Aliyah

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 15

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Nature, nature is pure, is it? Nature is beautiful and highly aesthetical. Nature is balanced but when we look around us, we feel like nature hasn’t completed it’s work on us. We, human, are the one with fault.

Mrs. Ridoh was restless after receiving the call. Her colleagues had asked her what happened buh she was too shocked to say a word. She didn’t know if Aliyah was still alive or dead with the way the lady who called explained.

She dashed out of her office immediately, tears rolled down her face. She ignited her car even before she could sit down and drove off to Edo state. Her hands trembled on the wheel. She couldn’t think straight. Different thought ran through her mind.

Annie was restless. She couldn’t sit down. She paced up and down. She was in the hospital but her mind was faraway. The nurses had wheeled her in and they were stopped from entering the room. “What’s happening? This isn’t an accident. No, it seems she was hit or pushed. Someone was in the room with her. No, she slipped. But how come her head is bleeding and she was on the bed not on the floor? She definitely didn’t drag herself up to the bed. No, instead there was trace of blood from the floor to her bed. Someone carried her. Who? No, Aliyah. No!” All these and many more thoughts ran through Annie’s mind.

Chioma was sobbing quietly. Dave sat beside her. He didn’t know what else to do. He was lost in thought.

The doctor came out of the room. He looked tired and exhausted. Annie feared for the worst.

“Doctor, how is she?” Annie asked, looking at the doctor.

“Her condition is critical. We can’t start anything until you guys sign or better still call her parent. And the police would be here anytime soon for statements” The doctor explained and walked away.

Chioma sobbed more and more. Tears dropped freely. Annie braced herself up trying hard not to cry anymore. She dialed Aliyah’s mom number again.

Few hours later, Mrs. Ridoh arrived. Annie recognized her immediately she entered. They narrated what happened to her but skipped the party part.

Mrs. Ridoh asked of the doctor and was directed to his office.

“Good day madam. How may I help you?” The doctor asked.

“Morning doctor, I’m Mrs. Ridoh, mother to the girl that was brought here by her friends” Mrs. Ridoh explained.

“Oh! Erm… Ali..” The doctor tried to remember.

“Aliyah” Mrs. Ridoh helped.

“What took you so long? Her condition is critical. We’ve helped in making her conscious but we were waiting for her guardians before we can start anything”

“I understand” Mrs. Ridoh said calmly.

“Okay, Ma’am. Sign this and we’ll conduct some test before getting Started” The doctor said passing her a paper.

Mrs. Ridoh signed so fast trying hard to hold her tears as they don’t know what condition she is, even though he said it’s critical. The doctor looked at her wondering how she knew exactly where to put down her signature.

“I’ll do the needful. Start anything you want to. Just make sure my daughter’s safe.” She said after signing.

“We’ll try our best”

Ruth watched the three of them as they entered. The face was dead. Annie and Chioma’s face was red. Only Dave’s was plain. For the past ten minutes, they didn’t utter a word. She guessed something was wrong. They informed her they were going out to have fun and this wasn’t their first time. Their mood was always bright whenever they arrived and Annie would always scream announcing their arrival. But now, it’s far from it.

“What? Why are you guys like this?” Ruth finally asked, unable to bear the suspense as it seems no one’s gonna say a word till the day ends.

No one answered her. Instead, Chioma cried out. Ruth was shocked. What could be happening?

Annie had already stopped crying. She was deep in thought. Mrs. Ridoh had told them to leave and go freshen up saving them from the police palava. Annie had noticed she was holding her tears.

Dave explained to Ruth what happened. Ruth was dumbfounded. She found it hard to believe.

Dave paced up and down. He’d stop abruptly like he remembered something and moved again.

“Where’s Sean?” Annie suddenly asked, her voice raising a bit.

“Sean?” Chioma and Dave chorused slowly.

A knock sounded on the door interrupting them from their thoughts. Ruth stood up slowly wondering what’s wrong. Why mentioning Sean’s name. She opened the door and saw a woman standing there with two policemen.

They came out scared. Chioma was dead scared now. She held on tight to Dave. Annie greeted Mrs. Ridoh who stood with the police.

“They are my daughter’s friend. They helped in bringing her down to the hospital” Mrs. Ridoh said.

“Okay. Can one of you please explain what happened?” One of the policemen asked.

Annie came forward and explained to the police everything that happened without skipping a part.

The police nodded and went in to examine the room.

“We’re so sorry ma’….” Annie apologized.

“No, you don’t have to be. I understand. You probably don’t want me to know that she went to a party, maybe I’d get mad at her? No. I would have been so glad she did if she was al..” Mrs. Ridoh paused. “If she was okay. I guess she trust you guys”

Everywhere remained silent. Few minutes later, the policemen came out of the room.

“With the way we saw that room, I guess there was someone else in the room with her. We found this button under the bed. It probably rolled under. It seems she struggled with the person” The policeman explained.

“There’s assurance that when she wakes up, we’ll get the culprit” The other said.

“Okay. We’re through here ma’am. Whenever we need you guys, we’ll contact you” The first one said.

They all nodded. Annie watched as they left.

At the hospital, the doctor checked Aliyah’s drip and other necessary things.

“She’s not responding to treatment” The nurse beside him said.

The doctor felt her pulse again. “Stay here for 40 minutes and observe the drip and her heart rate. If it drops before 40 minutes counts, inform me quick” He said and left the ward.

The atmosphere was tensed in Annie’s room. Mrs. Ridoh sat with them. She stared at each of them. “I’m sorry for putting you guys in this mess… I mean, this tensed mood. You’re worried”

“No ma. You did nothing. We’re okay like this” Annie said.

Mrs. Ridoh stared at her. She noticed her voice cracking as she talked. Her eyes were red. She must have cried all day.

“You know I’m a doctor?”

“Yes ma” They chorused.

“I know, I know she’ll tell everyone. Big mouth” Mrs. Ridoh smiled as she saw them smile. That was what she want. She wants to cheer them up.

“Now, that mood you guys invited isn’t good for your health. You guys need to cheer up, huh. Get into the bathroom, get dressed and let’s go eat somewhere around” She paused, noticing their mood was brightening up.

Annie smiled. She slowly left the sitting room into her room, Chioma followed behind. Dave got up and went out to his room.

Mrs. Ridoh smiled. She was forcing herself to do what she was doing. Deep inside, she was d–n scared but prayed against the worst.

Her phone rang. She answered the call. It was the doctor.

“Hello”

“Mrs. Ridoh, can you please come over?” The doctor said over the phone.

“Why? What?”

“Just come or better still, call your husband. I need to talk to him”

“Doctor, stop putting me in suspense. What exactly is it?”

“Ma, I’m sorry to break this to you…”

Mrs. Ridoh heart skipped. That line was their best way of breaking a sad news. Tears rolled down her face.

“She’s dead..” The doctor finally said.

“What! Ahhhhhhhh…!” Mrs Aliyah screamed and woke up. She was dreaming.

The girls were startled. They stared at her. Dave entered. Aishat and Mr. Ridoh followed behind. Aishat ran to her mum. They both cried. Soon, their cries triggered the girls own.

Mr. Ridoh and Dave stared at the scene as he watched them cried like babies as if they were in a crying competition or better still funeral. He coughed and pulled Aishat up from her mom’s lap.

“Dear, it’s okay. It’s okay.” He consoled her.

Mrs. Ridoh’s phone rang. She answered it.

“It’s the doctor. Says we have to come right now” She said.

They all moved out. Annie, Chioma and Ruth got in Dave’s car while Mrs. Ridoh left her car and rode with her husband.

“I pray it’s not what I’m thinking, dear” Mrs. Ridoh said and started another round of tears, Aishat joined also. Mr. Ridoh sighed. He couldn’t console them, his heart was also filled with fear and sadness. Tears dropped freely.

What do you think? Who do you think could was in the room with Aliyah? Was it an accident? I want to goan brush my teeth.