I'm fine just headache."

"Can you pls check her once again?" The receptionist said to another woman I didn't notice was sitting by my side.

"Sure." The woman answered and checked my vitals then my ears.

"How the hell did I get on the bed?" I asked no one.

"The room service you ordered came knocking at your door but you didn't answer it. After few more hours,he came back to knock again but you were still not answering and that's when he raised an alarm. The door was broken and we found you lying on the floor,blood oozing out of your ears." The receptionist explained.

"How many hours have I been out?"

"Two days."

"What?"

"Yeah. Were you attacked or something?" Asked the receptionist but I kept quiet.

An attack would have been better.

"OK OK. I understand you can't say anything now but you need to calm down,eat and relax your mind. The cops will be here anytime soon to investigate on the case cos nothing of such have ever happened before."

On the mention of cops,I became alerted and scared. The butt?! If the cops find me now,then mine is over!

I tried not to panic. If I act scared,then I will look suspicious. I kept my calm as I thought of a suitable lie,fast.

"The cops shouldn't be here tho. I will be fine. It happens to me anytime I inhale lavender. I'm allergic to them. I didn't know it was the air freshener used in the restroom,so I simply inhaled it and boom! Here I am." I lied but hoping it will sound believable.

"Oh. Sorry about that. We didn't know." The receptionist quickly believed and apologized.

"Never mind. You didn't know." I smiled and looked at the nurse. She looked like she was unable to register the lie I told them.

Darn! She was a nurse and suspected I was lying. How bad could an allergy be to the extent of blooding coming out of the ears.

Nonetheless, I couldn't let that woman complicate my already complicated matters. And the cops who were on their way....gosh.

I needed to leave there immediately. Maybelle,my landlady might even be looking for me to throw me in jail.

Only I knew what I did or rather,what I stole.

"My phone pls." I said and the receptionist brought it to me.

Twenty five missed calls?

As I was unlocking my phone to check the annoying person that called me, a call came in.

I almost peed in my pants when I saw the caller.

Maybelle!

I didn't answer it,instead listen to the last voicemail she sent me.

'Hide and seek. You're playing hard to be seek but no worries,I learnt you're at the outskirts of the city. Your days are numbered miss Sumayya. You will not get away with what you stole. '

I felt my heart sank in fear as I finished listening to it.

How the hell did she knew I was in the outskirts of the city.

I was almost lost in my thought when I remembered that there were two women sitting in front of me.

I looked at them and they were both already looking at me with suspicion.

Just what I was trying to avoid.

I forgot to reduce the volume as I was listening to Maybelle's shit.

"What?" I laughed. "Why are you both looking at me like that?"

"You steal?" The nurse asked

Just the urge I was feeling to kick that woman in the neck.....

"Steal? No! But you're invading in my privacy too much as a nurse. But I will explain since it isn't a bad thing. That's my sister I was talking to. Just because I took her laptop,she won't leave me alone. She likes talking in coded ways and she takes thing way to serious than they should be. If not for that,why will she say I stole her thing? You know how sisters are,don't you?" I perfectly covered myself up.

"Ha! Right. Sisters." The receptionist laughed and I joined her.

It was just that poke noser, the annoying nurse that wasn't believing me.

Silence took over and it became annoying.

Why the hell are these women still here? Don't they have jobs? Gosh! People and amebo....

I faced the receptionist and said "you're the receptionist, your job is to sit at the reception, why are you here? I told you I was fine." It sounded rude but,who cares? I need to know whether she was a spy or just an annoying pest.

"About that. Don't worry. My colleague got me covered. The manager is the one that asked me to stay with you until the cops come."

Shit! The cops. I totally forgot about them.

"But I told you the cause of blood coming out of my ears. No need for them to come over."

"Right but since they're already on their way,we will just let them come and tell them all is fine." The receptionist smiled.

I face palmed myself mentally.

This woman is not getting my point. At all.

"Can't you give them a phone call or something, to tell them to just go back?"

"I would have,but I'm not in the position to do that. The manager is."

Okay,there was problem.

My phone rang again and it was Maybelle. I rejected the call and placed it on my ears.

"Oh my God sis....you disturb me too much...I will return it to you just after I finish watching the film...what?!.....seriously?!....how did that happen?....with dad? Okay...I'm on my way right now.....I will come immediately trust me. Bye." I said in the phone. I was obviously making fake phone call.

"I need to get going immediately." I said and tried to find my way out of the bed.

"Where are you going? Is everything alright?" Asked the receptionist.

"Errr...why are you asking?it's family matters." I answered her rudely as I picked up my stuffs.

"I thought we are friends already." She pouted.

Friends? If I punch you.

"Yes." I laughed. "You're my friend. As you see,the call is urgent. My dad got into an accident with my step mom. They're both in the operation theatre." I lied.

God forbid tho. I should have used someone else instead of my dad.

"Oh. Okay. Hope they will both be fine. But before you go,can I have your number?"

"I'm already going. Next time pls. I will be back, I promise." I said annoyed,carrying my backpack.

"Just mention it as you walk. I will be behind you." The receptionist said looking for her phone frantically in her jean pockets.

I made up numbers and gave her. She looked like she had achieved a high ranking position in the hotel.

"What's your name?" I asked as I got into the taxi.

"Emma." She smiled wiggling her brows at me.

What was that suppose to mean?

"Well,f**k you Emma." I said out of nowhere showing her my middle fingers.

She looked shocked as if she saw me turned to a beautiful ghost.

"One for you,one for that useless nurse." I said indicating each finger as I mentioned them.

I told the taxi man to drive to the location I told him in the first place.

Emma's face was still embarrassed and shocked as ever.

I laughed to my heart content.

I wished I caught that on video. It would have gone viral.

I don't know why I said and did that,but why will she wiggle her brows at me? Do I look like a man? Anyway,the deeds been and no one can undo it and is not like I care.

"Are you sure about this place ma'am?" The taxi man asked as he stopped the taxi,waking me up from my short nap. The place was kinda far.

"Duhhh." I rolled my eyes.

"Your job is to drive me and since you've done that,thank you." I said sarcastically and alighted from the taxi.

I handed him the money and I didn't wait to collect the change.

"You can keep the change. Now shoo!" I said and he left.

I studied the empty surrounding and looked ahead of me.

"Darn!" I whispered as I felt somehow dizzy from the sight of the ocean.

"Gotta do this anyway." I said to myself and breathed out,taking a step on the sandy land.

I walked to the cabin and met the familiar short man with bald head there.

"Yo captain!" I saluted and the man smiled showing off his dimple.

He shouldn't have barb his hair,he would have looked superb.

"When are we sailing off?" I asked.

"In the next thirty minutes." He answered.

"Well then,I'm going out to get tanned, if that's possible. Do you have a deckchair?" I asked.

"Of course." He said and went inside another place to look for it.

"Here."

"Thank you captain."

I went out of the cabin and unfolded my deckchair.

Bringing out my sunglasses, I put them on and relaxed on the chair.

I started drifting into lala land when I sensed a shadow towering over me,blocking my face from the direct sunlight.

I opened my eyes and saw an umbrella above me.

"You need it. Looking at the sun directly isn't good you know." A masculine voice spoke.

I slowly turned and my eyes was met with absolute beauty.

The fudge?

The man I saw standing in front of me was so handsome that I couldn't blink.

I can't start explaining how he looks but he was just.....

Not up to my Ahmad tho. That one is special and unique specie.

The guy unfolded another deckchair close to mine, in a way that we would be sharing the same umbrella.

"Yes I know." I answered his question casually like I wasn't affected by his presence.

"So...." He started as he sat on his chair.

Before I knew it,we were in a random conversation that I don't know the main topic of.

The short bald man interrupted us,telling me that the ship was ready.

"Okay. I will be with you in a sec." I told the man and he went inside.

"Well...I need to leave now. Thanks for keeping me company Eric." I told the guy.

To be honest,he was very fun to be with.

He didn't answer me so I looked at him. He was already looking at me.

Before I could decipher anything, we were already kissing like long lost couples.

Huh...

"Goodbye Maya." He finally told me and I just nodded in confusion.

I managed to use my wobbly leg to meet the bald man.

He directed me inside the ship which was not quiet luxurious like I expected but it was okay. At least I got my personal privacy in the cabin inside the ship.

As the ship left the harbour,I couldn't help but think about what happened like five minutes ago.

What the hell was that?

And the dumb me just gave in and kissed him back with fervour.

Not bad tho.

But the fact that he was a stranger.

Gosh!

I face palmed myself.

I tried to clear my head off everything by taking a nap.

Fortunately for me,everywhere was silent and serene.

"South Africa, here I come." I whispered and smiled to myself.

_____________