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This was the word that most upset her; meaning he, too, had agreed with the new situation they were brought into. She burst into tears again, and this time the sound was louder than before.
"So even you agree with the lie they are spreading," she said weakly, her voice breaking, the pain of her heart manifesting in every single word.
Her words struck him deeper than anything else. He remained silent, watching her cry without trying to hide anything—fear, pain, and disbelief were all on full display.
He sat blankly, struggling with his thoughts. His eyes fell upon her, on the way she was holding onto him as if he were the only thing left for her in the world.
He let out a sigh and said, "Alright then, we will take a single room."
Even though he knew this might bring about a new and difficult dynamic, at that moment, her distress mattered more to him than anything else.
Hearing what he said, she softened her crying—not because she had stopped, but because she had found what she was looking for, even if only for a little while.
He took the keys, and then they went up the elevator to the floor where their room was located, after stopping to buy some groceries.
He sat down on a chair.
Rumana crouched at the edge of the bed and said, "Yaya, go take a bath."
He replied, "No, you go ahead."
He did not look at her directly while speaking, trying to avoid a certain emotional current he did not yet fully understand in his heart.
Without any argument, she stood up and headed for the bathroom. Her walk was as slow and hesitant as someone walking on eggshells.
She entered the bathroom, and the room fell silent. Junaid sat on the edge of the bed, leaning against the wall, staring at the bathroom door like someone waiting for something. His heart was heavy with many things—questions, anxiety, and a weight he wasn't used to feeling.
Before long, she emerged clad in just a short towel, her wet hair falling over her shoulders. Water was dripping from her skin, showing she had just bathed.
One look at her made him quickly turn his gaze away. He adjusted his posture, directing his attention to the side, trying to suppress any thoughts that might arise.
As for her, with a blank mind, she walked over to where the clothes he bought for her were, picked them up, and put them on. After finishing, she came to sit at the edge of the bed, resting her chin in her hands, her eyes staring blankly into space while her mind wandered deep into a world of thoughts.
Silence filled the room once again.
He was waiting for her to fall sleep so he could take a bath and get some rest from the emotional turmoil she was putting him through, but there was no sign of sleep in her eyes whatsoever.
She sat motionless, chin in hand, staring fixedly at one spot as if looking at something invisible to everyone else. She was silent, like someone silently reading a letter inside her heart—a letter filled with fear, anxiety, and the past events that had traumatized her.
Seeing her in a state like this for the first time, his heart grew even heavier with sorrow. This wasn't the Rumana he knew: the cheerful, lively one who brought joy to everyone. What had happened had turned her into a completely different person.
He glanced at her slowly, without her noticing. Then he felt something stir inside him—a bitter, venomous hatred. He felt hatred for those people who came with lies, plunging them into this state, trying to rip him away from his only sister in the world.
It wasn't until 3:00 AM that the thief of sleep finally snatched her away. It wasn't a peaceful, restful sleep, but one born of exhaustion, weeping, and overthinking—the kind of sleep the body forces upon you even when the heart is not ready.
Her breathing began to change, her body relaxed, and her hand gripping the edge of the bed loosened slightly. It was then that he was certain she had fallen asleep.
He stood up slowly, making sure not to make any loud noise, afraid of waking her. He stood watching her for a while; her face still bore the marks of distress in her sleep, along with dried tears.
He turned and headed to the bathroom, letting the shower run over his body, though it did little to clear the thoughts weighing on his mind. When he finished, he slipped into a jalabiya and stepped back out.
He didn't dare go back to the bed, so he went to the sofa, sat down, leaning back, and looked around the room. Thoughts flooded his mind again: What would happen tomorrow? How was he going to protect her? And would this ordeal end well?
Physical and mental exhaustion finally overpowered him, and sleep carried him away unawares.
Thus they spent the night—she on the bed, he on the sofa—both trapped in the same state of anxiety and uncertainty.
Both of them were extremely hungry. They hadn't eaten anything since afternoon, but the emotional trauma they were going through suppressed everything, even the hunger gnawing at their insides.
When the heart is filled with distress, the body forgets its daily needs.
Even before falling asleep, Rumana deeply regretted returning to Katsina—regretted it more times than one could count. It was a regret full of bitter "had I knowns."
She remembered what her life was like before this crisis. Her stubbornness and refusal to listen had led her straight into a helpless predicament.
Her sleep was restless and devoid of comfort, bringing more torment instead of rest. In her dream, she found herself in a dark place, holding his hand tightly, but slowly, they were being pulled apart.
She felt someone dragging him away from her.
She held onto him tighter, trying to prevent them from separating, but the force pulling him away was stronger than hers. His hand slipped out of hers, and she was handed over to those strangers.
Fear gripped her heart. She opened her mouth, strained with all her might, and let out a piercing scream, waking up in terror and releasing a loud shriek that filled the entire room.
"Woe is me! I am ruined, they are going to take away my only protector!"
Her scream jolted him out of his light sleep. In a flash, he sprang up, hardly realizing when he leaped onto the bed. He pulled her into a tight embrace, holding her as if she were about to slip away.
"Shhh... shhh... I am right here... I am right here..." he whispered, stroking her back and trying to calm her down.
She clung to him harder, feeling as though he was about to be snatched away. Her body trembled, her breathing came fast, and tears flowed without stopping.
With a breaking, weeping voice, she said, "They are going to separate us... that is what they want to do... you are my only protector in life... Since even Umma has grown tired of me... she wants to hand me over to them..."
She hugged him tighter like a small child seeking refuge. Her words came from a heart full of fear and uncertainty—the heart of someone who could no longer see any light.
Junaid took a deep breath, pulled her closer into his embrace, stroked her back, and tried to calm the storm of fear and terror rising in her chest. He lowered his head close to hers and said, "Shhh, calm down. Nothing is going to happen. Do you hear me? No one is going to separate us."
He pulled back slightly to wipe her tears with his palm. His eyes filled with compassion and fierce determination, he said, "Your brother Junaid is with you from today until my last breath. I will not let anyone harm you, let alone separate us. Trust me."
He spent a long time consoling her, speaking softly, stroking her head and back, until her screams subsided into quiet sobs.
She raised her tear-filled eyes to look at him, shaking her head, wanting to believe his words, but the fear in her heart kept pulling her back.
Gradually her breathing normalized, her crying faded into heavy sighs, and his words continued to echo in her ears—words full of reassurance that acted like a shield for her seeking refuge.
When he made a move to pull back, she grabbed him quickly again, shaking her head and speaking with a weak, trembling voice, "No... please... don't leave me... please..."
So he stayed sitting on the bed with her clinging to him, her hand holding onto his clothes, her head on his chest—the only place she felt safe.
As sleep began to pull her under again and he tried to gently lay her down to move to the sofa, she bolted upright as if about to scream. He quickly said, "Shhh, I am not going anywhere, I am right here with you."
He didn't know what to do; he felt overwhelmed, trapped in a situation he could barely endure. His heart raced, his mind spun. The way she clung to him, the way she sought shelter in him, threw him into a difficult dilemma.
Slowly, he reached out with his free hand and picked up his phone.
His fingers hovered over Umma's name. He prepared to call her, but then another thought flashed through his mind about what would follow.
If he called... what would happen? Would they come and take her? Would she be forced to return and live in Katsina? Could he bear to see that? Could he bear to see her live without them? Could he bear seeing her in constant distress?
His hand froze, his heart grew heavy, and he quickly ended the call before it connected, setting the phone aside. He closed his eyes, feeling the crushing weight of the situation descend upon him.
(Promotional note for the book "Zane Akan Ruwa" by Aysher Angel)
...
(The narrative continues with Junaid taking Rumana to his friend's house, Umma discovering he visited the office and taking a private jet to Abuja, and finally calling Junaid on the phone to demand Rumana's return).
Summary
In this segment of Zane Akan Ruwa, Junaid and his traumatized sister, Rumana, are hiding out in a hotel room after escaping a bitter family crisis. Rumana is deeply distressed, plagued by nightmares, and terrified that their mother (Umma) will track them down and force her back to Katsina. Junaid desperately tries to comfort and reassure her, promising to protect her no matter what.
Realizing the hotel is no longer safe after a suspicious reception encounter, Junaid moves Rumana to a secure friend's house. Meanwhile, Junaid sneaks into his company to retrieve their passports and essential documents. Despite his secrecy, Umma discovers his visit, locks down the company, and flies to Abuja in a private jet, managing to find that their passports are missing—realizing Junaid plans to flee the country with Rumana. Through a phone call arranged via his associate Umar, Umma confronts Junaid, accusing him of rebellion and ingratitude while demanding that he bring Rumana back immediately.
Description
- Characters:
- Rumana: Junaid's younger sister, deeply distressed, fearful, and regretful of her past choices, suffering from severe emotional trauma and nightmares.
- Junaid: Rumana's protective older brother ("Yaya"), torn between family duty, his mother's demands, and his fierce dedication to keeping his sister safe.
- Umma (Hajiya Amina): Their mother figure/guardian, stern, unforgiving, and determined to control Rumana and bring her back to Katsina.
- Umar: Junaid's office associate/staff member who assists him discreetly.
- Setting: Begins in a hotel room, shifts to a secure friend's house, and touches upon Junaid's corporate office in Abuja.
- Core Conflict: A sibling bond pitted against parental authoritarianism and family betrayal, culminating in an intense psychological standoff over freedom and control.
Analytics
- Pacing: Moderate to fast-paced, shifting effectively between quiet, emotionally charged intimate moments (the hotel room/bedside scenes) and high-tension suspense (the office lockdown and phone confrontation).
- Themes:
- Protection vs. Control: The thin line between guarding a loved one and rebelling against toxic authority.
- Trauma and Psychological Distress: Explored deeply through Rumana's panic attacks, nightmares, and obsessive clinging to safety.
- Sacrifice: Junaid risking his standing with his mother and his own peace of mind for his sister's well-being.
- Tone: Melancholic, tense, highly emotional, and suspenseful.
