Just to see Alhaji Musa, Humaira was now determined. Her voice filled the air like an aroma. Immediately, Alhaji Musa came to see what was happening for himself. When he saw her he was shocked but angry at the fact that she was causing commotion in his work place, again.

"What else do you want here,  Humaira?" Her raised an eyebrow at her.

As if he wasn't there, Humaira sprinted forward into his office, his question unanswered. He was shocked her audacity and never but what was the real on for this?
'She should be in school right now or wasn't she able to pay her semester fee, yet?' he thought.

Miss Lydia wanted to explanation herself but he told Miss Lydia not to worry. It Is so unlike him... He wasn't settled at the thought of all he had done to her. He met her sitting on one of the fine, lathered chairs in his office. While he sat opposite her, in his executive chair.

"Why the commotion again,  Humaira? What do you want this time? I thought we were settled?"

She suddenly looked tensed to his frozen words that stabbed her heart, so, she handed him the pregnancy result. He was wondering what it was exactly and opened it, out of curiosity.

"I got this few days ago from the school clinic." She started.

"What? Tell me this is a lie!" he snapped in her face, speechlessly.

"I wish it was, Alhaji Musa. My life wouldn't have been as miserable as this. I would have been in class receiving lectures with my mates. I am pregnant for you Alhaji, and I can't keep quiet anymore. I can no longer  hold any more secrets." She explained to him.

"You have no choice! Do you think you have the right to refuse?!" He walked up to her, sitting on his marble desk, leaning closer to her and slightly stooped low to grab her face. Twisting her chin to his.

"You will tell no one about this! You'll do as I say, else? I'll force myself to say what I've been avoiding all these years! I'll kill you... Just the way I killed your parents!!"

"What! You did what?!" A solemn tear formed and rolled out of her left eye. Her heart sank into her stomach. She couldn't feel it throbbing any longer.

"Yes, you heard me right! Your sister, Zainab is my biological daughter and I had her with your mum long ago just like I had with you... I guess she wanted a son to save her marriage." an evil grin spread across his flat lips.

"It's a lie Alhaji, Mother would never stoop so low. You must have charmed her or something... That's what you're good at." Another tear strolled down her face as she spoke, almost choking in her own tears. "It is so unbelievable, you must be cooking stories up just to silence me somehow. I know my parents more than you'll ever do!"

"Oh, stop saying nonsense... I've known your parents over twenty years now, long before your birth. I linked them together, you know. I was meant to marry Binta. In fact I fell in love with your mother long before Ahmad came and snatch her away from me. It's an old story, you won't understand... Some stories aren't meant to be understood, bit believe me, Humaira, they're true."

Watching more tears forming him her surprised eyes, Alhaji Musa couldn't help but to fall into a wicked laughter. Then it fades into his usual crooked smile.

"Think whatever you want Humaira, you have no idea what I'm capable of. Your mum and I had to keep it a secret." he pressed for a while and stared at her with a stern look. "I wasn't sure your dad would have kept quiet for long so... I took him out of the picture. It was so unfortunate, wasn't it? Yet, your mother didn't marry me even after his planed death. Oh, that was a success for me, and as usual, she was the ignorant one. The unfaithful one. Binta was meant to suffer like that and die in my hands after all."

He squeezed Humaira's face and pushing her away. She felt used and abused, knowing she really meant nothing to him. And maybe it was true.

Just maybe.

His mouth felt sweet and wet that he bit his lower lip with the in anger growing in him. An anger that was hard to reach and impossible to keep away.

Alhaji Musa grabbed the phone on his table and called in the security guards.
"Take this!" he threw five thousand naira notes to her face.
"I don't want anyone to know about this, Humaira! Abort the pregnancy as soon as possible and let's forget anything ever happened between us."

"What? You can't throw me out of your life like this Alhaji Musa! You used me! You owe me so much, sir! I'll never forgive you! Perhaps, I would never murder an innocent child just because you forever want to keep this a secret. Put it at the back of your mind Alhaji! I'll never abort this baby!!" She spat at his face, not bothering about picking or even looking at the money. His filthy money.

Two built security guards came in not long after to drag her out.
"Take her away and never let her in, ever again!" Alhaji Musa commanded.

"You are a liar, Alhaji Musa! All you said was a lie. My Zainab can never be your daughter. I swear on this day Alhaji, you'll surely pay for humilating me like this! I promise you!!" she cried.

Alhaji glanced at the security guards signaling they should throw her out immediately.

"Take that filthy thing out of here right now and make sure she never comes her, ever again. Just as nasty as her mother... Beat her up if you want, I don't care! And please... I need to be alone. No more visit or for today, okay?"

"Okay sir!" They answered and grabbed her by both arm.

"I'll definitely come back, Alhaji! I'll make sure you pay, Alhaji!!" She hissed while they dragged her out of the building and locked her through the gates.

Things are getting out of hand for Humaira. She was helpless once again in her life.
First, her mother's death. Now, she's pregnant with a bastard child of someone she hated the most in this world. Only God knows what would happen next; maybe, giving birth to it, alive.

'How would I hide this from the world? How would I abort an innocent child when my mother didn't abort me.... I can't bear the pain of abortion, it would hunt me later in life. The thought of having an abortion at 18 would be a disgrace to my upbringing. I'm sure, mum and dad's spirit would be disappointed in me right now. No! I have to keep this child, no matter what.' Humaira made up her mind.

She stopped a taxi and went back to Gwagwalada. That afternoon, Humaira decided to meet Doctor Azeezah and her little sister, Zainab. She had to the them the truth no matter how bitter, the truth would always remain the truth.

Zainab was on her way back from school when she met Humaira by the gate. She would have easily used the alarm or called Doctor Azeezah but she choose to stay outside instead.
'Thinking of how to get in, what to say and how she would say it...' this was what was praying on Humaira's mind.

"Sister Humaira!" Zainab ran to her sister with a big hug. "When did you come back from school? Why did you come so early??"

Humaira felt emotional as she was hugging Zainab. Tears trickled in her eyes because, she loved Zainab so much and it was very painful to think she wasn't a good sister to her.  She wasn't a good example for Zainab at all. Instead of protecting Zainab and easing her from any more problem and worries, she was adding to it instead.

The thought of Alhaji Musa claiming to be Zainab's biological father ran through her mind. She couldn't help but to think about what he said.  They might be not be blood related after all, whatever happens, she would never tell Zainab about her true identity. Whether the claim was true or false. The thought of loosing Zainab to Alhaji Musa would be another heartbreak. Humaira decided to keep it a secret from her, for as long as possible.

"Let's get in." Humaira smiled, then the two sisters walks into the storey building.

"Doctor Azeezah wasn't around.  She must have gone somewhere. Why don't you call her, sis?" Zainab suggested.

"No... I want to surprise her just like how I surprised you. " Humaira joked.
Zainab took her sister into her room and should her around. It was very beautiful and everything Humaira ever wanted in a room were inside. Just like it was before their father's death; a television set,  She'll of books, a big soft bed, and a wide mirror. Zainab went into the kitchen to preparing indomie and egg for lunch.

Humaira advice her sister from afar.  She has become a bit taller and fresher than before. She must be living a very beautiful and happy life here.

"How's studies?"  Humaira asked while Zainab sets the table.

"Fine, fine. Everything is going on smoothly, I must say Doctor Azeezah is a blessing in disguise. She paid my school fees and bought all my textbooks for this term... The ones I couldn't get. She also registered me for the school's extra lesson."

"Wow! Alhamdulillah.... It's good to know. Just study hard, Okay?"

"Okay sis... " Zainab mutter, gulping water down her throat.

"So... Any gist for me so far?"

"No... Not really but I definitely have something! Trust your sister!"

"Hmmmm... I trust you. Humaira laughed hard.  She has missed this part of Zainab for a very long time now,  And she needed it. Zainab wasn't just her sister but her best friend.  Her only best friend. Waiting to hear all Zainab school rants, And all the area gossips she used to keep till her arrival from school.

"Dan Allah! Tell me now." Humaira was getting impatient.

"It's nothing big and I'm not yet sure fa, but I heard Doctor Azeezah saying she wants to leave Nigeria."

"What?!"

"Yes, she was speaking with her daughter on the phone the other day and she said she was going to take me along. I think she's trying to work a transfer to Canada first. She'll be retiring in ten years."

"Seriously? That would be awesome! Masha Allah... " Humaira twitched. "So I might leave Nigeria to pay you a visit some day."

"Yes but I'm not happy about it..." Zainab frowned.

"Why?" Humaira questioned, moving closer to her adorable little sister.

"One, I don't want to stay far from you. You know if not for financial issues, I would have followed you to Zaria to school in their staff 's school." Zainab looked so sad while explaining. "Number two, the scholarship! All my hardwork to get a scholarship would go in vain just because I want to school in Canada."

"Don't worry Zee, studying abroad is better than studying in Nigeria. Wait and see. You don't know how fortunate you are yet, those people are more advanced than we are in everything." Humaira persuaded.

"Really?" Zainab smiled to the thought of it.

"Yes, really. You might even make good friends and meet your prince charming there... Don't just forget you have an elder sister in Nigeria."

"Sister Humaira, please stop that joke. I would be going there to improve my studies not to search for Price charming or whatever? Perhaps,  I want to be a medical Doctor like Doctor Azeezah... "

"Wow! That's nice... Masha Allah! I'm so glad you want to follow medical line, at least, Doctor Azeezah can guide you through." Humaira said.

Just then, Doctor Azeezah walked in and the girls went to welcome her.

"Assalam Alaikum!"

"Wa'alaikum sallam." They replied.

"Welcome ma." Humaira rushed to her.

"What? When did you come back?"

"Just yesterday evening ma."

"What?! Why didn't you come here? Hope all is well sha?"

"Yes ma, Alhamdulillah."

"Why are you back from school? I mean.... It's a surprise to see you again."

"Yes ma, I came because I want to see you for something urgent ma. I need your advice on an issue."

"And you couldn't call?"

No,  it isn't a phone conversation..." Doctor Azeezah could read the words in her eyes. "Okay then, I'm a bit tired now but let's go to my room, since it's something urgent. Zainab wanted to follow them but Humaira asks her to stay behind, it was an adjust talk.

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Author's Note:

Word Count: 2,157.

What? 2,157 words in just a day!
Pheeew! I tried!

This is another long chapter here. I guess I'll be updating as much as my tiny fingers can possibly type. Let's say, at least between 700 to 2500 words per chapter. So anyways, I just hope you enjoy.

Based on today's update, how long do you think Humaira would keep this secret about Alhaji Musa being Zainab's biological father. If you're Zainab, would would your reaction be when you find out?

Please, keep on commenting as much as possible...  Let's keep each other company with this.

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Words and Translations

-Dan Allah: For God Sake
-Fa: Indicates the person truly or really mean it, it wants something. It's more like 'seriously'.

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Enjoy reading  and please, don't forget to press the tiny orange star ★ at the end of each chapter to notify me you've actually read it… So! What are we waiting for! Get ready for this story of family, adventure, mystery and plot twists.