50~Gimbiya Jamila #3
Unfortunately, his years abroad betrayed him.
His British accent completely overshadowed his Hausa pronunciation.
The Emir burst into laughter.
Soon the entire room joined him.
"Ya zama Bature kenan! Allah ya sa albarka. Ina amaryarsa?"
"He's become a proper foreigner now! May Allah bless you. Where is his bride?"
Najib smiled sheepishly before pointing toward Hanan.
She slowly lifted her head.
Their eyes met.
After exchanging greetings, the Emir smiled warmly.
"Allahu Akbar. Allah ya yi muku albarka. Allah Ya sa mu yi biki lafiya."
"Allah is the Greatest. May He bless you all. May we witness this wedding in peace."
"Amin."
Everyone echoed across the chamber.
The Emir then turned toward one of his palace guards.
"Sarkin fada!"
"Na'am, Mai Martaba."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Kira Gimbiyar Yarima. Bakinmu sun iso."
"Call the Prince's wife. Our guests have arrived."
"Na'am, Mai Martaba."
The guard bowed before hurrying out.
Only a few minutes later, the doors opened again.
Several elegantly dressed women entered the chamber.
Their expensive jewellery chimed softly with every graceful step.
They greeted everyone respectfully before stopping before the Emir.
Throughout the greeting exchange, Hanan kept her gaze lowered.
She couldn't see their faces.
Only the shimmering fabrics of their gowns and the soft jingling of gold bracelets reached her ears.
The Emir addressed them.
"Ku kai bakinmu dakunansu su huta. An shirya musu abinci da abin sha ko?"
"Take our guests to their chambers so they may rest. I trust food and refreshments have been prepared?"
"Na'am, Mai Martaba."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The moment that voice reached Hanan's ears...
Her heart skipped.
No... It can't be.
She knew that voice.
Every word.
Every tone.
Every pause.
Her breathing hitched.
Jamila...
Slowly... Almost afraid of being wrong, Hanan lifted her head.
Her eyes searched the women standing before them.
Then they found...
Jamila.
Standing proudly among the royal women.
Dressed in regal attire befitting the Prince's wife.
For a brief second... The world around Hanan disappeared.
"Jamila..."
The name escaped her as a whisper.
Her vision blurred as tears instantly gathered in her eyes.
She blinked rapidly, refusing to let them fall.
Completely unaware of Hanan's presence, Jamila smiled politely and addressed them.
"Sannu, Amarya. Mun shirya muku dakuna domin ku huta. Ku zo, zan kai ku."
"Welcome, my bride. Your rooms are ready. Please come with me so you can rest."
She turned to lead the way.
Hanan remained frozen.
Her heart pounded painfully against her chest.
She... She didn't recognize me?
The thought stung more than she expected.
Silently, she followed everyone out of the guests chamber.
The royal attendants escorted Grandma and Nanny Ann to a separate guest chambers.
Meanwhile, Hanan, Amina, and Amira were led together toward one spacious chamber prepared especially for the bride and her friends.
But Hanan's attention remained fixed on only one person walking ahead.
Jamila.
The friend she had lost contact with for years.
The friend who had just walked past her without recognizing her at all.
"This is where you'll be staying, and your meal has already been served." Jamila said, gesturing toward the spacious room.
A large silver tray sat neatly on the Persian carpet, filled with covered flasks of food, fresh fruits, chilled beverages, bottled water, and snacks.
"You should all rest."
She turned to leave.
"Jamila..." Hanan whispered.
Jamila paused but didn't turn.
Slowly, Hanan walked toward her and removed the veil covering parts of her face.
"I've come home."
Jamila finally looked at her.
For several long seconds she simply stared.
No smile.
No surprise.
Nothing.
"Jamila..." Hanan forced out a smile despite the tears gathering in her eyes. "It's me."
Silence.
"Don't you recognize me?"
Jamila narrowed her eyes. "You are...?"
"Habiba... Your Habiba."
The words hung heavily in the room.
Instead of excitement, Jamila only frowned.
"I'm sorry..." She replied politely. "I think you've mistaken me for someone else."
Hanan laughed nervously. "No... no, look at me properly."
She stepped closer. "We grew up together. We slept in the same room. We used to fetch water together, study together..."
Jamila quietly took a step backward before Hanan could touch her.
"I'm Gimbiya Jamila now." She said calmly.
"The future queen of this village."
"I'm also responsible for ensuring every guest of the palace is well taken care of."
"So, If there's anything you need, I will gladly provide it."
"But I don't believe we've met before."
The words struck Hanan harder than a slap.
"No..." Her head shook repeatedly. "No, Jamila... don't do this."
Tears streamed freely down her cheeks.
"You know me."
"You have to know me."
"I am Habiba."
Amira and Amina exchanged worried glances from across the room.
"Princess Jamila..." Amira said softly. "My friend has missed you terribly. Please... hear her out."
Jamila's eyes briefly moved toward Amira before returning to Hanan.
"I only knew one Habiba."
Her voice remained frighteningly calm.
"She promised she would come back."
"She never did."
"Years passed."
"No proper explanation for reasons she cut me off."
"I eventually accepted that perhaps she died somewhere."
She smiled bitterly.
"So forgive me if I find it difficult to believe a stranger suddenly appears claiming to be her."
"I'm not a stranger!" Hanan cried out.
"I wanted to come back... I tried."
"I can explain everything."
"Please... just give me five minutes."
Jamila folded her hands. "If you're truly Habiba..."
Her eyes slowly scanned Hanan from head to toe.
"Where is your village accent?"
"You sound foreign."
"Our Habiba never spoke like this."
"I lived abroad..." Hanan whispered.
"I know I have changed."
"But my heart never left this place."
Jamila remained expressionless.
"And your veil?"
Hanan blinked.
Realizing her veil had slipped off her hair, she quickly covered it.
Jamila sighed. "If you truly belonged here... You would've remembered that we don't walk around with our hair open."
She turned around.
"I have a wedding to prepare and supervise. Excuse me."
"Jamila!" Hanan rushed after her, grabbing her wrist before she could leave.
"Please..."
Her entire body trembled.
"I know you're hurt."
"I deserve your anger."
"Insult me."
"Yell at me."
"Even slap me if it'll make you feel better."
"But please..."
Her voice completely broke.
"Don't pretend you don't know me."
Jamila slowly removed Hanan's hand from hers.
Her own eyes glistened for the briefest second... before she hid every emotion.
"I don't know you."
She walked away.
Without looking back.
The heavy palace doors closed behind her.
Hanan stood frozen.
Then her knees almost gave way.
Amira hurried over, catching her before she could fall.
"Hanan..."
The moment those comforting hands touched her, she completely broke down.
"I lost her..." She sobbed.
"I lost my best friend... She hates me now."
Amira hugged her tightly.
"No. You haven't."
"She's just hurt."
"If she truly hates you... She wouldn't have reacted at all."
Amina walked over and crouched before Hanan.
"Listen to me."
"You disappeared for years."
"You suddenly appeared again after so many years, give her some time."
Hanan wiped her tears. "I just wanted her to listen."
"And she will." Amira squeezed her hand.
"But not now."
After several minutes, Hanan finally calmed enough to sit with them around the food tray.
None of the dishes looked appetizing anymore.
She barely touched her meal.
Even Amina, who was usually the first to attack any plate of food, found herself watching Hanan more than eating.
Halfway through the meal, Amira suddenly clapped her hands.
"I know exactly what we need."
Both women looked at her.
"Hanan promised to show us around her village." She smiled. "Let's go."
Hanan shook her head. "I'm not in the mood."
"That's exactly why we're going."
Amina nodded immediately. "You need fresh air."
"You've cried enough."
"But we just arrived." Hanan sighed.
"And we're leaving tomorrow evening." Amina reminded her.
"If we don't go today, we'll regret it."
Hanan hesitated before finally giving in.
"Fine, but we need permission first."
The three ladies headed toward the King's chamber, where Grandma, Uncle, and Nanny Ann were still chatting.
After seeking permission, the King happily agreed.
"You may go."
He smiled.
"But take two royal guards with you along with a car."
"I would rather walk." Hanan replied.
"As you wish."
Moments later, they stepped out of the palace gates under the watchful escort of two palace guards.
"Hey!" Najib called after them. "Where are you all going?"
"Village tour." Amina replied.
"Our bride is finally showing us her hometown." Amira smiled.
"Without me?" Najib chuckled. "I'm coming too."
"So am I." Abdul added immediately, earning a shy smile from Amira.
As Najib reached for Hanan, he immediately noticed her swollen eyes.
He gently cupped her face.
"Habibti..."
His smile faded.
"Have you been crying?"
Before she could answer...
Amina stepped between them.
"Ya Najib."
She pointed toward the curious villagers and royal guards.
"We're in a village."
"Not your mansion."
"Please behave like an unmarried man for one more day."
Everyone burst into laughter.
Najib sighed dramatically.
"Fine. But after tomorrow..."
He looked directly at Hanan.
"None of you can stop me from being with my wife." Najib sighed dramatically.
Even through her sadness... Hanan couldn't help but smile as everyone burst into laughter.
Soon they began walking through the village she once called home.
Barely ten minutes later, Amina suddenly stopped.
She shifted uncomfortably from one foot to another before sighing.
"Oh no..."
"What happened?" Amira asked.