<p>“I was supposed to take 500,000 naira to my father’s business partner in Kaduna today. He even gave me his car for the trip. But I ignored him, shut off my phone, and came to this party instead. Now the money is still in the car, abandoned in the forest. Who knows if someone will steal it?”</p><p>Nabeel exhaled deeply. "That’s not as bad as my situation. I have spent my entire life in disobedience. My father has cried for me more times than I can count, yet I never changed. He still loves me, but I know I have failed him. I don’t even remember the last time I prayed five daily prayers.</p><p>“To make it worse, my mother is very ill, and I haven’t seen her in nearly two months. She’s been abandoned in a separate room because of her condition. My father is too tired to keep caring for her, so he hired people to look after her. What if she dies before I ask for her forgiveness?”</p><p>A sudden, piercing scream from Zuby echoed through the night.</p><p>They froze in horror.</p><p>Khairat’s voice trembled. “Zuby… oh God, what are they doing to her? They might be raping her!”</p><p>Saif, furious, snapped, “Shut up with the crying! She’s lucky they’re only doing that. What about us? No one knows what they’ll do to us! At least she’s a girl; they might show her some mercy. But us? They could kill us anytime.”</p><p>Nabeel forced a weak smile. “Even in the middle of this, Saif, you still have your dark sense of humor. Be careful. If you provoke them, they might kill you.”</p><p>Saif winced as Nabeel helped him adjust his injured hand.</p><p>With no sign of Zuby returning, they all lay down, shivering in fear.</p><p>Meanwhile, Zuby had passed out from the abuse. The men tossed her aside and went to sleep.</p><p> </p><p>—</p><p>Back in Bauchi City, Sumy’s mother was in distress. She had been lying to Sumy’s father all evening, saying she would be home soon. But now, she was out of excuses.</p><p>"Where is Sumayya?!" her husband demanded.</p><p>Trembling, she finally admitted, “She went to a party, and I don't know where.”</p><p>Furious, her husband disowned her.</p><p>Meanwhile, Nabeel’s sick mother lay in her isolated room, weeping. "I have sinned too much, Lawisa," she told her friend. “God is punishing me.”</p><p>Little did she know that her son was in grave danger, facing the consequences of his own actions.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>
