Inda Rai Book 1 Complete Hausa Novel
Adamawa Yola. Today, the city woke up to an intense, bone-chilling cold that pierced through the skin, a cold reminiscent of the harmattan season. The rain had poured throughout the night as if from a broken calabash, and by 5:00 pm, it had not yet subsided. The cold in the city was so severe that most residents had to bundle up in heavy clothing to shield themselves from the freezing temperatures…
Yola International Airport.
The atmosphere was tense, filled with anxiety and the hustle of passengers. The last flight departing from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia was preparing to take off.
The entire gathering of travelers, anyone you looked at, had faces filled with worry, sadness, and extreme heart-pounding fear. It was the kind of fear a presidential candidate might feel after spending millions on a campaign, risking everything as election results are announced. Such was the fear the pilgrims were experiencing, all of them.
The global agency responsible for Hajj flights had issued a statement that by 12:00 midnight tonight, King Fahd International Airport in Saudi Arabia would be closed. This would mark the final closure, as all other airports had already been shut due to the end of the Hajj season.
Amidst the confusion, a fair-skinned man, likely in his early 50s, joined the group of pilgrims. He addressed them calmly, speaking in his capacity as the Amirul Hajj of Adamawa, a position he had been appointed to this year. His opponents, however, were already celebrating, knowing that in his first year, over 750 pilgrims might miss the opportunity to perform Hajj.
Facing the crowd of hundreds of men and women, he spoke in a voice filled with pain, frustration, and urgency:
“I beg for your patience regarding the delay in the arrival of the final flight that will carry our pilgrims to the holy land. Please remain calm and patient. You know that Allah’s promise is true. If Allah has decreed that we will go to Saudi Arabia and perform Hajj, then by His will, we will go. But if He has not destined it for us, then all our efforts and hopes will not come to pass. We must leave our affairs to Allah, for He alone has the power to grant us this opportunity...”
He then fell silent, glancing at the former Amirul Hajj, Ido, who had been relieved of his position before being replaced. With a mix of wisdom, anger, and a voice tinged with envy, he addressed the crowd:
“I remember last year, just five days before the closure of Jeddah Airport, all our pilgrims had already been transported. But this year, we are lagging behind. Nigeria is not the only country in the world, but we are among the last. Look, it’s already 5:00 pm, and our flight has not even arrived at our airport. At least we have managed to get 700 people on board, but the flight we are expecting can only carry 500. This means that about 200 people will miss the chance to perform Hajj, despite having paid for it. The Prophet (peace be upon him) was right when he said, ‘Hurry before you are prevented from going.’"
The entire community was deeply affected by his words, as the journey to Hajj is one of the most significant acts of worship in Islam, and nothing should stand in its way. Some supporters of the former Amirul Hajj began to murmur:
“We need a change in leadership. We need someone like the former Amirul Hajj.”
Most of the pilgrims were in tears, especially those who were embarking on their first Hajj. They wept bitterly, their hearts heavy with sorrow.
In a mix of satisfaction and frustration, the fair-skinned man, filled with regret, raised his hands in supplication. He blamed himself, feeling guilty for failing to secure transportation for some of the pilgrims. Tears welled up in his eyes as he spoke:
“Please be patient. Let us leave our affairs to the Almighty. By Allah’s will, we will all go. Even I myself have not yet gone...”
Suddenly, they all raised their heads in unison, as if in response to his plea.
