Kulsum Book 3 Complete Hausa Novel
Kulthum stood up straight and refused to sit down. Turaki walked right up to her and stood in front of her, plunging both hands into his pockets as was his habit. He tried to look directly into her eyes to signal her. She raised her head, but even the marrow inside her bones was trembling. He had a certain effect on her since her childhood days. Such that whenever he was in front of her, even if he stood still before her, the very marrow in her bones would dance. Now that he was before her in this new, unexpected situation, there was no part of her that wasn't trembling, including her heart muscle.
“Ummukulthum, how is life? How has it been since we met? What is special after our separation?”
She didn't answer him, except to bow her head. The scent of his cologne filled her nostrils. Turaki moved even closer to her; the space between them was no more than two feet. He said,
“They said you weren't in the country? They put me through so much trouble! So, you were in this country, Kulthum? Did you find the life you wanted and forget me? Meanwhile, I was there, struggling to find any trace or message of you. Kulthum, tell me about yourself, even just a little. I'm extremely intrigued! What brought you to Lagos?”
This time, she raised her head and looked him in the eye. Straight-faced, she said sharply, “MARRIAGE! It was marriage that brought me. I will never tire of telling you that I am a married woman. Take me back to where you picked me up, before my husband sues you.”
He stared at her as if he wanted to devour her. Before she could react, Turaki grabbed both her hands and pulled her into a tight, passionate embrace—a beautiful hug that synchronized their heartbeats in one place. He was breathing rapidly, letting all the excitement in his heart escape through his breath.
“Whoever married you, Ummukulthum, married you on top of my marriage... I, of my own accord, never divorced you..... and I never will! And I swear you will return to your home with the permission of the Lord of the heavens and the earth. I don't mind your pretenses... keep it up. The eight years I spent enduring the hardship of love will not be in vain... this is a promise.”
She struggled to free herself from Turaki, but he didn't give her a chance. She could only let out a sharp cry that made his embrace release her, but he didn't let go of her hands. He bent down and kissed her forehead, the bridge of her nose, and the top of her lips, which made Kulthum even more agitated. She forcefully broke free from his grip, stepped back, and stared at him as if her eyes would fall out. He smiled, opened the living room door, and went out. He didn't say anything else to her.
He himself opened the car door for her to enter, then went around to his own seat and sat down. He gave her no time, just kept looking at her with a smile she had never seen on him before. He had completely changed; she had become a new Kulthum to him, not the shy village girl he had married and then run away from, who was now shedding tears streaming down her face and the side of her veil. These were signs that her heart was digging up old, bitter memories about him that she had long buried for a considerable time.
He started the car, stepped on the accelerator, reversed out of the parking lot, and drove onto the road filled with energy. The gateman opened the gate for them, got on the motorcycle, and pulled the car as if its tires were flat, due to his lack of urgency.
“Which neighborhood should I take you to, Ma'am?”
"Take me to the bus stop; I'll find a taxi home." "That's not necessary.I must hold the hand of my wife's rival, as I promised him." His phone rang;he answered and put it on speakerphone. She heard Taufeeq's voice saying, "Doctor,have you seen her? We are all here, very anxious." Turaki said,"Security has found her. We are on our way right now. Give me your address." She heard Taufeeq giving the address of Aunty Sakeenah's house in Victoria Island.In her heart, she said, "This is the end for me!" But outwardly, apart from the silent crying in her heart, there was nothing, her eyes were dull. They parked the car in the compound of Aunty Sakeenah's house.All the household members came towards them, including Engineer Farouq. He opened the side where Kulthum was sitting, while Taufeeq opened the door for Turaki. As she was getting out, Nasmah and Aunty Sakeenah surrounded her, calling her name to check on her. She didn't stop; she passed by all of them and hurried into the house. Aunty Sakeenah followed her, very worried. Taufeeq opened the door and came out,where he shook Turaki's hand, and they exchanged greetings. Taufeeq thanked him and said, "But, Doctor, do you think she is okay?" Turaki smiled,a smile that seemed more like one of concern, and said, "She is physically fine. I rather think she saw something that disturbed her. But since you are her husband, she will tell you." They exchanged farewells like that,and Engineer Farouq also thanked him. They all went back into the house.Mujaheed pulled Nasmah aside to talk. They all stood around her, each throwing questions at her. "Kulthum,are you really okay?" Sakeenah said. "How could you do this to me,Kulthum? We went to the hospital, entered the doctor's office, I just turned around to look for you and you were gone? You worried me sick, I almost had a heart attack. Which hospital did you go into that we searched for you and couldn't find you?" said Taufeeq. "Take it easy with her,can't you see she's in shock? Everyone, please leave her alone so she can calm down. I'm sure whatever it is, she will tell you," said Engineer Farouq. At that,they all dispersed and left her with Taufeeq. He sat down next to her and called her name softly, "Kulthum." She didn't answer,as if she hadn't even looked up at him. He placed his hand on hers,and with a terrible swiftness, she snatched her hand away. Things were too much for her; they were overwhelming her mind. "What is bothering you?Are you okay?" Instead of answering him,she stood up and headed for the toilet, went in, and locked the door without saying a word to him. He sat for a long time where she had left him,in extreme worry, unable to figure out where to start with her. "Has Kulthum encountered a jinn?"a part of his heart wondered. Finally, he thought Engineer's advice was the best course of action: to give her time, even until tomorrow. He wanted to call Hajiya Nasara and tell her, but he didn't know what to say since he didn't know what was troubling Kulthum. So he got up, feeling cold, left the room, and went to the living room. They all gathered discussing the matter, each saying their piece. Sakeenah looked at Nasmah as if scolding her and said, "From the beginning,who gave you permission to take her out? Don't you know a bride is handled with extreme care during her wedding period? Now if something has happened to her, what do you want me to tell Mum? She didn't even want to let her come willingly; she would have preferred whatever was to be done there in Abuja and Gaya." Nasmah rolled her eyes,"I swear, Aunty Sakeenah, it's not my fault. You saw them; they were the ones who called us," she said, pointing at Taufeeq and Mujaheed. Taufeeq gave her a sharp look,got up, and left the area. Sakeenah continued scolding Nasmah:why did she follow them? She knew she was undergoing body preparation (pre-wedding beauty treatments) and the groom wasn't supposed to see the bride until after the wedding ceremony. Nasmah accepted the blame.Mujaheed was the one apologizing, saying Taufeeq felt pity for her and was very worried, but they should calm down, God willing, there were no jinns with her, just as the doctor who brought her said: she saw something that disturbed her.
In the middle of the night, while Nasmah was asleep, Kulthum woke up and sat brooding! She had to find a solution for herself. A solution to escape the marriage to a drunkard, which she couldn't bear, even if she was the most patient person in the world, and also to escape from where Turaki would find her again. From all indications, Turaki hadn't come to their house just to bring her back, but to know where she was. And she saw no reason for it. His world had already ended in her world; she didn't hope for any further interaction between them, even a greeting. He had already finished playing all his games in her life.She didn't feel she could take anything from him anymore, no matter how small. God who brought them together had already separated them, and that must be for her own good. The good she thought was Taufeeq—alas, his challenges were even greater than Turaki's. The final decision she made for her heart was to distance herself from all of them. She prepared the words that Hajiya Nasara would understand on the day God eventually reunites them. She reached for her handbag,checked her return ticket, and confirmed it was there. She had about twenty thousand naira in her bag; she was sure it would be enough for her, even for a change. She whispered "Allah, Allah," calling the dawn prayer, just as she knew the gateman of Sakeenah's house usually went to the mosque nearby. The way Kulthum saw the day today was how she saw the night.The dawn prayer was fixed in her mind and ears. She didn't take any of her belongings except her handbag, phone, and her long prayer hijab that reached the ground. Softly! Softly! She left the room, leaving Nasmah snoring lightly. In her heart, she was saying, "Until we meet again, Nasmah! I will repay you, no matter how small." She reached behind her and wiped the tears from her eyes, then left the room. The main gate,which led outside, was jam-locked, but there was a small door within it. Carefully, she opened it, went out, and closed the gate silently. She stood, walked onto the road, and within the hour, she waited for the gateman to enter the mosque as usual. The side pedestrian gate was ajar; she slipped through it quietly and closed the gate.
