JIRWAYE CHAPTER 14

JIRWAYE CHAPTER 14

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Dagowa tayi ta kalli Begum wadda hankali kwance ta fadi maganar ta. Laylah rasa answer inda zata ba ta tayi, a zuciyar ta tana ta nazarin how a mother can be that cruel towards her child. Burin kowace uwa taga farin cikin danta koh diyar ta amma Begum for her selfish interests ta zabi taga baqin cikin nata dan, wanda shi daya tal Allah ya bata a duniya.+

“I know why you married my son”. Ta sake fadi “Dan kudi. And I’m very sure baki bar khalifa na a haka ba, sai da kika hada masa da asiri because my son has never defied me, ban taba ce masa ga abunda nike so ba ya tsallake yayi abunda ransa ke so. Kina nema ki shiga tsakanina da da na, kina nema ki tarwatsa tarbiyyar da na masa, ki gurbata mana zuria. Before we go anywhere with this leave my son”.

“Why Begum, why?”. Laylah ta tambaya hawayen da ya cika mata idanu suna saukowa a hankula kan kumatun ta.2

“Malama drop the act, na san ire iren ku”. Ta fadi tana wa nurse dinta signal. Wani dan folder ta miqo mata kan tace mata ta fita ta bar su. “Here it is, hundred million”. Ta fadi tana miqa mata cheque daya “ki fita rayuwar khalifa, kan ya dawo you’ll disappear from his life, ni na san yadda zan rarrashe sa. Leave Nigeria for some time, just disappear from my son’s life”.1

“What! Is that how cheap the almighty khalifa Al-Haydar is? Just a hundred million?”.

“Ke ban son rainin hankali”.

“You’ll talk to me calmly ’cause you’re the one who needs a favour”. Laylah ta fadi mata tana kallon ta cikin ido. Sun dade suna kallon juna ba me koh kyafta ido a cikin su. Begum mamaki take wai har wannan ýar yarinyar da ba diyar kowa ba ta isa ta daga mata murya.

“Fine”. Ta fadi kan ta dau pen ta fara rubuta sabon cheque “Two hundred million. Now get out!”.

“Tsk Tsk! It’s a pity really”. Laylah ta fadi tana miqewa “The famous Begum Sahar Al-Haydar who is always attending fundraisers and donating to charity organisations could stoop so low. A lot of people out there literally worship and sing your praises day in day out, if and only if they’ll know what a selfish, lowly and conceited human being you are. Sabo da wani selfish interest dinki kin zabi baqin cikin dan ki. Ahir da irin ki, da uwa irin ki gwara maraici”. Hada cheques din biyu tayi ta yayyaga tayi kaca kaca da su kan ta watsa su Jikin Begum. “I’ve just lost the respect I used to have for you”.3

“Ba abunda zanyi da kudin ki, koh da duka dukiyar ki zaki kwashe ki ban, son da nike wa dan ki so ne na tsakani da Allah. When I met your son, na hadu dashi ne as a nobody. To me he was Abdulmalik, khalifa Al-Haydar’s driver. A haka na samu kaina da son sa, halayen sa na kirki, how very compassionate he is towards others made me fall for him. And my love and respect for him doubled when he stood by me, accepted me for who I was, despite my so many flaws, how he’s ready to go to any extreme for me, how he doesn’t judge my present based on my past. Abdulmalik is nothing like you are, are you sure you’re even his mother”. Kalamin ta na karshe ya mugun batawa Begum rai, idanunta da dama tuni sun rikida sun zama jajir ta daga ta kalli Laylah dasu tana da ka mata wani tsawa.1

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“Ke! Ban kira ki kizo ki ci mun zarafi ba. Khalifa is my son, duk duniya ba wanda nike so kamar sa kuma ba wanda ya isa ya raba mu”.

“Ban auri dan ki dan na raba ki da shi ba, na aure sa ne to complete my deen, to be the mother of his son, to love him unconditionally with no expectations, to straighten my deen and bring myself close to subhanahu wata’alah and it is pure, natural and unadulterated, the love I have for him. Fisabilillah nike son khalifa. I’ll leave your son amma fa ki san *We can only fight against destiny but never can we change it* if I’m part of your son’s destiny, no matter how far I go from him, the God I serve will find a way to bring us both together again, koh ba jima koh ba dade”. Ta fadi kan ta juya ta wuce “And yes Begum, always remember that karma is a bitch”. Tayi slamming qofa ta wuce, leaving her bag.3

Begum kam jikinta gaba daya ya gama mutuwa. Tunda Laylah ta fita ta barta take ta nazari, maganganun Laylah suna ta mata yawo a kai.

‘Da uwa irin ki gwara maraici’

‘Are you sure you’re even his mother?’

‘We can only fight against destiny buy never can we change it’.

Zufa sosai ya fara keto mata. Wani ihu ta kwala kan ta sa hannu ta ja table cloth inda ke gabanta gaba daya kayan abincin da ke kan table din suka zube qasa, China plates suka farfashe har wani ya yanke mata hannu amma saboda tsananin tafarfasan da zuciyar ta ke yi bata ji zafin cut din ba.

“Da na ne, wallahi da na ne”. Ta dinga fadi tana kuka sosai “Kuma duk duniya ba me son khalifa kamar yadda nike son sa, ba me raba ni dashi. He’s my son”. Doctor ne da nurses uku suka rugo dakin da gudu. Kan gado aka maida ta aka maida mata da oxygen respirator. Heart monitor doctor din ya duba yaga how rapid her heart was beating. Da kyar dai aka yi calming dinta, aka bata wani alluran da zai Kwantar da hankalin ta kan suka fita aka barta da nurse inda ke kula da ita.3

Tafia take amma mind dinta na kan conversation dinta da Begum. Sai tunani take ta yi, no matter how much she loves khalifa dole ta haqura dashi tunda Uwar sa ba son ta take ba, kuma tunda zaman su tare matsaloli kawai zai ta kawo masa tsakanin sa da mahaifiyar sa sannan ita duk duniya ba abunda take so kamar taga khalifa cikin farin ciki kuma ta san ba yadda zaa yi ya sama farin ciki da yardar mahaifiyar sa muddin yana tare da ita.

“Watch where you’re going woman”. Muryar mutumin da ta bangaje ya yanke mata tunanin da take yi.

“I’m sor…”. Bata karashe maganar ba ta kalli fuskar mutumin wanda ba dogo bane ba, sannan ya na da dan jiki ga tumbi baza kuma a kira sa mummuna ba haka ma baza a kira sa kyakyawa ba, yana dai tsakatsaki. Kamar Kullum sanye yike da suit, hannunsa riqe da briefcase, idanunsa kuma sanye da dark shades. Da alama yana cikin sauri ne. Tabbas koh daga barci ta tashi ta san wannan fuska ta Al-Mubaraq Bala.

“Mrs Al-Haydar?”. Ya tambaya da alama be gane ta ba. Hakan ya sa ta jin dadi cikin zuci. “I’m Al-Mubaraq, i’m like an uncle to your hubby. Too bad he hasn’t introduced us”. Ya fadi yana miqa mata hannunsa wanda ta qi shaking.

“Good day Al-Mubaraq. I’ve heard quite alot about you from khalifa”. Wani irin dariya yayi mata wanda ya qara bata mata ran ta wanda dama can yana ta tafarfasa. “Are you here to see Sahar Al-Haydar?”. Ta tambaya.

“Oh no no, I need to see someone. I’m in a hurry Mrs Al-Haydar. It was nice bumping into you”. Dan murmushin yaqe ta masa kan kowa ya kama hanyar sa. Inda ta baro Hayfah a garden din Asibitin ta same ta sai call take ta making. Tana hango Laylah ta miqe amma koh da Laylah ta isa gun sai samun wuri tayi ta zauna. Dogon ijiyar zuciya ta sauke kan ta sa hannenta biyu ta rufe fuskar ta, duk duniya ta rasa me ke mata dadi. Sun kai 10 minutes zaune a wajen shuru, Laylah tana can duniyar tunani, call inda ya shigo wayar ta ne ya fiddo ta daga dogon nazarin da take.

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“Ya kike?” Ta tambaya bayan sun gama gaisawa “How’s Mahmoud and the kids?”. Ta sake tambayar Auta. “Ni? Lafia lau nike”.

“Amma sai naji muryar ki kamar you’ve been crying”. Auta ta tambaya.

“No, not at all”.

“How’s things with your inlaws”.

“Great! I just had dinner with Begum. Everyone’s nice, they treat me well”.

“Are you sure?”.

“I have no reason to lie”. Ta fadi tana dan in’ina “I’ll have to hang up now. Zamuyi magana anjima”. Ta fadi kan ta katse wayar. Tana kashe wayar ta dora hannunta kan goshinta tana salati.

“Let’s go ma’am. Dare nayi”. Hayfah ta fadi kan ta kamo hannunta.

“Wait! Na mance suspender dina”. Ta fadi bayan ta miqe zata sa wayar ta a jaka taga ba jakan. “Hayfah ki jira ni a mota, i’ll be right back”.

“No, kije mota sai naje na dauka miki”.

“Aah, ai baza a bari kije ba, your name is not on her visitors list”. Laylah ta fadi “Bazan dade ba kin ji”. Ta fadi kan ta koma gaban ta sai bugu yike ta yi.

Koh da ta hau sama sai samu tayi wajen yayi shuru sosai and it was looking extremely unusual. Tun a hanya ta fara having wani irin feeling da taga hefty bodyguards hudu da suke gadin corridor din special ward inda Begum take sun sauko qasa, sun tsaya daga foot din stairs din. Sai dai bata ce komi ba ta wuce su ta hauro. Tana isa kuma bakin qofar sai taji kamar muryar Begum tana magana da wani, hakan ya sa ta dan zauna a waje shuru dan ta ba su privacy, tunanin ta in wanda ke ciki ya fito koh ta fito sai ta shiga ta dau jakar ta ta wuce. Zama tayi kan wani armchair inda ke corridor din amma sai ta sama kanta da rashin iya zaman kawai sai ta miqe ta koma zuwa glass wall inda ke corridor din ta tsaya shuru tana admiring night view din hospital din, wuta ne ta koh ina harabar asibitin sai shining yike, mutum bazai ce dare ne ba.

Hayaniyar da ta fara ji daga cikin dakin ya sa ta zama alert. Koh da ta matso kusa da qofar sai ji tayi hayaniyar ya qaru kuma qofar dakin an rufe daga ciki. From all indications, it seemed nothing was right in the room dan haka without second thoughts Laylah ta sa hannu ta cikin gashin ta ta ciro daya daga cikin pins inda ta sa ta kama hair dinta tayi using dinsa to unlock the door, dabara wanda ta koya tun tana yarinya.

“Kamar yadda na kashe Mohammed Mumtaz, kema yau ranar mutuwar ki yayi. And guess what Sahar? Ina kashe ki my next target will be the son you love with all your heart. I’ll give him a very slow and painful death and at last! I’ll be the king of the Al-Haydar empire. I’ve waited 30 years for that day when I’ll attain the throne to the empire kuma na dauke rayuka da yawa in my quest for the throne”. Wata dariyar mugunta Al-Mubaraq ya saki kan ya cigaba da jawabinsa.2

“Wataran Zulaikha Al-Haydar overheard my plans, ta rantse sai ta fadiwa Mumtaz. You know what happened Begum? I strangled her in her sleep, her husband Muhammad Fadoul didn’t die in a natural accident, I caused his accident. He was Mumtaz’s lawyer at that time kuma shi mutum ne mai kaifin tunani, ina ganin ya fara dago ni nayi gaba dashi. It’s okay, yours will be quick, the poison will kill you in just 10 minutes Sahar. Rest in peace”.

Laylah kam without much hesitation ta fada dakin the minute the door got unlocked sai dai duk abunda Al-Mubaraq ya fadi a kan kunne ta ne, ji tayi kamar ta saki wani ihu. Salatin da ta yi ne ya sa Al-Mubaraq ya juyo ya kalleta ya saki wata ýar dariya.

“Now who do we have here if not the new Mrs Al-Haydar”. Laylah kam jikinta already ya dau rawa, a sace ta fara dailing din number din khalifa sai da wani kamu da Al-Mubaraq yayi wa gashin ta ya sa wayar ya fadi a qasa. “Cikin abu biyu zaki zaba daya; in kashe ki tare da surukar ki koh mu hada kai, in aure ki after I become the new king of Al-Haydar empire. Kina da kyau, kina da komi da nake so a Jikin mace, and I know you were a prostitute”. Kwacewa Laylah tayi ta sakin masa wani wawan mari a fuska.

“Kana da saurin mantuwa! Yes I was a prostitute but do you know who led me onto that path? You Al-Mubaraq, you!”. Ta fadi tana kuka “8 years ago, wata yarinya ýar kauye tazo office dinka neman aiki, ka hanata aiki. Kace zaka bada on one condition idan ta baka goro, idan ta bari ka yi lalata da ita. Taqi yet one thing led to the other, out of desperation I came back to you, na yarda da condition dinka but what happened a karshe? Ka wulakanta ni, ka jife ni da naira dari biyar ka kore ni kamar wata dabba. Out of helplessness na tsinci kaina dumu dumu cikin karuwanci. Ina ma ka rufa mun asiri, ina ma baka nemi kayi zina da ni ba. Things would never have been this way, da baa ganni ana daga yatsa ana nuna ni ba, da baa dinga bada misalai na banza dani ba, da Uwar mijina ta anshe ni da hannu bibbiyu. Har yanzu kana da bakin cewa you’ll make me your wife. You’re wrong to thing I’ll join in doing evil”. Ta fadi tana kallonsa cikin ido tana kuka.1

“Ke an fadi miki kece mace na farko na fara lalatawa rayuwa, koh an fadi miki wannan kukan da kike yi shi zai sa nayi feeling guilty. You’re wrong to think that way. Zaki mutu kema yau ashe”. Ya fadi yana dariya “It’s sad! You won’t live to see me slowly kill khalifa Al-Haydar and ascend his throne as the king of Al-Haydar empire and it’s sad how I won’t get to enjoy the luscious body of yours before sending you off to the land of the dead”.

Ta sauke yaran kenan a school ta dawo gida tana ýan gyare gyaren ta kamar yadda ta saba sai ga Mahmoud ya fito cikin shirin sa tsaf zai wuce aiki. A safiyar ranar yana da lecture na safe.+



“Masha Allah” ya fadi da yaji irin kamshin da gidan ke ta faman yi “wannan kamshi haka ai sai ya hanani zuwa aiki ince ni a gida zan zauna yau”. Qarasawa tayi inda yike ta fara gyara masa hular Zanna Bukar inda ke kansa.

“Har ka fito… wallahi yau ka matukar yin kyau. Har gayun yau ya fi na jiya, Anya zan iya bari ka tafi makaranta kuwa yau, kar ka je students su ta Kalle mun kai, I think blue is your colour”. Ta fadi tana dariya.

“Karki damu Hidayah, ai ni naki ne ke daya”.

“Mamansu Kauthar kuma fa? Bazata dawo ba yaya?”. Ýan yatsun sa biyu ya hada ya dan bugi bakin ta.

“Ba nace ki daina dago mun zancen ta ba kuma sannan ba nace a sama mun wani sunan da ya dace dani ba?”.

“Afuwan mai gidana. Insha Allah zan kula” ta fadi tana riqo hannunsa “Muje ka karya kan ka fita koh”.

“Yaran fa?”.

“Tab! An sun jima a school”. Dadi sosai yaji, irin kular da yaransa suke samu har zuwa shi kansa basu taba samun irin sa ba a lokacin da yike tare da zainaba. Hasalima Kullum hukumar makaranta tana qorafi akan yadda yaran ke zuwa latti, kuma Kullum unorganised, koh ba suyi kitso ba koh kuma baa goge uniform nasu ba. Makaranta kam dama mafi yawanci in yana da morning lectures sai ya riga su barin gida dan baa kai su da wuri. Amma tun sanda Auta ta shigo gidan a matsayin matar sa komi ya sanja, kula sosai take basu, ga yadda take tarairayar sa, da ka gansa ka san yanzu Mahmoud ya sama kwanciyar hankali. Ýan uwansa kowa sai sa mata albarka ake haka ma abokan sa.

“Allah ya miki albarka” ya fadi yana placing dan kiss a saman goshinta bayan ya gama cin abinci ya miqe zai wuce. Har bakin mota ta raka sa riqe da jakar sa, tana ta masa addua. “Yawwa kan na mance, saman drawer dun bedroom akwai kudi na ije, sai ki shiga market yau koh kiyi shopping din komawa makaranta”.

“Nagode sosai ya… mijina. Allah ya qara budi”. Ta fadi fuskar ta cike da fara’a “Amma kuma…”.

“Amma kuma me Hidayah?”.

“Zancen baby Isma’il”.

“Ai na fadi miki zan maida shi gidan Daadan sa tunda zaki koma school”.

“Aah wai zancen da na maka akan in ta fi dashi, in ya so sai na sama nanny”.

“Toh ke kya hada karatu da dawainiyar yaro? Ehh”.

“Toh ai semester daya ya rage mun kuma nace zan sama nanny, gashi yaro ya saba dani ban son muna raba masa hankali, yau yi na nan gobe yi na can”. Ta fadi tana dan tabe baki.

“Toh toh naji, amma yanzu i’m late. We’ll discuss about that when i’m back okay, ki kula mun da kanki”. Ya fadi yana shafa lallausar kumatunta.

“Kai ma haka”. Ta fadi kan ta manna masa kiss a kumatu ta rufe masa door din mota, sai da taga fitar sa daga harabar gidan kan ta koma ciki dubo baby Isma’il koh ya tashi ta shirya sa.

Tunda ya isa Lagos ba abunda yike in ba aiki ba, once in a while sparing a few minutes to speak to Laylah and Fadeel. Kamar yadda yayi a daren sa na farko a Lagos, ranar ma kwana yayi a office yana going through reports, kadan da kadan yana warware komi da komi, every transaction da property na khalif airlines and group of companies yana going through details din.

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“Mamu signed a cheque of 680million?”. Ya tambaya no one in particular as he assessed a transaction “Kuma kwanan nan. Yaushe Mamu ya fara signing fitan kudi ba tare da na sani ba?”. Abun ya matukar daure masa kai amma dai sai yayi highlighting transaction din, saboda ya san akwai abun dubawa a wajen dan an cire kudin ba tare da anyi stating property inda aka siya dashi ba koh abunda aka yi dashi. About 30 minutes later sai ga call ya shigo daga daya daga cikin managers din businesses dinsa da ke qasar waje.

“Yes Mr Shuraim, how may I help you?”. Ya tambaya mutumin wanda asalin balaraben Saudi Arabia ne.

“Sir it’s about that deal, I couldn’t get through to Al-Mubaraq so I thought I could just directly contact you”.

“What deal khalid?”.

“Sir the one you sent Al-Mubaraq to carry out. The sale of the Saharan Castle”.

“What!” Ya fadi da karfi “Mamu is selling the Saharan Castle?”. Ya tambaya. Saharan Castle yana daya daga cikin manyan investments din khalifa wanda suke Saudi Arabia, hotel ne babba wanda in ana lissafo manyan hotels masu tsada a Saudi sai an sako sa. Shuru yayi yana sauraron bayanin da khalid Shuraim ke ta koro masa regarding Karyar da Al-Mubaraq ya tafi Saudi yayi masa har ya fara cinikin siyar masa da kadaran sa sannan ya anshi kudade masu magudan yawa a hannun Khalid Shuraim. A bisa yadda khalifa ya gane situation din, Al-Mubaraq ya yi wannan dabarar ne dan yayi trapping din Mr Shuraim, yadda koh da zancen ya fito, he’ll be the one held accountable for the damage.

Cikin harshen larabci ya juya yana ta ba Mr Shuraim haquri sannan yayi assuring dinsa da cewa nan ba da jimawa ba zai zo Saudi Arabia din to access everything himself. Ba tare da wani bata lokaci ba khalifa ya kira attorney dinsa ya fadi masa cewar he wants to file a lawsuit.

“Tariq!”. Ya kwala masa kira. Tariq wanda ke wani table cikin spacious office din Al-Haydar shima yana going through some files ya dago da sauri ya qaraso “Tell the pilot to get the jet ready, we leave for Abuja in 30 minutes. Ka shirya komi. Ban son waste of time”. Ya fadi yana wucewa wani adjoining room, wanda dakin hutu ne. Bathroom din dakin ya shiga immediately ya watsa ruwa kan ya fito ya dau duffel bag dinsa ya ciro abubuwan da yike buqata. Shiryawa yayi tsaf cikin wani pure white shirt me v-neck da gray Sweatpant. 30 minutes be cika ba Tariq ya dawo ya dau jakar sa ya ce masa everything is set. Tunda suka shiga jet din har suka sauka khalifa be bar nazari ba, tunani yike tayi akan abunda zai sa Al-Mubaraq, mutumin da ya dauka tamkar uba zai masa haka. Sosai khalifa yike ganin qima da darajar Al-Mubaraq dan tun yana yaro mutumin ke nuna masa tsananin so da kulawa har zuwa lokacin da mahaifin sa ya rasu Al-Mubaraq has always been there to give him support. Baya daukar mataki regarding business sai yayi consulting dinsa, He has always looked upon the man as a role model and a guide.

“To Yasmeenah’s”. Ya fadi wa driver sanda suka shiga mota bayan isan su Abuja. Motoci uku aka zo taran sa da su, shi da Tariq suka shiga daya sai securities a sauran motoci biyu, mota daya na gaban nasu, daya na baya. Cikin irin tashin hankali da baqin cikin da yike ciki, ya san ba inda zashi ya sama kwanciyar hankali in ba wajen matar sa ba tunda yanzu har me Kwantar masa da hankalin a da fushi take da shi. Tunanin Laylah kawai yayi yaji wani sanyi a zuciyar sa. Shafa lallausar gashin da ke kan sa yayi kan ya dan lumshe ido ya dora kan sa a headrest din kujerar motar, burin sa yaga abar son sa.

Koh da suka isa gidan Yasmeenah aka buda masu harabar gidan suka shiga, shi daya ya shiga cikin gidan masu aiki suna masa maraba. Yana shiga ciki ya sama Yasmeenah tana sa turare a gidan. Sallama ya mata ya sama waje ya zauna. Girkin da tayi for dinner ta wuce ta sake reheating kan ta fara shirya masa a table.

“Kace you’re from a trip. Bismillah”. Tayi inviting dinsa zuwa table din. Be musa ba ya miqe zuwa dining inda ke kitchen dama yunwar yike ji. Chicken mustard soup ta fara serving dinsa tace ya fara ci kan ta gama reheating main dish din.

“Wow! This is nice Yasmeenah, really nice”. Ya fadi, sai santi yike gaba daya ya mance abunda ma ya kawo sa gidan.

Murmushi tayi, fighting the mad urge to ruffle the mop of dark hair which laid on his head “I’ll pack some for you ka tafi dashi”.

“I’d appreciate that a lot”. Shuru suka yi, ba me cewa kowa komi sai qarar cutlery dinsa as they hit the expensive China plates kawai ake ji. Sosai ya ci abincin, ya dade be ci abinci kamar yadda ya ci ranar ba. Yasmeenah kam murna ta yi sosai ganin yadda ya ci abincin sosai har yana praising girkinta.

“Alhamdulillah” ya fadi bayan ya ije glass inda ya gama shan ruwa daga ciki “thanks for the meal”.

“Thank God dear”. Ta fadi masa tana murmushi.

“Ermm Laylah fa? Haven’t seen her around”.

“Ohhh she’s at the hospital”. Ta fadi masa tana clearing table din.

“Hospital?” Ya tambaya “Bata da lafia ne?”.

“Didn’t she tell you? She was invited over for dinner, by your mother”.

“Begum invited her!”. Yayi exclaiming. Right there and then ya san something was amiss. He knew his mother was up to some of her cunning tricks.

“You call her Begum?”. Yasmeenah ta fadi tana mamaki.

“Yes”. Ya ansa yana daga wayar sa “Yasmeenah it was nice talking to you and thanks for the dinner. I’ll have to run now, zan duba ta a hospital din”. Ya fadi yana barin kitchen din cikin hanzari.

“Wa faqqanallahu laka (May God guide and protect you)”. Ta fadi tana bin sa a baya, har bakin qofa ta rakosa taga wucewar sa kan ta dawo ciki abubuwa da yawa running on her mind. A duk lokacin da taga khalifa Al-Haydar sai ya tuno mata da shi, sai ya tabo mata wani tsohon miki, sai ya tuno mata da wani chapter na rayuwar ta wanda she has tried so hard to get over.

‘Ko yana da rai ko babu oho’. Ta fadi a zuci tana hawa stairs.

kamar yadda suka taho, haka suka koma khalifa na zaune a gidan baya tare da Tariq, sauran motocin suna biye dasu. Wayar sa da ke ringing ya kalla yaga attorney din sa ne ke kira. Sun dan jima suna magana kan wani call ya fara shiga wayar sa, da kamar bazai daga wayar ba amma da yaga kiran Laylah ne ke shiga sai yayi cutting call din attorney dinsa bayan ya ce masa zai kirasa after picking her call. Sai dai koh da ya daga call din nata be ji ta fara magana ba sai yayi assuming tayi dailing number din by mistake ne. Har zai kashe sai ya fara jin magana daga background.

“Cikin abu biyu zaki zaba daya; in kashe ki tare da surukar ki koh mu hada kai, in aure ki after I become the new king of Al-Haydar empire. Kina da kyau, kina da komi da nake so a Jikin mace, and I know you were a prostitute”.

“Mamu?”. Ya tambaya kansa a daure. Tariq Juyawa yayi zai yi magana khalifa ya ce masa yayi shuru, kan ya sa wayar a speaker. Maganar da Al-Mubaraq din yayi ne ya fara dawo masa.

‘In kashe ki tare da surukar ki.’

‘….After I become the new king of Al-Haydar empire’.

“Stop the car, stop the Goddamn car!”. Motar na tsayawa fita yayi daga inda yike ya wuce gaba yace wa driver din ya sauko “Get down all of you” ya fadi yana ansan key din motar. Sauran motocin biyu suma tsayawa suka yi “Tariq get Nawfal, to the hospital this minute!”. Ya ja motar ya wuce har zuwa lokacin he kept the call connected duk abunda Al-Mubaraq ke fadi akan kunnen sa. Can kuma muryar Laylah din yaji ta fara magana.Koh da ya bar hospital din gida ya wuce, dama gidan wasn’t too far from the hospital. A da kan yayi aure, he lived together with Begum a Al-Haydar mansion amma after auransa da Saima, he moved out into an apartment wanda shima cikin Al-Haydar estate din yike. Qaton estate ne wanda ba abunda babu a ciki. Apartments ne masu uban yawa wanda ba kowa ke iya affording renting dinsu ba sai wanda suka ci suka kishi.  Daga can bayan estate din kuma, a wani secluded area inda ya ba sauran apartments din tazara Al-Haydar mansion is located, gida ne qato haddade, wanda daga gani ka san ba karamin kudi aka kashewa gidan ba. Hanyar shigar sa ma daban da na sauran apartments inda ke estate din, gun is extremely quiet and serene. Duk wani abu na more rayuwa akwai shi cikin Al-Haydar mansion.

Yana pulling over a driveway din gidan ya fito daga posh ride dinsa ya wuce. Key dinsa ya ciro daga pocket din wandon sa ya buda gidan ya shiga. As usual, everywhere was dark and silent. Kunna wutan yayi kan yayi proceeding to the sparkling clean kitchen din gidan dun shan ruwa. The dining was empty, he didn’t expect her to cook for him afterall, infact baya tunanin ma ta iya wani irin girkin kirki, she didn’t strike him as the type to cook. Tun bayan auran su wata biyu kenan, they had been living as mere housemates, magana ma sai taga dama take masa, in kuma ya mata ba dole ta ansa shi ba. Yana gama shan ruwa bedroom dinsa ya wuce ya watsa ruwa a sa kayan sa na zaman gida kan ya fito ya wuce kitchen. Pasta ya fara dafawa dan ya san tun safe da wuya in ta ci abinci, dan koh da ya duba sink, mug na tea kawai ya samu a ciki. In no time ya gama dafa pasta din with veggies and some cheese. Oranges ya ciro daga fridge yayi peeling kan yayi blending to make some orange juice, her favourite. Yana gama komi ya wuce dakin ta dan fadi mata ta fito ta ci abinci amma koh da yaje yayi ta knocking sai yaji shuru, she didn’t answer kawai sai yayi assuming maybe she was taking a shower. Dakinsa ya wuce kan a few minutes after ya dawo door dinta ya sake knocking da ya kuma jin shuru sai hankalinsa ya fara tashi, a hankula ya taba qofar sai yaji qofar a bude, pushing door din yayi till it was fully open and for the first time he walked into her room. Shuru be same ta a dakin ba gashi yana ta kiran sunanta shuru kuma phone nata, car key and wallet we’re all lying on her vanity table bare yace maybe ta fita ne. Tsaya yayi shuru koh zai ji motsi daga bathroom but still shuru without hesitation ya bude qofar bathroom din and there she laid, almost lifeless. She was in nothing but a short towel draped over her chest to her knees. Da gudu ya qarasa inda take ya durqusa gabanta yana kiran sunanta.

“Ohh my God Saima”. Ya fadi kan yayi heaving a sigh of relief da yaga chest dinta na sama yayi qasa alamar she was still breathing amma it seemed she was still passed out. Kallon kanta yayi that was half immersed in the bathtub filled to brim with water, ruwan har ya fara sanja colour saboda blood dinta. Jawo ta yayi a hankula yayi laying dinta flat akan tile din bathroom din. First thing inda yazo masa mind yayi. Bending yayi till his breathe was fanning her face, ya runtse idanu kan ya dora bakin sa akan nata yana hura mata iska. After about 2 minutes sai gashi ta buda idanunta, zaro idanu tayi shima ya zaro nasa kan yayi sauri ya miqe daga jikinta.



“What were you doing?” Ta tambaya “Where you taking advantage of me”.1

“No stupid! I was giving you a mouth to mouth resuscitation”. Cute lips dinta yaga sun dan forming “O” kan tayi yunqurin miqewa amma sai taji kan ta ya mata wani gum. “Wait! I’ve got you”. Tunda ya daga ta in his arms be sauke ta koh ina ba sai kan lush queen sized bed inda ke bedroom dinta. Bathroom din ya koma ya dauko first aid box kan yazo ya zauna gefen bed din. “This might sting”. Ya fadi kan ya dan yi dabbing wool inda was laced with spirit. A hankula ya dinga goge mata wound inda ke forehead dinta yana hura iska a hankula. Yana gamawa ya goge wanda ke elbow dinta, noticing yadda ta dinga wincing yayi hakan ya sa yayi inspecting hannunta.

“It’s sprained”. Ya fadi yana kallon ta.

“Hurts like hell”. Ta fadi resisting the urge to cry.

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“How did you fall down?”.

“I slipped, some of my shower gel poured on the tile and I accidentally stepped on it and slipped. Thank God you came at the right time”.

“Awwwwnnn” Yayi cooing “You poor thing. Now let’s get your bone back in place”. Ya fadi yana riqo hannun amma sai yaga kamar kuka zata yi “Okay relax, close your eyes and breathe in” Yadda ya ce tayi haka tayi “Good, now breathe out and imagine you in your favourite travel destination”.

Idanunta a rufe tayi ýar murmushi, it was the first time she was smiling wholeheartedly tun auran su, and it was the first time he was sitting very close to her. Ya Allah! She was beautiful, infact no word in the dictionary did justice to her kind of beauty.

‘You’re one lucky dude Nawfal’. Ya fadi a zuci yana murmushi. Maybe, just maybe it was the start of a chemistry.

“Brazil!”.

“You like Brazil? Me too”. Ya fadi mata yana murmushi even though she couldn’t see him “Now imagine you sitting under an umbrella in Copacabana beach, sipping some expensive cocktail drink, a Sidney Sheldon novel resting on your legs…..”.

“Hmmmm heaven”. Ta fadi Jikin ta na relaxing.

“Perfect! You can open your eye”. Eye to eye suka yi bayan ta buda ido taga ya daga mata gira yana murmushi.

“What?”.

“Done”.

“Done like done?”.

“Yes”. Ya fadi with a shrug.

“Oh my God Nawfal! You’re a genius, thank you thank you”. Ta fadi tana hugging dinsa. Closet dinta ya wuce ya ciro mata wani simple dress ya ije kan gado kan yace mata zai je yayi reheating mata dinner ya dawo. Dakinsa ya fara wucewa ya sanja kaya kan ya dawo yayi reheating abincin ya jera akan food trolley ya ja har zuwa bedroom dinta amma sai ya same ta gaban vanity table dinta bata sanja kaya ba, har zuwa lokacin dan towel ke jikinta. Juyowa tayi ta kallesa cikin wani fuskar tausayi, her eyes communicated everything to him dan haka matsowa yayi ya jawo rigar ya taya ta changing into the dress a hankula. Suna gama haka ya riqo hannunta zuwa bakin gado, serving dinta yayi ta fara cin abincin a hankula. Tana gamawa ya miqe ya hada kayan zai wuce da su “Thank you” yaji tace masa, murmushi kawai ya mata yayi nodding kansa ya wuce. Sai da ya wanke komi da komi kan ya dawo to bade her goodnight.

“Do you mind watching a movie?”. Ta tambaya. Abun ya mugun daure masa kai but how could he say no to her. Da sauri yace mata yes kan ya koma to get them soda and popcorn. Half way into movie din ne, lokacin Saima ta riga ta fara barci sai ga call din Tariq.

“What! I’m on my way”. Ya fadi yana miqewa cikin hanzari, careful not to wake his sleeping wife.

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Khalifa kam yana isa hospital din da gudu ya ruga sama, ana masa magana koh tsayawa ya ansa be yi ba ya ruga, duk wanda ya tsaya masa a hanya ya bangaje sa ya wuce. Koh da ya kai bakin stairs din, his mind was far off somewhere else to notice that security inda were supposed to guard his mother were standing there inside of su tsaya bakin qofar dakin ta. Yana isa without second thoughts yayi kicking door din dakin Begum open.

“Well, well, well… The party’s getting more fun”. Al-Mubaraq ya fadi da yaga khalifa “Son, weren’t you supposed to be in Lagos?”.

“I’m not your son!”. Khalifa ya fadi yana spitting on Al-Mubaraq’s face. “A father will never do this to his son. You’ve been stealing from me?”. Ya fadi kamar zai yi kuka “Ma na maka Mamu? Me na taba maka a rayuwa to deserve this?”.

“I have been together with Mumtaz for 35 years! Tun kana ciki, kawai sai a dare daya yayi naming dinka successor dinsa? Not sparing anything for me? Hard work dina kenan ya tafi a banza… inaaa”. Kallon mamaki sosai yayi wa Al-Mubaraq “I’ve killed many people in this quest for your wealth dan haka kar ka yi tunanin your pity face will make me have a change of heart”.

“I was just telling your mother and wife about my escapades. How I hired a hooker to poison your father’s drink. That client of yours that committed suicide 3 years ago” sai da yayi dariya sosai kan ya cigaba “Ba suicide bane, he got a hint of what I was up to dan haka na bisa har office dinsa na kashe shi and made it look like he committed suicide and you know what khalifa? That’s what I’m going to do right now. Thank God I have more than enough poison to finish you wretched souls off, i’ll kill you and she will be held accountable”. Ya fadi yana nuna Laylah wadda ke gefe tana kuka.

“Touch a strand of hair from her body and I’ll kill you wallah”.

“Ha ha ha ha ha… you can only kill me if you’re alive child. By then ka dade da mutuwa”.

“Leave my wife and mother out of this. Face me like a man”. Ya fadi yana kai masa nushi. Goge jinin da ya fito daga bakin sa yayi sakamakon punch inda khalifa ya kai masa kan ya sa hannu shima ya maida martani. Da duka might dinsa ya kaiwa khalifa nushi kan ya hau kansa ya dinga kai masa duka. Ihun Laylah ne ya sa ya dago daga kan khalifa yayo kan ta. Da sauri ya cafko ta da yaga tana yunqurin fita. Qofar ya rufe kan ya wurgar da ita can gefe kan ta ya bugu da edge din dan karamin fridge inda ke dakin. Kwalban da ke hannunsa ya jijjiga kan ya zaro wani dan syringe daga breastpocket din suit dinsa. Ganin haka ya sa kukan Begum ya qaru tana rokar sa.

“Al-Mubaraq please we can’t sort this out. Don’t kill my son please, duk duniya shi daya gareni, dan Allah karka kashe mun da na. He’ll transfer half the wealth to you”.

“Half? Kina hauka ne Begum? Why should I settle for half when I can get all, kuma ba yadda zaa yi na bar ku, kun san sirrina da yawa. You all will have to die”. Yana fadin haka ya fara kokarin zugo poison din daga Kwalban zuwa syringe din amma sai yaji an tunkude sa da karfi har sai da ya kusa fadi. Kallon Kwalban da ya fadi a qasa ya fashe yayi zuciyar sa ta fara tafarfasa, poison inda yafi shekara uku yana nema ya siya sannan bayan ya siya yayi ijiyar ta tsawon shekara daya. Kallon khalifa yayi kawai ya kai masa wani nushi.

“Ni zaka bata wa aiki”. Ya qara kai masa wani nushin da ya kusa kaisa qasa. Revolver inda ke cikin inner pocket din suit dinsa ya ciro yayi aiming. In a split second kawai qarar trigger din ya cika koh ina. Wani ihu Laylah ta saki tana kiran sunan khalifa amma inaaa kan ta ce wani abu Al-Mubaraq ya qara harbi kuma.Zaro idanu yayi looking from the revolver in Al-Mubaraq’s hand to Laylah who had just pushed him away and got shot instead. Be gama registering abunda ya faru ba kawai ya kuma jin qarar harbi, Al-Mubaraq ya kuma sakin mata wani bullet which pierce right through her back to her chest. Jini ke fita bakin ta, da kadan jikinta na kaiwa qasa, da gudu khalifa ya rugo ya kamata in his arms suka yi qasa tare. Kallon ta kawai yike idanunsa sunyi jazur, tari take a hankula in banda jini ba abunda ke fitowa daga bakin ta,  haka chest dinta, 2 places inda bullet din ya same ta sai zuba jini suke. Ihun da Begum ta fara shi ya fitar da khalifa out of his gaze. A guje ya miqe ya cafko Al-Mubaraq da ke shirin guduwa. Wani ihun takaici ya saki kan ya kai masa wani fatal blow da ya kai sa qasa, the gun in his hand falling off. Duka khalifa yayi ta kai masa, punching anywhere not giving a heck, yana hawaye yana ta kai masa duka but soon the tables turned, Al-Mubaraq ya samu ya kai masa wani nushi, dama already khalifa was weak. Tunda ya kai masa nushin yayi ta kai masa duka, mostly on his head.3

“Karyar ka kace zaka bata mun aikin da ba dau 30 years ina preparing for”. Ya fadi yana kai masa wani blow to the nose. Qasa khalifa yayi ya zube a yayin da Al-Mubaraq ya samu damar daga bindigar sa yayi aiming dinsa towards khalifa who laid almost lifeless on the floor. “Sahar habibty…”. Ya kira sunan Begum wadda in ba kuka ba ba abunda take ta faman yi “How would it feel to watch your only son die”. Ya fadi da wani irin murmushin mugunta a fuskar sa. “Oh yes son, the other times I was just telling your mother about how I took the life of your aunt. Strangled her to death in her sleep and how I made her husband die in an accident”. Dan tsayawa yayi kan ya cigaba da maganar sa “And yes, karku damu da Nawfal, i’ll know how to handle him”. Laylah kam wadda idanunta har sun fara juyawa direction din khalifa ta kalla, shima ita yike kallo amma miqewa ya gagara.

“I love you”. Ta fadi a hankula idanunta na rufewa. Shima kallon ta yayi idanunsa na faman zubda hawaye.



“I love you more…. till eternity”. Qarar harbi kawai ya qara resonating through the four walls that made up the room. After wannan shot din, about 5 more gunshots were heard. Zaro idanu sosai Al-Mubaraq yayi, jini na fitowa daga bakin sa kan ya zube a qasa. Bullets duk ya masa fata fata da chest. Dropping gun din Nawfal yayi before slumping to the floor to cry his heart out about what he had just heard. Medical team ne suka rugo da gudu zuwa dakin kan aka fara daga su khalifa into the emergency unit of that ward, Begum har zuwa lokacin was in a state of shock. Shikam Nawfal police ne suka zo suka tsaya masa a kai trying to him kan Tariq ya qaraso kusa ya ce musu he was not going to answer to any of them without his lawyers present. Shima Al-Mubaraq shiga aka yi aka fita da gawar sa, har aka bar floor din, Nawfal be bar kallon stretcher inda aka dauke gawar sa a kai ba.

Zuwa wannan lokaci, gaba daya labari ya zaga. Reporters sun cika waje suna neman news. Headlines din koh wani channel was carrying the news about the murder of the Al-Haydar family.

Yasmeenah was sitted in the living room watching the news when she read the headlines, nan gabanta ya fadi da taga what it said “…… The new Mrs Al-Haydar shot to….”. A rude ta miqe ta wuce sama ta zuba wani jallabia ta daga key din motar ta ta kama hanyar hospital din, giving Laylah’s brother a call on her way.

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Zaune suke shuru cikin mota, Tariq na tuqi while Nawfal na zaune shuru ba abunda yike cewa. Koh da suka isa sauka yayi daga motar ba tare da ya cewa Tariq komi ba, koh sanda Tariq yace masa zai wuce da motar nasa sai kashe gari da safe ya aiko masa dashi be ce komi ba sai daga masa kai kawai yayi. Saima da ya bari tana barci ya sama ta farka zaune shuru a armchair inda ke living room dinsu. Miqewa tayi da taga yadda ya shigo, his crisp white shirt stained with splashes of blood. Qarasawa tayi inda yike amma sai taga ya wuce ta kawai zuwa bedroom dinsa, binsa tayi har zuwa dakin ta samu ya zauna qasa shuru. Matsowa tayi kusa dashi ta dora hannayenta biyu kan cinyar sa.

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“You’ll tell me everything won’t you?”. Ta tambaya a hankula tana da shafawa hannunsa a hankula to calm him. “Muna cikin annashuwa dazu and all of a sudden you left in a haste gashi yanzu ka dawo covered in blood. Me ke faruwa ne?”. Ta tambaya idanunta cike da kwalla.

“You don’t watch news Saima, do you?”. Ya tambaya a hankula after about 10 minutes of silence.

“I was so tensed about you ban duba TV ba”. Ta basa ansa.

“I just shot a man… to death Saima”. Ya fadi looking her straight in the eyes.

Hannayenta biyu ta sa ta rufe bakin ta after muttering “Subhanallah”. “Nawfal! How come, me ya faru. This bl…loo…d”. Ta fadi motioning to his shirt.

“It’s Al-Mubaraq’s”.

“Ya Allah! You killed uncle Al-Mubaraq”.

“He’s evil Saima”. Ya ja numfashi “He killed my parents”. Ya fadi kan ya fashe da kuka. A hankula ta dinga shafa masa bayansa har sai da hawayen nasa suka tsakaita tukun ya kwashe duk abunda ya faru, wanda ya sani ya fadi mata. By the time he was done, su duka kuka suke sosai. Saima ta riqo Nawfal ta kankame sa in her arms as if to shield him from some sort of harm.

“It’s okay. I’m with you”. Ta fadi tana kissing gashin sa “We’ll find a way out”. Tayi assuring dinsa.

“The police will come for me”. Ya fadi yana shigewa jikinta.

“It was self defense Nawfal. Nothing will happen”. Ta sake kissing gashin sa “I’d just go and prepare your bath, okay”. Ta fadi tana miqewa daga position inda suka zauna a qasa, zuwa lokacin ita kanta nightie dinta ya baci da jini sakamakon riqe sa da tayi a jikinta. Bathroom inda ke bedroom dinsa ta wuce ta fara shirya masa ruwan wanka. Tana fitowa ta riqo hannunsa har zuwa bathroom.

Tana juyawa zata wuce ya riqo hannunta “Don’t leave me”. Ya fadi cikin wani muryar tausayi “Please, stay with me”. Kai ta gyada masa alamar ehhh kan ta bisa cikin spacious marble tiled bathroom din, bayan ta ta juya ta basa as he undressed and got under the shower. Be wani dade ba ya fito yayi wrapping towel round his waist suka fito daga bathroom din. Wuri ta basa to tidy up ita kuma ta wuce kitchen ta fara brewing coffee a coffee maker. Dakinta ta wuce ta sake wanka ta sanja nightie kan ta dawo ta setting komi a kan wani dan medium sized tray. Kwance ta same sa kam gado ya kudundune kansa waje daya, abun tausayi da shi.

“Here, have some tea”. Ta fadi tana miqa masa mug daya. Zama ya gyara kan gadon kan yayi patting din space din gefen sa for her to sit. Shuru suka zauna each sipping his tea quietly. Shi ya fara shanye nasa sai kawai ya zauna shuru as he marveled at how gracefully she sipped her coffee har sai da ta shanye duka. Matsawa yayi cikin gadon to create more space for her. flip flop dinta ta cire kan ta sa qafafun ta cikin bargo kamar yadda yayi, sun dade suna zaune shuru kan tayi breaking silence din.

“Want to hear a story?” Ta tambaya tana daga masa gira, nodding kansa kawai yayi kanta gyara kwanciyar ta ta fara narrating masa story din “When I was 12, my dad was the Ambassador of Nigeria to Switzerland then, muna can. There was this day I lent my mom’s bra, put on a white shirt and went up to our neighbours, they had a cute son whom I had this great crush on. Yana kallo na kawai he was like “Oh look! Saima has boobies!” And he just poked me in one. Being a bra and not having anything to fill it, it sunk in and stayed that way and he just bursted into a fit of laughter. I ran away mortified and refused to visit them for over a month”. Zuwa lokacin da ta gama basa labarin dukan su dariya suke sosai. Sai da suka gama dariyar tukun ta kallesa tace ai shima dole sai yayi sharing wani childhood memory da ita.

“Okay, okay let’s see”. Ya fadi yayi kamar yana tunani ” In 5th grade, we were having science class and my teacher asked us what we thought a ‘shooting star’ was…I knew this but…my answer was so stupid. I said I like to think it’s a unicorn granting wishes or something stupid like that. Never been more embarrassed. The whole class laughed and as soon as it left my mouth my brain caught up”. Ya fadi yana dariya as the memories came flooding back. Sai da suka gama dariyar tukun ta miqe.

“Feeling any better?”.

“Much better”. Ya ansa yana mata murmushi.

“Great! You have a goodnight rest”. Ta fadi tana dan shafa kumatun sa amma sai sa hannunsa yayi ya kamo hannun da ke kumatun nasa.

“Sleep here, please”. Ya fadi, his plead sounding earnest. “I’ll feel much better if you sleep here”. Numfashi ta ja kan ta koma kan gadon ta zauna, da sauri ya dora kan sa kan cinyar ta. “Thank you Saima”. Ya fadi a hankula.

“When I was a small boy, my mom would always sing lullabies for me every night. I loved to listen to her sing rock-a-bye baby to me”. Ya fadi yana dan murmushi.

🎶 Rock-a-bye baby, in the treetop

When the wind blows, the cradle will rock

When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall

And down will come baby, crad…….🎶.

A hankula ta sunkuyar da kanta to place a kiss on his forehead amma sai taji yayi placing hannunsa softly on her neck, bringing her face much closer to his, ya dan dau lokaci yana kallon fuskar ta, feeling grateful to subhanahu wata’alah for bestowing such a beauty on him before he locked their lips in a passionate kiss. At first he took Saima by surprise, ya dauke ta a few minutes to register what was happening kan ta saki jikinta to bask in the glory of being in her husband’s arms. Numfashi ta ja, not breaking from the kiss with her eyes closed and that was the start of something beautiful, something blissful and so pure.

And thus Hafsatu says a huuuuuuggggeeee goodnight to Saima and Nawfal. Figured they need privacy so I’ll leave my wonderful readers to their imaginations😉😉😉