Idris sat in the dark room looking through the evidences he laid on the table. He was only waiting for Harris to be back with the last evidence for him to confirm his claims, which were all pointing to one person. He created this room about 5 years ago, 3 years after the unfortunate incident that changed his life forever. He created it with the aim of catching the evil perpetuators that ruined his family.

Idris made a promise to himself to haunt them down and hand them over to the law, so they can be punished accordingly. He won't have been able to get this far without Harris's help, he believed Allah made them meet for a reason.

FLASHBACK:

JUNE,2017

LAGOS,NIGERIA

Idris and Harris met on a cold, rainy night. Idris just closed from the restaurant which he was working as a waiter. He jogged from the restaurant to the roadside to catch a bus which will convey him to his one-room apartment he rented in a slum in Lagos.

The blue raincoat he wore over his body wasn't doing its job any more because the rain got heavier. Idris cleaned the drops of water on his face as he scanned for the nearest shade, he ran to get shelter under the dangling iron roof he sighted opposite where he was standing.

Idris bent down to remove the water that stored in his black sneakers when he got under the roof. he saw blood flowing underneath his shoe when he raised his legs up, Idris shouted in fear thinking it was coming from his body, he checked his whole body, but he didn't have a cut anywhere. He turned backwards, that was when he saw a lifeless body lying on the tarred ground. Idris rushed to the man immediately,

"Mr, Mr" Idris called out shivering, he quickly bent down to check the pulse in his wrist, and it was there, "he's alive" Idris quavered spitting the rain water that entered his mouth while talking, "somebody help, somebody help" Idris shouted at the top of his voice, but no one answered, there was no one around.

Idris dragged the man to the roadside placing him down gently near an iron street light. He stood in the middle of the road to stop a cab. Luckily for him, he got a cab in no time. He quickly took the man to the nearest hospital, the man was treated after Idris paid his hospital bills with all his savings. The man recovered completely within two weeks, but he had nowhere to go.

Idris took him in like his brother, the man vowed to help Idris and pay him back for his good deeds. The man name is Harris, he has been helping Idris in his mission since then, he also helped Nadia out of the train attack.

FLASHBACK ENDS

Idris jerked back to real life when the door opened, he quickly strode towards Harris's direction when he saw him,

"what is it?" Idris asked anxiously, "what is the outcome?" his eyes darted to the brown envelope Harris held in his right hand,

"I'm sorry man" Harris declared sadly, he heaved a long sigh before handing the envelope over to Idris,

Idris collected the envelope reluctantly, scared of what the truth will turn out to be. He tore the upper part of the envelope to reveal the forensic reports inside. He closed his eyes silently praying to Allah before opening it, his face paled when he saw the content.

****

"Subhanallah, I'm coming there right now" Abdallah said over the phone, he palmed his face in frustration before ambling towards the door,

"where are you going to?" Nadia asked limping towards his direction, he stood at akimbo facing the door,

"hospital" he replied throwing his head backwards,

"subhanallah, why?, what happened?" Nadia asked hurriedly,

"it's ummi, she had a small home accident" he answered in a low sad tone,

"subhanallah, I'm coming with you" she said sauntering towards his position,

"no Nadia, your leg" he said looking towards her injured leg, "it's not fully healed"

"don't worry about me, moreover I can use the opportunity to see a doctor" she said coming closer to him, "or?"

"OK fine, let's go".

****

They got into the bustling interior of the hospital, people of different ailments walked in and out of the door. Abdallah went towards the receptionist,

"I'm here to see hajia Maryam Ahmad" Abdallah said,

"may I ask what your relationship with the patient is?" the lady clad in a nurse dress standing in the reception asked,

"I'm her son"

"sorry sir, room 216 please" the nurse apologized pointing in the direction of the room,

"let's go" Abdallah said holding Nadia's hand as they walked towards the room.

"Amarya da ango (husband and wife)" hajia Maryam smiled widely when Abdallah and Nadia entered the room,

"salam alaykum ummi" Nadia ambled towards her direction to hug her,

"walaykum salam my daughter" she replied hugging her back, hajia Maryam grunted in pain causing Nadia to quickly break the hug,

"ummi are you okay?" Nadia inquired worriedly,

"don't worry I'm fine, its old age you know" Hajia Maryam joked,

"what happened to you?" Abdallah asked in a serious tone, there wasn't even a hint of laughter on his face,

"what do you mean this boy" Hajia Maryam laughed tensely, "I fell down, I already told you that"

Abdallah facial expression suddenly morphed into anger, his eyes suddenly turned red like he was just beaten heavily, he stared at his Mom briefly before storming out of the room. Nadia stood up with concern clearly written on her face, she moved towards the door to go after her husband,

"Nadia" Hajia Maryam called causing Nadia to stop in her tracks, "thank you my daughter" she said smiling when Nadia turned to her, "I can see a lot of changes in my son, thanks for being there" she continued. Nadia was short of words, she wanted to talk, but she couldn't find any proper words, "you don't have to reply, go to your husband he needs you" she said using her hands to dismiss Nadia.

Nadia searched the corridor the room was located with her eyes, but she was unable to see any sign of Abdallah. She ambled slowly down the hallway until she got to a door at the end which was slightly opened.

She lightly pushed the door, revealing a balcony. She saw Abdallah facing the wall at the far left of the balcony,

"subhanallah Abdallah are you OK" she rushed to him when she saw his fisted hand bruised like he punched the wall. Nadia came closer to him to tap him, but the next thing she knew, he gave her a bone crushing hug.

Nadia was perplexed because she didn't expect that reaction from him, her arms stayed in the air, not hugging him back. She felt something wet dripping on her neck, that was when she realized he was crying.

She placed her arms on his bent back patting him with her hands soothingly as she recited some adhkar in his ears,

"it's okay" she muttered lowly, "Allah is watching, he's with you" she said, Nadia didn't know what made Abdallah break down, but she felt like she needed to offer him encouraging words because sometimes that's all what we need to keep us going.

"I'm sorry" he said when he broke the hug, Nadia mouth went agape when she saw his face, he didn't look like someone who just cried, if it were her, she knows her eyes and face would be swollen already,

"no need to, I'm here whenever you need me"

Abdallah looked up at the bright sky before walking towards the iron railing in the balcony. He held it with his two hands before resting his elbow on it, "thank you" he said when Nadia got closer to him, she nodded giving him a bright smile,

"you're welcome" she replied,

"I'm sorry" he apologized again, Nadia scrunched her face confusedly, she didn't know why he was suddenly apologizing,

"for?" she found herself asking,

"for everything" he replied ducking his head down, "I'm sorry for everything, for the way I've acted towards you, I'm sorry for the times I treated you bad, I'm deeply sorry Nadia" he said shifting his gaze towards her direction, sincerity laced each and every word Abdallah released from his mouth that moment.

Nadia was overwhelmed, she couldn't believe her ears. Who would have thought a day like this would come when Abdallah would apologize to her,

"I don't want to see that in your eyes again" he said cleaning the tears that fell through the corner of her eyes, "I Abdallah Ahmad promise to be the best husband to you from now on" he chanted placing his right hand on his chest like he was pledging to her, "come here" he pulled her towards him, he placed his hand on her waist while staring deep into her eyes.

Nadia stared lovingly into his eyes as her pupil dilated, he lowered his head slowly until his lips touched hers. She expected someone to pinch and tell her it was all a dream, but No! It was happening,

They were kissing!

"let's go get your legs treated" he said casually after breaking out of the kiss, pretending like nothing just happened, he held her hand smirking at her confused reaction.

Masha Allah 😍,

So strong men like abdallah also have their break down moments 🥺,

@zinat Abdulkadir ✍️