~°°~With you, I have light in me~°°~

380m South, military demarcation line, Bama, Maiduguri, Borno, Nigeria. 23rd November, 2022. 11:07am ~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~ He missed home, no doubt on that. It never occurred to him that he'll miss home that much because he thought now that he was on good terms with his family, It would be easier.

But then he was wrong because he missed them more than he did while he was away from home completely for years. She, was whom he missed the most, she wouldn't get off his thoughts as long as he was not busy and it drove him crazy.

Sayf had thought about leaving the army but then when he told Tauhida, she instantly dismissed the idea. Her orders exactly "Don't ever remove that uniform unless I tell you to do so"

And of course he obeyed, he was a soldier afterall so he knew the consequences of not following orders. But then after much persistence, Tauhida agreed but on the condition that only after she becomes a mother. He teased her so much because of that until she regretted ever saying it.

Sayf swept away his thoughts for the moment and returned to his shoveling. Yes, he was shoveling at the camp because of how the day turned less busy for him. He was not just going to sit in his tent and do nothing, maybe in the next life he'll be that lazy.

"Major, major" Sayf heard his name being called by Ray from afar.

"What's the problem Ray?" Sayf asked when he got closer. "Code red, there's been an attack on our barricades, Tribute team has asked for an emergency back up" Ray said. "How long has the attack been going on?" Sayf asked as he dropped the shovel on the floor and walked fast to the control tent while Ray followed his lead.

"About 2 minutes now" Ray replied. "Get the cars ready, Erudite team now" Sayf shouted. On hearing that, each of the erudite team members gathered where he was.

He explained the situation to them and each of them started to get their arms and explosives ready. Within a minute, they set out for their barricades which was few kilometres away from their camp.

"Erudite team, I want you to make this a success. And no one gets hurt, that is an order" Sayf said after they've reached.

"Yes sir" they all replied before each of them took a different path. They didn't have some sort of plan or strategy on how to control the attack but they had faith in their training and knew that even if it would cost their lives, they would protect their country.

The attack was still going on after 5 minutes, many have been killed and many injured. Every slight mistake would make one of them to take a bullet on his chest.

"I'm out of bullets" Sayf announced after a while. "I'll cover you up" Imran said running to his side and hiding where Sayf was. "You should go get more bullets" Imran suggested. "I can't leave, they'll get a chance to set the explosives when they see we are less in number" Shoot. Sayf said.

"We need to get them to stop" Imran said.

Shoot.

"But we're too far to throw an explosive" Imran said again. "Okay erudite listen up. I need you all to cover, I just need 30 seconds" Sayf voiced dropping his gun on the floor.

"No Major, you will not do that" Imran declined the idea. "Someone has to do it or we'll all die, the tribute team are already short in 5 members" Sayf said, Imran knew what he meant. With the speed they were going at, the situation indicated that the explosives would be the only thing that can save them.

"I still decline it, there must be some other way" Imran said again and just then, a bullet shot Raymond on the shoulders.

"It's an order erudite team, cover me up" Sayf said ignoring the possible risk, what worst would happen if he doesn't do what he had intended.

Even before Imran could speak again, Sayf had already picked the explosives and sneaked out of their hidden place.

"Let's create some sparks shall we" Sayf whispered to himself as he ran farther away from safety and closer to danger. He'd try and dodge the firing that came towards him, until he was shot on the leg.

He fell to the ground and groaned in pain before moving away from their sight for a second. "I would need more than 30 seconds, keep covering" Sayf said through the walkie talkie on his hand.

The instant Sayf said the words, he sighted a heap of clay by his side and that got him plotting a plan immediately in his head. It was dangerous, but he knew it would be the easiest way to throw the explosives.

Then silence............

And then...............

Boom!!

The blast was heard by everyone and then fire was eliminated in sparks. It was a success.

"Major, major come in" Imran called through the talkie with concern but no reply was heard. "Major, major" He called again. "Quick Erudite team, search for the Major now" Imran shouted through the talkie.

"That won't be necessary" Sayf groaned in his almost gone voice through the talkie. He was in pain, no doubt on that but then, he was relieved too. Imran didn't know when he sighed in relief, how afraid he was cannot be explained in words.

Nevertheless, the team set out towards the direction he went earlier to check if he was fine, they found him by the heap in a minute. "Let's get going" Sayf said as he limped pass them.

They just nodded and followed his lead back to where they parked their cars.

Entering the car, Imran drove them to the hospital because both Sayf and Raymond needed quick attention from the medics if not, it would be a bigger problem. Especially to Ray since he was the one bleeding profusely.

~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~ 25th November, 2022. 8:48am. ~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~

He smiled as he sat on the chairs in the airport, a smile of diffidence mixed with optimism. Some passers by noticed the smile, even some thought it was for them but no it wasn't. He was smiling because he'll finally get a chance to hold her, kiss her and tell her just how much he missed her.

The erudite team got an involuntary vacation because of the emergency situation they faced just two days back. Even though for just three days, they were still happy to get it. They would have kept living at the camp until the time for their annual vacation, which was February the next year. Three months was no joke though.

"Guys, the last outgoing flight has been cancelled" Jabir announced with disappointment on his face.

"What the f**k" Zanna cursed, it was only natural they feel that much disappointment. "Why didn't I become a pilot in the first place? If I'm to fly this plane now I'm going home" Sayf commented after his smile disappeared. "Exactly my thoughts" Jalal said with sigh.

"Guys chill, that was a joke" Jabir chuckled. "I went to the bathroom, not anywhere else" Jabir said again. "That wasn't funny at all Lieutenant" Jalal said.

"You guys should be smart enough to know that I'm lying, they didn't announce it so obviously" Jabir shrugged.

"Abeg, we are in no state to use our brilliant minds" Zanna said. "We should get going, they'll start the boarding process anytime soon" Imran said and they nodded agreeing with him before they left the spot they were earlier.

The plane took off to Abuja after about 15 minutes.

~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~ Abuja, Nigeria 9:31am ~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~

She was nervous, very much nervous. And she didn't even know what made her feel nervous. She had been fidgeting with her fingers to bring down the nervousness but it was not working, at least that was how she felt.

Amani, Layla and Abdul on the other hand though were busy studying her. They agreed to come get Sayf from the airport on the first ask because they wanted to film her expressions and reaction. They had their cameras ready even before the plane arrived.

Tauhida ran, with every single strength in her and jumped on Sayf's shoulders. All the nervousness she had flew into the air the moment she set her eyes on him and that was when she realised just how much she missed him.

It was the same for Sayf too as he reciprocated the embrace with much affection.

He smiled that day, one he knew he never did in his life. It was a very happy and proud moment for him that she missed him that much, he expected her to do something to show she missed him but not at all expected the hug from her.

But who was he to be surprised at that, what was surprising was that she started crying. Tauhida had teardrops falling from her eyes, she was breaking in shudders.

"Hey, Shhh don't cry" Sayf patted her back but it only made it worse. Sayf didn't know what to say again so he just kept patting her back in a comforting manner.

"How have you been?" Tauhida asked still in tears, all that while not one of them tried to break the hug. In short, they opened up a cinema about them as everyone watched.

"I was fine a minute ago but now I need a gun" Sayf replied. "What for?" Tauhida asked again. "To shoot whoever made you cry" Sayf replied making Tauhida to chuckle in between sobs.

"You mean to say you'll shoot yourself?" Tauhida asked. "If the need comes, I don't mind dying for your happiness" Sayf replied making Tauhida to instantly break the hug and glare at him.

"Are you sure that bullet was not in your head, you must be crazy to think I'll be happy without you" Tauhida pouted and turned to walk away.

Way to go Major, making your wife angry the first time you meet again.

"Hey, don't be angry" Sayf said holding her hands to stop her. "Take your words back then" Tauhida demanded. "I take them back, now smile" Sayf said and Tauhida smiled. "I love you, to the square of infinity" Sayf whispered. "I love you too. With you, I have light in me" Tauhida smiled.

Sayf sealed a promise again that day, a promise to always run back to her before she misses him. He didn't know how he would do that with the nature of his work but he just knew he would keep his promise.

~°°~With you, I have light in me~°°~