A young woman walks out the sergeant’s office with older women with her as an officer leads the way. All three of them look at the opened door, where they can hear the sergeant’s stormy voice from. He leans out the door and presses his lips, and as to inform them to walk in, he nods. Membere fills her chest with air as she walks in before Bamlakfekad and her brother, and once they all get in, Sergeant Befekadu closes the door behind them.
“Hope you’re all doing good,” he says quietly. Though Bamlakfekad knows him only during this case, he can tell that there is bad news from his voice.
“Please, what are we doing here?” he asks as the sergeant takes a seat behind a desk.
“Did you find her, my Adha?” Membere asks, pressing on her chest. The circles under her eyes are too visible now, it seems like she is getting worst and he don’t know how to tell them while he is seeing her situation. “Or anything that would lead you to her?” she leans on her left side of her shoulder as her lips shake because of the struggle to suppress her tears.
“I don’t know how to put this… I, um… I can’t be sure, yet,” he says, as he leans forward on the desk, his hands clasping. “I don’t want you to jump to conclusions about what I’m about to tell you,” he says as he sits back in his chair.
“Tell us already,” Bamlakfekad says, tired.
“The day before, I was informed of a case, in Sululta, in the woods, some peoples found a body of a woman.” He stays quite as he gives time for Memebere to sob for some minutes and her brother holds her tight.
“Calm down, etaba, he didn’t say it is her. Right?” he looks to his direction quizzically.
“Yes, but the officers couldn’t find anything regarding the body, no one clams to know her or to find a match among the missing person reports to the locals’ relatives or family members. So, they transferred the file to this station and the body got here the day before,” he says, as he presses his lips in thin line and he takes a moment, looking at all of them attentively. “The thing is, we can only confirm that the body belongs to a lady but since it has decomposed and was eaten by wild animal, we couldn’t identify who the body belongs to.”
“It’s not her, it’s not my baby,” she says, but she’s still sobbing. They all look to her direction sadly, “I’m her mother. I must know if that was the case, right?” She turns to Bamlakfkad, who’s unusually quite over this. Simply nodding, he closes his eyes, as if agreeing to what she’s saying.
“Indeed,” Sergeant Befekadu nods, pressing his lips. “That’s why you have to prove that to us,” he adds. He is doing his best to calm her down, but deep down, he believes that it could be her, her hair and skin matches the description.
“I know, but my daughter never leaves her ID. Did you find anything on the body?” she asks, and Sergeant Befekadu shakes his head. He can tell she just don’t want to see the body.
“Mrs Membere,” he says, stern, and clear his throat roughly. “I don’t believe it’s her too, but this would simplify our investigation on the lookout for your daughter.”
“Look…”
“Okay,” Bamlakfkad takes her word from her. “Look, Membe,” he looks at her and takes her hand across the table. “We just need to confirm that body isn’t our daughter’s, and everything will go back to its normal working procedure,” he says to calm her, though something in him is whispering otherwise. Like a bucket of cold water is splashed on his back, he is too calm, as if he already accepts his loss.
“But…”
“Let’s just check,” he pleads, pressing a sad smile and she hesitantly agrees. “Sure, what do you want us to do now?” he asks the sergeant hopelessly.
“Um,” he presses his lips sadly and looks down to his desk, and shaking his head, he looks up to face them sadly once again. “Well, we will go in a room where we placed the body in and you will see it, but please be aware, before you go in, that the body is disfigured badly.”
“Now,” she says. “Let’s go now. I want this to be over as soon as possible,” she utters, as if whispering, but clear to everyone, who heard her, how badly heartbroken she is.
“Yes,” Sergeant Befekadu says, after a momentary silence. “They’re waiting for us, we can go now,” he starts walking around the desk and out the room he leads the way.
Bamlakfekad is detecting the body attentively and quietly. Could this be her? He frowns to the thought that’s crossing his mind. He looked at the long curly hair that’s covered with sand and dirt. Even if this isn’t my daughter, what could have happened to her that she ends up like this? He deepens his furrow lines. The face is covered with a white handkerchief. Her skin is as light as Adha’s and she seems tall, but he can’t tell if she’s as tall as Adha. He is hoping Memebere will calm down as soon as possible to be in the room to check on this body, she is suddenly experiencing second thought the moment they reached by the entrance to the mortuary; though he’s her father, he didn’t raise her to recognise the smallest details.
“Okay, Okay,” she walks in, breathing heavily as she nods. Moments earlier, she thought she could do it, but she seems to have run out of the courage. Her eyes are still closed, and her brother is guiding her in.
“Open your eyes,” he whispers to her left ear and she slowly opens her eyes.
The first thing her gaze catches is her long curly hair and her heart feels like it’s beating twice powerful than the usual. The disturbing steer in her belly speeds up and the entire food and drink travels up in her body, as soon as it reaches in her throat, she can’t take it anymore, she runs out the room and throws up in the open. Everyone follows her, but Bamlakfekad kneels near her, instead of helping her. Sergeant Befekadu stands three feet away from them, shaking his head, feeling sorry.
She sobs until she loses energy and she kneel down next Bamlakfekad. For a moment, she tries to gather her breath and she licks her lips wet. Just as Sergeant Befekadu takes a step forwards, to give them the space they need, she clears her throat rough.
“It’s… it… it’s not her,” she utters hard through her dry lips, hardly parting properly.
“What?” Bamlakfekad looks at her in shock. “What do you mean?” he asks, confused.
“Adha, doesn’t use extensions,” she looks up at everyone staring at her like she has lost her mind. “She never used extensions, I mean weave, and she has long hair. I saw the clear sawing lines on the girl’s head,” she explains, and they, all understanding, nod, gasping. “You know what, I would even take a DNA test to confirm that,” she says, but she still can’t stop her tears from her eyes.
“Are you sure?” Sergeant Befekadu asks in worry.
“Yes, I’m sure,” she confirms it for him, nodding.
“Okay then,” Sergeant Befekadu says tilting to his left, he is a little unsure if she saw enough to accept her thought. Besides, why is she crying?
“When can we do it?” She asks.
“I will call to let you know about it. I have to discuss over this and work on it as soon as possible,” he says, nodding.
“Can you tell me how...I mean what happened to the girl?” she asks hesitantly before he takes off from their presence and he ceases on his steps. He slowly turns around and takes two more steps to stand close to them. Bamlakfekad is holding her right hand in his hands. He is relived than earlier and he is because he wants to believe her.
“You know I can’t, I mean if that’s not your daughter…” pressing his lip down and he shrugs.
“I know,” Bamlakfekad says, as he leans on the support of Tigabu to stand up as he helps Membere. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think we need to know about this,” agrees with the sergeant, nodding.
“Please,” she is still crying; her tears and interest in wanting to know about the girl in that room is a bit questionable for the sergeant but he can also understand why. “Please, I need to know. I don’t know why but I need to know,” she pleads.
“It was poisoning,” he says, after thinking for a moment. “The result of the autopsy shows
poisoning and struggle,” he says, narrowing his gaze at Memebere. “A strangling mark on the neck,” he says, as he points to his neck with his hands.
“If this was our daughter…” she says, sobbing as she shivers. Shaking his head, he wakes himself back to the now. He thought her interest was more than what it seems; worries over her lost daughter. After all, his job forced him to be suspicious of everyone’s move in every way.
“I should go now,” he says and takes slow steps away from them.
“Please, stop this now,” Bamlakfekad hugs her.
“Etaba, please, stop crying. You said it’s not her,” her brother says sadly.
“I agree,” she wipes her cheeks with her hands and swallows hard. “I can’t wait the police officers to perform miracles.” She bites her lower lip hard, “I want us all do look for her with all that we have. I need to get to her, one way or the other.”
“You know how we are looking for her…” she stops Bamlakfekad, holding her right hand in the air.
“I know and I don’t care anymore. Not after seeing that; that could have been her. I can’t wait for a day that I will one day wake up to get to hear news like this,” She says and her brother makes a cross sign. He doesn’t want to imagine it. “Promise me,” she turns to look at Bamlakfekad, and closing his eyes he nods and as she turns to her brother, he nods to her as well, promisingly.
***
If life was a one-way path, everything would have been much easier. But the truth is, life is choice and choice is life and like a root it have many paths. The question is, would life have been so great, exciting, bad, good, ugly and beautiful, if it only has a path and we can’t choose? Would it be this miserable and beautifully exciting at the same time? Would it be this desirable that we even die to stay alive?
Nothing is heading the way she is hoping for, but she can’t complain that she still has her mother’s endless love and her support. It’s only been a year ever since she got married to Ahmed. For her, he is everything she has, and she is willing to fight for him with all she is. She did it and she will keep fighting for him in every way possible. It was simple, her life before him; all she had to do was go to school and be the good girl she always was.
One day he walked into her life and she realises that she needs him around her more than anything. She loved him and he loved her. Everything happened so fast and when she came to her realisation, it was too late to back out. She was young but she knew what she needed, and he used to care for her.
Ahmed is quite understanding and an open-minded man. He wants Hadiya to have everything she desires. She is young and younger than him. Despite the fact that she could have chosen anyone she wanted, since she’s beautiful as well, he values her decision; she disobeyed her father’s wish when she fell in love with him, she confessed her feelings for him openly with no fear of what others would say about her. She went far enough for him, gave up on her luxurious life and decided to marry him, despite her family disapproving their love.
Ahmed was just a guest at her parent’s place. He went there with his friend to provide his corn from his father’s farm to her father. If there was something on his mind, back then, it was business and strictly business. The deal was going great and her father was constantly buying his products; he used the corn for his hotel business that’s still blooming in total success, then adds a coffee, from his uncle’s farm, with great quality. He just took over his parent’s business, but his knowledge in business was helping in addition to the good quality products they offered.
That day was different; unlike many other days, her father wanted his friend and Ahmed to stay for the holiday that was coming up. It was three days before the new year; the first time he saw her while assisting her mother to make them coffee. He still remembers how she was then, smiling now and then as she still a glimpse at him and his gaze was fixed at her. He was too quiet looking at her.
“Can you please listen to me?” her mother Tihetena pleads, trying to be convincing. She wants her to precede her education, just as Ahmed. He actually wants her mother to be here so she would talk to her; he is hoping she will listen to her.
“Mum,” she says as she eyes Ahmed in a scolding manner, but secretly and she turns her entire attention to her. “Look, I know I have to get back to class. I didn’t forget that,” she bites her lower lip slightly.
“You are my baby and I know what you’re capable of,” she tucks her hair behind her left ear as she looks in her eyes hopefully. “When Ahmed called me, I thought something bad happened,” she says, and Hadiya rolls her eyes, exasperated at the thought that crosses all her family’s mind every time they receive a call from her.
I can’t make it if I’m not in a life you chose for me, ha? she wonders but she’s secretly disappointed at her husband for calling her mother for this silly reason.
“I’m glad that he agrees you should precede your education,” her mother adds, worried.
“Look Mum, when I say I know I should proceed on my education I mean I needed to take some time on my life and when it’s time I will start heading to school,” as her mum gasps to utter she holds her left hand to her and ceases her from saying even more. “I know when it’s time to go to class and I know when I am ready. I don’t know why he have to get you here for some silly reason,” she adds and widens her too big almond seat eyes at him and he looks down, smiling in amusement over her bossiness.
“You can be stubborn if you want,” her mother adds, playfully spanking her on her hands.
“That’s what I love about her; her bossiness,” Ahmed smiles looking at Hadiya. “I thought it would be good for you to see her as well,” he adds and press his lips. “I know you miss each other.” He adds.
“I know,” her mother nods, pressing her lips. “I’m glad that you are taking care of her and…” pressing her lips, she pinches Hadiya’s right side of cheek, “as the fighter she is, she is holding up great.”
“Oh, Mum, I can’t wait till it’s morning and I take you to my favourite spot,” she giggles and Ahmed smiles as he walks and takes a sit next Hadiya.
“She sits near a river and she loves it,” he says, smiling as she leans back to him.
Looking at them, her mother smiles, lost. She is happy that her daughter is happy and that her husband will do anything to make her happy. She loves everything that she is seeing; beautiful love and good life, though it’s not as beautiful as the life she used to have with her. She knows how her daughter is stubborn like her father. If she says she will do something, she will, just like her father. Her worry is how to bring peace between these two important people in her life. They are both at war and they will not give up easily. She hopes and prays that there will be a day for all this to be over and she doesn’t have to hide or lie to her husband when she wants to visit her daughter.
Chapter Eight
I feel lively as a warm wind brushes my skin; it feels like most of my body parts are exposed that I feel it touching me all over. The wind feels to have a desire to tell me something, whispering it into my ears. It’s not constant flow of air, but now and then that it also forms a flapping sound; I think it’s making its way to me passing through a curtain…or a textile hung from a high level.
Slowly, I start feeling what my back is leaning against; something smooth and snug. Humming, I press my head deeper in the comfort beneath me, indulging to the sensation.
Muscular firm body, long Lucifer black hair, deep set eyes with yellow and roguish bright glowing colour, I recall and then I think I close my eyes. Huge hands covered in blood…Zhai hit and falling down hard on the ground…he was breathing heavy…I was in those arms as I was looking back in those eyes. And once again, I think I closed my eyes or that’s what I’m remembering now and I still feel chills all over me with the memory. It was foggy, too dark and roaring thunder…I was still in those arms I think I was in and out frequently that I was opening my eyes and then closed them and it makes it hard for me to realise and make a sense out of
what I would be able to tell, about what I would say I saw. I look back in those eyes and it was looking back into mine and it feels like he was laying me down… I felt as my energy retreats away from my body and I close my eyes so slowly. The flashbacks aren’t that comforting, and it feels quite unsafe for me to enjoy the comfort any longer than I can.
“Zhai!” I spring sit up in a comfortable bed but in a totally strange room. I’m breathing heavily, as if I relived that nightmare as the memory crosses my mind.
My surroundings are different and I slightly frown, looking around slowly. It’s all white; furniture, walling and ceiling is all white. The flooring, framings of sliding French door and a door are walnut wooding. I can’t tell where this is, but I’m sure I haven’t seen this part…unless I have woken up in a completely different one, once again.
I turn to my right, where there is a dressing table with a chair and I quickly turn to my left, only to look at a door that’s behind three pieces of single seat sofas; set in circle and evenly, with fair distance. I slowly turn to look straight to the slightly opened French door before the bed that’s allowing refreshing wind to blow into the room, flapping the transparent white curtains, that are wide apart to both side of the pole. This room looks empty because of the absences of too many furniture… I think, it feels cold, I mean emotionally, like a vibe.
Through the French door, there’s view to a breath-taking environment. I don’t know what to make out of what I am looking at. Like time has just ceased completely for me, I freeze, staring back at the splendid beauty before me, beauty that I am seeing at the moment in distance. I’m lost in my chaotic and yet still harmonious whole thought I can’t exactly sympathise with.
Where would I be now? Slightly parting my lips, I gasp air into my lungs, so slowly, as my one and only pellucid quizzical thought surfaces. My eyes keep jumping from one detail to another, painstakingly. I can see a beach; peaceful environment and yet still strange scenery; the sea seems stable, with seldomly mild weave to the shore of the sand. In collaboration to the spectacle on the sky it looks exquisite, but it creates an undeniable apprehensive feeling.
Hell Again Page 11