JIRWAYE CHAPTER 12

JIRWAYE CHAPTER 12

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Cike da tsoron abunda Begum zata fadi Nawfal ya daga wayar amma koh da ya daga, sai muryar Ameerah kanwar sa yaji.+

“Meerah? What are you doing with Begum’s phone?”. Abunda ya fara tambayar ta kenan.

“You have to come home immediately”. Ta fadi, da kaji voice dinta ka san kuka take “Begum had a heart attack, we’re at the hospital”. Miyau Nawfal ya hadiye yana kallon khalifa dan ya san ba kadan ba, he’ll be devastated in yaji abunda ya faru.2

“How’s she? Ya tambaya.

“In a critical condition. Tun dazu take ICU. No one’s saying anything”.

“Okay, okay keep calm. First thing tomorrow morning zamu dawo Abuja okay”. Ya fadi yana kashe wayar sa. Dago kai yayi ya kalli khalifa before breaking the news to him. Ganin yadda expression din khalifa ya sanja lokaci daya yayi. Miqewa yayi bayan yace wa Nawfal ya wuce ya hada kayan sa.

“But dare yayi khalifa”.

“I don’t fucking care! Get your things ready”. Ya fada kan ya sauka yana kwalawa Tariq kira. Yana fitowa ya fada masa cewa shima ya shirya sannan ya kira pilot dinsu, he didn’t care what time it was, shi dai a maida sa Abuja a daren. Dakinsa ya wuce ya sa wani simple Yankee joggers da black tee shirt ya fito, lokacin both Tariq da Nawfal duk sun gama shiri. Gaba daya hankalin khalifa yayi gida, yama mance da wata Laylah bare ya fadi mata abunda ya faru. Sai da suka yi landing a Abuja tukun ya tuna kwata kwata he didn’t inform her. Ya so ya kirata amma kuma sai yaga it was too early sai ya bari kawai.

Straight hospital suka yi inda suka tadda Ameerah da Saima zaune shuru. Ameerah ce ta fara dagowa ta gansu, daga ita har Saima duk tiredness was written all over their faces. Saima na hango Nawfal ta miqe kawai without thinking much about it ta fada jikinsa ta fashe da kuka.

“She’s in a bad state”. Ta fadi hawayen ta na sauka kan shirt dinsa. Shi dai khalifa koh ta kansu be yi ba, straight office din doctor ya wuce dan samun bayani.

“Shhhhh everything will be alright insha Allah”. Ya rarrashe ta. Khalifa ya dade a office din doctor din kan ya fito. Duk yadda suka so da a bar su su shiga su ganta an hana, dole suka haqura. Gari na wayewa sosai Nawfal ya hada su Saima with Tariq a maida su gida su huta because they all were exhausted tun bare ma Saima who had faced alot that week.

Da ya gaji da kai komo a corridor din ICU ward din, zama ya dawo yayi a kujerun da aka jera by the corridor. Nawfal ne yazo ya zauna kusa da shi ya miqa masa coffee.

“Here, have some coffee”. Sa hannu yayi ya karba ya fara kurba a hankula, none was uttering a single word. Tired of the dead silence which filled the ambience, Nawfal ya fara humming wani old song wanda suke yi tun suna yara.

“I have a joy in my heart….

And it’s because my Maamah loves me…”

Juyawa khalifa yayi ya kalli Nawfal with amusement. Memories din childhood dinsu ne kawai ya fara flooding mind dinsa. The first time Nawfal and his sisters moved in with them after the death of their mother wadda sister ce a gun mahaifin khalifa. Tuna lokacin da Begum would always sing that song to them kawai yike ta yi.

“I have a joy in my heart….

And it’s because khalifa loves me

I have love in my life

Because my Nawfal adores me…”. Haka Kullum a dinning zata ta yi musu waqan tana feeding dinsu. Begum tamkar nata ta dau Nawfal da sisters dinsa;Sarah and Ameerah. Amma kuma ta fi son Nawfal, it was too obvious. Bata taba nuna bambanci tsakanin sa da khalifa ba. Hakika ta riqe amanar Zulaikha.

“I have love in my life

Because my Begum loves me”. Dariya dukan su suka yi. Khalifa ne ya fara magana.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

“Seriously! Baka mance ba”.

“Ta ya zan mance. That would be forgetting my childhood memories with Begum, the most amazing moments I had as a kid”. Ya fadi yana dariya. A nan suka fara recounting childhood memories dinsu, days when they were mischievous and carefree. Sun dade suna dariya, forgetting all about their sorrow for those few minutes. A cikin dariyar ne kwalla suka fara zubowa khalifa, in no time dariyar sa ya koma hawaye. Dora kansa yayi a shoulder din Nawfal who didn’t utter a word dan ya san abunda ya san khalifa kuka, sanin kowa ne cewa duk duniya ba wanda khalifa ke so kamar Begum kuma ba abunda ba zai iya yi ba for her happiness and safety. Tsananin son da yike mata ne ya sa be taba objecting to her decisions regarding his life ba sai a wannan karan da ya aura wacca bata so. Sai da yayi kuka har ya gaji kan Nawfal ya miqo masa hankie.

“Nawfal”. Ya kira a hankula “Was that how you felt? When uncle Fadoul and aunt Zulaikha left? Did it hurt this much?”. Sai da ya ja dogon numfashi tukun ya ba khalifa answer.

“No, it didn’t hurt this much. Ka san meyasa?”. Ya tambaya “Because I had Begum, I had uncle Mumtaz, and I had you. I had family, koh na rana daya baku taba bari mun ji zafin maraici ba, Begum welcomed us with 2 arms into your family and filled up the void of a mother in our lives. Bamu da abunda zamu saka muku dashi”. Ya fadi “And please stop speaking that way, we still have Begum. She’ll be okay insha Allah. Ciwo ba shine mutuwa ba”. Basu gama magana ba doctor ya fito daga ICU.1

“Mr Al-Haydar?”. Ya kira.

Koh da Yasmeenah ta leqo dakin Laylah, samun ta tayi sai safaa da Marwah take round the room.

“You should be sleeping, it’s late”. Yasmeenah ta fadi.

“I can’t. I feel restless”. Riqo hannunta Yasmeenah tayi suka zauna bakin gado ta fara tambayar ta Meya faru.

“Anything wrong? You’ve gotten Al-Haydar now what? Koh amarya ta qosa ta tare ne”. Ta fadi tana murmushi.

“No, no, not that”. Ta ja dogon numfashi “I had a very bad dream. Na kwanta barci sai na fara mafarki, I was being chased by some scary creatures, ina ta gudu suna bina har na zo end of the road. What laid ahead was a cliff, there was no way out. Kawai out of nowhere Abdulmalik appeared, he was smiling at me, I cried out to him asking for help sai ya miqo mun hannunsa which I hastily took but instead of him to save me sai yayi pushing dina over the cliff…..”. Runtse idanu tayi as the dreaming kept replaying in her head.

“Sweetheart relax, it’s just a dream. He’ll never do that insha Allah. Ki kwanta ki sama barci kin ji and pray”. Yasmeenah ta fadi kan tayi mata sai da safe ta wuce samun barci. Koh da Yasmeenah ta fita Laylah ta dade awake, har waya ta dauko tayi trying number din khalifa amma ta samu a kashe dan haka kawai sai ta fada bandaki ta dauro alwala kan tazo tayi nawafil ta kwanta barci.

The next day, tun da safe jama’ar da suka rage a household din suka tashi aka gama aiki aka shirya zuwa gidan Auta dan yin final traditional rite for the wedding. Ita dai Laylah ba inda taje, aka barta a gida tare da Ummati and a few other people. Leek ce tayi volunteering ta zauna da Laylah to keep her company. Tun da ta tashi Laylah ke jiran isowar khalifa or at least a call from him amma shuru har asr ba koh daya. Gaba daya hankalinta na kan wayar ta, minti minti ta duba koh zata ga Shigowar call or a text amma ina.

“And what’s making Mrs Al-Haydar so restless”. Leek ta fadi bayan ta zauna kusa da Laylah a karamin living room inda ke sama.

“Yace zai zo ya ganni yau amma har yanzu shuru and his phone has been off. I just hope all is well with him”. Ta fadi kamar zata yi kuka.

“Easy, easy there”. Leek ta fadi tana dariya “Ki Kwantar da hankali ki, kin dai san you married a very busy man. Yana da harkoki da yawa and kinsan dai yanzu he’ll be busy with the press, ga jama’a and all. Just chill maybe zuwa dare ki gansa”. Tayi ta Kwantar mata da hankali. Sai da ta tabbatar cewa Laylah ta saki jiki tukun ta jawo remote ta kunna TV. “Bara mu dan yi kallo. Which channel should we watch sissy”. Ta tambayi Laylah.

“E Hollywood”. Laylah ta fadi fave channel dinta.

“No wait! I remember babe told me he’ll be on TV today. Let’s watch news a bit in ga rabin rai na”. Leek ta fadi referring to her hubby wanda naval officer. Aikam suna kai wa channels TV daidai ana zantawa dashi, a haka suka zauna suna ta kallo, Laylah ma kallo kawai take ba wai dun attention dinta na kan abunda ake yi ba. Kamar ance ta karanta headlines kawai idanunta ya ci karo da news about the Al-Haydars.

“Leek look look”. Ta fadi gami da kwace remote control din from Leek tayi saurin pausing news din saboda gudun kar headline din ya wuce basu gama karantawa ba.

“Mother of rich business tycoon khalifa Al-Haydar suffers a massive heart attack after son’s unplanned wedding in Adamawa,…..”.

Basu gama karantawa ba Leek ta anshi remote din back from Laylah ta sanja channel. Koh da suka koma AIT, the news was about the Al-Haydars.

Famous business tycoon khalifa Al-Haydar ditches fiancée Saima Mohammed on wedding day.

Identity of khalifa Al-Haydar’s bride still unknown.

“News about Sahar Al-Haydar’s condition still not revealed….”. Reporter din ya cigaba da reporting news about the health of Begum to the press. “Reporting right from the Regent hospital, I am Stanley Okoro”. Dip! Leek ta kashe TV din kan ta ja dogon numfashi.

“Oh my God Leek what’s happening”. Laylah ta fadi kan hawaye ya kufce mata. A lokacin Zubaidah ta shigo a guje tana tambayar if they’ve heard what happened su ka ce mata eh. Laylah duk hankalinta ya gama tashi gashi number din khalifa baya zuwa. Sai can daga baya idea yazo mata, ta daga waya tayi dialling number din Nawfal.Koh da Nawfal ya daga wayar, cikin nutsuwa Laylah ta gaisa da shi tayi tambayar me jiki kan ta buqaci tayi magana da khalifa. Koh da ya ansa sun dade shuru ba me cewa kowa komi kan Laylah tayi breaking silence din. Comforting din sa ta dinga, tana ta fadi masa soothing words har daga karshe ta fadi masa cewa first thing the next morning zasu taho Abuja. Khalifa yayi da ita akan ta bari, kar ta damu da zuwa but she was being adamant.

“It’s my duty. Please don’t deprive me of that right. Farin cikin ka yanzu ya zama nawa, haka ma baqin cikin ka. I want to be by your side through this phase habibi, let’s face it together”. Da kyar dai khalifa ya yarda sannan ya fada mata cewar ta shirya he was going to send his private jet the next day a zo a dauke ta.

Ranar da kyar Laylah ta iya samun barci, gaba daya ta qosa next morning din yazo ta ganta a Abuja, by her husband’s side. Shiryawa duka suka yi tsaf; da ita, Yasmeenah and Leek. Private jet din be yi arriving ba sai around 4 in the evening. A lokacin suka bar yola ana ta musu fatan alkhairi. Few clothes tayi parking dan ta san ba tafiya gaba daya zata yi ba, she’ll still come back home kan a mata proper send off ceremony. Koh da suka isa Abuja, gidan Yasmeenah suka sauka. Da kyar ta yarda ta ci abinci, ta watsa ruwa ta dan huta kan suka kama hanyar zuwa The Regent hospital, a hospital which belongs to the Al-Haydar family. Hospital wanda sai dan wane da wane kawai ke iya affording saboda high standard dinsu, gashi asibitin is well equipped with first grade facilities and well qualified medical practitioners dun hospital din har turawa akwai, da Indians all working under khalifa Al-Haydar.

Koh da ta tashi barci, bathroom ta shiga ta kuma watsa ruwa kan ta fito ta sa wani A-line gown na atamfa me kyau sosai. Bata tsaya wani kwalliya ba saboda powder and kohl kawai ta sanya ma face dinta but she was still looking pretty. Waya ta daga ta kira Tariq wanda ta sama contact dinsa ne gun Nawfal. Tambayar sa tayi koh su khalifa sun ci abinci.

“Gaskia tunda muka dawo in ba coffee ba I can’t remember them ever eating”. Ya fadi mata dun haka da suka fita sai da ta cewa Yasmeenah suyi driving zuwa wani fancy restaurant su siya take outs for both men. Haka kuwa aka yi, abinci me lafia suka siya da desserts and cans of soda kan suka dau hanyar hospital din. Suna isa lobby din hospital din suka qarasa help desk suka wa receptionist inda ke wajen magana.

“Excuse me”. Laylah ta fadi cikin wata murya me sanyi.

“Yes, how may i help you ma’am”.

“Could you direct us to the special ward please”. Ta fadi. Sai da receptionist din ta dan tsaya, dumbfounded for a few seconds tana kallon Laylah as if she had just grown a second head.

“Could you come again please”.

“I said we need directions to the special ward. I’m here to see my husband whose mother is bedridden”. Ta mata bayani, dariya matar ta tuntsure mata da shi. Abun ya batawa Laylah rai but still tayi maintaining composure dinta.

“I’m sorry ma’am but you must be mistaken, only the Al-Haydars have access to the special ward, you could check your husband in the other wards”.

“Excuse me, I know what I’m saying, i’m here to see my hubby khalifa Al-Haydar”.

“What, come again”. Receptionist din ta kuma fadi tana dariya.

“Look i’m not here to joke. I need to see my husband”.

“If you’re Mr Al-Haydar’s wife then I’m Aisha Buhari”. Receptionist din ta ansa ta tana dariya. By that time haushi ya gama cika Laylah gashi ta mance wayar ta a mota bare ta kira Tariq and parking lot din was quiet far from the hospital’s main building. Suna cikin wannan hayaniyar sai Allah ya kawo Tariq.2

“Mrs Al-Haydar. Good day ma’am”. Kawai taji an gaida ta. Kallon expression din fuskar receptionist din tayi sannan tayi smirking before returning Tariq’s greeting. “This way please”. Tariq ya fadi yana karban take out boxes inda ta riqe a hannunta. Koh second glance bata yi sparing ma receptionist din ba whose expression was now apologetic kawai ta wuce ta bi bayan Tariq suka wuce. Ward din ya fi ko ina a gaba daya hospital din kyau da tsaruwa.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

In the special ward, even the atmosphere seemed completely different. Iskan ward din had a perfumed scent and the seats by the corridor were plush, every details about the ward was very well incorporated. Everywhere seemed dustless. A nurse walked out of a room, tayi wa Laylah murmushi. The nurse was unhurried and she moved with a serene purposefulness. There were vases of flowers and beautiful framed pieces of art hung on the wall. There was a water dispenser at one corner of the ward and a split air conditioning system stood adjacent to the dispenser. Laylah gazed at him, the one person her eyes had been yearning for a sight of standing by a glassed wall by the end of the corridor. Da gudu ta qarasa inda yike tsaye tayi hugging dinsa ta baya. A hankula ta Kwantar da kan ta a bayan sa muttering the words “Habibi” in such a way that shi daya kawai zai ji.

“Zahra. Kin zo”. Ya fadi yana Juyawa. Jawo ta yayi to his arms, engulfing her in a proper embrace. “Ya kike”. Ya tambaya “I’m sorry for leaving just like that, without letting you know”.

“Shhhhh…..” Ta dora fingers dinta biyu a saman lips nasa “Say no more”. Ta fadi a hankula. Juyawa khalifa yayi suka gaisa da Yasmeenah wadda tai enquiring about the health of his mother sannan tayi Addu’ar Allah yayi restoring mata health din ta. For no reason, Yasmeenah had an unsettling feeling in her chest and she could feel the very rapid beating of her heart against her chest. Zama tayi shuru tana ta chanting “A’udhubillah minnas-shaytanir-rajim”. Bayan sun gama gaisawa sosai da Laylah yana tambayar ta mutan gida, ya riqo hannunta zuwa resting room, Yasmeenah na zaune ya mata magana cewar ta tashi su wuce resting room din tare. Har ta wuce qofar dakin da Begum take kawai taji wani mugun bugun zuciya with a very mad urge to take a few steps back and gaze at the woman laying almost lifeless in the room. Amma kuma sai dai bata sama damar yin haka ba saboda voice din khalifa da taji beckoning her. Quietly ta bi su zuwa resting room din wanda daki ne babba hadadde, an kayata shi da kayan more rayuwa iri iri, yadda kasan mutum na cikin living room dinsa a gida, har wani dan medium sized bed akwai a dakin. It’s a room specially designed for family din patients in sun zo dubiya. Koh wani section a special ward din has a resting room. Suna shiga suka izza Nawfal na waya, from all indications da Ameerah yike.

“Has she eaten?… da ta tashi make her eat, ask the chef to cook what she wants. Take very good care of her, don’t let her cry much. Zan zo gida anjima”. Nawfal ya fadi into the phone, from all indications he was speaking to his sister about Saima. Murmushi Laylah tayi masa tana waving hannunta saboda call inda yike. Cabinet in da ta hango standing next to a medium sized dinning table ta wuce ta ciro 2 porcelain plates and cups ta fara setting table din. Abincin da ta kawo tayi serving dinsu kan ta ce musu su zo su ci. Nawfal tashi yayi da sauri yana mata godia.

“Kamar kinsan i’m famished. Thanks”. Ya fadi before savouring the sweet taste of the food on his tongue. Khalifa ta kalli wanda be da niyyar cin abinci da ke gabansa.

“Eat. Please”. Ta fadi a hankula.

“I don’t want to. Begum hasn’t eaten tun day before yesterday, why should I?”.

“But habibi, you need the strength. Kana so ta farka taga ka rame ne? You know she won’t be happy. Gashi I bought all your favourite meals. Eat please”. Haka tayi ta masa rarrashi, karshe hannunta ta sa ta fara feeding dinsa. Grudgingly ya fara ansar abincin yana ci ita kam Yasmeenah tana can idanunta na kan TV amma hankalinta sam sam baya wajen.

A hankula Laylah ta dinga basa abincin yana karba, can kuma sai ya tambaye ta koh ta ci abinci ta fadi masa ta ci but he just wouldn’t hear any of it. Hannu shima ya sa ya fara feeding dinta kamar yadda yike wa Begum. Sai ji kuma yayi hankalinsa gaba ya karkata ya koma kan ta. Dogon numfashi kawai ya ja ya batse dan kar ya nuna damuwar sa gaban Laylah. After a few minutes Yasmeenah ta miqe ta wuce gida ta bar Laylah wadda suka rabu akan Tariq zaya dawo da ita gida. Ba ita ta bar hospital din ba sai around 9 khalifa yace a maida ta gida it was already too late daga nan kuma Tariq ya biya gida ya debo masa few clothes and other basic day to day necessities.

Koh da ta isa gida, everywhere was so quiet. Dakin Leek ta fara dubawa ta sama sunyi barci saboda the next day they had an early start, ita da Yaranta zasu wuce portharcourt. Wucewa dakin ta tayi ta shiga ta watsa ruwa kan ta sa kayan barci ta wuce dakin Yasmeenah. Samun ta tayi zaune a rocking chair dinta with the lights in her room all turned off except for the bedside lamps. Jingina tayi da Jikin rocking chair din ta dora hannunta daya akan forehead dinta, idanunta a rufe amma ba barci take ba, she was only lost in thought.

“Are you okay?”. Laylah ta fadi a hankula.

“Just walking down memory lane”. Ta fadi tana dan murmushi ba tare da ta buda idanunta ba “I’ve been having a very unsettling feeling lately. Why do I feel like I have a connection with the Al-Haydars?”. Ta tambayi no one in particular.

“Yasmeenah you need to open up to us. Ki fadi mana wani abu, just anything please”.

“Kuna so na fama tsohon miki. A past which I’d rather go to my grave with”.

“No, just anything please. For Leek’s sake. Yasmeenah please. Kin yi mun taimakon da a rayuwa ba wanda ya taba mun, you love me just as you love your own daughter. I want to be of help, dan Allah Yasmeenah, just anything”. Sun kai 15 minutes ba wanda yace komi kuma. Da dai Laylah ta ga Yasmeenah bata da niyyar magana sai ta miqe dun ta wuce dakin ta.

“Sai da safe”. Ta fadi a hankula.

“31st March, 1983…..” muryar Yasmeenah ya dakatar da ita.

Da gudu Laylah ta dawo ta gyara zaman ta kan gadon Yasmeenah.

“31st March was the day my sorrow was born”. Yasmeenah ta fadi tana wata ýar dariya. “As you know, I hail from Borno state. Mahaifi na wanda ake kiransa da sunan Baba Ganah ya kasance babban malami a lokacin. Mutane daga different places suna zuwa nema ilmi wajen sa, har magunguna ya kan bayar, irin na iska da sauran su. We were living peacefully, mahaifiyar mu ta kasance mace me matukar haquri ga rashin magana, hakan ya sa Baba ke son ta sosai. Gaba daya auran su ba wata matsala in ba na rashin basa Ýaýa maza da mama ta yi ba. Ta haife mu dai dai har tara duka mata, ni ce ta biyar. A lokacin da mama tayi haihuwar ta na Bakwai, Baba yayi hushi sosai, yana nuna rashin jin dadin sa akan an haifa masa diya mace, ya dade baya koh da daukar Fanne duk a sabida ita mace ce. Muna zaune wataran Baba ya qaro aure, ya auro Inna Bintu, wadda ita ma ýar Borno ce, yaren shuwa Arab”. Ta fadi kan ta dan tsaya tayi gyaran murya.

“Tun da tazo muka fara ganin wulakanci iri iri a gidan, Baba gaba daya ya juya mana baya. Wani wulakanci ma sai da Inna Bintu tayi ciki. Da ta haihu aka sama namiji Baba ya dinga murna. Tsautsayi ya auka a ranar mama ta shiga ta kai mata abinci, ta fito bada dadewa ba aka yi rashin jinjirin. Inna Bintu da ýan uwanta sai suka laqawa mama sharrin kashe yaron ta hanyar maita saboda kishi. Inna Bintu ta koma gidansu tace ita bazata dawo ba sai an cire mama daga gidan jin haka hankalin Baba ya tashi ranar ya dawo gida yayi wa mama rashin mutunci ya kore ta zuwa can wani dan daki kwara daya da yike dashi wajen gari, gurin da yike bada magani, a lokacin mama nada tsohon cikin Gumsu. Bayan Inna ta dawo ta nemi mu bi Uwar mu a cewar ta muna takura mata. Sai da ta kuma samun wani cikin a lokacin mama ta haihu amma Baba koh damuwa da yazo ya duba lafiyar ta be yi ba, sai randa ya zo ya dauke ni da yayata akan muje muna taya Inna aiki, saboda cikin baya bari tayi komi. A lokacin ne na hadu dashi”. Zuwa wannan lokacin Yasmeenah tayi nisa da fara kuka, tana magana tana jan hanci.

“Shi wa?” Laylah ta tambaya bayan ta miqe ta dauko box din tissue paper to miqawa Yasmeenah.

“He was the son of Inna’s older sister. Daga jigawa bautan qasa ya kawo sa Maiduguri”. Ta dade idanunta a runtse bata ce komi ba. Da ta buda baki tayi magana sai cewa Laylah tayi “Enough for tonight. I can’t go further. Zamu cigaba some other time”. Ta gama maganan da ýar murmushi.

“Not some other day. Gobe”.

“Toh naji gobe”.

“Promise?”.

“Insha Allah. Now wuce ki kwanta”. Dan side hug Laylah ta bata kan ta wuce dakin ta.

Kashe gari da safe, tun da wuri su Laylah suka tashi domin raka su Leek airport. Basu bar airport ba sai da suka yi boarding plane suka kama hanya tukun. Saloon suka wuce Laylah ta raka Yasmeenah gyaran kai da su pedicure and manicure. Basu suka dawo gida ba sai a few minutes after 4.

Duk da jinyar mahaifiyar sa da yike, hakan be hana khalifa kula da Laylah ba dan almost every hour yike kira yaji ya take. Ranar dai bata je hospital din ba ganin sa, shikuma all efforts made to make him go home yaqi. Kullum yana side din Begum wadda har lokacin ba a bar kowa ya shiga ya ganta ba ba kuma ta dawo hayyacin ta ba.

“Goooooooooooooooood morning baby”. Muryar Yasmeenah ya tashe ta the following morning. Miqewa tayi tana murza idanun ta ita kuma Yasmeenah ta wuce tana buda draperies din dakin.

“Morning Yasmeenah. You’re up early”.

“Ehhh. Yanzu dai ki wuce bandaki kiyi wanka, get ready and come down. I’ll be in kitchen making breakfast”. Laylah lura tayi da yadda mood din Yasmeenah ya sanja sosai amma dai bata ce mata komi ba. Miqewa tayi kamar yadda Yasmeenah ta buqata ta fara nufa hanyar bathroom din ita kuma Yasmeenah har ta kai bakin kofa sai ta leqo kai kuma “And baby”. Ta fadi.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

“Yes Yazz, now what”.

“Aikuwa mutane suna jiran ki downstairs, make it snappy”. Tana fadin haka ta wuce ta bar dakin. Ita kuma Laylah cike da mamakin waye zai zo neman ta that early ta shiga wanka. As usual, Laylah took her time to bathe and get dressed, wani simple gown ta sanya kan tayi dabbing powder and kohl with a little lip gloss ta dau wani small sized satin veil ta daura a kai ta fito. Koh da ta sauka, a living room ta sama 4 people each with a mug of coffee and some of Yasmeenah’s homemade cookies quietly sitted on the lush sofas that adorned the room. Murmushi ta dan yi masu, da taga yadda duka suka miqe da ganin ta.

“Good morning ma’am”. Daya daga cikin matan ta fadi. “We we’re sent here by Mr Tariq to serve you”.

“To serve me? Ni kuma”.

“Yes you Mrs Al-Haydar. Congratulations on your wedding ma’am”.

“Lay…”. Har da zata fadi laylah sai kuma ta sanja mind dinta “Zahra please, drop the formalities”.

“I am Hayfah khaleel, your personal assistant from now henceforth and that there”. Ta fadi pointing to the only male a cikinsu “Is Mr Shareef, your public relations officer. He’ll take care of all issues related to media and publicity”. Murmushi tayi suka gaisa da Mr Shareef din kan introduction din ya cigaba “That’s Anita, she’ll be in charge of your hair and make up, and there’s Janet. She’ll be the one to take care of your wardrobe”. Kallon disbelief Laylah ta mata, like she was beyond surprise at how life had just taken a drastic turn. Waya Hayfah ta daga tayi dialling wani number. Come in kawai ta fadi kan ta kashe wayar, kan ka ce mai sai ga wasu maza kosassu guda biyu sun shigo.

“This is Peter and that’s Ali. Your personal bodyguards”. Wow kawai Laylah ta iya vocalising dun they’ve totally left her dumbfounded. “Now that we’re done with introduction ma’am, we’ll take our leave. I’ll be back later insha Allah”. Ta fadi kan dukan su suka miqe suka nufi hanyar waje.

“pinch me Yasmeenah”. Ta fadi can kuma da Yasmeenah tayi pinching dinta sai cewa tayi “Ouch! Ashe dai ba mafarki bane. I have a whole team of people at my beck and call. This is beyond amazing”.

“Perks of being Mrs Al-Haydar”. Yasmeenah ta fadi tana dariya “Oya muje muyi breakfast”. Ta jawo ta suka nufi dinning table. Suna gama breakfast Laylah ta taya Yasmeenah suka yi clearing koh ina suna dan taba hira a lokacin ne taji shigar text message wayar ta.

Hey babe, an emergency came up. Have to travel to Qatar ASAP. take care, I love you- khalifa Al-Haydar.

Tsaki sosai Laylah ta ja saboda takaici, ran taya baci matuka saboda be ma yi tunanin kiranta ba sai da ya gama shiri tukun zai tura mata text. Lura da sudden change on mood dinta Yasmeenah tayi ta tambaye ta me ya faru ita kuma ta nuna mata message din.

“Ke fah kika ce kin ji kuma kina so and you’re complaining already. Khalifa is a busy person, gwara tun yanzu kin yi accepting fact dinnan kinyi adapting to the new life and besides the guy is already facing alot. Chill woman”. Yasmeenah ta gaya mata. Wayarta ta karba ta wuce dakin ta koh replying message dinsa bata yi ba.

Hayfah bata sama dawowa ranar ba sai the next day da safe suka sake dawowa tare da Anita and Janet. Koh da Laylah ta farka ganin gidan tayi looking so rowdy. Zaune a kan armchair Laylah ta buda idanu ta same ta.

“Mrs Al-Haydar. You’re awake”. Ta fadi da murmushi.

“Hey”. Laylah ta fadi tana scratch idanunta.

“Good morning ma’am”. Ta gaida ta “Would love to know your schedules for the day now or after breakfast”.

“I’m so famished so I’d prefer the latter. Thanks”.

“Okay, get ready then. We have alot of things to do”. Ta fadi mata kan ta maida hankalinta kan tablet inda ke cinyar ta tana typing abu. Koh da Laylah ta fito daga bathroom, Hayfah bata dakin. Shiryawa tayi ta sauko qasa ta sama ita da Yasmeenah suna breakfast already, chatting away like two old friends, kasancewar Yasmeenah mace me tsananin kirki da saukin kai. Joining dinsu tayi ana dan taba hirar da ita, ba dun she was in the mood ba saboda har zuwa lokacin ran ta bace yike akan tafiyar da khalifa yayi without prior notice.

Suna gama breakfast Laylah ta koma bedroom dinta ta kintsa saboda fitar da Hayfah tace zasu yi. Tana gama shirin ta tsaf ta fito. Peter da Ali ta samu qasa duka suka gaidata fuska ba alamar dariya. Ali ne ya hau kan wheels while Peter took the passengers seat sai ita da Hayfah suka zauna a baya. Suna zaune Hayfah nata briefing dinta of her duties as the wife of khalifa Al-Haydar, even though bata fara assuming role din ba because of the current chaos with the Al-Haydar family. Everything was put to halt due to Sahar Al-Haydar’s health.

Tunanin Sahar din yasa Laylah tace wa Ali suyi branching The Regent hospital dan ta duba ta. Koh da suka je, wannan receptionist inda tayi making fun of Laylah sai apologising take ta yi, claiming she didn’t know the new addition to the elite family. Koh da ta isa, samu tayi ana bari a ganta. Tsayawa tayi by the closed door to the room, tana ta kallon the lady who laid their almost lifeless. Nawfal ne zaune gefen ta hannunta daya ya riqe yayi shuru. Yana Juyowa suka hada ido kamar zata juya sai taga ya mata alama da hannu cewa ta shigo. Reluctantly tayi pushing door din open ta shigo. Kujerar da ke kusa da na shi ta samu ta zauna shuru.

“Hey! Sister inlaw”. Shi ya fara bringing silence inda yayi surrounding dakin to an end. Murmushi ta masa kan ta gaida sa ya ansa ta yana tambayar ta ya take. Juyawa tayi tayi fixing gaze dinta on the strikingly beautiful lady who laid almost lifeless, koh kadan ba wani alamun tsufa tare da ita, it was almost as if she wasn’t affected by age at all.

‘Sai kace she took the forever young elixir’. Laylah ta fadi ranta. The thought causing a chuckle escape her lips. Without saying a thing Nawfal ya miqe yayi exiting room din to give Laylah some privacy and alone time.

Zama tayi shuru a kujerar that was occupied by Nawfal just a few moments ago. For a while, her eyes were closed before a hankula ta buda su casting them nowhere but on the lady that laid peacefully surrounding by life supporting facilities. Feeble hand din Sahar Al-Haydar ta daga ta placing in between her tiny ones.

“Sahar Al-Haydar….”. Ta fadi a hankula tasting the sound that emitted out of her tiny lips as she called the name. “The lady who gave birth to my idol…..”. Ta kuma fadi sai dai tayi shuru kuma as if weighing the words she were about to utter.

“You seriously despise me this much? Da zuciyar ki ta buga because I married your only son. Is that how Stained and and lowly you take me to be?”. Taking shallow breaths ta sake dora idanunta akan Sahar Al-Haydar muttering the words “I’m sorry but even the holiest of people commit sins and when we repent subhanahu wata’alah accepts our repentance. To err afterall is human”. Kan ta yi placing a light kiss on the hand which laid on her palms. “I do hope that by the time you wake up, I’d be able to win your love”. A hankula ta maida mata da hannunta kan ta miqe ta yi waje with an unusual feeling of anxiety, as if she did wrong da ta auri khalifa ba tare da amincewar mahaifiyar sa ba. She blamed herself for everything.

Koh da ta fito corridor din bata sama Nawfal a waiting area din ba so she figured he was in the resting dan haka without second thoughts ta nufa can. A hankula ta buda qofar kan ta shiga da sallama, Nawfal ta samu zaune typing away on his laptop while a lady sat on the sofa across him, reading a fashion magazine alongside sipping a cocktail drink.

Sai da ta ji zuciyar ta yayi wani irin mummunar bugu when realisation of who the lady was dawned on her. Koh shakka babu ita ce, she looked even more beautiful and elegant in person, “Saima Mohammed”. Nawfal ne ya fara dagowa ya Kalle ta smiling at her before the lady who sat across spared her a glance.

“Come sister inlaw, come. Zo nayi introducing dinku”. Ya fadi yana murmushi abunsa “Zahra meet my wife Saima, and Saima meet Zahra… Khalifa’s wife”. Ya fadi reluctantly ita kam Saima koh dagawa bata yi ba ta kalli koh daya a cikin su tayi maintaining calm and collected posture dinta kamar ba da ita ake yi ba. Masking off abun Nawfal yayi ushering Laylah to come in and sit. Occasionally yana dan jan ta da hira ita kam she was utterly uncomfortable sai dai tayi masa ýar murmushi. Ana haka wayar sa ya fara ringing dan haka yayi excusing kan sa telling Laylah cewa akwai abinci and refreshment a dining side din if she cared for a few nibbles. Dogon numfashi ta ja kan ta dau risk din matsowa to the sofa next to Saima in an attempt to start up a conversation dan tunda ta shigo take ta feeling wani iri, she felt apologising to her was the least she could do for all that happened.

“Saima”. Ta kira a hankula but still Saima tayi kamar bata ji taba, kamar bata jin ta. Cocktail drink dinta ta daga tayi sipping kan ta cigaba da duba magazine dinta, hankalinta kwance totally ignoring Laylah’s attempt at peace making. Ita kam Laylah being the persistent human being that she was bata yi qasa a gwiwa ba ta sake mata magana “I’m sorry. For all that happened, the wedding and all. Ba haka naso abubuwa su tafi ba but muna namu ne Allah na nasa. Qaddarar mu ken…”. Laylah bata qarasa ba taji abu me sanyi a jikinta. Cocktail drink inda Saima was about sipping ta kwara mata a face.

“Qaddara? Ke har kin isa ki fadi mun qaddara. Kin san how many years na dauka ina nursing affection for Abdulmalik? Tun muna yara, Tun kan ya auri first wife dinsa. He has been the one and only person I’ve ever loved and then you just ruin everything in a matter of hours and you call it Qadr? You’re sick!”. Ta fadi kan ta miqe. Laylah still not giving up to kamo hannunta ita ma ta miqe.

“Saim…..”. Bata qarasa ba Saima ta fisge hannunta tana mata wani irin kallo wanda yike cike da tsana da hushi. Da dan yatsa ta nuna ta kan ta kankara mata warning.

“Don’t! And I repeat don’t ever dream of touching me with your dirty hands. Never in your wildest dreams. You filthy thing”. Ta fadi kamar tana tofar da miyau. “Na rasa me Abdulmalik ya gani in a cheap and lowly whore like you. Now if you would excuse me”. Ta fadi kan ta nufi hanyar exit inda Nawfal ke tsaye. Isan sa kenan, be san cause din tension between both women ba amma ya ji duk maganganun da Saima ta fadiwa Laylah. Tana kaiwa qofa yayi yunqurin sa hannu ya riqo ta amma sai bangaje sa tayi tana muttering “Get lost idiot” ta wurga masa magazine inda she was reading kan ta wuce. Dama things have been tensed between the newly wedded couple. Tsana na sosai Saima ke nunawa Nawfal who was trying all his possible best to see to her happiness.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

Dan runtse idanu Laylah tayi, bata don hawayen da suka taru mata su zubo, ta dan dade idanunta a runtse kan ta kada kai ta buda idanu ita ma ta kama hanyar exit din dakin. “Laylah i’m so…..”. Be gama ba ta katse sa.

“It’s okay Nawfal. Do have a nice day”. Ta wuce ba tare da ta tsaya jin abunda zai fadi ba. A qasa gun parking lot Laylah ta sake hango Saima as she stormed hurriedly out of the hospital in her sleek Mercedes convertible. A Jikin motar ta sama Hayfah tsaye tana ansa call as she waited her arrival. Jiki ba sauran qarfi ta nufi motar ba tare da ta cewa Hayfah who smiling at her komi ba ta shiga motar ta zauna shuru. A few minutes later Hayfah tayi joining dinta a backseat din motar asking her how the visit went. Ba tare da ta bata ansa ba ta cewa Ali gida zasu koma. Kallon disbelief Hayfah ta mata.

“Cancel all my appointments for the day. I don’t feel too good”. Ta fadi. Har suka isa gida zuciyar ta bata bar quna da tafarfasa ba from all the hurtful words and names Saima called her. Tun a waje tayi dismissing din Hayfah stating that she wanted to be alone. Straight dakin ta ta wuce tayi tossing dan suspender inda ta riqe which contained her phone and other necessities a kan gado kan ta fada bathroom. Shower ta kunna ta shiga and as the water ran through her body, maganar Saima kawai ta dinga tuno wa, a hankula hawaye suka fara zirya a kumatunta, words din na mata zafi especially how Saima looked at her with so much disdain. Was she really that filthy? Was that everybody’s perception about her? A haka khalifa ke kallon ta?. With time, she began to ask herself the same question Saima had asked earlier.

‘Me khalifa ya gani in her? What made him choose her over the elegant Saima Mohammed who looked even more prettier in person’.

Koh da ta fito bata wani bata time wajen Shiryawa ba. Sweatpant ta dauko a walking in closet dinta tare da wani oversized sweat shirt ta saka kan ta hau qaton gadon ta ta kwanta. Da kadan da kadan barci yayi awon gaba da ita. Ba ita ta farka ba sai a few minutes past 9 na dare. Da sauri ta miqe ta biya sallolin da suka wuce ta kan ta sauka qasa ta sama Yasmeenah na karatun novel. Kitchen ta wuce directly ta dauko bowl in salad da Yasmeenah tayi saving specially for her kan ta wuce living room ta zauna a qasa kusa da qafar Yasmeenah.

A hankula Yasmeenah ta kalleta tayi murmushi kan ta dan shafa mata kai. Ita ma Laylah murmushi tayi kan ta buda baki tayi magana “Yazz….”. Ta kira a hankula.

“Yes love”.

“Bamu qarasa labarin mu ba rannan”. Ta fadi tana qara gyara zama da taji Yasmeenah ta sauko qasa ita ma gami da yin gyaran murya.

“He was slim and willowy. Me kyau da shi. A lokacin da yazo be wuci shekaru ashirin da biyar ba. Aliyu was like the sunshine on a cloudy day; clever and admirable. Koh da yazo makarantar primary inda ke garinmu nan aka yi posting dinsa a yayin da lokacin ina aji shidda. Kuma ban wuci shekaru goma sha hudu ba. Allah yayi ni da son karatu, ga maida hankali a karatu, abunda ya fara sa shi ya fara kula ni kenan and with time I found myself slowly falling for him. Da Inna Bintu ta lura da kusanci na dashi sai ta hanani zuwa makaranta but that did little or nothing at all to change anything saboda Kullum bayan sallan isha, Aliyu zaya zo ya zauna da ni ya biya mini karatun da aka yi a makaranta. He became like my second shadow, duk inda nayi he was right there behind me, he showed me a world I had no idea existed and my feeble heart innocently fell for his charms. Da kadan kadan bond dinmu ya dinga qaruwa. I was the happiest 14 year old the day he pinched me on my dimple and said that he felt for me what I felt towards him. Ranar na rasa inda zan sa kaina da murna. Da gudu cikin murna da Inna Bintu ta aike ni na biya wajen mama da ýan uwana, bearing the goodnews cewar nayi miji kuma yace yana gama bautar qasa zai aure ni. Mama tayi dariya sosai tana kirana yarinya, ban san me duniya ke ciki ba. A karshe ta mun fada ta ja mun kunne akan yin hattara da maza, ofcourse I paid little or no heed. I was a senseless little girl caught in the web of love which I thought was reciprocal”. Lumshe idanunta tayi hawaye masu sanyi na sauka daga idanunta ta juya ta kalli Laylah “kin san me ya faru?”. Ta tambaya Laylah who nodded her head like a kid. “He betrayed me; ya ci amana na, ya ci amanar what we had”. Rufe idanu tayi recollecting everything that happened on that faithful day……..

Tafia suke ya dan yi gaba ita kuma tana dan biye da shi a baya, suna hanyar su na zuwa wata gonar Baba Ganah da ke kusa da rafi nemo wa Inna Bintu sassaken da zata wa jaririn da ta haifa magani. Shuru suke ba me cewa komi, tayo kansa da dan gudu ta masa cakulkuli a gefen cikinsa kan ta deba da gudu. Bin ta shima yayi da gudu be tsaya ba har sai da ya kamo ta ya dinga mata cakulkuli tana dariya har sai da hawaye suka fara zubo mata, tana basa haquri cewar bazata sake tsokanar sa ba. Juyo da ita yayi to face him ta dora manyan idanunta kan nasa. Wani irin kallo ya cika ta dashi which was full of lust especially da ya dan hango well endowed bust dinta slightly visible from the dress she wore. Hadiya yayi kan ya maida kallonsa ga fuskar ta and without much thought ya fara shafa ta in a way which conveyed his lust. Remembering her mother’s words randa ta musu fada akan bari maza na taba su tayi kan ta yi saurin jan jikinta ta cigaba da tafia. Bin ta ya dinga yi a baya yana ta roqon ta da ta basa hadin kai just once, ba sai wani yaji koh ya sani ba amma sai sake tunatar masa ta yi akan weight din laifin da yike so su aika ta. Ganin taqi rarrashi ya sa ya billo mata da dabara.

“Toh me ciki, ni da zan aure ki! In baki bari ba toh bani ba auran ki”. Ya fadi kan ya juya kamar zai wuce gida. Cike da damuwa ta waigo ta dube sa as he walked back, har kamar zata bi sa sai kuma ta share sa kawai ta wuce nemo wa Inna sassaken ta, idanun ta cike da hawaye. Haka ya cigaba da ignoring dinta har na tsawon sati daya duk dan akan she refused him a peak through her veil. Foolishly, wataran da rana ta same sa yana zama gaban zauren gida ta biyo sa domin basa haquri amma sai ya sake using din his love which was her greatest to his advantage and foolishly she gave in to him. Murmushi ya saki mata bayan ya fadi mata cewa da yamma bayan an kammala sallar isha ta same sa a can primary school, kasancewar makullan classes shi ake barin wa ya riqe and just like that, what was meant to be a one time affair turned to an almost everyday thing. Ba dama ta qi, ya riga da ya gama brainwashing dinta da ideas about marrying her.

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