JIRWAYE CHAPTER 3

 JIRWAYE CHAPTER 3

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The mysterious billionaire’ ta kuma maimaitawa a cikin zuciyar ta. Riqe take da wayar ta tana karanta ďan information inda Yasmeenah ta tara mata game da Khalifa Al-Haydar. Information indai ba wai ya wani sanar da ita abubuwa masu yawa bane saboda koh hoton sa an kasa samu, ga dai sunansa nan duk qasa an sani sai dai fuskar sa ba kowa ne ya sani ba sai mutanen da suka kasance very close to him.+

Bayan dan nazari kadan, ta cigaba da duba mail din which says; He’s mother, Begum Sahar is of a Yemeni origin wadda aka haife ta kuma ta girma a Nigeria har ta kai ga auran Mohammed Mumtaz Al-Haydar, wanda ya kasance cousin dinta. Khalifa is the only child of his parents and shima yana da yaro wanda da wuya ake barin press su zo kusa da shi. Other than his mother and son, the 2 more closest people to him su ne; Al-Mubaraq Bala wanda yaro ne a gun mahaifin khalifa, tun kafin yayi kudi masu tarin yawa kamar yadda suke dasu yanzu Al-Mubaraq ke aiki da su. Na Biyu kuma shine Nawfal Muhammad Fadoul, cousin ne a gun khalifa and a wulakance kusan shekarun su daya, komi nasu tare suke wannan ne har ya kai ga mutane suke suspecting koh Nawfal shine khalifa Al-Haydar amma saboda baya son too much attention yike using wani suna daban. Every six months khalifa yana meeting da manyan maikatan sa wanda su kadai suka san shi, kuma an fi yin meeting din ne a different countries. Sannan duk wata biyu yana haduwa da Al-Mubaraq da Nawfal suyi having uninterrupted closed door meeting har na awa 5 wanda ba wanda ke sanin abunda ya faru a meeting dinnan, daga su ukunsu sai ubangiji wanda yayi su.

Laylah bata gama karatun ba ta dan kuma tsayawa nazari “Hmmm Nawfal Muhammad Fadoul”. Ta kira sunan tana shafa gemun ta da ba gashi koh daya “You are my next pawn in this mission to getting Al-Haydar”. Ta fadi sannan ta saki wata ýar murmushi. Miqewa tayi tana kwala wa daya daga cikin masu aikin gidan kira.

“Ma’am, you called”.

“Yes, ummm tell Simon to get the car ready, i’ll be out in a few minutes”. Ta fadi sannan ta shige ban daki. Wanka ta yo ta fito ta shirya cikin wata jallabia wadda ta matukar mata kyau, dama gata fara kai ka ce Arabian din ce. Sheilah ta dauko ja ta rufe kanta dashi sannan ta dauki dan suspender dinta wanda a ciki ta sa phone dinta da credit card and other few necessities ta fito. Tana fito wa ta izza Mr Yates ya shirya mota already, ita kadai ake jira. Murmushi tayi ta gaida shi sannan ta shiga motan. Sai da ta shiga ne tukun ya tambaye ta inda suka nufa.

“To the mall….. take me to the best mall in town”.

A hanya suna tafia tayi ta jan Simon da hira dun ganin koh zata sama few informations daga gun sa. “So Simon”. Ta kira sunansa.

“Ma’am”.

“Oh come on, just call me Laylah please. Ever heard of the khalif airlines and group of companies?”. Ta tambaye sa.

“Yes Ma’am, my wife works with their mining company here in Australia as a receptionist”. A wannan lokacin rawa kawai da tsalle Laylah ke yi a cikin zuciyar ta, ta san koh ya ya ne zata sama information about khalifa a gun matar Simon. Cikin hikima ta kuma tambayar sa

“Simon when will you invite me for dinner at your place? You’re yet to introduce me to your family”.

“Oh ma’am, I never thought you’d welcome the idea. I’d be more than glad and willing to host you, does Friday night sound cool”.

“Perfecto!” Ta fadi cikin Jikin dadi.

‘Come what may, I must surely unravel this mystery called khalifa Al-Haydar’ ta fadi a zuciyar ta.

Suna isa mall din ta shige ta fara siye siye, a nata nufin, duka shopping din in preparation of the party ne. Bata cire ran zata samu invite ba bayan an fadi mata manya ne kawai zasu halacci party din. Sai masu hannu da shuni a qasa aka gayyata, wasu ma tun daga Nigeria zasu taso dan zuwa wannan dinner din. Saboda tsananin murna da jin dadin labarin da Simon ya bata na matar sa tana aiki da khalif group of companies yasa Laylah ta shiga section din maza da niyyar siya mai shirt me kyau bayan ta gama nata shopping din.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW



Tafiye take tana nazari iri iri kawai ta ji an bangaje ta. Sai lokacin hankali ya dawo jikinta ta juya zata fara jaraba, da yike Laylah mutum ce me saurin hushi.

“Are you sort of crazy or something? Who walks like that in a mall”. Ta fadi cikin fada. Shikuma wanda ya bangaje ta sai ya bar kayan ta da ya fara debowa a qasa ya dago yana kallon ta.

“Ke dallah malama rufewa mutane baki. Ke har kina da bakin fada, bayan kina tafia kina ta naz….”. Be qarasa maganan ba suka yi ido hudu da Laylah.

“You!”.

“You!”. Duka suka fadi a lokaci daya.

“Are you stalking me?”.

“You wish”. Abdulmalik ya fadi tare da cigaba da kwaso kayan. Ita ma tsugunno wa tayi qasa ta sa hannu suna ta kwashe kayan. Can ta dan juya kadan shima yazo juya wa kawunan su suka yi colliding suka ci karo.

“Ouch! Was that your head or a coconut”. Abdulmalik ya tambaya yana lailaya goshin sa. Banza dashi tayi ta cigaba da kwasan kayan. Sai da suka kusa kammala kwasan kayan tukun ya tambaye ta abunda ya kawo ta mall.

“Barci nazo yi”. Ta ansa shi cikin gatse. “Kaga shopping bags hannuna kuma kace mun me nazo yi a shopping mall”. Dariya kawai yayi sannan suka miqe tukun ya kuma tambayar ta.

“To me kike yi a section din maza?”.

“Shirt nike so na siyawa driver na”. For the first time kenan da Abdulmalik yayi noticing in dimple inda take dashi a both cheeks dinta kawai sai yaji ya tuna Fatimar sa. Murmushi kawai ya mata. “Zaka taya ni zaba, pleaseeeeee, ban iya siyan kayan maza ba sosai”. Ya cika da mamaki kwarai da gaske saboda bai zaci zata taba roqon sa ya taya ta abu ba tunda ba wani sanin juna suka yi ba sai kuma gashi cike cike da shagwaba tana roqon sa. Abu na biyu da ya ba Abdulmalik mamaki shine tsananin similarities inda take dashi to his late wife. Ba wai suna kama bane sai dai ya lura akwai wasu halayen Laylah wanda sak suke da zahra sa kamar saurin hushi da shagwaba. sannan ga few physical attributes dinsu that is similar.

Yadda ka san wanda aka wa magani Abdulmalik ya bi ta zololo har zuwa inda aka ije shirts on display. Shekarun driver din nata ya fara tambaya kan ya fara duba shirts din.

“Umm I think he should be in his mid forties or so and he’s not so fat neither is he lean”. Wasu shirts biyu masu kyau Abdulmalik ya zaba mata cewan ta dau mai daya daga ciki amma sai tace duka sun mata kyau dan haka zata siya mai duka biyun. Bayan sun gama siyan shirts din ne ya riqo mata wasu shopping bags suna takowa ta tambaye sa abunda ya kowa sa mall din. Cikin hanzari, duk khalifa ya rasa me zai ce kawai dai ta hado mata karya cikin sauri.

“I’m here with my boss. Zai siya wa mamansa birthday present”. Ya fadi.

“You work here?” Ta tambaya.

“Umm not really, i’m a driver and an errand boy kuma my boss really enjoys my services so duk sanda zai yi tafia ina binsa”. Kai ta gyada alamun ta gane.

“Your boss must be a very wealthy and generous man, tunda har yawo yike da dan aiken sa”.

Murmushi kawai ya mata sannan yace “Yes, Mr Nawfal is very generous”. Sai bayan ýan seconds kadan maganan da Abdulmalik yayi suka dawo ma Laylah.

“Nawfal? As in Nawfal Muhammad Fadoul?”.

“Yes”. Ya ansa ta.

“Nawfal me aiki da Khalif group of companies?”. Ya kuma ansa ta da yes sannan ya tambaya meyasa she seemed shocked da ya fadi mata sunan.

“Aah ba komi, na dade ina so na kai musu business proposal ne amma sai dai kaman samun su yana wuya tun bare boss dinsu, khalifa Al-Haydar”. Ta fadi mai.

“Wani irin business kike yi if you don’t mind me asking”.

“Interior designing and events planning/management”. Ta fadi Fuska a dake. Tun daga nan dukan su suka yi shuru, ba mai cewa kowa komi har suka isa gun elevator kawai sai yaji tace.

“Ni stairs zanyi using”.

“No!”. Ta ji ya fadi.

“Malam lafia, I don’t want to use the elevator, stairs zanyi using”.

“I said no!”. Ya fadi cikin tsawa tare da jawo ta zuwa elevator din. Sai da suka shiga ta fara mai jaraba akan abunda yayi amma sai ta lura kamar duk hankalinsa a tashe yike, idanun sa sun koma jazur.

“Malam lafia?”.

“I’m sorry for overreacting”. Abunda kawai yace mata kenan. Suna isa qasa ya rakata har inda Simon yayi parking, ya zuba mata kayanta a boot sannan ya mata sallama ya juya, har ya dan yi nisa sai yaji an kira sunansa. Juyawan da zai yi yaga Laylah ce, ashe tana biye dashi.

“Don’t say no please, can I get your contact?”. Ta tambaya shikuma be ce komi ba kawai ya bata number din. Har ya juya ya fara tafia yaji ta kuma kiransa “thanks for helping me ” kawai tace mai ta juya ta koma mota.

Laylah har da ýar rawarta da tsalle ta koma mota. Lallai yau tarkon ta ya kama kurciya, har biyu ma, duka wanda zasu iya taimakon ta a cikin mission dinta na neman khalifa Al-Haydar. Tana koma gida ta cika gida da kida, wakar wande coal “Iskaba” kawai ke tashi a speakers ita kuma tana ta rawarta tana gwada kayakin da ta siya.2

” Wan ja mi laya

Bose njo nyen

Your body na fire

I know you fly but I can take you higher

Eh from head to toe she wear designer

Original baby not made in China

She say na me her heart desire

Omo forget na she be finer

Na she be finer

Oh no

Oh no” tayi ta bin wakar tana jin dadin ta. Nima daga dakina ina jin music din ina taka tawa rawar💃💃💃Bayan early morning work outs dinsa kamar yadda ya saba, Abdulmalik yayi wanka ya shirya tsaf a cikin wani dan grey coloured shirt da wando dan three quater me kyau. Kayan sun mai kyau sosai. Bayan ya gama shiri ya sauko ya izza kawun sa Al-Mubaraq ya zo. Wani broad smile ya saki daya hango Abdulmalik who was descending the stairs.+

“And here comes the giant of khalif airlines and group of companies”.

“Mamu, kar ma ka fara. For how long have I been in this country amma sai yau zaka zo? Ana meeting you didn’t attend and kasan you were supposed to”. Abdulmalik ya fadi cikin bacin rai. Shikuma Al-Mubaraq ya fara kawo excuses inda suka hanasa attending meeting din. Ya dan jima dun tare ma suka yi breakfast, suka dan taba hira kan ya tashi ya wuce, sai da ya tabbata cewa Abdulmalik ya sauko, ya daina hushi dashi kan ya wuce. Wucewar sa ke da wuya Abdulmalik yace wa Nawfal su shirya suje shopping mall.

“Ka fi ni sanin gari, I want you to take me to the best shopping mall in town”. Ya fadi da suka shiga mota.

“Wai yau kai shopping kake ji ne”.

“You don’t expect me to go back to Nigeria without buying anything for Chuchu”.

“Malam Fadeel dan Baba”. Nawfal ya fadi.

“Ya son ranka”. Suka tuntsure da dariya kan Abdulmalik ya kuma magana “And you know Begum’s birthday is round the corner, I need to get her a very nice present”. A haka dai suna hira, da wasa da dariya har suka isa shopping mall din. Nawfal ya wuce game arena shikuma Abdulmalik ya shiga ya fara shopping tare da daya daga cikin ma’aikatan sa da yike riqe da shopping bags din.

Tafia yike hankalin sa can a wani gu kawai yaji boom! Ya hankade wata ýar budurwa wadda take sanye da jallabia. Cikin gaggawa ya duqa yana kwasan mata kayanta da suka zuba a qasa sakamakon bangaje ta da yayi, yana cikin kwasan kayan ne yaji ýar budurwan ta fara jaraba gashi voice dinta was very familiar. Daga kan da zai yi kawai suka yi idanu hudu da Laylah. A haka dai tun suna fada har dai suka yi making peace tace ya dan rakata ta siyawa driver dinta shirt.

Suna dubawa shirts din jefi jefi suna dan hira. For the first time Abdulmalik ya tsaya yawa Laylah kyakyawar kallo. Hakika Laylah Allah ya mata kyau ba kadan ba, ga tsawo, gata kuma ýar siririya da ita. Idanuwanta manya, farare qal masu kyau, gashi ta iya wani kallo me sa zuciyar mutum yin somersault. In tayi dariya kuma…. Ya Allah! Wani dimple ne wanda ya tsananin mata kyau ke fitowa. Ga voice nata me dadin gaskia, magana kam cikin sanyi da kasaita takeyin sa kamar ba zata yi ba. yanayin tafiyar ta kam tamkar dawisu.

‘Subhanallah’ ya fadi a ransa when he realised he was gazing way too much.

Har suka isa gida zuciyar sa cike yike da tunanin Laylah. Yarinyar ta tsaya mai a rai sosai, duk ya qagu ya san koh ita wacece, ýar gidan wanene ita, me take yi a Australia kuma menene connection dinta da senator Junaidu. Yana cikin tunani wayar sa ya fara ringing. Duba caller identity din yayi yaga P.A dinsa ne, cikin gaggawa ya daga.

“Yes Tariq”. Ya ansa cikin wani voice me cike da authority.

“Sir the detective just called”.

“Me yace?”.

“Yace wai gaskia in Nigeria there are a lot of Laylah’s so getting information is difficult, da kaman akwai surname ne or something”. Tariq yayi bayani. Abdulmalik kam shuru yayi yana jin sa. “Amma sai dai…..”. Ya katse tunanin Abdulmalik.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW



“Sai dai mai”.

“Yace there are two well known laylah’s ýan Nigeria; ta farko Laylah Altaaf ce, diyar former CBN governor”.

“Na san Laylah Altaaf”. Abdulmalik ya fadi yana tuno Shekarar da ya gushe, lokacin da mahaifin ta yazo yana mai tallar ta, a cewar sa ya kamata su kara karfafa zumunci.

“The second one is a popular lady who goes by the name “Laylah Jaan” she’s very popular amongst circle din masu kudi da ýan siyasa”.

“Laylah jaan? Ban taba jin sunan ba. Is she an entrepreneur? Or a politician? Koh diyar wani sananne”. Ya tambaya.

“No sir….. she’s a call girl”.

“What?”. Abdulmalik ya tambaya cikin mamaki “A call girl? I don’t think she’s the Laylah i’m searching for”. Ya fadi cikin gaggawa amma kuma sai ya tuna ai fa Laylah da ya sani tana zama a guesthouse din Senator Junaidu ne, kuma gashi ýan bincike sun ce bata da relation da senator din. Wani irin rapid bugu yaji zuciyar sa nayi.

“Tell the detective to get a picture of her, what’s her name…. Laylah Jaan or whatever you call her. Get a picture of her!”. Ya fadi tare da kashe wayar sa. Cikin zuciyarsa kam he was praying and hoping Laylah and Laylah Jaan are two different people.

“Wai kai meyasa ka damu da wannan Laylah ne?”. Nawfal ya katse mai tunani.

“And how is that your business”. Ya fadi yana hararar sa.

Ita kam Laylah a nata bangaren, ranar juma’a na zagowa ta

Shirya. As usual, she dressed to impress. Ta hadu a cikin wata ýar simple A-line gown da ta sa wanda daya ne daga cikin 2017 collection din famous Nigerian model Ayaa Abdulkareem (Don’t get confused, ba fashion designer a Nigeria by that name. Ayaa Abdulkareem fictional character din one of my novels ne). Kan Mr Yates yazo ta dan shiga wani store kusa da gida ta dan yi ýan shopping din kayan kwalama na yara tunda ya ce mata yana da diya ýar 8 years, sannan ta siya bottle din red wine. 7 pm dot Simon ya iso suka wuce gidansa wanda be wuci 30 minutes drive ba daga guesthouse.

The Yates were quite a nice family, in no time Laylah ta saba dasu. Margaret matar Simon tana da matukar kirki da ansan baqi da kuma yaran su guda uku duka mata. Charlotte, babbar diyar sa wanda she’s just 16, sai kuma Victoria me biye da ita. Sai ýar autar diyar sa, 8 year old Anna who is head over heels about frozen. Tayi ta ba Laylah labarin cartoon din, har da kwantata mata wasu actions inda characters din suke da wakokin da aka yi a movie din. Laylah taji dadin zuwa gidan Simon sosai, gashi an mata tarba na musamman, abinci iri iri aka dafa.

Sai da Margaret tayi serving dessert tukun Laylah ta fara jan ta da hira.

“Mrs Yates, so umm Simon said you work with khalif group of companies”.

“Oh yes honey. Our boss is a very nice and generous man. Made me change my perception of Nigerians. You guys are wonderful”. Ta fadi tana murmushi.

“And very hospitable” Laylah ta fadi cike da alfahari da qasar ta “so I’ve been trailing after your boss for a while now, there’s a business proposal I have for him”. Ta fada dan ta bugi ruwan cikin matar.

“He’s quite a mysterious man… I myself have never seen him”. Ta fadi kan ta sa piece of cake inda ta debo a baki. Sai da ta gama tauna tukun ta kuma buda baki tayi magana. “But rumour has it that Naufool Muhammad Fadoul is the boss”. Dariya Laylah ta tuntsure da, jin yadda Margaret ta kira sunan Nawfal.

“You know anytime we’re told the boss is visiting, we never get to see him. Only Mr Naufool, or Al-Mubaraq shows up. And the amount of influence Naufool has in khalif group of companies is highly suspicious. I think he is khalifa Al-Haydar”. Ta fadi. Daga nan suka cigaba da hira har sai can dare tukun Simon ya maida Laylah gida.

Daren ranar kasa barci tayi, tana ta tunanin hirar ta da Mrs Yates. Ita ce mutum ta biyu da take fadi mata cewa suna kyautata zato Nawfal shine khalifa Al-Haydar. Daukar waya tayi da niyyar googling sunan Nawfal koh zata sama hoto koh wani abu, app din whatsapp ta fara shiga da niyyar turawa Auta message kan ta shiga neman Nawfal Muhammad Fadoul, amma kuma tana cikin scrolling sai idonta ya fada kan contact inda ta karba 3 days back. Contact din Abdulmalik. Tana shiga taga he’s online without knowing how or when sai ta sama kanta da mai magana.

[12:03Am] Laylah: Hello.

Bayan ta tura har saura kadan tayi deleting message din amma kuma sai taga there’s no point. The more close she gets to him the better it is for her, tunda from all indications he’s close to Nawfal Muhammad Fadoul tunda har in zai yi tafia sai da shi.

‘Getting close to Nawfal’s driver is a step forward in my mission’ ta fadi a ran ta. Har ta cira ran zai yi replying dinta zata kashe data dinta ta kwanta kenan ma, ta mance da wani zancen googling din Nawfal Muhammad Fadoul sai gashi yayi replying dinta.

[12:59Am] Abdulmalik: Hey🙋.

A ranar Abdulmalik ya wuni cikin nazari. A karshe dai ya miqe yace bara ya dan rage workload inda ke kansa. Yana cikin aikin nasa ne email din Tariq ya shigo. Finally! Abunda yike ta jira tun safe ya isa, the face of Laylah Jaan. Sai da ya ja dogon numfashi kan ya buda email din and alas! By God ban san me ya gani ba😉 wata murmushi kawai ya saki wadda ba da dadewa ba ta koma dariya. Da gudu ya miqe ya ruga living room inda ya baro Nawfal, kwala mai kira yike ta yi kan ya isa, murmushin sa a fadade.

Can cikin dare bayan ya dan gama aikin, Abdulmalik ya kwanta ya dan samu hutu kan ya kuma tashi. yina kwanciya ya jawo wayar sa dun abun ya zama mai alada, sai yayi latse latsen waya yike iya barci. Notifications din tarin unread messages inda ya gani a whatsapp dinsa ya sa ya shiga app din. Yana ta duba messages din, wasu yayi tsaki, wasu ya gyada kai, wasu ya ci dariya; kamar hoton da Hajjo ta turo mai na Fadeel. Can sai yaga wani message from an alien number, har zaya share message din can kuma ya ce bara dai ya ansa.

[12:59Am] Abdulmalik: Hey🙋. Yayi replying. Ba da dadewa ba yaga number din na typing reply.

[01:00Am] Laylah: Laylah here, the lady you gave your contact to earlier.

Dama shi tun asali Abdulmalik dan jan aji ne, a komi baya so mutane su ga he’s looking or sounding desperate shiyasa a wannan karan ma sai da ya dan bata lokacin kan yayi replying dinta.

[01:11Am] Abdulmalik: Or better still, the lady who has been trailing after me ever since I set foot in Australia😁.

[01:15Am] Laylah: Whatever rows your boat. Amma dai ka san cewa Laylah bata bin namiji, sai dai maza su bita.

[01:17Am] Abdulmalik: Too cocky I see. Well let’s not start off on a bad note miss.

[01:18Am] Laylah: like we haven’t done that already.

[01:20Am] Abdulmalik: Time to make peace then I guess.

[01:23Am] Laylah: Sounds cool…. so it’s safe to call you my buddy?

[01:24Am] Abdulmalik: yes…. buddy!

[01:25Am]: Did you just call me buddy?.

[01:26Am] Abdulmalik: yes…. buddy! And I just did again😉

[01: 28Am]: That’s cool… buddy😀.

[01:30Am] Abdulmalik: Okay buddy, gotta go. I have an early start with boss tomorrow. Do sleep well.

[01:31Am] Laylah: Okay…. do take care. We’ll talk tomorrow right?

[01:32Am] Abdulmalik: Insha Allah.

Yayi typing kan ya ije wayar sa ya gyara kwanciya amma ya rasa samun kansa da iya barci. Tunanin Laylah kawai yayi ta yi. A rayuwa ba macen da ta taba having such effect on him, koh deceased wife dinsa lokacin da suka fara haduwa bata yi having irin effect dinnan a kansa ba. Hasali ma a lokacin baya son ta kwata kwata ita ma kuma haka, kawai iyaye ne suka yi hadin and there was nothing they could do about it. Sai da suka yi zama har na shekara daya da Fatima kan maganan kirki ta fara hada su, a haka suka fara har suka zama friends and from there, gradually, they realised they were in love and in no time, they accepted each other har rabon Fadeel ya shiga tsakanin su. Wata ýar dariya ya saki da ya tuno da zahra sa.

“Allah jikan ki Fati na, ya raya mana Fadeel”. Ya fadi in a low voice. Da kyar Abdulmalik ya iya barci ranar. Tunani yike ta yi of both Laylah and Fatima. He was confused about his feelings, shi dai ya san har ga Allah after loosing Fatima ba macen da zaya iya taba so bare har zancen aure ya shiga tsakaninsu amma kuma yanzu ya rasa yanda yike jin Laylah nan a ransa, ta shiga kawai ta kwanta a ciki. Bai taba kula da harkar wata ýa mace kamar yadda ya damu da na Laylah ba.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW



“Just friends….. I want just friendship”. Yayi ta fadi ma kansa har dai barci finally yayi awon gaba dashi.

Ita kam Laylah bayan ta ije waya wata murmushi tayi ta yi. Ta rasa me ke faruwa da ita. Ita fa dan kawai ta samu access to Nawfal Muhammad Fadoul ta ansa number din wannan Abdulmalik din har take chatting dashi sai dai zuciyar ta tana bata wata labari na daban. Duk ta rasa why her heart was beating rapidly lokacin da suke chatting, gashi yanzu sun gama chatting din but everything has been replaying on her head, from the first time she set eyes on him har zuwa lokacin da ya taya ta zaba ma Mr Yates shirt. Har imaginations din ta was conjuring up his face. Ya Allah! Laylah has never felt that way for any guy, none but one guy who is now her past, a past she’d chosen to bury a long time ago.

“Just friendship….. that’s what I want”. Ta fadi ma kanta. Amma kwata kwata her heart was not in compliance with what she wants. Amma ita a ganin ta, ta ya zata taba falling in love with a mere driver? And wani irin namiji ne ma zai yi accepting dinta for who she is? A stained veil, jikinta dauke yike da Jirwaye me matukar yawa. Wannan tunanin ne ya jawo Laylah fashewa da kuka. Rayuwar ta kawai ta fara tunani a can baya har zuwa ga randa ta bar gida, ta hadu da wannan azzalumi, da kuma randa Yasmeenah ta dauke ta daga bola, daga kan hanya inda ya zama mata muhalli a wannan lokacin. Koh kadan bata taba blaming Yasmeenah for how her life turned out ba, hasali ma ta rasa wa zata yi blaming; Abban ta ne? Wanda take so da dukkan ran ta koh kuwa Umma wanda she has never done anything but want the best for her kids. Wane toh? Ya Suraj? Koh kuwa ýar uwar ta, rabin jikinta Auta. Tunanin nan take har barci ya kwashe ta.

The next day tana cikin breakfast kenan Simon ya shigo. Cike da fara’a suka gaisa tace ya zauna su karya tare amma yace mata ai ya riga ya karya a gida.

“I was thinking if you would love to go to the national museum, an auctioning event is going to take place there today”. ya fadi mata.

“Really! By what time does it start?”. Ta tambaya shikuma ya fadi mata “I’d love to attend, prepare a car, the Ford. I’ll just go get ready”. Ta umurce sa.

Irin ayar da Laylah take shukawa a guesthouse din Senator, koh matar sa ta sunnah be bata daman yin wannan iya shegen ba. Kai namiji kenan! Amma ga Laylah na da ba dagin iya bare na Abba tana zaune a gidan sai abunda ta ga dama ci da sha, sai motar da ta so fita da, koh koran masu aikin ma zata yi dan sunyi mata laifi senator ya bata dama. Banda kuma visa in Dubai da ke jiran ta.

Shiri tayi cikin kaya na alfarma. Da an ganta an ga babbar yarinya. Koh kadan Laylah ba kalar talaka bace. Dan wani jakka mai shegen kyau da tsada ta dauka sannan ta zuba wani uban alligator shades a ido ta fito. Tana saukowa qasa wata me aiki ta taho da gudu ta anshi jakarta bita da shi har mota. Nan ma tana isowa Simon ya buda mata ta shiga kan ta anshi jakarta suka wuce. Kamar dai yadda suka saba, hira suka yi ta tabawa har suka isa museum din inda mutane sun riga da sun fara isowa. Duk wanda ya iso sai kaji ana announcing shigar sa. Ita dai Laylah shigar ta tayi shuru amma duk wani babba sananne da ya zo ake announcing shigar sa.

“Ladies and gentlemen! May I announce the presence of one of the world’s young and gallant entrepreneurs, one of the most influential and richest in the world. The one and only giant of khalif airlines and group of companies…… Khalifa Al-Haydar”. Aka yi announcing shigowar sa sai dai madadin aga ya shigo, P.A dinsa ne ya shigo ya radawa announcer din wani abu a kunne kan ya kuma fita. Ita kam Laylah duk ta qagu taga shigowar wannan Khalifan, a zuciyar ta har rawa ta fara, her dream is finally coming true, zata ga khalifa Al-Haydar amma sai ta ji announcer din ya fara magana kuma.

“So unfortunately Mr khalifa Al-Haydar couldn’t grace this occasion but his adviser is here to represent him so ladies and gentlemen can we welcome Nawfal Muhammad Fadoul”. Nawfal ne ya shigo tare da Tariq da Abdulmalik, jama’a ana ta kallon su, duk inda suka bi san shaking hands da Nawfal, an ga mai kudi. Ba wanda ya bi ta kan Abdulmalik tun da baa san ko waye shi ba.

“Oh la la” Laylah ta fadi bayan ta game wa Nawfal kallo “Young, rich and handsome…… Nawfal Muhammad Fadoul”. Ta saki ýar murmushi. Sai dai kuma ta lura duk kyaun Nawfal bai kai Abdulmalik kyau ba, there’s just something about him(Abdulmalik), he’s very charismatic, sannan kuma tayi noticing resemblance between both guys.1

‘Da ba dun Abdulmalik talaka bane ba da sai nace sun hada jini’. Ta fadi a ran ta.

Kan a fara auctioning ceremony din sai da aka ba kowa damar touring round museum din tare da caretakers and historians suna basu tarihin kowani antique piece da ke museum din. A nan ne Laylah tana tafiyar ta taji an mata magana daga baya.

“Hey buddy!”. Ta ji an fadi. Juyawar ta sai taga Abdulmalik.

“Hey, we meet again”.

“I think fate has something in store for the both of us. I’m beginning to suspect our future’s linked”. Ya fadi yayi dariya.

“Ofcourse! You’re the key to me getting a contract from khalifa Al-Haydar” ta fadi ba tare da fadi mai asalin manufarta ba. A nata tunanin in Abdulmalik ya san koh ita wacece zai fita harkar ta. Wani irin murmushi kawai Abdulmalik ya saki. Har suka gama magana Laylah bata ji yace zai yi introducing dinta to uban gidansa ba. Abun ya dan bata mata rai dun taso ace ya hada su amma sai aka sama akasin haka.

‘I’ll have to do something to get his attention’ ta fadi a zuciya.