33~Funeral
"Faruk? Faruk!" His mother called softly. "Can't you hear me?"
He stared blankly at the ceiling before answering.
"Mom... Dad... I would like to be alone for a while."
His father frowned. "Why? The moment you return from outside, both you and your mother have been looking miserable. What exactly happened?"
"Nothing, Dad." Faruk forced a smile. "I'm just tired. I want to rest."
"Nothing?" His father scoffed. "Then why do you both look like someone died? Somebody should tell me what happened."
Mama Faruk hesitated.
"He... saw Hanan."
"And?" His father asked.
"She wasn't alone."
Faruk shut his eyes in annoyance.
"Mom..."
"She was with Najib." She finished quietly. "He saw them embracing each other."
Silence settled in the room.
His father let out a dry chuckle. "So that's why."
"Mom, please..." Faruk muttered. "Can we stop talking about them? I just want to rest."
His father folded his arms.
"This is exactly what I've been trying to tell you. You'll keep getting hurt as long as you keep chasing a woman whose heart belongs to another man."
"Dad..." Faruk warned.
"No, let me finish." His father's voice hardened. "She isn't here with you after you nearly died. She's there comforting her ex. Doesn't that tell you where her heart truly is?"
Faruk's jaw tightened. "The only reason she was with him is because he keeps forcing himself into her life."
His father laughed.
"You still believe that?"
"I know it!" Faruk snapped. "Hanan told me herself that Najib is only her ex, her past. He's the one who refuses to let go."
"Then why did she run into his arms today?" His father asked calmly.
Faruk fell silent.
His father continued.
"She's an adult, Faruk. Nobody forced her to hug him. She chose to."
"Dad, Enough please." Faruk frowned.
"You've always chosen Najib over me. Ever since we were children you've defended him. But this time I won't accept it. Hanan loves me. Najib is the one trying to destroy what we have."
"I'm not choosing anyone." His father replied. "I'm trying to save my son from a heartbreak everyone can already see."
"For goodness sake, both of you stop!" Mama Faruk snapped.
The room fell silent.
"This is a hospital."
"Must you argue everywhere you go? I'm exhausted watching the two of you fight."
"My son..." His father sighed.
"Think about what I said."
Without another word, he walked out, closing the door behind him.
The room became quiet.
Faruk reached for his Mother's hand.
"Mom... please don't be angry."
She gently pulled her hand away.
"You think I'm angry because of your father?"
She shook her head.
"I'm angry because of you."
Her words made his chest tighten.
"It hurts watching you love someone this much when I don't know if she can ever love you the same way."
Faruk lowered his gaze.
"I tried not to fall for her."
His voice came out barely above a whisper.
"I really did."
He smiled bitterly.
"But every time I tried not to... I only found myself falling harder."
His mother closed her eyes. "Just let her go..."
"I can't."
He laughed quietly.
"If Najib would just stop coming between us... everything would be different."
His mother remained thoughtful for a moment.
Then her eyes lit up.
"Maybe..."
Faruk looked at her.
"What?"
"I might have an idea."
"What idea?"
Just then, the door swung open.
"Alhaji is gone." His father announced.
"Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un." Mama Faruk whispered.
"The burial will be held together with Hajiya's. I'm leaving now with Najib. Are you coming?"
She looked at Faruk before shaking her head.
"No. My son needs me more."
His father nodded once.
"I'll send your condolences."
He turned and walked out, leaving the room in heavy silence.
All the major media houses, radio stations, newspapers, and magazines carried the news of Alhaji Aminu Garba's and Hajiya Khadija deaths.
The news spread across Lagos like wildfire.
It felt as though the entire city mourned with the Garba family.
From dawn, mourners streamed into the mansion in large numbers. Friends, business associates, neighbours, religious leaders, and well wishers came one after another to pay their final respects.
Despite swearing never to set foot in the Garba mansion again, Hanan found herself driving there willingly.
She insisted on driving.
Najib was in no emotional state to be behind the wheel, and Amina was barely holding herself together.
Neither of them objected.
The drive passed in complete silence.
Every few minutes, Hanan stole worried glances at Najib through the rear view mirror. He sat staring blankly through the window, almost lifeless.
His silence frightened her.
She has witnessed many sides of Najib over the years, but never this emptiness.
This version of him scared her the most.
After several minutes of searching, she finally found a parking space outside the mansion. Luxury cars lined both sides of the compound, with more arriving every minute.
She switched off the engine.
"We're here." She said softly.
Neither of them responded.
"Amina."
She gently turned towards her.
"We're home."
Amina slowly lifted her head before looking outside.
"Okay."
She stepped out of the car and immediately spotted her husband waiting by the gate.
"Amir!"
She broke into tears and rushed into his embrace.
Even from inside the car, Hanan could hear Amina's sobs as Amir held and comforted her.
Hanan then shifted her attention to Najib.
"Najib..."
Still nothing.
He remained frozen in his seat, his eyes fixed ahead.
With a quiet sigh, she leaned across him and unfastened his seatbelt.
He didn't resist.
She gently turned his face towards hers before taking both of his hands into hers.
"It's okay." She whispered softly, rubbing the back of his hands.
"I know this hurts... I know you're exhausted... but you have to stay strong."
His dull eyes finally met hers.
"They need you."
He swallowed hard. "Who?"
"Grandma... and Amina."
She offered him a faint smile.
"If you fall apart too, who will be there for them?"
After a long silence, he answered in a hoarse whisper.
"You."
Hanan slowly shook her head. "No... they need their son and their brother."
Her eyes softened.
"They need Najib."
He lowered his gaze before murmuring. "Thank you for staying."
"You don't have to thank me."
She squeezed his hand gently.
"Go. They're waiting for you."
Together, they stepped out of the car.
As they approached the mansion, Hanan's steps gradually slowed.
The gates...
The driveway...
The garden...
Nothing had changed.
Every corner carried memories she wished she had forgotten.
For a moment, it felt as though time had rewound three years.
She stood rooted to the spot until she felt warm fingers wrap gently around her hand.
She looked up.
Najib.
"Come." He said quietly.
She nodded before following him inside.
The atmosphere inside the mansion was heavy with grief.
Recitations of the Qur'an and Dua's echoed through every corner of the house as relatives and visitors sat quietly offering condolences.
Grandma sat close to the bodies without saying a word.
Her face remained calm...
Too calm.
But her swollen eyes told a different story.
Both Alhaji and Hajiya had already been washed, shrouded in white burial cloths, and laid on funeral stretchers awaiting Janazah.
Several Imams led prayers while the guests silently raised their hands in supplication.
Watching everything unfold made Hanan's chest tighten.
More than anyone...
Her heart ached for Grandma.
She wished there was something, anything she could do to ease the woman's pain.
After hours of prayers and condolences, the gathering gradually came to an end.
It was now time to proceed for the burial.
As Islamic tradition required, only the men would accompany the bodies to the cemetery.
The funeral vehicles were prepared outside.
Hanan immediately became anxious.
Her eyes searched for Najib.
He sat inside one of the vehicles without moving, his expression empty.
She wished she could accompany him.
Not because of the burial...
But because she was afraid of leaving him alone with his thoughts.
"Abdul."
She hurried after him before he entered his car.
"Please..."
He turned around.
"Stay close to Najib."
"He isn't thinking clearly."
"Don't leave him alone, not even for a minute."
She continued speaking until Abdul sighed with a small smile.
"Relax."
"I'll stay with him."
"I won't let him out of my sight."
"Happy now?"
She finally managed a faint smile.
"Thank you."
"Drive safely."
She stood there watching the convoy leave until the last vehicle disappeared beyond the gate.
Only then did she turn back towards the mansion.
She almost collided with someone.
"Amina."
Amina stood before her with tear filled eyes.
"I... I want to talk to you."
Hanan nodded gently.
"Okay."
"I'm listening."
Amina lowered her gaze, twisting her trembling fingers together.
"I... I don't even know how to begin." Her voice cracked as tears streamed down her cheeks. Every time she tried to speak, another sob stole her words away.
Hanan looked at her quietly.
She already knew what was coming.
Amina wanted forgiveness.
"Amina..."
Before Hanan could finish, Amina slowly dropped to her knees.
"What are you doing?" Hanan gasped, immediately reaching for her. "Please, stand up. Don't do this."
"No..." Amina shook her head, tears falling uncontrollably. "Please let me stay like this. This is where I deserve to be."
"Oh, Amina..." Hanan sighed helplessly.
"I'm sorry." Amina clasped her hands together. "I know we don't deserve your forgiveness, but I'm begging you anyway... Please forgive my mother. She can never apologize to you herself, so let me do it for her."
She sobbed harder.