<p>At 6 a.m., Mum left the house and headed to Sadiq's family home, while Jehan remained asleep and Goggo was busy with house chores, preparing the meal they missed the previous night for breakfast.</p><p>Mum entered Sadiq's house with greetings. Sadiq, who was standing in the courtyard with his mother, turned toward her with a smile and said, “Good morning, Mama. How are you?”</p><p>"I'm fine, my son," Mum replied warmly. Sadiq's mother, showing respect, added, “Welcome. Sadiq was just telling me about your daughter's disappearance. May Allah help us find her.”</p><p>"Ameen," Mum quickly responded. Sadiq then said, "Mama, let me call Sha’aban so we can start checking around the neighborhood. Hopefully, we’ll find her." His mother added, “May Allah guide your efforts.”</p><p>Sadiq, Sha'aban, and Yusuf prepared to leave, but Mum insisted on joining them, despite Sadiq’s polite attempts to convince her otherwise. With no other option, the group began their search, moving from house to house, inquiring about Rimsha. However, after visiting five neighborhood leaders, they still had no leads.</p><p>Mum, unused to walking long distances, was visibly exhausted and hungry, as she hadn't eaten since the previous afternoon. Yet, her determination to find Rimsha kept her going. Eventually, Sadiq suggested seeking the help of religious scholars to pray for Rimsha's safety. Mum distributed all the money she had to five clerics for Qur’anic recitations and charity. Despite their efforts, they returned home without any success, with Mum dragging her swollen, aching feet.</p><p>Upon entering the courtyard, she found Jehan and Goggo seated, both deep in thought. Jehan immediately stood up and cried, "Mum, where is my Rimsha?" Goggo also asked anxiously, “Maryam, where is Rimsha?”</p><p>Mum sat down on the mat, catching her breath, and didn’t respond. Goggo, concerned, sat beside her and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Maryam, please tell us. Don't leave us in suspense.”</p><p>Jehan, on the verge of tears, pleaded, "Mum, please, where is Rimsha?" Mum finally lifted her head after nearly thirty minutes, her voice trembling with despair. “Aunty A’isha, I didn’t find Rimsha. We’ve looked everywhere we could think of, but there’s no sign of her.”</p><p>Panic overtook both Goggo and Jehan. Goggo suggested reporting the case to the police, but Mum shook her head and reminded her of Alhaji Shitu’s warning against involving the authorities. Goggo retorted, “Maryam, this is a serious matter. What if Nawazudden arrives and finds out we didn’t act?”</p><p>"I understand, Aunty A’isha," Mum replied. "But we cannot risk it. Let’s continue praying for Rimsha's safe return." Goggo fell silent, reflecting deeply, while Jehan wept bitterly, regretting her decision to send Rimsha on the errand.</p><p> </p><p>—</p><p>KANO STATE</p><p>A luxurious two-story mansion stood magnificently, radiating wealth and sophistication. The compound featured a swimming pool, a parking space with three high-end cars (Mercedes-Benz McLaren Solus GT, Rolls-Royce Boat Tail), and a beautifully landscaped garden. A glass-covered relaxation area with plush sky-blue chairs and a table complemented the serene setting.</p><p>A fluffy white puppy darted out of the main entrance, followed closely by a young girl of about 13 or 14 years old. She was dressed in knee-length jeans and a black top, her hair styled in neat cornrows. Her chocolate complexion, large, expressive eyes, and slender figure highlighted her beauty.</p><p>Chasing the puppy, she called out, "My Dolly, stop now! Do you want me to cry?" Dolly leaped onto a swing in the playground area, which boasted facilities like basketball hoops, slides, and toy cars.</p><p>Panting and placing her hands on her hips, the girl scolded the puppy, "Why, Dolly? Why are you giving me a hard time? What did I do to you?" Dolly jumped into her arms, and she began stroking its fur affectionately.</p><p>At that moment, a middle-aged man entered the scene. Fair-skinned, with a neatly trimmed beard and a commanding presence, he was dressed in a brown jalabiya. He called out, “Baby Jelly, come and have breakfast before I leave for work.”</p><p>Jelly pouted dramatically, replying, “Daddy, I can't eat because Dolly hasn’t eaten since yesterday. She’s upset with me.”</p><p>He embraced her and gently said, “Come on, Baby. Let’s eat, and I’ll call Dr. Sadiq to check on Dolly.”</p><p>“But Daddy, if you don’t call the doctor first, I won’t eat!”</p><p>“Alright, I’ll call the doctor now, just so you’ll eat and let me go to work. My office has been calling me all morning.”</p><p>Convinced, she followed her father into the lavish living room, still clutching Dolly. The room was tastefully decorated with milk and brown sofas, a dining table, and a large plasma TV mounted on the wall.</p><p>Seated at the dining table laden with various dishes, her father picked up his phone and dialed a contact saved as “Dr.”</p><p> </p><p> </p>
