A Tsakanin Soyayya Book 1 Complete Hausa Novel
Babban Beach was an incredibly famous beach with a worldwide reputation, even recognized as the World Best Beach in 2018. A small fishing vessel (boat) was moving on the blue water. A tall, fair-skinned young man was standing in front of the boat. He had a somewhat full, thick body, the kind of build men have. He was wearing a brown shirt and short men's shorts that were slightly above his knees. His feet were adorned with very beautiful white bathroom slippers that perfectly fit his long feet. On his head was a red cap, and his face was partially covered by a headset pointing upwards. He stood watching the blue water where fish were jumping in and out. He stood like that for about two minutes before letting out a warm sigh, stretched out his hand, and picked up the fishing rod leaning against the black metal side of the boat. He picked it up slowly, held it, and untangled the line before casting the fishing rod into the water. A smile appeared on his face for the first time; you could tell he loved what he was doing.
He moved the fishing rod sideways as if remembering something. He looked beside him and saw a small, shiny sachet with a picture of fish and the words "fish food" written on it. He picked it up, opened the sachet, put his white hand inside, and took out one piece of fish food that looked like cheese balls, only harder. He attached the food to the hook of the fishing rod, secured the food on the hook, and then put the fishing rod back into the water, turning it. Right now, he's about to catch a fish. Almost 30 seconds later, with a kind of smile, in a very soft, low voice, he said, "Got you." Immediately, he started reeling in the line.
His phone ringing in his shorts pocket interrupted him. He blinked, opened his eyes just as the line holding the hook came out, holding a huge, live fish. It was struggling to free itself from the hook, but it couldn't. He pulled the fishing rod, smiling as he looked at the fish. He put it down on the deck and was about to walk away while looking at the fish when he reached the front of a deep basket. All this while, his phone was ringing, but he didn't mind. He threw the fish into the basket, then leaned the fishing rod against the deck, put his hand slowly into his pocket, pulled out his sophisticated phone, looked at the screen, then made a face like someone who was tired. He brought the phone to his ear, his face contorted, and he said, "Dadddddd," drawing out the name like someone about to cry.
From the other end, a deep, mature male voice said, "Don't 'Dad' me there. You know what you did. You know, Aliyu, where are your bodyguards?" The man's voice was filled with anger. Aliyu made a face, and in a low voice, like someone who didn't want to talk, he said, “I know you already know, why are you asking again?”
"Come on, Aliyu, your sister said... am I talking to you like this? I know where they are; I was communicating with them about their well-being before I called you. And man-to-man, turn that boat around and go back to that beach where you left them. If you want to go fishing, carry them along with you. Go do your fishing since it's your hobby. While you are fishing, let them guard you. I hired them just to protect you for me. You know how much I'm spending for your security, huh?" He was very angry, as if he was going to explode.
Aliyu said, “Well, I didn't ask for them. I don't need them. I'm old enough to protect myself, Dad. And besides, Allah is the protector of all mankind. Also, stop treating me like a toddler; I'm not that baby you used to feed Cerelac and garri rice. I'm 29 years and 7 months old; I'm an adult. And I don't need security or bodyguards, whatever their name is. Free me, Dad, please.”
From the other end, the man said, “Hello, Mr. Aliyu Adult, when did you become so tough? And you went fishing without wearing a sweater, I'm sure you'll catch a cold. If you catch a little cold, you'll start sneezing up and down. Turn that boat around and go, or I swear I'll scold you. I'll scold you until my veins pop out. Go, and next week you will return to Nigeria. You will be under my watch. My mind will be at rest. I'm tired of calling your security every single minute to ask about you. I warned you not to appear in front of me; I see you all the time, my mind is not at rest. Turn that boat around and go find something to cover yourself. Am I clear?”
He was silent, didn't speak, his face was very tense, without removing the phone from his ear, filled with distress. The man said, "Am I clear, Aliyu?" In a very low, forced voice, he said, "Yes." He hung up the phone, his whole being in turmoil. He put the phone back in his pocket and looked at the fish he had caught. He sighed, walked slowly towards the boat's engine, started it, came back, and began driving the boat. He sped off, turned around, and sped for almost 12 minutes before reaching the beach shore.
His eyes were on his two bodyguards standing on the beach shore where he had left them. They were wearing black suits; one was holding a big blanket, and the other wasn't holding anything. They had been waiting by the water's edge since before he parked. He parked, got out without even looking at them, and started walking. The one holding the blanket approached him. "Sir, your Dad asked us to give you this blanket to cover your body." Angrily, without even looking at the blanket, he said, "I don't want it." He walked past them. They turned quickly and followed him. In front of a big jeep, he opened the door, got in the back, and sat down, shivering quickly. The first guard arrived and offered the blanket, saying, "Sir, please take it; you are already catching a cold." A nasty look shot his way. He said, "Get in the car and drive me home, or I leave the car for you, Mister." Quickly, they all got in. He started the car, they reversed, and left the place. He blinked his eyes; he really felt cold, but he didn't tell them to turn off the car's AC. His Dad had won again; he had said the cold would get to him. He was so happy earlier, but Dad ruined everything, all because of those stupid security men with him. A difficult feeling rose in his chest; he adjusted his sitting position and hugged himself.
After about a 20-minute drive, they arrived and parked in front of a large, luxurious house. Quickly, they got out before the gateman could even open the gate himself. He waved them in and passed by them into the house. He opened a door and entered.
No one was in the large, luxurious parlor. He ran up the stairs quickly, shivering. He opened a luxurious room where everything inside was sky blue. He sat on the royal bed; it was so cold it went into his bones. He stretched his hand, picked up the AC remote on the pillow on the bed. His phone started ringing. He picked up the remote and turned off the AC before taking the phone from his pocket. His face tightened when he saw "Dad" on the screen. As if forced, he brought the phone to his ear. He was silent, didn't say anything. In a calming voice, the man said, “Are you still angry with your Daddy or my scolding?”
He was silent, didn't say anything, quietly. The man said, "Come on, Ali, my stubborn one, my son, get up and put on a sweater so you don't get cold, Mr. Aliyu Adult." He smiled a little, knowing his father was worried about him; that's how he showed it. "Alright then, get up so you don't get cold." "Uhm," he replied, getting down from the bed. He reached a mirror wardrobe on the wall of the room and looked at himself; his nose was running because of the cold. A butler knocked on the wardrobe door, opened it, and placed the phone on a stool nearby. He took out a beautiful dark sweater and put it on; it looked very good on him and complemented his skin tone. He picked up the phone and put it back to his ear. Daddy said, "Have you put on the sweater?" He nodded his head and said, "Yes." “Alright, see now the cold will reduce. Stop acting stubborn, my son, Aliyu. I know you are above everyone else, I know how fragile you are. A little wind touches you, a little thing, cold, cold. You need to take care of yourself, okay? And also, I said you will return to Nigeria, just so my mind can be at rest.”
As if he was about to cry, he said, "Dadddd." "Common, don't 'Daddy' me, my friend." In his voice, which held a terrifying sweetness and tenderness, he said, “Nigeria's weather is super harsh, Dad. I don't wanna come back, please, let me be.”
In a slightly stern voice, Daddy said, "Let you be? I will let you be, huh?" Then he was silent before softening his voice and saying, “Come on, my stubborn one, yes, my father, bearing the name Abba, finish your project, finish everything. I've missed you badly. Come home; let me arrange everything. If there's any available flight tomorrow, come back home where your center is. You are coming back; I will find you a wife. You, marriage is your thing; settle down and start a family, or what do you think?”
He lay down on the bed, pulled the covers over himself, and with his eyes closed, adjusted the phone on his ear and said, “Don't start with the marriage talk for me. If it starts, I won't even come back. Women are so lousy; I don't think I can ever live with one.”
Quickly, Dad said, "No, no, it's not like that. Let's leave that talk. Please come home, my son." Quietly, he said, “Alright, but not tomorrow. There's something I need to do, but maybe the day after tomorrow, or rather on Friday only.”
"Until Friday? Today is Tuesday, Aliyu. You mean in three days? Please, on Thursday, come home, my stubborn one." He was silent, then he moved the phone and said, "Ok, Dad." His father was so happy it made him smile too, hearing his father's joy because he agreed to return.
"Did you eat pancake today?" He made a face and said, "No." "Why? Did I forbid you from eating your favorite?" As if he was about to cry, he said, "You didn't let me enjoy my peace; you ruined my day, Dad." With a bit of irritation, he said, "Should I compose a poem for you, my stubborn one?" He smiled a little without saying anything.
"Don't worry, when you come back, there's a pastry shop that makes the best pancakes. I can testify to that. The other day I ate their pancakes, and my taste buds were dancing. I will send someone to buy some for you, including Velvet cake. You will eat until you are satisfied. It's even more delicious than the one in California, I promise. Nigeria has progressed now, we have." He smiled, closing his eyes. His voice was low and sleepy. "Okay, Dady." "You are sleepy, or is that why your voice is so low?" He nodded his head and said, "Yeah." “Alright, Son, sleep, please. Allow your bodyguards to do their job, my son. I'm paying them just to take care of you. You are too fragile, so don't stop them from taking care of you. Now sleep. I am about to enter the Chamber. I love you.”
His voice, fading as he sank into the bed, filled with tiredness like someone who had been drained, said, "Love you too, Dad." His father hung up. The deep tiredness he felt made him remove the phone from his ear, turn over, and melt further into the covers. A sweet, deep sleep overcame him as he dreamed about the future.
