ƁATACCEN YANAYI
CHAPTER 11
Are you happy?”. Juyawa tayi ta kalli Yasmeenah, tambayar da ta mata na yawo kanta. Is she happy?. +
“Beyond reasonable doubt, I am”. Laylah ta fadi mata tana murmushi.
“Al-h……”.
“He’s dead to me”.Laylah ta katse ta.
“His wedding is also round the corner you know”. Yasmeenah ta fadi a hankula amma Laylah bata ansa ta ba. Zama suka yi tsit. A kwana a tashi ba wuya har bikin Laylah ya kusa, ya rage less than 2 weeks.
Tun ana 3 weeks to bikin Yasmeenah ta iso yola to take charge of the preparations. Da ita da Zubaidah and Auta suke ta organising komi da komi. Yasmeenah ita ta dau nauyin yi ma Laylah kayan daki da duk wani abu da ake wa yarinya in zata yi aure. Personally ta dau Laylah suka tafi Italy siyar kayan daki. Aikam Yasmeenah ta kashe kudi sosai ba kadan ba, dan duk kayan da ta siya na gani a fadi ne. Kayan da aka siya koh ýar president ce zata yi aure dai irin wanda zaa siya kenan, in terms of quality and grade. Randa kaya suka iso Yasmeenah ta sha godia da addua. Leek kam bata iso ba tana jira yara suyi concluding exams nasu kan zuwa a week to the wedding. Preparations kawai ake ta yi ba wasa. Mahmoud shima ya gyara gida sosai ba kadan ba to meet up with taste din Laylah.
Body therapy kam baa cewa komi dun shima Yasmeenah ce ta dau personal headache din gyara Laylah da kan ta. In no time gida ya fara cika da ýan uwa, few friends inda Laylah ke da su suma duk sun iso. Manya mutane da ta sani kam duk wanda ya ji zata yi aure sai aiko da gudumawa ake, daga mai siyan mata mota sai mai bata cheque, har da senator Junaidu da ya bata kyautar sabuwar gida pul!. Abun dai kamar competition din bata most gift ya koma, da wannan ya kawo sai wancan ya kawo wadda ya daka na wancan. Amma kam ba wanda ya ba Laylah da Yasmeenah mamaki irin senator Junaidu, sanin kowa ne senator mutum ne me shegen maqo amma wai sai gashi ya siya gida ďan portable one a Abuja ya ba Laylah as wedding present.
Kan ka ce me an fara events na biki, su dai ýan gari sai shan kallo suke, biki sai kace na diyar wata qusa. Invite din bikin ma kadai abun azo a gani ne bare kuma events din. On Thursday night sun dawo dinner inda aka yi a wani 5 star hotel kowa ya kwanta barci, din duk a gajiye suka dawo sai Laylah da ta kasa samun kanta da barci. Ta kwanta amma ina barcin yaqi zuwa, tun tana juye juye kan gado har dai ta miqe ta sauka qasa zuwa kitchen ta hado ma kanta mug na coffee sannan ta dawo ta zauna a balcony din dakin ta. Tana shan coffee dinta a hankula tana admiring stars inda suka yi adorning night sky. The ambience was utterly peaceful, quite and serene, ba hayaniyar kowa daga haushin security dogs dinsu sai chirping din crickets kawai kake ji.
Da ta gaji da zama haka nan shuru sai ta ciro wayarta from her pocket ta shiga Instagram to see what was happening. Aikam tana shiga pictures dinta ta fara gani na events inda aka yi, mutane nata sawa suna congratulating nata. Scrolling ta cigaba da yi tana ta kallon posts din mutane iri iri. Zuciyar ta wani irin mummunar bugu tayi da idanun Laylah suka fada kan hoton nobody but khalifa Al-Haydar; her one true love, the man she has always been praying for looking so ravishing in the arms of another lady. Picture din khalifa Al-Haydar ne da Saima Mohammed from event inda su ma suka yi a daren ranar. Gani tayi ya qara mata kyau da komi, ga well groomed beards nasa da taga sun qara cika sun sha gyara sai kyalli suke, ba karya ita ma Saima ta hadu, she has that kind of beauty that makes fellow women envious, ga well sculpted body to go with the beautiful face.
face. +
“They make a super hot couple”. Ta fadi a hankula ta qure picture din da kallo.
Haka Laylah tayi ta scrolling tana kallon hotunan su wanda mutane suka ta captioning as “Couple of the year” Koh “Wedding of the year”. Sunyi kyau a duka hotunan sosai, wasu da shi da ita, wasu da Fadeel, wasu with his mom and other relatives sai wani da yayi shi daya. Duk a hotunan shi ya fi mata kyau. A hoton his one million dollar smile was replaced with a serious looking face, a look which reeked of wealth and power. Dogon numfashi Laylah ta ja kawai ta fita daga Instagram din ta shiga call logs dinta ta tafi can zuwa inda tayi saving sunansa. Ta dade tana ta contemplating a ranta, har kamar zata kira sa kawai sai ta saki wata ýar tsaki.
“Rashin zuciya”. Ta fadi a hankula kan ta danna delete button. In that split second, she decided it was time to let go of khalifa, he’ll never be hers because by that time gobe yana can yana more wedding night dinsa with Saima Mohammed. The battle has been lost. It’s time to finally pick whatever remaining pieces of her heart that’s still with Al-Haydar. Ita ma she’s starting a new chapter of her life with Mahmoud, someone She’s trying so so hard to love. A lokacin Laylah ta yarda da cewa the saying which says “First love never ends” karya ne babba, the truth is it can die, rot and be buried 6 feet under the heart😁😁. In kuma that isn’t the case toh maybe she has never loved Mahmoud amma tayi dau wa kanta alwashin zata koya wa kanta sonsa kuma duk runtsi duk wuya, she’ll stick by him koh dun innocent daughters dinsa. With that resolve ta miqe ta wuce dun ta sama barci kan garin ya waye, dan akwai event na sa lalle washe gari. 1
Can, in the very heart of Abuja, miles away from Laylah khalifa ya sama kansa da rasa barci. His heart was utterly restless. Ya kwanta koh barcin zai zo amma inaaa sai juye juye yayi ta yi kan gado Karshen ta ya miqe ya sauka zuwa gym nasa to kill time. Ya dade a can amma gaba daya yayi loosing concentration, hankalinsa koh kadan baya jikinsa, ya rasa me ke damunsa. He was getting married the next morning amma he had an unsettling feeling in his heart, kamar he was taking the wrong step. Da kyar khalifa ya iya samun barci na few hours kan aka kira subh salaah. Tun kuma da ya farka daga nan be koma barci ba, kai komo kawai ya fara. At around 8am, Tariq ya iso masa da kayan da zaya sa, shadda ce fara qal! Wadda ta sha aiki da black threads woven into intricate patterns. A gefe kuma ga wani shinning black pair of mocasin, specially made for the occcassion by the one and only Giorgio Armani. Saman kaftan din kuma wata hadaddiyar Zanna Bukar cap ne, shima made specially to fit khalifa’s outfit. Wristwatch nasa, shades and everything he needed for the day were displayed on his lavish king sized bed. Fadeel shima komi nasa iri daya sak da na babansa aka masa. Sai babban abokin ango, Nawfal shima kayan sa na azo a gani but slightly different in terms of design da na khalifa.
By 11, duk kowa ya shirya, shima ango kansa ya shirya saboda daurin auran will commence immediately after jumu’ah salaah. Zama yayi shuru a dakinsa yana ta tapping foot nasa anxiously. Ana cikin haka ne ya dauko wayar sa da yaji shigar message. Koh da ya duba sai yaga daga amaryar sa ne. Picture na ta ta turo masa with a text that read ‘I can’t wait to be your wife. Finally!’. Murmushi yayi da ya kalli hoton….. Saima, Saima a duk yadda yayi forcing kansa to love her, he just can’t. She’ll forever be the lady his mother literally blackmailed him into marrying. Kyau, kudi, kudi, exposure, Ilimi duka tana dashi. She’s just the perfect person to carry the Mrs Al-Haydar title to an entirely different level. Physical appearance nata da character perfectly meets up to the expectations of the world, tayi ticking criteria din an ideal billionaire’s wife amma sai dai at all bata yi ticking personal criteria nasa ba, the heart only wants what it yearns for. +
“You still love her cousin”. Muryar Nawfal ya katse masa tunanin sa.
“What difference does that make? Saima is the one I’m saying yes, I do to”.
“It’ll make a lot of difference if only you’d give things a little push”.
“Nawfal it’s too late”.
“It’s never late khalifa. I’ve seen you sad and heartbroken once, when you were forced to marry Fatima, I couldn’t do anything to save you from that agony that’s why I want to make things right this time”.
“I eventually found love with zahra. So shall it be this time around insha Allah. Don’t feel guilty for what’s happening to me”.
“Khalifa wai are you too blind ne? To see that Fatima and Saima are two entirely different people”.
“Nawfal! Wannan zancen ya wuce”. Khalifa ya fadi cikin tsawa. Muryar sa sai da ya razana Nawfal saboda khalifa be taba masa magana cikin irin wannan muryar ba “Laylah is now my past, let it remain that way”. Ya fadi cikin haushi ya daga wayar sa yayi scrolling down to her number, without second thoughts ya dan na delete button with a resolve in his mind to forget they ever had something. Saima is the one he’s starting a new chapter in life with, zai yi iya kokarin da zai yi ya bata kulawa iya gwargwado. Saima mace ce mai soft heart, koh yadda take nuna wa dan sa so da kula ya nuna haka. Kuma Saima ta dade tana nursing one sided love for khalifa Al-Haydar, tun kan yayi auran sa na farko but because subhanahu wata’alah works in miraculous ways, sai about 10 years after Allah ya ansa a prayer she has long lost hope on
“Now if you’d leave me alone please. Come get me when it’s time, yanzu ina so na dan huta ne”. Ya fadi ba tare ya kalli in da Nawfal yike ba.
“Take your time”. Nawfal ya fadi masa kan ya buda qofa yayi waje. Kai khalifa ya dora akan headrest din armchair inda yike zaune a kai in no time kam barci yayi awon gaba dashi.
“A duk duniya ba kamar ka, habibi na”. Yaji ta fadi cikin muryar ta me tsananin sanyi, muryar da zuciyar sa ta dade tana bege.
“Zahra is that you?”. Ya tambaya, yana ta waiwaye amma be ganta ba. A few minutes after, from nowhere kawai yaga zahra ta fara ascending towards him, clad in a white gown with that ever warm smile of hers playing on her lips.
Yes love, ni ce. Missed me?”. Ta fadi gami da Matsowa kusa tana gyara masa maballin rigar sa. Shuru yayi, baki a bude cikin mamaki yana kallon ikon Allah. “Kayi kyau sosai, ango na amarya”. Ta gyara masa hullar da ke kan sa. +
“Stay with me please…. ya fadi yana kankame ta into his arms. I’ll never let you go zahra”. Ýar dariya yaji tayi kan tayi magana.
“I can’t. I’ll be gone, by the time you’re awake I’ll be gone”. Ta fadi cikin sanyin murya.
“Dan Allah Karki mun haka, Kullum sai Fadeel ya yi maganar ki. Please zahra, stay with us”.
“Shhhhh……”. Ta sa dan yatsa saman bakin sa. “Even if I wanted to, bazan iya ba ya kamata ka gane. Dan Allah ka share hawayen nan. Na fika sanin zafin rabuwa da masoyi Abdulmalik”. Ta kira sa by his real name “Ni ina kuka, kai kana yi, wa zai rarrashi wani?”.
“Toh dan Allah ki zauna”.
“Abdul….. ina gani ina ji zan bar ka, ba kuma dun ina so bane. There’s already an imaginary world of glass keeping us apart. This is the only way I can reach to you. And that is why I want you to make the right choice, I want to see you happy always, for in your happiness lies mine, karka mance alkawarin da ka mun, to get the best mother for our son, the best wife for you. For once follow your heart sweetheart”. Ta fadi tana share masa hawayen da ke ta zuba kan kumatun sa.
“What are you trying to say? I should choose Laylah over Saima? Over my mother’s choice?”.
“No! I only told you to follow your heart, marry the lady that makes you happy. The most ideal mother to our son. Bacin ranka ne bani son gani. If Saima is the one that makes you happy, marry her. If Laylah is the one, so be it”. Ta fadi kan tayi pecking dinsa on his forehead. Hannunsa da ta riqe ta saki ta juya ta fara tafia.
“Nooooo please, don’t go. Kin sa zuciya na cikin rudani. Dan Allah Karki tafi ki barni”.
“Allah na tare da kai Abdulmalik. He’ll continue to guide you for me har zuwa ranar da you’ll hold our hands to Jannah insha Allah. Remember……. follow your heart. I love you”. Tayi blowing masa air kiss kan ta bata.
A razane khalifa ya farka,sai zufa yike ta yi duk da air conditioning system inda ke dakin. Duqar da kansa qasa kawai yayi ya fara zubda hawaye. If and only if zahra bata tafi ta barsa ba da be taba wayan gari cikin wannan rudanin ba. Ya dade yana zubda hawaye kan ya dan runtse idanunsa. Just like a reflex, yaga smiling face dinta telling him to follow his heart.
Miqewa yayi cikin hanzari ya dauka key din motar da yayi using the previous night, shades dinsa and his phone yayi hanyar waje. Yana tafia cikin hanzari yana danna kiran Tariq. Mutane sai kiran sunan ango ake ta yi amma shi inaaa koh kadan hankalinsa baya kansu. Da sauri ya isa parking lot ya shiga ya ja mota da gudu ya bar harabar gidan. Tuqi kawai yike ya rasa inda zasa, ya dade yana bulayi a hanya kan finally ya tuqa kansa zuwa wani cabin inda ya siya outskirt of town. Ba kowa ya san da cabin dinba, daga Tariq sai Nawfal dashi.
Khalifa na isa gidan ya zauna shuru mafarkin da yayi nata masa yawo a kai. Gaba daya yayi loosing focus yama mance da wani daurin aure, har lokaci ya fara wucewa. Ya fi one hour yana zaune shuru kan ringing din wayar sa ya katse masa tunani. Sai da ya duba caller identity din yaga Nawfal ne kan ya daga wayar ya kafa a kunne. +
“Where are you man? Begum is about having an attack, duk hankalinta a tashe”.
Khalifa be bi ta kan question din Nawfal ba kawai ya fadi masa abunda ke ransa. “I don’t think I can do this Nawfal. Saima is not the one I want…. Laylah is”. Ya fadi a hankula.
“Then go to her”. Nawfal ya basa ansa.
“The wedding… Begum… Saima… media, so many factors Nawfal ban san yadda zan yi da raina ba”. Ya fadi kan ya fara mayar wa Nawfal mafarkin da yayi. Dogon numfashi duka su biyu suka ja bayan khalifa ya gama narration dinsa.
“I’ll send Tariq, get ready. I’ll call the pilot to get the jet ready. You leave for yola immediately! Immediately khalifa, babu time”. 2
“Aah Nawfal, kaima ka san I’ll have to make Begum understand and Saima too”.
“A minute delay could change things khalifa….. It’s better you go. Begum will stick to her words in dai kana nan. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of things here. Just do the right thing. Yanzu I’ll pack some things for you Tariq ya taho dasu, ka kashe duka wayoyin ka, go go…. go get your lady”. Nawfal yayi ta ba khalifa karfin gwiwa. Suna gama waya Nawfal ya kira Tariq suka yi magana ya fadi masa what he has to do daga nan kuma ya kira land line din guest house dinsu da ke can yola ya basu umurni da su gyara wuri immediately sannan a shirya motar da zai je ya dauko baqo. Nawfal be nuna musu khalifa ne zai zo ba dun it was all over the press, daurin auransa. 1
In less than an hour sai ga Tariq ya iso, shi da kansa ya tuqa su zuwa airport, khalifa shikam yana zauna shuru be cewa kowa komi ba har jet dinsu yayi landing yola!.
“Sir where do we go?”. Tariq ya tambaya. “I’ve gotten her address”.
“Then what are we waiting for?”.
“Baza ka huta ba?”.
“Ba wani zancen hutu Tariq, but I need security”. Ya fadi. Nan da nan Tariq yayi making phone call da commissioner of police aka providing musu maximum security. Kan ka ce me an hada convoy na 9 cars, when I say cars, I mean motoci masu ansa sunansu motoci ba qarafuna ba😂. Koh da suka isa gun gidansu Laylah, izza area din suka yi rowdy ga number din gidan da aka ce musu nan ne gidansu Laylah ya cika fal da cars and jama’a. Wani dan saurayi Tariq ya sauke window yayi wa sallama sannan ya tambaye sa me ke faruwa gidan. 1
“Auran diyar gidan ake”. Yaron ya ansa. Khalifa na jin haka be ma bar Tariq yayi magana, da kansa ya tambaya wacce aciki? Dun a iya sanin sa, Laylah sister daya gareta dal! So if it’s not her sister then it’s….
“Wadda ke zama can Abuja, na mance sunanta. Bata dade da dawowa yola ba”. Saurayin ya ansa. Kallon kallo suka fara ma juna, khalifa na kallon Tariq shima Tariq din khalifa yike kallo.
“Sir… what do we…..”.
I’ve come too far to stop now Tariq, get into the goddamn house. NOW! Tell the goddamn security dude to let the gate open!”. Yayi wa Tariq tsawa. Kallon agogon hannun sa yayi yaga it was already past 2, sai kuma yaji hankalinsa ya koma can Abuja. Ya kamata ace an daura auransa by then but ya zasu yi in ba ango? How will Nawfal calm everyone down. Yana cikin wannan tunanin aka buda gate din gidan, convoy dinsu suka sa kai sai shiga kawai suke. Now let’s hear from Laylah. Allah sa dai khalifa isn’t late. 3
The next morning da wani throbbing headache Laylah ta tashi all thanks to rashin barci da kuma kukan da ta sha cikin dare. Duk throughout that morning she was moody, Yasmeenah kam tana ta lura da mood dinta, abun na ci mata rai yadda take ganin Laylah haka. Ji take kamar taje ta sama su Ummati tace musu dan Allah a fasa wannan auran saboda Laylah ba wai tana so bane. After zuhr salaah masu kunshin da aka dauko all the way from Sudan suka iso. Already dama an riga an gama gyara terrace din saman gidan a inda ake so ayi kunshin. The place had a traditional ambience to it, koh ina kaskon wuta ne an kunna bukhoor, ga tum tums an zuba ta ko ina, wuri yayi kyau. An sanya amarya a tsakiya an fara mata lalle, sai kuma wasu masu lalle guda 4 da suke ma kawayenta, ga masu kidan kwarya nan suma sun zauna ana ta kida ana rawa. Everywhere was looking amazing. Ita dai amarya sai fake smiling take ta yi dun ranar ta tashi with a very heavy heart, all because ta san daga ranar ta rasa khalifa Al-Haydar har abada. A ranar zaa daura masa aure to his Saima. Koh da ta ji ana cewa an sauko sallar jumu’ah wani baqin ciki taji dun ta san by that time, the deed has long been done.
Rigar da ta sa me kyau, peach coloured Pakistani inspired design ne which had a paisley print sewn into a nice 6 pieces dress with a tight trouser made of plain peach material to compliment the dress. Musamman Yasmeenah ta sa famous Nigerian designer Ayaa Abdulkareem ta dinka for that event. (NOTE: Ayaa Abdulkareem is not a real person, she’s a fictional character in one of my books before you go and start looking her up on Google😂😂). Kunne ta kuma wani dan simple pearl earring ne. Fuskar ta koh make up babu, daga powder sai kohl tunda event din was an indoor activity and it wasn’t something that had to do with lots of press, event ne na mata and Laylah was the type of lady that looks naturally attractive even without make up, she puts in little or no effort at all to look pretty (just like me😐😉). Auta aka fara gama wa kunshin ta, har ya bushe ta wanke ta anshi wa Zubaidah baby dun ita ma ta samu ayi mata. Laylah kam, it was only her body present at the event amma heart and mind dinta were far off, somewhere else. Even as all the girls gathered around her, gushing on how very attractive her henna was, hankalinta duk baya kansu. In her head, kawai comparing kanta take ta yi da Saima Mohammed.
‘I’m not so golden, heck i’m not even that pretty but Saima has it all. Ai dole ya zabe ta over me. She’s pretty, more educated, very exposed, not a call girl, from a wealthy home. Who is Laylah compared to Saima’ ta dinga tunani kawai sai hawaye masu dumi suka fara zuba daga idanunta. Abunda khalifa ya mata na matukar mata ciwo. Dama zai rabu da ita ne atleast ya fadi mata, not to give her hope, not to just disappear the way he did, without a word only for him to resurface months after on media with the news of his engagement. +
Yasmeenah ce ta fara Matsowa kusa da Laylah tana tambaya koh lafia. Dakatar da me yi mata design din tayi kan tace mata ta miqe su shiga ciki ta dan sha iska su dawo.
“Kan nan a cigaba da kunshin, it’s just a slight headache”. Yasmeenah ta fadi kan ta bi Laylah a baya. Ba da dadewa ba leek ta biyo bayan su.
Suna shiga ciki Laylah ta fada arms din Yasmeenah tana kuka. Matsowa kusa leek tayi tana ta comforting dinta a hankula by rubbing her hair gently.
“Ya cuce ni Yasmeenah, khalifa ya cuce ni. Ya yaudare ni. Why can’t I stop loving him? I want to stop, I want to hate him, i’m trying so hard to do that amma na kasa. My mind is always occupied by his thoughts. Why Yasmeenah, why”. Ta fadi kukan ta na intensifying.
“I knew there was no happily ever after for us, but at least da be yi ending things the way he did ba. He ran away from me as if I were some sort of plague”. Ta fadi numfashi ta kamar zai dauke. Leek ce ta maza ta dauko mata ruwa a fridge ta bata. Yasmeenah kuma ta jawo ta zuwa edge din gado suka zauna tana ta shafa mata baya a hankula.
“Toh me na kuka cikin jama’a Laylah? Do you want people to start whispering things? Kinga already surutu ake ta yi akan cewa kece kika sa Mahmoud sakin matar sa, do you want people to say more hurtful things? Dan Allah ki zama mai tawwakkali”. Yasmeenah ta fadi in a calm tone “Be strong and accept this as path of your Qadr, kin ji? Everything will be well, I have a feeling something big is about happening in your life Laylah, something happy, something life changing. I don’t know why I get that feeling, just like a mother’s instinct. Cheer up okay”. Yasmeenah ta fadi tana miqewa “Now I’ll go and explain to everyone baki jin dadi ne sosai. Leek stay with your sister”.
“Should we play a game while you rest? 10 questions”. Leek tayi suggesting just to lighten up the tense ambience “Or better still should I doll you up, sounds great”. Ta fadi tana janyo make up kit.
“No no no”. Laylah ta fadi.
“Just light make up. Okayyyyyy, come on sissy”. Ta fadi in a persuasive tone.
“Fine. Make it really simply”. A haka suka cinye about an hour kan Laylah ta koma aka cigaba da mata henna design din. Leek kam tayi cheering din Laylah sosai dun by the time she went back to the terrace she was looking really happy gashi kowa sai fadi yike tayi kyau in make up inda leek ta mata. Ana kammala kunshin na hannu Leek ta kuma jawo ta wai suyi rawa ka mun a fara na qafa. Haka ta jawo Zubaidah ma da Yasmeenah da wasu other ladies aka fara rawa. Laylah sakin jikinta tayi tana ta rawar ta sai dariya take. Yasmeenah taji dadi ganin yadda Laylah ta saki jiki. Hayaniyar da ta jiyo coming from outside yasa Yasmeenah ta matsa closer to railing din terrace din dun taga me ya jawo noise din. Motoci ta gani kusan guda goma duka baqaqe sunyi parking a harabar gidan. Ga uban security da suka cika gidan. Ji tayi heart dinta ya fara beating erratically, a zuci tana ta Allah sa abunda ta dinga addua ne ke shirin faruwa. Tana kallo daya daga cikin securities din ya buda door din daya daga cikin motocin amma sai dai bata kai da ganin koh waye zai fita daga motar ba jikar ta da dake hannunta ta saki wani shegen kuka ta farka daga barci dun haka attention din Yasmeenah ya koma kanta. Juyawa tayi ta qarasa inda sauran suke dun miqawa leek baby dinta. Ta juya zata koma gun railing din kenan sai ga Auta ta iso terrace din tana numfashi sama sama, koh magana ta kasa.
Lay… lay….Laylah”. Ta fadi sai ta tsaya. “Kh….Kha…Khalifa Al-Haydar is here”. Ta fadi. Kawai ko ina sai yayi tsit, for a nanosecond kan yan matan gun suka fara ihu khalifa Al-Haydar is here, khalifa Al-Haydar is here, Meya kawo sa. Wasu har da neman kayan kwalliya wai suyi touching up make up dinsu koh he’ll notice them. Ba wadda mind dinta ma ya kai ga he’s supposed to be in Abuja for his wedding kuma sannan Meya kawo sa! +
Ke wa ya fadi miki he’s here? Isn’t he supposed to wed today”. Wata daga cikin friends din Laylah ta tambaya “Kuma ma me zai kawo sa nan gidan. Last I checked you guys aren’t related”. +
“Toh his personal assistant just announced his arrival cewar khalifa Al-Haydar requests to meet with Abba. Yanzu haka Hamma Suraj has ushered hi……”. Bata gama maganar ba suka ga Laylah ta miqe. Gaba daya ta mance da kunshin da aka dau hours ana zana mata a qafa, gudu kawai suka ga ta fara, totally smudging the intricate design. Auta ce ta bi bayan ta da gudu tana kiran sunanta amma koh kadan Laylah bata tsaya ta saurare ta ba.
Tunda Laylah ta fara gudu hawaye ke zuba daga idanunta kuma bata tsaya ba sai da ta yi bakin stairs din ground floor, inda from where she stood she could sight khalifah standing right there, in the middle of their foyer which was turned into a classic living room, befitting their status. As if working on impulse, khalifa ya dago kai and the first thing his hazel brown orbs landed on were her large ones that were glistening with tears. Gaba daya ya rasa abunda zai yi; should he cover his face in shame of what he did? Or should he just turn and leave? Or better still look for a good hiding place kan ta sauko. Ignoring all those crazy thoughts yayi flashing wani dan nervous smile and watched as she slowly descended down the stairs, her hair floating haphazardly in the hair, her face tear stricken with mascara smudged all over, henna smudge all over her feet and part of her trouser. She looked a mess….
‘A perfect mess’ khalifa thought and a smile escaped his lips. He quickly gathered his acts da yaga tana approaching dinsa. Tana isa gaban sa ta tsaya shuru shikuma ya rasa me zai yi kawai sai yayi gyaran murya “Hi”. Ya fadi a hankula kawai sai saukar mari yaji a kumatun sa. Rufe idanu yayi gum ya rasa me zai yi. Gaba daya Laylah ta sauke masa caji. Ita kam Laylah gaba daya ta mance da kunshin da ke hannunta da be gama bushewa ba, sai bayan da ta mare sa taga henna prints sun fito masa a kumatu tukun tayi realising what she had just done. Zubewa qasa kawai tayi ta fashe da kuka. 4
“What brings you here?”. Ta tambaya a hankula. Shima qasa yayi ya zauna yana facing dinta. Murmushi kawai taga yayi abun ya qona mata rai. Why was he smiling? When she was there, dying of pain, the one he inflicted on her.
“I came for you”.
Are you crazy? You’re too late, go back. Just.go….. to your bride”. 1
“I ditched my wedding for you Laylah. I want you, only you or no woman at all”. Wani marin ta kuma sakin masa a dayan kumatun kan ta runtse idanunta. 1
“I hate you… so much. The mere sight of you irks me. Ina kake? For a whole year kana ina? Do you even know how I coped? And now you come to give me this bullshit about ditching your fancy, 5 star wedding for me. I hate you Al-Haydar”.
“I deserve all that but just listen to me Laylah, just one chance”.
“Buzz off Al-Haydar! Ever since you came into my life, it has been from one chaos to another. Jibi yanzu yanzu daga isar ka har beautiful henna design dina ya baci. You looser! I hate you, I hate you”. Ta fadi tana ta dukan masa chest, gaba daya pure white kaftan dinsa which costs a fortune ya baci da henna paste. 2
Yasmeenah da Zubaidah wanda suka sauko su ne suka matso suka kama Laylah sai kuka take ta yi. Gefe suka matsar da ita suna ta fama rarrashin ta. Ita gaba daya ma Ummati ta rasa abun yi, kan ta ya daure, haka sauran jama’a. One minute they were celebrating, the next this Al-Haydar of a dude just barges in their home and causes an uproar of chaos.
“Bawan Allah?”. Auta ta fadi a hankula, hankalin kowa kuma sai ya koma kanta. Khalifa shima hankalinsa komawa yayi gare ta ya ansa ta da Na’am.
“No! No! Like Bawan Allah? For real , is that you”. Ta fadi cike da mamaki. Gaba daya ta daure kan kowa har shi khalifa kansa ya kasa gane me take nufi. “Laylah baki gane sa ba? Bawan Allah ne, wallahi shi ne”. 1
“Excuse me?”. Khalifa ya fadi. 1
“It was a fateful Thursday evening, on the 30th of march”. Auta ta fara magana, hankalin kowa kanta “About 10 years ago. Lokacin muna cikin wani yanayi na rashi, Abba’s health was deteriorating and we had no means of living other than wankau da Ummati ke yi, left with no other resolve aka fara daura mana tallan alala. First day inda muka je bakin kasuwa talla bamuyi ciniki ba, gaba daya aka qi siyan alalan mu dan mun qi ayi mana juye. Da yamma ya gabato muna dawowa gida a hanya muna ta kuka dun mun san ranar bamu da tuwon dare sai muka ci karo da wani mutum. You stopped us, ka tambaya koh lafia. Da alama kana cikin sauri ne dun samun jam’i amma hakan be hanaka tsayawa ba. Ka siye gaba daya alalan mu sannan ka bamu kudi fiye da na abunda muka siyar maka”.
“And when you asked of my name nace muku Bawan Allah. Dama ku ne?”. Khalifa ya fadi cike da mamakin ikon Allah. Who would’ve thought that years after he’ll come across them. Kai, ba yadda Allah baya yi da bawan sa.
Wallahi shi ne, Laylah look. It’s my childhood crush”. +
“Crush? Seriously”. Khalifa ya fadi yana dariya “you were a little girl then”. 2
“Didn’t stop me having fantasies”. Shigowar Hamma Suraj ne ya katse su. Ji yayi kan sa sai spinning yike, ya ma rasa ta ina zai billowa matsalar. Cewa kawai yayi a wuce ciki da Laylah shikuma khalifa ya biyo sa. Aikam shigansu Majlis ke da wuya sai ga Mahmoud nan ya iso. Shi dai Mahmoud ya ba khalifa Al-Haydar hannu sun gaisa ba dun ya san koh shi wanene bane haka shima khalifa din, gaisawa suka yi ba dun ya san cewa shine wanda aure masa Laylar sa ba, shi a tunanin sa ma koh Mahmoud din shima wan Laylah ne or her cousin koh abokin Hamma Suraj. shikam Hamma kallon su kawai yayi be ce komi ba. Suna zama suka qara gaisawa kan Hamma ya tambayi khalifa abunda ya kawo sa.
“Yaya nazo ne na gan kanwar ka”. (In Morell’s voice😂). Sai dai kuma Hamma Suraj be cewa khalifa ya shigo da takalmansa ba.
“Toh maraba. Amma wacce kanwar?”. Hamma ya kuma tambaya kamar be san me ke faruwa ba.
“Laylah”.
“Iyye! Wace Laylah”. Mahmoud ya fadi yana kallon khalifa.
“Laylah kanwar ku”. Ya ansa shi.
“Kai malam! Ban son rainin hankali”.
“Rainin hankalin me kuma yaya na”. 1
“Kul dinka, ni ba yayanka bane kuma Laylah gobe daurin aure na da ita”. Hannun da Khalifa ya ba Mahmoud suka gaisa dazu yayi saurin gogewa da rigar sa, kamar ya tabi dirt ne da hannun. 2
“Dama kai ne, shine na baka hannu mu gaisa?”.
“Nima da na san abunda ya kawo ka da ban baka hannuna ba”. Mahmoud ya juyo yana watso wa khalifa wani irin kallo, shima khalifa Mahmoud din yike kallo.
“Suraj what is this nonsense! Me wannan mahaukacin ke fadi”.
“Hey! Be careful how you talk to me. If I want I can destroy you with whatever little influence you’re trying to flaunt within the blink of an eye”.
“Wanene kai? Waye ubanka, me kake dashi da zaka fadi mun rubbish”.
“Khalifa Al-Haydar nike, yaro mai gari abokin tafiyar manya, da bacin rai na gwara gobara ran sallah because of the damage I can cause by just the snap of a finger. Kai waye kai? Meye matsayin ka a qasar nan, me kake dashi, me ka tara? Da har zaka nuna mun yatsa, har ka kalli Laylah na kace kana so”. 5
“Hey!”. Mahmoud ya miqe cike da hushi ya cakumi collar din khalifa.
Kana so ka kwana a cell kuwa”. Waya khalifa ya daga ya kira Tariq yayi masa umurni da ya shigo da securities a dauke masa wani ‘kare da ke ta damunsa da haushi’. Sai da Hamma yayi ta bada haquri, ya rarrashi su biyun yace su zauna a yi magana ta fahimta tukun khalifa ya haqura yace wa Tariq ya bari. Shuru duka su uku suka yi, shi Hamma gaba daya ya rasa ta ina zai fara kawai sai yace musu su miqe duka ya kai su gun mahaifin su. Suna isa gefen Abba suka gaida shi duka suka zauna aka mayar masa da abunda ke faruwa. Abba ya dade yana nazari akan issue din kan yayi magana. +
“Toh kai dan samari a ina ake haka? Ka zo a kurarran lokaci, yarinya an riga an mata miji, gobe zaa daura aure. Kaga dama shi a bari ya huce hausawa suka ce kan kawo rabon wani. Haquri zaka yi, kayi tawakkali….”. Ai Abba be kai da gama zancen sa ba khalifa ya katse sa.
“Kayi haquri Abba zan katse ka amma gaskia shine bazan iya haqura da Laylah ba. Nayi ditching daurin aure na just to come here and make things right kuma ku tambaye ta kuji, ni take so”.
“Karyar ka! Wallahi kayi karya. Nikam muka sha soyayya da Laylah, tun muna yara, tun bamu san me kanmu ke ciki ba. Kawai zaka zo ka wani ce kai take so”. Nan wani gardamar ya kwance kuma, suna yi kamar zasu cinye juna. Abba yace a kwashe masa su daga dakinsa kan su saka masa ciwon kai sannan ya ba Hamma wuqa da nama ya dauka duk wani hukuncin da yaga ya dace. Jin haka ya ba Mahmoud qarfin gwiwa, a ganinsa ai abokin sa ne Suraj din haka things will work in his favour. 2
Hamma kam kallon both of them yayi yace suyi haquri su je gida, bayan isha su dawo kan nan zai zanta da Laylah da kuma mahaifiyar su da wasu magabatansa, duk yadda ake ciki in suka zo sai ya fadi musu. Full of confidence Mahmoud ya wuce shikam khalifa waje ya samu cikin garden dinsu ya zauna, yace ba inda zashi sai an basa Laylar sa, securities dinsa suma haka suka tsaya kansa suna ta faman aikin gadi. Yasmeenah daga can sama tana kallon khalifa, duk sai taji zuciyar ta ta karaya, ta rasa meyasa take jin wani irin love and affection for khalifa, har cikin ranta take jin sa kuma take son taga ya auri Laylah dun ta san shi daya zai iya treating Laylah the way she deserves to be treated and he’ll safe guard her secret well. Ta dade tana kallon yadda ya zauna sai tapping foot dinsa yike, from all indications he was highly tensed, dariya kawai ta sama kanta da tayi kan ta wuce ciki. Khalifa na tuna mata da nata masoyin sosai da sosai, lokaci guda ta sama kanta da tuna baya.
‘Yana nan koh be nan, oho’ ta fadi a zuci.
Har lokacin Laylah bata bar kuka ba. Da kyar aka rarrashi ta kan ta shiga wanka ta wanke jiki da henna dinta duk da ya baci. Tana fitowa Yasmeenah ta matsa mata ta dan ci abinci kan aka bata maganin ciwon kai ta sha ta kwanta ta dan sama barci. Koh da ta kwanta in ba mafarkin Al-Haydar ba, ba abunda take yi. Ba ita ta tashi ba sai gab da maghreb. Gidan har zuwa lokacin da hayaniya, ana ta shirye shiryen bikin da baa da tabbacin koh zaa yi, kuma koh zaa yi babu tabbacin da wa zaa yi. Sai da aka yi maghreb tukun Hamma ya sa aka kira masa Laylah, already dama da tana barci ya zan ta da Uwar dakinsa, da kuma mahaifiyar su da su Yasmeenah da some of his uncles, ya kuma ji all what they had to say, yanzu opinion din Laylah kawai ya rage ya ji before yayi making final verdict. Laylah ta dade tare da Hamma ya ta watso mata questions, tsakani da Allah ta dinga basa ansa, ba karya bata boye masa komi ba ta fadi masa tun daga farkon haduwar ta da Khalifa and all that happened between them.