Leyla was driving when she heard Tatiana crying. She became nervous, wondering why the sudden nagging. She turned to the right side of the seat for her milk but realized she forgot to pick it along.
" Oh, gosh, how could I have forgotten that ? Damn it !", she exclaimed frustrated.
" What should I do now? I can't turn back home too. I think I need to pass by the mall and get one for now. I'll call Dora and let her know about that", she muttered, picking up her phone from her bag with her eyes fixed on the road.
The black car kept tailing her without her notice.
" Make sure you don't lose her, right?", the voice cried from the back seat, coldly.
" Okay, ma....", the driver exclaimed, following keenly at Leyla.
Leyla scanned through her phone and dialed Dora's line, unaware of her surrounding.
"Hello, Leyla, where are you? we've been waiting for you like, forever. Why?", Dora answered, ranting from the other end of the line.
" I know dear, but I'm sorry I'll be a little late. "
" What? Why, what happened? Are you alright? "
" Yeah, yeah, I'm good. I just forgot to pick, Tatiana's milk and she's seriously nagging, all of a sudden. I need to drop by the mall to get some for her before joining you guys"
" Alright dear. No need to rush. We'll be waiting patiently for you, okay?"
" Okay, thanks, girlfriend. I owe you guys for that and I promise to treat you girls when I get there."
" Sure, you do..."
" ( laughs), I know right.?okay, see you later,bye..."
She dropped the phone back in the bag, took a quick glance at Tatiana and sped off in search of a mall close by.
DORA'S RESTAURANT
Dora dropped the phone on the table and gave a loud sigh.
" What is it, Dora? who called? ", Prisca queried worriedly.
" Oh, nothing to worry about. It was Leyla who just called to let us know that she'll be a little late"
" Did she give any reason?"
" yeah, she forgot, Tatiana's milk and need to drop by the mall to get her one before coming "
" Okay, let's just have some drinks for the meantime while we wait for her or what do you think?"
" yeah, I think you are right. Belinda ! ", she called to one of the waitresses.
" Yes, ma..."
" Please bring us some wine...."
" Okay ", she answered and strolled to the bar for their drinks.
In less than a minute, she returned to their table with a bottle of wine and two glasses.
" Here you are, ma'am..."
" Thank you, you may go now", Dora replied and turned back to Prisca who was glued in her fashion magazine.
" Here you go, Prisy, your, wine...."
" Thanks, dear."
She picked the glass of wine and took a sip.
**************
Leyla finally came across a mall, 30 meters away from the main road. She drove in and parked at the car park. The black car also parked some meters away from the mall, watching.
" What should I do now, ma'am? Should we wait here or drive in?", the driver queried.
" It's okay, Jeff, let's just park here. I'll tell you what to do next", she answered.
Leyla got down the car,
" I'll be right back, Ti, just keep calm....", she uttered, dashing off into the mall, hurriedly, forgetting to lock the car.
She briskly marched through the mall in search of the milk but had no idea on which lane she could get it. She finally stopped at the fifth lane, exhausted.
" Got you...! finally, the long search is over", she exclaimed, picking out the milk from the shelf.
" Hey, I can see you are really exhausted after this search of yours", a voice called beside her.
" Yes, dear. This milk is really scarce ", she replied, turning towards the person.
" Hi, Leyla..., did you miss me?"
" Theodora?", Leyla exclaimed, astonished.
" Don't be so surprised dear. I really missed you guys while I was gone. And I'm finally back for you, Leyla....", she replied with a grin, strolling towards her.
" But...how....", Leyla stammered
" How what, Leyla? By the way, don't worry how I got here. I just came to congratulate you on your delivery. I heard you had a baby girl for Dan or let me say, stole her.....Oops! sorry, I'll be gone now. We'll surely meet some other day. And on that day, we'll have a very long, nice chat, Okay? See you....bye", she uttered, chuckling as she trod out of the mall.
"Oh, my God? I need to do something very fast. But how did she get to know ?", Leyla mumbled, bemused.
Just then, she remembered her car was left unlocked.
" Oh, no.., Tatiana! Oh, my God.... ", she exclaimed, rushing out of the mall, nervously.
She got to the car and anxiously opened the door of the back seat where she placed her little baby only to find an empty seat.
" Oh, no...this can't be happening ", she cried, searching through the car, thoroughly.
" Tatiana!!, Baby, where are you? Please, where are you!", she called amidst tears, trembling as she slowly lean on the car shuttered.
Just then, she saw some people passing by. She hurriedly rushed to them, crying.
" Please, help me find my baby, please.... "
" What happened to your baby?", a man queried.
" I, I left her in the car just to get some milk only to come and meet an empty car.....(sobs)"
" Ma'am, please, calm down. We'll find your baby, okay?", a lady assured.
" Okay, thank you"
" Let's go check the CCTV camera's maybe we may get something over there... ", the man stated.
" Sure, let's go..."
She quickly went for her phone and followed them back into the mall.