The investigation wasn't over yet. The local police station of
Jeddah was handling the affair. The doors of our classrooms
were kept open, no student was allowed to exit the classroom
unless having a valid reason to do so. The building was sealed
and the officers were investigating the crime spot. We could
hear their loud noises coming from the corridor. I couldn't
comprehend what they were saying though, I could only
understand a little bit of Arabic. I was tired, actually all of us, I
wanted to go home. I knew I was trying to run away from the
problem but that's all I could think of right now. I was the sole
witness of the murder and I should've reported what I saw to
the officers instantly but we weren't allowed to go outside,
besides that afternoon ware that I just saw was still giving me
chills. It was holding me back from doing anything.
"You are a coward" my conscience mocked me.
"Huh, as if I considered myself as some Wonder Woman
earlier." I mocked my conscience back.
The bell rang indicating us that it was dispersal time. We all
were packing our bags when a loud banging on the door
interrupted us.
A tall man probably in his early thirties barged in with two
younger men following him. He looked scary, well almost. He
was really tall. His tanned skin and his short dark beard made
him look like a very serious person. He wore a stoic
expression. I would be lying if I would say I didn't check him
out.
He was wearing the traditional khaki-colored police uniform,
with a black army cap. He had various badges on his uniform.
I had always found those badges and medals fantastic, I
thought they looked pretty cool. I read his name on the name
badge, Badr Al-din. He observed us for a few seconds before
he began speaking English with a rich Arabic accent.
"SalamuAlaikum, I am Badr al-din the Rayis Ruqaba the
senior NCO. I am the one carrying out the investigation of the
crime committed in your school. The post-mortem report has
arrived and it states that the reason of the death of the victim
is the stab wound in her stomach. This is seriously very
disturbing. You all must be aware that this is a school where
you come to study and achieve something but look at the kind
of activities you are indulged in."
"What, who the hell does he think he is? The kind of activities
you are indulged in, what the hell does he mean by that. Why
is he accusing us all? And why the hell did he say 'victim', that
girl had a name. Well maybe that's how it's meant to be,
nothing will stay with us after we die except for our deeds." I
was speaking to myself mentally.
"So, as I said earlier this building is a crime spot and it will be
kept sealed for the time being, meaning no student and no
staff member will leave the premises until further notice from
our superior authorities."
We were staring at him with our jaws hanging down. He just
informed us that we are locked in here until "further notice
from their authorities." We all were his suspects until they
found the murderer of course. How long would that take? A
week, a fortnight, a month. What was our fault in this whole
ordeal?
"The arrangements for your stay here will be arranged and
informed to you all. I shall not see you leaving your
classrooms and roaming around in the corridors without a
genuine reason to do so. And also, if anyone of you has even
the slightest bit of clue about the murder you should come to
me directly. Do not think of this as some sort of joke and
gossip about it with your friends, do not think of it as some
sort of doubt that you have approach your teachers for, come
to me directly. The guard outside your classroom will escort
you to my room downstairs and if I get to know that anyone of
you is hiding information from me there will be dire
consequences."
Saying that he walked out.
I sat there with my mind in a haze, his words kept ringing in
my ears. "If I get to know that anyone of you is hiding
information from me there will be dire consequences." I knew
I had to muster up courage to tell him before it gets too late.
But, wasn't it already too late, what good could they possibly
achieve by finding out the murderer, sure the murderer will be
punished but will that bring back that innocent little girl with
adorable dimples, no right?
It was almost time for Maghreb, and we were still sitting in
the same position as before. We had nothing to do, the
incident had zipped our mouths. My back hurt for sitting in
the same position for hours now. Nobody had informed us
about our arrangements for staying here yet, our families were
informed and of course the parents rebelled against the idea
of us staying here. I thought of going for a little walk, maybe I
could use the restroom as an excuse. I got up and stepped out
of the classroom.
'Madaam' a flat voice spoke in an Arabic accent; I liked the
way they pronounced madam in Arabic.
"Where to, Madaam?" a lean guard inquired me with a stoic
expression.
"Uh, I wanted to go to the washroom." I replied nervously.
"Okay, but don't roam here and there and come back within 5
minutes."
I walked through the corridor and I saw officers in the
traditional Saudi army uniform blocking the staircase. They
looked at me with their eyebrows raised.
"Uh, I am just going to the restroom. I will be back in 5
minutes." I spoke weakly looking at one of them. He nodded
and moved to the side.
I was about to ascend the stairs after walking around in the
ground for a while when I heard a deep voice calling me.
'Madaam'
It was officer Badr al- din. He was staring at me. I looked
away intimidated by his gaze.
"Where were you madaam?" he stuffed his hands into his
pockets.
"Uh, I just went to the restroom. I took permission from the
guard outside my classroom." I replied looking at his shiny
black shoes.
"You are lying."
At this my head shot up and I looked at him, he had warm
brown eyes.
"What? No am not lying; I really went to the restroom." I
replied way too quickly.
"Really, but I was in there too and I didn't see you."
"What were you doing in the ladies' restroom? But you just
came out from this corridor, I was there in the ground and I
didn't see you coming out of the washroom stalls." I stopped
suddenly realizing what I was babbling.
He was covering his mouth with his hand; it seemed as if he
was trying to control his laughter or maybe not.
'Well?' he raised his one eyebrow
"Fine, I didn't go to the washroom, I was just strolling across
the ground, sir." I looked down feeling guilty.
"Or maybe you went out there to erase evidence of your
crime."
"What? No, I was just strolling across the ground for a while
because I was tired of sitting. I didn't do anything, sir. I swear
I didn't go anywhere else. I didn't commit the crime, sir." I
started babbling again, my eyes filled with unshed tears. I
really wanted to tell him what I saw but I couldn't muster up
the courage to do so.
"That's what every criminal says."
"Sir, believe me I didn't do it." I replied looking at him
pleadingly, my waterworks were about to start again.
"Relax, madaam. I know you didn't do anything." he tried to
calm me down.
"Can I go back to my class, sir?" I asked him meekly.
He nodded.
I was about to ascend the stairs when curiosity bubbled inside
me and I turned around, he was looking at me.
"Sir, I didn't see you coming out of the washroom stalls, you
just came out of this corridor. So, how did you know I was
lying when I said that I was in the washroom stalls."
He looked at me for a second and took a step forward, he was
so tall that I had to crane my neck up to look at him.
"I have been promoted to the post of the senior NCO for a
reason, madaam." he spoke in a very deep voice.
I looked down immediately and ran upstairs, intimidated by
his voice.
"Careful with the stairs, madaam." I heard his voice midway.
I was praying Maghreb when I felt a presence behind me. I
finished praying and looked behind. It was her she was staring
at me like a creep. I felt angry all of a sudden, bloody
murderer I thought. Going around and murdering kids. She is
the reason of the girl's parents' misery and tears, she is the
reason we all are locked up in her, she is the reason of
everything evil that happened here. I hate her.
"What do you want?" I asked her coldly.
She didn't reply instead kept staring at me.
"What the hell do you want?" I asked again standing up.
When she didn't reply I turned to leave when she caught my
elbow.
"What the hell do you want from me, Aqsa?" I asked looking
away from her.
When she did not speak, I turned to look in her direction.
There were unshed tears in her eyes and she was looking at
me almost helplessly. I couldn't meet her eyes so I harshly
freed my elbow from her hold and walked away.
'Huh' I scoffed
"What's the use of shedding crocodile tears now? She should
have thought about it before."
The arrangements for our stay tonight were made. We were to
sleep in those empty classrooms that were converted into
bedrooms for toddlers in the kindergarten. Yes. Ladies and
Gentlemen, our school had bedrooms. However, there were
certain problems. Those bedrooms had beds reserved for kids,
one of those beds in the form of cars and all. And we couldn't
fit in them so they arranged some mattresses, pillows and
blankets for us to sleep on.
It was like a sleepover with my friends that I've always wanted
but mommy wouldn't allow it. I sighed, only if the
circumstances were different, we could enjoy it and of course
who is to blame here, Our Aqsa dearest.
"I wonder how Saniya's family is doing? And what about my
family? Does officer Badr Al-Din suspect me? But I didn't do
anything suspicious. He is the one who looks suspicious,
creepy and maybe a little bit charming. Why did Aqsa come to
me? Does she know that I witnessed it all? Will she kill me too
if I report about her? Well, if I didn't report about it and
officer Badr Al-din finds out he will kill me before her. So, if I
am to die either way should I choose my killer. Aqsa would
probably kill me with a knife and officer Badr Al- Din will
probably lock me up in a dungeon.
We were lying down to sleep and I was lost in my thoughts
again.
'Fatima'
'Fatima'
"Fatima, are you unwell?" Hajera tapped my hand.
"Huh, what? No, I am fine."
"Your eyes, they are red and you look pale."
"Well, do you expect me to glow after all that happened?" I
replied in a harsh tone.
"Actually, you've always found me ugly so I should look the
same to you."
"Uh, I didn't mean..." she began but I cut her off.
"Yes, I am ugly alright, and there's nothing I can do about it."
"Why are you being rude? I didn't say anything that..." She
begins but I interrupted her again.
"Go to sleep, Hajera."
"Catch me. I'm here, try to catch me."
Saniya was running around in the garden across from our
school. Her friends were desperately trying to catch her and I
stood at a distance watching them.
"Do you know how to burn happiness?"
I turned to my side and found Aqsa looking at them too.
"What, how can you burn happiness and besides why would a
sane person would want to do that?" I asked her suddenly
feeling concerned and scared.
"Of course, a sane person wouldn't do that but I can do it you
know." she replied still looking at Saniya.
What are you... I began but a scream cut me in middle.
Ahhhhhh
I turn to look at Saniya, she was burning like literally she was
on fire. I couldn't do anything, I tried running to her but Aqsa
held my shoulders, I was struggling in her hold but I couldn't
move.
I woke up panting hard. My throat was extremely dry. I looked
around for my sister out of habit but instead I saw Hajera
sleeping beside me. I sighed; we are at school remember? My
conscience reminded me.
I need water. Where's my bag? I got up and switched on the
lights.
"Switch off the lights." someone groaned irritated.
"Who is there?" I heard another voice.
Ahhhhh... I heard someone scream.
I screamed too and rushed out of the door.
"What happened?" Hajera asked the girl who shouted.
"I thought it was the psycho killer."
"What the hell?" I murmured to myself before going back in.
"It was me you idiot and you scared me too." I shouted at her.
"Why are you shouting at me, you were the one roaming
around in the darkness."
"Shut up and do I look like a bloody murderer to you?"
"You piece of sh..." she was about to complete her sentence
when we hear loud banging on our door. I flinched and
walked back to my place.
"Girls, keep your voices down. Will you?" we heard Fouzia
Ma'am's voice.
"Sorry ma'am." we replied in unison.
Everyone went back to sleep, except me. I was thirsty,
remember?
I looked for water in my bag but I couldn't find it. I frown
thinking of where I had forgotten it. Must have forgot it in our
class. I looked in Hajera's bag too but unfortunately, hers was
empty.
Should I go out and bring my water bottle. Yes, I must.
I wore my hijab and abaya. We were downstairs and my class
was upstairs. I walked out of the corridor and glanced around.
I didn't want to go upstairs alone; it was dark and empty.
"Should I wake Hajera up?"
"But you guys just had a fight, remember? What's the worst
that could happen?" I heard the voice of my conscience.
I went to my class all the while reciting prayers and glancing
backwards, to my right, the left, finally in the front and then
circling back to looking behind me again.
I did not find it. Dejectedly I descended the stairs and started
walking to my corridor while looking behind me. When I
turned to the front, I saw a tall figure right in front of my face.
I gasped and fell down losing my balance. It was officer Badr
Al-Din. He was staring at me with a calm expression.
"Ah You again."
"You are just making me suspect you more, madaam." he
extended his hand towards me.
I looked away and stood up. I didn't take his hand.
"I just went to fetch my water bottle from my classroom. I left
it there earlier. I was feeling thirsty, sir." I replied looking at
his shoes.
"Eyes up here, madaam." he snapped his fingers in front of my
face.
I looked up and he was smiling, a full smile. He had perfect
pearly white teeth. I looked away again.
"You went to fetch your water bottle or to erase the evidence
of your crime." I heard humor in his voice, I felt angry all of a
sudden. He was the one who was very serious about this crime
and asked us not to joke about it.
"I told you I didn't do anything, sir. I was just feeling thirsty.
Why do you think I am the criminal? Believe me, I didn't do
anything, sir." I looked into his eyes with the hope of him
understanding me.
"Which class are you in?"
"10th G, sir." I replied trying hard not to cry again.
"Relax, madaam. I know you are not lying. You can go back to
your room."
He moved to the side. I looked at him and began calmly.
"Sir, I have something to say to you."
He looked at me before taking a step forward.
"Don't be scared. Go ahead. Tell me." he nodded at me
reassuringly.
"Can I tell you in the morning, sir?"
He looked at me briefly and then nodded.
"Go back to your room. You can come to meet me in the
morning."
I nodded meekly and turned to walk away.
'Madaam' I heard his deep voice.
I turned to look at him.
"Your name please, madaam."
'Fatima.'
"Fatima Ahmed Khan."
'Fatima.' he repeated my name.
He had said my name perfectly, just the way I wanted
everyone to say it but they didn't. People have always called
me Fatma, no one would pronounce it as Fatima.
I quietly walked back.
His warm brown eyes looking at me reassuringly was the last
thing on my mind before I drifted into deep slumber.