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BABBAN YARO
Part 1: The Outbreak at the Stalls
Uncle Dalha remarked, "No, Iya. It's not all wealthy people who act that way. I swear, there are some who are truly kind and love to help the public."
"You're right about that; there are certainly many," Iya the gruel seller replied. They continued their banter in this manner until the call for the evening prayer echoed through the air. Dalha rose and headed to the mosque. Iya tried to strike up a conversation with Ladidi, but the girl ignored her completely, sobbing heavily in continuous outbursts. Seeing her stubbornness, Iya decided to leave her alone and began performing her ablutions to pray.
Monday, 12:00 PM
The plane carrying Abdul Hakkim and his family made its landing. Dady, Salim, and Salima stood watching the arrivals lounge with wide, expectant eyes, waiting to catch his first step out. Slowly, he walked down the ramp. One look at him was enough to tell he was drowning in pure joy. A brilliant, striking smile played across his handsome face—a face that commanded deep respect, charm, and absolute composure. He was dressed in a sharp, impeccably tailored suit that looked incredibly good on him, paired with polished black leather shoes that gleamed in the light. An earpiece was tucked into his ear. One hand held his oversized phone, while the other smoothly guided his rolling suitcase behind him.
Salima burst forward, running toward him at top speed. Before she could even reach him, Hakkim slid his phone into his pocket and opened his arms wide. They locked into a warm embrace, Salima laughing happily as she welcomed him home. Smiling warmly, he answered her and lightly patted her back.
Salim caught up to them, his face beaming with joy. "Welcome back, big bro, welcome back!" He immediately took the suitcase from Hakkim's hand.
Hakkim placed a hand on Salim's shoulder and teased, "It's good to be back safely, little bro. But listen, I brought a brand-new razor with me this time, and I am personally going to shave off that ridiculous tuft of hair standing in the middle of your head. Didn't I strictly warn you against rocking these modern rogue haircuts?"
Salim laughed, countering, "Uh, big bro, you're one to talk—your own hair is cut exactly the same way!"
Hakkim gave him a playful tap on the head. "Since when does my style look like yours? Mine is classy; yours is a mess." Salim laughed, scratching his head awkwardly as they finally made their way to the car where Dady stood waiting.
Dady watched them with a proud, affectionate smile, deeply moved by how much his children loved and looked out for one another. Hakkim walked into his father's arms for a hug. "Dady, I hope I found you all in perfect health?"
"In perfect health, Alhamdullah. Though we missed you terribly, and we missed having your sharp eyes around the house."
Hakkim chuckled. "Well, I am back now, and I fully intend to pick up right where I left off the very moment I see anything out of line."
Dady laughed. "Oh, I can already see the signs! You've barely stepped off the plane and you're already laying down the law for Salim." They all shared a hearty laugh, opened the car doors, and climbed in as the driver pulled away into traffic.
Bowls, cups, and plastic containers were lined up in a long, dense queue stretching from inside the courtyard all the way out into the entrance hallway. Everyone was fiercely guarding their spot, waiting for their turn to be served. Even a crowd of men stood waiting outside, hoping to have their orders passed out to them; most of them were travelers, so Iya was packing their gruel into plastic bags for easy transport.
Iya was managing this massive rush entirely on her own. She had begged and pleaded with Ladidi to come out and help her, but the girl stubbornly refused. Since today was Thursday and there was no Islamic evening school, Ladidi was locked away in her room, nursing a massive grudge. Just this morning, her uncle Dalha had brought up the issue of shaving her head again, which was why she was currently giving Iya the silent treatment.
Outside, the noise of the neighborhood children was growing unbearable, with everyone shouting over each other, terrified of being skipped or cheated out of their turn. Suddenly, Ladidi violently kicked the room's curtain aside and marched out, her heavy, stomping footsteps echoing across the yard. She headed directly toward the entrance hallway. Iya, whose back was turned as she focused on serving, didn't even notice her departure.
The moment Ladidi reached the long queue of containers, she began picking up the bowls from the very back and moving them to the front, while ruthlessly shoving the front containers to the back, completely scrambling the order.
Iliya, who was standing right there, watched in horror as his cup was pushed way back line. "Hey, Ladidi! Put my cup back exactly where it was! You waited until it was almost my turn just to come out here and ruin the line?"
Ladidi placed her hands on her hips, staring him down defiantly. "I am not moving it."
Furious, Iliya marched over to his cup, picked it up, and returned it to its original spot. But before he could even set it down properly, Ladidi snatched it out of his hand and hurled it across the courtyard. Stung by pure frustration, Iliya lunged forward and struck her. Ladidi retaliated instantly, delivering a heavy blow of her own. Before anyone could even blink, a full-scale, violent brawl erupted between them.
At that exact moment, a young girl named Aminoni was walking out from the serving area, carefully balancing a plastic bowl filled to the brim with steaming, scorching-hot gruel. Completely caught off guard by the flying limbs, Ladidi accidentally delivered a massive shove to the girl. The boiling gruel flipped over, spilling directly across Aminoni’s chest.
The poor girl let out a bloodcurdling shriek: "Oh my God, I am burning!!!"
Dropping her serving ladle instantly, Iya rushed toward the entrance hallway to investigate the screams. What she found left her utterly paralyzed. Ladidi and Iliya were locked in a brutal, vice-like struggle. Even though Iliya was a male and nearly five years older than Ladidi, he was completely failing to get the upper hand. Ladidi was raining wild punches on him from every conceivable angle, while simultaneously trying to hook her leg behind his to trip him onto the hard ground. If anyone were to look at her face at that precise moment, they would swear under oath it wasn't the same girl; her entire countenance had morphed into something unrecognizable as she fiercely jabbed and tore at his clothes.
Iya stood frozen, her eyes darting back and forth, entirely unsure of who to handle first. On one side was Aminoni, screaming in agony as the boiling gruel scalded her skin, while on the other side was Ladidiya, completely possessed by a violent, unhinged fury.
Part 2: The Fugitive's Hair
With immense effort, Iya rushed to Aminoni’s side, helped her peel off her soaked shirt, and quickly began wiping down her burned skin, repeatedly offering soft words of comfort. Aminoni could do nothing but sob, frantically scratching at the painful burns. With her voice trembling, Iya asked, "Where does it hurt the most, my child?"
Aminoni pointed weeping to her chest and the side of her arm. Iya inspected the area; the skin had turned a deep, fiery crimson and was already beginning to blister. Shaken, Iya dashed back into the main house, chanting prayers for divine intervention.
By now, the men waiting outside had caught wind of the violent uproar. They swarmed into the hallway, throwing themselves between the two to break up the fight. But Ladidi, completely blind to authority, began raining wild punches and hurling vicious insults at the grown men, entirely unbothered by their size or status. Knowing her volatile nature, the men chose not to strike back, focusing all their strength on prying Iliya from her terrifying, vice-like grip.
The moment Iliya was freed from her clutches, he bolted out into the street, leaning against a wall to desperately catch his breath. Ladidi retreated to a corner of the yard, panting heavily like a wild animal. Her mouth didn't stop moving for a second as she continued to hurl a barrage of curses at Iliya and the men who had intervened. The bystanders left the compound shaking their heads, completely stunned by her utter lack of shame or respect.
Stepping forward to block the main doorway, Ladidi glared after Iliya and yelled, "I swear by Allah, no one will ever sell a single drop of gruel to you in this house! Go find somewhere else to spend your morning!"
Iliya didn't utter a single word in response. He simply picked up his battered cup and walked away, deeply embittered over his wasted time. His entire household preferred Iya's gruel above all others in the village, as it was famous for its rich, sweet flavor, its pristine cleanliness, and its inviting aroma of ginger and cloves.
Iya emerged from the house carrying a plastic bowl filled with a thick mixture of water and Omo laundry detergent. She rushed over to Aminoni, gently smearing the soapy foam over the burns to soothe the heat while murmuring continuous apologies. Aminoni could only nod silently, leaving Ladidi's judgment entirely to God, for she knew she lacked the power to challenge her openly. Iya brought out one of Ladidi's clean shirts and helped Aminoni into it, then refilled her bowl with a fresh batch of hot gruel. She escorted the girl all the way out to the street, offering continuous comfort.
Turning to the crowd of customers waiting outside, Iya stood apologizing repeatedly for the chaotic disruption. When she finally returned inside, she completely ignored Ladidi's presence, heading straight back to her pots to resume serving the customers. Deprived of any choice, the people quietly accepted the warped reality Ladidi had created; those who were originally first in line simply moved to the back, while those at the back moved further into the rear.
Hajiya Asiya sat elegantly on a living room sofa, eagerly awaiting her family's arrival. She had dressed up beautifully for the occasion and had meticulously set the dining table for her beloved son. Everything was ready; they were just waiting for his grand entry.
The moment she heard the smooth hum of a car engine pulling into the driveway, she exhaled a soft, "Alhamdulillah." Her eyes remained glued to the front door until they walked in. Hakkim instantly released Salima's hand, stepped forward, and pulled his mother into a tight embrace. "Mama, I missed you so much!"
Stroking his hair with a warm smile, she replied, "I missed you too, my son. Those two short weeks felt like an entire eternity to me." He closed his eyes, soaking in the comforting warmth of a mother who loved him beyond measure.
General Abbas chimed in with a chuckle, "If he eventually moves abroad permanently, what are you going to do then? You might as well start preparing your heart for it now."
Hakkim sat down right next to his mother, holding her hand tightly as he looked at his Dady. "I swear, Dady, for Mama's sake, I am fully prepared to abandon the idea of moving. It never mattered that much to me anyway. I would much rather stay right here in my own country."
Dady smiled. "The wheel is already in motion, my boy. Since you've already gone over there and signed the paperwork, it's now just a matter of time."
Hajiya Asiya stood up, tugging at his hand. "Come along, let's get you over to the dining table. I prepared a very special meal just for you." Filled with lighthearted joy, the entire family headed over to enjoy the feast.
After finishing his meal, Hakkim retired to his private wing, feeling the heavy weight of travel fatigue. He headed straight into the bathroom for a refreshing shower, emerging with a white towel wrapped around his waist. Without even bothering to apply body lotion, he collapsed onto the edge of his bed and began scrolling through his phone.
A call flashed across his screen. Seeing it was his best friend, Yusuf, he picked up and greeted him, "What's the word, boy?"
From the other end, Yusuf replied, "Judging by the highway traffic, I figure you're already relaxing at home by now."
Hakkim warned, "I am home, and I am about to take a massive nap. Don't you dare come over here and disturb my peace with your endless, annoying chatter."
Just before hanging up, Yusuf shot back, "Oh yeah? When I show up, don't you dare lock the door in my face!" Click. The line went dead.
Hakkim let out a chuckle. "What a completely disrespectful guy, hanging up on me like that. Anyway, he'll find me right here." Rising from the bed, he fished out a pair of boxers and a singlet from his wardrobe, pulled them on, sprayed a heavy layer of cologne, and returned to his spot on the bed to continue browsing his phone.
A short while later, a loud, aggressive pounding echoed from his front door. Hakkim could hear Yusuf outside, but he deliberately ignored him. Yusuf tried calling his phone, but Hakkim immediately rejected the call—fully executing his revenge for being hung up on earlier. After leaving Yusuf standing outside for over ten minutes, Hakkim finally walked over and unlocked the door.
Yusuf barged into the room, looking thoroughly annoyed. "I swear, you are one malicious, arrogant guy!"
Hakkim looked at him flatly. "Who told you to hang up on my face? You know that is the one thing I absolutely despise in this life."
Yusuf scoffed, "Yeah, well, I hung up anyway! Look at you, always trying to exert authority and power over everyone. You can't pull that stunt with me!" Hakkim burst into laughter, extending his hand for a tight, friendly clap-and-shake.
Yusuf took a seat and asked, "So, tell me, is there any juicy news from your trip?"
Hakkim shrugged. "I just got back. If anything, you're the one who owes me some village gossip."
Yusuf adjusted his posture, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Oh, trust me, I have some serious updates for you."
Hakkim stared at him and gave a playful warning look. Yusuf swung a light punch at his arm, laughing. "Come on, stop being so stiff!"
Hakkim laughed along. "I already know your stories never go beyond one single topic anyway. Your updates are always about that village-grade girlfriend of yours, the one who doesn't even know how to apply basic face cream."
Yusuf put on a fake scowl. "Hey, stop the insults! At least I actually have a girlfriend. Look at you—you are completely terrified of women! Look at that massive beard you're growing. Seriously, when you finally get married, how are you even going to handle a wife?" he finished, laughing mockingly.
Annoyed, Hakkim snapped, "I'll handle your mother with it, you idiot!"
Yusuf laughed so hard he fell backward onto the bed. "My sweetheart asks about you every single day, you know. She keeps saying she wants to introduce you to her younger sister."
Hakkim swung a fist at him, but Yusuf deftly dodged it, continuing to chuckle. Hakkim rolled his eyes in disgust. "When you see her, tell her that her dirty younger sister is lightyears below my standards."
Yusuf sat up. "Oh, I am definitely telling her that! Every time we talk on the phone, I tell her stories about how you act like a big, tough guy but are secretly terrified of women. She finds it hard to believe; she keeps saying that in this day and age, a man who fears women doesn't exist. I told her to relax, that I would personally drag you by the collar to her house very soon!"
Hakkim glared at him. "Let her keep wondering. And I swear by Allah, if you don't stop telling her stories about me, I will completely boycott your wedding. I won't show my face there even if the marriage is already being finalized."
Yusuf stood up quickly. "Alright, alright, I'll stop! I was actually hoping you would accompany me to go see her tomorrow."
Hakkim shook his head. "You'll have to wait until I return, because I am leaving the city for a vacation."
"A vacation? Where the hell are you going, you rogue?"
A genuine, excited smile spread across Hakkim's face. "I'm heading to Kano. Dady built a massive farmhouse in a quiet, remote village out there. I've been incredibly eager to check it out."
Yusuf’s face lit up. "No way! You mean we're going to get a proper getaway? When are we leaving?"
Hakkim looked at him, surprised. "Wait, you're actually coming along?"
Yusuf nodded vigorously. "Of course I am!"
They shared a quick laugh, and Hakkim said, "I want us to hit the road tomorrow morning."
"Perfect. May Allah get us there safely," Yusuf replied.
Part 3: The Tree Demon
Dressed in an elegant, perfectly coordinated outfit, Hakkim stepped out of his private wing and walked calmly toward his mother's section of the house. He offered a soft greeting as he walked in. Mama and her housemaid, Jummai, were busy setting the dining table. Turning around with a warm smile, Mama asked, "Look at you, all packed and ready to go already?"
Hakkim walked over to them, a bright smile on his face. "I've been ready for hours, Mama. Right now, I'm just waiting for Yusuf to arrive. I really want to avoid driving under the harsh afternoon sun."
Mama looked surprised. "Oh, Yusuf is going with you too?"
Hakkim took a seat on one of the dining chairs. "Yes. The moment I mentioned it to him yesterday, he insisted on tagging along."
Salima, who was sitting across the room in the main lounge, called out, "Big bro, please take me with you! For God's sake, let me come!"
Hakkim shot her a fierce glare. "I am not taking you anywhere."
Mama intervened, "Oh, come on, Hakkim. Just take her along with you. Her school is on break anyway."
Hakkim countered, "Mama, do you even know how long we plan to stay out there?"
Mama shook her head. "No, you tell me."
"We're going to be there for a full two weeks!"
Mama waved her hand dismissively. "So what? That’s perfectly fine. Just take her with you." Hakkim fell silent, unwilling to argue with his mother.
Just then, General Abbas walked down the stairs wearing a grey jallabiyya, holding a copy of the Daily Trust newspaper, with a pair of reading glasses resting on his nose. He took a seat as they exchanged morning pleasantries, and Mama began serving them breakfast.
Once they finished eating, Hakkim stood up. "Dady, I am fully packed."
The General looked up. "I see that. Barely a day after arriving, you're already rushing off again. I spoke with the caretakers at the farmhouse yesterday; everything is fully prepared and clean. They were actually planning to leave the property today, but I explicitly instructed them to stay put until you arrive."
Hakkim nodded. "Thank you, Dady. I'm just waiting on Yusuf now so we can hit the road."
Salima suddenly emerged from her room, fully dressed and beaming with pure excitement, dragging a massive rolling suitcase stuffed to the brim. Dady stared at the luggage in shock. "And where do you think you're going with all that?"
Salima’s face instantly dropped, her eyes welling up with tears. Mama quickly jumped to her defense: "They are traveling together."
Dady chuckled. "So she went and packed a mountain of clothes into a suitcase as if she's migrating to another country?"
Salima stood there looking utterly awkward and small. Hakkim suddenly barked a stern command at her: "Go back to your room right this second and reduce those clothes by half! If you don't, I swear by Allah I am leaving you behind!" Salima bolted back into her room at lightning speed.
Meanwhile, Ladidi’s piercing screams filled the entire compound, echoing so loudly they could be heard clearly out on the street. She was running wild circles around the courtyard, jumping over obstacles like a maniac. Iya was hot on her heels, desperately trying to catch her, holding a brand-new razor blade still wrapped in its paper cover.
Iya yelled, "Stand still, Ladidi! Stop exhausting me! It is much better for you to just let me shave this hair off so you can finally get some relief from this agonizing infestation of lice that is tormenting you!"
Ladidi screamed back, "I swear by Allah, you are not touching my hair with that razor! Why on earth are you so obsessed with shaving my head anyway? What is your business with my lice?! Just leave my property alone!"
Iya made a sudden, aggressive lunge to grab her arm, but Ladidi executed a massive, gravity-defying leap, vaulting backward right over the mouth of the deep well.
Terrified out of her wits, Iya let out a loud prayer, instantly dropping the razor to the ground. "Look, I’ve put the razor down! Get away from the edge of the well, Ladidi!"
Ladidi shrugged her shoulders defiantly. "Oh, so if I come out, you can catch me? I swear, if I feel like it, I will jump straight down into this well!"
Knowing Ladidi's complete lack of sanity and her history of reckless, stubborn stunts, Iya immediately changed her strategy, trying to coax her with sweet words. "Listen to me, my child. Just earlier today, I had a conversation with Mairo, the head of our local savings contribution group. She assured me that I am next in line to receive the third payout. I promise you, the moment she hands over that money, I will go straight to the city market and buy you a brand-new television set!"
Ladidi burst into a mocking laugh. "I know exactly what you're trying to do—you're trying to trick me! Well, watch me jump into the well right now!" She swayed her body forward dramatically, pretending to lose her balance.
Iya let out a bloodcurdling scream, her wrapper nearly slipping off her waist as she bolted out of the house to look for help, completely losing her mind with panic. Ladidi laughed hysterically at her grandmother's terror, hopped down from the well's edge, and ran over to a collapsed, ruined section of the compound. Since that part of the house was completely abandoned and overrun with debris, no one ever went there, making it the perfect hideout.
A few minutes later, Iya returned to the compound accompanied by two neighborhood men, fully intending for them to help her reason with and calm Ladidi down. But the courtyard was completely empty.
A horrifying realization washed over Iya. She rushed frantically to the mouth of the well, peering into the dark depths while wailing, "Oh my God, she did it! She actually jumped into the well! I knew it—I know how Ladidi is, whenever she threatens to do something, she actually goes through with it!" She burst into heavy tears, leaning precariously over the edge.
Down in the dark water, the massive catfish that lived in the well happened to swim to the surface, creating loud, echoing splashes. Hearing the water stir, Iya’s crying doubled in intensity. Wiping her nose with the edge of her wrapper, she barked at the two men, "You're just standing there staring like statues?! What use are you? Get down into that well right now and pull her out! Even if she is dead, let me see her corpse with my own eyes!"
The two men exchanged terrified glances, slowly stepping backward toward the exit. "Uh, Iya... look, let us just run and call the Chief of the Waters for you instead. Everyone knows that girl has a deep connection to powerful spirits; the entities in the well have probably pulled her down to their realm. If we dive in there, those spirits might seize us too. They’ll let her go eventually because she belongs to them, but they won't spare us." Without waiting for a response, they bolted out of the compound. Once outside, one man muttered to the other, "May Allah let those water spirits keep her for good, so the entire village can finally have some peace from her endless madness."
Left alone, Iya leaned further into the well, weeping bitterly. "Why would you do this to me, Aminatu? Why would you leave me like this? You are the only person I look at and see the memory of my late brother Aminu, and yet you choose to drown yourself in a well? Oh, Ladidiya, please forgive my harshness and your uncle's strictness!" She continued to wail, blowing her nose into her clothes, completely lost in her grief.
Meanwhile, Ladidi was peeking out from a small gap in the ruined wall of her hideout. Watching Iya cry, wail, and wipe her nose in utter despair cracked her up so much she fell onto her back, shaking with silent, uncontrollable laughter.
Within minutes, the rumor spread through the neighborhood like wildfire: Ladidi has jumped into the well! Some neighbors offered superficial condolences, while a vast majority secretly celebrated, ecstatic that a prominent source of village misery had finally been eliminated.
Dalha was at his fruit stall when the news reached him. Dropping everything instantly, he sprinted toward the house, leaving his entire inventory completely unattended.
Back at the compound, seeing that Iya was hyperventilating and looked ready to faint and fall into the well herself, the next-door neighbors dragged her away from the edge and escorted her to their own house, where she continued to ramble incoherently in her grief. This collective distraction gave Ladidi the perfect window. She slipped out of her hiding place and bolted out of the compound at a full sprint, her head completely bare without a scarf.
If anyone were to look at her exposed hair at that moment, it would strike pure terror into their heart. Her hair had completely matted, tangled, and fused together into a singular, solid mass of filthy, hardened dirt. It was heavily infested with a thick colony of lice and severe dandruff that seemed to move under the surface. In some patches, her scalp was completely raw and bald from her aggressive, fingernail-tearing scratching, while other areas had thick, wild tufts of hair remaining. She routinely tore out chunks of her own hair with her bare hands while scratching and carelessly tossed them away. Even I couldn't help but think: Ladidi, if only you had just stood still and let them shave your head, it would have been your only salvation from this living nightmare.
She headed straight toward the main tarred road, sprinting like a complete lunatic. She was moving so fast that to the few onlookers on the road, she appeared as nothing more than a passing blur.
The Chief of the Waters arrived at the compound, flanked by a massive crowd of curious villagers. Hearing that the spiritual diver had arrived, Iya rushed back into her courtyard, looking completely disheveled and frantic. Dalha arrived a second later, drenched in sweat from his sprint. Without a word to each other, the family gathered around the well.
The Chief of the Waters stripped down and dove into the depths. He spent nearly an hour completely submerged, thoroughly searching every inch of the water. When he finally surfaced and climbed out, he was shaking his head. "If Ladidi were in this well, I would have found her. I used all my spiritual insights to search every hidden crevice, every underwater cave, and every deep hollow. There is absolutely no trace of her down there."
The entire courtyard fell into a dead, stunned silence. Slowly, the villagers began to disperse, whispering and gossiping among themselves: "We knew it! We’ve been saying for years that that girl is a water spirit. Her people have clearly called her back to their realm. Good riddance, now everyone can finally sleep at night."
Hakkim and Yusuf were cruising down the highway, chatting and laughing like the old friends they were. Salima was sprawled across the backseat, her eyes glued to her phone as she chatted with her friends, completely oblivious to the guys' conversation, which they kept in low, quiet tones.
As they finally crossed into Kano and turned onto the rural road leading to the remote village of Dan Kunkuru, Yusuf inhaled deeply through the window. "I swear, I can already feel the crisp, beautiful country air. This is incredible."
Hakkim smiled, navigating the dirt road. "Just wait until we get deep into the village. You're going to love the absolute serenity. No traffic, no noise—just massive, lush trees providing a perfect, cool breeze."
A massive, imposing estate gate came into view in the distance. Hakkim steered the car directly toward it. A few security guards stationed at the entrance quickly recognized the vehicle and threw the gates open, allowing him to drive into the sprawling compound. He drove down a long, beautifully paved driveway before finally pulling into a parking spot.
Yusuf stepped out of the car, his eyes wide with awe. "Wow! Look at this place, boy! It looks exactly like an upscale resort in a foreign country!"
Hakkim turned off the ignition, stepped out, and stretched his stiff muscles from the long drive. He surveyed the property with deep satisfaction. It was designed in the style of luxury Western ranches, featuring four distinct structures, two main residential wings, and a massive agricultural setup. The livestock area was meticulously divided: a section for chickens, a large pond for fish, and a separate enclosure for turkeys, each neatly fenced off. To his left lay a sprawling orchard, entirely enclosed by a protective wire mesh fence, with the main entrance gate located at the far back of the garden.
Salima dashed past them into the orchard, jumping and squealing with joy. "I am going to eat so many fresh mangoes! This is amazing! Back in Abuja, you have to hunt through markets just to find good fruit."
The three of them dispersed into the lush greenery, each eager to explore the beautiful grounds and unwind after the journey. Hakkim wandered deep into the heart of the orchard, enjoying the quiet rustle of the leaves.
Suddenly, he heard a distinct rustling sound coming from the canopy of a large tree directly above him. He whipped his head up.
Perched on a branch was a bizarre creature. It didn't look entirely human, yet it didn't look like a spirit either. Hakkim’s heart skipped a heavy beat. But being a tough, worldly man, he forced himself to stand his ground. Summoning all his courage, he steeling his voice and demanded fiercely, "Who the hell are you? Are you human or a jinn?!"
Ladidi locked her eyes onto him from her perch, staring down intensely. In her mind, she was completely mesmerized: Look at this incredibly handsome city boy. He's wearing pristine white clothes, and he looks so clean and elegant!
Receiving no answer, Hakkim barked a second, thunderous command: "I said, are you a human or a spirit?! Why are you staring at me with those hideous eyes?!"
In response, Ladidi casually reached up and dug her fingernails into her matted hair, aggressively scratching her scalp until she successfully harvested two massive, fat lice. She looked at the lice in her hand, then looked down at him. With a wicked grin, she dropped them straight down from the branch.
The parasites landed squarely on Hakkim’s shoulder. Against the stark, brilliant white of his expensive designer clothes, the two large, dark lice stood out clear as day, actively crawling along his shoulder line.
Hakkim let out a frantic yelp, jumping back in absolute disgust as he realized the filthy insects were marching across his body. He violently swatted his shoulder, spitting on the ground in pure revulsion. He whipped his head back up, his face contorted in white-hot rage.
Ladidi was already gripping the tree trunk, scrambling down from the branches with the terrifying agility of a wild animal. The moment her feet hit the dirt, Hakkim instinctively took a sharp step back, his heart hammering against his ribs. He stood perfectly frozen, his sharp eyes taking in every single detail of the wild, filthy creature standing before him.
