Kauthar felt her eyes burn as she blinked rapidly, trying to hold back tears. She sneezed, almost using her hand to wipe her face. Then she remembered the knife she was holding, and the onion behind her current waterworks. 

After dropping them inside the kitchen sink with a loud clatter, she washed her hands and grabbed a kitchen towel to wipe her face. 
Sniffing again, she called out, "Barakah!" She looked around for a tissue.  "Barakah!"

She spotted one on the plate rack above her. As she took it, about to call out again, she noticed Barakah's favorite green plastic plate—sitting behind the recent ones they had used for breakfast: dry. unused. 

She returned the tissue, returned to the sink, and resumed her work, slicing and crying, for real this time. 

Minutes later, she walked slowly to the living room and slumped on the sofa, face down. Three days now, and Barakah was still not back. She sighed into the soft velvet pillow on her lap and pressed herself into the seat, hoping it would cushion her heavy heart. 

Perhaps they should just report the case, She thought. If not, this guy would keep turning their heads. He claimed to be avenging the wrong they did to him. But neither of them could remember wronging a man. He claimed that they took something away from him, but Kauthar was sure he meant someone. And they could've confirmed that if not for Ismail's dumb ransom offer. All it did was aggravate him further, and since last night's call, he hadn't called again. 
Kauthar sat up, wondering if she should call him, as she had memorized the number. But the number he called with differed from the first one, how would she know if he hadn't gotten rid of the SIM already?

A scent of boiling meat spiced with onions, curry and thyme sailed past her nose, signaling her to the kitchen. As she stood up, she wondered if Barakah was eating well, for she hated food without meat. 

On her way back to her seat, a knock sounded on the door. Kauthar hissed slightly, hoping it was not one of the comforters, here to give her advices she didn't need. She opened the door, eyes widened at the sight of her father-in-law and his wife—whose name she couldn't recall. 

"Sannu Kauthar." Alhaji Muhammad smiled at her. 

"Sannu da zuwa," she let them in to the house and shut the door, thinking: did Ismail know they were here?
After serving them some snacks and drinks. She sat on the floor and enquired about their wellbeing. 

"I'm so sorry about Barakah." Ismail's mother said, slanted obsidian orbs filled with pity. Kauthar smiled and nodded. 

"How far with the Naval Intelligence Unit, have they found anything?"

She shook her head, feeling a pang of guilt for not involving them in the first place.  "I'm sure they'll find something. They're the military, after all." Kauthar nodded.

There was another knock on the door. Kauthar released a sigh of relief, not really sure why. On seeing the faces of Hidaya and her mother, she smiled widely. "Sannunku." 

"Yawwa," Hidaya's mother beamed and pulled her in for a hug. Kauthar held her tightly, realizing that this was what she was craving for, not pity and incessant questions. "How have you been?" She asked as they pulled away. 

Kauthar smiled, then turned to Hidaya who was on her phone. "Sannu Hidaya."

"Yawwa." She replied without raising her head. 

After sitting them down, she returned to the kitchen to check the meat. Then she moved to the store, wondering what to cook.

Still clueless, she served the snacks for Hidaya and her mother, then settled on the floor to watch Africa Magic Hausa with them. 

"So, how far with the investigation?" Hidaya asked, placing one leg atop the other and swinging it side to side.

"Nothing much, they are still on it." 
Hidaya pursed her lips, "are you sure we won't consult a malam."  Kauthar gaped at her. Was this one okay at all? 

Hajiya Binta turned to her daughter, "what do you mean?" 

Alhaji Muhammad asked, "are you saying the Navy are not doing their job?" 

Hidaya blinked, surprised at the attention. "No, just for prayer. Like we did for Aunty Bila."

"Wasn't she sick?" Ismail's mother asked.

"Em, yes but," she scratched her pashmina clad head. "just to be safe, because I've been having nightmares lately." 

Kauthar almost laughed. She thought Hidaya had grown up, but it seemed she was wrong. "Let me go and prepare something for lunch." She announced.

"No need, we'll be leaving soon." Ismail's mother smiled. 

"I'm not, I want to see my son." Alhaji said, tucking one hand under his chin, as though in defiance. 

Kauthar shrugged and headed for the kitchen. As she entered, her phone vibrated loudly on the counter.

Picking it, she was surprised to see Sumayya Aliyu Manga's name. "Assalamu alaikum ma."

"Wa alaiki Salam, Ummu Barakah." Sumayya replied in an excited tone that Kauthar couldn't help but smile. 

"How is everyone at home?"

"Fine over here. I'll even be leaving Abuja tonight."

Kauthar frowned, "So soon, won't you be missed?" 

She chuckled. "There's no one to miss me here. Both my elder brothers are late. So it's just me and their family. Well, at least, some of them."

"Well, I’m sure they'll miss you."
Kauthar said, just realizing how much she missed Sumayya too. If not for anything, she brought smiles into her home. Into Barakah's life. She waited for another  chuckle.

Instead, Sumayya cleared her throat. "Umm, there's a reason I called you." 

"Okay?"

"Is Barakah back?"

Kauthar sighed, "No."

There was silence, Kauthar left the kitchen and ambled towards the stairs, but not before glancing at her guests who were all watching TV, except Hidaya and Ismail's mother who were absent. 

" Hello? Sumayya?"

"Emm, yes I'm here. Sorry." There was a sound of wood scraping the floor. "Have the kidnappers called?" 

Kauthar climbed each stair slowly.
"Yes." She wasn't sure she wanted to tell Sumayya anything. 

"Yes?"

"Yes, they called."

"But not to ask for a ransom right?"

She paused on the last stair, "No, why are you asking?" 

Sumayya sighed, not a sigh of relief, but of confirming a suspicion. 

"Is something wrong?" Kauthar asked, gripping the banister. Let it not be what she was trying not to think. 

"Yes. I mean no."

"My God, please tell me. This is Barakah we're talking about." 
She sighed again, "I don't know because I'm not sure. I have to confirm first." 

Kauthar placed a hand on her chest and made her way to her room, but she ended up in the girls' room. She clutched the door handle, waiting for Sumayya to finish her murmuring. Why was she wasting time? 

"Okay, I think I know who is behind her kidnap."

Kauthar leaned against the door. No surprise there. "Who?" 

"That's not the main question. What we really need to know is who amongst your loved ones is also in on it."

Eyebrows furrowed, she said, "I don't understand. You mean someone we know is working for him or her?"

"Him, but like I said, I'm not sure."

"Okay," Kauthar went into the room. "What do we do now. Do we report it?" 

"Yes, but not until you can confirm the person's identity."

Kauthar touched her forehead, "But how do we know the person? It could be anyone. The guy who called said he wanted revenge. What could the second person want?" 

"Who knows? The same thing perhaps."

"But why?" She settled on Hoor's bed, afraid of wrinkling Barakah's neat one. 

"Think. Who would want to hurt you?"

Kauthar bit her lower lip. Who? Hidaya? But she wouldn't dare. Her mother would never forgive her. Besides, Hidaya loved Barakah. 

"Kauthar?"

"I'm here. I can't think of anyone." She shook her head. 

"Are you sure?"

She began to nod her head, then she recalled Rose, whom she had offended some months back.

Since then, they hadn't been too cordial with each other. Their children though, were still close. But could Rose be capable of such? There was only one way to find out. "I have someone in mind, but I have to confirm."

"Sure, let me know what you find."

She nodded, “You never gave me the name of this mastermind."

Sumayya sighed," He's my blood."

She scoffed, "And my daughter isn't?" 

"He won't hurt her. I know that."
She glanced at Barakah's bed and reached out to touch the white puffy bed sheet as tears gathered in her eyes. "How would you know, that guy wants revenge."

"Yes, but my ne–he wants something more. And he can't do it with Barakah dead."

Kauthar winced, "Let me guess, money?" 

"Not just that, the family inheritance."

She frowned, "Why would Barakah have access to that?" 

"Her grandfather is the eldest. No doubt he must have left his fortune for his only daughter."

"But as she's late…"

"Barakah is next in line." Kauthar finished with a sigh. "She needs us."

"And we're here for her. I'm here for her. We just gave to be careful. If we can get that person, we can get the guy."

"And your nephew?" 

Sumayya gasped, "we can't get him. He's not in the country."

"And how do we know he won't try something else? Since you plan to protect him." 

"I don't know. But exposing him will worsen things. Trust me."

Kauthar recalled her statement, the night she came into their lives. She knew Sumayya would be trouble. But not like this. What would they do? 
"Okay. I'll let you know if I find anything." 

"Okay, take care if yourself. Barakah is in my every dua."

"Thank you, safe journey." She ended the call, flung the phone behind her, and held her head in both hands. How would she approach Rose? 

Just then, there was a scratch at the door. Kauthar stood up quickly and without blinking, she yanked the door open. 

It was Ismail's mother, struggling with the end of her brown veil stuck around the handle. 

A/N
Assalamu alaikum!

Late update, I know. Last week was super tight. But we're back now!

So what do you think of the chapter? Who do you suspect is working with the kidnapper?

Let me know in the comments section.

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