Chapter six

Alhaji Ringim hanged up the call with Mansir. He lightly shakes his head and entered into the lawyer's office. 

He did what he came to do and they finally round it up. 

" it was nice having you Alhaji "

" Thank you so much lawyer. " Alhaji Ringim shakes hand with the lawyer and was escorted outside.

The reason why he came to the lawyer's office was very important.It better to do this now than later, he had thought. Who knows what might happen to me. 

His driver opens the door for him and he got into the car and was driven home. 

On reaching home, Alhaji Ringim head straight to his study  room to take his pills which he forgot to take in the morning. He has been battling with heart problems for a year now but he is under observation by his personal doctor. He was prescribed some drugs to use and that had been what is supporting him all this time together with the unending prayers to Allah.

" Alhaji? Are you in there? " he heard his wife Maimuna questions from outside since the door is locked. 

" yes"

" I just came to let you know that your food is already served and Mansir is back"

" OK then,  I'll be out in a minute" with that been said, he quickly review the file given to him by his lawyer before hiding it in the third row of his shelf where no one can find it. 

He finally went to join the rest at the dinning table. 

" Daddy" caught by surprise, a gleeful Badiyya  ran to hug her dad. She is the last born of the house and being the only girl, her dad loves her so much that he doesn't want anything to happen to her. Same with sadiq, sadiq loves her so much upon  they had different mother. The two have been close since from childhood that one would think they both have the same mother. What would happen now if she finds out about sadiq leaving elsewhere,thought Alhaji Ringim

" Dear, when did you return? And you didn't think of calling me" he was surprised 

" oh dad, I just wanted it to be a surprise You know . I'm so happy that you were surprised because your reaction gave it out that you were"

Yes he was actually. His twenty three years old daughter is everything to him and it was so hard for him when she pleaded for him to let her  finish her university abroad. He was scared that something might happen to her but now that she is back safe and sound and already  a Degree holder he is happy for her achievement. 

" I'm happy you're back again " he hugged her

"I'm too.So, where is ya Sadiq? " she clasp her hand waiting for answer...

***

The room is quiet  like a grave yard, no one wants to be the giver of bad news  though we all know too well that there must be someone who will happily answer such question in a situation like this.Mansir is seriously enjoying this moment. He cleared his throat like someone who was about to tell a long story.

" Dear sister " he walks to her side and put his left hand around her shoulder 

" what is it you guys aren't telling me, don't tell me Ya sadiq is dead,please don't" she pleaded almost at the verge of tears.

Hajiya Maimuna and Mansir wished he had died, it would have been more better. As they are the only people who hates sadiq to the extent that if they were given poison to put in his food they would. 

" well, unfortunately he isn't dead"

" then where is he? God, you guys should just go straight to the point, I'm not a little girl anymore " she was frustrated already with their silent.

" well, our prodigal brother left home. He disowned us as his family. He doesn't even care for you that he didn't even think twice before leaving this house. Who knows where he might be, it doesn't concern us and you either.it's a choice he made on his own, dear sister "

" I don't believe you " she look at each one of them as if they were lying 

" I don't believe what you just said. He would never leave just like that. One thing I know about ya sadiq is that he value his family even if he wasn't treated like one. I know you guys did something to hi__

" SHUT UP!.stupid girl. So what you meant was we, your parents are lying ba?you don't even have respect for us again. " Hajiya Maimuna angrily shouted, she then turn to look at her husband " you see what I've been telling you Alhaji, that prodigal son of yours is a bad influence on my daughter. See how she is insulting us and if I talk now, you will say I talk too much."

She then looked at her daughter " and you, don't think because you studied abroad that  now gives you the right to talk to your parents anyhow. Because I won't let you, zanci qaniyar ki (I will deal with you). And lastly if I find out that you went looking for him ,then classify yourself disowned . That moment, I will never consider you my daughter " that been said, hajiya Maimuna left the living room to her room.

Badiyya couldn't believe what her mum just utter. She was totally speechless to the core. Why is mum so harsh and wicked

She turn to look at her dad and he turn to the other side, " even you dad? "betrayer 

" Dear, your mum have said it all so please just stand by it"  she now wonders if her mum is using some kind of charm to control her dad because of how he now supports any decision she made. He wasn't like that before. 

She turn to the last person, Mansir . He just shrugged at her, indicating that she should also stick to their mum's warning. 

" I can't believe how wicked all of you have become, I just can't " she ran to her room in tears

Alhaji Ringim cast his head down in shame. What kind of father am I? How come I've changed over the years?. Maybe it sign of old age that is beginning to hit me, he had thought. 

A very happy Mansir ,without a care, whistles as he marched to his room.To him, what just happened calls for celebration and he sure will celebrate it.

He took his phone from his nightstand and dial the number of this particular person that always fill in his pleasure 

" Hello honey" the lady's sugary voice came through 

" meet me at hotel Seventeen "

" I'll be there in a minute love, I'm always available for you. "

He hanged up with a smirk. He took his car key and left for hotel seventeen. 

He was about to open his car when he heard his name being called " Mansir"

He turn to look at his dad " what is it again father"  he exhale in frustration. 

" Where do you think you're going to, at this time of the night?"

Mansir rub the bridge of his nose in frustration " dad I have a business meeting right now and I wouldn't want to be late"

Alhaji Ringim knew he can't win this argument so he let it rest 

" well I won't argue with you. But  Mansir I hope you know that you aren't getting any younger, please find yourself a  wife. You're almost thirty, son"

At the mention of this, Mansir's mind went back to Alhaji Dabo's daughter. The beautiful damsel, as he loves to call her. He almost forgot that he wanted to tell his dad about her. 

A smile graze his lips and that didn't go unnoticed by Alhaji Ringim. He knew that smile meant something .

" I've found a woman dad"

Alhaji ringim was so happy at this revelation . He was happy that  at least he will soon have  grandkids of his own. Most of his mates already have grandchildren but he hasn't. 

" who is she son? Is it someone we know?"

" yes she is dad. When I told you about the new partnership with Alhaji Dabo ,I forgot to make mention of his daughter who got introduced to me " 

Alhaji Ringim's joy knew no bound. He and Alhaji Dabo once talked about getting their children married to each other but he wasn't in support of arrange marriage so they ended the talk. But now that the two have already met each other and from what he notice, his son already likes the girl so he need to have a talk with Alhaji Dabo as soon as possible. I have to give him a call

" I'm so happy at this revelation son, this is why I cherish you so much. Why can't your brother be like you" that boy is just

something else, thought Alhaji

" that's why I'm your first son dad, I will always do things to make you happy" lies

Alhaji was almost in tears " thank you son. Don't let me keep you waiting, go to wherever it is you're going to"

He hug his dad like the good son he claim he was and left for hotel seventeen.

.