Kauna Private Hospital Maiduguri
As dawn broke, Lagu stirred from his slumber, his eyes flickering open to the sterile white surroundings of the hospital room. Sitting in a plastic chair beside the woman he had brought, the hospital light glowed as he gazed upon her face, clearly revealing that it was Ammi. Lagu hoped for any sign of life in her; he longed for her closed eyes to flutter open, for a twitch of her limbs, or even the slightest movement of her fingers. Despite being struck by her beauty, he fought against any inappropriate thoughts, determined to remain focused on her well-being.
"Maybe I'm already in the grave," Ammi pondered, her thoughts swirling in the void of her mind. "Some people claim that the brain is the last to succumb to death, but why must I suffer in my tomb before the final release?"
Lagu had spent the past two weeks by Ammi's side, sleeping fitfully in the uncomfortable white plastic chair. Despite his constant care, he remained ignorant of the circumstances that had left her lifeless beside the road at dawn where he found her. He gingerly reached out to touch her still face, his voice barely above a whisper,
"Hey, Angel, I'm here with you. If you can hear me, please give me a sign." His attempts to rouse her with gentle words had proven futile.
Turning away from Ammi's bedside, Lagu felt a pang of frustration. After splashing water on his tired visage, he hurriedly brushed his teeth. As he moved towards the restroom, worry etched deep lines on his face.
Upon his return to Ammi's side, he found her eyes remained shut as if they had never opened. The concern in his eyes deepened as he realized that the spark of life he thought he saw had vanished.
"Doctor, any change in her condition?" Lagu inquired anxiously upon returning to the observation room. The doctor was already at Ammi's bedside.
"She hasn't shown any movement," Lagu pleaded earnestly, desperation coloring his tone. "Is there anything more we can do to help her regain consciousness? I have very little time left in Maiduguri."
The doctor nodded, a glimmer of reassurance in his eyes. "We'll do everything within our power to revive her."
Before the doctor could continue, Lagu's voice cut in, urgency lacing his words as he pointed towards Ammi's still form. "Doctor, look! There, her eye... It moved!"
The doctor's attention swiftly shifted to where Lagu indicated, hope flickering in his expression. "Yes, there... See it. Let's continue monitoring her closely."
"Angel, can you hear me?" the doctor's gentle voice filled the room as he tenderly touched her body. "Try to lift your finger if you can hear or feel anything."
Their hope soon dissipated as their efforts yielded no response.
Lagu had registered Ammi under the name "Angel Jones" at the hospital, a name that now echoed with disappointment in the silent room.
Maiduguri General Hospital
On that eventful day at Maiduguri General Hospital, Rana slowly opened his eyes, finding his mother seated by his bedside, her face creased with worry. His head was wrapped in bandages, giving him the appearance of a masked figure. Though he attempted to speak, his lips faltered, yet his hand reached out to his mother in silent desperation. The bandages wrapped around his head, extending down his arm, revealed numerous open wounds. Tears welled in Awa's eyes as she clasped his hand tightly, her heart heavy with sorrow.
In the midst of this emotional scene, a gentle touch on her shoulder caused Awa to turn, finding Rana's uncle, Young John, standing behind her. "Welcome!" she greeted softly, acknowledging his presence, while Rana's grandfather, Terry, joined them, his face etched with concern.
Awa collected two linen bags from them, one concealing its contents, the other revealing vibrant oranges nestled within. "How is he?" Terry inquired, his voice filled with concern.
"He's improving," Awa replied, a hint of relief in her voice. "The doctor has prescribed more medication, but we need additional funds to obtain it." Before she could elaborate further, Young John interjected, his tone urgent. "We need him to sign these documents. It's crucial for us to pursue his father's gratuity. There appears to be a discrepancy in the records regarding your husband's next of kin."
The documents identified both Rana and his uncle, Young John, as legitimate next of kin for Rana's late father, Inspector Terry. Before Inspector Terry's passing, he had initiated the process of changing his next of kin to his son, Rana. However, this process remained incomplete due to errors in filling out the forms at the time of his death, thereby casting a shadow on the clarity of who the money should be disbursed to.
Hesitantly, Rana reached for the pen, stealing a glance at his mother through the gauze for reassurance. With a nod from her, he positioned himself awkwardly, his gaze not daring to meet the document before him. With unsteady hands, Rana signed the papers in a hurried manner, guided by Young John's quick instructions. "Here, here, and here!" Young John pointed out, indicating three more spots for Rana to sign, where he did so without complaint.
"I must begin my journey to Abuja to expedite your husband's gratuity; it will greatly assist in improving Rana's health condition. Any delay could further jeopardize his well-being," Young John informed Awa. "Yes, please take care..." Awa replied, her head nodding in agreement.
Young John and his father, Mr. Terry, exited the room, conversing in hushed tones.
Abuja
"I never thought I'd see him again, but here he is, back in the country, right here in Abuja. Not just in Abuja, but standing at the doorstep of my life. Ahh, mother... it feels like an eternity, losing Lagu once for nine long years.
"You're not a child anymore, Caty. Lagu won't be away for much longer. Soon enough, he'll be back, and you'll have him all to yourself, every single day," Mrs. Collins reassured her.
"What could be keeping him in Maiduguri for so long?" Caty poured out her desperation to Mrs. Collins.
"Hahahaha!" Caty couldn't contain her joy, erupting into laughter at the thought.
"Mother, do you think Lagu will like me?" she asked nervously.
"No, why would anyone like someone with a nose at the back of her head?" Mrs. Collins replied with a playful smirk, trying to ease Caty's nerves.
"Alright, alright, spare me the one I don't want to hear," Caty interjected, cutting off Mrs. Brown before she could continue with her jest.
With a sigh, she turned and walked away from the scene, feeling a mix of anticipation and apprehension about her upcoming encounter with Lagu.
Kauna Private Hospital Maiduguri
Lagu consulted Ammi's doctor, requesting to relocate her to another hospital in Abuja, but the doctor insisted it was too risky at the moment. During their discussion, before Lagu returned to Ammi, the nurse with the yellow card arrived and injected medication into Ammi's IV drip. "Done!" she whispered into her phone at a discreet corner before ending the call.
Lagu knew that he couldn't leave Ammi in Maiduguri, nor could he stay there himself. The alias he had given Ammi, "Angel Jones," complicated his decision-making process. His father, Mr. Jones, was widely known and respected in the country. At the hospital, some assumed Ammi was Mr. Jones' daughter-in-law, while others speculated she might be Lagu's sister.
As Lagu approached Ammi, her eyes slowly fluttered open, meeting his gaze with a mixture of recognition and awareness of her surroundings. She recalled the events of New Year's Eve and realized she was in the hospital.
"Hey, thank goodness... I'm Lagu. I found you by the roadside and brought you here for treatment. Can you tell me your name?" Lagu spoke gently, hoping for a response from Ammi. Despite his optimism, she remained silent, her gaze fixed on him, tears began to flow in her eyes.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Lagu's voice wavered with remorse as he realized his words may have unintentionally upset Ammi in her weakened state. His eagerness to depart Maiduguri for his job in Abuja had momentarily clouded his empathy for her situation.
Despite Ammi's inability to move her limbs, she retained her ability to hear and speak. However, the weight of her family's estrangement burdened her greatly, leaving her at a loss for words when faced with Lagu. The truth about her pregnancy, a haunting secret since her awakening in the hospital, loomed heavily on her mind. She did not tell Rana the truth about her pregnancy, but every detail of her life's journey was meticulously recorded in her diary, including her deepest secret. Unfortunately, she lost the diary the day her father forced her out of the house.
"I wish I were gone! The car I thought was my savior only slowed my journey to rest in peace." Ammi's thoughts further broke her from the inside.
Lagu tenderly wiped away her tears, choosing to offer his silent support as he sat by her side.
A few minutes later, Lagu's friend, Alex, appeared, his presence a comforting reassurance in the sterile hospital room. Lagu, with a gentle smile, made the introductions to Ammi, ensuring she understood he was there to support her in Lagu's absence.
"Angel, meet Alex. He's one of my closest friends, and he'll be here with you while I'm away in Abuja," Lagu said, his eyes locked with Ammi's, a silent understanding passing between them. Though Ammi tried to maintain her composure, her emotions betrayed her as tears welled in her eyes and traced silent paths down her cheeks.
Lagu, sensing her need for comfort, squeezed her hand reassuringly. "Hey, I won't be gone long. I promise," he murmured, his voice filled with sincerity as he sought to ease her fears.
Throughout their conversations, Ammi remained silent, unwilling to disclose anything about herself. She had adopted the alias "Angel," finding it the perfect disguise to conceal her true identity. Though mentally sound, she chose to present herself as someone suffering from amnesia to safeguard her personal life.
Meanwhile, Lagu had departed Maiduguri for Abuja for his job, leaving Ammi with a promise to return soon.
Wulari Street
That same day, on the lively, untiled road of Wulari, Baba found himself suddenly slamming on the brakes of his speeding car as his eyes caught sight of a short figure ahead. The screech of locked tires and the abrupt halt of the car drew the attention of those nearby. Hastily, a young man approached the driver's side, leaning in to speak to Baba through the half-open window.
"Sir, I'm sorry to report, but she's nowhere to be found in Maiduguri. It's possible she's already left the state," the man uttered respectfully, his tone tinged with concern.
"Go as far as you need to find her. Manage to bring her back. If you can't...? Keep her safe there, until I arrive," Baba, extending Ammi's photograph as he instructed firmly, his voice carrying a sense of urgency.
As the man turned and stepped onto the other side of the road, Baba's voice cut through the air, laden with emotion. "Hey, don't forget, she's my only daughter!" he called out, his words echoing against the backdrop of uncertainty.
Their eyes met across the expanse, a silent exchange unfolding between them as they stood on opposite ends of the road. In that shared moment, amidst the chaos of their surroundings, an unspoken understanding passed between Baba and the short man, a connection forged by worry and determination.
Then, without another word spoken, the short man turned and started running, his figure disappearing into the distance.