Must Read: Behind The Veil

Episode 7 years ago

Must Read: Behind The Veil

Although he was done with the ‘who is she’ novel and was sure he had given it a perfect ending. He knew it was a perfect end to an imperfect beginning. He remembered how the publisher
praised the last line of the story, the part he quoted Albert Camus; ‘At the heart of all beauty
lies something inhuman.’

It was not an happily ever after story. Even though that’s what everyone wished for, they still
secretly yearned for a dramatic sad end and that was what he did to the ‘Who is she’ novel. That was why the publisher didn’t dither to accept it. He was so deep in thought that he didn’t realize that he had walked far, far from the vicinity of his neighborhood. His feet didn’t hurt nor did he suffer from exhaustion or hydration. If there was anything he felt, it was an invigorating feeling in just seeing the secondary school students running out of the school premises. Some had their parents waiting to take them home while others walked with friends.

Sadiq remembered the school, Humaira had told him that she attended it before she switched to another school; which was closer to their vicinity.

In Zaria, off campus, Humaira picked her phone, dialing Sadiq’s number. She remembered now.

The dream, the building, it was her previous secondary school before she switched to the one
closer to home. But that’s not the main reason she was trying to call him. She recalled the song he was playing in his room, the one about; ‘having a dream about dying and finding no one there’. The tune of the song was the sound she heard in the dream she had that
she narrated to Sadiq. And it wasn’t a coincidence that Sadiq happened to be playing
the exact song the next morning. She had never even heard the song before, till that morning she heard Sadiq playing it, and the night before was when she had the dream! It was a clear sign that the dream was about Sadiq! Maybe this time she could stop this dream from happening only if Sadiq could just PICK HIS CALL!

“The number you have dialed is either switched off or out of coverage area, please try again
later.”
She was distraught! Why was she having this feeling? This weird feeling?
She dialed Kazim’s number.

“Brother Kazim please where is Sadiq? I have been trying his number and it is not going
through.”
“I think he is in his room. Should I go and give him the phone?” he asked.
There was a sign of relief from Humaira. Now she could warn him not to step out or go anywhere near that school or vicinity.
“Yes please.” she replied Kazim.

There was no word from Kazim for few seconds but Humaira could hear doors opening and
closing.
“He is not in his room. I think he may have gone out.” replied Kazim staring into Sadiq’s room.
Humaira ended the call before Kazim even finished talking. She dialed Zeenat’s number.

It was still the same response from Zeenat.
She was despondent. All hope lost and gone. Maybe some things can’t be changed. Maybe
even though we think and believe we can cheat nature it just finds a way to foil our plan.
Sadiq sighted a little girl exiting the school gate. She was probably twelve years or a year older.
She had a beautiful smile and her face beamed brightly regardless of her state of being. She was
a beautiful sight, an inspiring sight. At her young age she made use of clutches to support her
steps but she didn’t let that take away the smile on her face. For a moment Sadiq paused,
watching her.

Some other kids raced out of the school, hitting her and almost sending her to the hard ground.

Sadiq flinched, wanting to rush to give her a hand but she held the clutches firmly. There were numerous kids scattered around the street of the school. Most of them clustered around different ice cream sellers, patronizing them.

Without warning everyone around that vicinity scrambled to safety! A heavily dressed man held
an automatic machine gun, shooting sporadically at the school children and parents! There was
pandemonium and insanity! Cars of parents wanting to flee from the scene ran over little
children that fell to the ground.

Sadiq was in a safe distance but he couldn’t run! His conscience haunted him! He couldn’t run
away and leave that disabled girl lying on the floor, alone. Her clutches was hit away from her
grip by the crowd of people running for safety.

Even if she still had the clutches, there was no
way she would be able to escape from the terrorist that was shooting at the innocent people.

Just lying down there she was safe because the man was shooting without aim at those running.

But then there was silence. His ammunition was exhausted. He dropped his weapon, his eyes red and no soul in them! Sadiq could see him unbuttoning his vest. No one needed to tell him
what was about to happen.

Sadiq raced to where the disabled girl was lying down helplessly. The terrorist was unbuttoning
his vest really fast now. Sadiq raised the girl up, carrying her on his arms. There were not much
people closer to him now except Sadiq and the girl. The man noticing Sadiq getting away started
running fast towards him.