Zaro idanu yayi looking from the revolver in Al-Mubaraq’s hand to Laylah who had just pushed him away and got shot instead. Be gama registering abunda ya faru ba kawai ya kuma jin qarar harbi, Al-Mubaraq ya kuma sakin mata wani bullet which pierce right through her back to her chest. Jini ke fita bakin ta, da kadan jikinta na kaiwa qasa, da gudu khalifa ya rugo ya kamata in his arms suka yi qasa tare. Kallon ta kawai yike idanunsa sunyi jazur, tari take a hankula in banda jini ba abunda ke fitowa daga bakin ta, haka chest dinta, 2 places inda bullet din ya same ta sai zuba jini suke. Ihun da Begum ta fara shi ya fitar da khalifa out of his gaze. A guje ya miqe ya cafko Al-Mubaraq da ke shirin guduwa. Wani ihun takaici ya saki kan ya kai masa wani fatal blow da ya kai sa qasa, the gun in his hand falling off. Duka khalifa yayi ta kai masa, punching anywhere not giving a heck, yana hawaye yana ta kai masa duka but soon the tables turned, Al-Mubaraq ya samu ya kai masa wani nushi, dama already khalifa was weak. Tunda ya kai masa nushin yayi ta kai masa duka, mostly on his head. 3
“Karyar ka kace zaka bata mun aikin da ba dau 30 years ina preparing for”. Ya fadi yana kai masa wani blow to the nose. Qasa khalifa yayi ya zube a yayin da Al-Mubaraq ya samu damar daga bindigar sa yayi aiming dinsa towards khalifa who laid almost lifeless on the floor. “Sahar habibty…”. Ya kira sunan Begum wadda in ba kuka ba ba abunda take ta faman yi “How would it feel to watch your only son die”. Ya fadi da wani irin murmushin mugunta a fuskar sa. “Oh yes son, the other times I was just telling your mother about how I took the life of your aunt. Strangled her to death in her sleep and how I made her husband die in an accident”. Dan tsayawa yayi kan ya cigaba da maganar sa “And yes, karku damu da Nawfal, i’ll know how to handle him”. Laylah kam wadda idanunta har sun fara juyawa direction din khalifa ta kalla, shima ita yike kallo amma miqewa ya gagara.
“I love you”. Ta fadi a hankula idanunta na rufewa. Shima kallon ta yayi idanunsa na faman zubda hawaye.
“I love you more…. till eternity”. Qarar harbi kawai ya qara resonating through the four walls that made up the room. After wannan shot din, about 5 more gunshots were heard. Zaro idanu sosai Al-Mubaraq yayi, jini na fitowa daga bakin sa kan ya zube a qasa. Bullets duk ya masa fata fata da chest. Dropping gun din Nawfal yayi before slumping to the floor to cry his heart out about what he had just heard. Medical team ne suka rugo da gudu zuwa dakin kan aka fara daga su khalifa into the emergency unit of that ward, Begum har zuwa lokacin was in a state of shock. Shikam Nawfal police ne suka zo suka tsaya masa a kai trying to him kan Tariq ya qaraso kusa ya ce musu he was not going to answer to any of them without his lawyers present. Shima Al-Mubaraq shiga aka yi aka fita da gawar sa, har aka bar floor din, Nawfal be bar kallon stretcher inda aka dauke gawar sa a kai ba.Zuwa wannan lokaci, gaba daya labari ya zaga. Reporters sun cika waje suna neman news. Headlines din koh wani channel was carrying the news about the murder of the Al-Haydar family. +
Yasmeenah was sitted in the living room watching the news when she read the headlines, nan gabanta ya fadi da taga what it said “…… The new Mrs Al-Haydar shot to….”. A rude ta miqe ta wuce sama ta zuba wani jallabia ta daga key din motar ta ta kama hanyar hospital din, giving Laylah’s brother a call on her way.
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Zaune suke shuru cikin mota, Tariq na tuqi while Nawfal na zaune shuru ba abunda yike cewa. Koh da suka isa sauka yayi daga motar ba tare da ya cewa Tariq komi ba, koh sanda Tariq yace masa zai wuce da motar nasa sai kashe gari da safe ya aiko masa dashi be ce komi ba sai daga masa kai kawai yayi. Saima da ya bari tana barci ya sama ta farka zaune shuru a armchair inda ke living room dinsu. Miqewa tayi da taga yadda ya shigo, his crisp white shirt stained with splashes of blood. Qarasawa tayi inda yike amma sai taga ya wuce ta kawai zuwa bedroom dinsa, binsa tayi har zuwa dakin ta samu ya zauna qasa shuru. Matsowa tayi kusa dashi ta dora hannayenta biyu kan cinyar sa.You’ll tell me everything won’t you?”. Ta tambaya a hankula tana da shafawa hannunsa a hankula to calm him. “Muna cikin annashuwa dazu and all of a sudden you left in a haste gashi yanzu ka dawo covered in blood. Me ke faruwa ne?”. Ta tambaya idanunta cike da kwalla. +
“You don’t watch news Saima, do you?”. Ya tambaya a hankula after about 10 minutes of silence.
“I was so tensed about you ban duba TV ba”. Ta basa ansa.
“I just shot a man… to death Saima”. Ya fadi looking her straight in the eyes.
Hannayenta biyu ta sa ta rufe bakin ta after muttering “Subhanallah”. “Nawfal! How come, me ya faru. This bl…loo…d”. Ta fadi motioning to his shirt.
“It’s Al-Mubaraq’s”.
“Ya Allah! You killed uncle Al-Mubaraq”.
“He’s evil Saima”. Ya ja numfashi “He killed my parents”. Ya fadi kan ya fashe da kuka. A hankula ta dinga shafa masa bayansa har sai da hawayen nasa suka tsakaita tukun ya kwashe duk abunda ya faru, wanda ya sani ya fadi mata. By the time he was done, su duka kuka suke sosai. Saima ta riqo Nawfal ta kankame sa in her arms as if to shield him from some sort of harm.
“It’s okay. I’m with you”. Ta fadi tana kissing gashin sa “We’ll find a way out”. Tayi assuring dinsa.
“The police will come for me”. Ya fadi yana shigewa jikinta.
“It was self defense Nawfal. Nothing will happen”. Ta sake kissing gashin sa “I’d just go and prepare your bath, okay”. Ta fadi tana miqewa daga position inda suka zauna a qasa, zuwa lokacin ita kanta nightie dinta ya baci da jini sakamakon riqe sa da tayi a jikinta. Bathroom inda ke bedroom dinsa ta wuce ta fara shirya masa ruwan wanka. Tana fitowa ta riqo hannunsa har zuwa bathroom.
Tana juyawa zata wuce ya riqo hannunta “Don’t leave me”. Ya fadi cikin wani muryar tausayi “Please, stay with me”. Kai ta gyada masa alamar ehhh kan ta bisa cikin spacious marble tiled bathroom din, bayan ta ta juya ta basa as he undressed and got under the shower. Be wani dade ba ya fito yayi wrapping towel round his waist suka fito daga bathroom din. Wuri ta basa to tidy up ita kuma ta wuce kitchen ta fara brewing coffee a coffee maker. Dakinta ta wuce ta sake wanka ta sanja nightie kan ta dawo ta setting komi a kan wani dan medium sized tray. Kwance ta same sa kam gado ya kudundune kansa waje daya, abun tausayi da shi.Here, have some tea”. Ta fadi tana miqa masa mug daya. Zama ya gyara kan gadon kan yayi patting din space din gefen sa for her to sit. Shuru suka zauna each sipping his tea quietly. Shi ya fara shanye nasa sai kawai ya zauna shuru as he marveled at how gracefully she sipped her coffee har sai da ta shanye duka. Matsawa yayi cikin gadon to create more space for her. flip flop dinta ta cire kan ta sa qafafun ta cikin bargo kamar yadda yayi, sun dade suna zaune shuru kan tayi breaking silence din. +
“Want to hear a story?” Ta tambaya tana daga masa gira, nodding kansa kawai yayi kanta gyara kwanciyar ta ta fara narrating masa story din “When I was 12, my dad was the Ambassador of Nigeria to Switzerland then, muna can. There was this day I lent my mom’s bra, put on a white shirt and went up to our neighbours, they had a cute son whom I had this great crush on. Yana kallo na kawai he was like “Oh look! Saima has boobies!” And he just poked me in one. Being a bra and not having anything to fill it, it sunk in and stayed that way and he just bursted into a fit of laughter. I ran away mortified and refused to visit them for over a month”. Zuwa lokacin da ta gama basa labarin dukan su dariya suke sosai. Sai da suka gama dariyar tukun ta kallesa tace ai shima dole sai yayi sharing wani childhood memory da ita.
“Okay, okay let’s see”. Ya fadi yayi kamar yana tunani ” In 5th grade, we were having science class and my teacher asked us what we thought a ‘shooting star’ was…I knew this but…my answer was so stupid. I said I like to think it’s a unicorn granting wishes or something stupid like that. Never been more embarrassed. The whole class laughed and as soon as it left my mouth my brain caught up”. Ya fadi yana dariya as the memories came flooding back. Sai da suka gama dariyar tukun ta miqe.
“Feeling any better?”.
“Much better”. Ya ansa yana mata murmushi.
“Great! You have a goodnight rest”. Ta fadi tana dan shafa kumatun sa amma sai sa hannunsa yayi ya kamo hannun da ke kumatun nasa.
“Sleep here, please”. Ya fadi, his plead sounding earnest. “I’ll feel much better if you sleep here”. Numfashi ta ja kan ta koma kan gadon ta zauna, da sauri ya dora kan sa kan cinyar ta. “Thank you Saima”. Ya fadi a hankula.When I was a small boy, my mom would always sing lullabies for me every night. I loved to listen to her sing rock-a-bye baby to me”. Ya fadi yana dan murmushi. +
A hankula ta sunkuyar da kanta to place a kiss on his forehead amma sai taji yayi placing hannunsa softly on her neck, bringing her face much closer to his, ya dan dau lokaci yana kallon fuskar ta, feeling grateful to subhanahu wata’alah for bestowing such a beauty on him before he locked their lips in a passionate kiss. At first he took Saima by surprise, ya dauke ta a few minutes to register what was happening kan ta saki jikinta to bask in the glory of being in her husband’s arms. Numfashi ta ja, not breaking from the kiss with her eyes closed and that was the start of something beautiful, something blissful and so pure.Kwance yike kan gadon Asibiti, a cannula attached to his hand. Har zuwa lokacin khalifa be yi regaining consciousness dinsa ba. Yasmeenah ce zaune gefen sa, hannunsa daya cikin nata ta kankame ta riqe, lost in thoughts. A hankula consciousness dinsa ya fara dawowa. +
“I love you”. Memories din few hours ago suka fara dawo masa as he still fought to regain consciousness.
“I love you more… till eternity”. Remembering her final words to him ya sa shi buda idanunsa calling out her name. Miqewa Yasmeenah tayi tana kokarin calming dinsa.
“I need to meet her… I want to see her… now”. Ya fadi yana fisge hannunsa from grasp din Yasmeenah wadda kuka sosai take, khalifa ya matukar bata tausayi. The past few months had been quite rough for the poor soul.
“Ba zaka iya ganin ta ba”. Ta fadi tana hawaye “Dan Allah ka kwanta, you need rest. You can’t see her”. Ta fadi tana shaking kanta as her tears intensified. Khalifa koh sauraron ta be yi ba ya cisge cannula inda was attached to his left hand kan ya bar dakin cikin hanzari. Da sauri Yasmeenah ta bi bayansa. Room by room ya dinga bi yana banging qofar open in the hopes of seeing his Laylah. Da gudu wasu securities hudu qarfafa suka kamo sa amma still he was fighting to let loose, da kyar suka riqe sa da karfi back to his room inda wata nurse tazo ta basa injection inda ya sa shi passing out. Zuwa lokacin Leek wadda tun sanda suka yi waya da Yasmeenah tayi booking ticket, ta iso. Yasmeenah na ganin diyar nata ta fada jikinta ba abunda take yi in ba aikin kuka ba. Ta jima tana kuka Leek na bata haquri kan daga baya ta haqura tayi shuru. Da kyar Leek ta rarrashe ta kan ta yarda ta koma gida to rest while Leek stayed back to wait for the arrival of Hamma Suraj.
Khalifa ya dade yana barci, dan gaba daya ranar be farka ba har zuwa yammacin the next day tukun ya farka. Begum ce zaune shuru gefen gadon sa ta kafa masa idanu. The once young looking and vibrant lady seemed weak, defeated and tired. Har zuwa lokacin shock in abunda ya faru be gama sakin ta ba. “You’ve destroyed my life mother”. Khalifa ya fadi, calling her mother for the first time in over 15 years.
Dago fararen idanunta tayi, wanda suka koma ja saboda kuka da gajiya ta kalli dan nata. Seeing a lone tear escape his eye broke her heart, ita ma bata san sanda ta fara zubda hawaye ba. “Saboda me? Pride? Ego? Greed? Power? Or wealth which one Begum?”. Ya sake tambayar ta “kin zaba wannan abubuwan gaba da farin cikin dan ki, your only son. You’ve destroyed your family for your selfish interests. I literally worshipped you Begum, if you had asked for my life wallah I would’ve given it to you without a second thought. Me sa kika bata mun rayuwa ta haka? Is this the reward I get for being an obedient son?”. Riqe bakin ta tayi to stop her cries from escaping her mouth.”I’m sorry. I love you, more words can say son. I wanted to protect you”. +
“But you ended up destroying me instead. Wow Begum, wow”. Ya fadi yana fisge hannunsa daga cikin nata. Kuka sosai take, shima kuma kukan yike. Their brief moment of silence was brought to an end when Tariq walked into the room after a soft knock on the door. Da sauri Begum ta share fuskar ta, not wanting anyone to see her at her lowest and weakest point. Abunda khalifa ya qosa yaji ya fara tambayar Tariq. “Laylah? Where’s my Laylah?”. Ya tambaya Tariq.
“At the ICU”. Ya fadi a hankula. Khalifa be tsaya sauraron komi ba yayi yunqurin miqewa daga kan gadon, da sauri Tariq ya matso ya taimaka masa ya sauko suka fara tafia a hankula towards the exit bayan khalifa ya fadi masa cewa he wanted to see how she was doing. Ganin fitowar su khalifa ya sa nurse inda was assigned to look after Begum shigowa dakin. A hankula ta fara wheeling din Begum who was confined temporarily to a wheelchair out of the room.
“Take me to the ICU”. Ta fadiwa nurse din. A hankula ta dinga wheeling dinta har suka isa entrance din ICU din. Zuwa lokacin da suka isa khalifa ya riga ya shiga ciki dan haka Begum asked the nurse to stop at the corridor, she didn’t have the courage to go in just yet. Tana juyo kai suka hada ido da Leek who had gotten out of the room to give khalifa some privacy. Sun dan dade suna kallon juna kan Leek tayi mata dan murmushi ta dauke idanunta. “Mu wuce”. Begum ta fadiwa nurse dinta. She wasn’t comfortable with people seeing her at the ICU. Leek na kallo nurse din ta juya da ita suka fita, gyada kanta kawai cikin mamaki. Fitar su ke da wuya Yasmeenah ta shigo along with Auta and Zubaidah wanda tun ranar da labari ya iso su suka taho Abuja tare da Hamma Suraj wanda ya koma Yola after spending a day. Nan seats inda ke corridor din Auta da Zubaidah suka samu suka zauna kusa da Leek suka dan fara hira sama sama, ita kuma Yasmeenah ta shiga cikin dakin. Jin qarar buda qofa ya sa khalifa dago kansa yaga ko waye, koh da yaga Yasmeenah first abunda ya tambaye ta was why Laylah wasn’t waking up and for how long had she been sleeping.The doctors say she’s in coma”. Ta fadi masa a hankula “There’s just a little hope of her waking up”. Khalifa kallon Yasmeenah kawai yike as if she had just grown a second head, gaba daya abunda take fadi wasn’t making any sense to him. Wai Laylah, his Laylah was in coma. Ya dade in shock kan hawaye suka fara sauka kan kumatun sa a hankula. Hannunsa daya ya sa ya kama forehead dinsa, gaba daya ya rasa abunda ke masa dadi. +
“I’m the cause. Everything happened because of me. Da bata aure ni ba da haka be faru da ita ba”. Ya fadi yana jan numfashi.
“Haba khalifa, why would you say that? Ai dan Adam baya iya escaping qaddarar sa, me kyau koh mara kyau. What happened to accepting Qadr?”. Ta tambaye sa a hankula “ka sa a ranka cewa this is just a test from subhanahu wata’alah which both of you will insha Allah pass with flying colours. Mu kuma muna nan muna ta muku Addu’a. She’ll be okay insha Allah”. A haka Yasmeenah tayi ta rarrashin sa har ya dan Kwantar da hankalin sa kan doctor ya shigo ya ce su bar dakin saboda baa so ana disturbing patients da yawa.
Yana komawa dakinsa not long Nawfal ya shigo. Shima da ka gansa ka san yana cikin wani yanayi na tashin hankali. Sun dade zaune ba me cewa dan uwansa koh da uffan. Nawfal ne finally yayi breaking silence din.
“The police have called me, for questioning”. Ya fadi a hankula. Dago kai khalifa yayi ya kalli dan uwansa.
“You did it for self defense. Have you alerted our lawyers?”. Ya tambaya, nodding kai kawai Nawfal yayi masa “The pig deserved to die. Kar ka damu, the police can do nothing. Baka yi laifi ba, it was self defense”. Ya sake nanata masa. Murmushi kawai Nawfal yayi kan ya miqe daga kan chair inda ya zauna.
“Rest bro. We’ll talk later”. Ya fadi kan ya fita daga dakin. Khalifa didn’t need to be told that his brother was in great agony and it hurt him that he could do nothing to ease his pain. Shi kansa fama yike da nasa heartache din. Cikin zucin sa kam Begum kawai yike ta blaming for everything that has happened to them.
Cikin sati biyu khalifa was back on his feet, ya sama lafia har an sallame sa haka ma Begum. She was allowed to go home together with 2 nurses. Laylah kam har zuwa lokacin ba wani improvement, kwance take ita bata mutu ba, ita bata farka ba. Khalifa baya gazawa wajen visiting dinta dan kusan a asibitin yike spending most of his time dan har zuwa lokacin be koma bakin aikin sa ba, haka kuma be cewa press komi ba, he was still trying his possible best to avoid them. Kamar yadda ya saba, ranar ya shirya tsaf ya tafi hospital din ganin ta amma koh da ya isa sai samun Yasmeenah yayi tare da Auta and Leek bakin qofar dakin sun riqe juna ba abunda suke in ba kuka ba. Da gudu ya qaraso su yana tambayar me ya faru. Qofar dakin da Laylah take Yasmeenah ta yi pointing masa.
“She was doing okay till this morning. Her heartbeat suddenly dropped”. Har cikin kwakwala khalifa ya ji words din Yasmeenah. Bouquet din flowers inda ke hannunsa ya saki ya qarasa bakin qofar dakin da hanzari, koh da nurse tayi kokarin hana sa shigowa bangaje ta yayi ya shiga da gudu ya sama about 3 doctors and 2 nurses a kanta, daya daga cikin doctors din na duba heart monitor while daya na mata cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Shi dai cikin tashin hankali yake qarasowa bakin gadon amma sai daya daga cikin nurses din, namiji ya riqo sa yace masa ya tsaya a wajen while the doctors tried to keep her stable. After about 20 minutes of trying yaga doctors din na heaving sighs of relief. Babba cikin doctors din, wanda bature ne shi yayi approaching khalifa.”I’m so sorry Al-Haydar but she’s running out of time. The brain stroke is getting worse and till she doesn’t regain consciousness i’m afraid there’s nothing much we can do. Her heartbeat is already getting weaker by the day”. Ya masa bayanin, all that while hankalin khalifa na kan nurse inda ke sa mata oxygen mask a hanci. Dan tapping din shoulder dinsa doctor din yayi kan suka fita suka bar dakin. Kujerar da ke gab da gadon da take kwance ya wuce ya zauna a kai.
“Zahra…” Ya kira sunanta a hankula “Me yasa kike mun haka? Ya kike so nayi, ina zan sa kaina in na rasa ki? Can’t you see how broken and lost I am already? How much more do you wish to torment me”.
“Dan Allah kiyi haquri. I’m used to your presence in my life. If I loose you I’ll die zahra, wallah zan mutu. I can’t bear the pain of loss for the second time. I prayed to subhanahu wata’alah for long to have you, you can’t just leave me. Not now, not ever. I’ll die, by God I will zahra”. Ya fadi yana kuka. Dora kansa yayi kan gadon da take kwance ya dinga kuka kamar karamin yaro. Khalifa was so engrossed in his moment of grief that he didn’t even notice when her eyes slightly twitched. Koh da ya dago kai, hawaye kawai yayi noticing ya gangaro from her right eye. Cike da tausayi da affection ya sa dan yatsan sa ya share mata hawayen, muttering a silent prayer to subhanahu wata’alah for her as he did that. kissing forehead dinta yayi kan ya miqe yayi exiting room din.Zaune take akan wheelchair, jikinta sanye da blue hospital wear wanda ya zame mata abun sawa for the past 2 months. Daga nan inda take zama a balcony din dakinta take hango duk abubuwan da ke faruwa a harabar hospital din da sauran wards din, kasancewar most wards had large glass walls and windows. +
“Hayati”. Murmushi sosai tayi a lokacin da taji muryar sa. Juyo da wheelchair din tayi to face him shikuma qarasowa yayi har zuwa inda take a nan balcony din, hannunsa riqe da bouquet na white lilies. Murmushi ya tsaya yana mata, zuciyar sa cike fal da farin cikin ganinta cikin annushuwa. Da alama dai she was doing well, tun ranar da ta yi regaining consciousness dinta khalifa ke bata kulawa na musamman. Duk abunda tace tana so shi yike mata.
“Are they for me?”. Ta tambaye sa.
“Ohh i’m sorry”. Ya fadi yana miqa bouquet na flowers din “They’re for you”.
“Thank you”. Ta fadi tana kallon yadda yike ta dariya kamar wanda ya yi winning lottery.
“Now tell me habibty. How have you been?”. Ya zuquna to her height ya tambaya yana dan matsa hancin ta. Dariya tayi kan ta basa ansa.
“I’m good Mr Al-Haydar and you?”.
“I’m now good… After seeing you habibty”. Ya ansa ta yana wasa da yatsun ta. Lura yayi da mood dinta, kamar she wasn’t too happy ranar kawai sai shima ya sama kansa da jin ba dadi. Zama yayi a armchair inda ke balcony din before ga juyo wheelchair dinta to face him. Gira ya fara daga mata asking her what the problem was.
“I’m tired of being confined to this room”. Ta fadi kamar zata yi kuka.
“What, you don’t like it here?”.
“Na gaji ne. I’m always in this room, always in this dress. Even the balcony seem to have lost it’s beauty and serenity. The meals here tastes awful. I miss my legs”. Ta fadi tana kuka “I want to walk again, I want to experience the feeling of walking on earth. I want to see the sunset. I want to dance in the rain. I want to go home khalifa”.
“Shhhhh”. Ya dora kanta bisa kafadar sa “You’ll do all those habibty. Just a few more weeks and you’ll be up and about insha Allah, then we can move somewhere quiet, somewhere serene, somewhere where it’s just you, me and us”.Should I be at the hospital till then?”. Ta dago kai tana kallonsa. Dan murmushi ya mata kan ya matso da kansa ya hada goshin sa da nata. “You look cute when irritated but I look way more cuter when smiling happily. Ki daina damuwa, you’ll leave this place soon insha Allah”. Ya fadi kan ya sa hannu ya goge hawayen da ke kan kumatunta. Wayar sa da ke aljihun wando sa ya fara ringing ya miqe ya fita daga dakin to answer the call kan a few minutes after ya dawo yace wa Laylah yana zuwa zai je qasa to get something. Isan khalifa yayi daidai da Shigowar motar Nawfal harabar hospital din. Tsayuwa yayi patiently har Nawfal yayi parking motar. Da gudu Fadeel ya fito cikin motar ya nufi inda mahaifin sa ke tsaye. +
“Hey little man! How was Bahamas?”. Ya tambaya yana masa murmushi. With everything that had happened in the family and for his safety khalifa ya sa aka tura Fadeel can Bahamas for a couple of months inda ya zauna har sai da suka tabbatar da cewa there was no more danger neither we’re there the likes of Al-Mubaraq tukun aka dawo da shi.
“It was awesome!”. Ya fadi happily. Gaisawa kawai Nawfal suka yi da khalifa sannan ya miqawa Fadeel backpack dinsa da ya bari cikin motar kan ya koma ya shige motar sa ya wuce.Let’s go”. Riqo hannunsa yayi har zuwa wajen elevator. Har zasu shiga Fadeel ta tsaya da khalifa. “What now?”. Ya tambaya. +
“Let’s use the stairs today”.
“No! Never”. Khalifa ya fadi fa karfi yana jawo hannunsa towards the elevator. Daga nan har suka isa dakin da Laylah take ba wanda ya sake cewa komi.
Sosai Laylah tayi farin cikin ganin Fadeel. Tunda ya iso ta share khalifa ta biye masa ya dinga bata Labaran adventures dinsa a Bahamas har da pictures ya dinga nuna mata cikin wani dan camera. “Hey I forgot! I got these for you”. Ya fadi yana miqa mata wasu boxes biyu, daya na chocolates daya kuma had a ring in it. “See friendship ring”. Ya fadi yana nuna mata dan yatsan sa wanda yike sanye da same ring as the one he gave her “I got it from an antique store and the chocolates from a mall. You like them don’t you?”.
Nodding kanta kawai tayi kan ta whispering masa a little thank you before placing a kiss on his forehead. Sun dade suna hira kan khalifa ya shigo ya katse su. “I think we should go out for some fresh air, don’t you think so Fadeel?”.
“Yes please. Laylah mu je?”. Ya juya ta tambaye ta.
“Sure why not. You guys go have some fun”.
“Please. Pretty pleaseeeeeeee”.Ya fadi kamar zai kuka amma still khalifa ya ce no, Laylah ce ta sa baki cewa ya haqura ya basa abunda yike so. Murmushi khalifa yayi kan ya fadi mata cewar she signed up for it.
“Hop on”. Ya fadi wa Fadeel wanda kamar dama jira yike a basa go ahead ya fada kan wheelchair din saman qafafun Laylah who was awestruck. In moments, kan tayi registering all that was happening kawai taji khalifa ya fara spinning wheelchair din going extremely fast. Tun tana tsoro har ta saki jiki tayi joining Fadeel in his yells of sheer happiness. Gaba daya attention din mutanen da suke qatoton reception din hospital din ya dawo kansu. Da gudu sosai khalifa ke wheeling dinsu, duka fuskokin su cike da farin ciki.
“Yes, yes it was”. Laylah ta fadi ita ma dariyar take. Sun dade garden din having fun har zuwa lokacin da abincin da khalifa ya sa Tariq siyowa ya iso. Abinci ne me yawa sosai aka kawo wanda da ka gani ka san yayi wa mutane uku yawa. Duk mutanen da ke garden din khalifa yayi inviting to have launch with me. Ana yi ana hira. There was lots of love and happiness in the air that day. A few minutes after sallar isha Nawfal ya dawo ya dau Fadeel ya wuce gidansa da shi shikuma ya koma sama tare da Laylar sa. Kwanciya yayi da ita saman dan medium sized bed inda ke dakin yana shafa kan ta a hankula har barci yayi awon gaba da ita. A daidai lokacin Yasmeenah da ta koma gida ta dan huta ta shigo room din, zata yi magana khalifa ya sa dan yatsa a baki yana mata alamar cewa tayi shuru. Murmushi tayi tana kallon su.
‘They look so cute together. May no one ever cast an evil eye’ ta fadi akan zuciyar ta all that while watching how khalifa showered love on Laylah. A hankula, with affection ya jawo comforter ya rufe mata jiki kan yayi kissing forehead dinta ya tsaya yana kallon the gentle rise and fall of her chest, his face full of satisfaction. Ganin bayi da niyyar Matsawa daga kan Laylah ya sa Yasmeenah qarasowa ta jawo hannunsa towards exit din room din.
“Such a goner”. Ta fadi tana dariya “Ka wuce gida ka huta”.
“Sai da safe”. Ya fadi kan ya juya har zai wuce sai kuma ya sake Juyowa “Yasmeenah…”. Ya kirawo sunanta a hankula.
“Yes”.
“Thank you… For taking good care of my wife”. Ya fadi.
“You’re welcome”. Ta fadi masa fuskar ta cike da fara’a “Now go home and get some rest”. Bata dauke idanunta daga kansa ba har sai da ta daina ganinsa. Wucewa tayi ta shiga room din, straight balcony ta wuce bayan ta hada ma kanta a mug of tea ta dau daya daga cikin novels inda yazo da su. Zama tayi shuru, unable to concentrate on the book she was reading, no matter how hard she tried her mind kept drifting to thoughts she didn’t want to be having.
“Allah sarki, tunanin masoyi me sanya hawaye”. Ta fadi a hankula tears inda take ta qoqari riqewa suka fara sauka a hankula. Zuciyar ta na mata saqe saqe iri. A wannan lokacin wani zuciyar ya dinga raya mata cewar ta nime sa.’Toh koh kin nime sa ma me zai miki. Ya mance da ke, tun can ya nuna baki da wani amfani a garesa’. Amma sai ta sake wani tunanin. +
‘Yana iya yiwuwa ya rasu yanzu koh shekarun sa sun ja sosai’. Ta kai 30 minutes tana tufka da warwara a zuciyar ta kan daga baya ta share hawayen ta after making up her mind that she had come such a long way without him. Sai dai ta rasa me sa duk randa taga khalifa Al-Haydar sai tayi having wani irin unusual feeling, sosai yike tuna mata da shi, tun daga fuskar sa har zuwa personality dinsa da yadda yike abu duk suna tuna mata da shi da kuma rayuwar ta a da….
A haka Yasmeenah ta dinga tunanin iri iri har barci ya kwashe ta wanda ba ita ta farka ba sai da aka fara kiran subh salaah. A hankula ta miqe ta fada bathroom tayi alwala kan tazo ta fara gabatar da sallolin nafila har zuwa ga lokacin da aka ta da sallah tayi kan ta koma ta kwanta.
A few minutes bayan Laylah ta tashi ta ci abinci da magungunanta, Yasmeenah ta taimaka mata ta yi wanka tana gyara mata gashi sai ga knock. Sai da Yasmeenah ta miqo mata sheilah ta rufe kanta kan ta buda kofar and it wad Tariq to their surprise. Gaida su kawai yayi ya miqa saqon da aka aiko sa da su. Kamar Kullum, khalifa ya aiko mata da bouquet na white lilies wanda a ciki akwai dan note na good morning greeting da ya rubuta mata. Bayan ta gama karantawa ta miqawa Yasmeenah kan ta dau dayan paper bag inda Tariq ya kawo. Riga ne ciki, a simple dress which had a paisley design yayi matukar sosai. Cike da mamaki ta dinga kallon rigar tana dan murmushi. Ba da dadewa sai ga call din khalifa ya shigo. A hankula ta ansa cikin murya me sanyi wanda a Kullum yike rikitar da khalifa.
“Liked the dress?”. Ya tambaya.
“I love it. It’s beautiful. Thank you habibi”.
“I’m sure it’ll look more beautiful when you wear it. Sooo I’ll come at 4”.
“Really? We’ll have lunch together?”.
“Haka kike so?” Ya tambaya ta ce masa Ehh cike da murna.
You’ll come with Fadeel, Yes?”.
“No”. Ya fadi a hankula “But he’ll be home waiting for us”.
“Us? As in you and I?”.
“Yes Laylah, us”. Ihu ta fasa da yayi confirming mata cewa he was coming to take her home with him. “Now go look pretty for me. I’ll see you at 4. Love you”. Ya fadi kan ya katse wayar.With one final glance at the little photo frame which he held ya ja dogon numfashi kan ya wurga frame din cikin box dinsa ya miqe yayi zipping box kan ya fara jansa out of his room. Yana isa foyer din mighty mansion din suka ci karo da Begum who hadn’t been herself tun life changing experience inda tayi going through daga sanda ta fara rashin lafia har zuwa saga din Al-Mubaraq to her dispute with her one and only son, the apple of her eyes. The incident had sure taken a toll on her dan duk wanda ya san Begum Sahar a da ya ganta ya san cewa ta sanja sosai ba kadan ba, that aura of superiority she always carried around seemed to have gone down a bit and usual smile da walwalar da ke dauke a fuskar ta a ko da yaushe yanzu babu. She was just living life but deep down she was hurting, conscience dinta na judging dinta for all she had made her son go through, for all the injustice she had meted on him. +
“Khalifatullah…”. Ta kira sunansa kamar yadda ta saba “Son, why’re you with a box?”. Ta tambaya.
Kallon ta yayi kan ya rufe ido ya fadi mata “I’m leaving…”.
“What? Zaka tafi ka barni? Zaka tafi ka bar mamanka?” Ta fashe da kuka.
“Yes Begum. You won’t accept my wife for who she is, you can’t let go of the past and Allah ya san I love her, i can’t do without her so I’m leaving”. Ya fadi kan ya fara jan box dinsa. Kuka sosai ta zube a qasa tana yi.
“No please child. Don’t leave me, karka tafi ka barni. I can’t survive without you son, kai ne kadai tauraron da ke haskaka rayuwa na khalifa, I can’t do without you”. And listening to his mother’s emotional breakdown broke khalifa. Samun kansa yayi between the devil and deep blue sea; on one side was his mother whom he loved dearly and on the other side was his wife, his better half, his Laylah. Allah ya san he can’t do without either of the two amma kuma wa zai zaba wa zai bari?
Sakin box dinsa yayi ya nufa inda Begum ta zube a qasa sai kuka take. Zuquna yayi ya jawo ta jikinsa, ya dora kanta a chest nasa yana ta shafa bayan ta a hankula.
“I’m so sorry son. Don’t punish me this way please. Let’s go and bring your wife home, wallah i’m ready to accept her. I’m sorry for all the injustice, for everything”. Ta fadi tana folding hands dinta “I’m sorry for all the heartaches, i’m so ashamed to call myself a mother but give me another chance please. To make things right”.
“You’ll accept Laylah?”. Ya tambaya.
“I’ve already accepted her son. Tayi proving soyayyar da take maka na gaske ne, ba Uwar da bazata yi accepting a lady who put her own life at risk to save her son ba. Let’s bring her home, let’s live like the once loving family that we were”. Murmushi yayi kan ya sake jawo Begum zuwa jikinsa.
“Now that’s the Begum I know. Kind, compassionate and loving”. ya dinga rarrashin ta a hankula. Sai da ya tabbata ta daina kuka tukun ya rakata har dakinta kan shima ya wuce dakin sa. Maida box din yayi ya ije kan ya fada bathroom yayi alwala ya fito yayi salatul nawafil to show his gratitude to subhanahu wata’alah. Kwanciya yayi ya dan huta bayan ya idda sallah. Sai around 3 pm tukun ya tashi yayi wanka ya sha kwalliya cikin wata shadda me dan bura uban kyau gashi ya sha dinki me kyau kan yayi sallan asr. Fitowa yayi ya wuce dakin Begum yayi knocking a hankula kan yayi sallama, sai da ya jira ta basa izini tukun ya shiga ciki. Juyowa tayi ta kallesa fuskar ta cike da fara’a, ita ma tayi ado. Her son was back… her Khalifatullah. Internally tayi praising subhanahu wata’alah kan ta miqe ta dau veil dinta ta ce masa ta shirya, su wuce suje su dauko daughter inlaw dinta.°°°°°
Can hospital kuma throughout ranar Yasmeenah ta rasa sukuni, gabanta taji sai wani mugun faduwa yike ta rasa me ya kawo hakan. Zuwan Leek hospital din ya dan Kwantar mata da hankali. Sun dan jima suna hira, Leek na taya Laylah shiri while Yasmeenah was packing their things. Balcony ta wuce to get the book she had left there the previous night sanda ta ji sallaman khalifa, sai dai he wasn’t alone, there was another person with him; a lady, a lady whose voice was unmistakably familiar. Sosai Yasmeenah taji bugun zuciyar ta ya qaru, kamar she was running out of breath. A hankula ya tako back to the room and the moment her eyes fell on Begum ta saki salati. Begum wadda bata lura da presence din Yasmeenah ba sai lokacin da taji salatin ta juyo suka hada ido da Yasmeenah, nan ita ma gabanta ya fadi, da ka ganta ka san ta shiga wani hali na rudani, sun dade suna kallon juna, both of them rooted to their positions, kawai they were both in a state of shock. Mamaki sosai ya cika khalifa, Laylah and Leek.Yasmeenah, is everything okay?”. Khalifa ya matso kusa ya tambaya yana dan jijjiga ta. Sai a lokacin Begum ta sama voice dinta back. +
“Ya…yas…mee..meen…aa”. Ta fadi cikin murya me rawa.
“Yes it’s me Sahar”. Ta fadi tana matsowa kusa da ita. Tana isa gabanta ta saki mata wani wawan mari wanda ya gigita duka wanda suke dakin. Tana marinta ta jawo ta jiki tayi hugging dinta “I’ve been dying to do this”. Ta fadi, letting her tears flow freely. Kuka sosai duka su biyu suka fara sosai. Begum ce ta fara ja da baya tana ta fadin no. 1
Wani irin ihu me qara ta saki “Nooooo! This can’t be! This can’t be”. Take ta fadi. Khalifa ne ya matso ya riqe ta ya jawo mata kujera ta zauna kan ya dau bottle din ruwa ya miqa mata yana ta shafa bayan ta a hankula.
“Calm down mother”.
“Mother?”. Yasmeenah ta fadi cike da mamaki “Khalifa is yo..you..rr son?”. Ta tambaya kan ta sa hannayenta biyu ta rufe bakinta. sake fashewa da kuka tayi. Khalifa wanda curiosity ya ishe sa gashi both women ba me cewa komi sai kuka da suke ta yi.
“Can someone just explain what’s going on. Yasmeenah?”. Khalifa ya tambaya yana kallon ta.
“Not my story to tell”. Ta fadi tana pointing towards Begum.
“Begum?”. Ya juya attention dinsa zuwa gare ta. Tissue ya miqa mata ta fyace hanci, ta sake buda bottle din ruwa tayi gulping kan ta ja dogon numfashi.
“It started before you were born….”. Ta fadi kan ta fara narrating masa story din haduwar ta da Yasmeenah.
Let’s go a wee bit back to the past💃💃💃
Mata da miji ne cikin mota, mijin na tuqi while matar was sitting down quietly tana share hawayen da ke zirya kan kumatunta. Juyowa mijin yayi ya kalli matar sa, cike da tausayin ta ya fara rarrashin ta.
“I’ve told you haihuwa Allah ne yike bayarwa, ba wanda ya taba zuwa kasuwa ya siyo yaro, da ana haka wallah da I would’ve gone to any market in the world to grant your heart desire. We’ll have our child someday, have faith”.
“Baka ji what our families are saying bane? Sai kace ba a gaban ka aka yi ba. They want you to marry, suna so ka auro wadda zata haifa maka magaji. What do we do? What will happen now”. Ta fadi kukan ta na qaruwa. “Ya zanyi da rai na”. Juyowa yayi sosai yana kallon ta, trying to explain things to her amma sai ji yayi ta saki ihu.
“Look ahead Mumtaz”. Ta fadi tana daura hannayenta saman kai amma sai dai kan mijin nata yayi manoeuvring motar, har sun aukawa ýar yarinyar da ke kokarin tsallaka titin, ita ma tafia take zuciyar ta cike fal da tunani iri iri har bata ji qarar motar ba bare tayi sauri ta tsallaka titin da gudu. Fitowa suka yi daga motar da gudu, bayan ya gyara parking gefen titi, jini suka ga yana dan zubo wa daga bayan kan yarinyar gashi from all indications ta suma. Without second thought Mumtaz ya dauko ta cak in his arms har zuwa inda yayi parking, matar sa Sahar ta buda masa gidan baya ya ije yarinyar. Basu tsaya koh ina ba take sai wani babban private hospital inda immediately aka fara attending to the girl.Shuru suka zauna a reception din hospital din suna jiran jin abunda doctor din zai fadi. Tuni sun mance qunci da rudanin da suke ciki akan matsalar rashin haihuwa minutes ago. Addu’ar dukansu be wuce yarinyar da suka buge tayi surviving ba su maida ta gida safely. Har barci ya fara kwashe Sahar, kan ta saman chest din mijinta sai ga doctor ya fito daga ward inda aka kai yarinyar. Miqewa Mumtaz yayi bayan ya tashi Sahar suka bi doctor zuwa office dinsa dun jin abunda zai fadi. +
“It’s good that you brought her here on time. The bleeding was controlled and thank God the baby is doing okay”. Dan dattijon doctor din ya fadi yana musu murmushi.
“Baby?”. Duka suka tambaya a lokaci daya.
“Yes, baby” doctor din ya fadi “She’s about 3 months pregnant”. Yayi announcing much to their surprise. Mamaki ne ya cika su dan dai yarinyar da suka buge karama ce wadda a shekaru be wuci tana 14 years of age ba. “She’ll spend a few days here, under our watch. In muka gamsu da lafiyar ta sai a koma da ita gida koh. Yanzu tana hutawa, she might not wake up sai zuwa safe”. Miqewa suka yi bayan sun ma doctor din godia suka fito. Sahar ce ta fara magana.
“Abunda zaa yi yanzu, you’ll go home and pack some extra clothes for me, kamar guda 4 yadda in ta tashi ita ma na bata ta sanja. Get some necessary things for us, sai na kwana da ita koh, kan in ta farka mu ji ina gidansu yike”. Ta fadi masa. Cike da so da kulawa Mumtaz ya kalli matar sa, yana matukar son how kind and compassionate she is, especially towards children and helpless people. Murmushi yayi da ya tuno how tensed she was just a few moments ago. Kamar yadda ta umurce sa haka aka yi, ya wuce gida ya hado mata kaya, su man shafawa, kayan tea da flask na ruwan zafi ya kawo kan ya mata sallama akan zai dawo the next morning before ya wuce office.
Ranar dai daga Mumtaz har Sahar ba wanda ya iya barci, dan tun da suka yi aure for 10 years sun saba kwana tare, a duk randa suka kasance apart toh haka suke raba dare ba tare da sun sama wani barcin kirki ba. Koh da Mumtaz ya dawo the next morning yarinyar bata farka ba, sai yamma da ya dawo duba su ya fara jiyo muryar matar sa tun daga wajen dakin tana dariya. Da sallama ya shiga ya sama yarinyar da suka buge zaune kan gado tana hira tare da matar sa. Gaida ta yayi, ya tambaye ta ya jiki kan ya dan nema kebewa da Sahar.
“Kin tambaye ta gidansu?”. Ya tambaye ta bayan sun fito waje.”Aah. I was waiting for you to come”. Murmushi ya yi kan ya dora mata kiss a saman forehead dinta. He loved his Sahar, more than words could ever express. Riqo hannunta yayi suka shiga dakin ya sama waje ya zauna kan ya dan gyara murya ya fara tambayar yarinyar inda gidansu yike. +
“Baiwar Allah daga ina kike”.
“Borno”. Ta ansa shi a hankula.
“Borno”. Sahar ta fadi in a voice that expressed her astonishment “That’s far. Wajen wa kika zo kano?”. Ta tambaya.
“Ba kowa”. Yarinyar ta fadi kan ta dan fara zubda hawaye. Kamar wasa yarinya ta barke musu da kuka. Sahar ce ta matsa kusa da ita ta dinga rarrashin ta har ta Kwantar da hankalin ta ta fara narrating musu abunda yayi sanadin barin ta gida.
“Uban dan da nike dauke dashi nazo nema”. Ta fadi kan ta fara narrating musu tun daga auran Babanta da Inna Bintu har zuwa isowar Aliyu garinsu, har zuwa yadda ya mata dadin baki har ya samu yayi mata ciki, ya tafi ya bar ta “….amma bayan naje gidan iyayensa Jigawa suka karya ta ni suka kore ni. Gashi Babana ya riga ya kore ni daga gida, ya hana kowa a garin bani muhalli, koh mahaifiyata da ya kora daga gida ya hana ta bani muhalli a gidan da ya maida ta. Ta fadi tana kuka.
“Ya aka yi kika iso kano toh?”.
“Wani mota da ya dauko kaya na biyo ya taho dani kano. Kwana biyu kenan ina yawo ba abinci ba wajen kwana har zuwa jiya da kuka buge ni”. Sosai ta basu tausayi dukan su.
Tun lokacin da yarinyar wadda ta fadi musu cewar sunanta Adama ta fara basu labarin ta wata dabara ta fara zuwa wa Sahar amma kuma bata ce komi ba har sai da ta sama privacy da mijinta tukun.
“Mumtaz”. Ta kirawo sunansa a hankula.
“Na’am. Ina jin ki”.
“Dama wani abu ne ke ta mun yawo a kai. It’s about Adama and the pregnancy”. Ta fadi a bit reluctant dan bata san yadda Mumtaz zai dau zancen ba.