Evergreen episode 2

EVERGREEN
Episode 2
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…
“Why are you crying?”, my mum’s voice
interrupted my thoughts
“Am not crying”, I replied coming back to
my senses
It was just then I noticed the tears trickling
down my cheeks.
She sat down on the sofa as I sat up on the
bed supporting myself with my pillow.
“You still haven’t heard any news about
Basheer?”, she asked
As I have complained to her how I haven’t
heard from him since morning. I kept silent
for a while before adding;
“No, I just got a call from a doctor. He was
involved in a car accident on his way”, I
said with tears in my eyes
“Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un”, she
exclaimed
“How bad is it”?, she continued
“I don’t know, but the doctor said he
needed my help and I have to go to the
hospital as soon as possible”, I answered
amidst tears.
“Everithing will be fine, I am sure its not
that bad”, she said hugging me,trying to
console me.
“Its already late now, why don’t you go to
sleep so that you can wake up early to go
to the hospital”, she added.
I managed to take my shower and slipped
into my nightie after my mum left. I felt
better as I la!d down to sleep.
How bad is it? Would he be alright soon?
How much pain is he in now? Those were
the thoughts that came running in my mind
as I tried to sleep
But sleep was nowhere to be found………
The Pinnacle Hospital is a private hospital
situated at No. 18 Masallacin Murtala Road
off Zoo road in the heart of Kano city. It
was a bright morning and I noticed there
was traffic as I drove along BUK road as
workers were trying to get to their
workplaces while parents were trying to get
their kids to School, Commercial drivers
were already at work.
The hustle and bustle along the way with
impatient drivers honking their horns didn’t
take my mind off thinking about the
previous day.
I couldn’t sleep well last night and my eyes
were red as a result of crying. I was deep in
thoughts as I recalled my conversation with
Dr. Imran Shuraim.
“Why did he say Basheer needed my help”, I
asked myself.
“You will find out soon”, a voice in,side me
said.
“Hey…..move”, shouted an impatient driver
bringing me back to my senses.
I noticed the light has turned to green and I
was the only one yet to move. I wiped away
tears from my eyes as I changed the gear
to drive, released the handbrakes and drove
on.
It was 8:45am when I parked my Honda
Civic (Thank you daddy) in one of the
empty parking spaces at The Pinnacle
Hospital. I was nervous or rather tense as I
walked up to the main building of the
hospital.
The only building in the hospital served for
offices, wards and laboratories. It was a
two-storey building painted beautifully and
decorated with flowers of different species.
It was indeed a beautiful sight.
I walked through the main door and over to
the receptionist.
To be continued