BAKAR TUKUNYA BOOK 2 HAUSA NOVELS BY HUMAIRA BULAMA.docx

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It was all Ummi’s fault that she brought this calamity upon him. If only he hadn't hated her and stopped feeling anything toward her, wallahi, he would never have gotten involved in this dark business... it was completely against his nature! Even from childhood, he was never capable of doing such a thing.

…………

The dishes prepared were up to eight different varieties (for morning and afternoon) plus what Daddy requested to be added. Before he even stepped out of the shower, everything had already been neatly set up; upon entering the parlor, he found the dining table filled to capacity.

Stepping into the center of the parlor, he stumbled upon his suitcase. So, he pulled it back inside and continued getting dressed calmly, elegantly styling himself in a striking, pristine white suit adorned with brown details. He put on his watch, a necktie, brown shoes, and brown-tinted sunglasses—because he knew that anyone who looked closely into his eyes would immediately notice that he was not in his right state of mind.

He was the absolute definition of handsome! Looking completely sharp and dashing, he sprayed himself with various perfumes and stepped out. After gathering everything he needed, he went straight to the parking lot. His flight and everything else were already fully prepared.

He didn't cast so much as a glance at the food they had laid out for him, nor did he look toward Daddy's side of the house. The moment he arrived, the drivers who saw him rushed forward and opened the back seat for him. He slipped inside after firmly emphasizing to them that he did not want any loud noise or a convoy; he strictly required just one car.

He made the journey entirely alone…

An accommodation and a driver were already waiting for him at his destination (Abuja).

Even when he arrived in Abuja, it wasn't until the following day that people actually realized he was in town. When a convoy was dispatched to pick him up, he simply forwarded his residential address and told them he was not at the airport.

People were profoundly shocked to see him arriving completely alone! Meanwhile, Asad wasn't particularly bothered, even though deep down he knew this would eventually affect him. But even if he had told them not to come, Ummie, Daddy, and Akram should have at least stood by his side on such an important day.

The grand scale on which they handled the event, complete with video coverage crews, began to irritate Asad. It felt inappropriate, as though they hadn't just lost a human being (the former CEO). Even before he reached the venue, the media was already well aware of his arrival. It was a massive occasion; there was hardly any foreign country that hadn't sent a high-profile dignitary to attend. As for the crowd, their sheer numbers were beyond description. Despite the exorbitant price of the tickets, seeing the massive turnout would make you think they had been begged to come and receive charity.

The official inauguration and turbaning ceremony were performed, followed by a small, classic, private banquet among themselves. However, it wasn't until midnight that he finally found some time to himself. No matter how much he wished to return to Kano that same day, he found it impossible due to profound exhaustion. Therefore, he simply retired to the house where he was staying alongside the two bodyguards who had been forcefully assigned to him.

Nothing troubled Asad about this entire situation more than how surprisingly at peace his mind felt! He felt a profound sense of inner victory, as though he had just fought a war and emerged victorious, which deeply worried him because he wasn't supposed to feel this way about the whole ordeal. He was not supposed to possess this peace of mind after killing someone to take over his position.

With great difficulty, he managed to catch a little sleep before waking up. He stood up, headed to the restroom to perform ablution, and returned to begin his prayers. Even after concluding the prayers, he remained seated to supplicate, becoming entirely unsettled by his own calm. At this very moment, nothing was bothering him—no fear, no anxiety, no anger. He felt completely at ease, his heart entirely light! This was a clear sign that his ultimate ambition had been achieved.

"Innalillahi wa inna ilaihirrajiun (To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return), what am I?" He asked himself this question while leaning his back slowly against the bed... He lifted his head upward, staring at the decorative POP ceiling lining the room before gently closing his eyes…

According to the schedule he reviewed, his only free time—which lasted no more than three days—came at the end of the month, right after the budget was finalized, everything was settled, and salaries were paid before entering the new month. This brief period wouldn't even be enough for him to travel to Asia, despite owning companies and established businesses there. Although he could manage them online, he deeply wished Nigeria could be the place he visited for just three days while being left alone in his beloved Asia. This was because he dreaded his family home. To make matters worse, his main corporate office was located in Kano (the center of commerce); he would only ever need to travel to Abuja for meetings when hosting high-profile international guests.

'Is this how my life is going to unfold?' He asked himself, plunging even deeper into a world of worry, heavy thoughts, and mental calculations.

.......…

Right up until the following day, no one had informed Anne about anything. Yadikko’s health was improving under careful supervision, though she adamantly refused to let Adda enter her room.

Meanwhile, Anne focused her energy on mocking and taunting Abba regarding the sudden wealth emerging from Ya Amir. She claimed that while everyone else progresses in life, he remains stagnant. She pointed out that Amir was already showing signs of incoming money, whereas Abba remained completely empty-handed, as if marked by a black bag. Ever since Kaka Nura informed her of his encounter with him, she renewed her efforts today to insults him viciously. She was fully aware that the claims were rooted in malice and slander, yet she chose to feed into it, relentlessly spouting hurtful words. She even brought Amal to tears again, leaving the poor girl terrified and deeply embarrassed. They had a difficult time comforting her.

Adda was deeply relieved that Ya Abba was not at home while Anne was causing this massive uproar. However, she dreaded his return, knowing Anne’s constant harassment would rob him of his peace of mind within the house and torment him relentlessly.

That was the grim state of the household. The moment Afra, Amal, and even Aliya (who had also returned) left for their Islamic school, Anne would pick up right where she left off, with Kaka Nura joining in to support her whenever he walked in. They gave Adda no breathing room until nightfall, and Ya Abba had still not returned.

Ya Amir was highly occupied at the Islamic school, which kept him away from the house for most of the day. Consequently, Anne did not get the chance to secretly search through his phone as she had originally intended. However, almost all her spiritual local masters (mallams) were now fully aware of the matter concerning Mai Qusa and his daughter. They instructed her to do everything possible to secure the girl's name so they could begin their spiritual manipulation, assuring her that if there was already a mutual acquaintance between them, the task would be incredibly easy.

…………

It was around the time of the Zuhr (afternoon) prayer when Asad finally arrived in Kano. The moment he entered the city, it felt like a magical spell; his heart experienced a sudden shift, yet there was no trace of fear, resentment, or anger. Up until that moment, he felt completely at ease, though he could sense a profound change in the state of his heart.

Since the previous night, he had resolved to give out charity, distribute zakat, and dedicatedly serve the religion, hoping that perhaps Allah would recognize his deeds and alleviate his inner turmoil. Furthermore, regarding the case of the late former CEO, he felt the most appropriate course of action was to utilize his wealth to serve the faith.

Two cars had arrived to pick him up, but he took the keys to one and instructed the handlers to head home in the other. He chose to drive alone. He even told the two individuals who traveled with him from Abuja to join the others and proceed home together, insisting he could handle himself. They couldn't argue with him, so they reluctantly complied, leaving him to drive off entirely on his own. They headed home completely filled with dread, especially since they noticed that Daddy seemingly had no idea Asad was returning today, as he had only just informed them of his arrival.

He simply kept driving along the road, deeply lost in a maze of thoughts... He spent over an hour driving around Kano city. Realizing he didn't even know his destination, he pulled over to find a parking spot. Opening a map application, he began searching for an Islamic school…

A short distance away, he spotted one located in Mariri. It bore signs of longevity, having earned enough recognition to appear on the digital map. Consequently, he started the car, set his coordinates, and navigated toward the school using his GPS. As he drove, an inexplicable, powerful intuition began to urge him forward, making him feel that there was something of monumental importance awaiting him at that school beyond his initial intentions of giving charity and zakat.

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**BAQAR TUKUNYA…**

**By Humairah Bulama**

**Page 45**

Calmly, he paused his driving and stared at the narrow alleyway the map had routed for him, indicating it was the path leading directly to the school gate. It was blindingly obvious that his car would never fit through. Therefore, he reversed, secured a parking spot beneath a tree, grabbed his phones, and stepped out, locking the vehicle behind him.

The people in the area stared at him as though they were watching a television screen. The vast majority of them were young children (almajiri), alongside some elders and old men moving about. While they stared at him, he simultaneously observed them. They looked at him with awe and envy for his luxurious lifestyle; from his car and his physical appearance to the phones in his hand and his high-end attire, wealth and luxury screamed from every fiber of his being.

Conversely, he looked at them with a deep, aching longing, wishing he could possess even a fraction of the genuine joy and peace of mind they held in their hearts. One look at them revealed they were genuinely happy and free from heavy burdens; they radiated cheerfulness and laughter, with children running around and elders engaging in warm, pleasant conversations filled with bright expressions.

He drew a slow, deep breath and let it out, utterly astonished by how violently his heart had suddenly begun to race at that very moment.

He was on the verge of asking them for directions, but he noticed the digital layout on his phone was exceptionally clear. Uttering a quiet 'Bismillah', he stepped into the narrow alley. The massive open drainage channel running right through the center of the path was wider than the walking spaces on either side. It was completely unpaved—crude, lacking cement, iron reinforcement, or any proper slope. Consequently, it had disintegrated into a muddy mess, perfectly fitting the description of a ghetto gutter.

From the moment he entered the alley, he could see the school gate from a distance, with its name boldly written across it in Arabic. The gate was so heavily dilapidated that three children under the age of ten could easily slip through or climb over both its left and right panels simultaneously. If you accidentally scraped against it, a tetanus shot would undoubtedly be mandatory due to how severely rusted and weathered it had become. The original color of the gate was completely unidentifiable; it had entirely taken on the color of pure rust.

He stood there in utter amazement... Was it possible that in this entire neighborhood, not a single person could afford to donate funds to repair a prominent, highly renowned school like this? Or what exactly was going on? Sacred Quranic education was being taught inside; it was truly a blessing that he chose to come here…

With his eyes fixed on the gate, his mind was entirely consumed by calculations. For reasons he couldn't fathom, his heart began to thud with increasing intensity. Because of this, he completely failed to notice two young ladies walking directly toward him to pass by. They were typical modern, flashy girls, both wearing tight trousers with long hair extensions cascading down to their waistlines. Each girl stared at him, openly admiring his striking physique and the exceptional handsomeness Allah had blessed him with. Their attention was completely diverted from the path ahead, entirely locked onto Asad…

By accident, one of them nearly stepped on a lizard, which quickly dashed between her feet. Startled, she instinctively grabbed Asad’s hand while letting out a loud shriek.

Instantly, Amal snapped her head up toward the sound of the female scream. She spotted the two women in tight clothing, and the man in the ash-colored suit holding one of their hands while looking down. Then, as if prompted by an instinct, he raised his head and looked directly toward where Amal stood watching them in sheer amazement.

A powerful, shocking jolt struck his chest! His entire body went completely numb, his eyes entirely locked onto her. Meanwhile, Amal shifted her gaze down to their joined hands, her mind filled with profound disgust and judgment... *'He looks highly responsible and calm to the eye, yet look at the kind of women he associates with.'* He still hadn't let go of her hand, and from where Amal stood, it appeared as though he was the one holding onto the girl.

Following the direction of her gaze, Asad quickly realized the situation. He violently yanked his hand away and stepped back, only just realizing he was completely blocking their path…

"Thank you, sir!" one of the girls said with a wide smile, completely charmed by him. However, she knew he was entirely out of her league and wouldn't pay her any real attention, so she chose to walk away.

The moment they passed, Amal quickly averted her gaze, staring down an alleyway while praying fervently in her heart for Ya Aliya to finally emerge from her friend’s house so she could collect her Holy Quran and head inside…

Earlier, when they arrived at the school, Mallam Babba had stopped them at the gate. He informed them that one of the students in Afra’s class (who had also become a teacher at the school) had recently given birth. He gathered about ten of them to go and deliver his personal congratulations. Once inside, after the initial pleasantries, the women began gossiping extensively about childbirth, young men, romance, and intimacy. Amal felt deeply embarrassed in front of Ya Aliya; being the youngest among them, she realized she couldn't tolerate the conversation any longer, so she bade them farewell and stepped outside, leaving them laughing at her.

Only after stepping outside did she realize she hadn't retrieved her Holy Quran from Ya Aliya’s bag. Furthermore, she wanted to ask her whether they would return home early or wait until closing time. Thus, she stood waiting for them right at the school entrance, which was precisely where Allah destined her to cross paths with Asad…

……

Asad was trying his absolute best to avert his eyes from her, knowing full well that if anyone stared at him the way he was staring at Amal right now, he would be furious. Yet, no matter how hard he tried, his heart and eyes completely mutinied against him, doing nothing but intensifying his deep longing to look at her... He didn't even understand how it happened, but he suddenly found himself walking directly toward her, his heart pounding furiously as he silently chanted the names of Allah in his mind…

Truly, if he had encountered her at night clad in white, he would have mistaken her for a spirit, because she was breathtakingly cute and beautiful. He couldn't deny that this girl had completely captured his soul. In his entire life, no human being had ever charmed him or pierced his heart so instantly as this young lady. He was entirely certain that by now, she was thoroughly infuriated by his intense staring, judging by how she turned her face away and knit her brows in a deep, stern frown.

*'Now if someone calls him out, he will claim to be a Muslim, yet look at how he holds a woman's hand in a secluded alley and blocks the path for two of them! Heaven knows what he intends to do with them! It's obvious that seeing me is what made him stop whatever vile thing he was planning to do...'* Amal rationalized bitterly in her mind.

However, she quickly performed istighfar (seeking forgiveness), cutting off the train of thought to stop harboring such terrible, dark assumptions about him, knowing with certainty that he was a fellow Muslim brother…

"May Allah guide him," she thought to herself. She turned slightly upon sensing a physical presence close by, only to find him standing right next to her, staring down at her with a pair of unique, brilliant eyes. In all the time since Anne brought her into this world, she had never seen eyes quite like his! The irises weren't black but a striking shade of brown, exceptionally beautiful and deeply captivating…

Terrified, she quickly clamped her eyes shut, took a sharp breath, and took a massive step backward, uttering, "Subhanallah..." because he had thoroughly frightened her.

The moment he stood before her, he realized he had completely lost his composure, rendering him utterly speechless. By Allah’s decree, he found it physically impossible to stop staring at her even up to this very second…

Exerting immense effort, he managed to break his gaze away from her face, shifting it down to the front of her hijab right around her chest. He focused on reading the school badge pinned there. He struggled to decipher the name of the institution because it had become heavily faded from continuous washing and age. He simply wanted to confirm if she was a student there, so he could ask her to introduce him to her teachers... Seeing her dressed in a long dress and a full-length hijab complete with a school badge, he knew she was a student.

By this time, Amal was thoroughly panicked by the actions of this strange man. To make matters worse, the alley was completely deserted, as quiet as a graveyard! Swept by intense fear and anger, she lifted her head, on the verge of bursting into her signature defense mechanism—tears. Instead, she caught him staring intently at her chest... What she didn't realize was that Asad's mind wasn't there at all; he had just finished reading the school's name and was merely wondering whether the badge was issued that way or if it had simply faded over time.

With incredible speed, she turned her back on him and bolted into the school compound as though she were being chased, her anger boiling over. She couldn't stop herself from muttering under her breath, "Pervert!" A stream of hot tears began to gather in her eyes, and she felt a powerful urge to let out a loud scream.

All the students were inside their respective classrooms since the lesson period had long commenced, leaving the courtyard completely silent. Overwhelmed by anxiety and anger, she decided to