Unedited. And please I will remind you that everything is FICTITIOUS!

Prince Muhammad Isma'il reached the King's chamber and heard it in commotion. No one dared to speak to him.

His gaze fell on his favorite person among the kingsmen. And that person was Madaki.

"Madaki what's happening?"

"May Allah prolong your life our king. The giant wall has fallen. Have patience Sadiqal wa'ad." Prince Muhammad Isma'il felt his legs becoming jelly on spur of a moment. But he was intent to remain strong. He needed no further explanation.

It was too obvious and clear. That the king, his father was gone.

His father was battling with health issues lately but of recently he's improved. And now, he just decided to leave that cold evening.

Prince Muhammad Isma'il sat down.

"What was his last word for me?" He asked Madaki. Madaki patted the Prince's shoulder.

"His tongue uttered your name last. He said 'be just oh Muhammad. Be a king and a father to the masses.' And that's all."  Madaki informed.

"May Allah's mercy be with you Baaba," thus Yarima joined the crying wives of the king to bath the king.

*******

After some few days when mourning was over the kingsmen sat thinking of when to appoint a new king. For sure, Yarima Muhammad Isma'il was the only crowned prince and whom was entitled for the king's seat.

They invited all the council members before they decided on appointing Yarima Muhammad Isma'il as the new king.

When Yarima Muhammad Isma'il was informed he said he wanted his marriage with A'eesh to be on the same day of the turbanning ceremony.

*****

The day was there finally. A'eesh sat between her sisters and cousins as she was being adorned by red henna. She had been giggling.

Two things were about to happen. Her marriage and the turbanning ceremony of Yarima as the king. She as well, was definitely going to be a certified queen. Her happiness and her family's happiness knew no bound that particular day.

The entire kingdom was busy and full. Every corner was blaring with the sound of the local music instrument.

Even the slaves were happy that day. Some were freed while some were gifted.

"Sarauniya on her own! Gimbiya herself!" One of her friends hailed. A'eesh blushed. The slave by her side smiled in seeing her mistress's smile. She kept fanning A'eesh with a large handfan.

Prince Muhammad Isma'il sat on mortar as his mother and other aunties shed money on him. Once down they bathed him with henna too. It was part of the culture which he couldn't escape. After all that, he went to change his cloth to attend the wedding fatiha. Since it was a Friday,  the wedding knot was tied on the public and palace's Friday mosque. Many people witnessed and offered their blessings.

The eve was closed with turbanning Muhammad Isma'il as the new king whilst he chose Hanif as his assistant (Waziri). Later on, his bride A'eesh was brought to her chamber.

She was shown around the palace properly by the queens before the new king saw her. Later that night, he sent for her to meet him in his chamber.

*****

Ten years later.

Despite the years, A'eesh was yet to give birth which prompted the Queen to select beautiful concubines for the king to choose. Perhaps one of them could be the mother of his child.

A'eesh burnt in jealousy but there was nothing she could do.

"Maami, they all are not up to my taste." He told his mother after his mother had confirmed he didn't approached any of the sent concubines.

"I am sending another set. Do make sure you pick one."  She ruffled his hair. King Muhammad Isma'il smiled and walked away to his chamber.

"What do you think about marrying a new wife? The one that belongs to a royal house?" He picked Xurannah's words.

"Xuu, a girl from a royal house has been taught everything. I want a naive person." He answered, lighting a match to light an incense. Xurranah said she loved the smell of the incense. So, whenever she came around, he lighted it up for her.

"Then you have to choose a slave." Xuu commented.

"Xuu go and monitor the girls in the slave's chamber. When you found someone that matches my specification, you let me know." He said, leaning on a bedrest.

"Your wish is my command my love." She bowed.

"Your love? Why don't you be my wife then?" He laughed. Xurannah laughed along with him.

"I love you so much but you know it's not possible to marry you. I shall only love you and your offspring as long as I breath." She remarked.

"Thank you." He smiled.

"Be my favorite person. I am off to fulfill your command ranka ya dade." And she vanished away to the slaves chamber. On the third day of her supervision, she found Zulaihat and Ridawanatu fit for the king's specifications. She kept an eye on them.

Luckily on the next batch, his mother sent Ridwanatu among the concubines. She was so young and naive. Later on she became a freed slave, and the king married her where she became his second wife after A'eesh.

A'eesh refused to understand that it doesn't mean the king loved her less. She wasn't heartbroken until when Ridwanatu was announced pregnant. A'eesh found out she was pregnant too that night.

Months later, Ridwanatu gave birth to a girl. It was a sad news to the king but a good news to A'eesh.  A'eesh later gave birth to a son. She became the favorite of the moment. After that she gave birth to two girls. Ridwanatu lost her daughter Khadijah, to an illness and she remained childless. Rumours had it that it was A'eesh's work. A'eesh charmed her but it was quickly dismissed.

Life went on and on. A'eesh gave birth to another girls. Ridwanatu remained a photo figure except in the eyes of the king who loved her so dearly. He kept telling her everything will be alright." But she never believed and they were never alright!

****

Present.

Xurannah looked at Sadiqu and smiled. "Ridwanatu got pregnant again when A'eesh's son was nine. But before her due date, A'eesh's son died. And guess what? Ridwanatu gave birth to a boy." Xurannah's eyes started to water. She let her tears fall.

"But it was ordained that my love was on the verge of dying to no sickness. As young as he was. He was snatched of his life by the person he trusted most. That time, more powerful jinns by Hanif's soothsayer were sent to me. They overpowered me." The tear dropped from her eyes. She stood up and went to the window of the room. Mimi looked confused but she couldn't talk.

"He was poisoned. The poison ate him slowly until his death. That time his little son born by Ridwanatu was only a few months old. A'eesh planned to kill Ridwanatu and her son. The king has already died then. That same night, Ridwanatu was attacked in her chamber by her most closest slave. Luckily enough the slave that was sent to put poison on her food pitied her and asked her to run away in the midnight. She left however with the King's shoe and some stuff."

"The next day she was nowhere to be found and because it's a sorcery work, no one talked even Madaki wasn't able to talk. I'm sure you could remember how he acted when he met you the first time. You had King Muhammad Isma'il's name and at that time, Madaki was the one who gave him the name Sadiqal wa'ad. So, with the absence of a heir, Hanif (Yarima Muhammad Isma'il's assistant) was appointed as the king." Xurannah squatted and held her head. All eyes turned to her.

"That little child Ridwanatu was carrying was your father, Mamman. Who was named after this grandfather, king Muhammad Bashir."

"What happened then?" Sadiqu asked with keen interest.

"I told you we had a fight with a different set of jinns. They killed my sisters. And I was wounded so I remained unable to do things. When I gained my consciousness, I couldn't understand all that happened. I went to meet my uncle who was a foreseer to tell me things that happened and things that are about to happen. I knew it was wrong, I knew it was lies but I believed anyway. When my father found out, he chained me for years. He said I committed shirk. My father was a devoted jinn. A scholar and a king as well. So I wasn't oppotuned to meet your father neither was I opportuned to meet you on time. However I have taken a vow, a vow to avenge the death of my love. My father said I shouldn't. So instead I just want a favour from you." She answered and then hiked up.

"Are you thinking that I believe in all you said?" Maleekah asked.

Xurannah smiled.

"Maleekah, the current king, your granduncle is Hanif's immediate brother. Your grandmother is the king's immediate sister. Is that not?" She walked to where Maleekah was sitting.

"Your grandmother is called Gimbiya Maryama because of her love for power. She instructed everyone to call her Gimbiya because the king is her elder brother. Am I wrong?"

"Everyone could guess that!" Maleekah fired, still not believing.

"Your granduncle was able to attend school. He had friends from outside the palace and they normally entered the palace. His friend Salis Yola mostly spend the nights in the kingdom. He was very rich. He saw your grandmother and said he love her. She loved him too. Everyone didn't support the marriage but she insisted. He married her and carried her out of the kingdom. There your father was born. Muhammad Salis Yola? And he succeeded his father. Your grandmother went back to the kingdom after Salis Yola's death. But still your father stayed with his father's relative until when he grew up and became a tycoon. One of the richest people in Nigeria. Am I mistaken Maleekah?" Xurannah smiled.

Leek was dumbstruck. Every single detail was right.

"You're right." Leek gulped.

"What happened to Ridwanatu?" Mimi asked, only audible to Xurannah.

"Sadiqu, Ridwanatu ran as far to Kano. But on her way, she felt like she couldn't carry the box she put the king's shoe anymore. So she buried it somewhere. Somewhere I don't think I know. But she told Madaki where exactly is the place. She resided in Rimin gata. Some called her a street woman because she came with a child. However, it was not on her mind.

Malam Sadanu married her. And she gave birth to your uncle. Sadanu treated your father good and he never showed any difference between your father and tour uncle. She died without telling your father that he was actually a prince. She never narrated to anyone that she was a queen." Xurannah sighed.

"What a world!" Sadiqu exclaimed.

"What a world indeed, my love! The jinns are wicked but by Allah there are people of more wickedness. This is a point I am going to commend you my love." Xurannah looked at Mimi.

She knew Mimi doesn't like the way she called Sadiqu her love.

"You never play with your azkar. That's what rescued you. Your grandfather, although a religious person, he often forgets about his azkaars that's why they were able to attack him. Though he realised and asked Ridwanatu to be careful and offer her azkar regularly. Ridwanatu learnt a lot from him. She instilled all her knowledge on your father. And he transfered it to you."

"This azkars are taken lightly by humans and by Allah they're a great weapon. Suratul naas, suratul falaq and ahad were revealed after the prophet may Allah's peace be upon him fell sick. The prophet was bewitched and besorcered. The revelation of the surahs was what made him recovered after he has read them three times. Ayatul kursiyy is another powerful one. The azkar in hisnul Muslim are not to be taken for granted. Reading suratul mulk before sleep shouldn't be neglected by all of you." Xurannah advised. They all looked at her in wonder.

"Yes, remember my father is a scholar. We, the jinns are also Allah's creatures. We all are created to worship Allah. Among us are wicked ones and kind ones." Xurannah sat down by the periphery of the bed.

"Now the question is, Bauchi is to whom?" Sadiqu asked.

"You of course!" Maleekah answered him.

"But who's that tall man?" Xurannah laughed at the question.

"He grew up with intense love for power too. He wanted to be the king but his father the king, is yet to kick the bucket. He proved to be hardskulled. That tall man is a threat to all of us. That tall man is the reason you all and me are not safe. He's working with soothsayers that's why I am emphasizing on saying your azkars. That tall man is dangerous and venomous. He could kill for the throne. He killed Madaki." Their mouths were slacked.

"Yes, his soothsayer told him that they would be one Sadiqu that will take over the throne and that will only happen when he marries Mimi. Funny a lot, he kept meeting Sadiqus. But none of them was you. Until when he found you. And he realised you're Maleekah's husband. And he found Mimi to be Maleekah's beat friend. He sent jinns to cause a rift between the three of you. But, it never affected my love because he was steadfast with his azkaars." Xurannah pitifully looked at Maleekah and took Maleekah's hand in hers.

"You're supposed to be my enemy but because you gave birth to our Yusrah, I can't help but like you. I am sorry that you were raped whilst married and you couldn't see his face yet. He's so evil like that. Now he's after Mimi's life and she's with him." Sadiqu felt anger rising once again. So it's truth that the man raped his wife. Xurannah said that on purpose. She doesn't want them to know Mimi was with her.

"Who the hell is he?" He asked almost shouting.

"Who is this tall man?" Maleekah asked.

"You've to promise me something. That you will never show him a sign that you know him. You will never tell anyone." All of them nodded in anticipation.

"That tall man is Yarima Abdallah." The revelation left them encumbered.

*****

Your thoughts?

Should we rush to finish between today and tomorrow or should we put a stop here and continue after Ramadan??? Well the choice is yours😁😁😁

If you chose the latter, at this point I say Fee amanillah. May we meet again. I wish you a very happy and blissful Ramadan in advance. May Allah accept our prayers and put us among his righteous slaves. Pray for the world and stay safe.

Assalamu alaikum.