Lagos, NIGERIA.
UNEDITED
At the Lagos Polo Club, a few people had started to gather. The evening wasn't very sunny, with a gentle breeze sweeping through the lush fields of the Polo Club.
They met Bello putting on his boots near the stables. The moment Bello spotted Aslam, he stood up with a wide grin, walking towards him with outstretched arms. They shook hands firmly before pulling each other into a brief hug.
"Haba, Aslam! Inata kiranka ka barni ina jiran ka! Wai hadda saddle dinka kazo?" Bello asked, raising an eyebrow at the saddle Aslam had brought along.
Aslam chuckled. "Patronnn, patron!" he laughed. "Gani nan ai toh yanzu. And yes, I'd carry my saddle even if I was playing in Argentina," he replied.
Bello smirked and threw a blue number 2 BB team shirt towards him. "Wear this and let's get to it."
Before Aslam could slip on the shirt, Bello turned to Amna with a polite smile. "He dragged you out koh?" Bello smiled at Amna.
Amna smiled back. "Ina wuni, ya kwana biyu?"
"Alhamdulillah," Bello responded warmly before casting a playful glance at Aslam. "Ya hakuri da abokin mu?" he asked.
Amna let out a shy laugh and Aslam shook his head, grinning.
Bello turned back to Aslam, his tone more serious now. "Beast is ready for you. I had someone warm up earlier."
Aslam nodded. "Perfect, let me just get Amna a comfortable spot, then we'll head to the field," he said, placing a hand on Amna's back as he led her towards the VIP section.
Aslam found her a perfect spot for her in the VIP sitting section and ordered her a refreshing mocktail and a platter of kebabs.
"Zainab will be here any moment," he said.
Amna nodded, already pulling out her phone to send snaps to Sa'adah and Yasmine. She was busy texting Yasmine when she heard tiny footsteps running towards her.
It was Hanifa and Amir with Zainab walking far behind them. Amna beamed "Hiiiii!"
"Anty Amnaaa!" Hanifa hugged her while Amir stopped in his tracks and ran back to his mother.
"How are you Haniniii?" Amna asked adjusting Hanifa's little sunhat.
"I am fineeee," Hanifa replied. She pointed at Amna's hat. "We are matchyyy!" she exclaimed.
Amna chuckled. "Yesss, I like yours better, I love the bow on it."
Zainab walked to them and hugged Amna.
"Adda Zee, ina wuni," Amna greeted.
"Amnaaa, Hanifa couldn't wait to see youuu!" she smiled, she wore a lovely flowing dress.
"Me too, I love your dress." Amna complemented.
"Thank you!" She smiled. "You look stunninggg too." Zainab smiled.
As the two women spoke, Amir stood shyly beside his mother, clutching a miniature polo mallet. His wide eyes darted between his mother and Amna.
"Amir," Amna reached out to hold him but he further hid behind his mother and Zainab laughed. "He will warm up by anjima."
"Where is Uncle Aslam?" Hanifa asked.
Amna smiled warmly at the little girl's excitement. "You'll see him soon, Hanini. They're still preparing." she said.
Zainab chuckled softly. "She's been so excited since last night when her daddy told her Uncle Aslam was playing on the phone. I think she's more excited than Aslam himself," she said.
Amna laughed. "It's adorable. I can't believe she's already this interested in polo."
Zainab shrugged playfully. "This is what we get for marrying into a family that's into polo."
Zainab and Amna caught up on a lot of things, Khalifa and Muhammad joined them and sat behind and Amir ended up sitting with his uncle's friends.
***
In less than 30 minutes, the stands began filling with spectators, the VIP section filled with the polo club members, and some polo players and before they realized the place with filled with the chatters of the crowd.
The BB Polo Team was getting ready for their first match against Chukkers, led by Alamin. Both teams were well-known in the Nigerian polo circuit but they hardly played against each other.
Hanifa, even more eager, tugged gently at her mom's sleeve once more. "Uncle Aslam's team is going to win, right?" she asked.
Amna couldn't help but smile. She watched Zainab lean down to meet her eyes. "Of course, he will," Zainab reassured her. "Your Uncle Aslam is a veryyy good player. Just wait and see."
As if on cue, the players from both teams appeared. The crowd, now fully settled, erupted into cheers and applause as the players stepped out onto the pristine field.
The BB Polo Team, in their striking blue jerseys, rode in formation. Bello while Aslam, playing as number 2, followed closely behind. Mohammed and Hanan- Bello's cousin, rode alongside them.
Directly opposite them, there were Alamin's Chukkers, dressed in deep red jerseys. Alamin looked composed and ready and it was clear that both sides were preparing for an intense match.
Aslam's gaze scanned the field and he grinned at Amna's direction. He exchanged a glance with Bello, who gave him a nod, and Aslam's grip on his mallet tightened.
"Uncle Aslam!" Hanifa and Amir shouted, waving enthusiastically. Aslam turned his head slightly to their direction and waved at them then wore his polo goggles.
Amna chuckled, shaking her head. "Well, he's certainly got his number one fans out here," she said to Zainab.
***
The crowd's energy spiked as the announcer introduced both teams' players.
The opening whistle blew, and the match began with a burst of energy. The ponies galloped across the field, kicking up dust as they fought for control of the ball. Bello took the lead and Aslam rode close behind him, constantly positioning himself to cover Bello and block any opposing players trying to get past.
From the stands, Amna watched every movement, her hands tightly gripping the edge of her seat. She could feel the tension building on the field. She didn't fully understand a polo game but from Aslam's little explanations, she knew what was going on.
Amna glanced at Zainab. "I didn't realize how competitive it would be."
Zainab chuckled, "It's not just about the game for them, it's the pride and the thrill that comes with it. Especially with Bello and Alamin- both of them are very competitive. It's going to be a serious match."
Chukkers were relentless, with Alamin pushing forward aggressively, his eyes fixed on Bello, who held control of the ball. Alamin made several attempts to tackle Bello but each time, Aslam managed to block his efforts, intercepting the ball or positioning Beast to protect Bello.
"They're going at each other," Zainab whispered, her eyes wide as she watched the play unfold.
Bello managed to score two impressive goals, and Aslam followed suit with one goal. While Alamin scored one as well and one of team players added another goal.
By the end of the third chukka, the BB Polo Team was leading by just a few points, and as the half-time whistle blew, the players dismounted, their faces glistening with sweat.
Aslam hopped off Beast, patting the pony's neck before walking toward the players' stand. He was drenched in sweat, his face flushed from the adrenaline of the match. He grabbed a bottle of water and chugged it in one go. After downing the water, he wiped his face with a towel and took a long sip of mate for a boost of energy.
He plopped down next to Bello, both men catching their breath from the relentless pace of the game.
"Bello, anya bazaka bani Beast bah?" Aslam asked. "Whatttt! I felt like I was flying!"
Bello, still catching his breath, shook his head with a laugh. "Inaaa, babu wannan maganan!" he replied, "You can choose any other pony, but not Beast." He shot Aslam a playful look.
The two, along with their teammates Mohammed and Hanan, quickly shifted the conversation to more serious matters, discussing ways to re-strategize for the next chukkas. They knew Chukkers was going to come back even stronger, and with Alamin pushing his team hard, they couldn't afford to let their guard down. They reviewed their positioning, focusing on tightening their defense while maintaining the fluidity of their offense.
After a brief but intense discussion, the fifteen-minute halftime came to an end. The players mounted their ponies once more.
The match resumed with even more intensity. As the game continued, both teams fought hard, each refusing to give the other any breathing room. The players moved with calculated precision, their ponies galloping at top speed across the field. The ball switched possession multiple times.
Then, after several minutes of intense back-and-forth play, Aslam seized an opportunity. Bello had managed to pass the ball to him. Alamin raced to intercept, but Aslam had already gained enough momentum. He leaned forward in his saddle, his eyes locked on the ball, and with one powerful swing of his mallet, sent it soaring toward the posts.
The ball flew across the field, and for a split second, time seemed to slow. The crowd collectively held its breath as it sailed through the air, heading straight for the goal. Then, with a satisfying hit, the ball passed between the posts.
The crowd erupted into cheers, Aslam grinned as he slowed Beast, raising his mallet in celebration and waved at Amna and the kids.
"That was brilliant!" Bello shouted.
Aslam, still catching his breath grinned at him. "We're not done yet. Let's finish this strong."
As they continued in the 5 chukka, Bello had possession of the ball, galloping down the field toward the goal, with Aslam keeping close to him. Alamin, determined to stop them pushed his pony forward with incredible speed. He wasn't aiming for Bello this time.
In a split second, Alamin's pony veered toward Aslam. Aslam instinctively attempted to maneuver Beast out of the way, but Alamin was faster. The collision was sudden and brutal. Beast stumbled, losing balance.
Amna gasped as she saw Aslam lose his grip on the reins, his body thrown from the saddle and hitting the ground with a thud.
She rose to her feet in panic. Zainab immediately held her hand and sat her back down.
The game momentarily stopped, the other players slowing their ponies as they watched. The referee blew the whistle, signaling a timeout.
Alamin immediately reined in his horse and dismounted, striding over to Aslam, who was lying on the ground, grimacing in pain.
"Are you alright?" Alamin asked, offering his hand.
For a moment, Aslam lay still, his eyes briefly closed as he felt the throbbing pain from his left elbow. He hesitated but eventually took Alamin's outstretched hand with his right hand, pulling himself into a sitting position.
"I'm fine," Aslam replied curtly, removing his helmet.
Alamin sensing the tension, decided to explain. "It wasn't intentional, you know. We both went for the ball. It happens."
Aslam nodded. "I know. But maybe next time, go for the ball, not me."
By then, the paramedics had rushed onto the field, kneeling beside Aslam and they began assessing his injuries. Aslam's elbow throbbed and he felt the pain with every slight movement. One of the paramedics gently pressed on his elbow, causing him to wince.
"You need to let us check you over," the paramedic spoke. "You might have sustained a serious injury possibly a sprain or even a fracture."
"You can do that after the match," Aslam said, stubbornly and winced after moving slightly.
Just then, Bello appeared looking worried. "Aslam, listen to them. What if akwai fracture koh sprain?" he said.
Zainab and Amna left the kids with Muhammad and strode down to the field with Khalifa.
Amna rushed to his side. "Are you okay?" she asked, kneeling beside him.
Aslam offered her a smile, his hand reaching out to grasp hers. "I'm fine," he said.
"Muje asibiti." She sternly said to him.
"It is just a sprain." Aslam grinned.
"Khalifa," Aslam called out, tossing his helmet toward him, "play in my place." He then added, "Check my polo bag- akwai extra boots. Get back to the game."
Khalifa caught the helmet, a bewildered expression on his face. "You want me to play?" he asked, glancing from Aslam to the rest of the team.
Aslam nodded. "Yeah, go on. I'll be fine. Just finish the game."
The paramedics, realizing that Aslam wasn't going to let them take him off the field without a fight, helped him to his feet and put an ice pack over his injured elbow and walked him to the VIP section to sit down and quickly compressed the area with a bandage.
***
The game continued, with Khalifa stepping in for Aslam, but the energy of the match had shifted. Bello played with even more focus. By the end of the match, BB team had pulled ahead and won by 2 points.
Aslam watched the players congratulating each other. "It's part of the game," he said, grinning mischievously. "You win some, you lose some... and sometimes you fall off your pony." He winked, trying to lighten the mood, but Amna only rolled her eyes.
Bello, Khalifa and Alamin walked off the field to where Aslam sat, Alamin patted Aslam on the back.
"That was a good game," Alamin said with a small grin.
Aslam nodded with a small smile. "Yeah, good one. Just don't tackle me like that again."
Bello, unable to hold back, burst out laughing. "Amma AK dan iska ne wallahi! Ka kusa karya shi, shine kake cewa good game?"
Alamin laughed too, raising his hands in mock surrender.
Khalifa cackled. "AK, if his madam catches you, wallahi babu ruwan mu!" he said, gesturing toward Amna, who shot Alamin a playful glare.
A/N
Subhanallahi Sannuuuuuuu🤣
That's all I can say🤣🤣🤣
Good night guys xx❤️❤️❤️
