"Attorney Zarah" The man's voice cut his out of his thoughts.
"Huh?"
"That woman, the attorney" The man pointed at Zarah who got into her car just asRahma went back into the apartment, "She had been visiting here frequently since that woman moved in. Obviously, she tries to be discreet about it but nothing gets past me"
Noah turned to look at the man, a brow raised, "What do you think is the reason?"
"Well, speaking from experience, as a former lawyer that is, maybe there's a case they're working on together"
"You really think so?"
"I'm sure of that. It's an old trick we lawyers use. I might be retired but I can still recognize our tactics" He turned around to look at Noah, then chuckled as he went back to sipping his coffee. And just like that, he ended the conversation there as he had nothing more to tell Noah.
The sound of a ball being dribbled snapped Noah out of his reverie. He looked over his shoulders just in time to see Tahir throw the ball in the basket and scoring. This made him sigh and look away, taking another gulp from the water bottle to get his thoughts together. He had been so distracted since the game begun that he had lost all the shots to Tahir. But frankly speaking, the game was the least of his concerns at the moment.
"What's up with you man? You've been distracted since" Tahir said, making his way over to Noah with the ball he picked up in hand. He stopped beside his friend, reaching his hand out to pick the towel that laid on the bench to wipe the sweat on his forehead as he heaved.
Noah tapped his finger on the bottle cap, wondering if he should tell Tahir about it or not. However, he believed if there's anyone that needs to know it then it's him. He darted his tongue to wet his chapped lips, "How much do you know about that Rahma Turaki?" He asked, deciding to use her to start the conversation. She's the only way he could think of to spark a conversation that Tahir would be willing to actually listen and talk about.
Tahir stared at him for a while before he suddenly chuckled, "As much as I wanted to know" He dropped the towel, then turned around and continued playing the game alone seeing as Noah wasn't in the right mood for it.
Noah turned around to look at him, "Just how much exactly? That she's from abroad and she suddenly wants to work here?" He wanted to confirm if that was the same thing Tahir knew. He knew if there's one person that could find out everything about the girl's true identity, then it's Tahir. Mubarak could do it too. But, seeing as he isn't interested in her in any way, he wouldn't bother.
Tahir though...he's a different case.
Tahir chuckled again, shaking his head in the process. "That's a good alibi...I admit" He made another shot and just like earlier, he got it. "But it wouldn't keep people from prying to know more about her. It's not sufficient, you get what I mean?"
Noah's forehead wrinkled, "So you had her interrogated?"
Tahir's smirk was the only reply Noah got.
"Who is she really then?"
Tahir hesitated for a while, wondering if he should share her secret with Noah or not. However, Noah is one of the two people he trusted with his life---the other being Mubarak that is. So, he didn't feel the need to hide it. "She was imprisoned back in America for murder" He stated simply as he continued to play his game, acting as if what he's saying was no big deal. "She got out about two weeks ago with the help of some lawyer"
Noah frowned, his eye brows squishing together. "Why did she get out?"
Tahir shrugged, "I don't know. I didn't dig deeper. Besides, it wasn't easy to get her real information, she really did an excellent job in hiding her tracks"
Noah briefly scratched his forehead as he flickered his eyes close, "You know about her being involved in a murder case yet you still like her? What is wrong with you Tahir?"
Tahir stopped dribbling the ball as he turned around to look at Noah furtively, his lips pressing together. "Okay first, she might've been framed for it considering she got out before her release date. And I of all people know how it feels like to be wrongly accused so why should I judge her?" He clasped his hands tightly.
Noah scoffed as he shook his head, "But what if she really did it? What then?"
Tahir gritted his teeth. "She didn't"
"How can you be so sure of that?!" Noah half yelled, earning himself a glare from Tahir, "Why didn't you tell me about this, or Mubarak because I'm sure you haven't said a word about the truth to him"
"Why should I tell you? It wasn't my secret to share and why do you care?"
Noah chuckled humorlessly, "And yet here I am worried about you when that's what you'll say to me. Tell me Tahir, do you know who her attorney is?"
Tahir stared at him with a bored expression. Noah had always been the quiet and reserved one amongst them but for some reason, he's suddenly getting himself involved in Rahma's case. "Like I said, it wasn't easy to get information on her so I didn't bother. Besides, what help would that be of to me?"
Noah hummed, "Of course it wouldn't be of help to know that her attorney is Zarah Gwalabe. The same attorney that was hell-bent on sending you to jail three years ago"
Tahir's face turned stoic that instant, his eyes narrowing in slits, "What did you just say?"
"Her lawyer is none other than Attorney Zarah Gwalabe. And is it all a coincidence that when she appeared out of nowhere, there's suddenly a retrial case filed against you, huh?"
Tahir shook his head, not wanting to believe Noah's words yet he knew Noah wouldn't lie to him. In simple words, he was conflicted, "No" He muttered. "She has nothing to do with this"
"For Allah's sake Tahir!" Noah yelled, his voice resonating round the basketball court, "You've never been this trusting yet you suddenly trust this girl. What if that Zarah is using her to get evidence from you"
Tahir massaged his temples as he paced around, carelessly tossing the ball that was in his hand away. "She's not using me because she never asked for anything! And besides, I have nothing to worry about because I never did what they are accusing me of! Judging by the way you're talking you don't trust me, and Mubarak doesn't seem to do that either so how will the others do so? When you two, my supposed friends don't trust me!" Tahir yelled, throwing his finger out to point at Noah.
The new information coped with their accusations were taking a toll on him. He has enough problems to deal with already yet they just keep piling up and he needed to vent it out one way or the other. Noah just happens to be at the other end of it so he has to deal with it now.
Yet, Noah was adamant on staying relentless too. "Stop being so stupid Tahir! She's using you can't you see that? Everything Mubarak and I are doing is to help you!"
Tahir ran his finger through his short hair, wishing he could tug on it because he feels like it will somehow ease his anger. "Why are you so adamant on tainting her image?! I TOLD YOU NUMEROUS TIMES, RABIA IS INNOCENT!"
Noah stopped. He blinked furiously as Tahir's words dawn on him. Anger and confusion clouded his head but confusion though...that was as apparent as ever. "What?" His voice was barely above a whisper as his widened eyes stared at Tahir, shocked. "What did you just call her"
Tahir closed his eyes, exhaling through his nose deeply. When he opened his eyes, he was much calmer than earlier, "Rabia" He breathed out, "That's her real name"
He waited for Noah to say something, apologize for this rash behavior even. But he didn't. And that angered Tahir more.
Irked to the core, Tahir shoved Noah aside and walked away, leaving him alone there.
What Tahir didn't know however was that, Noah had another reason to be stunned. Because if what Tahir told him was right, then Rahma is none other than Rabia. His sister.
~*~
Zarah shifted her bag from her right hand to the left as she fished out her car keys. Offering the door-man a smile, she walked out of the law firm building she works in and made her way over to the parking lot where her car was. Her phone that was in her bag vibrated, but she made no move to bring it out.
After she got into the car and drove away from the building, the phone vibrated again. She sighed, reaching her hand out she plugged in her ear pods and answered the call. "Hello" She took a turn down the lane that led to Alhaji Saraki's house. It laid in the outskirts of town, a place that only the rich who wanted privacy reside in.
"I've been calling you since. I stopped by your office earlier and you weren't there" Came the voice of a colleague of hers.
"I just left"
"So I was told. Listen, I wanted to be the first one to tell you"
Zarah's brows drew in, "Tell me what?"
"A retrial case has been filed against Tahir Shagari"
"What?!" She half yelled, blinking a couple of times as the information sank in. "Why wasn't I informed of this earlier?"
"Again, you didn't answer my calls and you weren't there at the office"
Zarah used her free hand to massage her temples, "Who filed the case?" She asked, unconsciously increasing the speed of the car. She knew which case was being refiled and she wanted to find a way to be the one to handle it.
"The same person that filed it before. That Ameerah girl"
Zarah bit the inside of her cheek as she thought of a plan, quick. "I want to handle the case again"
"Are you sure about that? It will be difficult considering you didn't really win the case"
"I insist. Find a way for me to handle the case please!" She tightened her grip on the steering wheel.
The person at the other end sighed, "Alright Zarah. I'll look into it and find a way"
Zarah sighed in relief but it was short lived when she saw the car coming directly towards her. It was then she realized the speed at which she was driving. She stepped on the brakes, wanting to slow the speed but it wouldn't work. She glanced at it and stepped on it harder, repeating the same action multiple times but it just won't work.
She gulped and looked up, seeing the car not reducing its speed either. So, she did the next thing she could at the moment. She swiveled the steering wheel not caring the direction it went to.
But that was the last thing she remembered before everything blanked out.
"Hello..." Came the voice from her phone, before the screen cracked and the call ended.
~*~
Rahma folded her legs on the couch. She reached her hand out and increased the volume of the TV. Her attention wasn't on it though. It was on the black box she held in her hand, twirling it as she thought of a way to get into Maria's house and plant it.
An idea popped up in her head making her immediately grab her phone that laid beside her. She dialed Maria's number and waited for her to pick up. After three rings, she did.
"Rahma!"
Rahma rolled her eyes at the enthusiasm in Maria's voice. "Maria" She faked cheerfulness, "How have you been?"
"Alhamdullilah. I was just planning on calling you to catch up"
"Really?" Though Maria wasn't there, the grin took over Rahma's face, "I was thinking the same thing so why don't we meet? I can drop by your house tomorrow or later today?" She hoped Maria would choose to meet that day, seeing as she only has 9 days left. She couldn't afford to waste it by sitting home and waiting.
"Yeah sure, let's meet today if you can make it"
"Great. I'll see you later" She ended the call and was about to stand up to change when something caught her attention.
She focused her gaze on the TV and increased the volume when she saw the headline, 'Prominent Attorney, Zarah Gwalabe involved in a grave accident earlier today'.
She felt as though air was knocked out of her lungs. She blinked rapidly, letting the information sink in as her shoulder slumped. The fear was slowly eating her up as the realization that this could be the end for her dawned on her.
Without Zarah, what would she do?
However, the thought of the condition the attorney is in surpassed the thought of her fate. She listened to the hospital she was taken to and without wasting a second more, she rushed to her room and change out of the clothes she had on.
For the first time in over ten years, she put on a traditional atampha sown into a blouse and skirt. She knew she couldn't just show up at the hospital like that so she put on a black face mask and spectacles knowing that might just be enough to hide her identity.
She picked her phone up and headed out, leaving everything else in the house. Thankfully, the driver was there as usual so she told him the name of the hospital and waited impatiently in the back as he drove off. She tapped her foot furiously, the very patience she had mustered slowly slipping away from her.
The minute they arrived at the hospital, she all but jumped off the car. She headed inside, making her way to the receptionist first, she asked around for Zarah's room. The woman informed her that she is still in surgery so she headed to the lobby and waited there.
As expected, there was no one there throughout except for her. No one showed up to check on Zarah or her condition, leaving Rahma there all alone.
Three long hours passed before the door to the OR swung open and a doctor walked out. Rahma quickly rushed to the woman who brought down her face mask, "Doctor! How is she?"
"Excuse me Ma'am, what's your relation to the patient?"
Rahma swallowed thickly and though the doctor couldn't see her face, she blinked before she answered, "I'm her cousin"
"I'm sorry Ma'am, we need close relations first before-"
"She's an only child and both her parents are dead" Rahma cut her off, letting her know that she is all she has at the moment. Albeit she was lying about being her cousin, she wasn't lying though when she said that Zarah's parents are dead. She remembered once reading an article about it a few days ago when she was surfing the internet. She asked Zarah about it afterwards to which she confirmed it.
The doctor nodded, understanding Zarah's predicament. "She was injured severely and had internal bleeding in her head but thankfully, we were able to stop it by the grace of Allah"
"Alhamdullilah" She muttered, closing her eyes momentarily.
"However---"
That had Rahma snapping her eyes towards the doctor. A 'however' after good news simply meant bad news, and she wasn't sure if she's ready for more bad news that day. "However?"
"She's in an indefinite coma. When she will wake up depends on her now. It could take days, weeks or months"
Rahma released a loud exhaled as her shoulders slumped. She clenched her fists by her side, "Can I see her?" She managed to utter.
"Yes, once she's moved to the ICU"
"Thank you doctor"
After a couple of minutes, Rahma was asked to put on the blue protective covering before she was allowed to check on Zarah in the ICU. Tears welled up in her eyes when her gaze fell on the Zarah's body. She held it in though, she knew she had to be strong.
Since she was child, she had always watched the real Rahma remain strong in situations like this. And so for the first time in her life, she wanted to act just like the real Rahma would. She would remain strong and do what she has to because she's alone now.
She sat on the chair beside the bed and looked down, trying to not let the tears drop. She quickly pushed the spectacles away and wiped the few that escaped before she sniffed. "Who did this to you, Zarah?" She muttered.
She didn't care what the police announced, she knew it wasn't an accident. Call it a gut feeling that may be wrong but she trusted that hunch and has never been sure of anything that much.
She reached her hand out and held Zarah's slightly cold ones, "I promise you, I'll continue this and find out the truth. Your hard work will not be in vain"
She didn't know how she would go about it. But, she would hold Zarah's words and make use of it. 'Keep your friends close' She said. Rahma knew there's much more to those words than the woman let out earlier.
What does it mean?
~*~
Yall, trust me when I say this, you might need popcornð¿ð for the upcoming chapters the drama would beð¥ð¥ð¥
Guy I assure you, you'd love it!
Na the time za game go start. I mean Zarah got into a accident, you don't think Rabia would sit around and do nothing, right?
The above youtube soundtrack from Vincenzo always gives me this books vibe! Especially starting from this chapter to the upcoming ones. You can literally hear the dramatic soundtrack in it!
Well, well, well, I have nothing more to say.
Good day.
Love, Jannah.