“He sure needs your help”, the strange
caller responded.
Earlier in the day,I have been feeling kind of
strange, acting wierd and worrying over
nothing in particular. My face was gloomy
and I hardly paid attention to anything
because my mind was carried away thinking
of Basheer.
I was that kind of a person who finds it
hard to hide my feelings. I was always
lively, you can call me a talkative who
knows when and where to talk. People
always say I am smart complimenting with
the way I handle situations. I had the
ability to remain calm even at the most
difficult situations.
At the age of 19, I have grown into a young
woman, matured both in looks and mind.
I was dark, slim and tall having curves at
the right places. I had beautiful bright eyes,
a pointed nose and well-shaped lips, I was
indeed beautiful.
Basheer was my best friend, almost the
same age as I was, a guy I have known
right from my childhood. Owing to the fact
we are both fulanis, he was also tall, biult
and had a very cute face, he was one of
those lucky handsome and nice guys
“I would never get tired of staring at your
face”, I usually tease him.
There was something unique about Basheer,
he was always smiling. He was patient, a
very good listener and knew how to make a
girl smile. Those qualities in him kept our
friendship alive even after so many years.
“Are you there”?, the strange caller
interrupted my thoughts
“Yeah”, I answered rather absent-mindedly.
“Where is he now”? I asked
“The pinnacle hospital”, he replied and went
on “I guess you know where that is”
“Ask for Dr Imran Shuraim when you get
here”, he went on without waiting for my
reply and added some words of am
expecting you as soon as possible.
“Ofcourse, I’ll do that first thing tomorrow
morning and Thanks”, I replied ending the
call.
I la!d on my bed thinking about the turn of
events. Earlier the same day, Basheer called
to inform me he was coming to Kano from
Sokoto as he was studying Biochemistry
over there in Usman Danfodio University,
Sokoto (UDUS) while I was studying the
same course in Bayero University, Kano
(BUK). I tried talking him out of it as it
wasn’t less than a month that he left for
sokoto.
“There’s no point in you coming home now,
friend”, I had said after he told me his
intention
“Lectures are not on and am through with
my registration,I am just coming to spend a
few days, just to kill time”, he replied
“So what’s the point”?, I asked him and
added
“Mine are already on (referring to my
lectures) and you know I won’t skip lectures
just to hang out with you”, I teased him
” then I’ll go with you to the lectures, if you
insist”, he teased back.
I knew this wasn’t going anywhere, as far
as he wanted to come, nothing will make
him change his mind. So I told him I’ll be
expecting him and he should call me as
soon as he’s ready to leave. We talked for a
few more minutes and hang up.
The time was 5:45pm, 7 hrs since Basheer
called to inform me he was leaving sokoto
and I have not heard from him since then. I
tried calling him, but his number wasn’t
going through. ???
I was sitting on the sofa at one end of my
room looking worried, my phone by my side.
I picked it up, tried calling Basheer again
after so many abortive tries, it still wasn’t
connecting
“Oh Allah”, I said under my breath and
wished everything was alright with my dear
friend.
It was unlike him to swicth off his phone
and very unlike him to come into town
without informing me.
But what was wrong? I thought
An idea strucked me as I picked up my
phone again, dailled a number and put the
phone to my ear as it connected.
“Salamu alaikum”, he greeted me in the
usual islamic way, I could feel he was
smiling as he picked the call
“Walaika salam”, I answered
“Ah, the friend(trying to mimic the way
Basheer calls me), what a pleasant suprise.
To what do I have dis honour of you calling
me today”, Adam teased
I laughed then replied, ” You know I always
call you whenever I miss you, so it occured
to me that I was missing you today”
“How I wished that was true, I told Basheer
to extend my love to you this morning
before he left”, he replied
He gave me the answer to my question even
before I asked, so Basheer really left for
Kano this morning, I was lost in thoughts.
So where is he? I asked myself.
“Hello…”? Adam’s voice broke my thoughts.
“You seem to be quiet, is anything the
matter”? He asked
“Yeah, its just that I haven’t heard from
Basheer since he informed me he’s leaving
Sokoto and I am a bit worried”, I answered,
really sounding worried.
“That’s strange, but don’t worry, everything
will be fine”, he assured me.
Adam was Basheer’s close friend and
roommate, we were very familiar with each
other and I usually contacted him whenever
I couldn’t reach Basheer. He had promised
to let me know if anything arise and after
talking to him on the phone, I felt relaxed
although I still haven’t heard from Basheer.
Two hours later, I was sitting alone in my
room as I preferred being alone whenever I
am worried over something. I was going
through the pages of the latest Dijah
magazine but my mind was not with the
beautiful pictures I was staring at, I was
about dropping the magazine when my
phone rang. I said a silent prayer to Allah;
to let the caller be my dear friend.
How wrong was I!
I kept looking at the phone as if it would
answer the call itself, saw an unknown
number, hesitated a bit before picking up
the phone.
“Salamu alaikum”, I greeted as I answered
the call
“Wa alaiki salam”, a strange male voice
answered.
“Can I speak to Miss Na’imah please?” he
asked
“Yeah, it’s me on the line. What can I do for
you?” I replied, feeling nervous
“I am sure you are a close relative of
Basheer M. Bello, right?” he said more of a
statement rather than a question
“Yes”, I replied then added;
“What about him?”, I sounded worried
The strange caller was silent for a few
seconds before he added;
“He was involved in a tragic car accident”,
he said slowly…
Credit coolvals
