•Hamza

"Allah ya kaimu." My parents chorused.

We had just left Uncle Hakeem's house.

He has finally agreed to give me Aaliyah's hand in marriage. My parents got to discuss the details of the wedding plans and how we were going to go about the preparations.

In nothing short of six months, the wedding would be held in Abuja with a few friends, some acquaintances from the office and members of both families. I'd be back by then for  another holiday as it was December.

It seemed he was familiar with Baba as they were cracking jokes and arguing all through. Later, I found out they were secondary school classmates, Alhaji Abdullahi as well; Yusra's husband.

Imam was attending a wedding today so he invited me, Bilal and two of our friends, Bolaji and James.

After dropping my parents off at home, I drove to the venue of the reception.

"Where are you? The parking lot is empty." I asked Imam but the network wasn't on our side as I couldn't hear a word of what he was telling me.

"I'm close to the mango tree that's facing the gate."

I turned to my right and saw a dried up mango tree exactly where he explained.

I walked a bit and found him sitting on a plastic chair with a faded MTN logo on the back.

"Goofy!"

"Yane? Late comer. Always late. As if you have somewhere else to be."

"I was somewhere before coming here. Bro this meeting has changed my life."

"How?"

"It's official. Aaliyah is going to be mine!"

"Now I see why you're sweating profusely and smiling uncontrollably. Someone will think you've won a lottery but armed robbers are chasing you." He laughed.

"Asin ehn. I just can't believe it. My body was literally shaking after uncle Hakeem said he's accepted our proposal. Allah knows I would've died if he rejected us."

"Masha Allah. I wish you all the best. Finally you'll soon join the league of married bro's and graduate from university of fuck boys pro."

"This Bilal ehn, you'll never stop with the teasing ko?"

"Ashe ka sanni." He grinned.

"What are you people doing here? Standing under the sun gossiping."Bolaji asked.

"Is it your busines?" Imam hissed.

"Let's go in. You'll just be gossiping like women. And the funniest part is that you're doing it under the scorching sun." Bolaji urged us in.

Once we found ourselves inside, Imam introduced us to the groom before we were taken to a table that was provided specially for the groom's friends.

"So what were you guys talking about outside?" Bolaji asked, again.

"It's nothing important. I was looking for something and I finally found it."

I mean, I wasn't lying. To an extent, right?

I was looking for a situation that was greater than love and I found it with one woman that holds the key to my heart; Aaliyah.

Bolaji isn't one to tell secrets or good news to. He had a large mouth so I found it hard to confide in him unlike Bilal and Hamza. James was practically a ghost. He was a good friend but rarely attended events like these.

"Oh that's good. What was it?"

Leave it to Bolaji to be the meddler of the group.

I sighed, "A golden watch."

Aaliyah is more that gold! If there was a greater mineral she'd be it.

"Ok. Is it expensive?"

"I can't remember."

She has no price. Even if she did I know she must be of an unattainable height so her price would be steep. I'd still pay if I was going to go broke.

"Oh ok. Where did you..."

"Who knows if James is coming?"

Bilal to the rescue! He saved me before Bolaji could continue with his incessant questioning. He was acting as if stole it! Right. It doesn't even exist. But Aaliyah does!

"I don't know. He said he'd try and come. But I doubt he'll be coming. You know how his work can be very demanding." Imam stated.

James was a physician. I barely remember our first meeting but just as he's my very good friend, he's also my personal doctor.

As for Bolaji, that's a long story. All I can say is that he is a wild one.

"I hope he makes it. His future wife may be here." I say.

James has been known to be a brooding loner.

"Bolaji behave!" Imam said just as he noticed Bolaji trying to leave his sit when he saw a girl pass our table.

She was pretty though.

The old Hamza would've left to chase her since. They all knew my catch phrase, 'bari in yana baby'.

Now that I said it, it sounded disgusting and tasted acrimonious. I wonder when Bolaji would quit this life and settle down just like I plan to do.

He even told us that just before he joined us here, he was with one of the numerous 'loves of his lives'. Funny right? It becomes disastrous when all of them find out and play you like a guitar.

Take advice from a master. DON'T DATE SEVERAL GIRLS AT A TIME! It may sound attractive to the ears but it's majorly a call to chaos.

During my university days I met this girl who was a model through a course mate. We never really spoke but occasionally we met at house parties and we'd dance together till one night she told me she had feelings for me. And like the player I was, I agreed to date her after she asked me out- rather seduced me.

After a week, I met another girl and we established a solid friendship. When I say friendship I mean we became friends with benefits. I got tired after a while but I still kept her at my side so that she'd remain at my beck and call.

The next was on Instagram. I'd been following her for two months before she accepted my friend request then we got to talking and found out we had some things in common.

Who knew she was...let's name them Halima, Galleria and Rosalia.

So, who knew Rosalia was Halima's friend?

On this particular day I was feeling very hyped about this party. It's poster had been going round for about a month.

It was to start by eleven so I and Rosalia agreed to meet by a quarter past ten so we'd take an Uber there together.

She called in sick so I had to go alone.

Just as I arrived, I got a message from Galleria who was asking of my whereabouts.

Then I would get pissed because they all treated me as if I was their bloody husband. Dumbo's!

I told her I was at a party and she told me she was attending one too. We realized we were both at the same place and I thanked God for making girl Rosalia sick.

Don't judge me. I know I was a selfish bastard then.

She told me to meet her in a room upstairs. I followed the directions she gave me on the phone and soon I found myself in the agreed room.

I got in and she shut the door.

She sat on my lap and we started talking about things I honestly can't remember now.

The door bursts open and two umfamiliar figures waltz in. Neon lights were used in all the raves so everything always turned blurry or vague. Your eyes actually get accustomed to the change after about twenty minutes.

A smirk covers Galleria's face as the two girls came in.

So I was caught, humiliated and scarred for life by three puny girls. I don't even know how they found out.

For crying out loud I was the clean bandit!

The ending was quite shameful so I'll leave that to my present to gloat at my contemptible past.

Back to the present.

Even after Bolaji heard my story he never learnt from my mistake. I guess he was waiting for the highest degree to burn him first.

Anyways, the reception was too boring so we left after an hour. To be honest, weddings bore me out now. If it wasn't mine I was attending then I just wasn't interested.

This will probably be the last for a while.

Habibty😻 [18:00pm 15/07/23 ]: Baby mai idon zinare Where have you been? Call me if you get this. I miss you😩❤️

I got bored at Ibro's suya place as well and decided to hit Aaliyah up.

****

"So how does it feel to be engaged to the most handsome hunk on this Earth?"

"Don't decieve yourself. I've seen better."

Ouch Aaliyah.

"I only see you."

"Haba Baby don't be making me blush. I'm an OG. I don't blush."

"But you will, for me."

"Stop!" She whined and I laughed.

I was approaching the gate of the Tukur Mamman residence when I noticed a car parked by the side of the gate.

Security wise, I was quite skeptical of this car's appearance there. It was entirely black and tinted.

I exited the car and hung up, promising to FaceTime Aaliyah later.

"Excuse me." I knocked on the driver's window.

He pulls down the window and glares at me before pulling it back up again. He looked arrogant, like all those people who felt they were above everyone.

The lights of the car died out and the owner of the car came out.

"Salamu Alaykum." I greeted.

He ripped his shades off his eyes.

Who even wears sunglasses in the night?

"I didn't come here to make friends so save your greeting."

Right now I  am confused.

"Who are you?"

"You don't need to know that. Just stay away from Aaliyah or you'll have only yourself to blame after you're lying in a hospital."

I've been to the hospital more than you can count my friend. So this threat is useless.

Who is this mad man that dares threaten Hamza Tukur Mamman?

I'm a lion among a thousand sheep. I used to be a local boxing champion some years back in school. I bet he doesn't want to know how it feels to get your teeth knocked out.

"Don't be stupid. I can destroy you with just one call."

"So can I. Watch out!" He retorted.

And with that, he graciously walks back to his car and speeds off.

Who is this?

I need to find out as soon as possible. He seems well off and pompous so he must have some influence.

It'll take a while but I'll be able to get his information in nothing short of two weeks.

I'll start by inquiring from Aaliyah first.
__________________________

This chapter is dedicated to farhaanatu

~Aisha Safiyanu🥀