Risen from the dark

Mark of life

Nadia looked at Naairah suspiciously.

“ Can I know what is going on?” She said with a roll of eyes.

“ What do you want to know?”

“ You get trapped in an uncompleted building with a heist for two days and now, a week after you are expecting him to take you out? I don’t get it. What happened there?”

“ WGodi nothing grubby happened if that is what you think.” She said assertively, “ he is not that crazy. It seems his dirt ends with his mouth.”

“ Then the outing.”

“ I am not dating him and I am not going to date him. I am not in love with him but he is someone people don’t know. I judged him wrongly.”

“ So what? I guess he filled you up with tales of tears and you feel so compassionate. I don’t trust him but I like his personality. He is a funny guy but we should not be deceived. He is an opportunist.”

“ I know what you are talking about but I think  I know him more than you do.”

“ Oh my God! What happened within those two days? Did he hypnotize you?”

“ I got a chance to know him better. I was with him for two days, two nights and he never did anything stupid.”

“ Maybe he is sick….”

“ What do you mean sick?”

“Impotent.”

“ Nadia!”

“ I am just warning you. He is does not even belong to our class. I see him as a clown . I enjoy his entertainment. But you are taking it too far.”

“ If the definition of a clown has not changed, then he is the one who should call people clowns.”

“ What?”

“ Kallan doki da ciyawa ake (this is a Hausa aphorism where a man sees someone as a horse while the person sees him as grass). He knows what he is doing.”

“ May I know what he is doing?”

“ He did not tell me. I just saw some things.” She lied.  “ I feel his major crime is going to get food from girls.”

“ So that qualifies him to take you out, huh?”

“ We are not going on a date like dating date.”

“Whatever.”

“ I asked him to come. He was here two days ago……”

“What?”

“ Yes. He supplied us confectionaries. Their product igood so we got talking.”

“  You ate some there.”

“Did I have an option ? So I asked him to bring some . While we talked, he mentioned a new place where they sell Kano sinasir. You know how much I love it and miss it. So he offered to take me there. I am going to get some take away and of course buy for him.”

“ Hmmm…so you are going to pick him? I mean at his ‘estate’?”

“Why should I go  to his place? He is coming to pick me. I think he is close by.”

“ Pick you. The guy does not even have a car.”

“He does not want me to use my car. He says he has hired a Royal Cadillac Cart.”

“Whoa! That must be expensive.”

“What kind of car is that?”

Nadia grinned.

“ Okay, I don’t know it. I just did not want to admit it on time.”

They laughed.

“ You are packaging for me?”

“ It was a slip of action.”

Naairah’s phone rang.

“ Hello.”

“ Miss Sunshine.”

“ Adnan.”

“ I am outside.”

“Okay.”

Naairah ended the call.

“ He is around.” She said.

“Let’s go then. Let me see the Royal Cadillac Cart.”

The two girls left the room and Naairah saw Zulai, one of the house helps.

“Zulai, please come.”

Please?

The girl came with fear displayed on her face.

“ Can you wash my restroom ,please?”

The girl looked astonished.

“ Yes,ma.”

“ Thank you. There  are some clothes on the chair before the dressing mirror. I left them for you.”

“To wash?”

“You are not the laundry girl. For you to slay when you go home.”

“  Thank you.May God reward you,thank you, thank you, thank you very much. "

Naairah laughed.

“Nadia ,let’s go before she kills me with thank yous.”

Nadia was speechless. When did she start talking to maids like this?

Adnan was dressed in a grey coloured caftan with a grey cap. He wore his plane glasses with gave him that dainty look. 

She had never seen him dressed in a caftan.

“ Good afternoon, Adnan.”Nadia said with a smile.

“Good afternoon, ma’am.” He replied and then smiled at Naairah. “ Miss Sunshine.”

“  Hello Adnan. Thank you for coming.”

“  The pleasure is mine. Shall we?”

“ Where is the…..” Naairah began.

“ Royal Cadillac Cart? Right outside.” He completed.

He led them outside as the girls were eager to see the automobile.

What they saw was a brand new tricycle ( Keke Napep) with a man leaning on it proudly.

“What? Is this what you call Cadillac cart?” Naairah asked with a frown. “ And you told me not to use my car.”

“ Prince William used a cart on his wedding day, just last week. It is for royalty and you are a princess.”

Nadia chuckled.

“Adnan. Why are you so ….I don’t even know what words to use.”

“ What is wrong with it? This chauffeur was hired by me for the whole trip. He only carries VIPs. He was the one who carried Fabio, last week,”

“Who is Fabio?” Nadia asked.

“ He is the best player of Garki Football club. He is an upcoming football star.”

“ Garki here? And you call him a VIP?” Naairah asked.

“ Okay, I don’t have a car and I am not going in your car. I am the one taking you there and the means of transportation is my call.”

“ I think I should get my car and leave now.” Nadia said. “ I can see a beautiful day ahead.”

Naairah stood watching the tricycle. She had never been in it . How could she go out in this thing?

“ Excuse me.” Nadia went inside to get her car.

Naairah shrugged.

“ Let’s go.”

“ That’s my girl.”

“I am not your girl.”

“ Okay, I am your boy.”

“ Can’t you just hush? You are getting me pissed off. You asked me to keep my car and go out in this?”

Adnan was already seated while she stood at the other side.

“ What? This space is for three.” He said. “ But since it is a chatter, we are just two and not prone to body contact.”

“ Whatever.” She said and sat down. Nadia drove out of their compound and gave them a wave. Naairah could see the mockery in the smile Nadia flashed.

The tricycle was set in motion. It was the first time she was riding in it. She was always scared of it. It moved like it was going to fall off. She just did not like it. But now as she was inside, it did not feel as bad as she had anticipated. 

As they rode along, Adnan remembered the words of Bash.

“ If they ever find out that you are alive, you are a dead man. We keep you because we found that you have what we have been looking for all these years. We never knew you were the Spirit. Bas made the greatest discovery of the century. We will keep the secret if you would play along. We have so much on you. Do not think you can escape this. And remember, you have a chance to find out about the mystery behind your life. It is either you, or the other Adnan. Only one king must be alive.”

“What is wrong?” Naairah’s voice brought him out of his thoughts.

He forced a smile.

“ Just calculating. I got a lot of distribution to do tomorrow.”

But she did not believe him.

He had just one more day.

Eighteen years ago

“ Stay with me ! Hold on tight !” He screamed. “ I am with him! I got him. Hold on! Aadilaaaaa!!!!!”

He paused, breathing hard, and then sat up before opening his eye. At first everything seemed so blurry,  he closed his eyes again before opening it. The eyelids seemed tight and heavy as if he was opening a sealed package.

Gradually, his vision came to a focus then he heard a voice, like an echo from afar.

“ He is awake!” It was a female voice. He opened his eyes.

A man rushed into the room excitedly and saw him. He was sitting, gaping at them.

“ Who are you?” He asked, looking from the nurse to the man who looked like a doctor.

“ I am Doctor Mark. This is Angela. You have been here for eleven months. What is your name?”

The man looked confused. He was a coloured man, with thick hair and heavily bearded face. His eyes were so thin and weary. His nose was hooked, with thin dark lips. He was heavily built, with a stout chest and broad herculean shoulders.

“ What is my name?” He asked as if it was the strangest words he ever heard. “ I don’t know.”

The doctor and Angela exchanged glances.

“ What happened to you? Can you remember the last thing that happened before you fell into coma?”

“ Coma? I have been in a coma?”

“ For almost a year.”

“ I can’t remember anything.”

“ You have not opened your eyes for all those while but you do seldom come out of coma, say some things then go back. You have never coma awake like this, and you were always hysterical, agitated and keep mentioning Aadila. Do you remember anyone like that in your life?”

He shook his head.

“ No. Never heard the name.”

“ Your accent is American. Are you African-American?”

“ I don’t know.” He said with a deep breath.” I don’t know anything. Where did you find me?”

“ I did not find you. Someone did. He did not leave any address. He just dropped you and left. We talked to the police but they could not identify you . But we found something on you. It was hidden in your belt. It is a note.”

“ A note.”

“Yes. It contains just figures. 00030. That’s it.”

“ I don’t know what you are talking about.”

“ Hmmmm….how do you feel? “

“ I am okay, just tired. Where am I ?”

“You are in a small village near Santa Cruz de la Sierra.”

“ Where is that?”

“ Bolivia. Can we take this off? Can you stand up?”

“I guess I can. I am hungry.”

“ Sure.” Dr Mark nodded at Angela.  She went out while the doctor took off some tubes connected to him. “ You must undergone a terrible accident and severe shock. You had over six fractures bones and cuts. You healed but never came out.”

“ Hmmmm…”

He was released and he tried to stand up. He felt weak, and dizzy. He quickly sat back. He stood up again then felt his head spinning, he held on to the bed then said, “ She fell into the ocean. She fell into the ocean. I had the boy.”

“ What boy? Who fell into the ocean?”

The man sat on the bed again, then lay down. He could fell sparks in his head, blurry images that made no sense. He could feel the movement of strong wind, roaring engine, scream, and saw a silhouetted image, that looked like a smiling face, then everything faded.

“ What did you remember?”

He looked dazed.

“ Nothing. I am hungry.”

Angela came back and nodded at the doctor.

“ Can you come over for food?” The doctor asked.

The man nodded, sat up and felt the dizziness reduced. He got on his feet, took groggy steps and followed the nurse. She set three trays of food on a table in the next room. The place did not look like a conventional hospital.

And it wasn’t

The first tray had Kansas city-style barbecue and Brunswick stew while the second tray had arroz con queso which was a Bolivian food.

The man looked at both trays then went for the American food.

The doctor and nurse exchanged glances.

The man started eating. He was hungry indeed.

“Estas casada ( are you married)?” The doctor said in Spanish.

The man did not reply or react. It seemed he was not a resident of Bolivia. He had so many American traits in him.

“ Are you married?” The doctor asked.

“ What is married?”

“Do you have a wife?”

The man paused, then looked at the doctor.

“  Wife? She fell inside the ocean. Aadila…..and the boy was with me. They took him away.”

The restaurant was big and set in a very traditional way. There were mats spread on the floor in place of tables and chairs. Northern art works placed on the wall. There were lots of customers enjoying Hausa traditional cuisines.

Adnan and Naairah went inside.

The owner of the restaurant, Hajiya Shamsiya was a very chubby woman . She sat majestically on a chair, dressed in heavily designed dress.

“ Adinan, Adinan” She said as she saw Adnan. “ Da na, kwana biyu ( it’s been a while , my son)”

“ Mama, ina nan (I have been around).”

“ Nace ko mun yi ma Adinan laaifi ne ( I thought we had offended Adnan).”

“ No,  Mama. I have just been busy. Kin san maganan aure ( You know how marriage issues are).”

“ Toohh! You got married without informing us?”

“ Not yet. We are almost there.”

“ Is this our wife?” She asked directing her smile at Naairah who stood confused. What was he doing? When did they start a relationship?

“ Insha God.” Adnan said.

“ Alhamdulillah.” She said “ Come and greet your mother-in-law, my daughter.”

Naairah was speechless. Many eyes fell on her, and she felt so ashamed and angry. Naairah greeted her .

This was one of Adnan’s joints. He used to come to buy food and he got to know her.

“ Kushiga ,kushiga ( You should enter).”

They were led to a smaller room .

“ I will skin you alive.” She said with a pout . “ What was that? What is wrong with you? I only asked you to bring me here to buy Sinasir and leave and not an introductory meeting.”

“ I was just trying to elate you.”

“ Elate me? Are you crazy? “

“ I am a VIP. When I introduce you as my fiancée ,you would be respected and may get one free sinasir courtesy of me.”

“ I am not that hungry Adnan.”

“Shhh…we don’t have to quarrel here. Let us get home.”

“ Home? What do you mean home?

“Our future home.” He said with his eyes directly on her. “ That home where the walls would be made of love, the roof made of religious inclination, with floor glittering with compassion, while the ceiling is the warmth of understanding.

That home where the is air is bliss, care, resilience, perseverance. A home which is distinct, with lasting instinct, mirth in succinct, colours of love tinct, where the knot is inextinct.

A home which will be a small planet, where Naairah is sun, providing light, warmth, energy, and visibility for this poor boy. That home where I will have the rare opportunity to disgorge my accumulated, gargantuan heap of infinite love on you, Miss Sunshine. A home belonging to Naairah and Adnan. A home that is an institution. A home that is love.”

“ Ga sinasir inji Hajiya ( This is fluffy rice pancakes from Hajiya).” A  waiter said and dropped a tray  with two plates of sinasir and miyan taushe ( blended peanuts and pumpkin leaves sauce). The sauce was stashed with fleshy bones and fish.

“ I am not going to eat here.” She whispered after the waiter left. “ I only came for a takeaway.”

“What do you want to do now? Tell her to go to hell?”

“ I don’t have a mouth like yours.”

“ Then you must eat.”

“ Did you just say must?”

“ Yes but it is the other must not the must that you must not think it is.”

“ You have a PhD in balderdash.”

“ No. I only got Masters but still on the doctorate.”

“ I said it.”

“ Must we quarrel over everything?”

“That is because you are  so annoying.”

“ And loving.”

“ I don’t know about that.”

Adnan looked at the food and drew his closer.

“ Don’t be shy.” He said. “ This will not be the first time I will see you eating.”

Two bottles of Malt drinks were brought. Adnan now realized that Hajiya Shamsiya really believed him. He kind of felt guilty. He had stopped his guiles for food and this looked like one.

“ Oh no.” He said. “ She is doing this because she believes me. I think I have to tell her it was just a joke.”

“ What are you going to tell her? Come and pick your food, it was just part of my craziness?” She said wondering why she felt angry when he said it was just a joke.

“ But it looks like part of my charade.”

“ Well, if it was not your intention, then let it be. Wait, are you saying you no more …..”

“That is one of the disadvantages of meeting you. You made me quit one of my jobs. I lost my mummies.”

“ How did I do that?”

“ It is complicated. I guess you are a psychic. I don’t know how but you did it.” He smiled. “ Anyways, thank you.”

And it just dawned on her that he made her saw life from a different perspective. Her rudeness was deadening drastically. But she was not going to admit that to him.

They began to eat.

“ What is this mark on your hand? “ She asked him.

“ What mark?”

She pointed at a small mark just below his knuckles.

“ Oh, I don’t know how I got it. It has been there for all I can remember. I guess it a scar from a wound.”

She shook her head.

“ This is not a random scar.”

“What?”

“ It is a designed shape and I have seen this somewhere.”

“ What?” He said and looked at it again . For the first time in his life, he realised that it was a very small star shaped scar. What did it mean?

Adnan did not know that it meant a lot. That was not just a scar. It was a sign. A mark of life.