"No truth can truly stay hidden".
Anonymous.
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Third person's P.O.V
The following day........
Aunt Karima sat as she took a sip of her tea in the living room. She couldn't be more contented with that fact that Nafisa could not stay yesterday, Najib came back and picked her , saying she needs to go , it's urgent and that made Karima's day.
She didn't know how she was going to explain all those marks on Asad's face to Nafisa.
As usual she took her children to school and watched Asad miserably trek to school, he left very earlier today. She was not sure why but she couldn't care less.
She was seated reading through the newspaper when she heard a knock on the door and started wondering who it was.
She went to get the door to see who would come to see her this early morning.
She mustered up her best fake smile and opened the door only for her smile to drop.
"You!"....She seethed
"Surprise , surprise sweetheart, missed me?"... her intruder asked in a mischievous tone as he walked in.
"What do you want and why are you here by this time...in my house"... Karima anguished.
"Ohh...so you don't want to see me here anymore?"... her intruder cocked an eyebrow.
"It's too early for your shenanigans. Leave this instance"...She stated, sounding pissed off and worried.
"Really Karima? It's pass 11" ...her intruder tapped his wrist watch and that's when Aunt Karima realize time had gone.
"To cut the story short, I came here to see my son....Asad" ...He smiled devilishly.
"You obsessed freak"... Karima said sounding irritated.
"Says a lady who planned her junior brother's death"... He shut her up.
"Look-" Karima trailed off not knowing what to say.
"I don't know what you are talking about" She feigns innocence.
"Typical Karima, oh save the act for another day"... He laughs due to her sudden act.
Karima remained silent so her intruder continued.
"Didn't we borrow one million naira (#1,000,000) from Suhail to plan his death because you said you can not use your precious money on your junior brother".... Big boss mocked Karima.
"Why are you still talking about their death, don't you feel an ounce of guilt in you?" ... She stated with a blank expression on her face.
"Guilt?" ...He looked at her with venom in his eyes... "So you think that the high and mighty big boss will feel guilty for what happened to your brother and his wife?"
Karima's facial expression instantly changed to something big boss could not depict.
"Oh yes, I admit that I could not use my precious money on him. I am glad we hired thugs to kill Suhail and Aneesa with the loan Suhail gave to us".... Karima stared at big boss with an evil smirk visible on her lips.
'Tsk tsk tsk... stupid woman. I wouldn't turn against my family if I were you. You have truly failed as a big sister'... Big boss smiled back at Karima but stared at her stupidly.
He had something big planned for her.
"I just wish I could watch their death over and over again and tell them to their stupid faces that it serves them right"...Karima's voice laced with anger.
Big boss smiled at her response
'Old habits die hard. Karima does not know what I have installed for her' ...Big boss evilly thought.
"The police are after us , I hope you know that"....Big boss stated the fact to Karima who didn't seem to care.
Truth to be told , she never liked her junior brother, she has always envied him since when he started making it in life.
On multiple occasions , Suhail helped Karima out but Karima never appreciated it rather she was looking for ways to destroy him and everything he had simply because he had more than her.
Suhail even bought for Karima and her husband the house they are currently living in but Karima could not see that, she was blinded by her envy for him.
How cruel and wicked could one be?!
"So what do you want me to do? Kill myself for the police?"...She said in a modulating tone.
"They caught the thugs that killed your junior brother and his wife"...Big boss stated the obvious.
"So what?" ..She rolled her eyes.
"They will come after us"... he tried to reason with her but Karima paid no heed to him.
"Look , here is what I want you to do when they come...." Big boss started explaining his plan to her knowing that the police is going to come and interrogate her.
She grinned before replying "Perfect....I wonder why Aneesa didn't pick you over that jerk face Suhail".
Big boss simply chuckled... 'Foolish woman, she will never know what hit her'.
***
Asad walked back that evening after been beaten up to a pulp, his right eye was slightly swollen and had turned a shade of purple from the fight he got involved in earlier in the day. Aunt Karima didn't care that he was hurt, she paid no attention to him at all to even notice that he is severely injured and bruised.
He laid on the cold floor in the guard's room as he cried out his eyes which caused a dreadful headache , it was raining heavily outside and the windows were open which didn't help at all.
Asad hurriedly curled up in a ball like form by bringing his knees to his chest and rapping his arms around them securely due to the cold he was feeling but the cold tiles and faulty windows weren't helping.
He sleeps in the guard's room and unfortunately the windows don't close and he had no warmers or duvet to cover himself with.
In times like this, his mother would keep him company as she plays with his hair till he falls asleep because she knows he is afraid of the rain but where was she now?
Asad's tears increased as the thought of his parents wondered through his mind.
He tossed and turned on the floor but it was no use, he couldn't sleep.
Whenever he closes his eyes , memories of his parents would wonder round his head, he would remember how happy he was. How they made him feel loved and cared for and how easy and fun life was.
"Why did it have to go wrong?" ...he cried out.
" I need you guys back...I don't want to stay like this if not I might die"... his voice very brittle.
"Oh keep it down would you , I am trying to sleep"... the house guard yelled at Asad to kept shut and he did.
Asad remained silent and eventually got lost in his own little world filled with pain and misery.
....
Days started turning to weeks and Asad was finally done with his exams, today was his graduation ceremonial day but it brought no joy to him.
Aunt Karima's wickedness increased with each passing day and so did his hatred for her.
She has been more cold and cruel towards him. If only she knew she was affecting Asad's mental health.
Unfortunately for Najib and the police , Karima and big boss were able to get away with their act, they pulled off a sick plan and put on a façade to make sure their plan works and it did
"Common cheer up my little lion"... Nafisa said to Asad who was engrossed in writing something which was still unknown to her.
Soon they were all in Asad's school for his graduation ceremony , Nafisa stayed with Asad in the backstage as she tried supporting him and comforting him but he paid no heed to her or anything that was happening around.
"Ladies and gentle men , give a round of applause for the graduating student as they step forward on stage"... The head master announced and the crowd began to cheer.
"Asad let's go"... His class teacher forcefully dragged him and Asad quietly followed her , leaving his book and pencil on the floor.
Nafisa got curious and picked it up to read what was written in it.
It was like a mini diary because he was writing about his life.
"I love my parents, they bought me a new bicycle for topping the class last term and this cool book because I love writing stories , I can't wait to make them happy during my graduation" ...Was written on the first page with the date.
A sad smiled made its way to Nafisa's lips
" My mother and father are fighting, please pray for them" ....Nafisa read the second page and it made her remember the time Asad's parents got into a serious fight for some unknown reason.
It really affected the little boy.
She kept on flipping through the pages and reading about Asad's thought, one thing stopped her though.
A particular page written with a different hand writing, the last page he updated.
"The world hates me , even my nunu doesn't want to take care of me. They all left me with Aunt Karima to suffer and she makes my life a living hell. I just want to die , maybe I be happier that way and I can meet my parents in their grave"....Was written in the last page .
She felt a bang in her heart... Indeed she was losing the little boy, most especially him , he was losing himself.
***
Days kept on running like it was on a marathon and time waited for no one.
Activities continued and people eventually started growing up.
Life won't stop or change for anyone just because you are in a bad mood. Asad learnt that the hard way.
He never wanted to let go of the past and so he didn't. He held it in his heart and that only caused him to feel hatred and anger towards everything and everyone.
Secondary school went in a blur for Asad , he was bullied in his first year and learnt how to be a fighter in his second year .
He then became the most feared junior and he grew up with that frightening aura.
He had no friends in secondary school, he felt like he never needed them and so he isolated himself for Six good years in his secondary school.
His only friend was his cousin...Kamal Zubair, who tried his best to care for Asad and take care of Asad.
Asad hated guys but when it came to females , things were different .
He never believed in love , if love really existed then his parents would have been loved and nobody will think of hurting them, less talk of killing them....brutally.
Indeed he grew up to be a very handsome young man , fit, muscular, tall , name it he had it all and that made females rush his way but what can impress or tempt a guy who had already lost interest in life and everything around him at a young and tender age.
He never liked girls or females to be specific but he would not tolerate it if a guy lays a finger on any girl while he was around.
He felt like he could never protect his mother from being raped and he lived with that regret, so he decided to protect all the females around him but he didn't need their gratitude and appreciation which confused people even more and at the same time made females fall for him harder.
Growing up, Asad began to speak for himself when he was around Aunt Karima.
He was a very straightforward person yet quiet and calm. "I am not a slave nor am I a servant to you so stop treating me like one"...he would often say to her.
His teenage hormones began to kick in which made him very stubborn and hard to deal with, even at that ,Aunt Karima would still beat Asad mercilessly but by that time he was already used to it.
She eventually stop giving him food or any form of edible substance so he had to fend for himself.
He will always tell himself ... "he didn't need her to eat , he would provide food for himself" and he surely did .
Asad eventually grew up without that love and support in which he yearned for and that made him the person he is now, growing up he was always pissed off and that made him fight , he broke his arm when he was in Junior second school 3 (Jss3) and he swore to get revenge. Once he fully recovered, he made all the boys in his class beg at his foot for mercy but he paid no heed to them.
As for his night mares, they never left him , rather they only worsen . He would have a long and frustrating day and come home with bruised body only for him to have sleepless nights as well.
He felt like reality was tragic and painful but it couldn't be compared to his nightmares.
They were nothing but hell.
The way his parents were killed in front of him, most especially his mom.
She was raped right in front of him for crying out loud and he couldn't do anything but watch and that always made him feel like he was worthless, like he was a failure.
He felt like a useless person and that only added the anger and self hatred he had for himself.
That's why he will never let anyone hurt any female while he was around.
As for his mini journal that Nafisa read , it was still with him. He writes in it when he feels like he can't hold his pain and anger anymore , he just inked out his thoughts and surprisingly enough, it calms him down, till date.
Speaking of the present...
Asad quickly finish praying and dressed up as today was a special day. Not for him but for his Aunt Nafisa .
He didn't want to go but he had to be there for the sake of her happiness.
It was only her happiness that mattered to him, even though he acts nonchalant around her, he cared for her very much.
She and Kamal were the only one that didn't give up on him when everyone did.
Including himself.
He just feels like a useless person because he could never reciprocate the kindness and love she gave him.
So he had to be there no matter what.
And....
She was pregnant!
Yes , she was pregnant and was soon going to be put to bed. So she wanted to see him before then.
Yes , it's crazy and weird. How she got pregnant all of a sudden but that's the power of God when you have faith in him.
She was finally able to convince a child after 21 years of her marriage.
She was glad Najib never gave up on her and she never lost faith in God.
Dressing in his usual casual form, he left without informing Aunt Karima. It wouldn't matter to her anyways, she wouldn't care.
After a long walk, he arrived at her house only to find her crying.
"Asad" ... Her voice very brittle from crying, when she stared at him , he saw her eyes were as red as blood.