JIRWAYE CHAPTER 16 KARSHE END
Www.bankinhausanovels.com.ng
Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about that possibility”. Zulaikha, wadda ta kasance kanwa ga Mumtaz kuma cousin and best friend to Sahar ta tambaya Sahar wanda kanta a wannan lokacin gaba daya a daure yike. Kallon Zulaikha tayi, wanda ita ma lokacin tana dauke da cikin danta Nawfal.2
“Nifa kaina ya daure Zulaikha”.
“Shikenan! Sahar ki tsaya nan wata bare tazo ta kwace miki miji, ta kwace gidan. For 10 years kina wahala da miji kuma sannan ki tashi a tutar babu? Haba sahar sai kace ba jinin family dinmu ke running through your veins ba, yanzu ke baki ganin yadda rana daya ya dau so da kulawar da yike miki ya maida kan wancan yarinyar. Sanda yayi receiving news din cikin ki kinga yayi farin ciki kamar yadda yayi sanda yayi receiving nata?”. Sosai kalaman Zulaikha suka fara tasiri akan Sahar.
Kusan yinin ranar spending dinsa tayi tana reflecting on all Zulaikha had told her. Har barcin dare ta kasa ranar tana ta tufka da warwara. Tun ranar aka fara dan samun sanji a zaman Sahar da Yasmeenah, even though basu hayaniya yadda most kishiyoyi suke yi, sahar sosai ta dan ja jiki da Yasmeenah wanda haka ba kadan ba ya daurewa Yasmeenah kai wadda ita ma zuwa lokacin ta fara tunanin cewa yadda Mumtaz ke nuna mata so da kulawa sosai a fili ne ya kawo sauyi a zaman nasu. A haka ta qudiri niyyar masa gyara akan rashin adalcin da yike dan nunawa a tsakanin su.
Cikinsu na da wata Bakwai tafia ya tasowa Mumtaz inda mahaifin sa ya sa shi rakasa can qasar Japan domin gudanar da wani Important business. Har a zuciyar sa ba haka ya so ba dan ya so ace matan sa sun haihu yana nan amma ba yadda ya iya domin bazai iya cewa mahaifin sa aah ba. A haka yayi sallama da iyalinsa ya yi embarking on his trip to Japan. Duk yadda iyayen Sahar suka so ta dawo gida ta qi a cewar ta bata so ta bar ýar Uwar ta ita daya, dan ta san Yasmeenah bata da kowa, and a part of Sahar still cared about Yasmeenah despite zugin da mutane ke mata.
Wata ranar alkhamis da yamma naquda ya tasowa Yasmeenah. Ta dade tana labour for hours kamun gab da kiran sallan asubah ta haifa danta qato wanda sak kammaninsa da ubansa. Tunda Sahar taga abunda Yasmeenah ta haifa hankalinta ya tashi, maganar da Zulaikha tayi mata kawai ya dinga mata yawo a kai. What if ita ta haifa mace? What if ta haifa yaron ta yazo ba rai? Koh wani abun ya samu abunda zata haifa? Shikenan ta tashi a tutar babu? Shikenan Yasmeenah da tazo jiya jiya a bayan ta ta kwace mata miji, ta kwace gidan, ta kwace mata respect da position dinta.1
“No! No! Not possible”. Ta fadi tana kuka. Duk tunanin da take ta yi ya haifa mata tension wanda har yayi leading to shigan ta naquda, 2 weeks early. Fara naqudar ta ke da wuya sai ga Zulaikha Allah ya kawo ta gidan. Sahar ta dade tana naquda dan tunda ta fara naquda a safiyar ranar jumu’ah, bata haihu ba sai cikin daren ranar asabar.
“Sannu Sahar”. Zulaikha ta dinga fadi tana goge mata zufan da ya bata mata fuskar ta while midwife inda ta ansa haihuwar ta wuce duba abunda aka haifa. Shigowa tayi da baby din lullube a farin shawl ta kalli Sahar, ta kalli Zulaikha kan ta ja ýar doguwar ijiyar zuciya. Tun kan ta yi magana Sahar ta yanke ta.
“Zulaikha anso mun ďa na na riqe”. Ta fadi fuskar ta cike da murna. “My Khalifatullah. Zulaikha kinsan tun farkon aure na da Mumtaz yike fadi duk randa Allah ya basa magaji he’ll name him Abdulmalik. Gashi yau Allah ya ansa ad…..”. Tsayawa tayi da zancen ta da tayi noticing tunda ta riqe baby din bata ga tayi motsi ba. Kallon midwife din tayi, with a curious look.
“I’m sorry ma’am but it was a girl k..K..kuma”.
“Kuma me!”. Zulaikha ta katse ta.
“Tazo ba rai”. Sahar na jin wannan zancen ta saki wani irin ihu gawar yarinya ta da ta haifa ta saki. Sai kuka kawai ta fashe da tana Wayyo ta shiga uku, kaicon ta.
“Ke dallah this is not the time to cry”. Ta fadi kan ta jawo Sahar ta mata rada a kunne.
“Ya Allah, no no no Zulaikha, kar ayi haka. Bazan iya ba”.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
“Okay then, kina kallo zaa kwace miki miji, infact ina ganin auran ki da yayana ya kusa zuwa karshe”. Zulaikha ta fadi fuskar ta koh alamun tausayi babu.
“Haba Zulaikha kar muyi haka”. Sahar ta fadi tana kuka irin me ratsa zuciya “Dan Allah ki taimaka mun, ina son mijina ban so na rabu dashi, bazan iya jure wannan rayuwar ba”.
“Shawarar kenan na baki kika ce ba zaki iya ba. Nikam gwara na wuce gidana. Allah ya baki lafia sah….”.
“No wait!” Sahar ta tsayar da ita “Zanyi”. Ta fadi a hankula.
Back to present….
A nan Begum ta tsaya tana kuka sosai take fadin bazata iya cigaba da bada labarin ba. Khalifa wanda a lokacin jikinsa sosai yike rawa ya juya ya kalli Yasmeenah wadda ta miqe daga kujerar da take zaune ta anshi labarin ta cigaba daga inda Begum ta tsaya.
“Ina kwance daren ranar bayan na gama gyara newborn baby dina, na basa abinci na kwanta barci sai ga Shigowar Sahar tare da kanwar mijin mu Zulaikha. Koh da na duba hannun Sahar sai na ganta riqe da baby an rufe a shawl, cike da murna na na taso ina mata barka amma koh da na matsa kusa da ita sai gani nayi ta hankada ni. Zulaikha kuma ta dau ďa na da ke kwance yi na barcin sa sai naga sun ije mun baby inda suka shigo da. Sosai kaina ya daure amma ban ce musu komi ba. Kalaman da Sahar ta fadi mun ne suka mugun razana ni *shikenan amfanin ki a gare mu ya qare, dama manufar auran ki kenan ki haifa mana ďa sannan ki tashi ki bamu waje, kina ganin a banza Mumtaz yayi tafia? Be san ta yadda zai kore ki bane shi sa ya kirkiro tafiyar. In ba ke bama me zai yi da karuwa irin ki. Yanzu tunda kin haihu lahia sai ki tattara tarkacen ki ki bar gidan nan tunda ba na uban ki bane* ta fadi tana jeho mun kudi wanda koh ta kansa ban bi ba, a lokacin mind dina was telling me joke kawai Sahar ke mun, the Sahar I knew, the one I had lived with wasn’t cunning, she was nice and loving. Gaba daya na kasa processing what was happening sai da Zulaikha ta miqawa Sahar ďa na ta dauko gawar da suka shigo da dakina ta dora mun a saman hannuna kan ta kwaso kudin ta zuba a Jikin baby din ta jawo ni kamar wadda tayi wani mummunar laifi ta sani cikin mota ta dinga tuqi cikin daren nan har ta kaini inda ta tabbata da wuya na iya gane hanyar gida ta jefar dani. Ina ji ina gani ta wuce ta barni. Suka kwace mun ďa na suka bar ni with nothing but 200 naira, wanda a lokacin kudi ne me dan yawa, sai gawar diyar ta. Na dade ina tafia da gawar a hannuna ban san Inda na dosa ba. Har sai da na gaji na iso wani waje na fara haqa qasa da niyyar birne gawar amma cikin ikon Allah da na sa ta a ramin kan na rufe sai naji ta saki wani kuka me qara. Nima kukan na zube ina yi kan na dauko ta na dade ina kallon ta, kyakyawa ce sosai kamar wadda ta haife ta. Na rasa me zanyi da ita, ta ina zan fara kula da ita. Ba halin na koma gidan ubanta, ba kuma halin na koma gidan nawa uban. Ina mata Addu’a na tuna wani hira da muka taba yi da Mumtaz har yike fadi mun cewa duk randa ya sama haihuwar sa na farko in namiji ne sunan sa Abdulmalik, in kuma mace ce Malikah sunan ta. Tuna hakan da yayi yasa nayi mata addu’a na kuma rada mata sunan da mahaifin ta ya zaba mata tun kan a san zaa yi cikin ta. And here she is today, Leek has turned into such a beautiful and graceful woman….”.
Bata qarasa zancen ta ba Leek ta tsayar da ita, kwalla cike da idanun ta take tambayar Yasmeenah if she’s her mother or not. Koh ita ta dau cikin ta tayi naqudar ta. Juyawa tayi ta kalla Begum idanun ta cike da wani hate for the woman she had just learnt is her mother.
“Karki fadi mun cewar wannan matar ita ce ta dau ciki na, tayi naquda na. No Yasmeenah, no! You’re my mother”. Ta fadi tana kuka. Laylah wanda all that while tayi mutuwar zaune ba abunda take ta yi in ba aikin bin su da idanu ba. Sai lokacin ta lura da resemblance inda Leek ke sharing da Begum, irin bakin su da idanun su sak. Infact har yanayin launin fatar su daya, da tsawon ma.
Without answering her Yasmeenah ta cigaba da labarin ta “A wannan halin ne har na sama kaina a tasha, I didn’t know where I was going. Nidai kawai na je ne na fada mota randomly ba tare da na san koh motar na ina ne ba. A haka na samu kaina da isowa garin kaduna inda na hadu da wata mata a tasha. Ganin da tayi na sa yarinya jaririya a gaba sai kuka nike bani da wajen zuwa ya sa ta tausaya mun tace in bi ta, ita ta kai ni wajen wata Hajia Maryam stainless wadda magajiya ce, a lokacin duk wani namiji me tashen kudi; ýan kasuwa, ýan siyasa, malaman jami’a duka ba wanda be zuwa brothel dinta saboda kyawawan mata kawai take dauka. Tana gani na ta yarda ta dauke ni, amma sai dai duk yadda ta so da na shiga karuwanci na qi, I couldn’t disrespect the sacred ties of marriage that was still binding me to Mumtaz, duk da ya cuce ni, ya yaudare ni, I couldn’t forget him. A haka na fara kawo mata customers, ina fita in nemo maza masu kudi in kawo mata ta hada su da mata nikuma a biyani. That was how I made a living, that was how I fed and took care of Leek. Akwai wani mutum da ya so ni sosai, ya so ya aure ni amma I couldn’t give my heart to him. I kept praying and hoping that some day my Mumtaz, the father of my daughter will come looking for me, a day which never came……”.
Khalifa ne ya fara miqewa ya dade yana watsawa Begum wani mugun kallo, ita kuma matsowa kusa dashi tayi zata riqe masa hannu ya daka mata wani irin tsawa wanda sai da kowa a dakin ya razana. “Don’t even think of coming close! Don’t! You despise me”. Ya fadi yana daga hannayenta kamar zai shaqe mata wuya sai kuma ya maida su. “And you!” Ya fadi yana nuna Yasmeenah da hannu sai sake maida hannun yayi ya sa cikin aljihu. Leek da ta zube a qasa tana kuka ya juya ya kalla ba tare da yace mata komi ba. Laylah da ke zaune kan wheelchair dinta ya wuce ya fara wheeling towards the exit of the room.
“Khalifa… son… dan Allah karka tafi ka barni. You’re my son, my son”. Begum ta fadi tana bin bayansa.
“I’ve warned you! Karki taba ni Sahar Al-Haydar”. Ya fada kan ya wuce yayi banging kofar.
“Kha…”.
“Ki rufe mun baki”. Yayi wa Laylah wadda was trying to reason with him ihu. Shuru tayi har suka isa qasa. Tariq ne tare da securities suka taho da gudu dan tun daga fitowan su reporters suka fara rufe su da hotuna and tambayoyi. Da taimakon Tariq suka sa Laylah cikin mota, da kansa ya ja motar har zuwa farmhouse dinsa. Suna isa ya dauko ta in his arms zuwa cikin gidan masu aiki sai gaida su suke, me gadin gidan ne ya shigo mata da wheelchair dinta ciki kan ya koma bakin aikin sa.
Bayan tafiyar su khalifa, Leek was the first to grab her purse and exit. Koh kallon Begum wadda ta zube a qasa tana kuka bata yi bare Yasmeenah. Banging kofar tayi bayan ta fita. Sun jima suna zaune shuru duka ba abunda suke yi in ba zubda hawaye ba da kuma mamakin twist inda had just taken place in both their lives. Yasmeenah couldn’t stop repeating the words that khalifa Al-Haydar was her own son while ita kuma Begum couldn’t stop questioning how her daughter had survive da kuma yadda Yasmeenah ta riqe ta da zuciya daya.1
Yasmeenah ce ta fara miqewa ta shiga bathroom inda ke dakin ta yi rinsing face dinta kan ta fito ta da purse dinta da dark shades dinta ta nufi bakin kofa. Har zata wuce sai kuma wani zuciya ya ce mata ta tsaya, juyawa tayi ta kalli Begum wanda har zuwa wannan lokacin bata bar position inda take ba a qasa.
“The deed has long been done, crying won’t change a thing Sahar”. Yasmeenah ta fadi a hankula “Get up, I’ll drop you home”. Ta sake fadi tana miqawa Begum right hand dinta. Dago kai tayi ta kalli Yasmeenah for about 2 minutes kan ta sa nata hannun cikin na Yasmeenah ta miqe. Tunowa da irin rayuwar da suka yi a baya ta fara, sai sabon hawaye suka fara gangarowa kan kumatunta. Bathroom ta wuce ita ma ta wanke fuskar ta kan ta fito ta bi Yasmeenah a hankula. Har suka isa parking lot din hospital din ba me cewa kowa komi. Key din sleek black BMW convertible coupe dinta ta ciro daga purse dinta ta buda motar suka shiga. Saukar da roof din motar tayi kan suka yi zooming out of the hospital. The ride was awfully quiet, ba me cewa kowa komi cikinsu, kowa da abubuwan da suke masa yawo a mind dinsa. A haka har suka isa Al-Haydar estate inda Yasmeenah ta sauke Begum kan ta dau hanyar nata gidan. Koh da ta isa shuru ta sama gidan, just as she expected. There was no sign of Leek, neither was there a sign of Laylah. Ta dade zaune a sofa din living dinta with both hands on her forehead kan ta ja dogon numfashi ta miqe ta wuce dakinta. Tana wucewa ta zube a qasa ta buda wani sabon chapter din zubdar hawaye. She had just found the son she had lost hope of ever meeting but her heart wasn’t still at rest. Koh kadan bata so irin kallon da khalifa ya mata ba kan ya wuce, it was a look that held lots of meanings. She didn’t like the fact that her Leek was hurting, for years bata da burin da ya wuce sanin asalin ta, wane mahaifin ta, su waye kuma ýan uwanta amma gashi rana yazo da duka questions dinta suka samu answer but yet she was sill hurting, her heart didn’t attain the peace and solitude she thought she would after learning about who she really was, and Sahar, in her desperation tayi destroying not just one life but plenty; tayi destroying rayuwar ta, ta jefa kanta cikin a web filled with lies and deceit, tayi destroying rayuwar Yasmeenah wadda tayi pushing towards pimping, ta kuma yi destroying rayuwar diyar ta who grew up being called the product of an illegitimate relationship, ta wurga rayuwar khalifa cikin tashin hankali da rudani and most of all ta raba masoya biyu, ta sa Mumtaz mutuwa da baqin ciki, haka ma ta sa Yasmeenah farkawa Kullum tana wa mutum da be da hannu cikin all that happened to her Allah ya isa. How could just one person cause so much destruction.
Daren ranar ta kasa samun barci koh kadan, har sai zuwa bayan subh salaah kan barci ya kwashe ta a hankula ba ita ta tashi ba sai a little past 9 am. Robe din rigar barcin ta kawai ta dauka ta sanya kan ta fito daga dakin ta dun duba Leek, rabon da ta sa ta a ido tun yammacin previous day din at the hospital. Ta dan jima bakin kofar tana knocking amma shuru taji ba response, hakan ya sa ta tura kofar dakin a hankula luckily for her ta sama a bude. Koh da ta shiga bata sama Leek cikin dakin ba, her bed seemed untouched hakan ya sa Yasmeenah hanzarin duba bathroom amma nan ma was empty. Wardrobe inda ke dakin ta duba bata sama kayan Leek a ciki ba. Dawowa tayi ta zauna kan armchair inda ke dakin ta fara kuka mara sauti. Ta kai 15 minutes tana kukan takaici kan idanunta suka fada kan note inda aka rubuta using a sticky note aka liqa a mirror din dakin.
Sorry Maa, i’m leaving. Can’t handle the drama. Guess I’m still in denial. Don’t worry about me, i’ll be fine I promise – Leek.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Tsaki ta ja tana squeezing note din bayan ta karanta, she couldn’t help but shed tears at how her seemingly perfect life had suddenly turned upside down within the blink of an eye.
“Perfect! Just perfect. Does my life have to be this messed up?” Ta fadi kamar wadda ke magana da wani “Ba Leek, ba Laylah”.
‘Ba khalifa…’. Ta sama kanta da fadi internally.
Sanye take da wani grey coloured sweatpant da black tee shirt tana girki cikin kitchen dinta, just to take her mind off things. It had been 2 days since the incidence and har zuwa lokacin ba labari from khalifa, Laylah ma shuru ga Leek ta riga ta wuce ta koma to family dinta, ita ma har zuwa lokacin bata nema Yasmeenah ba ita ma kuma Yasmeenah bata nemi kowa cikinsu ba, she believed they’ll all come looking for her after fully processing everything that has happened. For the first time in years da Yasmeenah ta sama kanta da feeling extremely lonely kenan ga wani son khalifa da ke fisgar ta, ta sama kanta da kewar sa, da son ganin fuskar sa, da son jin muryar sa. Her feelings towards him now felt different, sosai take jin sa a ranta.
“There’s someone here to see you ma’am”. Me aikin ta ta katse mata tunani. Gyada mata kai kawai tayi kan ta sa hannu ta share dan hawayen da ya fara zuba. Koh da ta isa living room dinta sai samun Begum tayi tsaye kusa da dan trestle table inda ke dakin wanda cike yike da hotunan Yasmeenah da Leek, da kuma na yaran Leek. Daga daya cikin photo frames din tayi wanda yike dauke da hoton 12 year old Leek tana dubawa.
“She’s a very happy soul”. Yasmeenah ta katse wa Begum nazarin da take. Juyowa tayi idanu cike da kwalla suka yi ido hudu da Yasmeenah. Murmushi Yasmeenah tayi “You came”. Shuru Begum ta saukar da kanta qasa ta kasa cewa komi. Zata ije photo frame din hannunta kenan idanunta suka ci karo da wani hoton, na Leek da Yaranta.
“Are they…?”. Sai ta rasa me zata fadi.
“Your grandchildren”. Yasmeenah ta qarasa mata “Yes they’re”. Kuka sosai Begum ta fara tana kallon hoton, ba abunda take yi in ba dana sanin abunda ta aika ta ba. Har zuwa kitchen Yasmeenah ta riqo mata hannu, suna shiga ta fadi mata cewar ta zauna kan daya daga cikin barstools inda ke ije jikin counter din kitchen whose top served as a table. Ruwa me sanyi Yasmeenah ta miqa mata da glass cup kan ta koma bakin girkin ta.
“I was just preparing lunch”. Ta fadi as she chopped some veggies.
“I should get going then”. Begum ta fadi tana miqewa.
“No, stay for lunch please” ta roqa earnestly. Hakan ya sa Begum komawa ta zauna kan stool inda ta bari. A hankula Yasmeenah ta cigaba da aikin ta tana ta bawa Begum labarin Leek. Sosai take jin wani irin nauyi a zuciyar ta amma ta danne ta cigaba da ba Begum labari har ta gama girkin tayi setting table for the 2 of them.
A hankula suke cin abincin, mostly hankalinsu na can wani nazarin ba kan abincin da ke gabansu ba. Sosai Begum ta lura da how distant Yasmeenah had gotten. Ture plate din abincin ta tayi gefen kan ta dora hannunta saman na Yasmeenah asking her if everything was alright.
“I…i yearn to see my son. To hug him, allow him feel my warmth, talk to him and tell him how very much I love him”. Ta fadi muryar ta na rawa “Amma na san khalifa ya tsane ni, I saw the kind of look he gave me the other day. I don’t think he’ll ever love me or acknowledge the role i play in his life”. Riqe ta kawai Begum tayi dukansu idanu cike da kwalla ba me cewa kowa komi.
Har zuwa dare ranar tare suka yini, Begum was telling Yasmeenah of how she had gotten a son but lost her husband in the process dan tun ranar da Yasmeenah ta fita daga rayuwar Mumtaz, gaba daya Sahar ta rasa gane kansa, wani mutum daban ya zama kuma har zuwa lokacin rusuwar sa ba ranar da baya ambaton sunan Yasmeenah. It was pure and natural, the love he had for her.
“See you next week”. Begum ta fadi da fara’a kan ta shiga mota.
“I’ll come insha Allah”. Yasmeenah ta ansa gayyatar da Begum ta mata na zuwa Al-Haydar mansion. “Sahar…”. Yasmeenah ta kira sunanta kan ta rufe kofar motar “Take care of yourself and please let khalifa be for a while. It’ll be a little hard for him to process all that has happened amma i’m totally positive that he’ll come around. You’re his mother afterall, he can’t stay angry at you for so long”. Maganar Yasmeenah na qarshe ya matukar yi wa Begum dadi dan haka tayi murmushi tana fadiwa Yasmeenah cewar ita ma ta kula da kanta.
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
It was a week after the whole truth was out amma har zuwa wannan lokacin khalifa ya kasa yarda da abunda kunnunwansa suka ji, he was still living in denial, he was still praying for everything to be a bad nightmare, he was praying for his Begum to call him and tell him that everything was just a prank, that she’s his mother, not Yasmeenah, not anyone, he was praying she’ll call and tell him that she didn’t snatch him away from his birth mother, ita ce mahaifiyar sa. Gaba daya ya fita hayyacin sa. Yaqi abinci, yaqi opening up to anyone, yayi sharing din matsalolinsa, yayi reliving kansa off the burden which was saddled on upon his fragile shoulders.
A hankula ta dago idanu ta sake dubansa, he had changed alot in the span of 7 days but still he was the most handsome man on earth a idanunta kuma son da take masa koh kadan be ragu ba sai ma wani qara jin sa da take cikin zuciyar ta. Murmushi ta masa da idanunsa suka fada kan nata, he had caught her gazing at him, for the nth time that day. Wani sanyi taji a ranta da taga ya mayar mata da murmushin.
“You look handsome”. Ta fadi tana kamo hannayensa biyu, light kisses to manna on both hands. Hakan ya sa ya zuquna to reach her height. Murmushi ta sake masa muttering the words ‘I love you’ to him. Kankame ta yayi in a tight embrace, before slowly giving way to a warm gush of tears that had began to fall from his tired eyes. He had been keeping them in for quite long. “Shhhhh habibi”. Ta fadi tana running soothing circles a bayansa “It’s okay. You have me, you have Fadeel, we have us. Everything will be okay, I’m here”. Ta fadi in an attempt to calm him.
“Wallah I feel so lost zahra, I don’t know what to believe anymore”. Ya fadi yana sniffling. It broke her to see shedding tears, to be in agony and in that moment she wished she could just take away all the pain and hurt.
“Wa faqqanallahu laka”. Ta fadi masa a hankula a kunne sa. Daga nan ba wanda ya sake magana, bata daina running circles a bayansa ba sai da taga ya Kwantar da hankalin sa.
“Take care of yourself. I just need some time to clear the haze that has formed in my head”. Ya fadi mata kan ya miqe.
Tariq ne ya matso kusa ya kama handle din wheelchair dinta “I will. You too”. Tayi murmushi kan Tariq ya fara wheeling dinta towards the jet. Basu wani yi nisa ba ta kira sunansa a hankula, yana juyowa ta sake masa wani murmshin kan tayi magana “I will wait”. Tayi blowing masa air kiss kan suka cigaba da tafia.
“And I’ll surely come”. Khalifa ya fadi a hankula in a voice which he was sure Laylah didn’t hear him. Be bar filin jirgin ba har da ya gama tashin su Laylah zuwa Yola.Epilogue 1.
+
6 Months After…
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
Iska sosai ake a lokacin da ya sauko daga private jet dinsa. A hankula ya dinga takawa har zuwa arrival lounge din airport din. Dan rufe ido yayi ya shaqi iskan and that soothed his soul, it gave him a sense of peace and security.
“You came”. Yaji muryar ta.
Juyowa yayi suka hada idanu, sai a lokacin ya sake ganin striking resemblance dinta da Begum. They had the same hazel brown orbs “I did”. Ya fadi a hankula. He wasn’t prepared for what she did next. Matsowa kusa tayi ta kankame sa in an affectionate embrace. Wani sanyi dukansu suka ji a ran su. Growing up as an only child, it had always been Khalifa’s dream to have a sibling; a sister he could dote on, one he would love with all of his heart and now that he had found her, he was going to protect her with his life.
“Malika” ya kira sunan softly “Malika Al-Haydar”. Sosai taji dadin sunan da ya kirata dashi. Riqo hannunsa tayi har zuwa inda tayi parking motar ta.
“The kids are eager to meet their uncle”. Ta fadi bayan sun shiga ta fara tuqi.
“How’re you holding up?”. Ya tambaya voice dinsa cike da so da kulawa.
“I’m doing just good and you? Have you spoken to…”.
“Look ahead”. Ya fadi changing their topic of discussion dan for the past 6 months daga Yasmeenah har Begum ba wanda ya nema. Tun faruwar abun he has been hiding at Saudi Arabia, too scared to face the truth. Be dawo Nigeria ba har sai ranar da yayi receiving invitation din Leek. He could never say no to his newfound sister.
Wani qatoton gate suka isa Leek ta fara honking. In no time wani lower ranking soldier ya buda gate din gida ta shiga da gudun ta. Yaranta da ke wasa da nanny dinsu a waje suka rugo da gudu gare ta.
“Come, come say hi to uncle”. Ta fadi bayan ta daga Amaani from her baby walker. Reyhaan dake bayan ta ya buya ne ya fara fitowa ya miqawa khalifa hannunsa for a handshake. Murmushi khalifa yayi kan ya zuquna to the little boy’s height. Ganin brother dinsa na conversing freely with their estranged uncle ya sa Amaan shima matsowa kusa. Sosai suka ji dadi lokacin da khalifa yace zai tafi da su Abuja in aka yi hutu and he’ll introduce them to their cousin.
“Now come let’s go in, uncle has to rest”. It baffled Leek how good khalifa was with children saboda in no time yaran sunyi warming up to him. She thought a yadda he’s always busy he’ll hardly spare time for family but he proved her wrong, he was a committed family man. Guiding dinsa tayi har zuwa bakin kofar dakin da aka shirya musamman saboda zuwar sa. “Freshen up and come down for lunch”. Ta fadi masa bayan ta ansa Amaani from his arms. Buda kofar dakin yayi ya shiga, it was a large and elaborate bedroom befitting his status. Ba tare da wani bata lokaci ba ya shige bathroom ya yi wanka tare da alwala kan ya fito ya shirya cikin wani navy blue cotton t-shirt and black sweatpants. Just as Leek asked of him, ya sauka qasa inda ya sama yaran suna kallon cartoon ita kuma tana cikin kitchen trying to set the table. Tana gamawa ta shigo living room din ta kira su to the kitchen for lunch. Hira suka dinga yi jefi jefi whilst eating, har zuwa lokacin basu riga sun gama sakin jiki da juna ba. Immediately after lunch khalifa ya koma dakin da aka basa dan ya dan huta, in no time barci ya kama sa ba shi ya tashi ba sai da aka fara kiran maghreb salaah. Bathroom ya wuce ya daura alwala, har zai kabbara sallah kenan sai ga knock a baki kofar dakinsa. Koh da ya bude wani mutum ne dogo, fari wanda daga gani ba dan arewa bane tsaye a other side na door din. Cikin fara’a yayi introducing kansa to khalifa as Hakeem, Leek’s hubby.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
“Would you love to go to the masjid?”. Ya tambaya in his husky voice.
“Yes please”. Khalifa ya ansa masa kan ya koma ya daga wayar sa suka wuce. A hanyar su na zuwa masjid din ne yaji wayar sa ya dan yi buzzing. Be duba ba sai bayan sun kammala sallah tukun ya duba. It was Laylah’s reply to his message.
‘I’m so proud of you habibi. Love you Xx’.
Murmushi yayi kan ya mayar da wayar breastpocket dinsa kan ya wuce ya dau Al-Qur’an to read before the time for isha.
A haka har 2 days inda khalifa ya deba zai yi getting to know his sister suka yi and finally it was the day to leave. Sosai yaran Leek suka saba dashi dan da suka rakasa airport sosai Amaan ke kuka wai zai bisa. Be daina kuka ba har sai da khalifa yayi promising dinsa cewar da anyi hutu zai zo ya dauke sa su tafi Abuja tare. Hugging dinsa Leek tayi sai taji kamar kar ta sake sa, in the two days they’ve spent together, khalifa had told her so much about their father har hakan ya sa take ji kamar ta san sa, kamar she has met him before and as weird as it might’ve been, Leek saw Mumtaz Al-Haydar in khalifa Al-Haydar hakan ya qara qima da darajar khalifa a idanunta.
“Take care”. Ya fadi bayan yayi kissing saman gashin ta. “And I’ll be expecting you”.
“Next week insha Allah”. Ta fadi tana murmushi. Pinching kumatun ta yayi playfully kan ya wuce. Sai da ya sake Juyowa ya dubi sister dinsa and her family kan ya shige jet dinsa suka kama hanyar Abuja.
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Kamar Kullum, a daren ranar ma Yasmeenah na kitchen dinta tana girki, abunda ya zame mata hobby. It was what her life seemed to have revolved around the past months, in aka cire frequent meetings dinta da Begum Sahar just to catch up. Wani kawance me karfi suka fara qullawa, leaving the past behind them. Tasting sauce inda take hadawa tayi ta maida lid din pot din ta rufe ta juya zata dau container inda take ije curry, a hankula take humming waqar da ta kunna a wayarta tana dan rawa kan muryar sa ya katse ta.
“You dance so well “. Taji muryar sa kamar a cikin mafarki. Rudewan da tayi ya sa ta saki container din curry inda ke hannunta. Dan dariya yayi kan ya qarasa inda container din yayi rolling yayi landing ya miqa mata.
“You”. Ta fadi a hankula as if she couldn’t believe the sight before her.
“Yes, me Yasmeenah. What’s cooking”. Ya fadi so casually to ward off the formal ambience she was trying to build up “Is that tomato puree? Can I have a taste?”. Ya tambaya. Spoon inda ke hannunta ya karba ya juya soup din kan yi tasting. Juyowa yayi ya kalleta ya mata alama da hannu cewar soup dinta was tasty.
“You forgot to wash your hands”. Ta fadi tana murmushi, cikin zucin ta wani irin farin ciki take ji. His presence stirred so many emotions in her. She yearned to hug him tight in her arms but she was scared of the reaction she would get from him. Cike da adoration take ta kallonsa ya kunna tap ya wanke hannunsa kan yayi locating hand towel inda ke ije a wani rack ya goge hannunsa. Hannu tasa zata kashe music inda ke playing sai ya hana ta.
“I love the song. Abba would always sing it”.
“Mumtaz loved to hum to the song while mowing the lawn”. Ta fadi, recalling past memories. Hannayenta biyu ya kama ya fara twirling dinta round at the centre of the kitchen, slowly he guided her steps to match the melody of the song.
‘…..If the sky that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
Or the moutain should crumble to the sea
I won’t cry, I won’t cry
No, I won’t shed a tear
Just as long as you stand, stand by me….’ (Stand By Me by Benjamin Earl King).
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Ya dinga bin music din a hankula har zuwa lokacin da music din ya qare next one din ya fara playing. Sosai yayi twirling dinta kan at last ta fada jikinsa tana dariya amidst shedding tears. She was an emotional wreck, of course she had to be, she was in the arms of the son she had long lost hope of ever meeting.
“You’re just like your father”. Ta fadi kan ta dago ta quresa da kallo. Samun kanta tayi da fashewa da kuka, kukan da ta rasa na menene. Ita dai ta san sosai take jin son danta na shiga ranta, sosai kuma tayi kewar sa, sosai kuma ta dinga craving for the affection which he was showering upon her at the moment. A hankula ya dinga shafa mata bayan yana ta rarrashin sa.
“It’s okay, ba gani ba yanzu”. Ya dinga fadi in an attempt to ease her apprehension. “Look! The soup will get burnt” ya fadi in a high pitched voice and that got her attention. Share hawayen idanunta tayi ta koma bakin girkinta. Nuna masa inda plates da cutlery suke tayi ya fara setting table a hankula. Ya na gamawa ya zauna tayi serving dinsa a dinner of pasta, roasted potatoes and some tomato puree. Gaba daya ta kasa cin abinci ta juya gaba daya attention dinta kan khalifa tana kallon yadda yike cin abincin yana santi. Juyowa yayi yaga bata cin abincin ya daga mata gira. Spoon inda yike using ya ije ya sa hannu ya deba abincin ya kai mata baki, at first ta nuna masa ta koshi amma da ya nuna ransa zai baci in bata ci ba sai ta fara ansa kadan kadan.
“My mo…”. Zai yi maganan Begum sai kuma ya fasa.
Khalifa ya dade a gidan sosai dan sai dare can ya wuce and har zuwa lokacin da ya wuce ba wanda a cikin su ya dago incidence inda ya faru 6 months ago. Yasmeenah was scared, tana gudun ya sake disappearing for months while shi, a part of him was still living in denial. Daren ranar murnar Yasmeenah ya wuce iyaka dan ji tayi ta kasa barci gaba daya ranar.
Kamar yadda suka yi da Leek, the following weekend ta iso Abuja. Khalifa da kansa ya tuqa har zuwa airport dauko ta. Sosai tayi farin cikin ganinsa, especially when she saw him with little Fadeel who had been living with Nawfal and Saima. Straight basu tsaya ko ina ba bayan sun maida Fadeel gidan Nawfal sai gidan Yasmeenah wadda bata ma san da zuwan su ba. Koh da suka isa gidan a garden suka same ta tana ba plants dinta ruwa while listening to the radio. Da gudu Leek ta ruga tayi hugging dinta from her back. Sosai tayi murnar gani both khalifa and Leek a nan ma wani sabon hawaye ta fara, dukansu suna ba juna haquri.
“Let’s go in”. Yasmeenah ta fadi tana riqo hannun both of them in hers “I baked some muffins in the morning”. Ta fadi with enthusiasm laced in her tone. Tana gama serving dinsu ta daga wayar ta ta turawa Begum quick text message.
Suna zaune a balcony din Yasmeenah, gaban su table ne cike with a vast array of cakes and a jug full of lemonade sai ga Shigowar Begum. Kamshin turaren ta kawai ya sa khalifa sanin cewa ita ce ta shigo gidan, her shoes making a soft clicking sound when they came in contact with the richly tiled floor.
“What is she doing here”. Ya tambaya yana miqewa “What the hell is she doing here”. Ya sake fadi this time in a thunderous tone. Kan ka ce me ya ja tablecloth din table inda Yasmeenah ta shirya musu refreshments, the action sending tiny shards of glasses flying in the air. Goshin Begum ne ya fara jini a sanadin wani kwalba da ya same ta, shikuma khalifa yayi hanyar waje hannun jina jina. Yasmeenah ce tayi gasping kan ta miqe ta rasa wa zata duba first, Begum da ta duqa tana danne goshinta to stop the blood flow or khalifa who left enraged. Following her motherly instincts, ta wuce after khalifa tana kwala masa kira.
Tausayin Begum ne ya shiga ran Leek dan haka ta miqe ta dauko wani clean napkin kan ta matso kusa da Begum din tana goge mata goshin. “Let’s wash the wound and get it dressed”. Ta fadi a hankula tana riqo hannun ta. Nearest bathroom inda ke downstairs suka shiga ta dauko first aid box without much waste of time. “It might sting a bit”. Ta fadi kan tayi dabbing din cotton wool inda was laced with antiseptic on Begum’s forehead. Tana gama haka tayi plastering wajen kan ta fadi cewa it’s done. Fitowa tayi daga bathroom din, leaving Sahar to freshen up.
Yasmeenah kuma ta kamo khalifa da sauri kan ya isa inda motar sa was packed. Fada ya fara akan how he hated the mere sight of Begum, of how he didn’t want to have anything to do with her again. Riqo hannunsa Yasmeenah tayi har zuwa wani plastic chair inda ke harabar gidan.
“Kh…. Abdulmalik”. Ta kira real name dinsa for the first in forever. “Listen son..”. Wani sanyi taji a zuciyar ta when she acknowledged him as her son kuma ya dago ya kalleta “It’s true Sahar isn’t your birth mother but child, she’s your real mother. The one who has loved and cared for you from birth har zuwa stage inda kake yanzu, I’ve watched Sahar shower love upon right from inception. The one that knows of your joys and sorrows. The one who was there through all the hardships that came your way, ita daya ta san ciwon kan ka. I might’ve carried you in my womb for nine months but Sahar was the one that played the role of a mother in your life. She loves you, alot. Maybe more than I ever will”. A hankali hawaye suka fara zuba daga idanunta. As much as it hurt, that was the fact, she was only his birth mother, not his real mother, not the real mother that watched him grow, not the mother that was there to console him when he was angry or look after him when his days were grey. Begum filled that void in Khalifa’s life, it was a position she knew she was never going to get in his life.
“But you gave birth to me. You’re my mother”. Sosai kalaman sa suka mata dadi, he had finally given a name to their relationship.
“I’m your mother but you have to understand how special you are son, to be blessed with mothers who love you unconditionally. Forgive her please”. Ta fadi a hankula tana shafa lallausar gashin da ke kan sa. Sun kai 20 minutes a wajen, ba me cewa komi har sai da ta tabbatar hankalinsa ya kwanta kan ta ce su wuce ciki. Koh da suka shigo much to Yasmeenah’s surprise sai samu tayi Leek da Begum suna kuka a arms din juna. Abun sosai yayi mata dadi, they were finally letting destiny take it’s course. Bygones were finally bygones. Jawo sa tayi zuwa bathroom inda Leek da Begum ke ciki just some minutes back ta fara wanke masa wounds dinsa. Tana gamawa suka fito. A hankula khalifa ya taka har zuwa inda Begum ta ke, much to his surprise yaga ta zube a qasa tana riqo kafafun sa in an attempt to apologise for her deeds. Qasa ya zube ya riqo ta in his arms shima yana bata haquri for how he acted the past few weeks. Ita ma Leek Matsawa kusa da su tayi suka engulfing juna in an affectionate hug.
Looking at the sight before her, Yasmeenah was happy to know that her family had finally been completed. They were so close to their happily ever after and only one more person was needed to make the family whole.
“I guess we’re down to one more person. Who’s ready to go to yola?”. Ta tambaya tana dariya. It was time to bring Khalifa’s bride; her daughter in law home.Kamar yadda ya zama mata al’ada, a ranar ma bayan ta gama duk abubuwan da zata yi da safe ta bar gida for her morning walk. Hakan ya zama mata habit tun zuwan ta Yola bayan ta warke ta daina using wheelchair. A hankula take ta takawa, iska na busowa. Sanyi ake sosai amma ba wani ji take ba because her body was covered in warm and comfy clothes. Waya ta ciro daga pocket din joggers dinta ta sake dubawa for the nth time koh zata ga message from him amma shuru har zuwa wannan lokacin ba komi.+
“Maybe he’s forgotten”. Ta fadi a hankula tana sighing.
‘Or he’s just too bad with dates. Or maybe it means nothing to him’. Wani voice from deep withing ya raya mata.
Murmushi tayi da memories din one year ago suka fara dawo mata, how she woke that fateful morning with a heavy feeling tugging at her heart. And how the day had ended with her marrying the love of her life. Sake ciro wayar tayi ta dan tsaya ta tsara message ta tura masa, wishing him a happy one year anniversary. Har shekara ya zago da yin auran su amma har zuwan wannan lokacin rayuwar su be zama stable ba, mutane da suka ganta a yola har rumours aka fara spreading akan cewar mutuwa auran yayi ta dawo gida. Duk tunanin da take yi suka zo karshe a yayin da wayar ta ta fara ringing. Dubawa tayi taga Auta ce ke kiranta. Da sauri ta dauka, bata kai ga cewa komi ba Auta ta fara tambayar ta ina take.
“I’m at home. Ba zaki dawo ki ganni ba?”. Auta ta tambaya.
“Zan dawo, nayi kusa da gida already”. Laylah ta ansa mata kan suka yi sallama ta katse wayar. Dan qara sauri tayi cikin tafiyar ta har ta iso bakin neighbourhood dinsu amma much to her surprise sai taga qofar gidansu da mutane, da wasu motoci biyu baqaqe parked outside the house. Koh kadan tunanin ta be kai zuwa ga cewa khalifa ne yazo ba dan haka ta shiga gida hankalinta a kwance, amma koh da ta shigo motoci ta sake gani na alfarma, cike da harabar gidan nasu. Hakan ya sa shiga cikin gidan da gudu dan special plate number inda ke Jikin motocin da ke parked a cikin gidan kawai ya sanar da ita koh wanene.
Tun daga foyer dinsu ta fara voices na mutane, mata ana hira ana dariya. Da gudu ta fada cikin dakin ta sama Yasmeenah zaune tare da Begum a couch daya while her mom sat together with Zubaidah and Auta on the three sitter. Sai Leek da ke zaune a wani couch and 2 other ladies, sosai ta qurawa dayar idanu, shakka babu it was Sarah Muhammad Fadoul, sai dai wannan pride and auro of superiority inda take dashi ba shi a yanzu. Yasmeenah ce ta fara miqewa cike da fara’a ta ta nufi Laylah.
“Here you are, Jaan”. Murmushi Laylah tayi da taji sunan da Yasmeenah ta kirata dashi, kan ka ce me Leek ta dago ta fadawa Laylah a jiki sunyi hugging juna in a tight embrace.
“I’ve missed you Laylah”. Leek ta fadi tana rungume ta “Koh nema na baki ba”.
“I was giving you some space”. Ta fadi reluctantly. Yasmeenah ce ta katse su by holding Laylah’s hand to where Begum was sitting. Ce mata tayi ta gaida mother in law dinta, her face as cheerful as always. Har qasa Laylah tayi tana gaida Begum but much to her surprise sai taga Begum ta jawo ta zuwa jikinta. A hankula ta dinga whispering words of apology to Laylah dan ta san kwarai ta mata laifi, ta so raba masoya. For the next 30 minutes, gaisuwa aka dinga da labarin yaushe gamo amma koh baa fadi ba kowa da ke wajen sun gane cewar attention din Laylah wasn’t with them dan lokaci zuwa lokaci take duba qofa, kamar tana jiran Shigowar wani.
“He’s in the garden”. Leek ta rada mata a kunne dan ta san mutum daya kawai Laylah ke muradin gani a wannan lokacin. Koh kunya babu Laylah ta miqe ta nufi garden din gidansu. Lo and behold, there he was sitting on a chair, an auro of dominance surrounding him. Sosai take shaqar kamshin signature cologne dinsa. Ta kai 10 minutes tana tsaye tana admiring the strikingly beautiful man that sat quietly sipping cold tea.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
“Your eyes will fall to the ground if you ogle that way”. Taji ya fadi still not looking her way. Wayar sa da ke hannunsa ya ije kan table kan ya miqe ya fara nufo ta amma kan ya isa inda take har ta ruga a guje ta fada masa jiki. Kuka sosai ta fara, kukan kewar sa da tayi, wani sabon sonsa na shiga zuciyar ta.
“Toh me abun kuka kuma yanzu Zahra? Ba gani nan ba?”. Ya tambaya yana shafa bayan ta a hankula.
“How have you been? I’ve missed you khalifa. Dan Allah never leave me like that”.
“Never like that habibty. Never, yanzu ba wanda ya isa ya raba mu in ba mutuwa ba”. Ta jima kanta kwance a chest dinsa, tana sauraron gentle rise and fall na chest dinsa as the piece of flesh which his heart beat furiously “Happy one year anniversary wifey”. Ya fadi kan ya manna mata kiss a forehead dinta “Ready to go home?”. Ya tambaya. Amma instead of murnar da ta dinga expecting zata sai taji gaban ta na wani faduwa, rejection was her worst fear.
Exactly one week da zuwansu khalifa, wata ranar Saturday da yamma suka kawo kayan lefen ta, tunda dama can auran an daura ne without any prior preparation. Kaya ne na alfarma, kaya na azo a gani, kowa ya yaba da kayan ana ta sa albarka. A ranar da aka kawo kayan aka yi finalising cewar in a week’s time zasu zo su dauki amaryar su, koh kadan family din Laylah basu sama zama ba, shiri sosai aka fara na kaita dakinta.
“Tunanin me kike?”. Laylah ta tambaya as she sank on the chair next to her sister. Ta lura da Auta, tun zuwan ta gidan bata saki ba kamar da abunda ke damunta ta kasa fadi “You guys had an argument?”. Laylah ta sake tambayar ýar uwar nata amma sai juya mata kai tayi alamun aah.
“I took a home test last week”. Auta ta fadi cikin wata murya me tsananin sanyi da kuma nuna damuwa “It was positive”. Murmushi sosai Laylah tayi tana kama hannun ýar uwar nata.
“Shine kike cikin damuwa? It’s a happy occasion. You’re expecting, that’s good news. Is Mahmoud aware?”.
“I wanted telling him, amma a ranar shima yace he had something to tell me”. Ta fadi kan ta tsaya jan dogon numfashi “He’s bringing her back”. Ta fadi hawayen da ta dade tana riqewa suka fara zuba a hankula.
“Zainaba?”. Laylah ta tambaya just to be sure. Matsowa tayi kusa da ýar uwar nata ta fara rarrashin ta.
“Kinsan yadda take. Ban san yadda zaman mu zai kasance ba, I don’t think I can do it”.
Sosai Laylah ta dinga fadi mata kalaman da zasu Kwantar mata da hankali “Ba komi, ki riqe Allah and try to stay out of her way. Insha Allah baza ku sama wata matsala ba. Sakin da ya mata ya isheta ishara, just calm down okay?”. Koh baa fadi mata ba, Laylah ta gano cewa sosai Auta ke son mijinta, wanda koh a mafarki dukansu ba wanda ya taba tunanin hakan zai faru.
A ranar da aka yi inlaws din Laylah zasu zo from Abuja domin tafia da matar su, tun safe ranar gidan ya cika da jama’a ana ta kai komo, kowa da abunda yike yi, ga yara nan koh ina sai guje guje suke. Sosai Laylah taji kewan Yasmeenah, a yayin da ta same ta zaune shuru a bedroom dinta, bayan Zubaidah ta gama hada mata kayan ta tas a trolleys ta fita ta bata waje. Da Yasmeenah na nan da tana nan tana ta faman shirya Laylah amma sai gashi wannan karan she was going to come as her inlaw, the mother of her husband; the kinds of games destiny plays with us. Ta dade a kwance tana ta nazari, ta saqa wannan ta kwance wancan har matar da aka dauko specially dan ta mata gyaran jiki da gashi ta iso. In no time aka fara gyara Laylah, by zuhr she was all set, a lokacin har mutan Abuja sun iso amma basu sama shiga sun ganta ba dan suna can ana musu tarba me kyau. Basu suka sama ganin Laylah ba har sai around 4 pm lokacin da aka fara walima wanda Ummati ta hada. Malamai mata biyu aka gayyata wanda suka yi wa’azi akan rayuwar aure da fa’idar haquri. An ci an sha an kuma yi murna har lokacin tafia yayi. Mutane 4 ne kawai from her side, Zubaidah included suka bi Laylah zuwa Abuja.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
By 7 pm on the dot jirgin su ya sauka a babban filin jirgin sama na Abuja inda motoci na alfarma masu special plate number na Al-Haydar family ke jiran su. Baa bata lokaci ba aka wuce da Laylah gidan surukanta, wato Al-Haydar mansion. A nan ta kwana kashe gari Sunday evening aka yi dinner wanda Begum tayi organising, duk wani me ji da kudi na qasa an gayyace sa, har foreign friends da business partners na Al-Haydar family anyi inviting dinsu to dinner din wanda was in honour of Laylah and khalifa. Anyi dinner lafia lau aka gama the next morning aka kai Laylah gidanta wanda zata zauna tare da khalifa, mutan yola suka koma gida.
Zaune take gaban vanity mirror tana kokarin daura dankwali, a lokacin taji sallamar khalifa in his ever melodious voice ya turo qofa a hankula ya shigo dakin. Sanye yike da farar shadda, kansa kuma hulla ne baqi, takalmin qafar sa ma baqi da wrist watch dinsa na Hugo Boss. Murmushi yayi yana jin dadin yadda Laylah ta ansa sallamar sa, bata juyo ta kallesa ba, hankalinta duk a kan dankwalin da take kokarin dorawa yike. Tana masa sannu da zuwa tana daurawa. A hankula ya tako har zuwa bayan ta, yana yaba tsananin kyaun da tayi zuciyar sa na raya masa cewar red was indeed her colour dan sosai red voile material inda take sanye da ya fito da tsananin kyaun da Allah ya mata. Daga cikin mirror din ta kallesa tayi masa murmushi, hakan ya kashe masa jiki. Dan duqawa yayi to her height ya ja dankwalin da take ta famar daurawa a hankula. Ta buda baki zata yi magana yayi silencing dinta by placing his index finger on her lips. Wani dogon numfashi ya ja as he inhaled the sweet scent of her shampoo.
“I love strawberries”. Ya fadi, kamshin shampoo din ya gama tafia da imanin sa.
Sai da a tayi murmushi tukun ta basa ansa “I’ll use them more often then”. A hankula yayi pinching bridge din hancin ta, hakan ya sa ta yin dariya.
“Can we pray already?”. Ya tambaya. Nodding kanta tayi kan ya sake manna mata kiss a sama gashin ta ya wuce bathroom. A few minutes after ya fito, his wristwatch dangling on his hand. Itama bathroom din ta wuce ta dauro alwala kan ta fito har yayi spreading din 2 prayer mats, ya daura mata hijaab akan nata. Bayan ta sa hijaab din sai da tayi kissing dinsa on both cheeks, reward for a job well done kan suka kabbara sallah. Tare suka yi sallar isha kan suka yi prayer inda is expected of every newly wedded couple suyi before the consummation of a marriage. Suna iddah sallan suka gama addu’o’i khalifa ya juya ya kafe Laylah da idanu. Murmushi tayi ta dauke gaze dinta from him as she was feeling utterly uncomfortable, gaba daya duk taji wani kunya da nauyin khalifa ya fara kamata.
“Has my bride eaten?”. Khalifa ya tambaya breaking the awkward silence which lingered between them for a while. “Get ready for bed, i’ll reheat your meal”. Sai da ya sake kissing forehead dinta kan ya ninke prayer mats inda suka yi using ya maida mazaunin su ya ije, kan ya wuce kitchen dumama abinci da refreshments inda Yasmeenah ta aiko musu dashi.
Ta dade gaban closet dinta clueless on what to wear kan finally ta dauko wani black nightie ta sanya. Band ta dauko daga vanity table dinta ta kama gashin ta in a rough bun kan ta zauna a hankula tana sake bin jikinta da turare. Gamawan ta yayi daidai da dawowar khalifa yana tura food trolley. Abinci ne iri iri akan trolley din. Table inda ke balcony din dakin ya wuce yayi setting, daura robe dinta tayi da kyau kan tayi joining dinsa outside. The surrounding was breathtakingly beautiful and serene. Plate inda ke gaban ta ya fara stuffing da different varieties of dishes. Kadan kadan suka dinga taba hira suna cin abinci, khalifa na tambayar how she liked the house, koh akwai abunda be mata ba a sanja mata. Suna gamawa yayi clearing table din ya fara rolling trolley din out of the room, Laylah ta bi bayansa a hankula har zuwa kitchen. Sai da suka wanke plates da cutlery inda suka yi using, khalifa was doing the washing while she dried them and arranged them on a rack.
“All done”. Khalifa ya fadi yana goge damp hands dinsa da wani clean kitchen towel. Before Laylah could register what was happening, khalifa ya daga ta in his arms, just like the bride she was har zuwa bedroom dinsu. Har kan gado ya kaita ya ije kan shima ya juya zuwa dayan side din gadon ya zauna, after slipping off his flip flop. Yana kallo ta jayo qafafun ta sama ta daura chin dinta a kai, she wasn’t comfortable with him.
Dariya yayi kan ya dan sa hannu ya buge ta cikin wasa, kallonsa tayi cike da shagwaba itama ta sa hannu ta buge sa. Daga nan suka fara wasar buge buge har daga baya khalifa ya sa arms dinsa yayi wrapping dinta in an embrace, a haka suka koma suka kwanta duka dariya suke. Juyowa yayi ya qure ta da kallo.
“You’re so beautiful”. Ya fadi a hankula “Masha Allah”. Itama juyo da jikinta tayi suka kwanta suna facing juna. Sun dade suna kallon juna, none of them breaking the gaze Kan Laylah ta matso kusa da kunnesa and softly, he felt her warm breath in his ears, an action which made him feel tingly sensations.
“You’re my personal love letter, and your presence in my life is a gift I’ll open each morning. I love you habibi”. Murmushi sosai khalifa ya sama kansa da yi before engulfing her in a passionate hug albeit placing soft fluttery kisses on her hair.
“Laylah i swear you’re an expert in keeping my heart beating, without you I’m sure it would simply stop”. Ya fadi before placing kisses on her eyelids “I love your eyes, they’re like two rare gems each time more beautiful with every glance”.
Dariya tayi, tana mamakin ganin this side, the romantic side of khalifa Al-Haydar “And I love your touch. It’s like soothing musical notes, making me feel like a ballerina in ever dance. Being your wife is like a princess story; charming, elegant and full of romance”.
“Let me make you mine habibty”.
“I’m already yours; in mind, body and soul. Daga yanzu har infinity. I’m like a flute which shall belong to your lips alone”.
A hankula yayi sealing lips dinsa together with her’s in a kiss, the kind Laylah wanted to last forever, but after a time she withdrew to gaze at the face she loved so much. A hankula yike shafa lallausar fatar jikinta, tun daga hannunta har zuwa fuskar ta. “Have I ever told you I love you?”. Ya tambaya a hankula.
Ýar dariya Laylah ta saki dun ta san cewar khalifa baya missing on an opportunity to tell her how very much he loved her, kusan Kullum yana fadi mata amma sai ce masa tayi “No, uh uhn”. Tana wasa da yatsun hannunsa in such a way that weakened him more. A hankula ya kai hannunsa gashin ta ya fara shafawa a hankula “Well i do, ina son ki sosai and I always will. Always and forever”. As always, ta dauke idanunta daga kan nasa saboda kunya and tsananin intensity inda take gani a cikinsu Kullum. It was as if his love was kerosene and she was his only flame. In the twilight room their fingers caressed each other’s skin as if afraid a heavier touch would break the heady magic. And slowly, they became one; in mind, body and soul with one goal and purpose, each utterly drunk with love for the other.
And this is the part where I walk out of the room, giving the love birds some privacy.😴😴😴
How am i to put their love into mere words? An entire ocean of ink wouldn’t be enough to describe them. They are like a starburst of light amongst the darkening dusk. They are all the stars in the sky condensed into a single point. They are everything and nothing at the same time. Together, they are both a beautiful dream and a catastrophic nightmare.
They were in love.