ƁATACCEN YANAYI
CHAPTER 3
As a celebrity, politician or a writer or better still let me just say as a public figure, fans are
the ones that gives us life. In babu ku babu mu. Godia buhu buhu ga mosaya Jirwaye,
Kullum ina samun messages dinku and wallah suna faranta mun rai kuma suna motivating
dina to write more and now even my hausa is improving. Jirwaye appreciates your efforts,
Haphsertuh appreciates your efforts also. Thanks for reading my book and ignoring my
poor hausa S
Daukar tuxedo dinsa yayi ya mayar jikinsa sannan ya fito suka wuce. Yana fitowa
bodyguards dinsa suka taho suna binsa a baya. Suna fita harabar building din daya daga
cikin bodyguards din yayi hanzarin yin gaba domin buda wa Abdulmalik kofar mota. Wata
Shegiyar mota aka buda mai wanda Tsayawa describing dinsa ma bata lokaci ne, kai da ka
gan motar nan ka san kudi ne suke magana, iya haduwa motar ya hadu. Yana shiga abokin
tafiyar sa ma ya shiga tukun bodyguard daya ya shiga motar dayan kuma ya shiga dayan
motar na baya, motar escorts.
“Yawwa Tariq called me kuna meeting, yace Al-Mubaraq couldn’t attend the meeting
saboda abokin sa senator Junaidu na gari so they’ve been together”.
“Meyasa Mamu ke haka? Ba sai ya kira ya fadi ba and moreover in suka koma Nigeria ai sai
su cigaba da abokantansu, business ya kawo mu Australia”. Ya fadi cikin bacin rai wanda
Fuskar sa ke dauke da Kullum. Ba karamin abu bane ke sa Abdulmalik dariya.
AL-Mubaraq shine overall director din khalif airlines and group of companies kasancewar sa
kawu a gun Abdulmalik. Shine general overseer na company din kuma shi ke tsayawa
matsayin CE0 a duk lokacin da ya kamata saboda Abdulmalik mutum ne mara son fame da
popularity. Ko a cikin ma’aikatan sa ba duka suka san ko wanene khalifa Al-Haydar ba, sai
dai su ji sunansa, manyan ma’aikatan ne kawai wanda yike haduwa dasu a meeting every
six months suka san asalin shi wanene amma duk sauran Al-Mubaraq suka sani, sai dai su ji
sunan Khalifa dan koh a TV ne baa taba nuna Fuskar sa sai dai ka ga Al-Mubaraq wanda
bayan Abdulmalik, yafi kowa matsayi a khalif airlines and group of companies. Daga Al-
Mubaraq kuma mutum na uku me babban matsayin a kampanin shine Nawfal muhammad
Fadoul.
Suna isa park din yace wa escorts dinsa su bar masu mota daya su wuce.
“But sir”
“It’s okay, I’l be good”. Ya fadi masu “Tell Tariq to meet me here in the next 30 minutes” ya
umurce su sannan suka wuce suka shiga ciki.
Yana zaune a gefe daya yana ta kallon yara na wasa yana ta dariya. Dauko camera yayi yata
daukar hoto.
“T’ll show all these pictures to Fadeel when I get back to Nigeria”. Ya fadi a ransa. Tunanin
dan sa kawai ya sa shijin wani irin sanyi a ransa. Kawai dago kai da zai yi idanunsa ya gamu
da wata yar budurwa a can wani seat not too far from him a zaune. Tabbas! Ya san ta.
“Karbi ka riqe mun”. Ya cire tuxedo dinsa da tie ya bar blue shirt din da ke ciki kawai.
“Mene haka”.
“Kai dai karbi”. Ya fadi tare da je fa kayan kan jikinsa. Qasa yayi da kansa yaga palms ne
qafar abokin nasa sai ya saki murmushi. “Nawfal give me your shoes and take mine”
“Kai malam! Lafia kuwa? Dazun nan na sayi shoes dinnan saboda wanda na sa suna ci mun
qafa
“Just take mine yar, zasu ma daidai”. Nawfal kam kai a daure ya cire takalmansa ya bawa
khalifa.
“Khalifa wai me ne haka”
“Kai sarkin kauyenku! Abdulmalik nace ma. Yanzu ya ka ganni?”. Ta tambaya “tsaya ka
gani”. Cire agogon da ke hannunsa yayi, agogo ne me matukar tsada, sannan ya cire tuck in
dinsa sannan ya kuma tambayar Nawfal.
“You look like a simple person, someone from a middle class background”.
“Masha Allah”. Jirani. Har ya qarasa inda Laylah take zaune ya zauna bata san anyi haka ba.
Daga gani kasan ta zurfafa a tunani har ýan hawaye suka fara saukowa daga idanunta.
Kasancewar sa mutum me tsananin tausayi, most especially ga mata, ya tsani yaga ýa
mace ta shiga wani hali, saboda wannan dalilin ne khalifa ya zura hannu cikin aljihun sa ya
ciro hankie wanda ya daga hannunta ya sa mata a ciki. Tun da ya Kalle ta so daya ya cire
ido a kanta. Duk sai ya qura idanunsa a kan wasu yara ýan mata biyu wanda suke ta wasa
abun su.
“You!”. Ya ji an fadi da karfi har sai da dodon kunnensa suka nemi su toshe.
“Na tsani naga mutane suna kuka, barin ma ýar budurwa…. kyakyawa”. Sai da ya dan
hanzarta tukun ya fadi kyakyawa.
Subhanallah! I didn’t check her out, did 1? “Ya fadi a zuciya when realisation dawned on
him cewa he just admitted to Laylah being pretty.
“Whenever distressed, remember Allah and say Alhamdulillah. You’ll feel okay” ya bata
shawara sannan ya miqe ba tare da ya kuma kallon ta ba. Sai dai a zuciyar sa yana jin wani
abu, abunda yayi shekara da shekaru be ji ba. Ji yike kamar wani force of attraction yana
pulling dinsa towards this strange lady. ji yike yana so ya kuma ganin ta. Kawai sai ya tuna
ai akwai ipad dinta a gunsa.
“Can I get your address?” Ya juya ya tambaye ta. Sai da taji dalilin son address dinta tukun
ta basa. Shikuma Wucewa yayi ransa cike da tunani iri iri. Har ya isa inda Nawfal ke jiransa
tunani yike, sai da Nawfal ya kwala mai kira tukun.
Sun shiga mota suna tafia ya fara tambayar Nawfal koh yasan Jk guesthouse.
“Ehhh, guest house din abokin Mamu ne ai, senator Junaidu. Nan yike sauka in yazo
Australia”
“Hmm” kawai yace yana dan shafar sajen sa kamar wanda ke nazari. Hakika bayan zahra
baya ganin zai iya taba son wata ýa mace amma kuma ya rasa meyasa tunanin wannan
yarinyar ke ta addabar sa, duk yaji yana so ya san koh ita wacece.
“Shi senator yana da wata diyar koh niece a country dinnan?”.
“Gaskia l don’t think so, but I’ll find out”
“Okay do that” ya fadi “and please Nawfal shopping nike so ka mun, kaya masu araha.
Banda masu tsada”. Ya fadi.
“Wai kai mai motive dinka na boye identity dinka, meyasa baka son mutane su san ko waye
kai, gashi dai kana taimako, mutane suna son su nuna godiyar su gare ka amma ba dama'”.
“Ni duk abunda nike yi dun Allah nike, and I’m going undercover ne to know who my
friends are and who my enemies are. Very soon the world will come to see the true face of
khalifa Al-Haydar” ya fadi. Sun dade ba wanda yace wa kowa komi sai can Jim kadan
Nawfal yayi breaking silence din.
“Chuchu wanted to talk to you in the morning amma nace baka kusa”.
“Shine baka fada mun ba tunda na dawo” ya fadi ransa a bace. Wayar sa ya dauko ya fara
neman number din Hajo.
Kullum ina receiving encouraging messages din readers, wallah ban taba tunanin Jirwaye
zai sama irin wannan karbuwan ba. Godia lodi lodi. Masu cewa na qara tsawon chapters
dina naji kuma na gode for the suggestion. I’l try and and do that gradually. Rn i’m so
choked up ne wallah, writing 3 novels at the same time, coping with school apart nd
assignments ga rashin iya hausa sosai amma gradually insha Allah zaku ga change.
Haphsertuh appreciates y’all
wani irin tsaki na takaici ta ja sannan ta cigaba da durza lallausar fatar ta da soson da ke
hannun ta. Durza take kamar zata daye fatar ta amma bata daina ba har sai da taga fatar ta
yi jazur kuma yana mata zafi. Kuka sosai ta fara saboda tsananin takaici da ya ishe ta, duk
yadda tayi kokarin ta goge, ta sama kanta da rasa iya goge jirwayen dake manne da jikinta.
‘Stop fussing about it Laylah, the stain is here to stay’ wani zuciya ya fadi mata.
Kuka take yi irin me ratsa zuciya tana zaune a cikin jacuzzi bathtub wanda ke cike da ruwan
kumfa. Kullum ta tashi da safe bayan biyan buqatar customer dinta sai taji zafi a cikin ran
ta, sai taji ta tsani kanta, ta tsani rayuwar ta, ta tsani randa ta taka qafa zuwa birnin tarayya.
Ta dade tana tunani kan ta qarasa wankar ta, tayi drying jikinta ta fito out of the bathroom.
Senator Junaidu ya riga ya koma Nigeria bayan rubuta mata cheque just as he promised
amma kuma ya umurce masu aikin gidan da suta mata hidima, duk abunda take so a mata
har randa zata bar Australia.
Tana fitowa tayi salatul nawafil kan ta shirya ta sa wani sweatpant da kuma wani shirt
wanda was very loose a jikinta. Kasancewar ranar Sunday yasa tayi deciding zata zauna
indoors. Har ta dauko wani novel din Dan Brown ta fara karantawa sai daya daga cikin
masu aikin gidan suka shigo kiranta.
“There’s someone here to see you ma’am”.
“A male or female?” Ta fara tambaya.
“It’s a male, he says he came to return your ipad.
“Oh that arse hole, i’ll be out in a sec”. Sai da ta dan bata lokaci kan ta tashi ta dauki sheilah
ta rufe kanta sannan ta fita. A gazebo ta izza shi yana zaune, da cup din orange juice a
hannu.
“Don’t tell me you’re planning on spilling that on me”. Ta katse mai tunani.
“Wa alaikum Salam, good day to you too lady, i’m very much good thanks for asking and
yes, I’m not spilling the juice on you”. ya fadi cikin sarcasm.
Dariya kawai tayi ‘sucha sarcastic guy’ ta fadi a zuciya amma a fili sai cewa tayi “Pardon my
manners. Salaam alaika”. Ansawa yayi ba tare da ya kalli face dinta ba, dan Jim kadan ya
miqa mata ipad dinta ya tashi ya mata sallama.
“Fi waqt akhar”. Har ya miqe zai wuce ta dakatar dashi
“Wait please”. Sai da ta bari ya juyo tukun ta tambaya sunansa “T’m Laylah and you?”
Sai da ya dan yi nazari kadan kan ya ansa ta “‘m Abdul.. Abdulmalik”
“Nice meeting you Abdulmalik”
“The feeling is mutual”. Ya fadi ya wuce ita kuma bata miqe ba daga inda take zaune. Zaune
take tana kallonsa as figure dinsa yike ta retreating out of Jk guesthouse. Dogo ne, yana da
body build me kyau, like very exceptional. Kana ganin sa ka san it took him lots of hard
work to attain that kind of body.
Just like a Greek god.. mmm’ Ta fadi a zuciyar ta. Gashi nan ba fari ba, Amma dai yana da
dan haske. Ga saje me kyau da yike dashi a face dinsa da gashin sa wanda is ebony black
and silky. Gashi dai kamar Nigerian, kamar kuma ba Nigerian ba. Babban abunda ya ma fi
daure mata kai shine ga English accent dinsa is flawless, in yana yi kamar bature. Ga kuma
skin dinsa da ka gani kaga hutu amma kuma yanayin shigar sa bata yi kama da na mai kudi
ba kwata kwata kuma gashin nan ga dukkan alamu ba da mota yazo ba. Tashi tayi ta wuce
cikin gidan amma sai dai tana ta jin wani abu a zuciyar ta wanda ta kasa ganewa gaba
daya. Wannan stranger din, Abdulmalik, bata san meyasa ba amma taji tana so ta kuma
haduwa dashi. He seemed like a nice person to her.
Tana shiga ciki ta cigaba da karatun novel dinta sai dai can after a while ta tuna wani abu.
Caraf ta miqe ta dauko wayar ta ta shiga Google. “KHALIFAH AL-HAYDAR” abunda ta fara
typing kenan. Page din na budawa tayi ta ganin abu iri; “khalifa Al-Haydar’s son’, “Al-
Haydar family’, “Khalifa Al-Haydar late wife”, ‘The Khalif business empire’, “Mohammed
Mumtaz Al-Haydar”. Da dai several other pages amma duk inda ta shiga bata sama hoton
khalifa Al-Haydar ba.
“Crap!”. Ta fadi cikin takaici ta wurgar da wayan. Can kuma dai ta dauka wayar tayi dialling
number din Yasmeenah.
“My babyyyyy”: Yasmeenah ta fadi tana daga wayar “Guess who came to visit yau, ya zo
neman ki?”
“Wane?”. Ta tambaya
“The one and only Ali Na sidi”.
“Ali Na sidi? Minister of finance?” Ta tambaya.
“Shi fa, nace baki nan amma da kin dawo zakiyi fixing date inda zaki tarbe sa”.
“Ni ba ma wannan ba. Yasmeenah wai me kika sani ne game da wannan Khalifa AL-Haydar
din? Tun dazu nike surfing net koh zan sama just a photo, in ba hoto ta ya zanyi hunting for
him”. Ta fadi cikin takaici.
“Haba Laylah na, kefa dadi na dake rashin haquri. Yanzu me kike so ayi”.
“Yasmeenah dan Allah ki sa a yi bincike a kansa. You’ll help me with that won’t you?”
“Da gudu ma, bayan na san in muka samo sa muna iya jan miliyoyi daga jikinsa. Amma
kema fa ki ware ido a Australia. He’ll be there this whole week aka ce and I heard kan ya tafi
zaa yi throwing wani exclusive dinner for him, duk yadda zaki bi ki sama invite ki bi”.
“Har sai kin fadi? Lallaima Yasmeenah kin fara mance Laylah Jaan”. A haka dai suka cigaba
da hirar su har suka wa juna sallama ta katse waya. Kwanciya tayi ta dinga nazari hanyoyin
da zata bi dun samun invite zuwa dinner inda ake shirya wa Khalifa Al-Haydar.
Shikam khalifa yana daga waya ya soma dialling number din Hajjo. After 2 rings kam ta
daga waya, basu gama gaisawa da ita ba Fadeel ya fisge wayan.
“Abba! Abba!..
“Hey little champ”.
Yo what’s up dad”.
Dariya ya saki sosai sannan ya ansa dan nasa “Chuchu who’s teaching you all that?” Ya
tambaya.
“I heard ya Aryaman saying that over the phone”
“Ohhh shine ka koya koh”. Sun dade suna magana kan Fadeel ya fara kawo qarar cousins
dinsa, wato yaran ýan uwan mamansa wanda suma suna zama da Hajjo.
“Abba! Kaga salima and Kubra won’t stop calling me Fadeelah” ya fadi cikin wani irin
murya me cike da shagwaba, kamar zai yi kuka “Wai l look like a girl because of my
dimple”
“Hey baby boo, don’t mind them. In na dawo Nigeria zanzo da bulala kaji”.
“Really really”
“Yes son. Now be a good boy okay? Don’t trouble grannie. Abba wuvvvs you”. Suna gama
waya ya jingina bayan sa da Jikin car seat din ya shiga duniyar sa na tunani kamar yadda ya
saba. When it comes to complain, tsiwa da yawan kawo qara, Muhammad Fadeel sak
Fatima yike. Komi kankarta abu sai yayi rigima a kai. Dariya kawai yayi ya girgiza kai. Da
Fadeel mace ne da sai yace Fatima ce akayi reincarnating dinta saboda halin su daya sak.
Sai dai kuma kamar sa sak ubansa, in ba hanci da dimple daya ya debo na mamansa ba
amma da ka gansa ka san wannan jinin khalifa Al-Haydar ne.
Da yamma Nawfal ya dawo mai da shopping bags har 5 cike da kaya da takalma, cheap
ones kamar yadda ya buqata. Yaji dadi ya wa Nawfal godia sannan ya kwashi kayan ya
wuce dasu. The next day yace wa Tariq ya shirya zasu fita unguwa su biyu. Suna mota ne ya
fara tambayan Tariq
“Did you carry out the taskI asked you?”.
“Yes sir… my investigator said senator Junaidu’s first daughter is just 18 and she studies in
Qatar, kuma he doesn’t have a niece or any relative here in Australia. Sir I think she’s either
a business partner or an acquaintance”. Kai ya gyada yana comprehending abunda P.A
dinsa ya fadi mai.
“Stop the car here”. Ya umurci Tariq.
“But sir the guesthouse is still far from here”
I’l manage, wait for me here” ya fadi sannan ya fita daga motar ya fara takawa da qafa. Da
ya isa gidan sai da ya kai 30 minutes yana jira kanta fito. Ya bata ipad dinta ta mai godia ta
tambayi sunansa. Suka gama sannan suka wa juna sallama da fatan alkhairi.
“Her name is Laylah.. send words to our investigator in Nigeria to find out about her.
Everything you can get about her”. Ya fadi wa Tariq yana shiga motar.
“Why are you taking all these troubles just to know a lady khalifa?’ Zuciyar sa ta tambaya.
Shima a gaskia bayi da wani valid reason as to why ya qagu da ya san koh ita wacece.
The mysterious billionaire’ ta kuma maimaitawa a cikin zuciyar ta. Riqe take da wayar ta
tana karanta dan 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 A-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.
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.
“UmmI 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.
“T’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.
“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 sukaisa 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 budunwa 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.
“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 gir”.
“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, ranarjuma’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
yar 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 l’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 Fadout,
amma kuma tana cikin scroling 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: Heyia. 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: 0r 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 l 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.
“Just friends.. wantjust 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 “l’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
2:21 PM E
o.*
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.
‘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!”. Taji 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
bataji 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.
Tl have to do something to get his attention’ ta fadi a zuciya.