The Angel And The Fugitive – Chapter Five Part B

THE ANGEL AND THE FUGITIVE – CHAPTER FIVE PART B

© Reginald Obetta

After depositing the money, Tafa returned to the hallway, trembling on his toes. No one had come out of his father’s operating room as he had hoped. Then the doctor came, looking servile, tired, hopeless, and ostensibly, his face depicted something saddening.

“Is he alright? Tell me? ”

“Am sorry, he had another attack and we couldn’t save him again. It was too late.”

“No, no, he can’t die, it’s not possible, my father is still alive right? ”

“Am sorry for the loss, accept my sympathy”.

“This is a dream, it can’t be reality, oh my God. After everything, no, no”

“Take it easy, I know how you feel. Calm yourself down please”

“Am sorry doctor but you don’t know, my mother died in this hospital and now my father also dead. It’s ridiculous ”

The breaking news on the TV interrupted him from speaking further and the activities of the hospital was suspended with the headline, “Multiple bomb explosions rock Cuppala square”, the bomb explosion extended to the residential buildings and properties in the area, number of dead casualties unknown, Tafa seized crying, the news of bomb blast on residential area only made him realize that his siblings could be affected, their safety and wellbeing filled his whole being. He screamed the name of his sister Fatima, his sick brother who was discharged few days ago from the clinic due to lack of funds for further treatment, Ibrahim, his last brother Aminu and ran outside like an insane person, the doctor was surprised, the nurses were but they could fathom it was related to the news, if only they knew it was a case of life and death, that he was about to lose someone as special as his siblings, his flesh and bone along with his father on the same day.

He arrived at the scene, pervaded by military men and National Emergency Disaster Unit officials, barricading the vicinity, rescuing victims and putting them into the ambulance. Tafa broke through some resistance, ransacking each victims with his eyes carefully. He heard his name called out by a voice that sounded familiar, turned anticlockwise and ran towards her. Rita had been there immediately she heard the news of the bomb blast. He felt like asking if she had seen his siblings till his eyes beheld two dead bodies on the ground, that was his siblings lying helplessly, defeated. Rita continued to shed tears uncontrollably, she took the body of Fatima and placed her on her thighs, Tafa sat on the dry ground with the other, later, they let go of the dead bodies, put them into the ambulance after identifying the bodies and consoled each other in an embrace.

The burial ceremony was concise, the officiating priest extolled the qualities of his dead parents, the need to emulate their principles and good living on earth. Few minutes after the end of the mass, Tafa walked and stood at their Graves, staring at the tombs of his family;

Joshua Waziri 1956 -2020

Aisha Waziri 1965 -2020

Fatima Waziri 1998 -2020

Aminu Waziri 2005 -2020

Ibrahim Waziri 1993 -2020

The tomb of Ibrahim was empty, his body was never found after the collapse. His precious jewel, a book he always read was placed in his casket in place of him. He hunkered beside his tomb and cried out his heart till sunset, screaming, “God, why has thou forsaken me”.

 

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