JIRWAYE CHAPTER 9

JIRWAYE CHAPTER 9

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“Baban Ammah lafia?”. Zubaidah ta tambaya, face dinta cike da mamaki. Sai da ya wuce guestroom ya Kwantar da Laylah, sannan yace wa Zubaidah ta dauko kayan aikin ta tazo ta duba Laylah, kasancewar ta a qualified nurse. Ba tare da bata lokaci ba ta shiga duba ta.+

“She’s running a very temperature”. Ta fadi tana rubutu a wani dan takarda “Go get these stuffs now”. Ta miqawa mijinta takardan. Kan ya je pharmacy ya dawo ta samu ruwa a dan bowl da hand towel tana goge mata jiki to help with the fever. Yana dawowa ta fara fixing cannula din aka sa mata saline nan da nan. Drugs din kuma aka ije sai ta farka ta dan sa abu a ciki tukunna.

Koh kadan Hamma Suraj be matsa daga dakin ba ranar. Wuri ya samu ya zauna idanunsa na kan ýar uwarsa. Sai can cikin daren at around 3am kan Laylah ta farka. Lokacin barci ya dan fara tafia da Hamma Suraj, kamar a mafarki yaji tana magana.

“Water…”. Ta fadi a hankula. Miqewa yayi ya dauko jug din ruwa da matar sa ta ije kan ta wuce barci, ya zuba a glass ya miqa mata yana mata sannu. Sai da ta shanye ruwan ya karbi glass din ya ije kan ya fara tambaya ya take ji.

“Just a headache”. Ta fadi mai.

“Are you sure? Your body doesn’t ache? Your eyes, your…..”.

“Hammaaaa” ta ja sunansa “Nace i’m okay, cross my heart”. Ta fadi kan ta dan lumshe idanunta tana sauke ijiyar zuci.

“Are you ready to talk about everything?”. Ya tambaya amma sai ta share tambayar sa ta fadi mai ita yunwa take ji. Nan da nan ba tare da bata lokaci ba ya hada mata tea da sandwich ya kawo ta dan ci kadan after which ta kwanta ta koma barci. Sai lokacin shima Hamma Suraj ya wuce ya same matar sa suka kwanta.

Washe gari bayan ya tashi daga office ya shiga ya duba factory dinsa, inda ake producing bread da refined water, ya ja mota ya wuce gida ya cewa Auta ta hado wa Laylah ýan kayan da zata buqata saboda yana ganin she’ll live for a short while in his place. Ba gardama duk su Ummati suka yarda da judgement dinsa aka hada mata kaya a wata ýar akwati ya wuce mata da su. Koh da ya koma gida yaji dadin yadda ya izza Laylah ta sama sauki sosai tana ta wasan ta da baby Ammah, Zubaidah kuma na zaune tana ta faman daukar su hoto. A Kullum yana godewa Allah da ya hada kawunan matar sa da na ýan uwansa, koh kadan tunda ya aurota Zubaidah bata taba experiencing wani baqin hali from his people ba, ita ma kuma haka bata taba nuna musu halin ko in kula ba koh ta musu rashin mutunci. Suna zaman su cikin kwanciyar hankali.

Murmushi yayi, yazo yayi kissing dukan su a kumatu kan ya wuce daki to freshen up and change into something casual. Hamma Suraj dai yana nan yana ta noticing din sister dinsa, dan ya lura koh abincin kirki bata iya ci, sai tunani kawai. Suna gama cin abinci ya wuce ya dauko mata box dinta ya kai mata har daki. A hankula yayi sallama ya jira ta basa izinin shiga amma yaji shuru. Da yayi sallama har 3 times ba answer sai ya dan turo kofar kadan ya shiga. Izza ta yayi a tsakiyar bed zaune tana ta faman sharar kuka. Cikin hanzari ya ije box din ya nufi inda take.

“Hey! What’s wrong”. Ya tambaya yana tallafo ta zuwa jikinsa. Shuru tayi bata ce komi ba tana ta kuka a jikinsa shikuma yayi ta rarrashinta har dai ta haqura ta daina kukan barci yayi gaba da ita. Tashi yayi ya bar dakin ya wuce ya sama matar sa.

“Na rasa how to go about this, abu na damunta ta qi fadi. Ni dama ban yarda da dawowar ta yola ba”. Ya fadiwa Zubaidah da tayi shuru tana sauraron sa.

“Haquri zaka yi, mu bi ta a hankula. She’ll open up gradually”. Ta fadiwa mijin nata tana daurawa baby Ammah diaper.

“Yawwa least I forget, nayi inviting Mahmoud da family dinsa for dinner on Friday night”.

Murmushi tayi kan ta ansa shi da “Allah ya kaimu ranar lafia”. Shikuma ya ansa ta da Ameen kan ya cigaba da tambayar ta abubuwa da babu a gida.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

Shikam Mahmoud on the other hand ranar bayan sun rabu da Laylah, ya dade a qofar gidansu ba abunda yike in ba tunani ba da nazarin irin cin fuskar da ta mai dan gaskia maganganun da ta fadi mai sun sosa mai rai. Wai shi Laylah zata kalla ta fadi mai abubuwan da ta fadi. Dogon numfashi ya saki yana shaqar Kanshin perfume dinta daya cika ko wani angle a motar sa. Har ya isa Islamic foundation din tunani yike. Ita kam zainaba kan ya isa har ta hau keke napep ta wuce gida, rai a bace. Jira kawai take ya dawo. Dama rayuwar ta su kenan, fadan yau daban na gobe daban. In akwai babban dana sani a rayuwar Mahmoud toh auran zainaba ne, dun gaba daya ta sanja daga yadda take da, ta bari kawaye sun hure mata kunne, Kullum gidan auran ta ba lafia, ga uwarta da ýan uwan ta da ke goya mata baya. Koh kadan ýan uwan Mahmoud basu jin dadin ta. Da sun zo zata fara hade rai tana kananun maganganu.

Koh da gate man din foundation din ya fadi mai ta riga ta wuce Mahmoud ya riga ya san there’s fire on the mountain. Shi duk tunanin sa maybe ta jira ta gaji ne ta wuce be san cewa haushi rage wa Laylah hanya da yayi bane. Yana isa gida yaransa suka rugo suna mai maraba, ita kam kamar bata san ya shigo ba sai sana’ar da ta saba take, wato kallon telemundo. Dama aikin ta kenan, if it’s not telemundo, it’s zeeworld koh chatting da dan banzan yawo; yau tana gidan suna, gobe tana gidan biki, jibi ta wuce ganin lefe koh housewarming. Gaba daya zainaba ta sanja, ba wadda ya sani da ba.

Shima pretending yayi kamar be ganta ba ya wuce ciki, tana ganin ya shige ciki ta biyo sa.

“Me kake nufi?”. Ta tambaya, hannunta a qugu.

“Kamar ya me nike nufi?”.

“Ka fini sanin komi ai”.

“Wai dun ban zo daukar ki da wuri ba?”. Ya tambaya.

“Ni ba maganar da nike ba kenan, me na daukar wancan Karuwar a motar ka”.

“Zainaba….”. Be ma kai ga gama maganar da zai yi ba ta katse sa.

“Ohhh wato yaudarata zaka yi yanzu koh? Cin amanar da zaka mun kenan. Yarinyar ta shekaru tana zaman kanta, shine zaka fara bin ta koh, dun ka kwaso cuta ka zo ka sa mun, toh wallahi bari in….”. Bata gama magana ba taji saukar mari a fuskar ta.

“Shashasha kawai! Ance miki haka nike”. Ya ja tsaki ya dau car key dinsa yayi hanyar waje. Jan motar sa kawai ya fita ba tare da ya san Inda zashi ba. Sai da ya sha bulayin sa a kan titi kan ya dau hanya zuwa Girei gun mahaifiyar sa.

Ranar Friday da safe bayan breakfast ne Zubaidah ke fadiwa Laylah baqin da zasu yi da yamma. Sai da ta ji gaban ta ya fadi dun ta san dole sai Mahmoud koh matar sa sun nemi hanyar cusa mata magana. Tana gama helping Zubaidah with cooking, suka yi setting table ta bar Zubaidah na bin gidan da bukhoor ta hau sama zuwa dakin ta da niyyar yin wanka. Lokaci ta dauka sosai gun wanka, ta wanke jikinta tas da ruwan turare kan ta fito ta busar da hair dinta kan ta hau shafe jiki da mai. Tana gamawa ta jawo make up kit dinta ta hau kwalliya. Ranar kawai taji tana son tayi kwalliya tayi kyau. Tana cikin make up din ne suka yi waya da Yasmeenah wadda ke mata tsiya, tace in an gama kwalliya a tura mata pictures. Tana gama kwalliyar ta ta wuce closet ta ciro wani atamfa sabo bata ma taba sawa ba, dinki ya mata kyau kuma dama gata me haske sai atamfan that’s red in colour ya mata kyau sosai ga daurin kai me kyau sai kanshi take kai ka ce wata sabuwar amarya ce.

Zama tayi kan gadon ta bayan ta gama kashe selfies ta turawa Yasmeenah. Shiga Instagram tayi da niyyar posting daya daga cikin selfies inda tayi amma kuma sai idanunta ya gamu da abunda koh a mafarki bata taba tunanin zata gani ba.

*First public appearance of multibillionaire khalifa Al-Haydar together with son and fiancée Saima Mohammed*

Abunda caption din hoton ya fadi kenan, hoton kuma na khalifa ne together with Saima sunsa Fadeel a tsakiyar su sun riqe masa hannu suna tafia cikin shopping mall. Da ka ga fuskokin su kaga annushuwa. Tsaki ta ja ta cigaba da scrolling, can kuma ta kuma ganin wani hoton nasu with caption.

*Couple of the year khalifa Al-Haydar and Saima Mohammed together with son Fadeel Al-Haydar at Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates*

Cike da frustration ta wurgar da wayan kan ta goge dan guntun kwallar da ya sauko mata. Why was her heart making such a noise? She could feel it breaking into a million shards. Meyasa ta kasa mance khalifa, whether awake or asleep, the heart is always walking towards him. Meyasa ta zama mara zuciya? Despite everything she still yearns for a sight of him, meyasa har yanzu take ji a ran ta their story isn’t over yet. The heart pays no heed to her anymore.

“Fuck you Al-Haydar”. Ta fadi kan ta kuma dan dabbing powder a face dinta. Tana cikin adjusting scarf dinta ne ta ji muryar Zubaidah na kiranta cewar baqin su sun iso. Sai da ta fesa perfume ta kuma ma kanta kallon as full length mirror inda ke jikinta wardrobe inta kan ta fita. Tana taku dai dai, typical Laylah. In all situations wannan ego da self esteem dinnan is always there.

Tun da ta fara saukowa idanun Mahmoud suka fada kanta. Ji yike wani irin sensation yayi overwhelming dinsa. No matter how much he tried, ya sama kansa da kasa dauke idanunsa a kanta. Zainaba kam da ke can suna gaisuwa da Zubaidah shi take kallo ta gefen ido, zuciyar ta na tafarfasa. Wato in bata dauki action da wuri ba, in no time Mahmoud da Laylah zasu yi rekindling relationship dinsu, ita kuma nothing would be left of her dama relationship dinsu is already rocky. Laylah kam tana saukowa sannu ta hada ta da su, kan ta sa hannu ta dauko Kauthar, wanda a kama sak Babanta take.

Wucewa kitchen ta yi da yarinyar, Laylah karama na bin su a baya. Suna shiga ta ije ta kan kitchen island, ta wuce ta buda fridge ta ciro litre na ice cream ta buda kan ta dauko bowls ta sa musu suka zauna su sha suna hirar su, tamkar yarinyar karama ta zamo ta biye musu sai hayaniya suke. Shikam Mahmoud na can zaune a living room, gaba daya hankalinsa baya kan hirar da Suraj ke jan sa dashi, hankalinsa na can cikin kitchen tare da Laylah. Wani irin awkward feeling yike ta having a zuciyar sa.

‘Is an old flame about to spark yet again?’ Ya fadi a ransa.

Ita ma zainaba zaman ta ba abunda take yi in ba tunanin yadda she’ll put a stop to the Mahmoud-Laylah saga that’s about getting started again ba.

‘Never! Never. Bazan taba bari su dawo tare ba’. Ta fadi as zuci.

Laylah kam despite wasan da take da yaran Mahmoud, hakan be hana mind dinta flying to United Arab Emirates ba, to khalifa Al-Haydar.

‘Is he happy with her? Does she makes him smile like I used to? Is he really over me……’. Haka tayi ta tunani a ranta.

Koh da aka zauna dining din, gaba daya Laylah tayi zoning out of their convo, bata san hirar da suke ba. Abincin da ke gaban ta ma wasa tayi ta yi dashi, mind dinta na can Abu Dhabi tare da habibi khalifa. Ta rasa meyasa take haka, a rayuwa bata taba nacin son mutum haka ba.+
‘Koh maita da rashin zuciyar duniya ya qare a kaina ne daga yau na rufe chapter dinka Al-Haydar’. Ta fadi a ranta.1

Unknown to her, Mahmoud da ke zaune adjacent to her hankalinsa baya ko ina sai a kanta. Duk yana ta lura da body language dinta, wani irin abu yike ta ji na faruwa dashi, his heart was trying to narrate a new story to him. The feeling was quite alien yet it was calming yet disturbing in a sense. Da ya kalli direction inta sai yaji wani sanyi a zuciyar sa, gashi ita kuma bata ma san yana yi ba. Tana can tana nata abu. Ana haka ne wayar ta ta fara ringing, tana dagawa taga caller identity din sai da ta saki wani murmushi da ya sa zuciyar Mahmoud sumersaulting. Sabida tsananin kasaita irin na Laylah sai da ta bar call din ya tsinke aka kuma kira kan ta daga wayar.2

“Babyyyyyyyyyy”. Ta fadi cikin wani murya me tsananin dadi. Mahmoud harda choking saboda ji da yayi ta kira wani baby. Jawad ne ya kirata, friend dinta wanda mahaifin sa shine current senate president. Jawad ya dade yana bibiyar Laylah, duk da sanin asalin profession dinta be guje ta ba, ya nema suyi dating amma ita kuma a cewar ta it’s a slap to her face ta fita da qaninta kasancewar ta girme Jawad da shekaru har biyu. Hakan be hana su mutunci ba.2

“Na dawo England kawai nazo ganin ki Yasmeenah was telling me kin bar Abuja”. Ya fadi cikin muryar shagwaba “ya zaki tafi ki bar baby dinki”.

“Awwwwnnnn nan yola nike, banyi nisa ba ai. Yaushe zaka zo gani na”. Ta ansa shi tana dan murmushi wanda sai da dimple dinta ya fito. Shikam Mahmoud tari sosai ya hau yi. Dagowa kawai Laylah tayi ta kallesa tana galla mai dan harara inda matar sa ke shafa mai baya, ita ma da mugunta take ta shafa mai bayan dun cike take dam da takaici, tun dazu take lura da yadda yike ta kallon Laylah. Ga wani shegen kyau da Laylar tayi wanda ita kanta zainaba as a lady sai da ta yaba da irin kyaun da figure da Allah ya ba Laylah. Gashi kuma ita ma’abociya gayu da gyaran jiki ce; haduwa versus wargajewa😁. Gama wayar ta ke da wuya Laylah ta miqe ta bar table din, a cewar ta gama cin abinci. Wucewa kitchen din ta yi ta fara arranging masu dessert a tray.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Ita kuma zainaba yarinya ta zuba mata mustard soup by mistake a jiki dun haka ita ma ta miqe ta shigo kitchen din dun ta goge rigar ta sannan ta wanke hannunta. Tana shiga suka hada idanu hudu da Laylah. Wani irin mugun kallo suka watsawa juna, zainaba ta ja tsaki ta kunna tap da fara wanke hannu.

“Nace ba”. Zainaba ta fadi a hankula.

“Ina ji”.

“Wani shawara zamu dan yi, as my ‘friend'”. Ta fadi with sarcasm laced all over her statement “I need you to advice me on something”.

“Let’s hear your problem”. Laylah ta ansa ta nonchalantly.

“It’s not much of a problem actually, I just needed to hear your opinion”.

“Shoot, I don’t have all day”. Laylah ta fadi still arranging the desserts.

“Wata karuwa ce….”. Ta fadi kan ta tsaya dan lura da expression din fuskar Laylah, sai gani kawai tayi Laylah ta tsaya da abunda take yi ta kama tray din gum tana sauraron ta. “As I was saying, ta gama gararin yawon ta, jumping from one man to another yanzu tana neman seducing mun miji”. Dariya taji Laylah ta saki me karfi, har da riqe ciki.

“You mean the remains of another lady?”.1

“Excuse me…”.

“Haba qawata, Karki mance fa ragowar wata kike ci”. Laylah ta kuma fashewa da dariya. “Dun haka ina ganin be kamata ace kina complain kasancewar you started the snatching game”. Laylah ta fadi kan ta wuce ta buda fridge dun ta ciro fruit punch inda suka hada da Zubaidah.1

“You mean to say I snatched Mahmoud from you?”.

“Ohhhh! Feels good to know you have common sense”. Laylah ta fadi tana mata murmushi.

“Ni zaki zaga! Karuwar banza”. Ta daga hannu zata kai fuskar Laylah sai dai kuma Laylah was quick to catch a grip of her. Gam ta riqe hannun zainaba kan ta juye mata fruit punch me shegen sanyi da ta ciro daga fridge, tas ta juye mata a jiki. She was dripping from head to toe.1

“Kinyi kadan ki ce zaki lying filthy hands inki on me”. Laylah ta fadi tana watsa mata wani mugun kallo wanda ke cike da tsantsar tana. Funny how 2 ladies who were once inseparable could turn to sworn enemies overnight. Ita ma zainaba mamaki ne ya rufe ta, wai ita Laylah ta kwara wa juice a jiki.3

“Miji kuma kina kallo zan kwace shi. Wait! He was never yours to begin with. Me wuri yazo sai mai tabarma ya nade”. Ta yi flinging hannun zainaba da ta riqe kan ta fita daga kitchen din. Zuciyarta ba abunda yike in ba tafarfasa ba, lallai dole ta koya wa zainaba lesson.2

“She’ll learn not to mess with Laylah Jaan’. Ta fadi a zuci kan ta wuce dakin ta. Zubaidah kam bin ta tayi da kallon mamaki, ganin ta fito kitchen without the desserts kawai ta hau sama. Not long sai ga zainaba ta fito daga kitchen din fuming, jikinta a jiqa.2
“What the hell happened in that kitchen”. Mahmoud ya tambaya cike da mamaki.

“Mu wuce”. Ta fadi tana jan hannunsa. Shikam kamar wawa ya wuce zololo yana binta. “Come on girls!”. Ta kwalla wa yaran tsawa. Har sun kai bakin qofa Hamma Suraj da Zubaidah suna biye dasu suna tambayan ta meya faru bata ce komi ba. Sai da zasu shiga mota ta kira Hamma Suraj.

“Suraj kake koh wanene, I don’t care. Ka ja wa kanwar kunne, ta daina shiga gonata”. Tana fadi ta shiga mota tayi slamming door. Shikam suna shiga gida rai a baci ya wuce to dakin Laylah, sai kwalla mata kira yike.

“What.did.you.do“. Ya tambaya rai a baci.

“I poured some juice on her…. simple!”. Ta bashi ansa hankalinta na kan wayarta.

“Simple? Kin ci wa baqina mutunci, matar abokina ki ce simple? Kina da hankali kuwa! Kishi hauka ne? So what if she married your ex?…..”. Hamma Suraj yayi ta jaraba a tunanin sa kishi ne yasa Laylah watsa wa zainaba juice. Zubaidah kam ita dai tana tsaye tana ta faman basa haquri shikam inaaa ta inda yike shiga ba ta nan yike fita ba.

“You’ll go to her house and apologise in kina son zaman lafia dani”. Ya fadi.2

“That would be over my dead body”.1

“Me kika ce?”.

“You heard me right! Bazan bata haquri ba, not in this lifeti…..”. Bata gama magana ba Hamma Suraj ya kwashe ta da mari.

“Ke har kin isa in saki abu ki ce ba zakiyi ba?”. Ya fadi yana watsa mata wani kallo, ita kam hannu ta kai ta riqe cheek inta inda ya mare ta, abun na bata mamaki, kamar a movie, wai ita Hamma Suraj ya mara, saboda wancan Shegiyar matar.

“Kuma in kina son kanki you’ll go apologise, first thing tomorrow!”. Ya juya zai fita, har ya kai qofa jin abunda ta fadi yasa ya tsaya on his tracks.

“I still stick to my words! Bazan bata haquri ba”. Juyowa yayi ya watsa mata wani kallo.

“You dare defy me? Ni yayanki?…..”.2

“Cook the yaya title and have it for dinner! Sanda ka shiga shaye shaye ka watsar da mu baka san kai yaya bane? Sanda mahaifin mu ya sama stroke saboda kai baka san kai yaya bane? Ka taba bada koh da 5 naira for his treatment? Sanda Ummati ke wahala take wankau dun mu samu kudin magani da na abinci, kana ina? Baka san kai yaya bane? Sai dai a nema ka zo ka dauka ka kashe a shaye shaye! Sanda ka sayar mana da gida, aka watsar mana kaya kan titi, kana ina? When that man tried to rape me, kana ina? Sanda aka mun sharri akan abunda ban aikata ba, kana ina? All the nights I sold my body to put food on our plates, kana ina? All the nights I sold my body dan na kai ka rehab, kana ina? All the times I had to endure insults from people because of my profession kana ina? When I had to give up the love of my life, kana ina? Sai yanzu dun I stood up for myself zaka ce mun kai yaya na ne? Screw you!”. Ta fadi kan ta yi slamming door a face dinsa ta zube a qasa ta hau sana’ar da ta saba.3

Shima Hamma Suraj zube wa yayi a qasa, hawaye na zuba daga fuskar sa, abubuwan da ta fadi mai suna ta mai yawo kai, ya rasa gane komi. Sold, body, night, food….. Duk dai ya kasa making sense out of her words. Matar sa ce ta zauno kusa da shi tana ta shafa mai baya a hankula. Daura kansa yayi kan shoulder dinta kawai ya fashe da kuka mai qara.

“She said she sold her body, isn’t that….. prostitution”. Ya fadi kan ya riqe bakin sa yana kuka. “She really did that?, da gaske ta sayar da jikinta, for me? For us? For everyone?”. Ya fadi yana kuka sosai kamar dan yaro karami. Zubaidah kam sai faman basa haquri kawai take ta yi. Da kyar ta iya rarrashin sa ya miqe suka wuce bedroom dinsu. Barcin da Hamma Suraj be yi ba kenan ranar, da ya tuna kalaman Laylah sai yaji hawaye sun fara zubo mai. Indeed he has been nothing but an incompetent brother. A lokacin yayi realising all his life he has been dependent on his sister kuma koh na rana daya be taba tambayar ta ina take samun kudin ba, ina take samun connections din ba, if she’s happy, her true reason behind rejecting Mahmoud. All his life, ya zaci tana ganin level dinta ya wuce na Mahmoud ne ya hanata auran sa. Hakika he’s nothing but a shame and failure to his family. Tuno rayuwar sa a baya kawai ya shiga yi. Yadda ya bari abokai suka runjaye sa suka bata mai bright future dinsa, suka tarwatsa happiness din family dinsa. If and only if be shiga shaye shaye ba da Abban su be sama partial paralysis ba, if and only if be shiga shaye shaye ba da iyayen sa da kannen sa basu wahala yadda suka wahala ba a rayuwa, da basu wulakanta ba.1

“Da bata sayar da jikinta ba”. Ya fadi a hankula, hawaye suna gangaro mai.

Tunowa yayi da ranar da tazo ta dauke sa zuwa rehabilitation, inda aka biya magudan kudi, yadda ta rin ka kuka tana cike forms din. Yana gama therapy dinsa tayi gwagwarmayar nema mai admission. Yana gama ta mai hanyar aiki with the Nigerian force, ta basa jarin fara factory dinsa. Yadda ta fita ta shiga dun ganin an basa auran Zubaidah. Ranar kam Suraj ya sha kuka, wanda tun da aka haife sa be taba yin irin sa ba. Hakika Laylah ta kwace kwaryar girma daga hannunsa, duk responsibilities inda ya kamata ace as the man and first child of the family shi yike yi, ita ce ke yi. Hasalima in abubuwa suka kwaye masa sai dai ya gudu gun ta neman taimako.

Ita ma Laylah haka, kuka ta sha har barci ya kwashe ta. Sai da ta tashi the next morning realisation din all the things she uttered dawned on her.

“Crap!”. Ta fadi a hankula. Bata so ace Hamma Suraj yaji wannan secret din nata ba dun ta san he’ll let himself get overwhelmed by guilt. Har ta shiga bathroom wanka tunani take ta yi, duk taji ba abunda ke mata dadi. A ranta sai tsine wa khalifa Al-Haydar take yi, a cewar ta shigowar sa rayuwar ta ne ya ruguza komi, shi ya kawo mata bad luck. Tana fita wanka sai da ta kira Yasmeenah cause she needed someone to talk to, to just let everything out.Suna gama waya da Yasmeenah ta wuce closet dinta ta ciro wani shirt da black trousers to saka. Sai da ta gama shiri tsaf kan ta dau box dinta ta fara arranging kayanta. She has decided she’s not spending a night again a gidan Hamma Suraj, gida zata koma. She’ll stay for like 2 days a gida kan ta wuce gun Yasmeenah, zata mata surprise visit just to clear her mind off things and dodge her brother too. Sai da ta tabbatar cewa both Hamma and Zubaidah sun wuce various places of work dinsu kan ta fito ta wuce. Tana zuwa gida bata zauna ba, parking kayan da zata buqata tayi ta wuce tayi lodging a hotel.+

Murmushi tayi as she tried recalling last 6 months of her life, from the first day da ta hadu da Khalifa Al-Haydar har zuwa yanzu. In ta tuno wani abun tayi dariya, wani kuma in ta tuna sai dai tayi frowning. A haka har barci ya kwashe ta. A haka tayi 3 days a hotel kan ta wuce Abuja. Tun dai da ta turawa ýan gida text cewa she’s doing good, zata yi dan tafia for a week or so ta cire sim card dinta. Ta cigaba da using dayan contact dinta wanda in ba Yasmeenah ba da Ameer PA ba me number din.

Yasmeenah ba kadan ba taji dadin ganin Laylah. Murna a gun ta har da hawaye and to crown it all, a ranar da Laylah ta iso ita ma Leek ta iso. Ranar kam dadi kamar zai kashe Yasmeenah. Dama plan suka yi both Laylah and leek to surprise her. At night, after dinner Yasmeenah na zaune kan gadon ta with both Laylah and leek lying their heads on her laps suna ta hira. Can kowa yayi shuru, lokacin leek tayi seizing opportunity to finally speak.

“Maamah…..”. Ta kira Yasmeenah a hankula. Kuka Yasmeenah ta fashe da dun for the first time kenan in 20 years da leek ta kira ta da sunan mama. Tunowa kawai ta fara da lokacin da ta hana leek kiranta da sunan.

“My baby”. Yasmeenah ta fadi a hankula. A lokacin Laylah ta miqe da niyyar basu waje, she figured they needed privacy amma much to her surprise sai Yasmeenah ta ce tayi zaman ta. “We’re family afterall”. Ta fadi tana murmushi. A lokacin Laylah ta lura da yadda tsufa ya dan fara nunawa a fuskar Yasmeenah, all thanks to the stress she’s been through the past few months.

“I’m so sorry, for how i reacted the other day. I was just angry. Amma wallahi duk duniya bani da irin ki,, and I love you so much. I won’t let a father that cares less about my existence ruin our bond”. Ta fadi tana kallon Yasmeenah “kiyi haquri kinji Maamah na, ina son ki kuma bazan taba barin ki ba”. Ta fadi mata.

“Shhhhhh”. Yasmeenah ta sa hannu a bakin ta, a sign for leek to keep shut “just shut up and hug me, would you”. Yasmeenah ta fadi tana goge hawaye. “And you too”. Ta jawo Laylah tayi hugging dinsu duka. Sun dade a haka kan Yasmeenah tayi breaking embrace din.

“I think you girls should see this”. Ta fadi tana jawo tablet dinta “A little investigation from my private detective”. Ta fadi tana nuna musu wasu hotuna.

“Leek here’s your aunt Gumsu, your uncle, your cousins and then there’s your grandma”. Ta nuna musu pictures.

“No way! My grandma is still alive”. Leek ta fadi tana tsalle kan gado “I have a family, like a family Forreal!”. Ta fadi tana ta jin dadi.

Sai da ta bari suka gama tsalle tsallen su na murna kan ta cigaba da musu bayani “My name is Adama, my real name”. A lokacin bakin Laylah ya kai qasa dun tsananin mamaki. A duniya bata taba ganin mutum me shegen zurfin ciki ba irin Yasmeenah.

“Ya aka yi kika fara ansa Yasmeenah”.

“He gave the name to me”. Ta fadi tana share wani dan hawaye, fuskar ta riqe da wani murmushi.

“He? You mean my dad?”. Yasmeenah tayi nodding kanta. “Ba zaki fadi mun komi a kansa ba? Bana so naji sunansa, just something about him”.

“He has the most beautiful smile. Idanun ki sak nasa. You know that thing you do with your toes when you’re tensed? Shima haka yike”. Ta fadi tana dariya. Yasmeenah ta buda baki zata yi magana ringing din wayarta ya katse su.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

One week din da Laylah tayi a Abuja tare da leek and Yasmeenah was so far the best thing that has happened to her in the past 4 months, tun incident din abunda ya faru tsakanin ta da Al-Haydar, that was the first time she was genuinely laughing. And she was thankful to both Yasmeenah and leek, ba wanda ya dago mata sunan sa. Sannan tayi making up mind dinta to turn down offer inda aka mata na organising what the press loved to acknowledge as the “wedding of the century”, wato auran khalifa Al-Haydar to Saima Mohammed.

Koh da plane dinsu yayi landing yola, after spending 10 days with Yasmeenah and leek, tayi mamakin ganin Hamma Suraj a arrivals lounge yana jiran ta. She remember making it clear to Ummati cewa ta aiko chauffer ne ya dauko ta, and she didn’t expect Hamma ta come pick her up dun ta san yana gun aiki by time inda zata iso. Waving mata hannu yayi kan ta qarasa inda yike, ya anshi da trolley dinta ya fara ja.

“How have you been?”. Ya tambaya ita kuma ta basa ansa kan ta tambaya ya matar sa da baby Ammah. Har suka shiga mota ya fara tuqi ba wanda ke cewa dan uwansa komi. Hasalima Laylah qosawa tayi su isa gida, dun dense ambience din motar yayi yawa. Karshe kuma tayi making up mind dinta to just apologise for what happened. Ta buda baki zata yi magana kenan a daidai lokacin shima ya juyo ya Kalle ta zai yi magana.

“I’m sorry”.

“I’m sorry”. Duka suka fadi a lokaci daya. Dariya dukan su suka kwashe dashi a lokacin da Laylah tace ‘jinx’.

“Har yau baki girma ba”. Ya fadi yana dariya.

“Says the one who still cries on his wife’s shoulder like a baby”. Ta fadi tana rolling idanunta. Shuru suka kuma yi dukan su kan Hamma Suraj yayi breaking silence din.

“I’m sorry…. I know I don’t have the right words to show how very sorry I am amma dan Allah accept my apology. Na dau alwashin, from this day onward i’ll try to always be there for you, I promise to make up for all the times I weren’t there when you needed me. Duk wanda ya kuma daga miki yatsa na rantse sai na karya yatsar”.

“Koh da amininka ne”. Ta fadi tana dariya “It’s okay Hamma, shits happen”.

“Mahmoud bazai kuma shiga harkar ki ba. I’ve warned him to stay out of your way”.

“Thank you”. Ta fadi a hankula. Daga nan ba wanda ya kuma cewa komi. Har suka isa gida ba wanda ya kuma cewa kowa komi. Sai da suka isa zata fita daga car din ta mai magana.

“Ermm…. Hamma”.

“Na’am”.

“Let this remain between us. Ummati, Abba, I hope….”.

“Karki damu, i’m not a fool to let them know”. Ya fadi yana mata murmushi. Dan ijiyar zuci ta sauke, cause bazata iya imagining abunda zai faru in iyayenta suka ji wannan mummunar labarin ba. Allah dai ya yafe mana gaba daya.

Tana shiga kam Ummati ta hau ta da fadan tafia a sace bata fadi wa kowa ba, duk ta sa hankulan su ya tashi. Da kyar ta rarrashi Ummati ta daina jaraba kan ta wuce sama dakin ta. Fadawa tayi kan gadon ta ta kwanta ba tare da ta cire boots dinta ba, dogon ijiyar zuci ta ije kan ta hau tunanin Auta wadda ta koma school. Sai lokacin ta gane how lonely she is, duk duniya bata da kawar da ta wuce Auta, sai kuma Yasmeenah and leek. Bayan su bata da kowa sai iyayenta da Hamma Suraj.

‘Zubaidah!’. Tunanin ya fado mata a rai. She’s the only person da take kusa da amma kuma bata ganin zata iya koma gidan Hamma Suraj after all that happened. Tabe fuska ta yi kan ta miqe da niyyar shiga wanka. Dun haka kawai tayi deciding ta koma school, dun yi masters dinta. Sai da tayi sati guda tana shawara da kan ta tukun ta fadiwa iyayenta qudirinta. Abba yayi murna da haka ita kam Ummati fada ta rin qa yi wai shikenan ita bazata ta fiddo miji ayi aure ba, duk mates dinta na dakin mazan su da ýaýansu sai ita zata wani ce makaranta zata cigaba. Da kyar Hamma Suraj ya sa baki tukun ta yarda. Without much hesitation aka yi working komi, Laylah ta sama admission. Abun ka da masu kudi.

“Good day class, I am doctor Mahmoud Gidado. The lecturer to tak…..”. Be gama magana ba qarar footsteps dinta suka tsayar dashi. Mahmoud ya kasance irin lecturers dinnan da basu tolerating late coming. Koh da ya buda baki zai yi fada a kan baya son late coming kasawa yayi ganin wadda ta shigo ajin. Tunda ta shigo gaba daya class idanun kowa kanta yike, shi kansa Mahmoud kasa dauke idanunsa yayi kanta. Ita kam koh a jikinta ta qarasa ta sama seat kusa da wani mutum ta zauna, murmushi ta mai bayan ta zauna ta dan fadi hello a hankula. Shima murmushin ya mata ya mayar mata da gaisuwar ta.

“So as i.i.i wa…aa..s saying….”. Duk ya rude ya kasa magana, sai in’ina kawai yike ta yi. Da kyar dai yayi composing kansa yayi one hour a class madadin 2 hours inda ya kamata yayi in su.

A kwana a tashi ba wuya gun Allah, kamar wasa har Laylah tayi 7 months da dawowa yola, ba khalifa ba labarin sa. Bata ganinsa sai newspaper koh news dun yanzu ya fito duk duniya an san koh waye asalin Al-Haydar. A fadin sa cewa farautar da yike yi ya kusa zuwa karshe, labarin auran sa ya gama cika ko ina sai shirye shirye ake ta yi. Ita kam Laylah abota ne sosai ta qullu tsakanin ta da Mu’azu, seat mate dinta a class wanda ma’aikaci ne da road safety dan kuma babban gida. Sauran ýan class din kam dama ba wani shiga harkar su take ba, iyakar ta da su gaisuwa. Shikam Mahmoud har baya so ace yana da lecture dasu saboda gaba daya hankalinsa baya kwanciya in yaga Laylah. Ya rasa yadda yike ji a ransa game da ita. Ya tsani ya ga wani namiji a tare da ita.

Wata ran Saturday bata da abun yi ta shirya da nufi zuwa inda ya zame mata tamkar second home yanzu, wani dan orphanage home ne nan a cikin gari. Lokaci zuwa lokaci tana zuwa tayi spending time da marayu, yin haka na debe mata kewa sosai. Har ta shirya zata wuce sai tayi deciding ta shiga wani eatery ta siya snacks wa yaran.

“Hey”. Ta ji wani very familiar voice ya mata magana. A hankula ta dago kai ta juya dun ganin koh da gaske shi din ne.

Beep, beep”. Ta ji qarar shigar text wayarta. Miqewa tayi daga kwanciya ta jawo wayar from bedside drawer dinta ta buda message din.+

“Let’s have dinner, don’t say no please”. Murmushi kawai ta saki bayan ta gama karanta text din kan tayi typing din reply. It’s been 3 months since their reconciliation and things have been quite peachy between them.

Koh da ta shiga mota ta fara tuqi ba abunda ke yawo ranta in ba haduwar su a eatery ba 3 months ago. Ranar ne Mahmoud ya bata haquri akan maganganun da ya fadi mata da rashin mutuncin da zainaba ta mata. Tun daga ranar kuma shikenan suka yi rekindling friendship dinsu. Duk da to Laylah, they’re nothing more than friends, ta san a gun Mahmoud ba haka bane dun ta dade tana noticing dinsa, she’s been watching his movements. It seemed an old flame was beginning to sparkle again. Iyayen Laylah on their own side kam sunyi murna kwarai da new improvement inda aka sama a relationship din Laylah da Mahmoud. Ita kam zainaba tana can kishi kamar ya kashe ta dun Mahmoud har barazanar qara aure ya fara mata. Gaba daya ta rasa kwanciyar hankali, shiga da fita ba irin wanda bata yi dun taga Laylah ta fita daga rayuwar su.2

Koh da Laylah ta isa, samun Mahmoud tayi zaune da ýan matan sa koh hirar me suka masa oho sai dariya suke ta yi. Takwarar ta ce ta fara hango ta ta rugo da gudu tayi hugging dinta kan Mahmoud ya miqo holding his other daughter in his arms suka gaisa.

“Where’s baby Isma’il”. Laylah ta tambayi yaran baby brother dinsu, sabon baby in da zainaba ta haifa.

“He’s home with mommy!”. Kauthar ta ansa.

“Okay girls, let’s order”. Mahmoud ya katse su. Sun ci abinci su cike da nishadi ana ta hira da dariya just like a happy family, something which hardly happens with his real wife. Koh kadan basu zaman 30 minutes da zainaba wani argument be hada su ba, and most atimes ita ke initiating arguments din and aka duba sai aga over something very trivial ne amma sai gashi nan da Laylah, his Laylah, his first love, the woman he has always envisioned as the mother of his kids suna zaune suna cin abinci cikin kwanciyar hankali. Mahmoud na matukar jin dadin yadda Laylah ke kula masa da yaransa, wani yace ita ta haife su. Har weekend take insisting a kawo mata su, warm nature dinta yasa yaran suka yi warming up to her very easily. Kullum basu da hirar da ya wuce na auntie Laylah, auntie Laylah this auntie Laylah that, much to the dismay of their mother wadda take ta faman haushi cewa an kwace mata miji ana nema a kwace mata yara ma. Sai kace ba ita tayi sake ba.😕

Suna zaune shuru a mota, yara duk sunyi barci har ita kanta Laylah barci ya dan fara tafia da ita kawai kamar cikin mafarki taji Mahmoud na kiran sunanta.

“We’ve arrived”. Ya fadi mata. A hankula ta dan murza idanu kan ta juya ta dubi yaran da ke barci a backseat ta dan yi murmushi.

“When they’re awake, tell them auntie Laylah wuvvvs them”. Ta fadi masa tana shirin sauka. “And take care of yourself too, thanks for today”. Ta fadi tana buda qofar motar amma sai Mahmoud ya tsayar da ita.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

“Laylah. Wait”. Ya fadi da sauri. A hankula ta dawo ta zauna ta rufo qofar. Juyowa tayi directly facing him.

“Yes?”.

Sai da ya ja dogon numfashi kan ya buda baki dun magana “I still love you Laylah”. Ji tayi kalamansa sun daki kunnuwanta kamar saukar aradu. Dan runtse idanu tayi kan ta basa answer.

“Play time’s over Mahmoud”. Ta fadi tana buda qofa. Cikin hanzari ya kama hannunta.

“No, wait. Please”.

“Ka daina irin wannan wasan Mahmoud. Koh dun ka kirani da sunan karuwa ne yasa kake neman mun irin wannan wasan da hankali, you have your wif…..”.

“Ba inda aka ce bazan iya qari ba”. Ya fadi yana kallon ta. “Wallahi I love you, I always have. Koh na rana daya that feeling has never left my heart, no matter how hard I try. I can’t hold it in any more, I hate the way you smile at other guys, that Mu’azu dude, wallahi I always loose focus in ina class dinku. Laylah plea…..”.1

“Mahmoud be kamata muna maganar nan ba, go home please. Your wife is waiting”. Ta fita daga motar ba tare da ta saurare sa ta shige cikin gida. Mahmoud kam kai ya dora kan steering wheel ya shiga dogon nazari, ya dade a haka kan yayi starting motar sa ya dau hanyar gida. Koh da yana tuqi, bai daina tunanin scene inda yayi unfolding minutes ago ba. Shi dai ya san bazai iya haquri da Laylah kuma koh da ya fadiwa mahaifiyar sa kudirin sa na qara aure murna tayi sosai da decision din barin ma da taji ya ce Badejo tsohuwar budurwarsa is the lady he has in mind.

A daren ranar dai ba wanda ya iya barci, ba Laylah ba ba Mahmoud. Dukan su yadda suka ga dare haka suka ga wayewar gari. Aikam immediately after lecture the next day, Mahmoud yayi instructing din Laylah da ta same sa a office dinsa. Jiki ba wani karfi ta nufi office dinsa, ta dan jima bakin qofar tana nazarin zancen da zasu yi kan ta tura qofar ta shiga ta same sa ya zauna shuru, from all indications he was lost in thoughts. Yayi Snapping out of trance dinsa ya buda baki zai yi magana sai Laylah ta riga sa.

“Mahmoud I’ve told you, this can’t work”.

“Why can’t it? Just tell me why Laylah. I have money now”. Zancen sa ya daki wani chord a zuciyar ta. Ta rasa meyasa kowa ke tunanin rashin kudi ne ya hanata auran Mahmoud the first time he proposed. “I know I’m not as wealthy as you are, neither i’m I as wealthy as mazan da ke zuwa gun ki but please Laylah, we’re meant to be together don’t you see. Shekara nawa Laylah, but fate still keep bringing us back together”.

“Mahmoud wealth has nothing to do with this. Matters of the heart….”. Bata gama ba ya katse ta.

“Toh menene Laylah. What’s my flaw da baki sona?”.

“I’m scared it’s not you that’s flawed, it is i”. Ta fadi kai a qasa “Mahmoud I doubt zaka yi accepting dina if I tell you about all that happened in the span of those 8 years I was away”.

“Try me Laylah, kina wasa da irin son da nike miki. I’m ready to accept you and all your flaws. I don’t even want to hear them, I believe they’re in the past now. What awaits us is nothing but a beautiful future. Ban zo da wasa ba, i’m dead serious Laylah”.

“But you’re married Mahmoud. To zainaba for that matter, it’ll be awkward. Gaskia bazan iya ba”.

“Look, Laylah we’re Muslims and polygamy abu ne da subhanahu wata’alah ya halarta mana. Maganar wani zainaba duk be taso ba. Amincewar ki kawai nike nema Laylah, that’s all that matters. Duk wani abu da zai biyo baya me sauki ne”. Dogon numfashi ta ja kan ta fadi masa cewa ya bata lokaci tayi nazari tukun. A haka suka rabu ta wuce ta shiga motar ta tayi hanyar gida shikuma ya cigaba da aikin sa duk da hankalinsa ba kan scripts inda ke gabansa suke ba, his mind was elsewhere soaring.

Koh da ta isa gida, Laylah bata bi ta kan zancen Mahmoud ba. Watsa ruwa tayi kan ta sauka qasa ta ci abinci suka zauna hira da Ummati. Sai bayan da ta idda sallan isha tukun ta kira Auta a waya domin suyi shawara. Karshen ta conference call ta hada between her, Auta da Zubaidah dun su shawarta akan issue din. Sun dade on phone, suna ta ba Laylah effective advices, mostly showing her the pros of saying yes to Mahmoud’s proposal.3

Sai da ta miqe tayi salatul nawafil tukun da niyyar yin salatul istikhara much later kan ta kwanta ta jawo waya ta shiga duba tweets. The next day bata da abun yi a school dun haka barcin ta mai lafia ta sha bata tashi da wuri ba. Sanda ta tashi kuma bayan ta gama going about morning businesses dinta ta tura wa Mahmoud text akan they should meet later during the day. Ana maghreb ta fara shirin tarban Mahmoud. Kwalliya ta zauna ta dau lokaci tayi, ta sa boubou gown na wani tulle lace me shegen kyau, ta fesa turarukan ta iri iri kan ta sauka to ensure refreshment inda tace a shirya masa anyi.

Mahmoud sai da yayi sallan isha kan ya qarasa gidansu Laylah. Kasancewar sa dan gida yasa kawai ya shiga ciki without any hesitation. Sai da ya fara shiga cikin gida ya gaida su Abba tukun ya wuce Majlis inda male visitors ke sauka ya jira isowar Laylah. Tana shiga suka gaisa ta tambaya family dinsa kan aka kawo masa refreshment. Hirar karatu suka dan fara can kuma aka dan fara tabo na business Laylah tana dan basa insight on her business and how she wish to expand it. Finally, Laylah ta gyara murya domin ba wa Mahmoud answer, the moment he had been awaiting ever since his arrival.

“Soooo….” ta fadi tana wasa da dan azurfan da ke ring finger dinta “I gave your proposal careful thought. I think it’ll be a nice idea becoming a mother figure to your girls”. Ta fadi tana ýar murmushi wanda ya tsaya iya bakin ta.

“Is that yes?”. Ya tambaya his smiling widening. Ita kam nodding kanta kawai tayi in affirmation. “Forreal! Yes yes! Finally, i’ll have my Laylah all to myself”. Ya fadi cike da murna sai fadin Alhamdulillah yike ta yi.

“Urmm zainaba… ban san yadda zata dauki news din ba”. Ta fadi a hankula.

“Karki damu, dole she won’t take the news likely considering all that has happened between you two lately amma insha Allah i’ll talk to her, i’ll make her see reasons and insha Allah nayi alkawari I’ll try my possible best to be equal and just tsakanin ku. Baza ki yi facing wani problem ba da izinin Allah kin ji”. Yayi ta bata baki in an attempt to calm her.

“Soooo yanzu when do I come for formalities”. Ya fadi.

“Haba malam! Da sauri haka, me yayi zafi”.

“Lallaima, ai nifa ba da wasa ba. A bari ya huce shi ke kawo rabon wani kuma wani dating zamu tsaya yi Ehh? We grew up together fa”.

“Toh da wannan kuma. I’ll talk to Hamma insha Allah sai yayi wa su Ummati magana”. Ta fadi.

“Shikenan, nima gobe sai na wuce Girei in the morning dan nayi magana da su Daada and my uncles”. A haka suka rabu kowa cike murna.

Aikam the following morning Laylah tayi sammako dun ta sama yayanta a gida kan ya wuce office tayi masa bayanin komi. Kwarai da gaske yaji dadi, saboda ya san Mahmoud mutum ne na arziki kuma zai kula masa da sister dinsa dun haka yayi assuring dinta cewa he’ll notify their parents bayan ya hadu personally da Mahmoud sun yi magana. Jawo hannunta Zubaidah tayi zuwa bedroom din ta suka hau gado kamar yara suna ta squealing. Suraj na ji yo hayaniyar su, kai kawai ya gyada.

“In kin gama tsalle tsallen kya zo ki ban breakfast na wuce aiki”. Ya fadi in a tone da zasu ji shi. Dariya suka fashe da kan Zubaidah ta miqe ta nufi hanyar waje dun ta sallamesa. Ita a ranar night shift take. Ta na gamawa ta kira Laylah suka yi having breakfast duka tare suna gamawa suka zauna dun yin face time da Auta su breaking mata good news. Aikam Auta ta fi kowa murna ana fadi mata ta fara picking colours in kayan da zasu siya da number of events inda zasu yi. In fact har guest list tace zata fara compiling ranar. Sarkin zumudi.

Aikam Hamma Suraj na fadiwa su Ummati suka dinga murna dun suma sun yaba da Mahmoud. Sannan suka bar wa Suraj wuqa da nama, cewar kanwar sa ce dun haka yana iya yin duk abunda yaga ya dace so without much hesitation Suraj ya fadiwa Mahmoud ya aiko magabatansa dun ayi formal introduction a kuma yi fixing date. A haka aka zauna aka yi deciding to have the wedding in December which was 3 months away.

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