Fin Karfi Part 3 Complete Hausa Novel

*FIN KARFI BOOK 3* *THE BOOK* *HALIMA ABDULLAHI K MASHI* Page 1

She had prepared very well; she was truly a city girl, and she was very beautiful because she had that kind of body people call a desirable body. Whatever clothes she wore suited her well. They took them to the hotel where the dinner was arranged, a gathering organized by the groom’s friends. The place was crowded when they arrived. Her heart did not sink, so she entered feeling calm. They sat down and the snacks began.

Then suddenly she felt a terrible thump in her chest. She felt as though everything inside her had collapsed, even though the singer’s song had first entered her heart; now she felt as if everything had stopped for her. Quickly she stood up. Sadiya and Munira looked at her.

“Where are you going?”

She said, “I’m coming.”

She went behind some curtains from where she was and looked toward the door. She just felt that right now he would come in.

*** **** **** ****

Dady came out of the bathroom and he was tired. He felt worn out, not because he had failed to attend any one of the wedding programs, but because he wanted to rest. He was fasting today, and he was exhausted. He clicked his tongue, and he too was thinking that in the end he would have to forgive himself and let the wedding with Zainab happen. He was tired of this fasting; he himself knew he needed a woman, and he felt as though his desires were strong, so it would be better to marry, since the one he loved he would not get to see, let alone marry.

The blue shadda and all the clothes he wore were blue. He stuffed five hundred-naira notes into his pocket, sprayed perfume, took the Hummer keys, and went out.

In the sitting room he found Sunday pouring Hollandia into the fridge. He said, “Sunday, take one for me in the car you cleaned for me.”

He said, “Okay sir.”

He took it and went out, greatly surprised by the kind of love his boss had for Hollandia. The company ought to give him a special gift, because of the intense love he had for it.

At Zainab’s house Dady went in the car and called her on the phone. She came out after greeting her mother. Her mother, Hajiyarta, loved her daughter Zainab intensely and wanted her to marry Dady for no reason other than that their parents had brought wealth together; and likewise he too had brought wealth together. It was a cause for gratitude.

He was sitting in the car looking at her as she came toward him in a truly beautiful green lace richly adorned with silver thread. Her jewelry was silver too, as were her bag and shoes, and she wore a small white veil. She looked very beautiful, and his desire increased in his heart. She got into the car after he opened the door for her; the fragrance of their bodies opened around them.

She looked at him. “My dear, I had thought you had changed your mind about taking me.”

He said, “Why?”

She said, “I saw that it was past ten and you had not called my phone.”

He said, “I was there thinking that it would be good if we too were invited to a dinner, because I am tired of hugging a pillow. I too should know the state I am in.”

She said, “I told you so long ago, but you refused and said I should wait for you. Maybe you prefer my pillow more than me, that’s why.”

He stroked his face.

On Saturday they would bring the bridal gifts and everything, since, thank God, they knew everything already. I was the one who was the problem, and now I too need marriage. In three weeks we’ll set it, right?”

With joy Zainab said, “Good, I am also very eager.”

He looked at her. “What are you eager for?”

She said, “For the thing that keeps you from sleeping.”

He shook his head, surprised by Zainab. She had absolutely no shyness at all. He remembered his Pretty; whenever he said something a little weighty to her, she would cover her face with her palms and say, “You?” But Zainab would just follow him and they would do it. That did not delight him; he liked a woman with modesty and dignity.

As they entered the dinner venue he felt his heart sink as usual. There was no Pretty of his there. It was just that his heart was always telling him his chest would keep dropping. That was how he comforted himself, so he simply went in. They found that the dinner had already started, but still they announced his arrival as the groom’s chief friend, and he and Ruqayya entered under everyone’s eyes. She was looking at them as they passed near the groom and sat down, while Zainab turned her attention toward where Ruqayya had stood up. Ruqayya’s heart sank; she was frightened by seeing Zainab because she recognized her as the woman she had met in the salon. She thanked God that she had stood up, so from there she went out, though fear filled her heart completely, and sat in the hotel courtyard, since there was daylight there like the sun.

Sadiya looked at Munira. “M Bash, isn’t it almost an hour and Ruqy M still hasn’t come back?”

Munira said, “Honestly, go and look for her, since there’s no phone in her hand for us to call her.”

Son Guy, as they called Dady, looked at Al-Mustapha.

“I ask your forgiveness, Musty. We didn’t arrive on time.”

Zainab said, “How are things, groom?”

Al-Mustapha replied with gratitude.

Zainab looked at Munira. “Bride, how is everyone?”

Munira did not recognize Zainab, nor did Sadiya when they greeted each other and greeted Sadiya; they did not recognize her. Zainab said, “I can see you don’t recognize me, right?”

Sadiya said, “I honestly want to remember where we met.”

Zainab said, “At the salon.”

At once they remembered her. The bride greeted Son Guy, and he teased her a little.

Zainab said, “Where is that girl again, the one with hair?”

Sadiya said, “Do you mean Ruqy M?”

She said, “Yes, hasn’t she come?”

She said just now she stood up, where did she go? Oho.

Zainab said, “So we’ll greet her.”

Munira said, “Armaya’u, go and look for her. You know Ruqy is a shy girl; she may have gone home.”

Al-Mustapha said, “Look at this Ruqy, she is so spoiled; she ought to have come.”

Dady kept silent, looking around a little as though he did not know what they were saying, but his ear was with them. In his heart he felt a strong desire to see this Ruqy M. The last time he had failed to see her because of the bath she had just taken; now he wanted to see what color she was. He himself had always greatly respected the one who bore her name. He had sworn that if he ever had a daughter, her name would be Ruqayya.

Then he remembered that it was Ruqayya he loved. His mind became troubled; he began to feel his chest pounding, and then he felt his heart hate every other woman. He did not hear all the talk Al-Mustapha was making to him at all, until Zainab said, “My dear, you should have checked on those singers long ago; they’ve just been singing.”

Then he stood up in a dull mood and gestured to them. Zainab kept her eyes on him, deeply wanting him; she too stood up right then and went to greet him. The groom and bride also rose and greeted Dady. The place became lively; the singer kept singing.

Ruqy, who had been overwhelmed by the world, was seeing Dady everywhere she looked as they came in and...