Halysaah Part 4 Complete Hausa Novel

Khaleesat’s Plea
 
Khaleesat nodded at him, covering her mouth with her hand. In a very low voice she said, “Please, I have a visitor. I want you to please pretend you're not staying here. Just pretend you came to drop some books for your female friend who lives here, please…” She ended the statement almost in tears as she looked at him. He kept quiet, also looking at her at first, then finally said, “As in how, Halysaah?”
 
She pleaded again, “Just act like you don’t live here, for Allah’s sake cover me. You know my former housemate was a woman, so act like you’re her friend—just pretend you came to see her. Please help me.”
Before he could respond, she stood up and hurried out of the room. Abdul watched her with surprise, not even blinking. After a moment, he smiled slightly and went back to what he was doing on his laptop.
 
When she returned to the parlour, she almost bumped into Abdul as he walked toward the corridor. He said, “What did you even go in there for? You didn’t even bring me something to drink.”
She smiled faintly. “Why didn’t you let me know you were coming? Why didn’t you tell me you were coming over?”
He replied, “Do I have to tell you before coming? Or will you buy my flight ticket?”
She shook her head softly. “No, that’s not what I meant. How was your trip?”
Looking at her from head to toe, he asked, “What is wrong with you? Why were you sick?”
She lowered her eyes. “I don’t know, but I’m much better now. I feel fine, Alhamdulillah.”
He asked, “Is it the sickness that made you stop answering my calls all this while?”
She pleaded, “You don’t know how I felt then. Let me get you water.” Then she hurried away.
 
In the kitchen, Khaleesat leaned on the cabinet, her chest rising and falling fast. After a few seconds she exhaled, picked up a tray, brought out water, juice, and a cup, and returned to the parlour. He was on his phone. She knelt and placed the tray in front of him without meeting his eyes. He watched her the entire time.
 
She sat on the carpet, folded her legs, and avoided eye contact. “How are Mummy and Daddy?”
When he didn’t answer, she slowly looked up and found him staring at her. She quickly looked down again.
He said, “These past two days you’ve changed, Baby. You don’t look that sick to the point of ignoring my calls. Why did you stop picking my calls? Even WhatsApp—no messages.”
 
She couldn’t look at him. Playing with her hijab, she said softly, “Recently you just scold me on the phone without considering me. And our course is stressful too.”
She didn’t even know why tears filled her eyes.
He sighed while looking at her, then pulled her up to sit beside him. Her heart started racing. She always feared Abdul coming to America. Whenever he visited, even if he came with his mom or dad, she felt uneasy because of certain behaviors he displayed that frightened her. She even used to fake sickness to avoid him.
 
He gently caressed her fingers and said softly, “But you know I love you, Khaleesah. You’re the one that makes me scold you.”
She didn’t answer. A tear fell from her eye. He wiped it gently. “You know I love you so much, right?”
She nodded.
 
He asked quietly, “Your housemate… is she around?”
Her heart skipped. She kept her eyes down. “No, I’m not sure. I saw she had a visitor earlier—maybe her friend.”
He frowned. “Friend? A man?”
Khaleesat nodded.
His brows knit together. “When did she start bringing men here?”
 
Khaleesat forced herself to answer, “She brings them from time to time, but not frequently. Maybe they brought reading materials. Or checked on her when she was sick.”
 
He asked, “And do those men sleep here too?”
She swallowed hard. “I don’t know. I always stay in my room with the door locked.”
 
To end the conversation she quickly said, “Let me make noodles for you so it won’t get cold.”
She rushed away, trembling. Just then her housemate came out of his room. Her heart almost jumped out of her chest. She quickly turned toward the kitchen.
 
Abdul turned because he heard the room door open. He and the housemate exchanged looks. The housemate raised his hand calmly. “Hello.”
Abdul stared at him without replying.
The housemate walked out calmly.
Khaleesat, now in the kitchen, held her chest. “I’m finished…”
 
She served the noodles and returned in fear.
Abdul asked, “Who is he, Baby?”
She blinked nervously. “I’ve never seen him before today. I think Nancy sent him to bring a book.”
 
Abdul stood. “How can you live under the same roof with a grown man, Baby? When did Nancy start bringing guys here? All this while he has been in this house?”
Softly she said, “I told you I’ve never seen him before today.”
 
She placed the food down. “Should I make you black tea?”
He said nothing, but she could see he was boiling with anger.
She walked back to the kitchen like a criminal.
 
He followed her inside. “How can some useless boy come here and look at you anyhow, Khaleesah?”
She said softly, “Abdul, don’t forget we live communally here. This is America… not my apartment alone. I can’t control who enters. It’s not my house alone.”
He shouted, “And so what?? You think I can’t rent you your own apartment? Were you not the one who said you fear staying alone? You think I can’t afford a place for you alone?”
 
Her body began to shake. She feared him deeply. Tearfully she said, “You’ve started again…”
He grabbed her hand and dragged her out of the kitchen. She burst into tears as they entered the parlour.
He raged, “How will I not start when a useless man is living under the same roof with you? Why didn’t you tell me earlier so I could get you another place? Don’t you have sense?”
 
She wept loudly, her head bent into the chair.
Minutes later, he sat beside her again, pulled her close, and she could smell his perfume. She stopped crying immediately, eyes wide.
Softly he stroked her hand. “I’m sorry, Baby. If you had told me, I would’ve gotten you another apartment…”
 
She tried to pull away.
He snapped, “Why do you always act like a bush girl, Khaleesah? Has the ghetto life refused to leave your body? What’s the meaning of this nonsense?”
 
She didn’t look at him. “But… this was your promise. Yet you…”
He yelled, “So what if I break the promise? Do you think I’m afraid of you? Or someone else will marry you?”
 
She sniffed. “Let me get you black tea.”
As she stood, he pulled her back so hard she fell on him. He snatched off her hijab.
Terrified, she curled up, tears gathering in her eyes, trying to free herself.
 
He pulled her closer. She cried, “Please stop, this wasn’t our deal. You’re breaking your promise.”
Her resistance irritated him. He tried to kiss her. She struggled harder, crying.
 
Just then, her housemate entered the parlour.
He saw everything—the struggle, the force. He walked straight to them, grabbed Abdul, and said,
“Hey, this is America, guy. What sort of molestation is this?”
 
Abdul stood up, shocked.
Immediately he punched the housemate twice in the chest and grabbed him. “Are you insane? How dare you?”
 
Khaleesat gasped and held Abdul, eyes wide. The housemate simply stared at Abdul without defending himself.
With difficulty, Khaleesat said, “He is my boyfriend. You have no right to intrude! Who are you? How do you know us?”
 
The housemate lowered his eyes. “My bad. I’m sorry. I thought you were in danger. I only came to drop some books. Sorry, please.”
 
Khaleesat looked at him sharply. “Do I know you from anywhere that makes you intrude?”
He shook his head. “Not at all… I’m sorry.”
 
He looked at Abdul, bowed slightly, and said, “I’m sorry, dude.” Then he placed the book down and left.
 
That was when Khaleesat realized she had been half-dressed the whole time. She bent down and cried quietly, her head against the chair, overwhelmed with shame and fear.
Abdul shot her a furious look, grabbed his phone, and stormed out as if flying. She watched him leave while tears streamed down her face.