Chapter 32
Haidar Jega
Never in my life had I imagined that I would lose Lailah to death. All I thought was that she wouldn't just love me. And then I'll have to forget about her. But death?, I never imagined it. I tried my best not to cry while we performed her jannazah (Funeral prayer). Imam Kasim stood in front of the body with a crowd of men at the back. I fought back my tears but I wasn't strong enough, I was weak and they came flooding out without sobs. My eyes were fixated on her wrapped body. I wished I could unwrap her and slap her real hard on the face so that she'll wake up. But then, I just had to accept reality. Lailah Dawud Khalid was no more and this was the end of her story.
When the funeral prayer was done, four hefty men picked up Lailahs body. They placed it on their shoulders and put her in a Hilux which was already parked outside.
"Imam Kasim, I will sit at the back of the Hilux along with her," I said to Imam Kasim who nodded pitifully. I climbed the Hilux along with two other men. I couldn't avert my gaze from the body. I wish it would shake so that I could untie it and realize this was all a test. But then I knew no miracle could happen now. It has been 5 hours since she died. There was no way she would move. I kept on staring at the body until we reached the cemetery. The Hilux halted and my eyes drifted to this same cemetery where she had accompanied me to.
The men and I soon got down and they immediately picked up her body. "Please be gentle," I said. The men nodded.
They carried it gently and we all walked towards an already made grave. The men placed her on the floor before taking their sides and then they slowly picked her up and placed her in a grave gently. My heartbeat accelerated when I watched them. My lungs were deprived of air at this point.
I still wanted to believe a miracle would happen, but when I saw them pour the last sand on the grave. I knew all chances were lost. Lailah Dk was gone.
~*~
After the funeral, I left for home immediately. I took a warm shower and then came out. One thing that I knew was certain, was that I didn't want to be in Nigeria at this moment. I know being the king of the north and all, could I do that? Well hell yeah, I make my own decisions. I dressed in a blue thobe and picked up small luggage where I put all my necessary clothes in. But then one thing was missing, anger washed over me when I thought they might have been washed. I immediately picked up my phone from my pocket and called my maid. Within a minute she came running in.
"Did you see a white thobe stained with blood?" I asked her. She was fidgeting.
"Yes my king, I'm..." I cut her short.
"Who the hell told you to wash it?!" I yelled.
"No, I didn't wash it. I left it in your laundry basket, I wasn't well..." I didn't even want to listen to her words. I dashed to my laundry basket and immediately poured all the clothes on the floor and scattered it until I found that white stained thobe. I smiled.
"Get out of my room!" I yelled at the maid when I saw she was still standing there. She scurried away immediately.
I held the bloody thobe in my hand. I sniffed it and held it tight. Even if Lailah was gone. This part of her wasn't and I'll keep it forever. I stuffed it in my bag and zipped it closed. After that, I picked up my luggage and dashed out of the house and towards the parking lot. I threw my luggage in the backseat and soon sped off. I drove fast with tears rolling down my eyes.
I got to my destination safely. I immediately dashed out of my car after handing it keys to one of my help. I ran into the airport and boarded my private jet. I was going to go far away from this country, I couldn't breathe Over here and I needed air from a different country.
The flight soon took off, I stared outside the window. I'm going to go where I would find peace. I'm going to go to my Prophet's land. I was going to Saudi Arabia. Medina to be precise. I needed a place where I could feel Allah's presence more. I needed something to heal my heart and living in this country was the best way I found. If it was possible I'd never return but we all know we cannot escape our mainland.
I picked out my phone from my pocket and changed its to wallpaper. It was a picture of Lailah at the President's daughter's wedding. She didn't look like she was happy with this picture. Typical Lailah, always scowling her face and acting as though she hated everything in this world when indeed she was a softie. I changed my wallpaper, lock screen, and even my WhatsApp profile picture. It was all Lailah and I was happy seeing her on every page of mine. Yes, they can call me the lover of a dead woman. But I would care less, Lailah would forever remain in my heart because I love her with every fiber of my being. And nothing can ever change that except Allah. I just pray Lailah finds peace and may her soul find the rest it deserves in the grave.
This is going to be a new chapter of my life and I want to see how it's going to end up for me. I really do hope Lailah is okay in her grave right now, I do hope she wasn't too scared of her first time in the grave, I do hope she answers the questions of Angle Munkr and Nakir correctly. In sha, Allah Jannah is your abode Lailah Dawud Khalid. I'll pray to Allah for you to become my wife there.